Dedicated to Paula, my dear friend, who motivated to update this story after so long. 

Thank you, Pau. 

- 1 7 -

"Run, Rachel!"

"I'm trying!"

"We're going to be late because of you!"

"Because of me?"

Dani pulls me through the school parking lot as we run to the entrance, the bell is about to ring so we have a few seconds to get to our first class.

My breathing is chaotic, I'm so out of shape.

"Yes, it's your fault."

We slow down when we enter our high school but we keep a fast pace since we can't run inside, "It was your idea to fix my hair."

"Because you were coming to school with your hair in a mess."

"It was just a bit tangled."

"It's the first day of school, as I told you, we have to-

"Impact." I finish for her.

"Exactly, now smile and walk straight." she pats on my lower back to fix my pose.

My straight hair —thanks to Dani— falls at the sides of my face. I pull on the hem of my school uniform skirt because Dani has slid it up a little too much.

Dani slaps my hands, "Don't do that. You're perfect."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Smile." She pinches my cheek. I give her a fake smile, "I hate your bad mood in the mornings."

"I hate mornings in general."

Yes, getting up early is not my thing.

Main High School is the only public high school in my town and it is small. We have a lot of wealthy families who prefer to send their children to prestigious private schools. Dani studied a year in one of the private schools but she had some issues and she decided to come to this one and be with me.

"Well this is your stop," Dani says in front of my locker, "I'll go to mine, see you in class in a bit."

Grunting, I open my locker and start getting my books. Why does school have to start so early? The day is so long. Is it really necessary to get up this early?

I close my locker, and jump out of fright. There's someone in front of the locker next to mine. He's looking at me and he's the last person I expected to see here.

"Apollo?"

"Hi," he says with his sweet smile.

"What are you doing here?" As I take him in, I notice he's wearing our school uniform. What?

"I'm new."

I look at him as if he has grown three heads, "New? But you went to the private school."

"I changed schools."

"And your parents let you do that?" I realize I'm asking a lot of questions, "I'm sorry, that's none of my business."

"Actually, my parents made a fuss, but Ares helped me convince them."

Ares...

If he tells me Ares has changed to this school, I will go and throw myself out of the window.

"Is he...?"

"No, Ares can't live without that school's soccer team."

A wave of disappointment crosses me and I don't get it. Why do I want him to attend this school when I know that nothing will happen between us? That would be pure torture.

"Sure, well," I give him an honest smile. "Welcome, we don't have as many resources as your other school but we have fun here."

"Thank you."

A group of girls walks by, laughing and muttering things. They are obviously checking him out. Apollo doesn't seem to notice. Well, he must be used it, he's very good-looking.

"Rachel!"

That scream echoes through the main hallway and I roll my eyes, turning to face him.

Here he comes...

"Rachel! My love, my heart."

That's Carlos, my lifelong admirer. It all started the day I defended him from some boys who were bullying him in fourth grade, since that day he has sworn eternal love to me almost every day. I only see him as a friend and despite having made it clear, he doesn't accept it.

"Hello, Carlos." I greet him cordially because I like him even though he's a little crazy, he's fun.

"My beautiful princess," he takes my hand and kisses the back of it dramatically. "This has been the longest and most agonizing summer for me."

Apollo looks at us silently with a face of 'What in the world is going on?' But he doesn't say anything.

Carlos' eyes leave my face to see Apollo, "And who are you?"

"He's Apollo, he's new." I reply, releasing my hand from him, "Apollo, this is Carlos, he's-"

"Her future husband and father of her four unborn children," Carlos says quickly.

I hit the back of his head, "I told you not to say those things, people sometimes believe it."

"Have not you heard that if you say a lie many times, it becomes true?"

Apollo laughs a little, "Well, you have a very dedicated admirer."

"Dedicated?" Carlos snorted, "Not only am I devoted, passionate, kind, intelligent-"

"You failed four classes last year." I interrupt.

Carlos ignores me, "But she's blind and doesn't realize what she has right in front of her but I'm a patient boy, I'll wait."

The bell rings, ending this crazy conversation. I say goodbye to Apollo and Carlos follows me until we reach the classroom door where I have my first class.

"Isn't he one of the sons of that rich man that leaves behind your house?"

"Yes."

Carlos scratches his head, "Why would someone like him change here?"

"Maybe that private school is not as good as it seems."

"Yes, that's what Dani said, by the way, where is she?"

"She must be in the classroom already. Are you in our class again?"

Carlos pouts, "No, boo, they changed me this year, but don't worry, I'll visit you often."

"Okay, Romeo," I joke, "See you. And study, if you fail another class this year, I'll stop talking to you."

"Never, my princess," He leans forward, bowing. "I'm already missing you." He leaves and begins to trot to his next class.

That crazy boy.

-

The first day of school ends as fast as it starts, I can not believe I'm already in my senior year, going to college is something that terrifies me but at the same time excites me.

After trying to feed Rocky who didn't want to eat, I take my uniform off and throw it in dirty clothes pile. I feel the need to take a peek through my window. Ares usually arrives from school at this time. I see him sometimes walking around his room, using his cell phone.

No more of that.

I glance at my bed and notice a small white box over it. I lift it up and a note falls from it. I'm surprised to it's the case of the latest version of an iPhone, I quickly check the note.

