Principals are supposed to be your pal; that's how you learn the difference from the homophone principle, and 'principal' is the saying I have heard since second grade. Well, Principal L was the farthest thing from a pal. The way he ran the school, you'd have thought it was WWE with how much stuff Wade and Jackal get away with.
I sat in the office awaiting his call. Seated behind the bubble glass counter where the five other secretaries worked, each with their phone flashlights on, pointed to the ceiling to illuminate the office so they could finish their paperwork, as the blackout was still in effect.
BOOM
The office staff and I all glanced to the left, where Principal L's office door banged open as Barry stormed out, but not before glaring daggers at me. Jonas left the office a second later, looking like he had murder on his mind. His eyes darted toward me, and a smug smirk covered his face.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the choke master himself. How's your back?" Jonas cackled while making the choke impression.
I stared at him incredulously, "Pretty good actually. Last time I checked, you guys got carried, goofy. Take Jack off the team, and you guys would've lost again."
Jonas eyes narrowed," I don't care if you have history with him, but nobody calls him Jack except Wade."
I chuckled, "Whatever, dude. If it isn't already obvious, I couldn't give two shits about Wade or any of his dumb 'laws'." Speaking of which, you should go check up on him. He's having a fun time with his best friend, the whiteboard."
Jonas was fuming, "That's why Stanlee's in the hospital."
I exhaled loudly to swallow my anger, then scoffed, "You're a coward, Jonas."
The difference between them and us: Wade and Jackal rule with fear. While we don't rule, we stand together—at least we used to.
"That's enough." A deep voice cut through the air.
Out walked Principal Chien Lui, also known as Principal L. For such a deep voice, he was a very short man. His brown hair matched his brown eyes; his face and skin were Asian. Something that didn't get carried over to Wade at all. It's no wonder none of the staff knew that Wade and Principal L were related. If anything, they'd laugh at the absurdity of the thought. Wade had blue eyes and white skin, unlike Principal L's wheat-colored skin.
"Jonas, you should be heading to class now," Principal L said quietly with a patient grin on his face.
"Yes, sir." Jonas made his way to the exit, shooting me one devious smirk that screamed, "You're cooked."
Principal L gestured inside, "After you, Mr.Veyron."
I rose from my seat and glanced around before stepping into his office. He had an orange lantern on his desk, illuminating the dark gray room. The walls were indigo colored. He had photos of himself with family and one of him and Wade in tuxedos.
I took a seat in front of his desk as he shut the door and made it his chair.
Principal L had his hands in a steeple as he stared into the depths of my soul. "So, you seem to have a problem with keeping your hands to yourself, Mr.Veyron."
I shrugged, "Wade has a problem with skipping classes and picking fights he can't win. What's your point?"
Principal L glanced out the window at the gray clouds as rain began to fall, "Why is it that in every little event, your name is a constant when reported to me?"
I shook my head, "I stand up for what is right. Too many times in the past, I stayed silent and watched injustice happen, not anymore."
Principal L chuckled, "What do you see yourself as, Kevin? A hero? You can try and play vigilante all you want, but at Lyons Academy, I won't tolerate this act of yours. That Jason kid poisoned you. You've reverted to that defiant rebellious phase all over again."
I swallowed my anger, "Jason brought my hope back after it got shattered. He reminded me of my why here at Lyons."
Principal L snickers, "Well, what do you have that I should be worried about?"
I scoffed, "More than you know."
Principal L stared at me for what felt like an eternity before he pulled out his drawer. I held my breath, assuming he would pull out my file and count all my previous incidents, as he always does.
Instead, he pulled out a white and black chessboard. A bag of the white and black pieces sat on top of the board.
He glanced up with a bright grin, "Say, boy, would you be down for a game?"
My eyebrows furrowed, "Why would I play a chess game with you?"
His grin stayed constant on his face. "I believe a single chess game can tell me everything about a person, from the opening setup to the middlegame and endgame. Sacrifices, tactics, blunders."
As I stared at the whiteboard, I felt a cold chill run up my neck. This exact moment felt like déjà vu, but it wasn't with Principal L.
Principal tapped the table impatiently, "Still waiting for your response, boy."
I sighed, "I have nothing to gain from this."
"Oh, if that's the case, why don't I sweeten the deal. If you win, I'll answer any five questions you have."
My eyes widened, "How do I know you're gonna keep your side of the bargain?"
Principal L raised his hands." I'm a man of my word, Kevin. You dare question my honor?"
I just looked at him
Principal L shook his head, "Very well then. If I don't keep my word, you're free to go tell Officer Black to suspend Wade and Charlie for the rest of the year."
This took me aback. Principal L was either an idiot or had such confidence in his skills that he believed he could win this. Wade's never been suspended in the last week of school, much less for the rest of the year.
