Zenon's Game Chapter 310

I skipped down the stairs of the apartment building in Alpine. Jake was ahead of me, again, with his new guitar on his back.

"Candace, you really didn't need to do that. I swear I'll pay you back the $20," Jake promised, slowing down so I could catch up.

"It was worth it," I said, not wanting to think too much about it.

My mom had given me cash before she left the second time round. I didn't have much of it left but, when I saw Jake's disappointment that he was $20 short, I had to help. The guitar means so much to him. It's his escape from everything here.

I didn't want to think about where that left me if my mom leaves again or when my car runs out of gas. I didn't have a part-time job anymore and my savings from being a camp counsellor last summer were all used up in the trip to Dubai.

A problem for tomorrow I suppose.

I opened the car door and slid into the driver's seat. I wanted to support Jake, but I couldn't help thinking about the conversation between Zenon and me... and how this was only delaying the inevitable.

Jake was performing at a bar. The 'competitors' entrance was in a side alley and we had to wait in line behind all the other musicians. The line was long, as every band and artist had to be checked at the door and given a number. A lot of random musical sounds would sporadically pop up in the line.

It was early and I was hoping they'd give us dinner before the show.

My phone rang: unknown number

"Hello?" I excused myself from the line and Jake looked over, curious about the caller.

I shrugged back to him.

"Hey Candace, it's Lara. Funny seeing you earlier. Axel gave me your number actually. He mentioned you were really good at math and I was looking for a tutor. Are you interested?"

I looked around, almost as if I expected Axel to appear out of nowhere. He told her I could be a tutor... he has my back.

"Yeah, yes, sure, absolutely, I'd love to!" I said, trying to contain my excitement.

"What's your rate? Is $70 an hour good?"

Seventy?! I couldn't begin to imagine what I'd do with $70 an hour. Maybe she meant $17?

"Uh..."

"$90?" Lara asked.

This girl wasn't a haggler.

"That's way more than I would've expected," I admitted.

"Don't sell yourself short. If I'm being honest with you, tutors cost a lot more than $70. I'm looking for someone who's fun but can take it seriously. I hear you're good."

"S- sure, I'd be really happy to. We can do a session and see if you'd like to continue?" I offered, feeling my heart soar with happiness.

I have a job!

8PM

Jake was strumming his guitar in the artists' room backstage. We were sitting side by side, talking quietly. I found it enthralling to watch him play a few chords casually while we spoke.

It was like music flowed out of him and he didn't even need to think about it.

There was a buzz backstage as everyone got ready for the show. Sandwiches and sodas on the buffet table and alcohol in ice buckets. I'd managed to get in by pretending to be Jake's lyricist. He had a fake ID that he used to get us two free beers.

He looked down, adjusting the tuning pegs on the headstock of the guitar and I watched a strand of dark hair fall in a loose curl over his eyes.

Jake spoke, keeping his voice low so no one heard, "I don't get how someone like you is dating an assh*le like my brother."

I almost choked on air. How could he say something like that while casually playing the guitar? I thought we were passed this.

"I love him," I replied, hoping that Jake could understand, and also hoping that Zenon still felt the same way.

"Ok," he said.

Was it a mistake to have come here? Zenon would say yes in a heartbeat. But Jake is my friend – a genuine, kind friend who is going through a very difficult time with no one around for him.

Jake's fingers stopped strumming his guitar and he glanced at a girl who just walked up to us.

"Sorry to interrupt but I noticed your tattoos," she said nervously, "They're cool. Are you performing tonight?"

I silently got up and left the two of them to their flirting. Zenon and I were supposed to meet here, but I hadn't heard from yet. I needed to get away from Jake. And I hated to admit how smooth he is with that guitar. The guy's voice sounds like honey.

I tried to get it out of my head and think about my new part-time job instead. It was like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I couldn't wait to tell Zenon – after we deal with the continuation of last night's conversation. My stomach churned just thinking about it.

I left the artists' room and walked through the main doors into the bar. The bar was filling up fast and music was playing through the speakers. There was a shuffleboard and retro arcade game machine on one end of the room.

This felt like the kind of place that would have karaoke nights on Tuesdays.

I didn't expect to see Bianca and Oma standing at a high-top table by the small stage. Oma was showing Bianca something on her phone when Stacey approached them.

If I had any intention of saying hello to them, it disappeared the moment Stacey showed up.

I took a swig of the beer in my hand and began walking to the shuffleboard when I noticed the front doors opened again.

And Zenon walked in.