The Game ✔

Chapter thirty three

I stare at my plate during lunch. When someone sits in front of me, my head snaps up but disappointment fills me when it's Lizzy.

''Don't look at me like that.'' She says laughing.

''Sorry, have you seen Cameron?'' I ask fidgeting a little.

''No I didn't.'' Someone says behind me and I see Darwin come into view two seconds later. ''I don't think he'll be here for a week still.''

''Why's that?'' I ask surprised.

''His father came back last night,'' Will says in front of me. I stay quiet. I had left not long after dinner, I guess he arrived after.

''Is... Is he alright?'' I ask softly and Darwin and Will exchange a look.

''Yeah, why wouldn't he be?'' Will laughs awkwardly and I understand they both don't know that I know Cameron's father is violent with him.

''Is he home?'' 

''Yeah but- oh you're going now?'' Darwin looks up as I gather my stuff.

''You'll miss school for that?'' Lizzy asks me frowning.

''I'm not sure he wants company right now,'' Will interjects.

''Just want to make sure he's fine,'' I say and turn around to get out of the cafeteria.

Lizzy joins me in the hallway, ''Wait! What's up?''

I turn to her, still fidgeting, ''You know last night when err.. when I went to his house for the project?''

She frowns as she nods her head, ''Yeah?''

''Well, we ended up making out, and then...''

''You lost your virginity!'' She yells before clapping her hand over her mouth. 

''Quiet!'' I hiss.

''How was it?'' She beams.

A small smile appears on my face as I remember last night, ''Well, he was so nice, and I-''

''I always knew you were a slut.'' I jump back in surprise and turn around. I gape at Darius who's staring at me, his arms crossed over his chest. 

''Why don't you mind your own business.'' Lizzy snaps at him. He smirks at her.

''Nice to see you as well Lizzy.'' He then checks me up and down, ''What a chance I gave in before you opened your legs for me.'' With that, he just walks away.

''Why do you never put him in his place?'' Lizzy asks me as she watches him leave.

I simply shrug, averting the subject, ''I've got to go.'' I tell her and she hugs me quickly.

''See you later.''

I knock quietly at Cameron's door and someone opens it. A tall man with flashing green eyes that remind me of Cameron's, stands before me. His brown hair is slowly turning grey although he looks young otherwise.

''Who are you?'' He asks eyeing me suspiciously.

''A friend of Cameron's.'' I simply say and he nods slowly.

''Come in, he's in his bedroom. Got in a fight last night.'' He says vaguely before leaving me there. Got into a fight. Right.

I make my way upstairs and knock twice on his bedroom door. No one answers so I get in gingerly. 

My heart aches when I see his face. He has a black eye and his lip is split. Purple bruises are forming on half of his face.

He's drawing when I look in his room. I don't say a word as I carefully close the door behind me and get closer. At some point, he looks up and jumps in surprise.

''Wha-what are you-''

''What happened?'' I whisper in horror.

''Nothing.'' He answers harshly. 

''You don't have to lie,'' I reassure him.

''I'm not.'' 

''Yeah and I'm Queen Elizabeth.'' I retort rolling my eyes.

''You can't just come in here unannounced.'' He almost snaps.

''I got that right last night when you took my virginity.'' I snap back but more quietly.

His arrogant facade seems to dissolve at my words and when he looks back at me, guilt washes over me.

''I don't regret it if it's your next question,'' I answer his unasked question and I see him breathe again.

''I'm sorry.'' He starts to get up and wince along the way, a hand over his stomach. The other arm encircles me, pulling me close. ''But you shouldn't see me this way.''

''I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I freaked out a little when Will told me he came back last night. I wish I had stayed.'' I confess. The truth was that my mother was now watching my every move and I had to sleep every night at my house from now on.

''It wouldn't have stopped him or he would have done it tonight.'' 

''I wish I could stay tonight,'' I whisper against his sweater.

''I don't want you to anyway.'' I pull away slightly but he quickly explains, ''I don't want you to be there if anything else happens. It was already awful to hear my little brother cry last night.''

''What about your mother? Doesn't she know?''

''Yes but she loves him. So she believes him when he says I got in a fight since he does it when she isn't here.'' His voice is hoarse and I let him sit down on the bed. I sit right next to him.

''What about when you were young?''

''She knew back then he beat me up. That's the reason why Dimitry and I have so much distance between our ages because she tried to leave him a couple of times but the authorities didn't believe her story. He stopped for a while beating me up and he got her back, I don't know how, before starting again. By then, I was old enough for her to buy I was in fights.''

I clench my teeth thinking no kids should live through that horror because their mother is in love, it's sick.

''Why don't you try to call the police?'' 

''Why don't we talk about something else?''

I try a smile, ''What were you drawing this time?''

''Something personal.'' He winks and I blush at all the thoughts I get.

''I like personal things.'' I bite my bottom lip and look down at his.

''If only I was able to move.'' He says lowly, kissing me softly. After not even two seconds he pulls away wincing. ''We need to forget kissing right now.''

A knock is heard at the door and his father opens it, ''Hey son, you didn't present her.''

Cameron gets up quickly and I see him wince slightly but he quickly recovers, ''Yeah dad, this is Alexa. Alexa, meet my dad Joseph.'' 

My brain freezes. How am I supposed to act? Am I supposed to smile and act like all that I've learned about this man isn't true or do I spit on him?

I get up and shyly say, ''Hi.''

''Very nice to meet you. Will you stay for dinner?'' Joseph asks smiling nicely.

''Oh, I-''

''She can't, she has been grounded by her mother last week because she always misses school.'' Cameron lies easily. I wonder how many times he's got to do this.

''Like she is right now, it isn't wise from you little girl.'' Little girl? 

''Yeah, I know,'' I say without any emotions.

''Other than that you chose well son, I'm proud of you.'' He winks at his son before leaving. Excuse me? Chose well? Am I some object or something? I was in the room as well!

''I'll come back tomorrow night alright?'' I ask him, yet I feel bad for leaving him alone with the monster.

He nods slowly and kisses my temple, ''Yeah sure.''

With that, I leave and almost run out of the house.