Zenon's Game Chapter 57

"But we have rules-"

"Do I look like I care?"

Bianca's lip quivered.  There was a very awkward silence that ensued.  Zenon wasn't about to back down and Bianca looked like she was about to cry.  The last thing I wanted was to cause a rift between Zenon and his friends.

"I'm hooked on her!" Axel exclaimed, coming over to give me a one arm hug and dispel the tension, "This girl does funny and random sh*t and calls people out on their own. It's refreshing. More lemonade?"

"She doesn't look funny to me," Bianca pursed her lips, before remembering Zenon's warning, "I mean, nice to meet you." 

Is it that hard to be friendly? Her instinct was b*tch mode. 

"And I am Roland Chadwick the Third," Bryce extended his hand formally, "But you can call me Bryce."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Candace, probably Candace the one millionth. It's a super common name."

Why did I say that? 

"Enough with the boring intros," Bianca said, lifting her shirt off, "Is anyone else going into the pool?"

She was wearing a yellow bikini underneath.

Oma was taking a selfie under a striped parasol, "Do you want a boomerang on the swan?"

"That was so 2017," Bianca complained, "It's all about the pink flamingos now-"

"That was last summer," Bryce said, "But go retro. I've got a donut ring and pineapple floatie."

"Pineapple is so my aesthetic," she referred to her yellow bikini, "Are you going into the pool Candace or are you just going to watch me?"

"I'm not going to watch you," I answered, sitting down on a lounge chair beside Axel, "But thank you for the offer."

No way was I going to take the bait on that. Bianca had a perfect body and I... well, let's just say I enjoy one too many actual donuts myself. Donuts aren't my aesthetic, they're my reality.

Bianca glared at me and picked up her phone. She texted something and Oma's phone buzzed. They giggled and whispered to each other. I only caught parts of it:

"Why haven't we... her yet... Surfside Shack... Zenon."

It sounded like she was talking about me and not in the good way. Zenon came to sit next to me, signalling the girls to cool it.

The boys were already engaged in loud conversation and Axel was spilling lemonade over everyone as he generously refilled our glasses. Over-generously. 

He filled it to the top until it flowed all over the table.

Bryce raised his glass and alcohol dripped down his hand, "Get it down the hatch, boys."

They downed it in one. I stared at two other pitchers on the table. Already empty.

Was this what a casual weekday looked like for them? Poolside drinking and tanning. Uploading pictures on Instagram that get close to 2k views. 

If so, it's a different world to mine. I focused back on their conversation and realized that it had deteriorated fast...

"-coming from him. He's got whiskers for a moustache."

"At least I don't have pubic hair on my face."

"You should transfer some of it to your head. You're seventeen and starting to bald."

The conversation had spiraled out of control very quickly. I guess that's reality. The popular boys are not always the broody, mysterious boys they're made out to be. They're goofy and immature.

And I didn't mind. Who am I kidding? I'm into it.

"Stay hydrated Candace," Axel pushed another glass of the spiked lemonade towards me.

I was feeling a little tipsy as I settled myself in Zenon's car. I connected his phone and shuffled songs on his playlist to one I like. Zenon was standing outside, saying goodbye to Bryce, when he reached in and put his hand on the stereo.

"Keep it on this one." He turned the volume up until I felt the vibrations in my seat. I covered my ears with my hands.

I noticed how he didn't care that I was using his phone. All he cared about was the music we listened to. His phone was on my lap and I saw some texts roll in, but I locked it, not wanting to accidentally read them.

Zenon finished saying goodbye.

"I didn't know Bryce lived here," I said as Zenon got into the car.

Zenon nodded, driving around the fountain in Bryce's driveway on our way out. He reached over to take his phone from my lap and our fingers accidentally entwined. He swerved, almost hitting the fountain. 

It might be the alcohol but I was having flashbacks to the last time we were in water together. It was in the lake at Camp Beaver Hill and it was night;

I remembered swimming up to him. His gray eyes shifted color to a dark blue, matching the waves that passed him. The moonlight reflected over his skin, drowning out the color. The waves reached his chest, and I saw the upper body strength he had.

"Why do you ask about Bryce?" he saw me staring at him.

"I was wondering why he goes to our school," I answered, breaking out of my embarrassing dream, "I thought everyone in this neighborhood goes private."

"He got kicked out of private school a couple years ago. So he came to ours and stayed," Zenon answered before changing subject, "I'll drop you off at home before I go to basketball."

"Did you have a good time today?" he asked and his tone was suddenly serious.  

It was genuine.  No jokes, no smirks, pure honesty.  

"Yes," I said truthfully, "Why did you invite me?"

"I want you to meet my friends," he shrugged, "I want you to be a part of my life. I'm not a bad guy, Candace."

"I never said you-"

"I want to prove myself to you."

I was too tipsy to conceal my reaction. My eyes widened, and he laughed.

"Is that so hard to believe?" he asked.

I nodded, "As a friend, I believe you.  But you might be talking about something more."