‘I thought with Jake playing football, you might be able to concentrate better,’ she says.

‘Me too.’

Rebecca looks at me for a long time like that will make me talk, but it doesn’t work.

I glance around the room. Since the Inter-Schools Championship we’ve got four new members so there are now six chessboards scattered on tables around the library and all of the players have their heads down, working out their next moves, except for Rich who’s grinning across the room at me like he’s been waiting for my next move too.

The end-of-lunch bell rings.

I grab my bag off my chair and walk between the tables. Rich stands up.

‘Lose again?’ he asks. ‘What happened, have you run out of moves?’

My blood boils in my veins, but I don’t want to reply because if I say anything I feel like I’ll cry. I keep walking.

‘Oh, I get it,’ shouts Rich. ‘Now you’re in the National Finals, you think you are too good to play with the rest of us!’

I stop and stare at him. My chest goes tight and my blood pumps through my fist. I walk back to Rich and look down at his board. He smirks like he’s daring me – daring me to swipe all the chess pieces off his board.

I draw my hand back and . . . someone grabs it.

‘Come on, Felix,’ says Rebecca. ‘Let’s go.’ She pulls me away but I’m still staring at Rich.

‘Hope you get your A game back for next week,’ he says with a smirk.

‘I will!’ I snap. Everyone looks up from their chess games, but their faces and the books on the shelves blur as I make my way towards the door.

Ahead of me, some Year Eights are gathered around the noticeboard talking with Mr Keytes. I put my head down and go to swerve around them.

‘Ah, there he is . . . Felix! I was just on my way to the library to see you. Felix!’ Mr Keytes steps out into the corridor and blocks my way. ‘How are you feeling?’

The Year Eights step aside as he turns me towards the noticeboard. ‘I was just pinning it up.’

My heart sinks into my stomach as I read.

THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS CHESS

CHAMPIONSHIP IS NEXT WEEK!

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING FELIX SCHOPP!

ST MARTIN’S SCHOOL, 11TH MAY

‘What do you think?’ Mr Keytes grins like his enthusiasm might be catching. ‘The whole school is behind you.’