Ares stands in front of me, his black jacket partially covering the green T-shirt I saw him wearing at practice, an umbrella over his head, and his free hand in the pocket of his black shorts. He looks like what he is: a rich, athletic young man.
He appears calm, as if he hasn't just scared me so badly that I almost fainted. It's the first time I've been this close to him. I underestimated his height, which is very intimidating, and his cold gaze only makes me more nervous. A faint sheen of sweat dampens the back of my neck, and I squeeze my hands at my sides. It's surreal to face him after watching him from a distance for so long. I'm not ready even though I've pictured this moment a thousand times, but in none of those imaginary scenarios were we in a cemetery, nor was I sweaty and wet from the rain.
"You scared me," I say, clutching at my chest.
He doesn't speak but just stands there, silently watching me. Seconds go by that feel like years before a smirk unfolds on his full lips.
"You deserve it," he replies.
"Why?"
"You know why." He turns his back on me and walks back toward the mausoleums.
"Wait!"
Ares comes to a clearing and sits on a small headstone, putting his umbrella aside. I stand there watching him like an idiot, unsure of what to do with myself. He takes a lighter and a box of cigarettes out of his pocket and starts smoking. His eyes are on the cemetery sprawling around us, but he seems absorbed in his thoughts, smoke curling out from his mouth.
I know he has this habit so I'm not surprised, but it's a long walk just to sit there and smoke. Although it makes sense. His parents wouldn't approve of their star-athlete son puffing away on cancer sticks.
"Are you going to stand there all night?"
How can someone so young have such a cold voice? I take a seat on a headstone in front of him, keeping my distance. My mouth dries and I can feel my heart in my throat. I wasn't ready to interact with him. He looks at me as he exhales the smoke from his cigarette again, and I swallow hard. I don't know what I'm doing, but there's no way I'm going back down that dark path by myself.
"I'm just waiting for you so I don't have to go back alone," I explain. The lights from the small orange lamps in the cemetery illuminate him.
"What are you doing here, Raquel?" Hearing him say my name causes a strange oscillating sensation in my stomach.
"I came to visit a relative."
Liar, liar.
Ares raises an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Who?"
"My . . . He's a distant relative."
Ares tosses his cigarette on the ground and steps on it to put it out. "Of course, and you decided to come to visit this relative alone? At night? And in the rain?"
"Yes, I didn't realize it was already so late."
Ares leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees, staring at me. "Liar."
"Excuse me?"
"We both know you're lying."
I fiddle with my hands on my lap. "Of course not."
He stands up and I feel helpless sitting, so I stand up too. We're finally facing each other, and my breathing becomes rapid and inconsistent.
"Why are you following me?"
I wet my lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ares approaches me, and I back away until my back hits a mausoleum behind me. He presses his hand against the wall next to my head, making me jump a little. "I don't have time for your stupid games. Answer me."
My breathing is a mess. "I really don't know what you're talking about, I just came to visit my . . . someone who . . ."
"Liar."
He is too close for my poor heart's health. "It's a free town; I can walk wherever I want."
Ares takes my chin in his hand and forces me to lift my head and look up at him. His touch feels warm on my cold skin, and I stop breathing. His wet hair sticks to his beautiful, pale, perfect face, and his lips glisten. I've only ever seen him from afar. Having him this close is too much for me.
"You think I don't know about your little childish obsession with me?" he asks.
Embarrassment sets my cheeks on fire, and I try to lower my eyes, but he gently holds my chin in place.
"Let me go," I demand, removing his hand. However, he stays in front of me, not backing away, and the intensity of his presence disarms me.
"You're not going anywhere until you answer me," he says, sounding determined.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I repeat, trying to ignore the heat that emanates from his body and warms mine even more.
"Let's refresh your memory, shall we?" he asks. I don't like where he's going with this at all.
"You've been watching me for a long time, Raquel."
I swallow.
"Your desktop background is a picture of me that you stole from my Facebook, and your Wi-Fi password includes my name."
His words make my stomach bottom out. I knew there was a possibility that Ares knew about my crush. After all, he'd hacked my computer. But he knows everything. To say I feel mortified is an understatement. This is another level of shame.
