"He can't die!" I exclaimed at my TV screen. This is what irritates me most about The Walking Dead; fearing one of my favorite characters could die at any given time is always terrifying!
Yoshi sits next to me eating Doritos. "The episode's about to end and we won't know who dies," he tells me, before taking out his bag of Doritos with an angry gesture in my hand and saying that if that happened I wouldn't watch this show anymore.
Yoshi rolls his eyes, then adjusts his glasses. "You've been repeating that ever since the first season."
"I'm weak," we're both sitting on the floor together with our backs against a bed behind us. Since it's warm, I am wearing shorts and a white tank top without bra for added comfort around Yoshi and Rocky is sleeping peacefully by the window.
My room is an adequate size, with a queen-sized bed and posters of my favorite inspirational quotes adorning its purple walls. At nighttime I add some small Christmas lights that create an atmospheric effect; in front of the bed is where my TV resides with one side offering access to my window view and another providing access to my bathroom doorway.
At the conclusion of each episode and as its credits roll, our attention becomes completely consumed by television.
"I detest you, producers and screenwriters of The Walking Dead! I despise you!"
Yoshi mock-torturingly declares, "I told you!" I hit his back.
"Oh no! Don't take out your frustration on me. " "Oh no!" he exclaimed firmly, as though to remind her:
"Why are they doing this to us? How could it end like this? Who will pay the ultimate price?"
Yoshi rubs my back gently. "Don't worry," he assures me as he hands me a cold Pepsi to drink from.
"I'm going to die." Relax; it's only a TV series.
Depressed by my recent experiences, I turn off the TV and sit next to Yoshi. His eyes seem restless for no apparent reason other than my series - they flash with life like I've never seen them do before and give off an unexpected spark; giving way to his nervous smile that greets me every time we speak.
"Is something wrong?", I inquire.
"Yes." For some unknown reason, the air feels heavy with tension. I don't understand what he wants to tell me but am unnerved by how long he hesitates before responding - is something wrong here?
Yoshi licked his lower lip before speaking and removed his hat to expose his unruly locks. "I need your advice about something," he announced.
"I'm listening."
What would you do if you like one of your friends?
"You give the impression that I have an abundance of friends." I smile, while Yoshi doesn't, his expression becoming even more stressed out.
"Raquel, are you serious?" No. Excuse me," Mr. Seriousness." Assuming an air of seriousness myself, I hold my chin in deep thought as Raquel says "I would tell them." He asks if Raquel doesn't fear losing their friendship.
And then my brain snaps into gear and I recognize what Yoshi was telling me: Could it be me that Yoshi likes? Yoshi only really had me and a few acquaintances as female friends; as soon as Yoshi turned his gaze toward me for advice, my heart fluttered like crazy.
"Are you sure about how you feel?" I ask while fidgeting with my fingers.
"Yes, I know she likes me very much!" "Yes, absolutely - we had great chemistry from day one!"
My throat gets dry when I ask: When did you realize you liked her?
"I think I have always known it, yet have tried to hide it for as long as possible," he acknowledges.
"He looks down and sighs, then looks back up with eyes full of emotion. "I can't wait to kiss her.
"Oh yeah?"
Yoshi closes in closer, "Yes, her lips are pure temptation; it's driving me nuts!"
Yoshi pauses briefly before replying that they must possess very desirable features if that were so.
"They are truly breathtaking; I was left speechless at their beauty as though I was spellbound.
Spellbound. Spell. Spell.
Witch. Why'd you think about Ares now! No! Don't think about Ares now!
At once, sea-blue eyes come flooding back, along with that arrogant smile and soft lips suckling my neck. And before I know it, those sea-blue eyes, that cocky smile, those soft lips suckling my neck are back again - I hate you brain! My longtime best friend from childhood is about to confess his love to me while at the same time, I am thinking about our arrogant and godlike neighbor next door who I detest so much!
"Raquel?"
