Zenon's Game Chapter 113

"The gambler's here?" I repeated, excited to see my old friend, "You know I met him at this exact bar. I was in Zenon's car when I came back for napkins-"

I felt a bit of nostalgia for the first time I ever came here. Zenon had taken me to the beach, where I first met Axel. He'd emerged from the water with his surfboard like a lifeguard out of Baywatch.

This was back in the day when Zenon found me incredibly annoying. He still finds me annoying... but in a cute way now. Hopefully.

"Oh yes, that was the first time I got beaten up in front of you," Zenon commented dryly, "I remember."

Good times.

"Before Candace helps you out of this situation," Bryce asked, interrupting our trip down memory lane, "Can you get us those drinks?"

Axel agreed and got to making our drinks. That lasted 0.05 seconds before he said:

"I have no idea what I'm doing," he confessed, looking around cluelessly for some glasses.

Zenon leaned over the counter and pulled a couple out from right under his nose.

"Thanks, man." Axel took the glasses and retrieved two beers from a fridge under the bar. He cracked the bottles open and then looked at me.

"About your milkshake," he said, before winking at Zenon, "Is the whipped cream to go?"

"Aww come on, Candace! I'm sorry! Come back, I really need your help. I'll be stuck behind the bar all night if you don't talk to the gambler guy."

Axel followed me out of the Surfside Shack, pleading with me to come back inside. I was making him suffer for his whipped cream joke.

"Hey, hey! What are you doing near my car?" Zenon confronted the traffic warden circling his car.

Someone had given Zenon the heads up that a traffic warden was on his jeep wrangler and we'd come outside to check it out.

"I am giving you a ticket. This is employee only parking and you are not an employee," the traffic warden responded.

That's some fool proof logic right there.

"But he's an employee," Zenon pointed at Axel, "See that apron."

Axel pointed at his own apron to confirm it. "This is an apron. I work here."

If this traffic warden believes-

"Alright kids, but show your proof next time you park," the traffic warden sighed, putting her machine away.

"AT! You can't leave mid shift!" the bartender came outside the shack, yelling for Axel.

"I can," Axel answered. "I quit!"

The traffic warden had started to walk away but turned around now. He pulled out his machine.

Great timing, Axel.

"OK, time to leave," Zenon mumbled to me, unlocking his car and sliding into the front seat. We needed to get out of here before the traffic warden circled back.

The back door opened, and Bryce slid in, "I'm coming too. Are we leaving Axel?"

We looked out of the window in time to see Axel rip his apron off and dramatically throw it onto the concrete.

"You can't quit," the bartender said, "That scary guy told you-"

"Actually, I like this apron," Axel mumbled to himself and picked the apron back up, "So I'll keep this."

He folded the apron and walked towards our car. Zenon leaned back from the front seat and unlocked the back door, pushing it open for Axel.

Both the traffic warden and the bartender stared at Axel.

Axel put one foot in the car, raised his arm into the air and yelled out, "I don't even get benefits!"

"OK AT," Zenon grabbed him and pulled him into the car.

Bryce slammed the door shut and we drove off.

I thought the ride back would be smooth, but only five minutes into the drive, Bryce said:

"It's cool that Axel and I know about you two, but does anyone else?"

The silence in the car confirmed his point. Zenon and I went on our first date this weekend and no one knew about us.

"Because tomorrow's Monday," Bryce said, "And we have school on Mondays. If you two walk in together, people are going to freak out. You guys got a game plan for that?"

Game plan? Go on Zenon, you're the basketball player.

Due to low ratings, Monday was cancelled. Said no one ever.

They cancel my favorite TV show, but they don't cancel Mondays. Tell me how that's fair.

I opened my bedroom window to breathe in the fresh air... and immediately slammed it shut.

It was flipping cold outside.

I took a hot shower and got dressed, checked my phone and saw no text from Zenon. Did he forget that we went on a date this weekend, which makes Monday our first day? Our first day as an us.

And I know my phone isn't broken this time.

I went back to my bedroom window and looked out for the hot boy who lives next door.

"That jack-a-ss..." I cursed, as I saw the empty space where his car was meant to be.

He'd already left. And I still didn't have a car. My car was still outside Axel's house, collecting dust and cobwebs.

"Candace!" my door burst open and Heidi came in, wearing a fluffy pink jacket and tight jeans, "If you want a ride, you better hurry. I'm about to leave."

"You're taking me to school?" Maybe this is a prank.

"You don't have your car. Unless you're planning on taking your tricycle again-"

"No, no, no!" I waved my hands fanatically and grabbed my backpack, "I'm just surprise you're offering!"

My sister isn't exactly famous for her kind gestures.

Her car smelled like a perfume store and I found three pairs of high heels under my seat. I carefully put my bag somewhere that wouldn't squish any of her things. That's some little sister respect right there.

"Can we pick up some coffee on the way?" I asked.