Zenon's Game Chapter 228

That's when I saw that the wall on the other end of the swimming pool was not one wall – it was actually two, one staggered behind the other.

Each wall was about half the length of the room, so that when one wall ended, the other began. One wall was staggered behind the other, which left a space in between.

It's a mind trick. Imagine having this much space in one's home that you can have a whole room dedicated to a mind trick. I mean, what else would they do here? Stargaze?

We walked through the two walls and found another door. The party exploded the moment we pushed that one open.

A cover band was playing on a silver stage and the outrageous outfits combined on one dance floor made an incredible blend. I felt like I was tripping.

"Let's eat so we can roll out," Bryce said.

"What?" Cynthia asked, staring at the party around us and wondering why we would ever want to leave, "This isn't where we're spending New Years'?"

"Nope," he said, already bouncing to the buffet.

So where's the real New Years' party?

Cynthia and I held onto each other. The food was displayed in mountains on the longest tables. We were so hungry.

I jumped into a line and served myself with food I recognized and food I didn't. I took another plate and did the same to that, until my arms were weighed down.

Potatoes in three ways, lamb and salmon, veggies of all kinds, some spicy red food and less spicy salad. I went crazy with the sauces and kept my distance from the oysters.

My hand-eye coordination is not world renowned, so a bread roll accidentally rolled off my unbalanced plate.

Luckily, Zenon was standing behind me in line. He extended his plate under mine to catch it.

That boy and his coordination.

Sometimes I think that may just be the hottest thing about him.

But then I look at his face... and I think of the many memes related to that Smash Mouth song line.

"I thought you could catch," he whispered in my ear, his free hand resting on my waist.

"Not often," I answered, feeling a smile escape my lips.

I remembered his words to me this summer, when he was teaching me how to catch. The only thing I ever really caught was my mother's necklace that night we were in a street fight.

"You caught me," he whispered and his lips brushed my cheek.

I felt shivers run through me and my plates clinked against each other as I almost lost control of them. Zenon stepped back, quickly realizing how his effect on me could result in total disaster.

It usually did.

*21.20 on NYE*

Oma started dinner with dessert first. A real visionary.

We sat around a table that already had opened bottles of wine ready for us. Zenon and I sat beside each other, our knees brushing against each other.

He was talking to a stranger who had approached him, but under the table, his hand was on my knee.

Bryce was struggling to eat since he was being forced to meet his father's friends. His plate lay untouched at our table while he spoke to them closer to the dance floor.

We'd been invited to this party thanks to Bryce Senior, who expected his son to be presentable in return. They all wore three-piece suits. Bryce is with his people.

Axel was eating a chicken wing in the crowd and dancing, waving his wing from time to time. He was trying to grab Bryce's attention while making a fool of himself.

We could see Bryce lose concentration and look over at Axel. He was struggling not to break into a laugh.

Suddenly, Axel bumped into a lady on the dance floor who recognized him. "Axel!"

He almost choked on his chicken wing as we choked with laughter.

*22.47 on NYE*

The next location was a concert at a beach club.

This time we came in with the crowd, all filing into the main area. We were given wrist bands and I found it refreshing that we were partying outside in the middle of winter. The packed crowd gave more than enough heat.

Our table had a bucket of alcohol and soft drinks already there. The boys cracked some open, but Zenon didn't join them. He was beside me.

"Are you OK?" I asked him.

"Fine," he answered.

"Is this about the other night?" I asked, "You know you don't need to check in on me every minute."

"I'm making sure you're alright," he said, speaking into my ear over the music, "Do you want to dance?"

I don't. I can't dance. I don't dance. I look like a chicken on a tight rope when I dance.

"You go ahead," I insisted.

He gave me a look, "You say that now, but tomorrow..."

"I promise I won't be upset. I'm having a good time here."

"Why don't you dance?"

"I'm self-conscious!"

"Why is that stopping you?" he tried to convince me.

"It just is. Please, don't!" I begged him not to force me.

Zenon sighed and looked out on the dance floor. Hundreds of people were going crazy to the music. They were letting loose for new year's. I'm not quite there yet and I can't force myself to be.

He walked over to Axel. He said something and a few minutes later I found Axel Thomas in front of me.

"I don't dance either," Axel said, "But I'm going to show you my moves."

*22.52 on NYE*

"Let's start with a classic," Axel said, stepping back.

With each step, he clicked his fingers and bopped his head. He was clearing a little space for us to make our move and it was attracting attention. Dreaded attention.