It was raining again.

Gerard and Mikey were home from school because their dad had work and their mum was ill in bed so they bargained that if they both had the day off they would look after her. It had worked and they were sitting downstairs, across the table from each other eyes focused on the game in front of them.

They were playing chess.

Whenever they weren't playing each other on Mikey's console, reading comics, at school or hanging with Frank and Ray, Gerard and Mikey often played chess together. Sometimes when their dad had time he'd give whoever was the winner from their match a go.

Their dad won practically every game they placed.

Gerard had just taken Mikey's queen when their mum called downstairs. “Can one of you please bring me a glass of water?”

Both boys stared at the board game for a few seconds longer before Gerard lent back in his chair. “Okay ma.” He stood up from the table, glanced at the board one more time before disappearing into the kitchen.

Mikey heard the tap run for a short while before it was turned off and the sound of Gerard climbing the stairs could be heard. He looked at the board trying to work out which moves he could do which could win him the game.

It was clear that Gerard had far more pieces on the board, and now that Mikey no longer had his queen it put him at an even more disadvantage. But he wouldn't be going down without a fight, no way. He wasn't going to willingly let Gerard have the upper hand on their score chart.

It was true; they had a proper paper drawn score chart in which they marked down who won and who lost plus how many games they've played and everything like that. It made it easier for them to remember who's in the lead and who's not.

They were at a tie right now which was why Mikey didn't want to let Gerard win.

When Gerard got downstairs he came straight over to the table and looked at the pieces on the board. He then looked at his brother. “You better not have moved any Mikey.”

“I didn't.”

“You sure?”

“I ain't no cheat, Gerard.”

Gerard snorted at that because he knew that Mikey was just as much of a cheat as he is. And Gerard does cheat at some games. It's all fun and games though because it's not like they hold it against each other for cheating.

They continued with their game and within the first twenty minutes Mikey had managed to take both of Gerard's knights and one of his rooks whereas Gerard had just three of Mikey's pawns.

“Hey, Gee?” Mikey asked, his hand moving his knight forward two spaces and to the right once, taking Gerard's other rook.

“Mhm?”

“You know that girl, the one who gave the picture of the school on fire to your Art teacher?”

“Yeah, Mikey?”

“What's her name?”

Gerard looked up from where his eyes had been glued to the board in front of him. He was actually surprised that Mikey was watching him before he had looked up. “Why?”

The younger Way just shrugged his shoulders which made the older sigh. “She's not friend material, Mikes, honest. I tried talking to her at the beginning of the year in Art but all I got was what you most probably got.”

“Yeah, I know....”

“But?”

Mikey shrugged again. “I dunno, Gee. I just.... ugh, I'm just curious about her, that's all,” he sighed at the end of his sentence, looking back at the chess board.

Gerard followed suit and moved his queen forward five spaces before proclaiming “check” which made Mikey curse.

“Angharad.” Mikey looked up from where he was staring at the board with an intense look as if it would magically give him the answer he wanted. When he gave a confused face, Gerard rolled his eyes. “Her name is Angharad.”

“That's a weird name.”

“Suits her then.”

Mikey looked back at the board before reaching over and moving his king over to the right so that he was no longer in check and that his bishop was blocking the king from any front on attacks. Gerard cursed slightly before moving his queen back to safety just in case Mikey noticed that his rook could have taken it.

Mikey knew he wasn't going to win, he didn't have his queen left and everyone was practically doomed once they've had their queen taken.

“She gets shoved in my locker.” Gerard looked up when Mikey said that.

“What?”

“Yeah, my old locker got wrecked when the school was broken in to the other weekend so I had to change lockers. When I got there and opened it she fell out from it.” Mikey shrugged, remembering how cramped he thought she must have been.

Mikey had more pawns on the board then the rest of his pieces put together. And it was only five pawns he did have. As much as he really didn't want to give in and let Gerard win because he had actually won, he didn't see many moves he could do without being put in check by Gerard.

"Just... be careful, Mikes, if you want to get to know her. I know this isn't something I should say about anyone, but she seems a bit messed up in the head. No telling what she'll do, Mikey; she shouted at you just for sitting opposite her. Remember that." Mikey nodded and Gerard stood from the table. He was about to walk away when he remembered something.

"Oh, and check mate." He moved his queen and took Mikey's bishop which left his king vulnerable.

"That's not fair," Mikey whined.

All Gerard did was chuckle.