Zenon's Game Chapter 66

What is it with the Albert brothers? Why couldn't they leave me alone?

I stopped the car and he caught up to me in a second flat. I opened the door and stepped out. Jake was not Zenon.

I don't even know what that means anymore.

He took his helmet off and his hair cascaded over his eyes.  He swept it aside and his hands wrapped themselves around my arms. 

"Listen to me Candace, what happened today wasn't fair on you. The school has practically erupted from the news and I didn't want to put any pressure on you." 

I looked away. I couldn't look into his eyes because I knew I'd cry.

"I'm sorry for causing this, Candace. I'm still new here and I didn't know our school was so weird," his tone was soft and gentle with me, "What everyone's saying about you is unfair." 

I slowly looked into his eyes. 

"You're beautiful," he said, "Inside and out."

Jake's voice was melodic and soothing.  He was apologizing for something he hadn't even done.  I gazed into his hazel brown eyes and he slowly leant forward. The breath caught in my throat. Softly, and very slowly, his lips touched mine.  

It was a soft and gentle kiss but I felt like I'd been electrocuted. I took a minute to react, ignoring the tingling sensations that cascaded through my body. I jumped out of his arms, back into my car and switched the engine. I pressed the gas and sped out of there. 

This was too much for me. This was all too much.

I left Jake Albert in the dust behind me.

I couldn't bear to look back. I didn't want to see his face. I remembered how one of his tattoos was a black heart. I really hope that wasn't the color of mine.

The kiss. This kiss. My mind was replaying those last few seconds over and over in my head until...

Until...

My tire burst and smoke started to come out of it. My car broke down. And then I broke down. 

And there was only one person I could call.

"Mom?" I sobbed into the phone. 

You've reached the answering machine to-

I hung up.  I didn't have a spare tire, I couldn't afford calling for roadside assistance and I didn't have anyone to call.  Literally no one. I was stuck.

I looked at my phone and dialed his number.

"Hello?"

"It's me. My car broke down by Route 23. Can you pick me up?"

"I'll be there."

He hung up. I sat on the sidewalk, staring at my phone. Random messages were popping up from people I didn't even know. How did they get my number?

I didn't know what to think anymore. All those other people were like noise, clouding out what really mattered. There were people in my life who really mattered. My family, Julia, the Albert brothers. Two brothers. Two hot brothers with opposing qualities that were both entirely attractive.

One who tried to kiss me.

Me. The ugly one. The one they call unkissable.

Did he mean it?

Did he think he could just kiss me and that I'd fall into his arms because he's popular and I'm not?

And what did I feel about the other? Was it fair to go on a date with one when I had some kind of twisted feelings for the other?

His car came into view. The doors unlocked and he stepped out. When my own car had broken down, his number was the one I called. It was instinct. I may regret it.

"Mills! Are you okay? Tell me you're OK," Zenon ran towards me and his hands gripped my waist, his eyes scouring my body for any scratches or bruises.

I had none. All my bruises were psychological.

Ok, I'll stop with the melodrama.

I've gotten used to Zenon being there for me.  He's been there for me in some pretty rough times recently.  My instinct remembered that but, as my emotions calmed down and my crying stopped, I remembered just how angry I was with him.  

"I'm fine," I said, "My engine stopped working, that's all."

Zenon looked deeply into my eyes and held my gaze. "This is one of those moments where you say you're fine and you're obviously not."

"Fine," I exhaled, and rearranged my words, "I am not physically hurt by my car breaking down."

Those were facts. 

Zenon's blue eyes poured into mine, in a display of emotion that I didn't know he had. If I meant so much to him, why would he still have the coach's daughter on speed-dial? 

Maybe not on speed-dial, but near enough that she swings by whenever she wants.

I've been cheated on before.  My heart's been crushed into a million pieces and I don't want to expose myself like that again.  I'm scared.

Anyway, I digress.  Back to Zenon in this moment. He knew that I was a bad liar and when he saw the truth in my eyes, his concerned expression changed to annoyance.

"What is wrong with you?!" he snapped at me.

His gentle grip on my waist released and he raised his hands to his head in frustration. His beautiful eyes flashed a deep blue.

"How could you even think of accepting a date with my brother? He's doing this to get back at me. He knows what you mean to me-"

He stopped and glanced back at me, to see if I had caught his slip up. I had.

"What do I mean to you?" I asked him.

I'd like to know.  

I think we'd all like to know.

We were standing in the middle of an open road, arguing like two crazy people. It's a miracle no car had passed us by.

His tone softened, "I get the feeling you're still mad at me but I don't know why."

"You don't know why?!" I raised my hands in the air, "One minute you're being sweet and sensitive.  And the next, you're the assh*le everyone knows. So which one is it?"

The way he looked at me removed me from my senses.  Zenon does that - he stops people in their tracks.

"I want to be someone you like, Candace, but it's taking me time," he answered, "I'm not used to this. You have such high standards and the reality is, that I'm me.  This is me caring about you and if it's not enough-"

I shook my head, not being able to take this emotion right now, "It's not enough."