The Game ✔

Chapter twenty three

''I-I have to get home,'' I tell Cameron and get up, feeling dizzy all of a sudden. I start gathering the stuff I had gotten out of my backpack.

''What's wrong?'' Cameron asks and I bet he's frowning.

''Just something I forgot,'' I say.

''There's no rush here,'' Owen says through a giant grin before I feel his hand on my back and I immediately get away. He frowns at me and drops his hand.

''It's my mother's birthday, I completely forgot.'' The lie rolls off my tongue easily.

''I'll get you home,'' Cameron tells me.

''I can walk,'' I say and start making my way out of the room and downstairs.

''Don't be ridiculous,'' Cameron tells me as he follows.

''I am not.'' I almost snap as I put on my boots.

''Just let me give you a ride home.'' He pleads and I look up to see Owen looking hard at his brother like he might be doing something wrong.

''I can call Ayden to give me a ride.'' I snap and he seems to hurt at first but quickly covers it up with a straight face.

''I thought you weren't talking anymore.'' 

''He's my best friend, he's always there for me like I always am for him. You certainly won't change that.'' I zip up my coat and take my backpack before leaving the house and starting to walk down the road.

Truth is, we weren't that close anymore Ayden and I so I couldn't really call him for a ride. Liz was in a study group this evening and Jake... 

I get my phone out and start calling Jake, crossing my fingers. At the fourth ringtone, he finally picks up.

''Alexa?''

''Hey Jake, do you think you can come and get me?'' 

''What?''

''I know we haven't talked for a while but I need a ride please.'' I plead and I hear hushed voices before he comes back to me.

''Alright, where are you?'' 

I give him the name of the street where I am now and stop walking when he ends the call. I wait quietly for a while, staring at my boots when a car pulls up. I look up recognizing the sound.

''I told you I was fine.'' I snap at Cameron who is staring at me.

''It's freezing, just get in,'' Cameron tells me.

''Someone is coming to get me.'' I snap.

''What's going on? Why are you mad at me?'' 

''It's none of your business.'' I avert my gaze from him.

''Well, it kind of is if we're dating.'' He retorts and I glare at him, rage filling me.

''We're not dating, it's just the stupid Game again and as soon as it's over I don't want to have anything to do with you.'' Venom drips off my voice.

''You really mean that?'' He asks.

I look up as a car pulls over on the other side of the road. The window rolls down and I see Ayden there, scrutinizing me. I want to fall apart and cry on his lap. I want my best friend.

''I do,'' I tell Cameron before almost running to Ayden's car. I get my seat and look to see Cameron driving off.

Ayden's car surges forward before we both say something.

''What happened?'' He asks, never looking at me.

''Owen.'' I whisper.

Ayden hits the brakes and puts his arm at the last second in front of me so I don't hit my head on the dashboard. His eyes are round and worried as he looks me up and down, looking for something.

''He didn't know me, he didn't even know she was my sister. He's Cameron's brother.'' 

Ayden punches his steering wheel, cursing, ''Of course, that jerk would be related with someone like that.'' 

''Why did you come?'' I ask wondering.

''Jake told me you needed a lift and you sounded bad on the phone. I couldn't just sit there, waiting.'' His eyes search mine before starting to drive again.

We both stay quiet, probably enjoying the silence for a while. When he pulls up in his driveway, he stops the car but we both don't move an inch.

''About last night-'' I start.

''Forget about it, I was drunk and didn't know what I was saying.'' He says avoiding my eyes.

''Of course, you were.'' I whisper and look away, ''Can you stay with me tonight?'' I ask.

''Lexa...'' I look up to see his sad eyes, ''If I do, will it change something? From my point of view, you will always be untouchable.''

''What if I stop the Game?'' I demand, ''What if we just forget all that has happened the last few weeks?''

''I can't forget, it's too late.'' He says staring at me before reaching out his hand, touching my cheek lightly, ''I'm playing the Game now so how will I ever know if you're playing me or not?''

''You can trust me, you've always done.'' I remind him but he shakes his head.

''I can't anymore.'' He says, ''I can't play this game with you anymore. Next time you need someone, ask someone else than Jake or me.'' 

With that, he gets out of his car and I do the same only to watch him walk away from me.

And I realize it's the first time I feel this much loneliness in my life since my sister's death.