A Week Later
Emily couldn't help herself. She leaned over as Luke went to make his move, and she tapped his wrist.
"What?" he asked, annoyed.
"Move the rook," she gestured. "Not the knight."
"So you're telling me how to play chess now?" Luke asked, incredulous. Gil burst into laughter, clearly pleased.
"It's common sense," Emily insisted.
"It's not your game," he shot back.
"Do you just like to lose?" she countered.
"How do you know I'm gonna lose?" he demanded. She sighed impatiently.
"Because if you move the knight, then Gil is going to move his queen, making you move your queen, which makes him move his queen again, which makes you move the bishop, which makes him check mate you," she pointed. Both Luke and Gil stared at her now. She blushed.
"What?" she asked, a bit defensive.
"How did you do that?" Gil asked.
"Um...my Dad and I played chess a lot," Emily answered. "I guess it's just in me."
"I should be playing with you, not him," Gil said, pointing his thumb at Luke. "I'd get a challenge with you instead of getting slaughtered by Mei in three moves and being allowed to win by this putz every day."
"Hey," Luke objected. "I do not..."
"Oh, please," Gil snorted. "It is very obvious that you let me win every time. It's sweet, but I need a challenge, a fair one."
Luke was stunned, which made Emily want to laugh.
"All right, old man," he said. "You want a challenge, you'll get one. Let's start over."
"Who you calling 'old,' sonny?" Gil asked.
Emily left before more name calling happened, but she was smirking.
...
Nathan had made sure she was going to his competition that night, and Emily was both dreading it (because math bored her to tears) and looking forward to seeing him mop the floor with the opposing team. She slipped on her red summer dress, tying the ends behind her neck snugly. It went to her knees, which was good. The majority of her scars were hidden most of the time anyway. The weather had continued to get hot as spring went on, which sometimes made sitting and watching everyone play baseball a bit harder, but she always went now. She never played, just watched. It was enough. She still felt like she was a part of it, which she was surprised she wanted to feel a part of something.
She left her hair down, flicking it with her fingers to give it some life. She missed her red hair sometimes, but she had dyed it brown to blend in with the world better. She went out to her car when she saw Luke coming out of the diner in a sports coat, white dress shirt, and jeans. He wasn't even wearing his usual ball cap, which took her by surprise. He had closed the diner early, and she surmised he was going to the same place she was.
Luke stopped in his tracks when he saw Emily standing there. First of all, she took his breath away, and he was taken aback by that in itself. Secondly, she looked different somehow. He couldn't explain it. He stood there fumbling for words to say when she spoke first.
"You're going to the Mathlete competition," she said.
"How did you know?" he asked, surprised.
"Nathan is competing as well."
"Right. I think Mei did mention that."
"You want a lift?" she asked. "Since we're going to the same place?"
Luke hesitated briefly. He knew his truck got some glances and blatant ear coverings from others when he drove it. It would be nice to not attract unwanted attention onto himself for once. He really should fix that noise.
"Sure," he nodded. She went around to the driver's side and got in while he got in the passenger's side. They were driving for a bit when she finally spoke.
"You beat Gil," she said with a smirk.
"Yea, I did," he nodded. "He deserved it. Cheeky bastard."
Emily laughed out loud, and it startled him a little as he had never heard her laugh like that. She would snicker or bark out a laugh, but this was a genuine, deep belly laugh. He found he liked it. He grinned back.
"He did call you some unprofessional names," she said once she'd calmed down a little. She was surprised at how easily she had done that. She hadn't laughed so freely for a long time.
"'Wanker' was uncalled for," Luke agreed.
"My favorite was 'Crumpet Eater,'" Emily said, looking at him with her lips twisted in a smirk.
"He thought he was throwing me off my game by insulting my background, but he's learned that nothing can disrupt my focus," Luke smiled. "And I don't even like crumpets."
Emily laughed again. She was surprisingly relaxed, and she wasn't sure why. When they pulled up at the school, parked, and got out, they walked in together and found seats close to the front.
"I'm glad Mei has someone else to spar off with," Luke admitted to Emily. "She makes my brain hurt on a good day let alone after a day of work."
"Nathan is very bright," Emily nodded. He always had been.
"Where's his father?" Luke asked casually. He'd found his opening and went for it. It was something he'd wondered about. Was the father the person they were hiding from?
"He died," Emily said quietly, making him twist to look at her in surprise. He had not been expecting that answer. Before he could ask anymore questions, the announcer tapped the microphone and made it squeal before getting control of it and telling them that the competition was beginning.
Luke was almost burning inside. If the father was dead, then who was she hiding from? Or was she even hiding from someone at all? Had he guessed wrong? He knew it wasn't his place to ask, and he knew he'd have to let it go. It just made the mystery of Emily that much more intriguing.
