Zenon's Game Chapter 272

The party had quietened across the street. Most of the guests had gone and my mind slowly thought about school tomorrow.

"Don't you want to know what your dad told me?" I asked Zenon.

He lowered his phone.

"Yes? No?" I asked, wondering why he wouldn't say anything.

"Relax Candy," he replied uncomfortably, "I don't know how to respond right now, OK? I didn't want to ask before you were ready to tell."

"Sorry, I'm getting a bit intense, I know," I muttered, recognizing that we have very different communication styles.

Zenon wasn't so good with vocalizing his feelings, but his actions conveyed it enough. I was still buzzing from the heat of our make out session today.

I've never broken down like that before. My emotions had completely taken over, and while embarrassing, I felt lighter now.

"Your dad knows where my dad is," I said slowly, sticking to the facts, "He's known all along. And, recently, he called."

I twisted round to see Zenon's reaction. His eyebrows furrowed in a scowl. "Do they speak often?"

"I don't know," I said, "but I think it's the reason why my mom left. I mean, the reason why she's taking a break. She said she was coming back soon."

"OK," he nodded, and his mind was working a lot more logically than mine, "So my dad called your dad and your mom left. What did he say?"

"I don't know."

"He didn't tell you?" Zenon asked, raising his voice in annoyance at his father.

"No," I whispered.

Zenon sat up and pressed his hands gently over my arms. He then asked, "Do you think your dad could've been the intruder?"

That question threw me off. My face blanked and my lips opened a couple times before words came out. I hadn't thought of that. Maybe my mom left because my dad was coming back?

The tears rolled down my cheeks like I was a water sprinkler. At least it didn't come with the painful chest ache I felt before.

"OK," Zenon said, lowering his hands and getting up from the couch. He looked so levelheaded. "My father's going to have to give you more than that."

He didn't say anything else but the tone of his voice was determined.

I rubbed the tears off my cheeks and stared up at him, "I can come?"

"It's OK," he smiled softly, almost sadly, and leaned down to kiss me. His lips pressed against my forehead, "It's better this way."

I knew what that meant – it was going to get hostile.

As soon as Zenon left the house, I ran to the windowsill to watch him walk across the street. If they had this conversation in the kitchen or the living room, I'd be able to see somewhat from here.

He was walking across the street. Zenon turned his head back to catch me staring out the window. He smirked and shot me a flawless wink before turning back and stepping up to his house.

Sometimes, I really wish I could be as smooth as that devil.

I snuck out of my house and crept across the street. I couldn't see or understand what was happening from my spot by the window, so I needed to get closer. They were taking their conversation in the living room.

I saw Mr Albert standing face to face with his son. Mrs Albert was looking worried by the doorway, one foot in and one foot out. Zenon's sister was also in the room, watching intently with her hand hovering over her mouth in shock.

The conversation between Zenon and his father got more heated. I saw Mr Albert yell in anger, the red veins in his neck popping. And then I saw Zenon slam his fist against the wall and force his father to sit down. He chucked his phone onto the table and pointed at it.

Mr Albert put his head in his hand and shook it. Zenon leaned forward, getting right in his father's face, and said something that seemed intimidating.

His mom tried to intervene but was ignored. The two men faced each other off.

I reached their open living room window and stopped moving to listen.

"I was trying to do the right thing," Mr Albert explained.

"No. This is doing the right thing," Zenon said, "Call Mrs Turner and tell her it's OK to come home."

"I never told her to leave," Mr Albert replied, equally cold.

"Don't play with me, dad. You f*cked up and it's embarrassing that I have to be the one to tell you."

I mirrored Charlotte's movements with my hand over my mouth. I was also shocked how Zenon was taking them on like this. I've never heard anyone talk to perfect Mr and Mrs Albert in this way. I guess they reap what they sow...

"I don't have her mobile number..." Mr Albert came up with an excuse.

"Fine," Zenon said, picking up his phone, "I'll call Candace and ask for it."

I had real admiration for Zenon in this moment. I couldn't believe he was going to be the one to bring my mom home. I slowly raised my head to watch his handsome face stare down and dial my number.

And then I realized... he was dialing my number.

My eyes widened as my ringtone blared into the air from the phone in my pocket. The window was wide open, and the entire Albert family spun their head towards my direction.

All they could see were my surprised eyes and tuft of hair sticking up.

I awkwardly stood up from my crouched hiding position under their window and waved meekly.

"Hi."

I've had some embarrassing moments in my life.

Though I have to admit, this is probably in my top three.

There's that time I blurted out to Zenon's parents that we kissed, or when I packed honey on a camping trip with bears or the time I puked on my boyfriend...