“Really?”
The challenge in his eyes is overwhelming. I know mine must be the same.
“There’s nothing you can do. If you tell my mother, I’ll deny it, and she’ll believe me. If you tell yours, I’ll show her the pages you visit when no one is watching you,” he says.
“Are you blackmailing me?”
He strokes his jaw as if he’s considering my question. “I wouldn’t call it blackmail, but rather coming to an agreement. I get what I want, and you get my silence in return.”
“Your silence about information you got by hacking me. That’s not fair.”
Ares shrugs his shoulders. “Haven’t you heard that life isn’t fair?”
I grit my teeth. Jerk.
“If you have nothing more to say, I was doing something important.” He sits up and opens his laptop.
I stare at him like a fool, not knowing if it’s because he’s that much of a jerk or because the feelings I had for him as a child haven’t completely gone away. Either way, I have to get back inside; the cold breeze isn’t pleasant. I close the window and defeatedly crawl back between my warm sheets.
My iPhone vibrates on the bedside table. Who could be texting me at this hour? I open the message and gasp in surprise.
Unknown Number: Good night, Witch.
Sincerely yours,
Ares.
I groan in frustration. Who is he calling a witch? And how the hell does he have my number? Apparently, things with Ares are nowhere near over, but he’s sorely mistaken if he thinks I’ll sit by and do nothing.
You messed with the wrong neighbor!
THREE
The Soccer Practice
“You what?” Daniela, my childhood best friend, almost spits her soda in my face.
We’re hanging out in the most popular café in town, hiding away from the summer heat. God bless the AC. We love it here. The calm music and dimly lit surroundings create a soft, comfortable energy, and it’s become our favorite spot to hang.
“Yes, I did exactly what I said,” I sigh, playing with the straw of my orange juice.
Daniela grins broadly as if she’s won the lottery. Her black hair falls to the sides of her face, framing it perfectly. She has that kind of hair where even if you don’t comb it, it still looks good. I’m so envious! But it’s the good kind of envy, of course.
Daniela has been by my side for as long as I can remember. Our friendship started in kindergarten when she stuck a pencil in my ear. Yes, it was an unconventional way to start a lifelong friendship, but that’s us: unconventional and crazy. Somehow, we adjusted to each other in a perfect, synchronized way. If that’s not true friendship, then I don’t know what is.
Dani keeps that goofy grin on her face.
“Why are you so discouraged? We’re talking about Ares . . . your crush since you were seven, or something.”
“I told you how he treated me.”
“But he treated you, Raquel. He talked to you; he noticed your presence in this world. That’s a start! It’s much better than just looking at him from afar like a creepy stalker.”
“I don’t stalk him!”
Dani rolls her eyes. “Really? Are you going to try to deny it? To me? I’ve seen you stalk him from the shadows.”
“Of course not, it’s pure coincidence that I see him in the distance when I walk around town.”
“Walking through town or hiding behind a bush?” she teases.
“Anyway,” I change the subject. “You’re supposed to help me, I need to find a way to stop him from using my Wi-Fi. I don’t want him to get away with it.”
“Why don’t you change the password?”
“So he can just hack my computer again? No, thank you.”
Dani takes out her makeup and looks in the mirror to adjust her hair. “I really don’t know what to say, girl. What if we ask Andres for help?”
“Are you kidding? And for the last time, Dani, it’s André, no S.”
“Whatever.” She takes out her lipstick and starts to apply a bright red color to her lips. “He’s good at computer stuff, right?”
“Do you really have to do that here?” I ask, even though she does it all the time. “And yes, I guess so; he helped Francis with his computer project.”
“There you go.” Dani puts her makeup away and stands up. “See how I always find solutions for you?” I open my mouth to speak, but she continues. “In fact, do you know what my advice is?”
“Get over it?”
“Yes. You’re wasting your time, really.”
“He’s just so . . .” I sigh. “Perfect.”
Dani ignores my last statement. “I have to go to the bathroom; I’ll be right back.”
She turns and walks away, earning a few stares from the guys that she passes. Dani is tall and has a great curvy body. I can honestly say that my best friend is one of the hottest girls at my school.
I take a sip from my straw, finishing the last of my OJ. It’s hot as hell outside, but I rejoice in it. I don’t want summer to end because that means classes will begin and, to be honest, the idea of entering my senior year of high school scares me a little.
Thoughts of Ares invade my mind again, and I remember his voice as well as his arrogant smile from the night before. I know he doesn’t have the best personality in the world. As I’ve watched him, I’ve come to realize how cold and meticulous he is. He barely smiles and doesn’t usually talk much, preferring curt answers and gestures. It’s like he’s a robot, incapable of feeling. Part of me is hoping that I’m wrong and he’s actually a sweet person on the inside or something.
I scroll through Instagram until I see a post from Dani’s brother, Dean. He goes to the same school as Ares and plays on his soccer team. He posted a picture of the guys at practice on a public field near my neighborhood. It’s a chance to see Ares from a distance.
After settling the bill, I lean against the wall in front of the bathroom to wait for Dani, running my fingers through my long, light brown hair to check for tangles. I shuffle my feet impatiently until my best friend deigns to come out.
Dani raises an eyebrow. “You already paid? I thought we would have dinner here.”
“Soccer practice.”
“You’re going to abandon me here to go see a bunch of beautiful, attractive, possibly shirtless guys?” she jokes.