Good Enough (One More Game)
#12 of Good Enough Side Stories
There was a line in chapter 17 that relates to this particular little excerpt. And I like Ozzy enough just to give him this little aside on his own.
Good Enough--Side Story--One More Game
From where he sat on the windowsill, Ozzy stared out into the campus, a small grin spreading across his face. Down below, other students rushed to and fro, some late to class and others eager to meet up with their friends and still more busily hurrying to the library to finish some assignment that they'd left too late.
Undoubtedly, this place was buzzing with activity constantly of both the inappropriate and appropriate variety. And Ozzy loved how busy it was. Never a dull moment. Even now, as he sat in his dorm, he there was something intriguing. He returned his attention to the book he held, his eyes surveying the words he'd read several times before. He knew this book so well, he probably could've recited it by heart.
In his pocket, his phone vibrated and Ozzy pulled it out. It was a text message.
D and me going to dinner. You coming?
Ozzy grinned. There was no name attached to the phone number, but Ozzy knew exactly who it was. He could never forget that black panther's number. Despite the panther's new boyfriend, he was still trying to include his best friend in so much. Ozzy hurriedly replied.
Nah. Not a third wheel. You have fun
U sure?
Yeah. Catch you later
Later
Ozzy smiled and returned his attention to his book, but he hadn't resumed reading when the door to the dorm opened and a skinny weasel stepped into the room, shrugging off his backpack and tossing it haphazardly on his bed.
"What're you doing back so early?" Ozzy asked without looking up.
"I found what I was looking for," the weasel, Barny, replied calmly. "What're you doing inside? Shouldn't you be with that panther? What's his name?"
"Tommy," Ozzy answered, "and not today. He's with his boyfriend."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you sound bitter."
Ozzy closed his book and chortled. "How would you feel about a rematch? That last game was a fluke."
"A fluke? You won," Barny scoffed.
"Yes, but only because you made a mistake that you recognized." Ozzy got down from the windowsill and picked a box from the floor, setting it on his bed. He opened it and pulled out the chessboard, setting it up as Barny joined him. "White or black?" he asked.
"Heads or tails?" Barny questioned and Ozzy noticed he had a coin in his paw.
"Heads."
Barny flicked the coin and caught it deftly, grinning. "Tails. I'll play white."
"I'll play black," Ozzy remarked, turning the board around.
Barny's first move was one that Ozzy had anticipated. As usual, Barny opened by moving the pawn in front of his king forward two spaces. Ozzy mimicked him.
"No one likes a copycat," Barny said in his usual monotone, making his second move. Ozzy made his next move and Barny paused for a moment to consider what he'd do next. "I saw Tommy on my way back. He still has that husky hanging off him."
"I'm not surprised. They're dating," Ozzy replied. He watched Barny's next move.
"And you seem upset about it."
"I do? I couldn't be happier."
"Are you sure?" Barny questioned, watching as Ozzy made his next move. "After all, that's your panther."
"He's not mine to lose," Ozzy scoffed. He could see Barny planning to castle on his queen's side. Predictable. "Besides, regardless of how much I wanted him, there was always someone else in my way."
"Like who?"
"Hmm... Let's consider Miss Busch," Ozzy remarked, his paw on his queen. "She was a feisty little lioness and honestly, the two of them were made for each other when they met. But"--he slid his queen out diagonally, away from his king--"with time, everyone changes. And they grew apart. Check."
"Who else was in your way after her?" Barny wondered, moving his king out of check. He frowned; he could no longer castle.
"Well, take a look at the board," Ozzy explained, paw on his rook. "This is me. And even after the queen's moved out of the way, there's still two more that stepped in front of me, even before Damien."
"And they are?"
"First," Ozzy said, moving his paw from his rook to his bishop, "there's this. Let's call this Thomas's insecurities. Even now, he's still struggling with the idea of being gay. He likes it and it's starting to fade but..." He slid the piece upward.
"Still in play," Barny inferred, moving another of his pawns.
"Exactly," Ozzy remarked. "Then of course, there's this one." He indicated his knight. "Let's call him 'Secrecy'. Unlike me, he keeps a low profile. He's not flashy, not too boastful and pretty calm in comparison. He doesn't advertise himself too much because he really doesn't have to. But he does like being able to have a quiet place to retreat. Something that he, admittedly, can't really have with me."
Removing his paw from his knight Ozzy moved one of his pawns forward two squares. He saw Barny grin widely as he moved to capture the pawn. Ozzy smiled jovially.
"En passant, haven't seen that actually used before," Ozzy noted.
"Not a move I'm fond of but it works," Barny replied. "So you've got those two in your way, but where does the husky come in?"
"Damien? He's not on my side," Ozzy answered.
"What do you mean?" Barny answered, watching Ozzy make a move.
"He's on your side."
Barny reached forward and slid his pawn one space head. He frowned. "That's a promotion. You owe me a queen."
Ozzy leaned down, reaching into the box to pull out the extra white queen. He replaced the pawn and smiled.
"That's checkmate," Barny realized. "You lost."
"Exactly," Ozzy explained. "Even a pawn can take a king."
Barny looked down again and realization dawned on him. "Wait a moment. The rook is still in play. You can capture the queen."
"I could."
"You have to. It's your only play," Barny recognized.
"Exactly, but I don't think I want to," Ozzy remarked. "Let's call this a forfeit for now."
Barny hesitated. "Okay. But why wouldn't you take the queen? After all, it's the only thing standing in your way."
"Exactly, but I don't think I want to right now," Ozzy said. "After all, a queen is powerful. The most powerful piece on a chessboard. Takes careful planning to skillfully overtake a queen." He grinned.
"You had that gift wrapped to you," Barny scoffed indignantly as he started to reset the board. "So, what exactly is it that's keeping you from winning the panther back to your side? You know him pretty well. I'm sure you could win him over if you really tried. Not only that, but your silver tongue can win anybody over."
"Maybe. But Damien had an advantage over me that I just couldn't beat," Ozzy said with a shrug.
"Like what?"
"Have you seen him? He's freaking adorable. Absolutely cute."
"Seriously?" Barny huffed.
"Well, when they first met, I think Damien just reminded him of his little brother," Ozzy said. "But now... I think they just clicked. Damien's better at handling Thomas's meltdowns. Still playing white?"
"Yep."
"Then you'll lose to the black team." Ozzy said with a smirk.
"Are you really okay with them being together?" Barny inquired worriedly. "You seem like you really like that panther."
"I do," Ozzy admitted, "but he doesn't like me back."
"How are you okay with that?"
Ozzy grinned. "I'm not sure yet. I don't have a reason to get in the way."
"Except that you still love him," Barny observed.
Ozzy shrugged. "It's your move, Barny."