Dani slips her arm behind me and grabs me so that I rest my head on her shoulder. “Let it out. That’s it. I’m here.”
I cry until I have no more tears, and my nose is so stuffed up that it’s hard to breathe. The peace settles over me. Dani kisses my head.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I push myself away from her and straighten up, pressing my back against the wall. I wipe away my tears and blow my nose. I tell her everything.
Dani’s face turns red with rage. “Fucking jerk! Argh!”
I don’t say anything.
She blows an unruly strand of hair out of her face. “I want to punch him in his stupid face. Can I? Just one punch and I’ll run. He won’t even notice.”
“Dani . . .”
“I learned a superpunch in my self-defense class, I know it will hurt, and there’s always the typical punch in the balls. Oh yeah, I think I prefer that one.”
Her crazy anger steals a sad smile from me. “I appreciate the effort, but . . .”
“Or I can tell Dean. They’re on the soccer team together. I’ll tell him to give him a kick that looks accidental.”
“Dani, you can’t send your brother to beat him up. Dean is very passive.”
“But also excessively overprotective, I only have to tell him that Ares did something to you and boom! Ares gets what he deserves.”
“I don’t like violence, and you know it.”
“Fine!” she snorts. “I’ll get some ice cream, and you find the most romantic movie you can get online.”
“I don’t think—”
“Silence! Let’s deal with this anger as it should be. Today you will cry and shout insults at the movie screen and talk about how unfair life is because those things don’t happen to us.” She puts her hands on her hips. “We’ll have a sleepover, and tomorrow you’ll wake up a new person, leaving everything behind.”
I try to smile. “I don’t think I can do that overnight.”
“At least give it a try, and then we’ll go party with some guys. You’ll get distracted and realize that idiot isn’t the only guy on this planet. Are we clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I didn’t hear you.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Okay, now look for that movie, I’ll be right back.”
I watch her leave and smile like a fool, grateful to have her by my side, otherwise I would be falling apart. I think what upsets me the most is that, even knowing what my mother had to go through with my father, I still fell for that idiot. Just another girl, blinded by love. I’m disappointed in myself.
I turn on my computer and open the browser to search for a movie. My Facebook automatically opens while I type into the address bar. I hear a new message ring and my heart crumples in my chest when I see the name and message.
Ares Hidalgo: Sorry.
A sad smile crosses my lips. I leave it on seen and simply continue my search. It rings again and I open his next message:
Ares Hidalgo: I am truly sorry.
I click his name and block him so that he can’t send me any more messages.
Good-bye, Greek God.
TWENTY-THREE
The Soccer Game
Soccer: the most popular sport in the world and one of my favorites. I don’t know when I developed a passion for watching the games. Maybe it started the day I saw Ares playing in his backyard, or maybe it was when Dani’s mom took us to see Dean play in his first game. In any case, I enjoy it, and I didn’t hesitate when Dani asked if I wanted to go with her, Carlos, and Yoshi to another of Dean’s games to support him. With all my being, I try to forget that Ares is also on the team, and that means I’ll see him for the first time since that terrible morning.
I won’t deny that it’s been a difficult few days, especially at night when I close my eyes. I can’t help replaying everything over and over again, as if trying to find the moment or the reason why everything ended up like this. There were even times when I took some of the blame. He warned me. He was very clear about what he wanted, but I still gave myself to him not only once but twice. I’ve found myself staring at the window sometimes, not daring to look out and peek at his house. It’s painful to remember him climbing up the ladder, his smirk, his eyes, all of him there with me in my room.
I shake my head to clear these thoughts. I came here to have fun and enjoy my favorite sport with my friends. Although, if I’m being honest, I know that my racing heartbeat and sweaty hands are not due to the game.
Why does it make me so nervous to know I’m going to see him?
I try to reassure myself that he’ll be far away, and he won’t even see me or notice me among the people in the stands. I try to calm down as we walk into the field and look for a place to sit. Dani had trouble finding a spot in the parking lot and, as I predicted, the place is full. We see a space in the second row of seats with a good view of the field, so we hurry over. Apolo joins us—he’s been hanging out with us at school lately.
Dani sits down first, then Apolo, Carlos, Yoshi, and me. I don’t like to be so far away from Dani, but I don’t want Yoshi to think that I don’t want to sit next to him. There’s only a bit of daylight left, the sun is almost gone, and the sky turns gray as it welcomes the darkness of the night. The big field lights turn on, illuminating the freshly mowed grass.
My eyes dance around the players, stretching and practicing with a soccer ball. Our team’s uniform is black with red stripes and red numbers, while the other team’s is all white.
Number five. Where are you, Greek God?
As if he wanted to answer me, Ares appears, walking with his characteristic confidence. My heart flutters in my chest as if to chase after him. His uniform shorts are perfectly tailored to his defined legs and his shirt fits tightly, exposing his muscular arms. He’s wearing some sort of superthin red elastic headband to keep his black hair away from his forehead. And on his left arm he’s wearing the captain’s armband.
My God, why do you make it so hard for me? Why do you get hotter every day? I’m confused enough as it is.
Ares greets another player, who I can only see from behind, but he seems very familiar. They talk, and Ares’s expression grows serious, as if he’s deciding something important. The unknown player turns slightly—it’s Marco. How did I forget that he also plays on this team?
I make a face remembering the dance I did for Marco. God, how embarrassing. But, well, Marco doesn’t look bad at all in that uniform. My eyes go down to his ass, and oh—nice.
Raquel, for God’s sake!
I mentally slap myself. Having sex has definitely unleashed my wild side. Ares laughs and shakes his head at something Marco says, and I stop breathing. He looks so cute when he laughs.
“Raquel?” Yoshi brings me back to reality.
“Yes?” I look at him, and Yoshi’s eyes are narrowed.
“Enjoying the view?”
I let out a chuckle. “A little bit.”
“I asked you if you wanted soda, I’ll get some.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Carlos pokes his head out from behind Yoshi’s back. “Are you sure you don’t want anything, my princess?”
“I’m fine.”
Apolo and Dani appear to be having a conversation down the bench. Well, Dani is talking, and Apolo is just sitting there nodding, red as a tomato. Carlos and Yoshi go down the stairs to get sodas as the announcer’s voice comes over the speakers.
“Good evening! Welcome to the opening game of this year’s municipal soccer championship. Give a warm welcome to the guest team, the Greenwich Tigers!”
The opposing team’s fans are howling, yelling, and partying, while we just boo.
The announcer continues. “Now let’s give a round of applause in support of our home team, the Panthers!”
Everyone is making a scene, screaming and jumping up and down, including me. I take advantage of the guys leaving and slide down to stand next to Apolo. Dani sees me and immediately grabs Apolo by the shoulders to shuffle in between us.
Dani whispers in my ear. “I get why you were going to practice. Everyone is hot. With the exception of my brother, of course, because, gross.”
“Where is Dean?”