Zenon's Game Chapter 92

I had arrived a little late, after my car broke down again on the way over. It was now in the parking lot - the one busted car next to all the Bentleys and Teslas.

"Take a ticket."

A man dressed in a red-and-yellow circus themed outfit held a box in his hands.

"Ticket?" I clarified.

"Yes," he said and churned the handle until a ticket fell out of the big box, "For your table."

He handed me a sparkly ticket with table number 7 on it. I suppose it was for lunch.

"You won't need that," Zenon called out, walking up to me. He'd seen me through the crowd.

The man and I both turned to watch Zenon, dressed casually in an open button shirt and t-shirt. It moved against the light breeze as he walked towards us. Sometimes I almost wonder if there's an invisible wind machine that ruffles his hair wherever he goes.  

He put the ticket back in the man's box.

In the middle of this extravaganza, there was a circus tent with 'Chadwick Circus' written in bold letters at the entrance. No one had gone inside yet, but we were about to.

The entrance to the tent was closed, but Zenon spread the folds open and raised it over my head.  I ducked and entered.

A magical effect of flowers and candles hung from the ceiling.  Circular tables were dotted throughout the tent, each one inspire by a different circus act. Two acrobats were rehearsing in the center, where a golden arena had been carved out in the middle.

And Zenon led me to the one table that was brimming with people.  I should've expected it. That crew never hung out with everyone else. They always expected exclusivity.

The girls were wearing risqué dresses, sparkling with jewelry and accessories that matched the theme. I saw Oma, Bianca, Charlotte and Nicole. On the boy side, there was Axel, Bryce, Charlotte's boyfriend and another guy I didn't recognize.

"Beautiful necklace," Charlotte smiled at me as we approached the group. 

Someone else was complimenting Nicole at the same time and I overheard her respond, "Thank you. It's Versace."

Fancy little macaroons were on a silver tray in the middle of the table along with drinks in fancy goblets.

I saw my name engraved in a burgundy-colored place card next to Chioma Dozie's. Zenon swapped her card with his and took his seat next to me. 

He relaxed his muscular arm on the back of my chair and leaned towards me. He was about to whisper something in my ear when giant trumpets sounded overhead.

"The Chadwick Circus invites all guests to lunch in the main tent!"

A band blasted procession music as the curtains to the tent were ceremoniously flung open. Guests poured in to take their places at the surrounding tables per their ticket number.

"Is that Malik?" I tugged Zenon's shirt, pulling him closer to me.

Zenon didn't object in the slightest. His hair tickled my cheek as he looked in the direction I pointed, and his arm rested on my shoulder.

It was Malik; our Apple Camper from this summer. The one who had a crush on Stacey and liked playing basketball with Zenon. He was with his father, an employee at the bank Bryce's father worked at.

I wanted to go over to him but the lights dimmed and the acrobats began their performance. Waiters served the starter course.

I stared down at my plate. A lump of a yellow ball stared up at me.

"Uh... Bryce?" I gulped, "What is this?"

"Soufflé suissesse," he answered, already digging in.

What?

He noticed my confused expression and grudgingly sighed, "It means cheese soufflé. It's not going to attack you, Candace."

"Souffel sounds a lot like suffering to me," I mumbled under my breath.

Charlotte's boyfriend made light conversation from across us, "You're probably won't eat too much, will you Zenon? Big game this afternoon."

Zenon gave him a slow nod. He didn't engage much with his sister's boyfriend. I couldn't blame him, after what I witnessed when I had dinner at their home.

"What's the big game?" I whispered to Zenon.

"A basketball game for charity after lunch.  Winner donates $500k. Bryce's dad is team captain and Nicole's dad is captain of the other team."

"Our fathers are both partners at the same bank," Nicole said about herself and Bryce, "Such a shame you're not playing on our side though, Zenon. We asked you early this time."

"He's my friend," Bryce said.

I imagined the teams had been assembled as "friends and family" for each side. Makes sense that they would recruit Zenon for basketball. 

But what doesn't make sense... is how the winner pays $500k.  

As entertainment over lunch, magicians performed tricks at each table. I was very excited when they came to ours. 

They made Bianca's pearl earring disappear and then reappear on Zenon's plate. My head spun as I looked to my left and then to my right. The magician dazzled us, and the music left us entranced.

By the time dessert came, guests were already on their feet. Some were dancing, others were surrounding the acrobatic in the arena and more still were watching the magicians. 

Charlotte came over to me and asked, "So which of my brothers did you choose in the end?  Is it really Zenon now or are you still playing them off each other?"

I wasn't drinking or I would've spat it out in shock.

"I'm not playing them off each other," I defended myself, "I'm with Zenon."

"Have you told Jake?"

Oof. His sister was right. I was in the wrong.

"Not yet," I said, regretfully, "I've wanted to, but he's not here this weekend."

I'd been texting him to find a time to chat, after my last attempt failed, but he said he wouldn't be around for a few days. I had no idea why. 

Charlotte revealed, "He went to New York on Friday to audition with some record labels, but he'll be back tomorrow."

Record labels; he never mentioned that. But then again, Jake never liked to boast.

"You know he sings like a dream," she added, "That did not make it to our side of the family, right, Zenon?"

Oh no, she was bringing Zenon into this. 

"What?" he asked.

"Want to sing for us?"

Zenon glared at his sitser.  It was obvious that we were talking about Jake.