I scream so loud that my throat burns. I get up fast and turn to start praying in defense and then I see him.
Ares.
FOUR
The Cemetery
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.