I folded my arms across my chest, "What happens in the scenario you win?"
Principal L sat up, a serious look on his face, as he tightened his tie. "You'll apologize to Wade in front of the entire school at the final assembly on the last day."
I exhaled sharply, feeling the dull pain that felt like being stabbed with unsharpened pencils all over my arms, chest, back, and thighs. I had already been humiliated enough today. My life was starting to feel like some sick joke at this point. I'd rather jump off a rooftop than "apologize" to Wade.
However, if I win, I can leave here with some info. Knowledge is power after all. Especially if I ask the right questions, I can turn the tables on Wade and his whole squad. This was a huge risk, one that I must take.
I met his gaze. "I'm down."
Principal L nodded, "White or Black."
"Black."
Principal L was flabbergasted, "You're the first to say black. Then again, I shouldn't be surprised."
I narrowed my eyes, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Principals waved his hand dismissively, "That's up to the eye of the beholder. Now, let's see what ya got, troublemaker."
He pushed his king's pawn up two spaces to the E4 square. I responded by pushing my queenside bishop pawn forward 2 spaces to C5.
Principal L frowned, "Seriously, Mr.Veyron? The Sicilian defense?"
I nodded, "Yes, I'd like to end this quickly."
Principal L shook his head, "Tsk tsk tsk, the Sicilian defense is a good but risky opening for black because it's so sharp. Someone like you wouldn't be able to use the opening to its greatest potential."
I narrowed my eyes, "Why is that?"
Principal L yawned before bringing out his queenside knight to c3, "You see, Mr.Veyron, this entire school is running under my grand system. It took forever for me to rebuild this system after the stunts you and your friends pulled the year before."
I scoffed, pushing my g pawn up one to g6, "We did what we had to do. We had you and Wade backed in a corner."
Principal L's eyebrow furrowed, "The Hyperaccelerated Dragon Variation? Interesting. Anywho, no, you didn't, Kevin. My nephew may be clever, but he isn't on my level. I planned steps ahead of that day. Every little reaction you all had fit my rhythm. Did you love the surprise I had waiting for you that day?"
I stared dead at him.
Principal L smirked and pushed his d-pawn up to d4. "Cat got your tongue, Mr.Veyron?"
I ignored his provocative taunt and captured his d4 pawn with my c5 pawn.
Principal L nodded, "I see you're trying to—what's it you kids call it these days?—' lock in.' Alright, but I'm gonna keep yapping."
He brought his kingside knight to f3, attacking the d4 pawn. I responded by moving my f bishop g7 on the long diagonal, protecting the pawn.
Principal L clapped his hands, "Amazing, you know about the dragon bishop's fire-breathing fianchetto. Let's see how you respond to this."
He slid his white square bishop to c4, sitting beside my d4 pawn. I responded with d5, with my original d pawn behind my d5 pawn, which had crossed from the c file. Forking his e4 pawn and his c4 bishop.
For a second, Principal L's eyes twitched in anger, "Not bad, not bad at all, Mr.Veyron."
He took my d5 pawn with his e4 pawn, which now sat at d5. I responded by using my d4 pawn from the c file to attack his knight on c3.
Principal L eyes scanned the board for a reply to my onslaught, "Ya know, Mr.Veyron, all these aggressive attacks and trades pieces had got me thinking. This is exactly how you helped us last year."
I could feel my forehead blazing, like an iron was dead in the center of it. "What are you talking about?"
He castled kingside, then met my gaze, "Every great nation ran on a system. Oligarchy, democracy, monarchy, republic."
I moved my knight to f6. " Your point is?"
Principal L outstretched his hands. "Are you blind, Kevin? You contributed to this system, just as your ancestors did to the grounds we step on every day! You played your part. Enslaved Black people helped build America! The Chinese also played their part. You are no different; you spearheaded that group that day and unintentionally made Wade reach heights I never thought he'd reach."
My eyes burned with rage, "Ok, wise guy, that's messed up. My people were fighting for their freedom; they had no choice in 'building America '! Also, stop talking about us like we're pieces on a board."
Principal L chuckled ruefully, "But that is exactly what you all are, Kevin, you are nothing but a pawn in the grand scheme. "me. "me. "me. "me. "me. "me of things. I'm the king. Wade, he's the queen. Jackal is both of the rooks, and all his other allies are knights and bishops. You and everybody else that stays neutral or is against us are pawns. Worthless, always playing at someone else's speed and rhythm."
Thunder boomed outside, and the rain started striking the window harder. The lantern flickered.
I sighed, "Principal L, you're wrong. A pawn may start weak, but it isn't alone to face adversity. It has 7 other brothers and sisters on the board. As it climbs up the board, it grows and eventually gets to the other side, where it evolves to be whatever it wants to be."
Principal L frowned, "And?"