...
Mei and Nathan chattered excitedly in the backseat as Emily drove them home. They had won, of course. Emily was amazed Mei hadn't knocked the buzzer off her table from the speed of her hand each time. She was faster than Nathan and teased him for it, which he went along with. When Emily parked, they got out without even looking back, still going over questions they had missed even though they had won.
"Well," she said. "My brain officially hurts, to borrow your phrase."
"Ditto," Luke agreed, rubbing his head to confirm it. "Thanks for the ride."
"You're welcome."
There was silence for a moment, and Emily wondered if he was going to ask more about Nathan's father. She wanted to ask about Mei's mother, but she didn't feel brave enough to ask.
"See you tomorrow," he said, making the decision for both of them. He got out while Emily did the same. Nathan and Mei had finally parted ways, and she watched Luke put his arm around Mei's neck and tousle her hair, causing her to exclaim in protest and shove him off. His laugh was the last thing she heard before the door shut behind them.
...
"In whose right mind does menus living on the tables sound like a good idea?" Luke demanded. It was the next day, and they were having a familiar stand off.
"Mine," Emily answered, jutting her chin out at him.
"It's stupid."
"It's smart. That way they can sit and figure out what they want before we get there."
"And what happens when the menus get stolen?"
"Who would steal a menu?!" Emily asked, incredulous.
"Oh, you have no idea what people have stolen around here," Luke said. He ticked them off on his fingers. "Sugar packets, bottles of ketchup, mugs, utensils, toilet paper, my hat..."
"Okay, okay," she said. "Forget-wait, someone stole your hat?!"
"Right off of my head," Luke replied, tapping his head for good measure.
"No way," she guffawed.
"So the answer is no," he finished.
"I got it," she said, rolling her eyes. "Mr. OCD is stuck in his 'perfect' system and won't allow for any productive change."
"Don't call me that," he warned.
"Or what?" she challenged.
"I'm thinking," he shot back.
"Wowsers," Lucy said, fanning herself as she appeared. "Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?"
Luke shot her an annoyed look. What was that supposed to mean?
"Crumpet eater," Emily said, poking his arm.
"You're insulting yourself you know that, right?" he asked.
"You have to at least consider some of my ideas," she urged.
"No," he shook his head.
"Tito needs you," Lucy said to him at this point. Luke pointed his finger at Emily as a warning before leaving to assist his cook. She busied herself with wiping and straightening as Lucy watched her.
"You wanna tell me what's going on?" she asked eventually.
"Nothing is going on," Emily answered.
"Please," Lucy snorted. "There is so much tension between you two."
"No, there isn't," Emily said quickly.
"Uh huh. Okay. When you come out of the denial stage, let me know," Lucy said, going to collect dirty plates from a table. Emily felt a flush in her cheeks, but she dismissed it. There was no tension between her and Luke. She wasn't even thinking about him that way. Well, maybe a little, if she was completely honest. But who wouldn't? He wasn't too bad to look at.
"Okay, girl," Gil said as he came in, chess set under his arm. "Show me what you got." Emily went down to the end where he sat and got set up. She alternated with Luke now playing chess with Gil. She enjoyed it a lot. It took her mind off of things she didn't want to think about. It also reminded her of when she used to play with her dad.
...
When the second Saturday rolled around, Luke couldn't stay upstairs. He had worked the last Saturday, disappointing Mei, and he offered to try again this Saturday, but he was just so bored. He couldn't help himself and went down to work. Mei shot him dirty looks as he worked, and he shrugged them off. Taking a day off just wasn't his nature. He couldn't do it. He did not like being left alone with his thoughts for too long with nothing to do.
"You are unbelievable," Mei huffed.
"What did he do now?" Emily asked, hearing her.
"Nothing," Luke answered strongly, giving Mei a look.
"He won't take a day off! He promised to take last Saturday off..."
"I said I'd think about it," Luke interrupted. "And I did, and I decided not to."
"And he blew it off. Then he promised he'd take this Saturday off..."
"And I slept in until eight," he pointed out. "That's something. You gotta give me credit for that at least."
"Does he ever take time off?" Emily asked Mei, who flat out ignored Luke's comment.
"No. He's always here 24/7," Mei answered.
"I am standing right here," Luke said, annoyed. "And I go play ball twice a week, if you recall." He crossed his arms while both women looked at him.
"It's one day," Mei said to him. "One day. It won't kill you."
"It might," he pointed out.
"Uuuuggghhh!" Mei exclaimed, walking away before she punched him.
"Is it because you don't have someone to do something with?" Emily asked. "I mean, you gotta have some kind of life outside of here and throwing a ball around twice a week."
"I don't," he answered a bit gruffly. "And I don't need one. Don't you start on me too."
