You dare to ask, I say. Leave me alone and send it with Apolo.
Ares: We both know how much you enjoyed and your anger, I don't understand it. I clearly recall your groans.
I smirk and turn my head. Because he can't see me, I feel foolish.
I don't want to speak with you, Ares.
Ares: Witch, you will once more be mine.
I feel a sinful shiver. Don't fall, Raquel, please. I don't respond to him and ignore him. He continues to write.
Ares: Come get your chain if you want it. I won't be sending it through anyone. Bye, I'll wait here for you.
I snarl in annoyance. Mom will kill me if she finds out I misplaced that necklace.
I go to get my chain after taking a shower and donning an easy summer dress with floral prints. In order to avoid falling for his tricks, I have a plan in place. I'm not even going to enter his home. I'll hold off until he brings the chain outside.
Activated: Project Chain Rescue Without Losing My Dignity Along the Way.
Even though it has only been a week, I can't believe I'm back at the Hidalgos. In my defense, Mom will make me watch every nighttime soap opera with her if she learns that I don't have the chain because she will be furious with me. I know it's pure torture.
I ring the doorbell after taking a deep breath. The red-haired girl opens the door while displaying some agitation.
She says, "Good afternoon," adjusting her uniform's skirt.
Ares is he present?
"Of course, he is." She moves to the side and motions for me to follow. Come in; the party is by the pool in the back.
party?
She leads the way down the hallway until we arrive at the house's pool. The pool lights give the water a cool glow and I can see steam rising from the blue water, which indicates that it must have been heated. There are also more lights and torches scattered throughout the room, giving it an airy, beachy feel. I suppose this is what you get to enjoy when you're wealthy.
Everyone looks at me as soon as I enter, and I immediately feel extremely uneasy. I search the area for Ares. He is facing another couple in the same position while holding a girl on his shoulders. They are engaged in a water fight. I can't help but feel envious of Ares' girlfriend. She has a stunning smile and is very attractive. Our eyes converge as Ares turns to look at what everyone is observing. He doesn't appear shocked. He appears content.
No, concentrate, Raquel; but he looks great all wet. I awkwardly remain standing there while Ares plays his game as if nothing had happened until Apolo approaches to say hello.
He smiles and says, "Welcome." "I know all of these people, but they are Ares' classmates." One of the three boys he introduces to me is the one I ran into while watching Ares practice soccer.
Apolo introduces them, pointing at each boy individually, "Raquel, this is Marco, Gregory, and Luis."
"Ha! "Pay me!" The blond one, Luis, says. "I warned you that a student from Apolo's new school would attend."
Gregory makes a grunt. I can't believe it, I say. He gives Luis a few bills that he has taken out of his pocket.
Marco, the practice boy with dark hair, just gives me a friendly glance while remaining silent.
Apolo makes a grimace. "Your bet are terrible. Make yourself comfortable, Raquel; I'll be right back.
Gregory makes a finger motion toward me. "You just caused me to lose money, even though I would welcome you."
Luis smiles at me and tells Gregory, "Don't be a sore loser."
"Have a seat, Raquel, please."
They are undoubtedly very attractive, I can't deny that. Never in my life would I have thought to sit with men like them. But so far, they don't seem to be all that bothersome. As the girl on Ares's shoulders dives into the water and drags him down with her, my gaze strays to the pool. She gives him a quick kiss on the cheek as they come out of the water grinning at one another.
Oh no!
My heart is almost breaking, I think.
And for once, I'm at a fork in the road.
Life is about choices, good and bad, as I've always said, and I have two in front of me:
1. I'll turn around and leave while lowering my head.
2. Stay, get my necklace back, and perhaps enjoy yourself with Ares's friends. Let him know that I'm fine and don't give a damn about him.
I need to regain my dignity and stop acting like a lovesick girl if he can act as though nothing has happened.
So, after swallowing my heart, I sit down next to Marco, who hasn't yet spoken, and smile broadly.
Would you like a beer? When Luis passes it to me, I nod in response to his question.
Gregory puts his bottle up. "Let's toast to the fact that Apolo only has a pretty friend from school."
Luis extends his. Yes, I must admit that I am impressed.
