Zenon's Game Chapter 255

"Hey you," Kaden said, trying to sound casual in a very awkward situation, "I was hoping we could talk."

"No," I said.

"That jersey incident was a misunderstanding," he tried to tell me, "Julia can explain it."

I was slowly stepping away. Just backing out of this, one step at a time.

"Kaden," I said his name out loud for the first time in a while and it felt like a pile of nothing.

I really wanted him to stop talking. Unfortunately, they were waiting for me to finish my sentence, so I did.

"You have the ugliest sneakers."

He looked down at his shoes and Julia did too.

Kaden was wearing the brightest colored sneakers I have ever seen. Bright red, like the walking warning sign he is.

I backtracked into Zenon, who was now no longer talking to his friend, but watching me. He put his arms out and stopped me from walking straight into him.

"Everything ok?" he asked.

I felt his hands slowly move down my arms, sending shivers through me.

"Yup."

"OK," he said, and handed me the bucket of popcorn, "Your turn to hold this."

I accepted the popcorn and watched him walk to where I had just came from.

Zenon went straight up to Kaden and Julia, who hadn't noticed him before now. I guess they thought I was here solo.

The fear on Kaden's face when he saw Zenon again was enough to make me feel like I didn't need to watch a movie anymore. This was enough.

The drama was unfolding in front of me and I had actual popcorn this time. I offered some to Zenon's friend.

Zenon was talking to them so calmly and I watched as he ate the remaining popcorn he held in his hand. He seemed relaxed while Julia and Kaden were incredibly tense.

Julia objected to whatever Zenon said, but Kaden didn't put up much of an argument. I couldn't hear what Zenon was saying, but I saw him point in another direction. Then, it sounded like they agreed.

Zenon walked back to me.

"What was that about?" I asked him, surprised by how maturely the situation had been handled.

Zenon replied, "I told them they were watching the wrong movie."

I didn't ask any questions. Zenon parted ways with his friend, before putting his arm around me and leading me towards Screen A.

I turned back and saw Julia and Kaden arguing. Zenon had just kicked them out of our movie.

I looked back at Zenon and said, "That's three strikes by the way."

Our date had gone wrong three times.

"No love," Zenon replied, surprising me again with his next words, "This is what I call a home run."

A black jeep wrangler pulled out of his driveway and into mine.

I heard it outside while I shoved my notebook into my backpack and zipped it up. The sun wasn't fully up yet, and it was still cold outside. I took my thickest jacket, turned off the lights and walked outside.

Zenon blasted the car horn.

"What?!" I yelled out. I wanted to murder him for that loud sound.

My lazy boyfriend didn't even bother to roll down the car window. He just pointed behind me and I realized...

He wanted me to lock my front door. The boys had installed a giant padlock on it.

I trudged back, locked the padlock and returned to the car.

Inside was warm. The heating was already turned on and I dropped my backpack next to his black gym bag in the back. Zenon was sitting in the driver's seat with his hair wet from the shower. He leaned over to kiss me just as I started to yawn.

"Sorry," I cupped my hand over my mouth.

I finished the yawn and then went for the kiss. Zenon smirked and then tilted his head, his lips hovering tantalizingly close.

"You know you talk about that raccoon so much, it was only time before you became one."

"Uh..." I said. It took me a moment to understand.

Is he calling me a raccoon?

Zenon leaned over me to flip down the vanity mirror above my seat. I gave him a confused look before I stared at my reflection and gasped.

After so many nights of non-sleep, I had turned into a horror film character. The bags under my eyes were now dark purple, like a raccoon.

Zenon's voice turned serious, "Why do you insist on staying at your place? I can-"

"I do," I insisted, "And I know Cynthia said I could stay with her, and Axel offered the same thing and Bryce said something about a pool house... but I don't want anyone's pity. This house is my responsibility now. Everyone else in my family may run away, but I will stay."

Zenon looked concerned for me. He knew the real reason why I wasn't sleeping and it bothered him.

But I wanted to stick to this. My family made a habit of running away and I wanted to end the pattern.

My sadness had turned into anger. I was furious that my mom and sister had left like this.

I was too tired to notice Zenon stop at the Coffee Bean before school. He expected me to jump out and run to my salvation. I wish I could.

"I already had coffee," I told him.

"What?" he asked, not able to process a negative response.

"I was up all-night drinking coffee," I said, "I'm super caffeinated."

That wasn't a lie, but the truth is that I don't have any money, I don't have a part time job and I don't have parents. The little money I had I was saving for food.

I exhaled and stared longingly at the coffee shop. One day.

Traffic started to pile up around the block from school. It was day 1 of the spring semester. For Zenon, it was the last first day.