Prodigy In Modern Family

As Klaus walked toward Alex's house, a smirk played on his lips. It worked.

Two days ago, he had run into Manny and Jay at the mall. They'd exchanged a few words, nothing out of the ordinary, but he had noticed how Manny had been obsessing over chess that day. Seeing the opportunity, Klaus had casually suggested they play a match the next time Manny was at Alex's house.

It wasn't a guarantee, but he had hoped—no, calculated—that Manny would take the bait and come calling. And just as he predicted, here he was, striding toward Alex's house, knowing she would be the one to call him.

His heart picked up its pace slightly. It had been days since they last spoke, since she told him they had to stop. He had given her space, let her feel the weight of absence, but now… now it was time to remind her why staying away from him was impossible.

As he neared the house, he glanced at his phone, half-expecting her text. Nothing yet. But she would text—he knew it.

"Where are you?"

Klaus chuckled as he read the message, his fingers hovering over the screen. He could already picture Alex waiting, probably tapping her foot impatiently, trying to act indifferent but failing miserably.

Instead of replying right away, he slipped his phone back into his pocket. Let her wait a little—let her wonder, let her want him.

A few minutes later, another message popped up.

Alex: Klaus?

He smirked.

Klaus: Patience, baby girl. Good things come to those who wait.

He imagined her reaction—the eye roll, the way she'd huff in frustration but secretly love the attention.

Finally, he turned onto her street, his pace unhurried. He wanted to savor this. After days of silence, she was the one reaching out. And that meant he was winning.

A few moments later, he knocked on the door, three sharp taps. It was Haley who answered, a smirk on her face.

"You took your time," she said, stepping aside to let him in. "Manny's waiting for you. He really wants to play chess with you. You didn't tell him you were a chess champion back in school?"

Klaus smirked at Haley's teasing tone, stepping into the doorway. "Well, I couldn't disappoint the kid, could I?" he replied, glancing over her shoulder to spot Manny in the living room, eagerly waiting with a chess board set up in front of him.

Haley raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You're not fooling anyone. You're just here for Alex."

Klaus chuckled, brushing past her and walking into the living room, but not before he caught Haley's knowing glance. "Maybe, but I do enjoy a good game of chess too."

Manny beamed when he saw Klaus, practically jumping up. "You're here! Let's play!"

Klaus took a seat across from him, but his eyes couldn't help but glance toward the hallway, where Alex was likely nearby. There was something magnetic about the idea of her being so close, the tension from their earlier exchange still hanging in the air. He had promised himself he wouldn't rush things with her, but he couldn't deny the pull.

"Ready to lose?" Klaus teased, returning his focus to Manny, who was already setting up the first move.

But his mind was still partially elsewhere, anticipating that inevitable moment when Alex would step into the room.

Klaus was engrossed in the chess game, his mind working through the possible moves and counter-moves as Manny tried his best to strategize. He had grown accustomed to keeping his attention on the board, but something caught his eye—footsteps.

The sound of Alex's footsteps echoed through the hallway before she appeared at the top of the stairs. Klaus's heart skipped a beat as she stepped down, her black hair cascading down her back, and she wore an off-the-shoulder top that subtly highlighted her figure, paired with fitted shorts that accentuated her curves. There was something almost intoxicating about the way she moved, her confidence radiating as she came closer.

Without hesitation, she made her way toward the living room, and without a second thought, she sat down on the sofa beside Klaus—very close to him. So close that he could feel the heat from her body, the subtle fragrance of her perfume mingling in the air.

He wasn't the only one who noticed. From the kitchen, Claire had a clear view of the living room, and she was watching the entire scene unfold. Her eyes narrowed, and her frown deepened as she noticed how close Alex had seated herself next to Klaus. She'd been clear with Alex—no more seeing him. Yet here they were, sitting together in a way that made Claire's worry grow even stronger.

Klaus tried to focus on the game, but the proximity of Alex made it nearly impossible to concentrate. He could feel her gaze on him, the tension between them palpable. He shifted slightly, hoping to maintain some distance, but Alex seemed perfectly comfortable, her shoulder lightly brushing his. Every time she shifted, his mind seemed to go in a thousand different directions.

Alex glanced over at Klaus, a playful yet challenging look in her eyes. "You're not taking this game seriously, are you?" she teased, clearly enjoying the effect she was having on him.

But Klaus couldn't find the right words. He was stuck between wanting to stay composed and the magnetic pull that Alex exuded. His heart raced, but he couldn't let his emotions show too clearly.

From the kitchen, Claire could see the closeness and the way they exchanged glances. She muttered to herself, frustration and worry clouding her thoughts.

"I told her to stay away from him," Claire whispered, her fingers tightening around the dish towel in her hand.

As Klaus was lost in the game, trying to push aside the pull he felt from Alex's presence, a soft whisper broke through his concentration.

He felt the warmth of her breath as she leaned in closer, her lips nearly grazing his ear.

"I made a choice," Alex whispered, her voice low and husky.

His heart raced, and for a split second, time seemed to stand still. The words hung in the air between them, filled with a sense of finality that both intrigued and confused him. What choice was she talking about?

Klaus tried to steady his breath, turning his head slightly to face her, his eyes searching for some kind of explanation. Her face was close enough that he could feel her pulse, a reminder of how much tension there was between them.

Alex smiled softly, her eyes not meeting his immediately, as if she was weighing the gravity of what she had just said. Her lips quirked, just enough to send his heart racing faster. "I can't ignore it anymore," she added, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't ignore how I feel."

Klaus swallowed, the air between them thick with unspoken emotions. His mind was swirling with a mix of desire and confusion. The distance between them felt nonexistent now, and despite everything—despite all the warnings and her mother's rules—he felt like he couldn't pull away.

Before he could respond, a loud voice from the kitchen cut through the tension. "Alex!" It was Claire, sharp and commanding. "What are you doing?"

Alex quickly pulled away, sitting back with a straightened posture, her face a mixture of frustration and determination. She glanced at Klaus one last time, as if silently telling him that this wasn't over, before turning her attention back to her mother.

But Klaus couldn't shake the whisper in his ear, the words echoing in his mind. She made a choice.

Alex's voice was firm as she spoke, her words cutting through the tension in the room. "I'm choosing for myself, Mom. I can decide for myself. I am the smartest person in this house," she said, her gaze locking with her mother's.

Claire stood frozen for a moment, the weight of her daughter's words hanging in the air. Her face flickered between shock, concern, and something else—something like realization. But before she could respond, Alex had already turned toward Klaus, her hand reaching out for his.

Without a second glance at her mother, Alex gently took Klaus's hand, her fingers wrapping around his. He looked at her, surprised by the boldness of her move, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he followed her as she led him upstairs, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the house as they moved toward her room.

As they reached her door, Alex hesitated for just a moment, but then she turned back to Klaus, her expression softening. "I don't care about the rules, Klaus. I don't care about what anyone thinks. This is about me. About us."

Her words hung in the air between them as she opened the door and stepped inside, holding it open for him. Klaus entered, his heart racing, his mind still reeling from everything that had just happened downstairs.

With a quiet click, the door shut behind them, sealing them alone together.

"Fuck ,she is winning the game." Klaus thought.