Zenon's Game Chapter 169

"Someone threatened you by killing a cat and drenching a jersey in its blood. I am not going to apologize for beating up a guy who was involved in that."

"Was he?" I asked.

Kaden didn't do it.

"The issues between Kelly, Julia and you started with him. He is responsible and he doesn't get to walk away from this."

I'll admit there was some truth to that. We girls have been fighting each other while Kaden's been living life as usual. That is, until today, when Zenon intervened.

Zenon and I have never been this open before. It was the kind of honesty where the good, the bad and the ugly come out.

"I never wanted to make you feel alone Zenon," I told him, "I'm sorry for not seeing what you've been going through, but you also need to feel remorse for punching your own brother."

Zenon pressed his hands against the marble counter as he leaned back against it. He looked down.

My tone was softer and I approached him, running my hand through his soft hair. "You feel like you're signing up for a life your parents prescribed for you. And it's a life that requires a lot of discipline and stress."

Pressure to succeed can eat at a person. The fear of disappointing those around you, of being close to achieving your dreams, of not knowing which dream to choose... were all big decisions that weigh heavily on any person.

Do you live for the happiness of those you love or for yourself?

"I can be with you every day and still not understand what you're going through," I said, "Your life is very different from mine and it's taking me time to understand it. I'll get there, but we need to be open with each other. How can I know how you feel if you don't tell me?"

Zenon nodded, leaning against the counter. He folded his strong arms over his chest.

"I should've told you sooner," he said.

I nodded, "That would be nice. You know, I still don't know what college you've chosen. You talked to Layton and your dad about it. Maybe you could've talked to me too?"

He tilted his head in a subtle gesture for me to step closer to him. He wrapped his arms around me and lowered his head onto my shoulder, "I don't open up easily."

"You can to me," I replied, breathing in his familiar scent. I stepped back so I could look him in his blue eyes.

"I know," he answered, "I've said since we first became us, that I like how you're not afraid to tell me what I don't want to hear."

"I'm not going to let go about you punching people," I said, wanting to convince him to go down more peaceful routes in the future, "I really can't handle the idea of you being a bully."

It's odd how arguments never go as planned. What I came in angry about, was not what Zenon wanted to talk about.

I guess we should listen to each other - listen to both problems. Zenon wanted me to understand him more and I wanted him to be less aggressive to people.

He nodded and opened his arms for us to hug and make peace. When I felt his arms circle around my back, and I pressed my head against his warm chest, I felt warm inside.

I leaned my head against his chest, "Before you came, Jake told us his story. I don't know if you've heard it before or heard it from his side, but it's heavy. He's gone through a lot in his life and he doesn't have a lot of support. You guys have issues but maybe you can be real brothers, not just by blood."

"Maybe," Zenon shrugged, "And how's the relationship with your sister going?"

Oh, he knew how to-

There was a knock at the door.

Annika's head poked round, "Phew. You're wearing clothes. I thought you two were making out in here."

She swung the door wide open and walked in, "Whenever you're done, we should probably go to the hospital. In case you dislocated Jake's jaw."

It was 3AM on a Monday and I was at the hospital.

Zenon really knows how to start the week with a bang. A fist shaped bang straight into his brother's jaw.

"Eat baby food for a few days and you'll be fine," he offered his brother some expert medical advice.

I rolled my eyes at him and he caught it. Zenon arched a brow, as if taunting me to try again. And I couldn't help but get distracted by his eyes that were a forget-me-not blue.

I was about to mock his 'be tough' attitude, when a nurse walked in. She started to wrap a bandage around Jake's head.

"This will not be good for my music career," Jake muttered sourly.

"Don't move your mouth," the nurse told him.

We watched her wrap the gray bandage around his jaw and over the top of his head. She did it again and again and it left us speechless. No one expected that.

I caught Zenon smirking and glared at him.

He raised his hands helplessly, like this wasn't his fault. "Look at the guy. How is this not funny?"

Jake's face looked like a watermelon wrapped in a bowtie. And his expression was far from amused.

There was no way this was going to end up a secret hospital visit if Jake had to walk around with half a zombie costume on his face tomorrow.

"Are you going to press charges, Jake? This was assault," Annika reminded us.

The nurse looked disapprovingly between the two brothers. I didn't blame her. The moment we made sure Jake was OK, I was going to lead the disapproval train straight into Zenon.