Monday, 15 November 16:40 GMT 14 years ago
Drew had taken a breath as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she stood in the queue for the layup drill. She nodded at Dean who stood in the other queue across the way, ready to rebound. Dean looked quite nonplused as to why they were even there.
o-o-o
Friday, 12 November, 16:55 GMT 14 years ago
Drew knocked down the white king with her queen as she smirked at her opponent. Dean rolled his eyes.
"Okay, time for a break," the young man said.
"Break?" Drew said as she took a bite from her Spanish roll from the local bakery.
"You've won five in a row," he said as he took a bite from his meat pasty. "Give a brother a break."
The pair laughed as the rest of the ten-member Chess Club started to congregate at the snacks table. Drew smiled to herself. Chess Club was always a place of sanctuary for her.
Both Drew and Dean had joined the club at the beginning of their tenth year. They had learned the game from their Uncle Harry.
The extra-curricular activity had always been a motley crew of geeks hanging around, enjoying each other's company and playing chess. There was no need to try to fit in; they just did. They each made it a safe place to be their smart selves.
Their meetings usually took place straight after school and always in Professor Mitchell McGill's computer science classroom. The tech savvy instructor was keen on the down time; watching the students match wits with each other. After Professor Kaiser implemented this year's Behavioral Science project the meetings were moved an hour and a half later to accommodate for the five Year 12 students who were charged with tutoring duties.
"He didn't show up again," Drew said as she drank from her bottled water.
"Didn't Professor Martinez schedule his usual basketball tryouts for this week?" Dean said as he took a swig of his cup of cola.
"The sessions don't start until 4:30," Drew said, rolling her eyes. "And Professor Kaiser isn't budging on a switch."
"Well, you'll just have to find another way around it," Dean said as he took another bite of his pasty.
"You're right!" she said standing up as she pounded the table top, the chess pieces clattering on the board.
o-o-o
Monday, 15 November 16:50 GMT tryouts
"Phillip's giving you the hate stares right now," Dean said as he stooped over to catch his breath. "Thank Merlin, they called for a water break."
"Here," Drew handed Dean a cup full of Gatorade as he doubled over.
"I can't believe you talked me into doing this," he said as he drank from the cup. He stood akimbo.
"You're the one who said to find another way around it," she said, retying her ponytail.
The whistle sounded. "Back to the grindstone," she said as Dean rolled his eyes.