Zenon's Game Chapter 182

This morning may have started off strangely, but it only got worse. The moment I hopped out of my car, I felt eyes on me.

I'm used to being low-key. I'm not a smooth, James Bond operator, but I'm definitely under the radar. The kind of person you forget is absent when counting class attendance.

Right now, I was feeling very visible.

As someone who usually meets zero eyes in the hallway, I could feel the eye contact. And it struck me as odd.

Something was up.

~Lunchtime~

The odd glances didn't stop at lunchtime. I joined the lunch line, where the staring became more overt.

I've been at this school for three years and this is the lunch line. I'm not in the wrong line... am I?

"You shouldn't be here," a girl whispered to me.

She was standing with her friends in front of me. If I had to guess, I'd say they were freshmen.

"What do you mean?" I whispered back. Why am I whispering?

She blushed, keeping her head down. "People like you skip the line."

"People like..." I repeated her words in disbelief.

No. I wasn't going to skip this.

Why do some get to skip to the front why others have to wait? Life may be like that, but I don't have to follow along and prolong the status quo. Things should change. And I'm fine to wait.

I took my phone out and pretended to be very busy on it. I wanted to keep my head down and be so boring that everyone watching me would get bored, too.

"Candace, what are you doing here?" Oma greeted me, "Everyone's up at the front."

Everyone?

"I can't join for lunch by the way," Oma told me, "I have a Chemistry club meeting, but it would be nice if you can let the others know."

She gave me a one-armed hug and walked off. I was so confused.

Finally, I arrived at the front. I exhaled in relief and took a tray, watching as the people in front of me parted ways, as if expecting me to walk through.

I looked ahead at the path they'd paved for me. I really thought my school wasn't dramatic enough for this. But I was mistaken.

The path created a direct view that headed straight to Zenon Albert.

Oh. No. What's the rumor now?

They stepped aside, watching me, as if expecting me to actually walk through that. No, no, no. This is not the Hunger Games and I am not a tribute. I looked ahead at the path they'd paved.

It headed straight to Zenon Albert.

He was standing in the center of the cafeteria, talking to Axel. He laughed at something Axel said and ran a hand through his hair, unaware of the eyes that were on him.

That's when Axel mentioned me and Zenon turned around, scanning the lunch line until his eyes landed on me. He smiled and that warm smile reminded me of normality.

This is the Zenon I know. Not the basketball player some people idolize.

"We were waiting for you," Zenon said, walking towards me. His hoodie was unzipped, and I don't know why I focused on his hoodie strings, watching them move beneath his bare neck.

Axel walked beside him and they crossed the cafeteria. It struck me as funny that it takes me several minutes to get through the crowd and they just waltz through.

Axel walked towards the doors. "Let's go to lunch," he said, next to the line of people waiting.

"Isn't this..." I asked, holding my tray of food as we walked out of the cafeteria.

"No," Axel chuckled, as if I was a kid asking for dessert instead of dinner.

The hallways were pretty empty during lunchtime and I walked with my tray in hand. Such a shame my lasagna was getting cold. I hope there's a microwave wherever we're going.

I caught Zenon glancing at my tray with a small smile on his face.

"What?" I asked.

"Do you eat like a five-year-old every day?" he teased me.

What's wrong with lasagna and a juice box?

"No, but you could act like a gentleman every day," I responded, extending my tray for him to take.

His smile widened at my response and he accepted the tray.

The boys walked quicker than me and I found myself hurrying keep up. Axel was leading the way, and he took a left turn before he strolled into a classroom where music was playing.

Zenon held the door open for me with one hand, while the other held my tray. He waited for me to walk through. I did, feeling major deja vu.

"First time, Candace?" Bryce presumed, sitting at the teacher's desk in an empty classroom.

It felt like I was walking into a detention run by Bryce.

Somehow, Bryce had connected his phone to the surround sound speakers in this room and was playing music. Delivery food lay out on the front row of desks, including an area for drinks. He'd even managed to smuggle alcohol into school.

"Yes, first time," I lied.

I don't think anyone remembered, but on the first day of school I-

"No," Zenon corrected me, "You came here on the first day, by accident."

OK, so Zenon remembered. I looked at my boyfriend with mixed emotions. I thought about how even back then, he cared about me. But then I also thought about how back then, he was a real jack-a-ss. I'm conflicted.

"Cauliflower pizza's for Bianca," Bryce claimed some dishes, "And I'll have the spicy avocado salad."

I picked up a warm bowl and Axel told me what it was. "Spinach and gruyere potato casserole."

Sounds good to me. I dipped my fork into a cheesy golden-brown potato and took a bite. Lunch has never tasted this good.

But then again, lunch has never been with Roland Chadwick III.