Yoshi's voice quickly brings me back into reality. His expression betrays his shock as it's clear I chose an inopportune moment to disconnect mentally - however it did help clear my thoughts; seeing Yoshi so open and vulnerable made it clear to me that now was not the time for confessions from either of us.
"I need to use the bathroom," and quickly leave before anyone could challenge or judge me for being there.
I walk into the bathroom and hunch against its door, shaking my hair out in frustration and shaking out in anger at myself for being such an arrogant coward and idiot; who goes into their bathroom today without their phone for support from Dani?!? No one, just me... And as I massage my face thinking through everything that had just transpired I grunt out loud while massaging it lightly as thought process begins in full force.
"Raquel?" Yoshi calls out from behind the door. "I need to leave now."
"No!" I quickly opened the door but only managed to catch a glimpse of him quickly leaving. So instead, I let myself become immersed in laziness as my mind wandered to restful dreamland - quickly closing my eyes and surrendering myself into sleep.
Rocky's continuous and loud barks--what I call his "serious barks"--jolt me awake suddenly, which only gets excited when there is someone unfamiliar in the house. I leap out of bed so fast I get dizzy, hitting hard against a wall. "Ow!"
Rocky was barking towards my window as though sensing something there. It had already grown dark outside, and a soft breeze was gently blowing my curtains open and closed. Since there was nothing at my window, I decided to relax.
"Rocky, there's nothing there!"
Rocky kept barking. Perhaps there was something outside that was setting him off? His barking didn't subside, so I went over to the window in an effort to calm him.
I yelled so loudly when I peaked out, Rocky ran right up beside me to come play!
Ares is climbing onto my window via a ladder. My only question to him as he stands there in the center of a wooden ladder is "What are you doing?," although his appearance makes him irresistibly cute with jeans and purple T-shirt drool-worthy despite all this crazyness around us.
"Climbing is something everyone should try.
"I don't appreciate your sarcasm," I tell him.
"Your router needs to be rebooted immediately. The signal has dropped and this is the only way to restore it."
"And why did you enter my room without permission, climbing through my window like that? Do you know who does such things?"
Robbers
"I attempted to reach you, but the phone went unanswered.
"What you said doesn't give you permission to come in my room without knocking first.
"Can we drop the drama? I just need to come in for a minute."
"Do you want some drama?" "Yes! Let me teach you drama!" As soon as my ladder was attached to my window, I grabbed both ends and gave a violent shake to them both as hard as I could.
Ares clutches tightly onto the rungs and gives me an intense look. "Try that again, Raquel. See what happens."
"Don't challenge me," I warn.
"Really? Are You Planning on Dropping Me?"
"It isn't worth it." As Ares completes his climb and stands face-to-face with me, Rocky becomes aware of him immediately and barks wildly; unfortunately I am too distracted from looking to call off this intrusion of privacy.
"Could you please manage that fleabag?"
"Rocky hasn't had fleas this month; please show more respect."
"I don't have all night."
I mutter in frustration. "Rocky, sit down." My dog obeys me immediately. Then comes "Quiet".
Ares was the tallest person I had ever met. His height made my room seem smaller. His eyes moved slowly over my body from head to toe before resting briefly on my breasts, prompting me to realize I didn't wear a bra at that moment.
"I need to use the restroom," I announce quickly.
At first I try to use the bathroom as an escape route tonight, but one small detail escapes me: Ares is not Yoshi; his hand grabs my arm, preventing me from moving further away.
"Don't leave me alone with that dog!" "There's no way you're leaving me alone with him!"
"Don't worry. Rocky will do nothing to harm you.
"I won't take any risks. He holds me by my shoulders and forces me to walk to my computer, then pushes until I sit in my chair before kneeling down to reset the router.
"Why are you acting like the owner of my internet connection?" I inquired, but all he did was shrug. "You do realize I could report you for entering my house like this don't you?"
"Yes, but I know you won't do it. "
How are you so sure? Stalkers don't usually report those they stalk - usually it is the other way around."
"That would also constitute stalking," I indicated to him, and pointed towards the window.
