[Storiesmaniac]

"I'm bored," Mike said, as he sat on the couch watching the movie with the group of spectators who had gathered round the tube.

"Me too." Alex shook his head.

"Me three," Ash sighed. "As much as I love this, I've been watching it since Thanksgiving trying to get in the holiday mood."

Everyone sitting on the couch and surrounding area turned and looked at Ash, brows raised.

"What?" she shrugged. "It's not like it hasn't been on every weekend!"

"I say we start a competition," Kyle stated. He waited to hear Sarah's objection to a drinking game, but oddly it didn't come. "Where's Sarah?"

"She left," Shawn answered, eyes glued to the screen.

"Left?" Whitney questioned. "To where?"

"Airport," the entranced Shawn replied, not breaking gaze.

"Shawn," Mike asked staring at his mate. "Are you crying?"

"No," Shawn denied. "My eyes, they're irritable. Contacts, you know?"

"Sure," Alex laughed.

Kara was staring at Shawn in disgust. "You absolutely fail at being horrid. I give up. If you haven't learned enough from me by now, then you have no more hope to do so."

"Oh please, I taught you everything you know," Shawn retorted.

"So." Kyle looked around hoping to keep focus on his idea. "Competition?"

"Of what?" Ben asked. "It's already getting late."

"Chess!" Becka spoke up with a slightly intoxicated laugh.

"No," the group groaned.

"No, no," Kyle laughed. "I like the sound of chess. We could make it interesting. Bets or something the whole way through."

"You only say that with confidence because you were on the chess club in middle school," Alex mocked. Kyle turned a slightly deep shade of pink.

"The chess club?" Kara cackled. "Oh do go on, Alex."

"Kara, I know where those cheerleading photos are," warned Whit. "But Kyle, really, chess club?"

"Is it a deal or not?" Kyle avoided the topic. "I know we've got a couple boards in the game cabinet."

"Why does the phrase 'game cabinet' sound so dirty?" Robin asked with a laugh.

"Sure," Ash shrugged. "Why not?"

Within five minutes, four groups, all boy/girl, supervised under the watchful eye of Alex, who didn't exactly care for the idea of an ultimate dork fest, were deep in pensive competition. The range of bets spanned from downing five screwdrivers to running outside in the snow in a bikini. After several games, the semi-finals had ensued, and Whit sat across from Shawn while Mike was deep in battling Ash. Ash's king fell to Mike's bishop, and reclining, he watched the last few minutes of Whit and Shawn's game.

"Okay," Mike laughed. "Here's my bet for the next round: should the winner of this lose to me next round, I declare a minute of mistletoe fun."

"Mike." Kyle gave him a glance. "You're suggesting the possibility of either making out with Shawn, or making out with my wife. Do you realize how shitty a deal that is?"

"Yeah," Mike shrugged. "But the way I see it, I don't plan on Shawn going on to the next round."

"What do you mean?" Shawn spoke up. "I've got half my force left, and she's down to a rook, a bishop, and her king!"

"Check," Whit said quietly, focusing intently on the game board.

"What?" Shawn exclaimed, looking confused. "No way!"

"Actually," Kara leaned over her sister's shoulder. "That's checkmate."

"Huh?' Shawn cried. "What? No!"

"Yes," Kyle nodded. "You're out mate."

Gaping in disbelief, Shawn stood from his seat at the table and Mike sat down in his place, a large smile across his face. Whit rolled her eyes and began to collect the taken pieces on Mike's side of the board and reset her side. Without a word, she moved forward her knight, and Mike stared.

"What? No bet?" he asked.

"I'm waiting to see how much I dislike you by the end of the game. I know your compromise, and I know that you think you can't lose. So with that being your mental game plan, I only ask that when the time comes, and I wipe the floor of this competition with your miserable ass, that you subdue to my will without complaint," Whit said coldly.

Mike smiled back smugly. "Anything for you," he winked.

"Very well then," Whit nodded, glad that he still thought the way he did. "I suggest you move a piece now."

"Thanks for the idea!"

The game went on for a good half hour, the two heavily engaged, neither one saying anything to each other. The others watched in heavy silence as well, terrified of breaking the concentration. It was one of the most intense ordeals any had seen. Mike was the favorite by far, but with the lucrative promise of defeat from Whit, no one seemed to recognize her as the underdog. Each with three pieces left, the glowing lights from the ceiling fan seemed as harsh as the glare of the sun on blinding snow.

"That's check m'love," Mike said as he moved his knight forward. "And as far as I can see it, soon to be checkmate. Best go brush your teeth."

Whitney stared at the set, looking as if she hadn't even heard Mike's comment. Those watching the game all looked at each other, eyes wide.

"Funny," Whit smiled coyly and then moved her bishop halfway across the board. "That's check for you too, and it looks like I'm saved."

"Your mind games are too pathetic," Mike moved his king diagonally, and consequently, right towards Whit's king.

"Try again," Whit laughed. Mike had no choice but to move his knight, and hence freeing Whit of her check. Whit moved her one pawn idly to shift focus, and Mike slid his knight back to his check worthy position. "Checkmate."

"I don't think so," Mike shook his head. "I'm not that easy."

"Oh, but you are," Whit mocked as she reenacted every possible choice for movement Mike had. Either way he looked at it, she had him beat. There was a low "ooh" that swept through the crowd. Whit reclined in her chair and crossed her arms across her chest. "So, start stripping."

"What?" Mike asked.

"You heard me." Whit smiled. "It's time for you to go for a swim. Outside. Naked."