The Dungeon Master and Chess Queen
You're the new student and chess captain at Hawkins High. When Eddie Munson asks you for tutoring you're certain you have him handled but you may have underestimated his strategy.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
It was morning break on Monday when Eddie came to find you.
You and Max were enjoying the quiet isolation of the picnic bench Eddie usually dealt at. You were sitting lotus style on the table with your chess board set up mid game while Max read a graphic novel you'd found in a thrift store.
Eddie's boots made enough noise to announce himself but you were completely transfixed by the still pieces on their squares. Max saw Eddie but went back to reading without a word.
Today you'd separated her hair into multiple braids and woven them together into a crown. Eddie thought of suggesting you swap book selling for hairdressing but he supposed a legitimate business wouldn't supply the same thrill.
"Sinclair said you two sometimes come up here before class," Eddie tried to get your attention away from the stalled game. "I hope I'm not disturbing you guys and your invisible friend."
Max muttered something about Lucas being a snitch and went back to reading.
You were more polite lifting your eyes and smiled at your visitor.
"I was hoping to catch you actually," you said and motioned for Eddie to join you.
"Really?" Eddie asked suspiciously, "Most people don't say that."
"Do you have ten bucks?" you got the point before he could waffle on. "One of my clients stood me up so I'm short."
"Oh so that's how it works does it?" Eddie asked with mock indignation. "You think a hot time in the janitor's closet opens an account at the Bank of Munson? Well credit denied madam!"
"I left half my good lipstick on you!" you protested joining in the joke. "You owe me! They're quality cosmetics!"
"I'll pay that," Eddie conceded with a chuckle and passed you some crumpled notes from his vest pocket. "What are you buying?"
"Greyhound tickets to Detroit," you answered and smoothed the currency on your leg. "I'm playing at a tournament this weekend. I'll pay you back next week plus ten percent of anything I win."
"Done deal honey."
"Hey, ten bucks doesn't buy you familiarity," you warned jabbing the notes his way threateningly.
"We're beyond familiar babe," Eddie replied then turned to Max. "Scoot kid, I need to talk to your mum."
"Do what I've shown you Max," you sighed returning your attention to the board.
Max flipped Eddie off with both middle fingers and told him to, "Die in a fire."
"I see you're a big inspiration for the youth," Eddie remarked snidely as Max packed the graphic novel in her bag.
"Says the man running a cult," you countered and turned to Max who was on her feet. "You don't have to go because of this guy."
"I don't want to hang around for the pillow talk," Max grunted. "I'll see you later?"
"Yep. Science Lab B for chess at lunch. I have a new opening for you."
Max stomped away through the undergrowth and you were left alone with Eddie and the chess board.
"Did you say I was a cult leader?" he asked when Max was out of earshot.
"You're a charismatic guy with wild hair who recruits young people to join him in practices outside the mainstream and adorn themselves in matching garb," you answered with a small shrug. "Pretty apt description."
"That doesn't make me a cult leader," Eddie retorted and crossed his arms.
"Whatever you say," you said as a smile started rising on your lips. "Just don't run a Kool Aid stand at the next school carnival."
That tickled Eddie's macabre sense of humour and he had to laugh. He and his Hellfire Club had been called a lot of nasty things but no one had the nerve to tease him to his face.
Besides, coming from a chess captain it was insults amongst outcasts.
"What did you come here for Eddie?" you asked.
The bell would ring soon and you needed to cut the banter.
"I wanted to check how you were with the suspension and everything," Eddie slipped his long legs over the bench so he could sit near you. "I would have called but none of your friends would give me your number. Robin said I'd make heavy breathing calls."
"Probably best you didn't. Dad has a habit of answering and trapping people on the line," you admitted.
"Yeah I heard your dad's a little-" Eddie broke off when he saw your friendly expression suddenly drop and eyes narrow.
"Go on," you dared.
"Never mind," Eddie was smart and changed the subject. "How much trouble did I get you in?"
"Got me in?" you nose crumpled from your confused expression. "I got you in trouble, I undid your pants to conceal my controversial library."
"Which I made you show me," Eddie interjected.
"Let's not squabble over details," you said rubbing your temples. "All Dad asked was who I was kissing and why so nothing came of it."
"He was cool with you kissing me? Really?"
One time he had seen his lab partner with her mother at the supermarket and had helped load their shopping onto the conveyor belt. Come Monday he was reassigned a new lab partner because the mother didn't want her daughter subjected to a "long haired thug" who would destroy her chemistry grade.
