Zenon's Game Chapter 118

"Do you have the receipt?" I asked Bianca quietly, while I inwardly calmed down from how aggressive her brother had been towards me.

Bianca nodded and handed it over. Her eyes stayed glued on me, surprised to see me work here.

She leaned over and whispered, "Is it true? Did you really go on a date with him?"

I looked up, "With who?"

"Don't play innocent."

"Zenon?"

"Who else?" she snapped, "Did he actually take you on a date this weekend? He isn't known for doing that, so I have my doubts. Might even be a rumor you started yourself."

"Yeah, I have fun doing that," I said sarcastically, checking the computer to see if we had any size six dresses in stock.

"B!" her aggressive brother came running back, "Isn't that the guy you like? He's out there."

"Zenon?" she exclaimed.

"Zenon?!" I equally exclaimed.

Awkward that she just called out my boyfriend's name as the guy she likes. Also awkward that I had no idea he was here.

We glanced at each other before all three of us ran to the front of the store. There was Zenon...

And Axel...

And Bryce...

And a couple guys from the basketball team I didn't really know. Why were they hanging out at the mall? They must have come here after practice. Was Zenon waiting for me to finish?

The boys were seated outside a fast food chain, with drinks and food on their table. Zenon had gotten up and yelled across the mall.

"JAKE!"

It was a lot for me to process.

First, it was surprising to see Zenon and his friends here, but we've covered that.

Second, it was hearing the name he called. I followed everyone else's gaze and...

Sure enough, coming out of the guitar store, was Jake Albert.

Brother-on-brother.

Oh brother.

Jake looked up and saw his brother on the second floor of the mall. Along with a bunch of other people staring down at him. Jake raised his middle finger.

Zenon jumped over the railing of the fast food chain and took the escalator down to Jake's level. He had waited weeks to confront him.

This is about me, isn't it?

I couldn't let this erupt. I ran out of the store to take the escalator down as well and almost bumped into Axel, who was carrying three boxes of french fries, while chasing after Zenon.

"Candace!" he exclaimed, a few stray french fries flying out of his arms, "Want a fry?"

Burgers, crispy chicken wings... and a bucket of French fries for Axel.

Soda swirled inside large cups full of ice. Zenon picked them up from the counter and carried three across the mall's seating area. He set the cups down on a plastic table.

Bryce was already sitting down and glaring at the guy opposite him, "Anyone going to explain why he's here?"

"Art, introduce yourself," Zenon said, unbothered by Bryce's mood swings.

"Sure," a boy replied, sitting in an oversized hoodie, "My name's Arturo. I'm a junior, a center and I just got off the bench."

"Is that athlete speak?" Bryce asked, "Was I meant to understand any of that?"

Bryce was leaning back in his plastic chair, with one leg crossed over the other. He had his phone in hand and his Rolex blinded everyone every time he texted.

"He's the new starting center," Zenon said, taking a drink, "Coach wanted me to be a team player. This is the team."

"So it's charity," Bryce said.

"Teamwork," Art corrected, "The better we know each other, the better we play."

"Hey Art," Axel came over, holding a tray overflowing with food, "Is Zenon adopting you now?"

He placed the tray on the table to let everyone help themselves to food. Bryce unfolded a napkin and set it carefully on the table to avoid germs.

"His game's good. Been on fire recently," Zenon said, ignoring Bryce's careful placement of another napkin on the table.

"I can think of another junior you think is on fire," Axel smirked, sitting next to Art and offering him a fry.

"O'Conner?" Art asked, thinking they were still talking basketball, "Yeah, he's killing it."

"No," Bryce shut him down. "Candace."

"Who's Candace?"

"I ask myself the same question all the time," Bryce was reminiscing, "Candace. You won't know her until you know her but when you know her... you can't forget."

Zenon looked at Bryce weirdly, surprised to hear such nice things coming out of his mouth.

Axel broke the silence. "And she's Zenon's girlfriend."

"Sh*t no way!" Art got animated in his seat, "There's a rumor you slept with a girl in my year last weekend. It's true?"

"No."

"The name sounds familiar though," Art insisted, whipping out his phone and scrolling through texts, "She's in my year? How awkward if she and I hooked up..."

"No chance," Zenon said.

"Oh!" Art stared at his screen, "I knew I recognized her."

"What is it then?" Axel asked, dipping nine fries into ketchup before eating them whole.

"You sure she's dating Zenon?"

"I'm sure," Zenon interrupted, not sure why Art was asking Axel.

"Isn't she dating Jake?" Art asked again, raising his phone and showing them a video.

Zenon took it from Art's hand and clicked play.

Husband, let's follow, to see the end of this ado

First kiss me, Kate, and we will

Axel stopped eating. His eyes grew wider than the burgers when he heard what Candace's voice was saying.

Zenon put the phone down and slid it across the table, back at Art.

"They're performing a play," he shrugged, "Candace and Jake have English together. So what?"

Axel continued to eat.

"Apparently, the teacher called them lovebirds. And didn't Jake ask her out on a date to some play last month?" Art said, pulling out all the details.

"Who is this guy again?" Bryce asked, pointing at Art.