“I apologize for startling you,” a soft voice whispered.

Ria sighed and kicked at a rock. It flew a short distance away. The rock landed on the concrete with a THUNK. She sighed again. “I’m honestly more pissed about being banned from the bus.” She sighed, still a bit struck with disbelief. “For life.”

Ria deflated, slumping on the bus stop’s bench.

“Would a sorry help?” the voice asked.

“No!” Ria huffed. She rubbed her temple. Calm down, she chided. She glanced at the figure standing awkwardly in front of her, pulling the blanket tighter around their shoulders. Now, I just feel like a jerk, she thought. Ria got up and shrugged off her jacket. The girl handed it to the woman.

Eyes brightening, the woman snatched the coat. It took no time for her to wrap the material around herself. Ria thought she heard a snarl but chalked it up to her imagination.

The woman sighed happily… as if the coat was all she needed in the world. She peeked at Ria and looked away when she noticed the girl staring right back at her. The woman looked around with squinted eyes, head moving jerkily. It really did look a bit… zombie-like. Well, in the infamous words of Mr. Stein, welcome back to the land of the living, thought Ria. She averted her eyes to stare at the busy street.

The woman had introduced herself as Laila. Ria had been calling her “coma lady” in her mind for the past months and it was hard to mentally rid herself of the moniker. What were the chances that the one that Ria had been on her way to see ended up appearing right in front of her?

It saved her a trip to the hospital, she supposed. Although, in Ria’s unprofessional professional opinion, despite the woman’s claims about being discharged, Ria found it hard to believe that someone who could barely stand straight should be leaving medical care.

The two waited awkwardly on the sidewalk. Cars zipped by.

Laila cleared her throat. “So… are you a student of Speculum Academy?” Her voice was raspy. It was clear it took much effort for her to speak at an audible volume.

“Yeah,” said Ria.

“I figured! You know… from the jacket, since it, cough… says on there.” Laila nodded at the school emblem on the jacket. “I swear I’m not a, stalker or anything, I just…” she sighed wearily. “I’m coming off as really weird, aren’t I?”

Ria bit her lip and nodded.

Laila shrugged weakly. “I used to go there too.”

Ria’s brows furrowed. “Wait, but Speculum was only built like ten years ago, how…?”

“I was part of the very first class?” Laila frowned, face gaining a bit of color. “Hold on, just how old do you think I am?”

Ria blinked, “That feels like a trick question.” She thought about it for a while then guessed, “Like around my mom’s age?”

“I’m 24!” Laila refuted angrily. She broke into a coughing fit.

Ria’s eyes widened. Her face grew red as she rushed over to pat Laila on the back. The other woman held up a hand. The girl backed off. She wisely chose to end that conversation right there.

Ria stared out at the street. Her arms crossed over her chest. The sun was beginning to set and the number of cars had thinned. Why was that taxi taking so long? Ria shifted from foot to foot. She had offered to wait with the frail woman, but the summer winds were starting to pick up and she had to walk home before it got dark.

Laila was staring down at her lap. The young woman looked close to tears. Murmuring softly, she mumbled, “As old as her mom? Did your mom give birth at like ten? It can’t be true. Right?” She got up and fumed, “Maybe I should just return to the hospital, huh? Or better yet! The morgue!” Her fists clenched and she cursed up at the sky. “Niamh this is stupid,” she continued.

If Laila wasn’t wrapped in an oversized jacket and ratty blanket (and looked less like the slightest breeze could topple her over) … the image would have looked a bit more intimidating. But, with things being as they were… it made for a bit of a pathetic sight.

Passing pedestrians stared openly at the weird woman. Taking notice, Ria hurried to sit the woman down. “All right, all right. Calm down.” Laila ignored her. Clasping her hands together, Ria begged. “Please stop. I was wrong, okay? You look amazing. I’m sorry.”

Laila sniffed indignantly. “You know, before the accident, I was quite attractive.” Resting her chin on her fist, she pouted, looking more like her actual age. “Even almost became prom queen, and I was the ultimate queen of the chess club, but of course, Mei-An had to…”

Ria smiled as the other woman droned on. Privately, she thought, you sure sound a lot more like my mom than any 28-year-old I’ve met.

“Oh!” Laila smiled excitedly, two splashes of red dying her pale cheeks. “Ria! You should join the chess club! It’ll be such a great activity for a nice, quiet girl like you.”

“Sounds fun,” said Ria absently, distracted by the approaching yellow vehicle. The taxi was finally here!

.......

Ria held the door open for Laila, helping her in. The taxi driver yawned and watched them with dull eyes from the rearview mirror.

