Crushing on the Geek(13)

“I didn't take you for a mama's boy.”

“I'm not. My mom died when I was six.”

“Sorry,” Tamara frowned.

“Don't be. You didn't kill her. You didn't even know she was dead.”

“I just meant….”

“Don't worry about it, Tamara, really it's okay,” he said, playfully bumping into her shoulder when the car came to a stop at a red light.

“It's too early in the morning. You're going to knock me over,” Tamara giggled.

“Nah, I'll catch you if you fall.”

Tamara laughed and leaned her head against the window. A bug hovered a few feet from the car window and disappeared when she blinked.

“I'll hold you to that,” she said blinking rapidly, trying to ignore the single piece of glitter drifting to the ground.

The parking lot was nearly full when they arrived at the tournament. Hayden was forced to park in the back forty. Tamara pulled her hoodie tightly around herself and ignored her chattering teeth as they walked across the parking lot.

“It's not that cold,” Hayden laughed.

“Yes, it is,” she said, pulling her hands inside her sleeves.

Tamara nearly tripped over the air when Hayden stepped closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“You're warm,” Tamara grinned.

“I'm naturally warmblooded, I guess.”

Tamara pressed her side close against Hayden's and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked. Greg and the others had gathered outside the door, waiting for them to arrive.

“You guys are three minutes late!” Cindy said.

The pair startled apart, “Your watch is fast, Cindy,” Tamara said.

“My cellphone is not fast. Its time is set by satellites in space. Satellites can not be wrong!”

“Actually they can,” Hayden said, opening the door and holding it for Tamara.

“Thanks.”

Six hours later Tamara sat against the wall with Hayden. She had lost her first game in three moves. Tamara hadn't expected to win, but she wished she had lasted longer than three turns. Why was it that chess, of all things, could make her feel so lame?

Hayden had lost his third match along with most of the others. Cindy had made it to the fourth before getting her butt handed to her by a kid who looked no older than twelve. Greg was the only one still playing. The rest of the group had gathered away from Hayden and Tamara.

“They're talking about us,” Tamara said, leaning her head on Hayden's shoulder in defeat.

“They're just looking for a scapegoat, because they can't admit they've lost the tournament because the other guys are better.”

“So you don't think this has anything to do with Sir Bedivere?”

“No.”

“But….”

“Guys, we need to talk,” Greg said, appearing suddenly.

“Pull up some floor,” Hayden said, waving his hand at the empty space in front of him.

“No, I'm okay. The points aren't up, but we've lost the tournament by 16 points.”

“We know and that sucks.”

“We've never lost this tournament before. In fact we've never lost a tournament.”

“Well, there's a first time for everything,” Tamara said, her voice sounding hopeful.

“We think it's because you guys didn't leave something for Sir Bedivere.”

“A little late for that, isn't it?” Hayden asked.

“You guys don't even care that we lost do you?” Cindy stomped up.

“Yes, we do,” Tamara said, “but...”

“You didn't leave anything, either!” Cindy said, “I knew we shouldn't have let her join!”

“That wasn't our choice, babe,” Greg said, wrapping his arm around her waist, “That was Mrs. Kelly's.”

“Whatever,” Tamara rolled her eyes.

“Let's just go, okay?” Hayden climbed to his feet and offered his hand to Tamara.

Tamara allowed Hayden to pull her up and lead her out. She kept her eyes on the floor, unable to look Greg and the others in the eye.

“Don't let them get to you!” Hayden said, as they walked across the parking lot.

“We should have just left something at the stupid statue!” Tamara said, “And well, maybe, not have eaten the apples.”

“That statue has nothing to do with winning or losing! It's a piece of wood! It may be an old piece of wood, but it's just a piece of wood none-the-less!” Hayden said, slapping his hand against the hood of his car, reiterating his point.

“You said it yourself, superstitions only work if you believe in them and they do believe in them, Hayden, or at least in Sir Bedivere!”

“They got themselves all worked up because we didn't leave candy for some chunk of wood! That's their problem!”