Some days do deserve their own chapter. This is the second such day in a row. :)
9. Queen to bishop six
Saturday, Spring 21
Cameron apparently brought some pleasant Spring weather back to Brindleton Bay, because the next morning dawned sunny and bright. The sun shone on Cameron at work, too–he received another §10 raise…and a §1420 bonus on top of that! Now, between the money he earned at his job and the income from his gardening, he was nearly able to pay his weekly bills. At this rate, it won’t be long before I won’t need any of the money Grandpa Mason and Grandma Martha staked me with, he thought, and the thought of achieving this degree of financial independence, so soon, made him smile.
Tending his Birds of Paradise turned out to be more fun than Cameron had expected. The weeding and watering relaxed him, and he enjoyed watching his plants grow and develop. He began wondering if he might like to do something like that for a living.
https://i.imgur.com/Gwdvunf.jpg
His confidence high, Cam thought seriously about heading to the city for the Romance Festival. Something held him back, however. It was lame last time, he told himself. And I don’t need some weirdo who’s tripping on Sakura Tea telling me how “many moons I have to wait for my destined love.”
Instead, he set his course for the Willow Creek Family Park, and spent the evening playing chess with Angie Reynolds, who had also happened to think the Family Park would be a wonderful place to spend the evening.
Conversation came naturally to Cameron, and at first glance, he might appear very comfortable making small talk with girls…as long as they were friends, and nothing more. He hadn't talked much to Angie when they were growing up, and he'd certainly never been tongue-tied around her. Tonight felt different. The chess game gave Cam a believable cover for his sudden shyness. You weren’t supposed to be a chatterbox while you and your opponent were pondering your next moves. Except Cam was pondering much more than chess…
Angie has changed so much! Now she’s a doctor, and I’m a part-time lifeguard. Does she think I’m a loser? I never really said more than “hi” to her in high school. She must think I’m full of myself, too. I hope she doesn’t…Oh, plum, she took my knight. Focus! What’s going on?? Do I like her, or something??
Angie, too, was perfectly glad to have an excuse to be quiet. Her mind was awhirl…
I’ve run into Cameron two straight nights now. Does he think I’m stalking him? Is that seriously what I’m doing? Or did he come to the park because he might see me? Why am I thinking things like this?? Do I like him or something??
https://i.imgur.com/xXhG9wO.jpg
Even while distracted, Angie was still a superb chess player; Cameron, on his best day, was not. Angie cleared her mind enough to draw Cameron into a trap, which she then snapped shut.
“Checkmar,” she announced with a satisfied smile.
Cameron leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. “That didn’t take long. Well done.”
“Thank you. You’re really not a bad player.” Great, Angie, she thought. That’s SUCH a compliment…
“Yeah, I am,” Cameron disagreed. “But I AM the Curry Champion.” He playfully pounded his chest with his fist and laughed. Way to brag, doofus, he told himself.
“Oh, really now?” Angie smirked. “I suppose you have the shirt to prove it?”
“I’ll wear it next time we play.”
Angie’s eyes widened. Is he, like, asking me out??
Cameron looked down at the chess board. Did I just ask her out or something?
“I really had fun tonight,”Angie told him as she prepared to head home.
“I did, too.” Cameron smiled warmly at her.
“You know, tonight was the Romance Festival,” she murmured. “You didn’t feel like going?”
“Nope. I went last time. It’s apparently not my thing.”
“It’s definitely not my thing.”
Cameron paused for a moment. “Let’s do this again, Angie.”
“I’d like that, Cameron.”
And, then, they said good night.