Laila smiled, “Thank you, dear.” She stared down at her folded hands and curled in on herself suddenly looking even smaller. “It is apparent that you were the only one to visit me.”

Ria sighed. “No 28-year-old talks like that.” Leaning against the door frame she warned, “Don’t go getting more people kicked off buses, okay?” She paused, “Take care of yourself, all right?”

Before Ria could shut the door, a familiar bony hand shot out and gripped her arm. Ria just barely held back from screaming again. What was wrong with this woman?

“Ria,” Laila’s voice suddenly turned serious. “Promise me, you’ll at least attend the first meeting next week.”

“What?” asked Ria, extremely confused.

“The chess club,” Laila stared intently up at her. “You must go.”

Pausing, Ria stared down at the hospital patient. Shaking her head, she said, “Only if you answer a question I have.”

Laila nodded for her to go ahead.

“Why did you call me Four?” Ria asked.

The taxi driver shifted in his seat. He grumbled, “Ladies, can we please get going?”

Laila’s smile grew wider, in fact, it was so wide it started to look a bit creepy. In a bright voice, Laila chirped, “You misunderstood, dear. Four is simply my favorite number. And your seat happened to be #4!”

That wasn’t right. Ria had been sitting in the middle of the bus. There was no way her seat could have been #4. She opened her mouth to point this out but was cut off.

“Naughty child,” Laila chided. “I can see in your eyes that you intend to go back on our deal.”

Laila let go of Ria’s arm. Leaning back, Laila suddenly had a dignified and haughty air about her. The withered blanket might as well have transformed into a royal robe and she made the tattered backseat seem like an ancient throne.

Laila’s gaze bore down on Ria. “How long will you let yourself be trampled over by those ingrates? Why not be the one to hold the power? From our conversation, you seem more than capable.” Laila leaned closer. “No more being the side character or third wheel…I can make you somebody. It’d be a pity if I didn’t.”

There was silence.

Suddenly, Ria laughed. She laughed and laughed and laughed. Wiping a tear away, she let out another chuckle and shook her head.

“I don’t need your pity.” Ria smiled at Laila. “And you recall wrong, miss.” Ria shrugged. “What would I want to do with power? I’m perfectly happy being a nobody!”

Laila froze. Ria smiled. She reached for the door.

“Is that really true?” an angry voice asked.

Ria paused. Laila’s too wide smile remained as she snarled, “Or is it a lie you tell yourself to appease your own ambitions?” She licked her lips. “How long can a wolf hide among the sheep, I wonder?”

The woman opened her mouth to say more but Ria didn’t hear those words as she slammed the taxi door shut and walked away. After a slight pause, she heard the taxi drive away behind her. Some people were way too invested in their hobbies. A chess club that could change a person’s life? Maybe in another world.

A slight breeze tickled Ria’s bare arms, stopping her in her tracks. Her bare arms! The jacket!

Ria sighed.

This was going to be a long walk home.

.......

Ria stared at her beautiful sandwich in all its BLT glory. Her mouth watered. As she leaned in to devour the glorious piece of carbs and bacon, a heavy hand landed on her shoulder almost causing her to drop her sandwich.

Ria turned. “What the- Hi, Kris!” she chirped, immediately changing tunes.

Kris crossed his arm. “Ria.”

“What’s wrong?” Ria asked.

Kris studied her for a moment. The cogs in his brain were turning as he analyzed the girl in front of him. Quiet but smart, hard-working but discrete, it had been a perfect solution getting Ria to do his notes and homework. But now…

“Kris?” Ria waved a hand in front of Kris’ face. “Earth to Kris? What’s wrong? Is one of the pages wrong?’

The rest of the table quieted, shifting their attention to the interaction between the two. Noticing the shift, Isha looked up and frowned at the scene before her.

Kris shifted on his feet and asked, “Did you steal my wallet, Ria?”

Ria raised an eyebrow. “What?’

Kris rubbed his face, then growled out. “Don’t pull that. My buddy said he saw you throw it in the trash. A five-thousand-dollar wallet, Ria!” He lowered his voice and whispered fiercely. “Do you know how expensive that is?”

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The ugly emotion reared its head again. Shaking her head slowly, Ria jabbed a finger at Kris. Lowering her voice, Ria said, “You’re the one that didn’t pay me, Davis.” She shrugged half-heartedly. “Maybe it was karma.”

Kris swallowed. “But, you’re the only one that could have-”

“What’s going on here?” a sharp voice called out.

Everyone looked up and gasped.

