The Game ✔

Chapter thirty six

Cameron's POV

With my head in my hands, I stare at the floor. What had I done? Had I just let the girl I love walk out that door? 

That look she gave me as she understood I had betrayed her. Or even the one before she left like she was disgusted by me. For the first time, I knew she wasn't coming back to me, nothing tied her to me anymore.

''Was she right? Are you really the reason her sister killed herself?'' I ask my brother who stayed in the door frame when she left.

''I think she's crazy man, she's not right in her head.'' He starts walking closer but I raise a hand for him to stop.

I slowly raise my head, ''Did you and your friends force that girl into things?'' I demand.

He huffs, ''I don't have to force anyone to do things, they all want it.'' 

I give him a disgusted look, ''Just get out.''

''Bro, c'mon-''

''I said get out!'' I yell and his stupid smile evaporates.

A warning glare settles in, ''Next time dad gets drunk, don't count on me to stop him.''

''No worries, I'm already used to it.'' 

He walks out and I stay in that position. She clearly never would want to hear from me ever again. Why hadn't she told me about her sister? Again, maybe she was right not telling me.

All those things I did for my brother, for the protection he gave me. For his stupid approval. Now I realize he was manipulating me. 

Oh and the things I told her. Like when I said no girl was worth it to lose the Game for, only because my brother was there.

I kick the bedside table next to me, which makes one Hell of a sound. I've lost her.

Fuck, I lost her. How could I screw the only good thing in my life?

''Ronny?'' I look up to see Dimitry in the door frame. He must have just come back from school.

I force on a smile, ''Hey bud, what is it?''

''Why did you kick your table?'' He asks with big round eyes.

''Nothing, I just tried to move it but I guess I'm too strong.'' I try a laugh but it sounds fake.

He nods slowly before his eyes settle on something on the floor. ''Oh, Alexa is here?'' He asks excitedly.

I look down and see her schoolbag, ''She left.''

''That's a bummer.'' He looks behind him before saying, ''I'll see you later.''

I pass my hand through my hair before getting up and taking the bag. What should I do? Get it to her?

I sigh and get downstairs.

''Son, are you coming to watch the match?'' My father asks from the couch, a beer in his hand. Great.

''I have to get this to my friend, but after yes.''

''Oh right, nice play earlier, that girl really fell for it your brother told me. He posted the video on Instagram already.'' My father cheers for me.

''So you really played the Game with her?'' My mother interjects from the kitchen, looking at me strictly.

''Yeah.'' I softly say and turn away from her. How could she look at me like I disgusted her but Owen was her hero?

I drive to her house, my mind wandering places, wandering to that night she screamed in her sleep. I now realize she probably had nightmares about her sister. And her father clearly was not going well because of that. I so wanted to be there for her, tell her nothing could ever hurt her anymore. And here I am now.

I park in front of her house and try to find the courage to go to the front door. After a little while, I decided maybe I should just leave.

Someone knocks on my window and I jump before looking up at the person.

I roll down the window to see Parker stare at me.

''What are you doing here?'' He asks.

''What are you doing here?'' I retort.

''I live next door if you don't remember and I was going out with the baseball team when I saw you.'' He explains, still eyeing me suspiciously. 

''Alexa forgot her bag at my house.'' Shit, it hurt just saying her name out loud.

''Why don't you just go give her instead of staying in your car like a freaking weirdo.'' He says raising his eyebrows.

''Didn't you hear? The Game's over.'' I tell him and see immediately that he didn't know.

''Who won?'' He asks stunned.

''That's kind of complicated. Maybe you should ask her.'' He nods and I see his eyes stare at her house and then hesitate when he looks at his car. ''Maybe you could give it to her?''

''What? Oh, right the bag.'' He thinks about it a moment, his eyes going back to her house. I can clearly see how much he cares about her. ''Yeah, I'll get it to her.'' He says and I hand it to him. He's about to leave but I stop him.

''Ayden.'' He looks back at me, ''I'm sorry, I really didn't know what my brother did, I'm still not exactly sure though.''

''Your brother abused her sister with his friends, that's what he did. And the girl you played, right there in that house? She had to find her sister bleeding to death one night in her bathroom. The only reason she wanted to play the Game was to show how this game could destroy lives, to show him how girls aren't objects. This Game killed someone.'' He says, hatred pure in his eyes.

''Then why did you start playing?'' I remind him.

''You stole my girl man, how was I supposed to react?'' He retorts and I nod. What could I say? We both fell in deep with her and it was killing us. ''Anyway, get out of here before she sees you.''

I nod and drive off without a second to lose.