‘If you want a book, you’ll have to come back later.’

I stop dead. A boy with dark hair and glasses gets up and looks at me like I’m an alien.

‘I don’t want a book,’ I say. ‘Are you Rich?’

‘Yes,’ he replies. ‘But what do you want?’

I nod at the other kids with their heads down. ‘I-I want to play chess,’ I stammer.

‘He doesn’t really.’ Jake’s followed me in and now has hold of my arm. ‘He’s joking . . . Aren’t you, Felix?’

‘No,’ I say. ‘I want to play.’

Rich glances behind him at all the others who are now looking right at me. Rebecca nods at me like she’s willing me on, but I suddenly feel so small like I’ve walked out at Wembley Stadium on my own. Part of me wants to turn away, but a bigger part keeps my feet superglued to the floor.

Rich turns back to me.

‘We don’t have any spaces left,’ he says.

‘You do,’ I say. ‘You need new members. I read it on the noticeboard.’

‘That’s an old message,’ says Rich, ‘and besides, we don’t want troublemakers anyway.’

‘I’m not a troublemaker!’ I protest.

‘You are. I’ve seen you go into the Isolation Room loads of times.’

‘I don’t get sent there because I cause trouble.’

‘Well, you don’t get sent there to play chess either. Does he?’ Rich smirks at Tom as he returns to his seat.

He thinks I can’t play. They think I can’t play. They think just because I get sent out of class, I’m dumb.

Rebecca says something, but I’m too annoyed to hear.

I step towards Rich and stop right by his table.

‘I said, I want to play.’

‘Ha, are you still here?’ Rich leans back in his chair with his hands on his head like he owns the library. ‘Okay,’ he suddenly says. ‘You can play me.’ He nods at his friend to get up.

‘Felix, I am thinking this is not a good idea. It is very early.’

It’s okay, Granddad, I think to myself. I’ve got this.

I sit down opposite Rich, who’s already lined the chess pieces up on their squares. I didn’t think I’d have to play the captain of the chess club, but I have to start somewhere. I glance up at Rich. It feels weird having someone other than my granddad sitting opposite me, telling me what to do. Suddenly it’s like there’s no one else in the room, it’s just me and Rich. My heart beats quickly and my hands start to sweat. I wipe them on my trousers.

Rich picks up two pawns – one white, one black – and hides them behind his back.

I choose his right.

‘You’re white,’ he says. ‘You’re first move.’

‘I know,’ I reply.