Heels clicked against the floor as their servants, sorry, friends, trailed reverently behind. It was no other than Ms. #1 hotshot herself walking towards their table. The Daphne Mele!! Quick, grab your phones! The ASB members didn’t know whether to cheer or faint.

Kris stiffened. He tried for a smile as Daphne draped an arm around him and stared down at a sitting Ria. “Babe? What’s going on?”

“Uh,” Kris stuttered, eyes flittering around, “well, uhm, you see, I mean-”

Daphne stared at him, unamused. Kris shut his mouth, mentally locking it. Forever. Yeah, that was probably a good idea. Daphne shifted her attention back to Ria. “Sorry, I don’t think I caught your name…”

“Ria,” said the girl, looking down at her lap. The peasant bowed before the mighty queen.

Daphne smiled benevolently. She opened her mouth but was cut off.

“You know, the girl that sat next to you for the past three semesters?” Ria tilted her head, lips quirking up mockingly.

Daphne’s smile dropped.

Kris stared between the two along with the rest of the school.

After a short pause, Daphne tilted her head and asked, voice baffled. “Sorry, what?”

“No worries,” Ria turned back to her sandwich. “I’m sure you’ll remember it next time,” she said coolly.

Jaws dropped… except for Daphne’s which clenched tightly.

Ria stared intently at her sandwich. What on earth was she doing? Sweat beaded down the back of her neck. Where was this courage coming from? Stupid, stupid, stupid! What happened to staying under the radar? Ria took a bite from her sandwich, trying to silence those thoughts. Too late to turn back now.

Suddenly, a laugh rang out. Everybody stared in shock as Daphne clapped her hands together. Chuckling, she wiped a tear from her perfect almond-shaped eyes. “Of course!”

Smiling sweetly, Daphne said in a calm and serious voice. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She paused. “Ria.”

Her fans swooned. In their hearts, everyone praised the compassion and good nature of the one true queen.

Daphne turned towards Kris. She tutted, “Now, what was all the fuss you were making?”

Against his better judgment, Kris opened his mouth. “She stole my wallet! All because I didn’t-”

“Baby,” Daphne cooed, effectively shutting the other up. “I can just buy you another one. Plus, that can’t be true.” Her eyes narrowed. “Why would…Ria,” the sharp gaze flittered over to the seated girl. “Ever have your wallet in the first place? You probably just misplaced it.”

Kris hesitated. Something about the way Daphne phrased things always made him cautious. Hesitatingly, he nodded. Wrapping an arm around his girlfriend’s waist, he agreed, “You know what? You’re probably right. Like always. It’s my bad for taking time away for something so silly.” He smiled charmingly, making all the girls swoon. “Let’s go get lunch, Babe.” Daphne’s eyes softened as she nodded.

With the power couple back in harmony balance was restored to the universe. All the onlookers went back to whatever it was that they were doing.

Zach and Tyler shuffled by. They kept their heads down as they passed Ria. Zach whispered, “She is terrifying.”

“We’re talking about the math genius, right?” whispered Tyler back.

“Of-” Zach faltered, the hairs on the back of his neck raising. Eyes widening, he looked towards Ria only to find that the girl had lifted her head and was making direct eye contact with him.

Yelping, the two scurried away.

Ria brushed the crumbs off her face. A sharp slap on the table brought her attention to the other end of the lunch table.

“What the heck, Ria?” Isha was downright pissed and looked at Ria with a disgusted expression. “I told you to stay away from him!”

Before Ria could say anything, one of Isha’s ASB friends chimed in, “Look, I didn’t want to say anything but Isha’s got a point!”

Ria ignored the ASB girl and stared at Isha in astonishment. Were they seriously going to do this again? “Seriously, Isha?” she started.

“Guys aren’t going to fall for that Ria,” a new voice muttered.

Ria’s eyes widened. She turned to stare at Kevin. “Excuse me?”

“You’re so desperate.” Eyes downcast, he said somberly. “Dudes don’t like that. He’s just using you and you’re falling straight for it.”

Ria was silent, trying to absorb what had just happened. Kevin was the nicest guy she knew and now…

Kevin continued, “He’s never going to go for you. Helping him with his work isn’t going to change that. So, just quit it.” He scoffed, “It’s embarrassing.”

Kevin tossed his stuff into his bag. He leaned over to steal a piece of chicken from Isha’s salad. She giggled and playfully shoved him away.

“Are you kidding me?”

The couple stopped in their track

Unlike her usual friendly, if a bit sassy, tone, Ria laughed sharply. “Are you kidding me right now?” she repeated.

Ria finally understood. Anger was what she had been feeling. Seeing her friends act like this (even though she had always been able to dismiss it before) hurt. Rather than pushing them down like usual, Ria let the emotions fuel her as she spit, “Are you jealous that I’m helping him just like how I help you guys?”

