Zenon's Game Chapter 40

I texted Julia to see if she had a dress I could borrow. 

What do you need it for?  she texted back.

I replied quickly from my bedroom, For a party. Do you want to come? 

Whose party?

Axel's.

Is that a nerd in your mathletes club?

I should have said his surname. Axel Thomas was a big name at school, but Julia expected his to be the last party I'd ever get invited to. I was about to explain, when she sent me another text.

You always like the math nerds. If you want to impress him by taking him somewhere cool, come to Yoona's after. There'll be a couple people there. 

Impressing Axel Thomas was not something either one of us could achieve. 

I had very productive plans before the party: Do some homework, work out, organize my desk, take my time doing make up... but I sat in bed watching youtube videos.

The car honked outside. Mum was at work, Heidi was out. I was so not ready.

Zenon's black jeep wrangler was parked in my driveway. And I was sitting, helplessly, by my mirror. I'm no make up guru - I tried the whole smokey eye thing but ended up looking like a raccoon. So I wiped my face in make up remover and that was it.

My phone rang.

"Julia! Thank God! Are you coming over? I desperately need your help!" I said.

"You mean tonight?!  I'm sorry. I have your dress, but I'd only make it there in an hour."

I heard voices in the background. She must be at Yoona's already. 

Zenon honked again outside. He was not patient.

"An hour's too late," I said, still in the turtle neck and jean skirt I was wearing at school today.

"CANDACE!" Zenon yelled –and I mean yelled through my window.

"COMING!" I yelled back, and then calmly returned to my phone call, "Sorry, you were saying?"

"Uh, do you need to go?"

"Probably," I reluctantly agreed, stuffing my feet into black sneakers, and walking out the front door, "I'll talk to you later.  Thanks for offering to help."

Zenon was in his car, looking hot and bothered. His fingers were impatiently tapping the steering wheel. His crystal blue eyes landed on me like lasers and his jaw locked. 

"Usually girls dress up for a party," he observed as I buckled my seat belt on.

"I had no idea," I sarcastically replied.

"Who gave you the black eye?"

"What? Oh, it's just my make up." I guess I hadn't scrubbed off all the 'smokey eye'.

"I thought makeup was meant to make you look better."

Oh my god.

"Shame there's no makeup for your personality," I said.

He smirked, "Liar. You know that if you could bottle and sell me, you'd be filthy rich."

"And happy because you'd be stuck in a bottle."

Axel lived in our neighborhood in a two storey white house. Bouquets of lilacs dotted the premise in heavy, stone vases.

"The lights are out," I said, as Zenon and I walked side-by-side up the front lawn. Not only were the lights out, but there was no sound or movement coming from the house. "This is a rowdy party."

"You questioning this? Bold move coming from you, Turner."

I know I'm the last person to be criticizing Zenon Albert's social events, but this is a low bar. I expect some people at a party. I mean, I'm the girl who shows up to a party in a turtle neck.

We rang the doorbell.

A silver haired lady opened the door. She was wearing stockings and a tartan frock. Classical music was faintly trickling in through the living room.

"We must be at the wrong house," I told Zenon.

"Hi Gloria, lovely to see you," he greeted the old lady, "We're here for the party." 

"Of course you are, Lukey! Look at you! I can tell you're eating your green beans and getting strong like Popeye." 

"Popeye eats spinach," I said. Not sure why I said it.

"Please take your shoes off dear.  I didn't catch your name," she pointed at the welcome mat. 

While she turned around and shuffled off, I glared at Zenon, "Is this a joke? You said it was a party for seniors, not senior citizens."

"Gloria," Zenon said, ignoring me as usual, as the old lady came back with little tea sandwiches, "Candace doesn't think this is fun."

I pinched him.

Though there wasn't much to pinch. This boy is made of muscle.

"Jumping jiminetty! You kids have such high expectations these days," she was about to say more, but her kitchen timer dinged. "The quiche is ready!" she put the plate of tea sandwiches down next to us and hurried off into the kitchen.

"Let's go," Zenon took my hand and led me down the corridor.

I stared at our entwined hands. My hand fit softly in his and his fingers wrapped securely around mine. Warm.

"That was Axel's nanny."  

"He's seventeen and he still has a nanny?" I asked.

"Gloria's a legend," he said, barely noticing how we were walking.

Did it really feel that natural to be holding my hand? I stared up at him, lost in this moment as he continued to say something. It was just sounds at that point.

And then, we stopped at a white cupboard.

He let go of me and pointed inside. "Welcome to the party."

"Have you lost your mind?"