Zenon's Game Chapter 238

It was a moment of comfort before we were ushered to outdoor toilet sheds, where we could change. Why was Bryce's dad sending us to a military bootcamp?

The shirt fell loosely over me, and the pants were baggy with an elastic waistband. The organizers hadn't spent any time thinking about what size we were, so it was a 'few sizes fit all' approach. I put Zenon's jacket on around me and stepped outside.

Zenon and Oma were the first two out. They were talking. Zenon's arms were crossed over his chest as he spoke, leaning casually. It was odd to see them both wearing the same monotonous clothes. Oma was known for such beautiful, vibrant outfits.

I overheard Bryce and Bianca complaining to the instructor about their clothes.

"I changed my mind," Axel commented, as he walked over, "They actually suit each other."

The instructor blew her high-pitched whistle and asked us to walk through the forest into a nearby clearing where the obstacle course was.

Two hours ago, we were getting off a plane. Now we were in an obstacle course. Nowhere near my bed.

Bryce's dad has a weird way of administering 'punishment'. This was on a whole other level.

"Zenon," I spoke quietly to avoid the instructor's wrath, "Does this remind you of anything?"

He smiled knowingly, "Summer."

Even though the leaves on the trees were sparse and the ground was more brown than green, it still felt like those summer camp weeks we spent in nature. In a cabin by a lake.

I stopped in my tracks.

I wasn't staring at the obstacle course but at the man standing on a tree stump, waiting to greet us. He was wearing a cap and eating a cliff bar.

No way.

My mouth opened and a couple letters tumbled out, "Mr Woo-"

He raised a hand and yelled out, "Who's ready to rock and rooollll?"

Axel stopped next to me and looked around, "Why is he yelling?"

"It's his thing," Zenon answered, on the other side of me. I was still frozen in place.

We watched the man stuff the empty cliff bar wrapper into his pocket and dramatically jump off the tree stump, yelling out, "I'm Mr Woodhouse and a record holder of this obstacle course!"

Mr Woodhouse ran Camp Beaver Hill.

Camp was a couple hours away from here, so I never expected to see him. Maybe he runs the forest, like a modern-day nymph. I don't really do nature, but every time I did, he seemed to be running the show.

And a show it was. Mr Woodhouse was just as dramatic here as he had been at camp. He didn't have an actual stage, but he treated the tree stump like one.

Bianca raised her hand and asked her question anyway, "Uh, what is this place?"

"I like to think of it as an adventure park," Mr Woodhouse answered, "It's more of a fitness ground. We hold a lot of corporate events, team building exercises and summer retreats. My sister runs this place."

His sister was the instructor with the whistle. She joined her brother now and started to talk us through the obstacle course. Mr Woodhouse watched our reactions absentmindedly until he landed on Zenon.

"He's staring at you," Axel said, subtly.

Mr Woodhouse's staring morphed into confusion, and then surprise and then glee.

He interrupted his sister as he walked towards Zenon, with arms outstretched. The rest of the group turned to watch the greeting play out. I was stunned, I had no idea what the others were thinking.

"Zenon Albert, you've returned!"

Sounds like a Star Wars episode. The return of the L-

"You remember Candace?" Zenon replied, taking me out of my imagination.

Mr Woodhouse looked at me and his facial expressions went on another rollercoaster ride. He eventually asked, "You two still hang out?"

"They're dating," Axel informed him.

Mr Woodhouse looked from me to Zenon and then back to me again. His silence spoke volumes. Oh, how the memories came flooding back now. I almost forgot how dismissive he was of my entire existence.

"I never saw that one coming," Mr Woodhouse remarked.

We lined up in front of the obstacle course. The tall trees of the forest surrounded us with their sharp and jagged branches.

I wore sneakers with a band aid under my sock. Turns out wearing high heels for 3842834 hours on New Years' Eve can give blisters.

Weird how blisters are my strongest reminder of that beach club party now.

"Zenon," I held onto him so tightly, "You can't leave me."

He looked down at my trembling hands on his arm, "If this was any other setting, I'd think that was romantic."

Mr Woodhouse walked by us and muttered, "Try not to break his arm. OK, is everyone now in pairs?"

I saw Cynthia react quickly and nervously spin to Axel, "Do you... should we be a pair?"

Bryce was standing behind Cynthia, making signs at Axel to reject her and say yes to him. Axel shooed Bryce away and agreed to pair up with Cynthia.

I was so happy for her that I wanted to dance an Irish jig. Well, first learn how to dance an Irish jig and then dance it.

Bryce joined up with Bianca and Oma in a trio. Then, the whistle blew.

My excitement immediately dropped. I'd momentarily forgotten about this obstacle course and the torture ahead of us.

The instructor called out, "Everyone is now in their pairs! Choose one person in each team to take on the first activity."

Zenon and I didn't even need to discuss it. Of course, he was going to do this one.

And the next one. And the one after that. I mean, if they're giving us a choice...