Isha cut her off angrily. “Ria! Kevin’s just telling you the truth. What are you even trying to do? You know Kris is taken right?”

“That didn’t stop you from getting together with Kevin.” Ria retorted. Her heart dropped. Okay, maybe that was a bit too far.

Furiously, Isha made to get up. But it was Kevin’s quiet voice that said, “Who do you think you are?” His tone was sharp and biting, words meant to cut deep.

Isha sat back down. The entire table fell silent.

Stunned, Ria admitted, “The person that does all your homework.” The truth was finally dawning on her.

Kevin laughed. Leaning over, he stared from down the table and ridiculed, “You’re nobody.”

Heart in her throat, Ria stared at him in shock. That’s right. She’s nobody. But why did her heart squeeze so much when someone else said it? When her friends said it.

Kevin’s buddy scoffed, “Pfft, Kevin and Isha are literally candidates for valedictorian. Trust me when I say,” he leaned in, “they don’t need homework help from you, Nobody.” He turned to the two, nudging them playfully. “Right guys?”

Kevin rolled his eyes. “Shut up, man! I told you that in confidence.”

“So? You guys should be proud- oof! Hey!” Smirking, he held out an arm on the table. “You’re on man!” The two boys got into an arm-wrestling match and the previous comments and tense atmosphere seemed to be all but forgotten.

Still frowning, Isha picked at her salad and said, “Seriously though, whatever is going on between you and Kris needs to stop,” She pointed her fork playfully at Ria. “Otherwise, my whole investment in you is going to come crashing down on my head.”

The group laughed and Isha focused back on her salad.

Ria’s eyes were downcast. Her knuckles were white as she clenched her fists. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sharing a glance with her friend, as if to say ‘can you believe this girl?’ Isha took a deep breath. She set down her fork. “Look, I’m just saying that it looked like there was something… weird going on between you and Kris.” She sniffed, “And I really can’t afford to have Daphne getting mad at me because my people are messing with hers.” Isha’s friends laughed, all in on the joke.

Explaining like it was some complicated and delicate matter Isha continued, “Daphne’s helping me with my next campaign. Honestly, half of it is riding on her support.” Then, staring straight at Ria, she said in a serious voice. “So, stay the hell away from Kris.”

“Madam President preaches!” laughed their friends clapping excitedly.

“So, that’s how it is.” Ria muttered. She scowled at Isha. “How many times do I have to say this? I was not flirting with Kris! But even if I was, which I wasn’t, what does that have to do with you? You think you owe me or something? I’m my own person, Isha.”

The entire table including the impromptu arm-wrestling match went quiet. Isha looked at Ria as if she had grown a second head. Suddenly, her expression morphed into something between pity and fond indulgence. The hairs on the back of Ria’s arm rose.

“Oh, Ria. I’m afraid you’ll never understand. Not really your class, y’know?” Isha chuckled and just shook her head, not saying anymore.

Ria suddenly felt as if all the heat had left the space. She was frozen. Being a nobody meant that she didn’t care if she was being used or even if everyone else was the main character while she played the background support character…but if there was one thing that she could not stand, it was that pitying expression.

“Or is it a lie you tell yourself to appease your own ambitions,” a familiar voice seemed to whisper. Ria tried to ignore it.

Getting up, she walked over to where Isha was happily chatting with her friends. Each step felt heavy. All this time, Ria had been so careful to craft herself into the image of a nice and supportive friend. She wanted to fix what hadn’t worked last time. Holding back her words, sitting with strangers that were just as confused as she was as to why she was sitting with them… Doing all of that, just so that she could be the perfect third wheel and sidekick. All so that Kevin and Isha wouldn’t decide to change their minds about her.

Seeing the approaching shadow, Isha sighed and looked up. “What?”

Ria looked down at her “social benefactor” for the past few months. Genuinely curious, she asked, “Do you even see me as a friend, Isha? Or am I a tool to help forward your political agenda?”

Taken aback by the sharpness of the girl’s words, Isha chuckled awkwardly. She looked around at her friends for help. Who asked that?

Seeing the dark look in Ria’s eyes, Isha joked, “Well, politically, all of you guys are tools for my success. You… just happened to be the only one that didn’t know.” The whole table erupted into laughs. Isha grinned sweetly. “It’s just politics!”

There was the sound of furious unzipping and a large SLAM!

Isha froze. An orange folder appeared on the table. Ria opened it and started to rip out all of the pages within. Her shocked audience watched on with gaped mouths and wide eyes, especially when they saw Kevin and Isha’s names on the tops of most of the pages.