"This isn't quite what it used to be.
"Why?"
He pauses before replying. "But I don't like you."
At first it pierced my heart like an arrow; yet when his words arrived they felt like alcohol on open wounds.
He continues to work on the router while I remain silent.
Because you like me but I don't.
He told me so casually and candidly. If he felt nothing then why did he kiss my neck that day in the cemetery?
Raquel, don't let his words affect you; don't allow his comments to affect you negatively.
Ares looks up at me with confusion. "Did I hurt your feelings?" he asks.
"Oh no!" I protest, quickly adding, "Just hurry up so that I can go back to sleep!"
He doesn't speak, and I watch him work without saying a word. Being this close still feels surreal; every detail of Ares' face, his smooth skin untouched by acne. Life seems unfair sometimes - Ares seems to have it all: health, money, skills, intelligence and beauty.
"Done." He shakes off his hands with an angry expression on his face before shuffling off. "You should clean your room occasionally."
"Excuse me, Your Royal Highness. For forcing you into this unworthy room." I laughed indignantly.
"Cleanliness does not correlate to money; lazy individuals should stop mistaking cleanliness with having money."
"Don't play that card! I don't have time to clean with my summer job, sleeping, eating and stalking you--" my words spill out and I quickly cover my mouth as they leave my tongue.
Why did I say that?
Ares laughs devilishly. He gives her an inviting grin while his eyes twinkle with scorn.
"Tracking me is time-consuming."
"No, that wasn't what I meant.
Ares is still on his knees when he creeps toward me, making me shudder in my chair. As he gets closer, his gaze narrows ever so slightly until I need to spread my legs to let him pass by.
His face was only inches away.
"What are you doing?" He doesn't answer, just placing his hands on either arm of my chair near my waist and placing them there to cover them with his distinct body heat. I could feel it radiate off his sculpted muscles.
We were too close together, his intensity making it impossible for me to breathe properly. My eyes drifted over his full lips with their piercing lines so easily visible now.
His gaze wanders down from my face, taking in my breasts and exposed legs before returning back up again, with an amused smile crossing his lips. Soon enough, the air becomes thick and sticky around us both.
Ares takes both my hands in his and places them atop the arms of the chair. His eyes never leave mine while he lowers his head until it rests between my knees.
"Ares?"
"Do you want me to stop?" His lips caressed my knee with an intimate kiss and left me breathless. "Do you want me to stop?" "Can we stop here?" "No, I said. Are you sure?" he enquired, as the kiss continued on its path of intrigue.
His gaze travels up my body, as I shake my head no. "No."
His muscles contracting when he leaves wet kisses on my thighs is so irresistibly seductive, his tattoo just adding fuel to this volcano inside me he has ignited. His soft lips kiss, lick, and suckle my inner thigh skin while my body trembles from pleasure as his black hair tickles my exposed skin - tickling and tickling like tickling tickling tickling... I feel overwhelmed.
Ares looked up at me while biting into my skin, causing an audible moan from me. My breathing became irregular and my poor heart started beating erratically as Ares moved his lips up and down my thighs; devouring his way from hip to thigh until finally they hit my crotch; my hips moved in unison asking for more; they wanted Ares' lips higher up on my thighs begging him for more pleasure - their request made plain through movement by Ares' lips on my hips which my hips moved on their own as my hips moved naturally to give more pleasure from his lips on top than his current attack he might get his own lips somewhere higher up there and kiss them more regularly on.
My eyes tend to close themselves.
"Ares," I murmured his name, feeling his lips stretch into an involuntary smile against my skin - but that doesn't matter to me.
He leans forward and brushes his lips over my leg fabric; my heart almost stops beating as his lips make contact with it, pressing against my leg between my legs. "I want you to say it," he demands.
"I want you. I said"
He stops, and when I open my eyes I find his face so close that I can feel his breath on my lips and his gaze locked onto mine.
"Raquel, you will soon become my Queen.
And then just as suddenly as he came in, he left.