"Let's get this show on the road!" Eugene announced as he activated the stopwatch app on his phone.
Serena felt like she was caught between a rock and a hard place. All she had to do was drag out the game for two minutes. Even if she lost a piece or two, she could just play it off as a headache-induced
slip; no harm done.
Rosemary, seeing Serena make her move, casually picked up a checker and dropped it nearby without much thought.
Serena pondered her next move, trying to keep a distance from Rosemary. The further away, the harder it would be for Rosemary to corner her.
"Lindsay, is she really Queena's protege? She's taking forever just to make one move."
"She isn't just stalling, is she?"
"She doesn't seem very skilled at chess."
"Remember she had a headache." Lindsay made a shushing gesture toward the others and whispered,
"You all insisted on this match. Give her a moment to think, for heaven's sake. Keep it down, or she'll hear us and it'll throw her off."
