The Game ✔

Chapter twenty two

''How did the test go?'' Cameron asks me as we walk to his car. I realize he could have asked me earlier, right after the test or at the cafeteria. 

''You know it didn't go well,'' I state.

''I saw the look on your face when the teacher said it was over.'' He gives me a small smile.

''I had forgotten about it,'' I admit. I look around and see Ayden, sunglasses on, and a new girl under his arm. Nothing changed between us since last night. ''And I didn't sleep well.''

''Nightmares? I get them too.'' He says as he opens the car's door.

We both sit there and stay quiet as he drives off. At one point he takes my hand, ''Are you alright? You seem kind of... off.''

''Lack of sleep I guess.'' I laugh awkwardly.

''It's not because I kissed you the other day?'' He tries but I shake my head in a hurry.

''Of course not.'' 

''Then what did Ayden do?'' I almost jump back in surprise.

''Why would you think it's him?'' I demand.

''Because there are three things that get you all moody: your friends, me, and something that I don't know about.'' He counts on his fingers.

''Okay then, who says it's Ayden among my friends?''

''Liz and you were talking at lunch, it's been a while since you haven't talked to Jake-''

''I haven't talked to Ayden for a while.'' I point out.

''Let me finish.'' He gives me a pointed look before it breaks into a smile, ''You're really defensive with Ayden and you kept looking at him at lunch and before we got in the car.''

''You should be a detective,'' I grumble.

''What happened?''

''Same old Ayden who plays well his cards, and I am foolish enough to bite.''

''Are you guys a thing?'' He asks more quietly.

''Of course not, I don't date two guys at the same time,'' I say indignantly.

''We are dating?'' He asks smirking.

''Okay, now I'm doubting your detective skills. Please, you kissed me, and we've been spending a lot of time together. I see it as dating.'' 

''Maybe we have been.'' He admits with a cocky grin.

''Thanks I was getting the feeling I might be crazy.'' I laugh.

''Then what's the thing between Ayden and you?'' He wonders as he makes a left turn.

''We've been living next door for as long as I can remember and we've been best friends forever.''

''That's all?'' He asks suspiciously.

''Maybe someday I'll tell you everything but right now you'll have to get along with this,'' I smirk at him and he chuckles lightly. 

''What are your plans for winter break?''

''Lots of chocolate and desserts, pajamas all day long, movies and that's about it. Oh, and work.'' 

''You don't celebrate Christmas with your family?'' 

I gulp down, feeling as if my world was just outside that car door, waiting for me to return to it. ''It's complicated.''

''I have that too.'' He says quietly.

''Then what are your plans?''

''Christmas dinner, party at new year's eve with my football team which you are invited to, and chilling in my pajamas with you.'' He winks at me.

''That's a really good plan,'' I say and rest my head on the seat.

''How about we work on our project tonight?'' He asks. ''I've got an idea for it. I could draw the brain and dissect it and draw what every part does.'' 

''That would be awesome.'' I beam.

''I hoped you would say that because I have already started.'' He laughs as he draws a hand into his hair.

He pulls up at his house and kills the engine before we both get out. We get inside the house and go directly to his room.

He walks up to one of his desks and gathers some papers in his hands before giving them to me. 

I flip through them, staring at all those details, all the work he has done on these. It's beautiful, breathtaking.

''Say something.'' He presses on.

''Wow,'' I whisper and an incredulous laugh comes out of my mouth, my surprise out in the open. I look up at him to see him breathe out.

''For a moment I thought you were about to say it was hideous.'' 

''You're not that bad.'' I tease.

''Alright then, get comfortable I'll go take a snack because I'm hungry like hell.'' He laughs and makes his way downstairs. 

I stand in his room and look around, about to get comfortable on the bed when his drawings catch my eyes once again on his desk. I start looking at all of them. 

My eyes scan every paper, incredulous at what stares back. Those drawings are so beautiful, they could be art in a museum. 

And then it catches my own greenish-blue eyes. It's the only color on the drawing but the drawing seems to be a picture taken of me in black and white. There's even a crinkle between my eyebrows from concentration. I look at the one after it and it's another of me. And I wonder why I'm not feeling like someone was stalking me.

My eyes land on the third drawing which is a caricature of me dancing with Dimitry and I try to hold back my laugh. 

The next takes my breath away. I stare at it as if I could live that moment all over again. It's drawn like a comic book and it's us standing under the snow falling. A bubble is up where he is standing as if he was thinking the words. I'm falling in love with you.

I look up to make sure he isn't back and take out my cellphone and take a picture of the drawings, mesmerized by the moment captured. I hear footsteps in the staircase and quickly get all the papers back in place before jumping on the bed with my backpack and taking everything out just as he gets in the bedroom.

''We've got cheese, cookies, vegetables, and ice cream.''

''You do know we're only two and they all don't fit together.'' I scrunch my nose up.

''I figured with your big appetite you would be very hungry.'' He sits down and I immediately take the ice cream from his hands with a spoon. ''Hey!''

''You're right I'm very hungry for ice cream,'' I say and dig in.

The front door closes downstairs and someone walks up the stairs before a head shows up at the door frame. 

My heart stops as the man grins wildly at Cameron, with brown hair and blue eyes. A man so attractive you'd know he'd be the demon himself.

''Hey bro, is that your girl?'' 

''Hey, what are you doing home?'' Cameron asks as he gets up.

''You didn't answer.'' The boy replies and looks back at me, ''I'm Owen, the big brother. What's your name?'' 

I gape, staring at him.

Staring at the killer of my sister.