He left before she could reply. She wondered why he was so touchy about it, but she didn't pry.
Later, after another rant from Mei, Luke agreed to take Sunday off. He couldn't take the harassment anymore. He'd do some book work upstairs out of sight, so he was at least doing something for work but also appeasing Mei at the same time.
When Sunday came, after a few hours, he gave up and went outside. Mei had waggled the knife in her hand at him threateningly when he came downstairs, so he knew better than to hang around. He really had no idea what to do, though. In the end, he wound up heading down towards the lake that was behind the diner. He hadn't gone down there for a while, and it used to be peaceful. The summer season would bring out more people there, but not yet.
He found Emily sitting in his spot, which took him by surprise. The rock jutted out over the water a bit, and she was sitting cross legged near the one side. She was writing, by the look of it.
"Hey," he said.
"Gah!" she shrieked, jolting herself and accidentally chucking the pen she was holding over her shoulder. Luke heard it hit the water with a plop. She clutched at her chest as she stared at him.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"It's a free country?" he countered.
"No, I know, but you...you never take time off. Are you taking time off?" she asked, incredulous.
"Bodily harm was threatened, so I thought it was best if I did for my own safety," he answered, sitting down beside her. He kept enough space between them that he wasn't intruding on her personal boundaries. She snapped her journal shut, just in case. It did not stop him from noticing his name written in there. Now he was burning with curiosity as to why she was writing about him. What was she even writing about him?
"Wise choice," she nodded.
He didn't say anything else, so she watched as he looked out at the water thoughtfully. She felt a little bit irritated that her quiet time had been interrupted, but she didn't want him to go back to work either, if he never took time off. She wasn't about to get smacked by Mei for ruining it.
"Be warm enough to swim soon," he noted after a bit.
"I don't swim," she said quickly. He looked at her, stunned.
"You don't swim?" he repeated.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I just don't. I'm fine with it," she said defensively and not sure why she was feeling defensive about it.
"I am not fine with that," Luke replied. "At all."
"It's my life, not yours."
"You gotta learn how..."
"I don't need to."
"You're missing out, though..."
"Just stop," Emily said fiercely. "Please."
He was a bit taken aback by the forcefulness of her tone, but he stopped. She hugged her knees and didn't look at him. He felt bad that he'd made her feel this way. He knew what she'd be writing about him next: Luke, the big jerk, who wouldn't shut up about her going swimming.
"I'm sorry," he said. Maybe she'd put that in to make him not look so bad.
"Don't worry about it," she dismissed.
"But I am worried about it," he insisted.
"Well, stop it."
"I can't."
"Try."
"No. No, I can't," he said after a few seconds.
"Oh my God, Luke," she said, exasperated. She turned to give him hell when she saw he was laughing.
"Come on," he said. "Lighten up."
"You are unbelievable," she huffed, giving him a shove. He instinctively shoved back, and, being as light as she was, she toppled backwards towards the water. She shrieked, and he launched himself towards her to stop her from falling in. He landed on her hard, grabbing her waist. She was half hanging off the rock now, freaking out. Her fingers were scrabbling uselessly at the edge of the rock.
"Stop moving," he ordered as she slid an inch further over the edge, even with him hanging on. She obeyed, feeling terrified. Hanging almost upside down and looking at the water was not a good mix. It was a bit of a drop off from the rock too.
Luke re-positioned himself as best as he could on his knees, putting one hand on her stomach to hold her still while he reached with his other for her hand, which she gladly gave to him. He pulled her up swiftly, and she came up faster than he intended since she was so light. She crashed into him, and they fell backwards together, a tangle of arms and legs. He could feel her shaking and felt bad.
"You're all right," he told her.
She pushed herself off him and sat back, trying to comprehend what just happened. He was still lying on his back, feeling guilty for even thinking about how nice it was to have contact with a woman again, even if it was because he'd almost gotten them drowned.
"That," she started after a moment. "Was not cool. At all."
"I'm sorry."
She picked up her journal and stood, leaving to go home and hide. He got up and chased her, marveling at how fast she could walk. It was more of a sprint really.
"Hey," he said, catching up to her finally. "Emily, I'm sorry."
"It's not funny," she told him.
"I know it isn't. I really didn't mean to. It was reflex," he said.
"You don't get it," Emily replied. Lots of memories were happening now, and none of them were good.
"Then explain it to me," Luke urged, catching her arm and stopping her. She held her journal tightly to her chest. He was not coming off as a good guy in that book, he just knew.
"I can't," she whispered.
She pulled out of his grip and headed for her door. Luke felt at a loss for what to do or say next, so he let her go. He cursed himself for everything that had happened. If he had just stayed at work, none of it would have taken place at all.
I hope someone out there is still enjoying this story.