Zenon's Game Chapter 61

"Thanks for coming over, Candace. When I invited you for dinner, I didn't expect it to come with a show," Jake joked.

Or those brussel sprouts. I thought longingly of my abandoned mac'n'cheese. It didn't seem like a fair trade.

"I'm sorry for intruding on that," I said, embarrassed for having witnessed that, "It was so personal. I hope Charlotte's ok."

"She's fine. She's always involved in some drama."

Zenon cleared his throat from behind us. I turned around and saw him leaning casually against the front door.  His arms were crossed over his muscular chest and the porch light created a glow around his silhouette.  

"I'm taking her home," Jake told him.

"No," Zenon's voice was still intimidating, "Leave her with me."

"She's not your guest. I invited her to dinner."

"Dinner's over."

"It's ok," I intervened, touching Jake's arm comfortingly. I addressed Zenon with less kindness, "Preppy is gone now so you can stop acting like the terminator, Zenon."

"You have an opinion you want to share with me, Candace?"

"No. I believe you're the one who interrupted our conversation to say something."

"I want to know what you're doing with Jake. He crossed a line when he asked you out and now you're here for dinner."

"Are you jealous?" I asked, "Or is it that you don't want me in your home?  You never once invited me yourself."

"We barely knew each other."

I gasped. Was he really going to pull that line on me?!  The classic playboy move of 'chill out, you're taking us too seriously.' 

Honey, no.

"Zenon!" a girl's voice called out from the side street in what has to be the worst timing ever.

Jamie, the coach's daughter, walked towards Zenon's house.  It was 10PM.  She waved and Zenon sighed.  I glared at him.  After all the sweet words he's been feeding me, he's still seeing other girls?! 

Now I won't call myself faultless, but there is a difference between going over for a family dinner at Jake's house before going home alone... and a girl coming to see Zenon aloneat 10PM.

I was so glad I took things slow with him. It gave time for a boy's true colors to show.

"You've outdone yourself," I exhaled aggressively, "You act protective but then hold double standards for yourself. Jake didn't cross any lines, but you're out here blurring all of them."

I paused to take a deep breath. Part of me wanted to appreciate that last line - it came out pretty poetic - and the other part of me needed to calm down. Zenon toyed with my emotions more than an Adele album.

"I can't believe I started to fall for you," I admitted, "Now back off before I run you over." 

I realized that I was nowhere near my car, so I quickly added, "with the car parked across the street."

I stormed off. I marched across the street towards my house. The lights were on in the living room and I knew my mother was home. But I was fuming. 

Zenon didn't chase after me. He greeted Jamie and invited her inside. 

You're in my head, Zenon Albert. And I want to murder my memory of you.

Jamie walked into the house and waited for him, but he stayed still. 

Zenon was left standing by his front door. He looked out across the street and watched me go. 

"I believe you Candace Turner," he whispered sadly, "You'll run over any j*e*r*k who gets in your way." 

~3 hours earlier and POV Change~

Bianca and Oma ordered in quinoa bowls for dinner. There was a party in the town nearby that they were scheduled to attend in a couple hours.

"Is this girl coming or not?" Oma asked, finishing her meal on the couch, "We've waited over an hour."

"She's coming. Jamie's bringing her," Bianca answered, checking her phone again for any updates.

Oma sighed, "I want to start getting ready for the party. Wait, did you say Jamie's coming? The coach's daughter?"

"Yeah. Jamie also wants Zenon, so we're united by a common goal," Bianca explained like it was obvious, "It was Jamie who found the source. Apparently, this girl has dirt on Candace from this summer. We'll take her down so easily now."

"Who's the source?"

Someone knocked on the door and both girls stood up to answer. Jamie Griffith, the basketball coach's daughter, walked in with another girl in tow. The source.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this," Jamie said, greeting them with not so much as a wave, "I thought Zenon would forget about Candace as quickly as he discovered her."

"Unlikely. She was with us at Bryce's house this afternoon. Zenon's never even invited you to that," Oma pointed out.

"I saw them at the grotto as well so, yeah, I get it," Jamie said dryly.

"Let's cut to the chase," Bianca interrupted, not wanting to hear more of this, "Who did you bring?"

"I found out how Zenon met Candace," Jamie said, perking up at their plan, "It was at Camp Beaver Hill. They were both summer counselors there at Apple Cabin. So I brought with me another counselor who was there for all the action."

"Hi," the girl stepped forward, "My name's Stacey."