Late nights

XX

- How are we feeling? - Tom asked Lola as they were about to enter the hall.

- Touch my hands. - Lola put out her hand.

Tom's heart fluttered before grabbing Lola's hand. It was cold and sweaty - as if the hand was just taken out of some melting ice.

- Oh wow, you're nervous. - Tom chuckled.

- I'm about to blow up and cover the whole hall with blood.

- Save that energy for the game.

They went into the hall. Lola saw Hikaru talking to some people. She went to the board, sat down, and waited for him to come. Some people sat down next to Tom, but the majority of the crowd was focused on Magnus Carlsen. 

Not long after Lola sat down, Hikaru joined her. Lola stood up to show respect and shake hands. 

The game started and after ten minutes, both Lola and Hikaru were taking their time to move. Lola was tilting her head and touching her face a lot. Move 19 was checkmate. Lola lost.

- Good game. - Hikaru stood up.

- Yep. - Lola stood up, knowing it wasn't a good game for her.

She speed-walked to the room while Tom tried to catch up. Lola laid on her bed and started bawling her eyes out.

- That was so embarrassing. - Lola said while gagging in between words.

- No it wasn't. You were playing against a grandmaster, you should be proud that you got that far.

- Move 19 Tom, MOVE 19! - That's insultingly fast. I feel like a complete i***t.  I could've done so much better than that.

- Not to sound pessimistic anything, but did you think you were gonna play Magnus later and win? - Tom asked.

- You're not good at this comforting thing, you know, - Lola sat up, - but I guess you're right. I got to play him and it was a good experience so I'm thankful. Well, now we know the answer - I can't beat a grandmaster.

- The guy you played yesterday was a grandmaster. - Tom reminded her.

- Was he?

- Yup, he was.

- Well then yay me. My chess score went up, so I'm now a national master, but still not a grandmaster.

- I actually realized something. When you're playing, an interesting thing happens. When you're puzzled and you don't know what to do, you tilt your head right, but when you're trying to make the other person think you don't know what to do, you tilt your head left.

- Do I? - Lola laughed. - I haven't noticed. 

- Yeah that might give away your thoughts to people. Well, someone would really have to focus to notice that.

- I'll try to not do it.

After a day more in Dubai, Lola and Tom flew back home. Tom enjoyed the whole experience, while Lola had hoped for a higher position in the tournament. 

Tom went to sleep and met up with Emily immediately the day after.

- How was it? - Emily asked.

- It was pretty good, - Tom borrowed the car keys from his mom, - let's go to the store, I'll tell you on the way there.

Emily and Tom got into the car and chose to drive to the store further out - to have a longer drive.

- So, it was really nice. It was very professional, luxurious too, I guess. It was fun watching the games, even though some of them get really long.

- Yeah, I can't imagine. How did she do?

- Good, better than I had imagined.

- Cool, cool. We should all meet up someday, I haven't met her. I've seen her in school hallways from time to time, but I've never met her. 

- I guess so, yeah. Anyway, how was the party? Did y'all have fun? - Tom asked.

- Sure. You know, it was a party, so it was kinda fun. We smoked, we drank a little, we danced, just general fun. You know how it is. Oh, actually, - Emily remembered, - Harry was there too. And the party was far away, he definitely needed a car.

- Was he now? He hasn't sent his work to me yet. Perhaps he's just taking a break, or perhaps we activate phase 1.5.

- That sounds a lot more fun than him taking a break. - Emily grinned.