The Hart Game

Chapter Twenty-Three

LUKE

The dinner with my parents was something.

That's all I can say about it.

I can't stop thinking about how my Father seemed like a completely different person when he was questioning Cassie. But the way Cassie handled it was like she was living just another normal day. She didn't bat an eye when my dad threw her the questions, which gave me a sense of pride in her.

It's now Friday and tonight is Christian's Party. It's supposed to be the biggest party of the year. The only reason I'm going is for Cassie. I think by now, there's no way I could ever say no to her. Call me whipped, I don't care.

I'm sitting in my car, waiting for Cameron to come out of his house, Jesse's sitting in the passenger seat next to me looking over his phone. We've been waiting for a good fifteen minutes and it feels like Cameron is never going to come out. I texted him that I was going to give him a ride but he never texted back.

"Maybe you should go knock." Jesse suggests from the passenger seat looking over my side to Cameron's house. That actually wasn't a bad idea. I shrug grumbling a 'fine' getting out of my car and half jogging to his front door. I knock three times and wait. A minute passes and still no answer. I decide to knock again. When there was no answer again, I hesitantly turn around. Once I was almost fully turned the door frantically opens and there's Cameron looking surprised.

"Luke!" He says looking anywhere but at me. The door is still barely opened but I can see his face. "What are you doing here?"

"We have school today. Did you forget that it was Friday?" I say half laughing, but stopped when he wasn't laughing. Something's not right. He doesn't say anything, his eyes still on the ground. He's about to say something when another voice comes from inside the house.

"Who the fuck is at the door?" The voice becomes louder with every word spoken. Soon a guy who looks to be about late 40's appear in the doorway. He almost looks like Cameron. With the same shape face and the blonde hair but his is more faded and worn. The only difference is the eyes. While Cameron's is the hazel with gold specks, his fathers is a dull brown. And I'm sorta glad about that. He's looking at me with so much distaste that I unconsciously clench my fist, digging my nails into my palm and I'm pretty sure I've drawn blood.

"No one, Dad. He was just leaving." Cameron says quietly as if any louder something will happen. I was taken aback when Cameron called me 'No one.' But the way he said it, sounded like he was broken and scared. Now I know for sure I'm drawing blood from my palms. Before I can say anything else Cameron speaks up again. "Luke, please. Just go." He says just above a whisper just before he closes the door. But not before I saw the plea in his eyes.

What the hell?

I stand there frozen for a good minute before turning to go back to my car. Jesse is still looking at his phone. Once I get in, he snaps his head up with a question on his face.

"Well?" He asks once I'm settled.

"He's not feeling well." I lie turning the car on reluctantly. Before shifting the gear I turn my head towards Cameron's house and get a chilling feeling down my spine. Something's definitely not right.

Ignoring that feeling I drive to school. Not paying attention when Jesse is talking about our test in Gordon's class today. Somehow, I make it to school without crashing into anything. I guess what they say about brains going into autopilot while driving is true, cause I certainly don't remember parking in the same space I always park in. My mind too wrapped up in the whole Cameron and his dad thing. Something isn't right.