Checkmate

Chapter 5

Laura’s POV

The rain is coming heavily down with thunderstorms, making the sky look bright in the dark. I’m still waiting for my mother. I’ve called several times, but with no answer. Jeremy is still at the babysitter’s house.

Well, she’s not really a babysitter, more of a student that looks after children in school holidays.

What if they got stuck in the storm? All these fearful questions are making me feel unease. I picked up my phone and tried calling my mother again, but her phone turned to voicemail.

I swallowed my pride and dialled Jade’s number. I need to know where my mother is.

“Why are you calling?” He barks into the speaker, making me roll my eyes.

“My mother is not yet back home, she was in a meeting with your father, but she hasn’t returned yet, she was supposed to pick up Jeremy from the babysitter, but the babysitter hasn’t seen my mother since she dropped Jeremey this morning,” saying it aloud makes me even more nervous.

The storm is picking up, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to clear up anytime soon.

“Where are you?” Jade asked.

“Stuck at home, I can’t go out in the storm, please can you ask your father where my mother is?” Jade sighs on the other side of the speaker.

“Jade?”

“Yeah, I’m still here. My father is not yet back home, maybe they’re both stuck at the office.” Jade tells, but I can hear the frustration in his voice.

I wish he would tell me what’s bothering him. Clearly, it must be something about his father and my mother. Maybe he does not want my mother to work for his father.

“Okay, do you perhaps have the office number to call?”

“They won’t pick up, it’s after hours. Text me the address where Jeremy is. I will go and pick him up.” he offered, not sure why, but I am grateful. He must wonder where my mother is.

“Thank you” I hang up the phone and text him the address. He only replies with a thump up.

I changed into clothes that are much more comfortable than the dress and jacket I have on.

I went downstairs to make coffee and warm up food for Jeremy.

Almost an entire hour went by, and finally, I saw headlights pulling into the driveway. I’m not sure if it’s my mother or Jade dropping off Jeremy.

I opened the front door, where Jeremy and Jade were standing soaking wet.

“Come in.” I politely said, showing my hand for Jade to enter. Jeremy went straight upstairs to change into dry clothes.

“I’m sorry that you had to pick up Jeremy. Have you heard anything from your father?” Jade shook his head.

“My mother is not like this. She would've called if something came up and not be able to pick up Jeremy.” A shiver went down my spine the moment I think that something could’ve happened to her. The rain is falling heavily and the roads are slippery.

“You’ll be surprised at what things can make you forget,” Jade said unannounced.

A massive listening bold struck the house and suddenly the power of the house went out, and a loud bang with sparks came from the kitchen. I started yelling and nearly jump into Jade’s arms.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean.” I couldn’t finish my sentence when Jade holds me closer than usual and stared right into my eyes. I’m not sure if I’m trembling because of him that holds me so close, or because of the loud bang that came from the kitchen.

“I have to.” I showed my hand to the kitchen and Jade nearly choked on his saliva when he finally loosen his grip.

I quickly walked towards the kitchen, feeling all mushy with Jade behind me.

“Do you have candles or flashlights?” Jade whispered, while Jeremey rushed downstairs and grab me to hold him. He has always been scared of the dark, and dark and thunderstorms are not a good combination.

“Yes, inside the first drawer.” I showed my hand to the drawer, while my other hand holds Jeremey close. Jade switch on the flashlight and lit up some candles.

Jeremy doesn’t let go of me, even though the lights of the candles and flashlights make the room bright again.

“Okay, well, I should probably get going,” Jade announced nervously, playing with his wet hair.

“No, stay here please,” Jeremy said unannounced.

“Jeremy, I’m sure he has other things to do than babysit us.” Jade looks at me, his wet hair dripping down his face. Gosh, he looks so freaking handsome. I recover quickly from my perv stares before things got awkward.

“I’ll stay. If it’s okay with your sister, I have dry clothes in my trunk.”

“Yeah, sure,” I responded, ignoring my Mother’s voice that I need to stay away from him.

“We can play chess,” Jeremy said in a playful tone, making both me and Jade smile. Jeremy is pretty good at the game.

My Father taught me how to play it and always told me to never let the fear of someone’s strength weaken my ability to make a brave move, and ever since Jeremy could walk, I taught him the same thing.

“Okay, little man, let me get dressed, while you set up the game.” Jade went outside in the storm to get dry clothes, while Jeremy set up the game in the living room.

I poured some drinks while Jade dressed in the living room. I couldn’t help but peak.

I can just imagine my Mother’s face if she knew what was going on under her roof. I rolled my eyes, thinking how dramatic she sometimes can be.

“Here are some drinks, who’s first?” I ask while I tickle Jeremy.

“Me and Jade,” Jeremy said excitedly.

“Ok, smartypants, don’t lose.” I point my finger at him, making him laugh.

Jeremy and Jade played at least 5 games, and Jeremy won all 5 games, I had to laugh.

Every time Jeremey calls checkmate, Jade’s eyes turn enormously big, saying that I helped him, but I didn’t.

Jeremy fell asleep on the couch while I fetched drinks again. The power is still off and my mother still hasn’t called to let me know where she is. I’m getting worried, really worried.

“You want to play?” Jade ask while I entered the living room with the drinks.

“You think you can handle me?”

“I know I can.” he smiled, a dangerously gorgeous smile while he place the chess pieces on the board.

“Ok, let’s see.” we played for almost an hour.

“Checkmate,” I whispered, making Jade look up at me, his eyes burning through me. Suddenly, I’m cold and it’s not because of the weather.

“I can still move, even after checkmate, remember?” He quote earlier when we fought inside the mall.

“Yeah, what’s your next move?” I whispered slowly. He hangs over the board, his face inches away from mine.

“You won’t be able to handle this move.”

“Try me.” I challenged. The words tumble out too fast, making him smile. What the hell am I doing? The inner voice inside me asked, but at this very moment, I don’t want to listen to her.

Jade moved closer to where I’m on my knees on the floor. He pulled me closer by my waist, making me hiss.

“I don’t see you as a soldier on a battlefield,” he said, reminding me the reason I said I’m not playing his game. I don’t respond to his statement. He came closer, almost touching my lips, while he still stares into my eyes.

Why do I like this so much? The only thing that Jade knows is playing games with girls and his entire view screams trouble. My pulse quickened and my mouth turned dry. It’s a strange feeling, a feeling I’ve never felt before. Where will this lead?

Will I let him kiss me? Before I could think any further, I heard my mother clearing her throat by the front door.

I haven’t even noticed the power coming back on, or the storm that settled down.

“Mother,” I yell in shock, jumping up from the floor.

“What is he doing here, Laura?” she asked with an angry voice while hanging up her coat. I kind of feel annoyed by her question.

“You didn’t answer your phone, and Jeremy was still at the babysitter, so Jade offered to pick him up.”

“He did?” my mother asked, concerned.

“Yes, why didn’t you let me know where you are? I was worried.” I folded my arms like I’m the mother and she’s the child.

“I got held up at the office.” My mother responded, and it’s a shitty excuse.

“Yeah, right,” Jade said aloud.

“Excuse me?” my mother looked at him with question marks.

“Nothing. I will see you around Laura,” Jade announced, walking past my mother without greeting her. I wonder what’s up with that, and why he doesn’t like my mother, but that’s a question for another day, I’m tired, and the heat I just felt between me and Jade a few minutes ago is only wearing off now.