Page 33 of Queen’s Gambit

“Okay,” Eddie said, and Lawrence and Marcus high-fived.

There was so much I was learning with my new found freedom. I’d never given a high-five in my life and had to ask what it meant the first time I saw it. Rules were different, the food was new and delicious, and even the slang words were ones I’d never heard before. The guys called each other terrible names, and yet it was all a big joke that I still didn’t understand most of what they meant.

I’d always known that I spoke with an accent, but I didn’t realize how thick it was until coming here. Wanting to blend in, I found myself trying to suppress the Russian lilt. I’d been different my whole life, and for the first time, I was just another girl in the crowd.

We sang a song called Loser on our way to Q. Eddie looked like he wanted to throw us all out of the vehicle as we screamed at the top of our lungs. He cringed in the driver’s seat as we pulled up to park in one of the few open spots.

“Don’t worry, I know the owner. We’ll get a table quick,” Lawrence proclaimed as he hopped out and jogged for the front door ahead of us.

True to his word, we only waited ten minutes before we were waved over and bypassed people who’d been here first. The place was packed, and I could feel the energy buzzing against my skin as we walked to the empty table at the back.

“We’re an odd number,” Paul said.

“Let’s do winner plays next up,” Marcus offered, and we all agreed.

Lawrence and Paul squared off first. I learned the game, leaning against Eddie while he pointed out moves and told me how the stick was held as we waited for our turn.

“Are you thirsty,” Eddie asked, and I nodded. “I’ll go get some pitchers of soda and water.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, you’re up next, and they’re almost done. I’ll steal Marcus,” Eddie said, wrapping his arm around his friend’s neck and dragging him away as Marcus complained. The two of them made me laugh.

I took the alone time to really look around. The building was large and dimly lit except for the lights hanging over each billiards table. People were packed in like sardines, playing pool, watching, or dancing in the middle of the room. Large television screens showed different sports, but everyone cheered the most for the football game. I still struggled to call it that when I pictured what they called soccer. Regardless of the name, it was super popular and held my curiosity.

“Yulianna you’re up,” Paul said, handing me his stick that Eddie called a cue. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

Taking it, I rubbed some of the blue chalk on the end like I’d seen the guys do before they started.

“Do you want to break,” Lawrence asked.

“No, you go ahead.”

He put the colorful numbered balls together in the triangle thing and brought the white one down near where I was standing.

“You sure you don’t want to try? I can show you how if you want,” he offered, holding out the white ball.

“Okay, thanks.” Plucking it from his fingers, I placed it in the very middle of the table, lined up with the tip of the colorful triangle.

“I wouldn’t put it there. Unless you have a really strong break, hitting it head-on won’t really do anything.” Lawrence grabbed the ball and moved it off to the side. “Here, aim for just behind the lead ball.”

Eddie had shown me how to hold the cue, but now that I was bent over, it was far more awkward than it looked. It kept slipping out of my guiding fingers, and when I brought the stick forward, it skimmed off the top of the white ball.

“Wow, this is harder than I thought it would be,” I said.

Lawrence grabbed the ball and placed it in the same spot. “Here, try again, and I’ll help you.”

I nodded, grateful for the guidance.

When I got into position, Lawrence practically draped his body over mine and gripped my arms. I tensed, not knowing what he was even thinking. No one but Eddie had ever entered my personal space like this before.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m showing you how it’s done. This is the only way to get your stance right,” he said, breathing beside my ear. He hadn’t said or done anything inappropriate, but this felt wrong.

I tried to stand, but Lawrence’s weight kept me in place.