Anais

A clear sheen of sweat dripped down my arms as we finished the last dance for the festival.

"Muy bien las señoras" Señorita Cruz nodded, finally giving us her approval of affection. "One more day till the tournament. It is there where we will be dancing for the presidente! We must elude perfection" she lectured us cautiously. She walked over to me and smiled, nodding her head again. "Anais, good job" she says. I knew she was surprised at how fast I learned the dance moves after my time away.

"Thank you señorita" I smiled and looked to Mariela. Mariela smiled on in approval and grabbed each one of my hands with care. "I am so happy you are back mi amiga!"

"Me too! I miss all you crazy ladies!" I grinned. We drank from the pitcher of water near the back of the room before wiping our necks with our cold towels. The clock shown 7:15pm, 30 minutes later than I had told Esteban to pick me up.
He was probably waiting for me outside.

Before Mariela and I had a chance to walk out to greet him, a group of girls surrounded me.

"So Anais, how's Esteban?"
"Is he really el Jefe?"
"Do you really stay at his apartment in the city?"
"I heard he rides like a bull in the sheets!"  Each girl couldn't help the vulgar words coming from their lips.

I look at Mariela as she rolls her eyes at their prude and overbearing thoughts.

"You know ladies, Esteban would be better suited to answer these questions." I hinted, drinking another cup of cool water.

"But he's not here Anais"

"Esteban is outside, why don't you ask him?" I shrugged nonchalantly, packing my towel and items into my black bag.

"Ahhh!!!!" the girls screamed, fixing their hair and strutting over to the doors that led outside. Mariela chuckled at their eagerness and looked over at me.

"So you and Esteban worked everything out?" she asked. I loved Mariela because she still saw me as Anais, her beat friend before girlfriend to the famous El Jefe. She knew about our fight that happened a few nights before.

"No..." I shook my head. "The presidente is still threatening Esteban and his sponsors but Esteban doesn't care. I am fearful for him. He promises Hector will work it out but my confidence in him is lacking."

Mariela cringed at the mention of Hector's name and I giggled. "Speaking of Hector.." I was curious to the status of their relationship.

"Oh I hate him still and I don't even want to hear his name!" she cursed, picking her gym bag so we could walk to the car. I play with the end of my messy braid, pushing the doors that led outside to meet Esteban. The group of dancers were all around him, pulling and tugging while he signed some papers.

There was another man beside him flashing a grin to each girl as well. He was just as handsome as Esteban and his height easily matched Esteban.

"Anai!"  Esteban yells, adopting a expression of relief as he sees me approaching. He broke away from the crowd of girls, kissing me passionately. I wrapped my arms around his neck, relishing in his warm embrace as the girls Aww and hiss.

"Adios ladies." I sung, still maintaining my contact with Esteban. They all groaned before gathering their things and leaving us alone.

"That was weird."

"Having a group of screaming girls is strange to the famous El Jefe?"

"No, whats weird is that I have no idea how they knew I was here? It was if someone told them?" Esteban hinted, pinching my butt in play.

"Ouch!" I hit his chest, "it wasn't me." I giggled, lying pathetically. I look over to the man beside Esteban, finally taking him in.

"Hello senorita. I have heard so much about you" he smiled pulling me from Esteban's reach and kissing my cheek. I blush at his boldness and looked up at his features. He was certainly handsome. He had tanned skin just like Esteban but black hair that ended into a messy bun. I could tell he had his fair share of female attention.

"James, 1/3 of the El Niño's and Esteban's oldest and most loyal amigo." he bragged.

"I recognize you from the posters. Nice to meet you James." I smiled looking over at Esteban as he rolled his eyes. Mariela stood there watching him carefully. I could tell she liked what she saw.

"James. This is my best friend Mariela." I announced, pushing her closer to his figure. James turned over to her and nodded warmly. He took her hand and pulled her knuckles to his lips. "I thought Esteban was dating the prettiest girl in Espana?"

Mariela rolled her eyes and stared. "That's the best you can do?" she pouted. I knew she was playing hard to get. If James was smart he would chase her.

"Not the best. I save that for later" he teased. Mariela blushed and looked into his eyes as he took in her figure.

"Can Mariela get a ride home Esteban?" I suggested, acting as the most perfect wingwoman.

