Chapter 10: Checkmate Moves

Sarah 👩🏻‍🦳

Our apartment was a chaotic haven, thick with the scent of burnt popcorn and pulsing with defiance. Emily hunched over her laptop on the couch, her dark curls a wild halo as she polished our chess game, Knight’s Gambit. Jake sprawled beside her, tossing a stress ball, the faint shadows of bruises from Vance’s fight lingering on his jaw. I sat cross-legged on the floor, back against the coffee table, scrolling through Bella’s rapid-fire texts about Vance’s latest screw-ups. Bella, our unofficial fourth musketeer, lounged on a beanbag, red ponytail bouncing as she typed, her phone a pipeline to the cheer squad’s gossip. The tech fair was tomorrow, and we were a team—messy, fierce, and unbreakable.

Bella had been crashing with us most evenings, her presence a steady rhythm in our orbit. More than a cheerleader ally, she was our strategist. She had helped in shielding Jake from the football team’s toxic whispers about his rumored preferences. Her loyalty wove her into our core, as vital as Emily’s logic or Jake’s strength. We stood united against Vance’s threat.

Going public with Emily on Instagram had been like shedding a heavy mask. A month ago, I’d cowered from being outed, hiding from Vance’s control and my family’s expectations. Now, with Emily’s fire, Jake’s solidity, and Bella’s fierce support, I felt free. The rumors about Jake—vile whispers claiming he was “hiding who he is”—had dulled, thanks to our openness.

We strutted to class as a trio, laughing too loud in the cafeteria, Emily’s hand in mine, Jake’s arm grazing my shoulder. Bella often joined us, her arm looped through Josh’s in public, a defiant shield against the glares. Our unapologetic bond—Emily and me hand-in-hand, Jake our rock, Bella as our ally—had stripped gossip of its power. Together, we were untouchable.

“Sarah, you with us?” Emily’s voice cut through my thoughts. Her dark eyes bright with exhaustion and excitement.

I grinned, setting my phone down. “Sorry. Bella’s got some dirt on Vance. He bribed a coordinator to dodge community service, Robin Hood style.”

Bella smirked, her cheerleader polish masking a sharp edge. “And the squad caught him hooking up with a freshman in the gym locker room. Blurry photos, but damning. Also, Sarah, I’m stealing your pizza next time—payback for my chips.” Her humor sliced the tension, but she was more than comic relief. She was our eyes and ears, her intel fueling our plan.

Jake caught the stress ball, brows rising. “Leverage. Matt says Vance is skimming fundraiser cash. PayPal records don’t lie.”

Bella’s fingers danced over her phone, grin sharp. “I have some juicy gossip. Vance’s dad is pissed about his bad rep and is cracking down on him. He’s obsessed with you, Sarah. Your families are tight, and I think he wants you to vouch for him like in high school.”

I snorted, my stomach twisting at our families’ old ties. “Not a chance, creep. He’s delusional.”

Emily’s hacker smirk gleamed, fingers flying across her keyboard. “It gets better. My fake Instagram profile—’concerned teammate’—has Vance spilling in DMs, confirming the bribery and locker room mess. He’s so sloppy, like he’s begging to get caught.”

I leaned forward, pulse racing. “You’re terrifying, Em. I love it.”

She pushed her glasses up while blushing. “Just leveling the board. Vance wants dirty? We’ll checkmate him.”

Bella tossed a chip in her mouth. “I’ll get my friend Josh to stir the team. Vance’s crew is cracking, and he can help. We’ll drop this during the fair for max chaos.”

We had all the pieces in place to get back at Vance.

👩🏻👦🏼👩🏻‍🦳👩‍🦰

While Jake and Bella tested the game’s UI, Emily and I slipped into the kitchen to grab sodas. Her hand brushed mine and lingered. We felt the spark, but her eyes were hesitant.

“Sarah,” she started. “About us ... the other night, when we got close without Jake...” She trailed off, cheeks pink. “It was amazing, but it felt ... unfair. Like we left him out.”

I nodded. I’d felt it too. The thrill of Emily’s kisses, her fingers grazing my skin, but we felt a pang of guilt for Jake. “Yeah. It was electric, but it’s not right without him. We’re a trio, not just ... us two.”

Emily’s eyes softened in relief. “Exactly. I love how we click, but it’s stronger with Jake. Like, we’re whole together—knight, pawn, bishop.”