Zenon's Game Chapter 155

But now I'm over it. Zenon still hasn't realized that I've grown feelings. He just thinks I want to keep things light between us. I know he's been waiting for us to mature, so that when we date, we don't mess it up.

I picked up my phone.

Sometimes, all you have to do is forget what you feel and remember what you deserve. The person I was calling picked up.

"Surprised to hear me?" I flirted on the phone, "Remember at the grotto last year, when we made a mistake and I told you it would never happen again?.... Yeah, well, how about we make another mistake?... You have a fancy car. Why don't you come pick me up and take me back to yours?"

I smiled as I hung up. That was too easy.

Jamie left my house and it felt a bit too quiet. My confidence was rising and falling. I knew deep down that Zenon and I were ideal together. But Zenon has this unpredictable side. A side that does and says things I never expect - and I don't know how to deal with it.

I was better than her in every way.

I stared at myself in the mirror and wondered what part of me wasn't attractive enough. I put on a lot of make-up today: foundation, lip gloss, mascara. He hadn't said anything about that.

She ruined it for me. But revenge is a familiar friend. I picked up my phone again. I had one more call to make.

~Candace's POV~

This was the end of our weekend in the forest. A momentary escape from reality, sheltered from judgement and change.

Annika was in good spirits about her twisted ankle and Jake joined her with a wounded leg. They hobbled into the car they came here with and got ready for the journey home.

Zenon chucked our duffel bags in the back of his black jeep wrangler.

While he did all the work, I checked that the air freshener was working. Yep. Working.

"Let's talk when you get back," Mr Albert told him, "You need to sign that LOI."

I'm guessing that meant Letter of Intent. I had googled it after Zenon told me about the Kentucky Wildcats. I wanted to learn more about the pressures of his basketball-shaped world.

"I packed you some sandwiches for the road," Mrs Albert said, handing him an orange cooler bag.

His parents may be overbearing and overprotective, but they loved him. I think my mom does too, but she has an odd way of showing it.

"Let's go Candy," Zenon tilted his head in the direction of the car, ignoring the sentimental moment, "You're DJ."

If anyone thinks I'm afraid of dancing in a car, they are wrong. Zenon was driving and I didn't care if he thought my dancing looked like jello shaking.

He was meant to be focusing on the road anyway.

Otherwise, I know a great driver who can take over. AKA me.

"You want me to drop you off at home?" he asked, as the familiar streets started to come into view.

I saw the horizon lined with gray pavements and plain detached houses. We were back.

"Uh... yes please. Where are you going?" I asked, finishing the last of Mrs Albert's delicious sandwiches.

She'd put chicken, avocado, crispy lettuce and sauce between toasted bread. Some serious Masterchef moves.

"Aren't you meant to be seeing your dad?" I chewed and swallowed, "You know, for the LOI thing?"

"My dad and coach have been pushing me to sign ever since we received it," he sighed, turning the music down, "But there's one more person I want to speak to first."

"Who?" I asked, curious to know who he'd say.

Maybe me?

"Layton Hayes."

If there was anyone who knew what Zenon was going through, it was Christopher Hayes. They were both star athletes, desperate for their chance to make it.

And competitors...

Turned friends?

I'd like to think that deep down I had a little something to do with that.

Zenon dropped my duffel bag at the entrance of my home.

"Hi Mrs Turner," he called out to my mom who was giving herself a pedicure on the dining room table.

"Zenon!" she exclaimed, throwing her bare foot off the table and fixing her hair.

If only his parents would approve of me as quickly as mine did of him.

She called out to him again, but he very gently and subtly closed the door on her.

Zenon and I stood at the threshold of my front door. His hands softly caressed my face and he kissed me.

"I'll see you later, Candy."

"Will you let me know what you decide?" I asked him, touching his hand as it pulled back from around me.

I wanted to share in the burden. He's always offered to take on mine. All my complaints, he finds them out and makes them go away.

"I will," he promised.

Maybe he was trying to open up.

I didn't want him to leave. Zenon was a comforting force. Standing there in his hoodie with his blue eyes vibrant from a weekend out in nature, I was struck by how much he calmed me.

I knew the mystery blackmailer-turned-cat-killer was out there and probably plotting a new move.

Bianca certainly was.

And I was going to have to face my ex-boyfriend this week, at our mathlete competition. Julia would probably be there too. I guess Zenon had his burdens and I had mine.