He looks so victorious, as if he's in complete control of the situation. There's mockery and superiority in his expression. He enjoys cornering and humiliating me like this. He's waiting for me to deny it, to put my head down, and let him laugh at my embarrassment.
And that thought snaps me out of my self-conscious state. A defiant side of me surfaces when I feel cornered; it's like a defense mechanism. Mom says I got it from my father. Now it comes out and this becomes a challenge, almost a game, and I will not lose. I won't give Ares the satisfaction. I'm tired of hiding behind jokes and sarcastic comments. I feel the need to prove to this handsome guy that he's wrong about me, that everything he thinks he knows is pure lies, and that I'm not easily intimidated. I've had enough with hiding in the shadows. I've had enough with not telling anyone what I think and feel for fear of being rejected and cast aside. So, I raise my gaze and look directly into those infinite blue eyes.
"Yes, I have a crush on you."
I underestimated how startled he would be. His cockiness disappears, replaced by pure confusion. He takes a step back, looking stunned.
I give him a half-sided smile, crossing my arms over my chest. "Why are you so surprised, pretty boy?"
He doesn't say anything. Ladies and gentlemen, I, Raquel Mendoza, have left my lifelong crush speechless.
Ares recovers, running his hand along his jaw as if taking everything in. "I wasn't expecting that, I must admit."
"I know." I can't get rid of the stupid grin caused by the feeling of being in control of the situation.
"And may I know why you have a crush on me?" he asks, tilting his head to the side.
"Isn't that obvious?" I say, amused. "Because I like you."
Ares's eyes threaten to pop out of his face. "Since when are you so . . . forward?"
Since you cornered me and had every intention of embarrassing me, I think, running my hand through my damp hair. "Since always."
Ares chuckles under his breath. "I thought you were just another quiet, introverted girl playing innocent, but, apparently, I'm wrong. You're a bit interesting."
"A bit?" I snort. "I'm the most interesting girl you've ever met in your life."
"And, from what I can see, you also have decent self-esteem."
"That's right."
Ares approaches me again, but this time I don't step back. "And what does this interesting girl want from me?"
"Can't you figure it out? I thought you had the highest IQ in the county."
Ares laughs openly, the sound echoing around the surrounding mausoleums. "It's amazing how much you know about me, and yes, of course I can figure it out. I just want you to say it."
"I think I've talked enough. It's your turn to guess what I want."
Ares leans in until our faces are merely inches apart. Having him so close still affects me, and I swallow thickly. "Do you want to see my room?"
The suggestion in his voice doesn't go unnoticed, so I push him away and shake my head. "No, thank you."
Ares frowns. "What do you want then?"
"Something very simple," I tell him casually. "I want you to fall in love with me."
For the second time in the evening, Ares laughs. I don't know what he finds so funny because I'm not joking, but I'm not complaining because the sound of his laughter is wonderful. When he stops laughing, he gives me a bemused look.
"You're crazy. Why would I fall in love with you? You're not even my type."
"We'll see about that." I wink at him. "And maybe I'm crazy, but my determination is impressive."
"I can see that." He turns around and goes back to the headstone where he was sitting before.
Trying to defuse the tension between us, I speak. "Why did you come here?"
"It's quiet, and people usually don't come here."
"Do you like being alone?"
Ares shoots me a look, putting another cigarette between those red lips I'd like to taste. "I do."
I realize how limited my knowledge about Ares really is, despite having had a crush on him for so long.
"Why are you still here?" His question hurts me a little. Does he want me to leave?
"I'm afraid to go back alone, I told you."
Ares releases the smoke in his mouth and touches a space next to him before speaking.
"Come, sit next to me. Don't be afraid of me. According to this bizarre situation I should be the scared one, little stalker."
I swallow, but I obey like a puppet. I sit next to him, and he continues to smoke. We remain silent for a while and my thoughts wander. I can't believe I said all those things to him. I shiver a little. Even though it's dark, I can see clearly. The moon has already made its way out from the black clouds, illuminating the cemetery. It's not the most romantic view in the world, but being next to Ares makes it tolerable.
