Zenon's Game Chapter 332

"We have breakfast," Zenon answered, pulling open the cabinets. He lifted out a bag of protein powder and box of protein bars from the bottom shelf.

That's breakfast?

"Great," I said with zero enthusiasm.

"I'm not used to you being the moody one," he joked and intentionally waited a second before adding, "We have toaster waffles in the freezer."

I jumped out of the bar stool and bounced straight to the freezer, like a zombie come to life. While Zenon poured two scoops of protein powder into a shaker and added water, I was head deep in the freezer, rummaging loudly.

"There's also coffee in the cabinet," he mused, sending me running for the coffee instead.

My zombie mind was so focused on coffee and food that I took a while to realize how Zenon was entertaining himself by watching me run around in circles.

He was in a good mood. I glanced over at him while he drank his protein shake, looking out of the window at the forest surrounding the cabin.

I realized how free Zenon felt out here. When he's away from the pressures of school and basketball, he becomes a playful version of himself.

"Should we go for a walk after breakfast?" I offered.

Zenon looked away from the window and at me like I was a substitute version of myself. "Are you messing with me?"

"We don't get moments like these often, so we might as well make the most of them," I said, knowing that by summer, he will be going to college in a different state, "Besides, if we sleep now, we'll mess up our whole sleep schedule."

He raised his eyebrows at me and nodded. He downed the rest of his protein shake.

When he lowered the drink, I saw the glimmer in his eyes and a smirk on his face, "Can't back out now."

~15 minutes later~

I was in a happy place, cradling my cup of black coffee in one hand and stabbing waffles with another. Zenon had already drunk his entire shake before the waffles even popped out of the toaster.

He was upstairs taking a shower.

I was slathering some more maple syrup on my waffles. I wasn't exactly looking forward to our forest walk, since I didn't have the greatest track record for these nature experiences... but I had to try. My phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked, popping a forkful of waffle into my mouth, "Joff?"

"Candace, I've been trying to reach you since yesterday," Joe's worried voice replied.

"Om agh ge hake house," I chewed, trying to speak at the same time.

"What's the hake house? Is that a club? Do you need to be picked up?"

I swallowed the waffle, "Sorry, no, I'm fine. Zenon and I took a trip last night and we'll be out of town for a few days."

"Out of town?!" Joe exclaimed. It's the first time I've ever heard him get worked up, "You know you have your competition tomorrow. You worked so hard for this."

Why does Joe sound like my mom right now?

"Joe," I sighed, telling him the truth, "I was suspended from school this week. They forbid me from participating in any school activities, including the math competition."

It was another blow that came with the whole Kaden-Zenon-basketball incident. They took away my right to participate in the mathlete competition after I had qualified for the round last winter.

"I know," he replied, "I spoke to Kaden yesterday who told me what happened. He's suspended too and won't join. Looks like you'll both have to try again next year."

I spoke with Joe for a couple more minutes and wished him luck at the mathlete competition. I guess he would be playing for all of us. After Joe and I hung up, I picked up my fork again. But then I thought twice.

I traded my fork for the pen and added another name to the suspects' list: Joe.

Maybe.

It's not impossible.

Suddenly, the surround sound speakers started to crackle. I spun round on the kitchen stool, wondering who else was in the house aside from Zenon and me. Zenon was in the shower, wasn't he?

"Zenon?" I called out in the empty room.

Music started to play. I got up and walked to the dining area, making sure none of the doors were open. The view now made me feel so alone in a huge landscape.

The music got louder on the speakers:

How you look so perfect on your worst days?

Double C your purses, you deserve it

It was A Boogie's song: the first song Zenon and I listened to together. Back at the campsite, I played the song after he came to sit beside me. We had our first, genuine heart-to-heart that night. And he ate my turkey mayo sandwiches.

I turned to the staircase and saw him.

Zenon slid across the smooth wooden surface, like he was Tom Cruise in that risky business scene. He had a white towel wrapped around his waist and his chest was still wet from the shower. I watched his skin sparkle as he moved towards me, getting ready for the chorus.

Curvy little body, love your surface

Yeah, I'm all on your body, make you nervous

He came over and swept me up in his arms. I squealed from the feeling of his wet arms on my back as he spun me round.

Swervin'

How you look so perfect on your worst days?

He kissed me, but I was smiling so he ended up kissing my teeth. His hand swept through my hair, messing it up as he left a trail of kisses down my neck, but I didn't mind. I squeezed his hard shoulders as he lowered me, letting my body slide down his. I was so sure his towel was about to fall off, but he gripped it with his left hand before it did.