Setting up the board

John walked heedlessly into his house, and proceeded to almost fall over his sister.

Zoe, a year his junior, had just celebrated her 18th birthday. She was sitting on the hallway floor tieing the overly complicated laces of her knee-high high-heeled leather boots. She was clothed in a long, black dress, and her face was made up a pale white.

"Hey, jerk, watch where you're going!" she cried, dodging the door. In many ways, she was the opposite of John: a spontaneous independent thinker, with the confidence to go against societal norms. John, on the other hand, was more of a deep thinker, preferring to plan ahead and stay unnoticed. Despite their different nature, they had a good relationship. Except when they didn't, like now.

"Sorry," John replied, sheepishly. "I was lost in thought."

"So business as usual, eh?" Zoe teased.

John shrugged. "Do you need help with those shoes?" he asked.

"I'm not a little kid. I can tie my own shoes," Zoe replied, slightly annoyed. She fidgeted on the floor for almost another minute, having to restart twice, before she finally finished lacing up and pushed past him and out the door, trying not to look embarrassed.

John headed up to his room...