The Game ✔

Chapter eleven

''I have to admit this is good,'' I say and look away. I need to look away from those green eyes.

''I hope so or I wouldn't win so much.'' He chuckles, ''What about you?''

''My best move was with Freddy Allen, the captain of the basketball team. He was just teasing me, never giving in so I told him it was happening.'' I give him a look and he laughs, ''So Ayden helped me look for a girl half naked that looked like me from behind and I sent him the picture, saying to meet me in the locker room at five the next day. He did and the first thing he did was kiss me. That. Easy.'' 

''I don't believe that's the best move you've pulled.'' He says.

''Well, it's the one that I thought about the most since he wasn't giving in.'' 

''What about Darius? What was the move?'' I hold back from flinching.

''I told him I was starting to fall in love with him.'' 

''His face must have been priceless.'' He laughs and I have a small laugh that comes out as well.

''Well, he really believed it,'' I say looking down at my hands.

''Was it true?'' 

''Why do you care? It's done, it's over. Just another heart that broke amongst others.''

''So he was just another one?'' He asks, pushing me to confession.

I try to laugh, trying to soften the atmosphere, ''You really want to know? Yes. There it is, I never loved him, never had an ounce of feeling towards him.''

He smirks, ''We should get you back home.''

''Get me to Ayden's,'' I say.

He nods and starts the car before driving off. As he does, I glance at him. In a fraction of a second, it happens. The blanket falls from his shoulder and I see a scar grazing the skin behind his shoulder blade, others are just around it, going deeper under the blanket.

My eyes leave his scarred skin just as he pulls it back up, averting my eyes.

He doesn't speak, nor do I say anything. He drives until he stops in front of Ayden's and I thank him before getting my stuff in the trunk.

''I'll give it back next time,'' I tell him about the blanket and he nods without saying a word and drives away.

I wait until he's out of sight before going home. I don't want to talk to Ayden about what happened last night or this morning, it seems so far from today. I don't want to tell him what happened tonight either because a part of me feels guilty for having so much fun. For having doubts about Cameron. I feel like having a hot bath and slipping into bed.

I don't have this chance. 

I enter my house and sneak into my room to take a bath when my mother calls for me. I quickly dress in other dry clothes and come back down the stairs.

''What's up?'' I ask before I see Ayden downstairs.

''You weren't at school today?'' She asks.

''No, I went to study in a small café,'' I tell her and look at Ayden. ''What are you doing here?''

''I came to see if you were alright because earlier you weren't.'' He says eyeing me up and down. ''Why is your hair soaking wet?'' 

''Haven't you heard of showers? And I'm fine, Cameron came to study with me and we went out for ice cream.'' I tell him and he frowns.

''You're fine because Cameron spent the day with you?''

''That's not exactly what I-''

''Cameron is the guy you're dating?'' My mom asks surprised. ''I thought it was Ayden.'' She says laughing awkwardly and he looks at me, a look I can't decipher.

''No mom, I told you the other day,'' I say without looking at her. ''I'll see you later, I want to go to sleep,'' I tell Ayden.

''I'll leave you two.'' My mother says and leaves the room. I don't wait for an answer and climb the stairs, trying not to look behind.

''What's up?'' He asks following me into my room and closing the door behind him.

''Nothing,'' I say gathering my wet clothes from the floor.

''Why are they wet? What happened tonight?'' He asks pleadingly.

''I saw a part of Cameron I didn't expect, that's it.'' I laugh bitterly to myself, ''He's not even the creator of the Game.''

''What do you mean?'' 

''He's a decent guy,'' I say biting my bottom lip.

''A decent guy? You must be kidding.'' It's his turn to laugh bitterly.

''We had a moment, he actually was funny. He threw me in the water after I shoved ice cream in his face and we raced and I had fun, I felt like being with yo-'' I stop, realizing what I'm saying. 

''With me?'' He asks in disbelief, ''Don't compare me to that guy.'' 

''I swear I hated him and then that happened and we started talking about the Game and our experiences and-'' I sight frustrated, ''I don't know.''

''It's kind of like Darius, you liked him.'' He tries but I see he doesn't understand.

''It's not the same. There's something.'' I sit on my bed and stay quiet. How pathetic could I get? He was clearly just playing with me.

''Alexa, he's the king of the Game, it's normal he's good, that you think there's 'something'.''

''Not something like that Ayden, I know what it's like. I've seen him play with Liz and it's not the same.'' 

''You only think that because he wants you to think that. You're going to get hurt.'' He says but I shake my head. 

''He's special, he's different when he's with me.'' 

''Stacy said the same thing-'' 

''Don't you dare.'' I snap.

''He's not different, and you better than anyone should know it. If you want to, call off the Game.'' He shrugs, ''It's your decision but don't believe he changed.''

With that, he leaves my room, leaving me in doubt and regret.

Was I really that naive? Was he right? 

I hated Cameron before the night started. I liked him after the night. I would've accepted that kiss of his the moment he started talking to me about himself. The minute he started laughing with me. 

And maybe Ayden was right. Maybe he was playing too well. Maybe, that something was in my head.

How would I ever know?