The Game ✔

Chapter twenty one

The weekend is soon over as I come back from work. My boss told me today that Ayden had quit without any reason but I know it's my fault. Because he can't stand me anymore.

I get home to see Lizzy's car in front of my house and a grin spreads on my face. I had forgotten she was coming over today.

I walk inside to see my mother in the kitchen, preparing dinner. 

''Oh, hey.'' She smiles at me, ''Lizzy is in your room.'' She says.

''Alright.'' I climb the stairs in a hurry. I arrive upstairs, keeping my eyes away from that door at the end of the hallway.

I find Liz sitting on my bed, looking down at her cell phone. When she hears me, her head pops up, and a wide smile appears on her face.

''Hey, how was work?''

''What's going on?'' I ask her doubting her super excited state.

''What are you talking about?'' She replies looking around, trying to hide her smile.

I give her a pointed look as I sit next to her, ''Tell. Now.''

''Alright, alright.'' She puts her hands up in the air as a fake surrender. ''There's a party next weekend at Ayden's.'' I frown and look away. Since when was he doing parties at his house?

''Still waiting for the good news,'' I mutter.

''Jake invited me.'' She says in a hurry. I turn slowly my head back toward her, surprised at the revelation. ''And you have to come.'' She continues.

''Hell to the no.'' I almost snap getting up. ''There's no way I'm getting near him. Or even worse, Karen and Phil.'' My eyes widen at the thought. How they must hate me.

''Karen and Phil aren't going to be there, they left to go visit Ayden's grandmother and will be back only next Monday.'' 

''But still, he won't want me there.'' 

She shrugs, ''Who cares, it's a party. Many people he doesn't like will be there anyway.''

''I'm the one he hates most.'' 

''I don't really care because you are coming. Bring Cameron as well, this could be good. Oh!'' She seems to realize something and searches in her jeans pocket before getting out a small device. ''Here.''

''What's that?'' I ask her as I take it.

''You know what it is. It's for the Game if ever you need to get him to say the three words but don't want to be obvious doing so.'' She winks at me and I look down at the thing in my hand, gulping.

''That's a great idea, thanks a lot.'' I thank her but don't feel the gratitude I should.

''Just a Christmas gift in advance.'' 

I laugh at the thought, ''I didn't realize it, but Christmas is after this week.'' 

''Yes, you doofus.'' She says matter-of-factly, ''Ayden's party is a Christmas party.''

''Of course.'' I whisper.

''Now I'm leaving, I need to study for tomorrow's test.'' 

''Oh no!'' I slap myself on the forehead. ''How could I forget about that!'' 

''You forgot?'' Liz looks at me strangely, ''You never forget about a test, you're usually the first to start studying.''

''I guess things are changing.'' I laugh awkwardly but she doesn't seem to realize. She waves me goodbye and leaves me to study for the rest of the evening.

The ring of my cell phone wakes me up through the night. I open painfully my eyes to look at the clock on my bedside table. It's thirty past midnight.

I look at the caller and almost jump in surprise. 

''Hello?'' I try to not sound as surprised as I am.

''Hey beautiful, how's it going?'' Ayden slurs from the other side of the phone.

''Are you drunk?'' I ask as I sit up in bed, scratching my head in confusion.

''Yeah, I've got a party going on with my baseball team. Right now I'm in my room because Jake wouldn't let me talk to you.'' 

''Why is that?'' I ask and get up slowly making my way to the window.

''I've got a girl with me tonight, I've dated her for a while now.'' He chuckles in a drunk way. ''I think she might kiss me now but if she saw me talking to you she wouldn't have.

I stop right before showing myself at the window, ''Why are you calling me Ayden?'' I whisper.

''I wanted to talk to you.'' He says, his voice a bit higher, almost joyful.

''But you told me-''

''Why don't you come to the window, I want to see your pretty face.'' He slurs.

''I don't think it's a great idea.''

''Oh pleaaase.'' He pleads, ''Or I'm going to climb down my window and then climb yours.''

''Ayden...''

''I'm coming!''

''Okay, no wait I'm coming!'' I almost yell, scared he might injure himself. I take a deep breath, taking some time to regain composure and take that one step to be right in front of his own window.

His face. I realize how much I've missed my best friend.

He's there, a big drunk grin on his face, his elbows leaning on the window frame as the phone is pressed against his ear.

''There you are beautiful.'' He slurs through the phone.

''What do you want Ayden?'' I ask him, a pointed look in his direction.

He sighs, looking down at the ground a hand on the back of his neck. ''It's been a rough couple of weeks without you.'' He whispers. ''I wanted to hear your voice.''

''You know I'm always there, you can just walk across the yard and I'm right there.''

''That's the problem, you're not there anymore.'' He looks up and even in the distance, I see how his eyes are sad.

''Why did you quit the job?'' I ask, averting the subject.

''We were going to work together next weekend and I wouldn't have been able to do that.'' I nod quietly, not sure what to say anymore. After a moment of silence, I look back up to see him staring. Again, I look away, unable to keep seeing his eyes.

''I hear you're having a party next weekend.'' I point out.

''Yes, and I heard Liz is coming, are you?'' 

''She wants me to come,'' I reply even though it's not really an answer.

''Lexa, I need to ask.'' He sighs, his hand rubbing the side of his face. I wait, unable to keep my insides from churning, ''If the thing that happened last year never had, if you hadn't started the Game, would we be together today?'' He looks back up and I want to go curl up in my bed.

''I don't know what we would be today.'' I start, thinking and bracing myself, ''But I know I would have tried. We would have gone out, and dated for a while to see if it'd work. Maybe we would be together today.''

He nods slowly, straightening back up, ''That's what's killing me.'' 

His head snaps towards the inside of his bedroom and I see him hanging up before talking to someone. He gives me one last quick glance before going away.

And I stand there dumbfounded once again, my feet glued in place.