I clink their bottle with mine as I blush. Marco is observed by the two boys, but he remains motionless. Luis averts his gaze.
"Let's have a drink alone." Like Ares, he is grumpy. Gregory explains, "No wonder they're best friends.
We continue to drink while toasting. Marco is nearly the same height as Ares and is shirtless when he stands up. My eyes follow him from his chest to his abdomen without any remorse. These guys have received a lot of generosity from the Virgin of Abdominals. As he dives into the pool, I watch his every move.
He's attractive, isn't he? Luis jokingly inquires.
Raquel appears to be fun and daring. Yes, he is quite attractive.
"Oh, she's cute!" I get five from Gregory. She is sincere.
I smile and raise my beer to them. After a little discussion, I come to the conclusion that neither they nor the other guys are as pretentious as I had imagined them to be. They are extremely courteous. Gregory prefers to tell interesting stories, whereas Luis is a fun guy who turns everything into something absurd and makes you laugh.
And as we speak, I momentarily lose all memory of Ares. They help me understand that I can move past him and that there are more men in the world. Yes, I could find a man out there who is more endearing and compassionate than he is. I'm not obligated to worship that naive, seductive Greek god.
I don't even bother to look around to check on his whereabouts or activities.
I get up from my chair and start dancing when someone plays a song that I really enjoy.
Following in my footsteps, Luis and Gregory immediately start dancing and raising their hands in the air. We laugh as Gregory stumbles and nearly falls. Everyone looks at us as we laugh so loudly. People are staring, but I don't pay them any attention. The alcohol is having an impact, I must admit. When we re-sit down, I feel more liberated and self-assured.
Luis begins, amused, "Confession time, Raquel."
Marco takes a sip of his beer before returning to the table with wet hair dripping onto his face and lap.
Luis continues while ignoring him. Tell me are in a relationship?
I let out a chuckle. "Nope."
Gregory furrows his brows. Do you want one, please?
"Ohhhh." Snorting, Luis. "It appears that you have a fan."
Gregory, why are you flirting so soon? I make fun of.
When Marco speaks, his expression is solemn, "Don't waste your time She's with Ares," and we all turn to face him.
I clench my jaw. What?
Gregory sneers. "Ugh!" It is incredibly unfair.
I look Marco in the eye and say, "I'm not with anyone," offended. I'm not connected to him in any way.
Of course," he responds, sounding sarcastic.
"What's the matter with you?" If you don't even know me, why do you hate me?
"I'm just warning the guys; I don't have a problem with you."
"You don't need to forewarn them." Between Ares and I, there is nothing.
Luis steps in to help. Marco, I believe the girl when she said that.
Gregory offers me his beer. Why don't you provide evidence?
I scowl and ask, "How?"
Gregory ponders while holding his chin. "Dancefor me."
Marco chuckles triumphantly. She won't ever, he says.
My eyes turn to the pool as I protest by opening my mouth. Ares is still laughing while the girl is dangling from his back in the water. He hasn't even come out to say hello after I've been here for more than an hour, and he still has that girl in his sights.
Luis sighs in defeat as the boys follow my gaze. "It's not possible. She swung around to face him. Marco is correct.
I get to my feet and declare, "No, he's not," in an effort to disprove them.
Gregory looks at me with excitement as I move closer to him.
Will you join me in dancing?
But when I walk by him, he loses his expression. My confidence wanes in front of Marco, but he has a fixed gaze on me. It seems as though he is assuring me that I am incapable of doing this. I start to move my hips in front of him despite my embarrassed conscience's protests. Accepting the challenge, he leans back to feel more at ease.
Raquel, picture yourself dancing in front of the mirror.
I allowed the music to fill me and ran my hands down my body, pausing briefly on my breasts before descending my waist's curve.
Marco keeps an eye on me as I move. I have more strength because I can still feel the control I had over Ares when I danced for him.
As I sway to the music, I raise my hands once more over my breasts. Without looking away from me, Marco sips his beer. His wet body is soaking the back of my dress as I sit on his lap with my back to him. It feels wonderful to friction. I can feel how hard he is as I press up against him. That happened quickly. I almost lay on top of him as I lean back.
In his ear, I murmur.