Pushed his black square bishop to g5.
I moved my knight on the b file to d7 and glared, "We won't be dancing to your tune. We'll break free and carve a new path forward."
Lightning crackled overhead, splitting clouds.
Principal L laughed hysterically, "Again, Kevin, your squad is more shattered than a glass window hit by a baseball. This will end just like it did last year."
I smirked, "I wouldn't be talking like this unless I had a plan."
Principal L's laughter died out immediately.
The room was silent, with just rain filling the background like an ambiance.
Principal L's eyes narrowed. I knew from the moment you entered this school, Kevin, that you wouldn't fit into my system. I hope for your sake that you win, Kevin. I'd hate to snuff out that light in your eyes again."
Thunder boomed overhead, causing my heart to beat louder than a bass drum.
I glanced at the board, 'Like rowing a boat, we enter the future backward. All we see are the scenes of the past, and no one can see the views of tomorrow.' May the best tactician win."
***
After what felt like twenty-some minutes, we were finally in the endgame. I had my queen, king, and pawn. He had his queen, king, and bishop.
"You can still surrender Veyron. I wouldn't blame you."
I shook my head, "I'm just getting started."
I pushed my queen all the way to the backside, where his king sat alone with his queen behind it.
"Check."
Principal L was sweating profusely, "Damn it. Ya skewered my queen."
He retreated his king one square forward to step out of check. I immediately took his queen, and he took back with his king instantaneously.
He wiped the sweat beading on his forehead, "It's over, you just lost your best chance to win this game, Veyron."
"No, you just lost."
"What are you talking about—"
I pushed my pawn up one square; it was one square away from promotion. The final square it would land on would be black, and Principal L's bishop was on a white square.
Principal L sat there, shocked, his jaw nearly hit the floor, "Unbelievable, you sacrificed your queen because you wanted me to forget about your useless pawn."
"I told you, a pawn isn't alone. Like a caterpillar, it grows, and as it crosses the board, it enters its chrysalis stage, and when it makes it to the promotion square, it transforms into its own unique form."
I pushed my pawn to the final square.
I sigh in relief, "Pawn promotion."
I grab my black queen, which was out of the game, and swap it with my pawn.
"Check."
Principal L grumbles, "This is bullshit."
He moved his king back, and I took his lone bishop. He now had no other pieces on the board but the king, which sat in the back rank where my king stared his king down.
Principals L moved his king to the right in defeat. Even he could sense Checkmate. All I had to do was move my queen in front of my king, where it would be safe, and then that would be Checkmate.
I grabbed my queen with my right hand and began sliding it down to the spot to end the game.
PANG
My grip slipped as a sharp, searing pain danced along my arm. I grabbed my right arm with my left hand and immediately started massaging it with clenched teeth.
Principal L smirked as he began to start clapping, "Well, well, well, would ya look at that!"
I froze as I stared at the board. My queen piece stopped a square too early. His king wasn't in check, but it also had no squares it could legally move to. I accidentally played stalemate.
"No... I didn't mean to do that! My right arm just gave out!" I shouted with bared teeth.
Principal L frowned sympathetically, "Well, that sucks for you. Everybody knows the rules of chess, Mr.Veyron. The moment you release your piece, that move is final. No 'do-overs' or 'redo's' or 'retries'. It's over. "
I punched my arm in frustration. I was so close! Why do I always fail when it matters most!
Principal L shook his head in disappointment, "Ahhh, the tragedy. Victory was in your grasp, Mr.Veyron, but your body betrayed you in the moment of truth. Since we didn't plan on a stalemate condition, everything is null. You are free to go."
I glared at him, "Mark my words, Principal L. I'm not leaving this academy until I see you and Wade's entire squad pay for what you've done!"
Principal met my gaze with a cold, icy leer of his own, "Kevin, how long are you going to be this oblivious. Everything you do is always a step behind me. Whenever you do have the upper hand, just know it's only cause I allowed it. Everybody else is ready to throw in the towel. I suggest you do the same."
KNOCK KNOCK
The principal held his gaze on me. "Come in."
The main secretary, Lady, came in holding a white sheet of paper. "Sir, we just received word that all Omaha public schools are closed for the remainder of the day and will resume as soon as power is restored."
Thunder boomed overhead. The loudest one so far.
Principal L's eyebrow furrowed, "Hmm, this storm is the craziest one I've seen in a while."
The lady nodded, "It sure is, sir."
Principal flicked his hand dismissively, "Kevin, we're done talking. Go inform Officer Black to dismiss all students."
I pushed myself up and made my way to the exit door. I glanced furiously back at Principal L, who smiled at me.
"You'll always be one step behind me, Kevin. Throw in the towel."
I turned forward and slammed the door so hard it echoed throughout the first-floor hallways.