Zenon's Game Chapter 91

When I ran over his laptop in my car.  Seems like ages ago now.

"I moved here a couple months ago and you haven't shown her kindness in the seventeen years before that."

"Jake's been a good friend when I didn't have any," I conceded. It was the truth.

"What the h*e*l*l?" Zenon protested, "It didn't take Jake coming here for me to notice anything. Haven't you met me by now? I do my own thing on my own time."

"OK, but you took a really long time," I said, a little quieter since I was embarrassed to admit it.

"That's true," Bianca remarked. Axel nudged her, but she stuck to her comment, "What? It is true."

"I didn't ignore you," Zenon sighed, "I didn't know you existed."

"That makes it much better," Jake smirked sarcastically, "Dig your own grave, brother."

"We are in different years at school! We have completely different friends and hobbies. When was I supposed to have noticed you?"

"We're neighbors," I said, "You used to throw your basketball into our front lawn. We've been in the same math class and... I don't know. Sometimes I think you don't really acknowledge people around you. Do you remember my sister's name?"

There was a very long silence. No one wanted to fill the quiet I left, which made my last words hang in the air.

Suddenly, someone at the door interrupted us. A tall, lanky teacher with an arm full of papers.

"Can you wrap this rehearsal up? I have a class here in five."

He must've thought we were drama club. We are drama.

I suddenly remembered that Zenon, Jake and I weren't the only people in the room. Bryce, Axel, Bianca and Cynthia had all taken seats in the front of the class to watch us. Virtual popcorn being passed around.

Cynthia exclaimed, "Now that was a performance. Is it awkward if I clap?"

"Very," Bianca answered.

Bryce grabbed his bag and headed to the door. "Y'all have issues," he commented, "but remember my charity event this Saturday. Even you're invited, Candace. I already told you about it."

Bianca delayed her own exit by telling Zenon, "I know how you can end all this drama. You end it."

End it with me. That's what she meant.

I glanced back at Zenon and Jake. I felt like we hadn't made things better between us. I was bringing my own insecurities into this, which may or may not be fair depending on whether one of these boys is playing me.

Cynthia and I left them behind, Jake and Bianca walked off until it was only Axel and Zenon left.

Axel whispered, "You're trying to remember her sister's name, aren't you?"

Zenon didn't respond.

"It's Julia," Axel helped out.

"No, that's her friend," Zenon shook his head, "Damn. It started with an F."

Roland Chadwick II hosts his annual charity event at his mansion in Tarlsdale. Bryce sent me the invite via text and told me it was circus themed.

Normally, my Saturdays begin with a morning in bed, because I'm productive like that.

This time, I woke up to both my sister and mother at my door.

"I have a date today with a guy I met at the grotto party," Heidi announced, shoving my foot away so she could sit on my bed.

My mother chucked my clothes off my red chair and sat down as well. They made themselves comfortable.

I yawned and sat up, "What time is it?"

"Now I can cancel my date to come to Bryce's charity event or I can bring the guy with me," Heidi suggested.

"I don't know," I answered truthfully, "I can ask Bryce.  I'll text him."

Heidi grabbed my phone off my bedside table and handed it to me.  I poked my hand out from under the warm covers and accepted it.

"When did you and Zenon become friends?" Heidi asked me.

"This summer."

"Why does he like you?"

"I don't know."

"Do you know anything?"

My mother intervened at that point, "That's enough, Heidi.  You should get ready for your date and enjoy some one-on-one time with this new boy.  There will be many more parties in the future."

I lowered my phone, realizing that I didn't have to text Bryce after all.

My mother then did something none of us expected.  She pulled out a small purple box and offered it to me, "Tarlsdale is a very posh neighborhood.  I don't want you to stick out like a sore thumb, which you tend to do."

The box opened with a satisfying pop.

And a beautiful silver necklace was inside, glinting in the dim light of my room.  It rested on a soft satin base.

"Your father is a f*cker but he did give me some great jewelry," mum said.

"And us," Heidi added.

"What?" mum asked, distracted by the memory.

"He gave you us," she repeated.

"Yeah.  Right."

When Bryce's father throws a party, things get crazy.

No expenses spared.

Giant confetti canons sprayed over the lawn.  Magicians and clowns wandered through the crowd, entertaining guests with their magic tricks and juggling acts.  Popcorn stands and cotton candy machines supplied endless sugar.

There was even a petting zoo.

I had to take a photo.  I wasn't sure who I was going to send it to, but I had to save it in my favorites.