Zenon's Game Chapter 42

I didn't have a plan.  I wasn't sure what I was meant to do.  What do you do at a party when you know no one?

Any tips?

Anyone??

Everyone here was a senior at my high school. I think I was the only junior, as if that made any difference.  Even if we were in the same year, this was a crowd I would never have met.  Different social circles... aka they have one. 

I wandered deeper into the grotto.  Aimlessly.  The heavy beat of the music was amplified by the cave walls, echoing in my ear drums.

Act up, you can get snatched up,Dirty a*s*s nails, baby girl, you need to back up

A girl crouched against the pool and started to twerk. Her movements made the water splash. Two more girls followed. Next to them, a larger crowd had formed. And in the middle of that crew, was Axel, popping bottles and letting them spray.

"Excuse me," I squeezed through a crowd to get to the bar. I could see drinks strewn across the table, with kegs on the end, "Sorry, do you mind if I have a drink?"

They ignored me.  I tried to edge in sideways.

"Sorry," I apologized when someone elbowed me, "May I get through please?" They ignored me. "I'm sorry but-"

A girl turned around and huffed, "Why are you so annoying?"

A guy turned around, "Who invited you?"

They stared at me, judging me. I felt awful. I really shouldn't have come. 

This was a bad idea.  

"She asked for a drink. Give her a damn drink."

Everyone stared now.  Who was standing up for me?  I turned around and realized that it was...

cliffhanger

Just kidding

It was Jake. The transfer student from my literature class. 

"You vouching for her, Jake?" a girl asked.

"Yes," he said in an obvious tone.

"Didn't you hear him?" she elbowed the guy next to her, "Give her a drink."

Someone else poured me a vodka lime and handed it to Jake. "Here Jake, sorry for the wait."

Jake didn't take it.  He really wanted to prove his point.  "I said, give her a drink." 

His eyes pointed at me, forcing the guy to address me.

The guy reluctantly turned to me and handed me the drink directly. "Here you go."

"Thanks," I said, and backed out of that crowd, with a drink in hand.

Jake followed me and I realized that he expected us to talk. I turned around to face him, though I wasn't sure what to say. 

My nerves started to get the best of me but then I realized how relaxed he was.

He took a puff from his juul, exhaled smoke and offered it to me, "Want some?"

"I don't smoke," I said, holding my drink awkwardly.  

He was in a muscle tank top, and beads of sweat from all the steam trickled over his hard body. His tattoos were more visible now.  

"Aren't you hot?" he asked me.

Uh, you're the hot one.

His eyes trailed down my body, soaking it in.  My turtle neck was wet from the humidity and my sweat. It had become see-through.  

"Thank you for helping me out back there.  Not many people do that for me," I said honestly.

"They should.  You're a good girl," he vaped, "There aren't many of you left."

Jake had only been at the school a couple days and he already knew more people than me.  When the pool turned into a jacuzzi with jet streams and bubbles, I decided to leave.

There was a battle for DJ. Trap music transitioned to pop and then to R&B. Old school Trey Songz came on with Na Na.

That's when I knew it was time to go home.  Trey Songz comes on when people are about to get laid.  His voice always sets the mood for foreplay.

My turtle neck was getting uncomfortable. I was wearing a cami crop top underneath. Normally I'd feel uncomfortable taking it off, but everyone was in bikinis or bras at this point. Plus, no one would remember this tomorrow.

I stretched the turtle neck off my skin and felt damp air replace it. My crop top was already wet.

I walked through the party, avoiding the couples making out.

I had totally lost any sense of time.  The grotto was like a time warp - it sucks you in. Whatever it is, it must be late. I tried to make my way to the staircase. 

I followed the tiki torches like glowing orbs in the distance until I arrived and stared up at the white door.  My hands stretched out on the banisters for balance and I started to walk up the stairs.

"Leaving so soon?" 

It was Zenon.  He'd removed himself from the debauchery.  Water dripped off his hair and down his body.  Flashbacks to the night at the lake.

Oh this wasn't good.  

With each step towards me, I saw the look in his eyes. His blue eyes were dark. I had seen them like that once before...

In the lake...

I forgot all about leaving. Slowly, my hand lowered from the banister, against my forehead and I stopped moving. I was too scared to. Zenon Albert was making all the moves.  

"I want to say a proper goodbye.  I want to show you how I could never be embarrassed by you."

His hand touched mine, and he traced his fingers down my arm and down my side. He gazed softly at me. I felt his finger hook onto my b-ra, tempting me, before he let go. His touch sent waves of desire pulsing through me. We were both wet. 

"You make me better, Candy."

I itched to push myself against him. I restrained from ripping his shirt off. His eyes had me hypnotized. And I was weak to his touch.

I craved it.

Slowly, tantalizingly slowly, his finger trickled down to the side of my skirt. He pushed it up and rested his hand on my outer thigh. He lowered his lips towards mine.  

And in that moment, a bottle of champagne sprayed all over us.