I glance at his profile, and his eyes are on the horizon. God, he's so handsome. As if sensing my gaze, Ares turns to me.
"What?"
"Nothing." I look away.
"You like to read."
"Yes. How do you know?"
"Your computer had a lot of information. It's like an electronic diary."
"You still haven't apologized for hacking my computer."
"I won't."
"You violated federal law by doing that, you know that, don't you?"
"And you violated, like, three by stalking me, you know that, too, don't you?"
"Good point."
My phone rings, and I answer it quickly. It's Dani.
"Why aren't you answering your phone?" she demands. "This is, like, my third attempt. Your mother couldn't reach you, so she just called me and asked what time you'll get home. She thinks you're still with me."
"Tell her I'm on my way."
"Where the hell are you? I know soccer practice ended a long time ago."
"I'm . . ." I glance at Ares, and he gives me a mischievous smile. "At the bakery, I'm craving a donut." An extremely attractive donut.
"A donut? But you hate them!"
I bite my lip. "Just tell my mom I'm on my way." I hang up before she can ask me another question.
Ares keeps that smile on his lips, and I can't help but wonder what it would feel like to kiss him. "You just lied. Am I your dark secret?"
"No, it's just that explaining over the phone would have been complicated." Before he asks more questions about why I didn't tell Dani the truth, I continue. "Could you . . . walk with me? At least as far as the street, from there I can go on alone."
"Yes, but that comes at a price." He gets up.
"A price?"
"Yes." He takes his umbrella and points it at me, forcing me to step back to keep the tip of it from touching my chest. "Let me kiss you wherever I want."
My cheeks burn. "That's . . . that's a high price, don't you think?"
"Are you afraid? Or was being straightforward and brave just an act?"
I narrow my eyes. "No, it just seems like an excessively high price to me."
He shrugs. "Then enjoy your walk in the dark alone."
He turns to sit down again, but I can see him look at me out of the corner of his eye. I know it's to make sure I don't leave alone, even if I don't give him the kiss, but who am I kidding? I want that kiss too; every part of me is on fire just imagining it.
"Wait," I say, keeping true to my new extroverted attitude. "Okay."
Ares turns to me again. "Really?"
"Yes!" My heart is going to collapse at any moment. "C-can we go now?"
Ares draws in his bottom lip seductively. "I need my incentive to start walking."
"I said I would pay the price."
His face is only inches away from mine. "Do I have your word?"
"Yes."
"Let's see if that's true."
"What?" A gasp escapes my lips as he leans down and buries his face into my neck, his hair brushing my cheek. "Ares, what are you . . . ?" My voice fails me, everything fails me.
His hot breath caresses my skin, awakening my senses and, instinctively, I move closer to him.
"Raquel," he says my name in my ear, sending delicious shivers all over my body.
I can't believe this is happening. I have Ares pressed against me, his warm breath on my neck, and his hand on my waist. Am I dreaming?
"You're not dreaming."
Oh shit! I said it out loud.
I feel flustered; however, the moment Ares's lips meet the skin of my neck, I forget everything. He leaves wet kisses along my skin, up until he reaches my earlobe, which he lightly sucks. My legs get weak, and if it weren't for Ares holding me firmly in place, I would be on the ground by now. What is he doing to me?
While I stand there trembling, little spasms of pleasure cross my body and make my breath hitch. A pressure blooms in my lower belly, and I can't believe how much havoc he's causing just by kissing my neck. His breathing quickens, and I realize I'm not the only one affected by this. When he finishes his attack on my neck, he proceeds to kiss the side of my face, moving across my cheek, until he presses his lips to the corner of mine. I open my mouth in anticipation, waiting for contact, waiting for his kiss, but it never comes.
Ares breaks away and gives me a smirk. "Let's go."
I gasp. Are you going to leave me like this? I want to ask him, but I stop myself before the plea leaves my lips. Ares picks up his umbrella and starts walking, apparently unaffected by what just happened. Regaining control of my body, I reluctantly follow him.
I know tonight was just the beginning of something. I don't know if I can handle it, but I'm going to at least try.