“What the…” someone said.

Ripping out the last page, Ria ferociously tore it apart, scattering the shreds across the table. She tossed the now empty folder in front of a pale and shaking Isha.

Fists clenched; Ria smiled without humor. “In that case, you can start doing your own homework, Ms. President.” She scoffed, “Good luck with that valedictorian position.”

Grabbing straps of her bag, Ria stalked off. She didn’t bother looking back to see the mess and shocked classmates she left behind.

Kevin called out behind her. “Seriously, Ria? We helped you!”

Isha nudged her boyfriend back. “Just sit down.” Still a bit shaken, she looked at Ria’s back and shook her head. “What a weirdo. No wonder she had no friends.” She turned towards her audience. “I thought the whole geometry and Marcel thing was an exaggeration. We really tried to help her, y’know.”

The group nodded sympathetically. Isha smiled shakily all while refusing to acknowledge the uncomfortable feelings Ria’s words had left within her.

One of their friends picked up a page. “She really went all the way in trying to frame you guys huh? Even put your names, classes, and everything!” He presented the ripped page to the table. Laughter and chatter soon returned to the table.

It only took seconds for the conversation topic to strategically be shifted onto something much more important.

“So, what’s the theme for the next dance going to be?” asked one of the ASB girls.

Isha rubbed her chin. “I’m thinking…. Great Gatsby?”

The group nodded eagerly.

Kevin laughed. “Political and classy, that’s so you.”

.......

Ria stormed down the empty hallway.

She thought of Marcel’s new bag. Daphne and Kris walking off with their entourage. The image of Isha’s pitying smile seemed to be imprinted in her mind, but the one thing she couldn’t seem to stop hearing was Kevin’s voice, echoing, “You’re nobody.”

CREAK. A door swung open, almost hitting Ria straight in the face.

Ria stared as Daphne, Kira, and a few other of their friends walked out. She noticed Marcel wasn’t there. They walked off, not even noticing the figure they almost face-slammed.

Ria stared at their retreating backs. If only… She shook her head, no use thinking of that now. She stood silently as the door slowly closed.

Stuck to the door with a piece of tape was a flyer labeled: “Chess Club”.

Ria laughed. The club that could change a life. Laila’s freaky smile appeared in her mind. Well, she did promise to check it out. Ria shrugged and walked in. She pulled on the door handle and peeked inside.

The classroom was empty except for a teacher, (with the most unremarkable face), sitting in the back, nose buried deep in a textbook. Huh, Ria thought.

“What are you doing here?” snapped a familiar voice.

Ria turned shakily. She froze, eyes widening at the sight of Marcel.

Picking up her new bag, Marcel scoffed, “Pissed off your new friends, I bet.” With that, she opened the door and left.

Well, that was scarily accurate.

Ria stared for a moment more before turning her attention back to the classroom. Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of a chess piece on the table. It was the table Marcel had been sitting at. Walking over, Ria picked up the piece. It was heavier than expected. The silver gleamed in the light. Ria was no professional chess player, but she knew it was a queen piece. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the ornate carving of a rolled-up piece of parchment engraved on its side.

Ria looked towards the teacher. Holding up the piece, she waved it around. “Hey, teach, Marcel left this behind.”

The teacher shrugged, not even bothering to look up.

“Guess I’ll return it myself,” Ria sighed. The girl pocketed the piece and headed towards the door. She reached for the door handle.

Suddenly, a low voice said, “If you found it, might as well keep it. She won’t take anything from you anyways.”

Ria’s head snapped back towards the only other person in the room. Flipping a page in his book, the teacher was just as immersed in their reading as ever. It didn’t even look as if he had moved!

“All right,” Ria said slowly as she opened the door. “Thanks for the tip.” She hurriedly made her exit.

Jogging towards the parking lot, Ria saw Marcel saying goodbye to her friends.

She headed over.

Seeing her, Marcel sneered, but Ria cut her off. “You left your piece behind at the chess club.”

Taken aback, Marcel gaped. Suddenly, mouthing the words chess club, her brows furrowed. Looking up at Ria she asked, “What piece?”

“Your queen piece? You know, the one with the parchment engraving.” Ria dug through her pockets. Where was the piece?

“Hahaha!” Marcel’s eyes teared up.

Ria paused. She looked up at Marcel, who was bent over with laughter, clutching her sides like Ria had told the most hilarious joke.

Was the girl having a mental break?

Wiping a tear away, Marcel straightened, fixing her composure. Letting out one more laugh, she stared right at Ria and said derisively. “I’m not part of a chess club.