"Sure, I have to drop James off anyway" he nodded, opening the door for us ladies.

——

Esteban and I held hands as he drove his convertible down the long winding road.

"Como voy! Como voyyyy" I belted, lifting my hand against the current of the wind. He pulled my knuckles into his lips, kissing each one tenderly as we continued to Jame's house.

Esteban and I continue to whisper little jokes here and there before we got to a mansion near the outskirts of the city.

"Okay James, get out!" Esteban announces, shifting the car into park. I turned back to see what was taking him so long and instead see James in a deep embrace with Mariela. They each broke away and looked to us as we waited. Mariela wiped her lips clean and stared at me guilty.

"Thanks Esteban." James patted his back playfully. "And Anais? Lovely meeting you" he kissed my cheek before hopping out the car. He opened the door to get his things and Mariela soon scooted out to join him.

"Mariela?" I scoffed, turning around to face her. I couldn't believe she was going with this dude on the fist day!

"Oh Anais I'll... call you later." She muttered, still scooting out the car.

"Mariela! I thought we we're going to practice the moves tomorrow morning before the festival?"

"I'm sure Esteban will be more then willing to help you" she shooed me away looking up to James with glee. I rolled my eyes, gently turning to face Esteban.

"Fine" I grumbled, not pleased with her swift arrangement to sleep over at James's house. Esteban looked at me, seeing the anger in my eyes and opened his door, walking over to his friend.

"James." He mutters, looking to his amigo as a signal. James rolled his eyes and pulled Mariela into his lips before escorting her back into the car. "Fate is not with us today" he chuckled. She wrote her number on his palm before facing forward. I knew she was upset with me but it was for the better. I glared at James as he hopped up the steps to his mansion. Once he closed the doors to his house, I looked over at Mariela. I needed to say something to break the air. "Mariela... I was just trying—-"

"Just take me home!" she cursed, refusing to meet my eyes.

—-

We finally pull up to her house near the south of Espana and Esteban shifts the car into park. "Thanks Esteban" she grumbled before scooting out her seat and slamming the door shut.

"Mariela!" I unbuckle my seatbelt to run after her, "Mariela wait!!" I yelled again.

"What! What Anais?"

"I'm sorry! I just couldn't see you do that. I can't allow you to go with someone like him. Your heart will be broken."

"And who gave you the right to tell me about my dating life?" she jeered.

"No one...but I just thought as a friend?"

"As a friend? If you were my friend Anais, you would stay outta my business!" she fumed, turning down the path to head to her door.

"I just think it's not that wise to go hone with a man you barely know. That is what happened between you and Hector. I was just trying to look out for you" I explain myself.

"Says the girl sleeping with the biggest mane whore in all of Espana!" she yelled.

"That's not fair Mariela!"

"You let him eat you out after the 3rd time you met him and your calling me out?" Mariela snapped. My mouth dropped open as I heard her words. They had hurt my ego no matter how much I tried to look unfazed.

"Look Mariela... I was just trying to be a friend"

"No... you were just trying to assert yourself. You're not so innocent as you think Anais so just do me a favor and stay out of my love life." she yelled stomping over to her door before slamming it closed.

I fumed, offended by her actions and turned to head back to the car, unwinding my braids out so they could air dry.

"Anais..." Esteban tried you comfort me, pulling my chin to face his.

"Esteban...I just... want to go home."

"Okay" hé nodded kissing my forehead with care before driving home. A few minutes passed before he took a left at the road. It wasn't the usual path to his apartment in the city.

"Esteban where are we going?" He was silent as he continued driving down the quiet roads. I saw him pulling up to the church I used to frequent when I was with my abuela. I could see my house...I mean my abuela's house in the outskirts of the small city.

"Esteban... no. This is the last place I want to go"

"Go in" he sighs, pulling the keys out of the car.

"I cannot...I can't go in" I stutter, looking down to the cloth in my lap.

"Why?"

"I am to stained with sin... I just want to go home Esteban"

"Just step inside and do your thing. I'll wait mi amor"

I reluctantly listen to his words and nodded, pressing the handle to open my side of the car. "I won't be long" I whisper, staring at the reflection of the moon as it hit the glass panes of the small Iglesia.

Author Note

Do you think Mariela was in the wrong or Anais?