Zenon's Game Chapter 74

Today, I had to face one Albert brother. I waited for the bell to ring before I stepped into English Lit. I didn't want to come a second earlier and face small talk with my seat mate.

Jake was already in his seat. 

He didn't look at me when I sat down next to him. He was writing poetry in his notepad again. Either poems or lyrics. His right hand moved across the paper, giving me a view of the tattoos that peaked out of his shirt sleeve.

The teacher was busy introducing today's theme. We had begun reading Taming of the Shrew and the class was more animated with this play than the last. I barely noticed.

Jake had captured my attention. I was enraptured by his movements; his smooth cursive handwriting, the way his body moved as he felt the emotion coursing through him. I could see the cathartic feeling that writing poetry had on him.

"Zenon didn't like the idea of us," he said to me, "He freaked out when he found out."

I gulped in my throat. Jake must have sensed me staring this whole time. And, in terms of heavy topics of conversation I did not want to discuss, he went straight for the jugular.

Jake lowered his pen onto his notepad and looked at me. "Do you still want to go out with me?"

Slowly, I nodded.

Yes, no, I don't know.

The reins to this conversation were in his hands and I had no idea where he was planning to take this.

He scowled, almost unhappy with my response, "You won't let Zenon dictate your life, will you?"

"Obviously not," I said, taken aback. I'm not sure where he was getting that impression, "I owe Zenon for something, but those favors don't interfere with any other part of my life. I have, and always will, make my own decisions."

"OK," he said, and picked up his pen, "That's good. I'm not trying to insult you by saying that. Zenon tends to bring people into his orbit, and they become willing to give everything for him. It's amazing how his charisma can strip people from their senses. His father and sister are the same."

The Albert family seemed so glamorous and perfect when you first see them. The more I knew, the more this perfect image seemed like a façade. 

I avoided looking down at the poem on his sheet. If he was this raw in conversation, I could only imagine what he was writing.

"But this is about you," he smiled at me, "You are a breath of fresh air to everyone, and I want to shield you from ever changing that. My brother can be toxic."

He scraped his chair back and faced me properly. I glanced nervously at our teacher at the front of the class. If he saw us he surely would interrupt.

"I know no one will influence you and that's a good thing. You're strong," he said, "I've seen that. I also don't want to force you into anything. You're a nice girl and I want to get to know you, but, there's really no pressure."

"You've been so nice to me," I said, and cut my words short before I got emotional. I took a moment to clear my throat, "There aren't many people who show me kindness. But you have. I'm grateful. I'm surprised too, but I'm not opposing that. I'm excited to go on a date with you."

The teacher interrupted us. "Miss Turner and Mr Albert!"

Jake rolled his eyes and I sat up straight, turning to face the class. I tried to wipe the emotion from my face. I hadn't expected our conversation to get so... emotional.

"Miss Turner and Mr Albert, you seem engaged in conversation, I'm sure you're discussing the fascinating plot twists within Taming of the Shrew."

I started to believe our teacher was picking on us whenever he wanted entertainment. We clearly did not know the answers to his questions. He needs to give up and focus on students who have a chance.

"Are you going to ask us what the difference between comedy and tragedy is again?"  Jake asked.

"No, I-" 

"Because I have the answer now," Jake smirked.

"But we've moved on-"

"It's whether the boy gets the girl or not," Jake answered and then looked at me. "Does he get the girl?"

"I uh-" I stuttered.

"Mr Albert, I'll ask the questions in this classroom. Alright, someone else will start us off.  Who believes the play is a story of cruelty rather than love?"

We weren't listening. Jake and I were stuck in this classroom and that seemed like a cruel game.  

"I'll see you Thursday," he said, "For our date."

I don't like playing games.  This cat-and-mouse chase between Zenon, Jake and me had to stop here.  Now that I agreed to an actual day for the date with Jake, I needed to tell Zenon.  This was happening.

Jake and I were happening.  

Ish.  I mean, we were going to test the waters.  One date is not a big commitment, but it's a step in the right direction.  

And my mess of a relationship with Zenon is not baggage I should carry with me.

If I didn't have to work at Lola Rae that afternoon, I would have gone to Zenon and told him. But my job won't accept 'boy drama' as an excuse to skip work.

Real life isn't set up to make the best reality TV.

I arrived home late, and still had homework to finish up. I looked at the clock in our kitchen and sighed. It was already 10pm.

My mum was working on her laptop. Her hair was tied up and she had her prescription glasses on. It was her 'don't interrupt mama' look. As wild as my mother is at home, she's a pretty serious boss lady. We'd gotten into a dire financial situation after my father abandoned us and she swore she would never let us go there again.

Heidi emerged from our alcohol cabinet with martinis. One for herself and one for mama.

"Candace, you're home," Heidi noticed, "You're never home anymore. We've been wanting to talk to you since Zenon Albert carried you into the house bridal style."

"I have homework," I apologized, swinging my bag onto the kitchen table. I like to work near food.

"Sure," she remained unusually sweet, "I think, over the years, we've stopped communicating and it's time we correct that."

I was surprised to hear those words come out of my sister's mouth. "Really?"

Suspicious timing.

"Yeah, you know you can come to me for anything," she said, "Just like I can come to you, right?"

"Yeah." I guess.

"Maybe one of these days you could..." she started and then stopped, "Never mind. See you later."