So that you don't go around without a phone.

I'm sorry for everything you went through that night.

Don't even think about giving it back to me,

—Ares H.

I laugh so hard that Rocky looks at me strangely, "Are you crazy, Greek God?" I ask in the air, "You're completely insane!"

There is no way I can accept this cellphone, it's too expensive. How the hell did he get into my room with Rocky here? I look at my dog and remember he didn't want to eat when I arrived. His belly looks full, "Oh no... Rocky, you traitor!"

Rocky lowers his head.

I have to return the phone to that quadripolar. I put on some jeans and a shirt to rush out of the house. I have to go around to get to the front of The Hidalgo's house.

In front of his house, my courage falters. His place is a nice three story house with big white-framed windows and a garden with a fountain at the entrance. Recovering my courage, I ring the bell.

A very pretty red-haired girl opens the door, if it wasn't for her maid uniform, I could have thought she was part of the family, "Good evening, can I help you?"

"Is Ares home?"

"Yes, who's asking?"

"Rachel."

"Okay, Rachel, will you wait a second while I go get him?"

"Sure."

She closes the door and I play with the phone box in my hands, Coming here doesn't seem like a good idea anymore. A few minutes later, the girl opens the door again, "Well, you can come in, he's waiting for you in his playroom."

Playroom?

Christian Grey style?

Stop reading so much, Rachel.

His house is stupidly luxurious inside, which doesn't surprise me at all. The girl guides me through the hall to a long hallway and stops, "It's the third door on the right."

"Thank you."

I don't know why I suddenly become so nervous. I'm going to see Ares. I feel like it's been so long when it's only been a few days.

Just give the phone back, Rachel. You go in, you give him the phone and then you leave. Simple, easy to do.

I knock and I hear him say 'Come in' I open the door slowly and take a look inside, there are no whips or anything like that so I'm safe. It is an ordinary playroom. A pool table, a huge TV with different consoles below it.

Ares is sitting on the couch in front of the TV with control of what looks like a PlayStation 4 in his hands, playing something with a lot of shooting. He's shirtless, with only his school pants on, his hair is all messed up by the headphones he's wearing, and he's biting his lip while he's playing.

Why the hell do you have to be so hot, Ares? Why? I even forgot why I'm here. I clear my throat.

"Guys, I'll be right back." Ares says into the microphone connected to his headphones, "I know, I know, I have a guest."

He leaves the game and removes his headphones. His eyes meet mine, and I stop breathing, "Let me guess, you're here to return the phone?"

He gets up and I struggle not to look at his abdomen. Why does he have to be shirtless? This is not how you receive a guest.

I find my voice, "Yes, I appreciate the gesture, but it's too much."

"It's a gift, it's rude to refuse a gift."

"It's not my birthday, it's not Christmas, so there's no reason for a gift." I extend my hand with the box toward him.

"Do you only receive gifts on your birthday and on Christmas?"

Yes and sometimes not even on those dates.

"Just take it."

Ares just stares at me.

"Rachel, you had a horrible experience that night and you lost something you worked hard to get."

"How do you know that?"

"I'm not an idiot. I know you bought it with your money, from your hard work. I'm sorry I couldn't stop them from taking it, but I can give you another one, let me give it to you."

"You're so... hard to figure out."

"I've been told."

"No, seriously, you tell me you don't want anything serious with me and you go and do nice things like this, what are you playing, Ares?"

"I'm not playing anything, I'm just being nice."

"Why? Why are you being nice to me?"

"I don't know."

"You never know anything."

"And you always want to know everything."

Those blue eyes watch me intensely as he walks over to me but that doesn't stop from from saying, "I'm beginning to think you like to confuse me."

Ares gives me that smug smile that suits him so well. "You confuse yourself, I've already been clear with you."

"Yes, very clear, with your kindness and all."

"What's wrong with being nice?"

"That doesn't help me forget you."

Ares shrugs. "That's not my problem."

A wave of rage runs through me, "And here comes the quadripolar."

Ares frowns, "What did you just call me?"

"Quadripolar, your mood swings are so constant that calling you bipolar doesn't cover them all."

"As creative as ever," the sarcasm flows from his tone before continuing, "It's not my fault you like to give meaning to everything."

"It's always my fault, isn't it?"

"God, you like drama, don't you?"

The rage continues to grow inside me, "If I'm such a nuisance to you then, why do not you leave me alone?"

Ares raises his voice, "You called me! You looked for me!"

"Because I didn't know any other number!" there's disappointment on his face, but I'm too upset to care. "Do you think I would have called you if I had another choice?

He squeezes his fists at his sides and before he can say anything, I throws the phone box at him, he catches it in the air, "Just take your stupid phone and leave me alone."

Ares tosses the box to the couch and takes two long strides toward me, "You're so ungrateful!"

I push his bare chest, "And you're an idiot!"

Ares takes my arm, "Crazy!"

I slap his arm to release myself, "Jerk!"

I turn my back and take the doorknob to open it but Ares grabs my arm to make me face him again, "Let me go, you—!" his soft lips crash against mine.

And there, in his playroom, Ares Hidalgo kissed me.

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Hey, guys. It's been forever! I really hope there's still people out there reading this story! Thank you so much for your patience all this time. 

xx

Ariana.