Zenon's Game Chapter 284

I kept walking down the court towards them. They watched me and the silence stretched out. My mind continued to race with thoughts.

I'm sorry I'm not Axel. I'm sorry I'm not Zenon. I don't have blind devotion and I don't think loyalty trumps morality.

And I'm sorry, genuinely sorry, if this decision breaks up my relationships.

"Candace," Zenon answered, "you have your way of solving problems and I have mine."

As I drew closer to Zenon, I felt grateful for not needing to shout across the basketball court. We could talk quietly, more privately. Even if everyone else was looking on, they couldn't hear us.

"I don't want you to solve my problem like this," I said quietly, "I appreciate your help, but I should have some say in how you go about solving it, shouldn't I?"

"OK," Zenon said, and tried to explain, "But you can't let people trample over you like this. I love you Candy, but please don't be weak."

"Maybe you're too strong," I said, "Why turn into a bully to defend a victim?"

He didn't say anything. He looked me in the eye, and I saw the cold blue of his iris. Come on, Zenon. Please understand me.

Kaden exhaled a deep sigh of relief, "Thank the heavens for you, Candace. I knew you'd-"

"Kaden," I looked over at him, sitting tied up in his chair, "I'm saying this nicely. Please go rot."

He was in no position to negotiate.

This guy keeps confusing my desire for Zenon to not end up in jail with affection for Kaden.

"Zenon, you can risk your college scholarship over this," I said, "The school will punish you if they catch you."

Zenon turned back towards me and I couldn't help but feel the moment frozen in time. The way he looked at me caught my breath in my throat.

"If you think I'll stand by while my girlfriend gets bullied," Zenon replied, "You're dating the wrong guy."

He turned around and slammed the basketball against Kaden's chest with incredible force. Kaden spluttered out and his chair rocked again. He was going to topple over for sure.

I felt the oxygen drain from my lungs for a second.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I was going to fall apart. This is Zenon. We are so different.

"Candace," a boy's voice said behind me.

I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I noticed the flash of gold from the rolex on his wrist. I turned to Bryce and didn't say anything. Axel and Cynthia were behind him, looking even more worried.

It's like they knew. They understood what just happened.

A realization that Zenon and I stood for completely different things.

The basketball players cheered, and I heard a bang. I turned around to see what happened and saw Kaden knocked over. He squirmed on the floor, still tied in his toppled chair, crying out in pain.

I ran over to him and threw myself to my knees, grazing my knees as I tried to undo the rope tied behind him. My hands were so shaky from the emotions I was feeling. I couldn't look up at Zenon because I didn't know how I would feel.

Empty.

When I stole the little bottle of alcohol from my mom's cabinet this morning, I thought 'today's going to be a chill day.'

And the world laughed in my face.

Did the world laugh? No, it gargled some water and spat all over my face. That's how I feel right now. Like something someone sneezed on.

My knees hurt from skidding against the polished wood of my school's basketball court. My heart hurt from the conflicted emotions I was feeling right now. And my hands hurt trying to untie the rope that bound Kaden's hands behind his back.

No one was helping.

"Stop moving," I told him harshly, having no sympathy for this boy.

Kaden was squirming around on the floor, desperately trying to get out of his tied position. It was difficult to help when he kept jerking his hands. Kaden was in pain, having landed hard on his shoulder, still trapped to the chair. He tried to hide his head away from the guys taking pictures.

I felt sorry for him. This was definitely going to get around school faster than my iced coffee melts.

Why did Zenon have to humiliate him like this?

Speaking of Zenon Albert, I looked up at the boy in front of me. My hot but incredibly stubborn boyfriend. He didn't lift a finger to help Kaden, but was watching me instead. Behind him, Axel, Bryce and Cynthia were standing like back up dancers.

I was so tired of everyone falling into place behind Zenon. It's like people just accept he's the starring role in some invisible show. This boy gets away with everything.

"Did you really think this would give you answers?" I asked, trying not to raise my voice so his prying teammates on the stands couldn't hear.

Zenon abused his role as Team Captain. He created an environment of fear. And that's my opinion.

People always forgive him because he's 'hot' and he's an 'athlete'. He's charismatic, sure, but he's a jack*ss. And I've called him that since day one.

His confidence comes because of his power – because he knows he can get what he wants. I've never had that kind of power, and I'm not attracted to it either.

An overprotective, physical boyfriend is not something I glorify. I love Zenon as a person, away from the hierarchy. Not as this...

Am I wrong?

Because I feel wrong.

Because Zenon's doing this to take care of me. Because everyone else seems to be on his side. And because he's always stood by me. I honestly believe Zenon would accept the darkest parts of me.

Can I accept his?