"A really nice guy who helped prevent a book burning? What's the problem with that?" you asked with open hands.
Eddie was rarely silent so you worried he was catatonic by the way he stared at you blankly while the birds chirped and trees rustled around you.
He thought your fiery defense of his character in the principal's office had stemmed from your need to rebel against Higgins, not genuine faith in his character.
He could count on one hand those who would stand up for him.
"Eddie?"
"Um yeah," Eddie came back online and blinked a few times to dissolve the glassiness of eyes. "I was wondering something else while you're here."
Your stomach began to twist and you held your breath. You'd been worrying about this possibility during your suspension, that Eddie would mistake your cunning romantic ruse for something real.
Something he would want to pursue.
"I hear you do some tutoring for the middle schoolers," Eddie continued before he lost his nerve. He never like admitting he was vulnerable. "I was wondering if maybe you could help me out with a few subjects?"
"Oh, yeah, sure," you stumbled through your quick reply. "We can sort something."
The bell rang and you both leapt into action relieved to end the awkward conversation. You had been rehearsing the 'Let's Be Friends' speech since the weekend and were elated to now know it wasn't needed.
Eddie was likewise pleased as he's half expected you to be contemptuous. He hadn't been suspended like you, he'd spent the last week in after school detentions where he'd asked around about the impressive grades Principal Higgins had mentioned.
Apparently you would be this year's valedictorian if only you could tell people to fuck off less. Hawkins High was not going to let you make the graduation speech for the Class of 86.
One of his fellow reprobates mentioned his younger brother was getting tutoring from you and Eddie started to think. He could feel this was going to be his year and now he knew why, the universe had brought you to him.
Eddie helped you pack up the board and offered a gentlemanly hand to help you off the table.
"Who won?" he asked showing his good mood. "You or Mr Invisible?"
"I lost that one," you admitted as you made your way down the hill together. "I was trying to find where they first made the play I didn't see."
"Who in the club beat you?" he asked curiously.
"That was a match from a local tournament three years ago. I like to go over my old games and analyse my opponent's strategies," you explained.
"You're shitting me," Eddie scoffed as the prison of Hawkins High came into view. "You can't remember the layout from that long ago."
"I shit you not," you countered and gave him a dead serious look. "I remember all my games. Even my first one."
That sounded incredibly spurious but somehow Eddie could believe it. He'd never seen you play but an amateur wouldn't take a six hour bus to play chess against strangers on a weekend.
"Well you better give me a kiss before we go to class," Eddie said changing the subject as you walked into the building.
"Pardon me?" you asked amazed at his hubris.
This guy had some serious balls if he thought you were going to dish out kisses like lollipops on vaccine day.
"The Eye on Sauron is upon us babe which means-"
"Principal Higgins is watching us for any further sign of felonious behaviour," you translated before you got buried in Tolkien theology. "So we best feed the gossip mill who will quilt us a cover with their vicious whispers and spiteful stories. I read Lord of the Rings too."
"Baby I'm not sure if you can get any hotter right now," Eddie purred silky and leaned in for the kiss.
Your lipstick printed on his mouth and you slipped a hand around his neck to feel the smooth skin under his jacket collar. There was no passion in the exchange but you had to admit the way Eddie brushed your hair behind your ear with his calloused guitarist's fingers wasn't entirely unpleasant.
You received a few catcalls and crude comments then pulled away from each other.
Mission successful.
Eddie had such a smug smile on his handsome face you couldn't let him swagger away in victory.
"Tolkien was overrated," you whispered in his ear and wiggled your butt so it suggested you were promising future favours. "Too many descriptions of fucking trees."
Eddie's nostrils flared like an enraged bull's and he opened his mouth to destroy you but your hand was already moving towards the winning move.
"I'm gonna eat this for lunch!" you yelled over the student herd migrating around you and gave Eddie's crotch a tight squeeze.
The crowd went wild with whoops and shouts and you held the delicate bulge just long enough for an appropriate amount of people to witness it.
Eddie was frozen in place and his bag slipped from his shoulder landing on the floor spilling his pens and books. His mind couldn't comprehend what was going on but his cock could.
The warmth and strength of your grip had opened the hormone floodgates and blood rushed straight into his length. You'd let go but his dick was crying out for more like a semaphore flag waving frantically for attention.
"Don't leave me hungry baby!" you hollered and ran towards your history class.
Checkmate.
