22

THE GAME

"Rachel! Rachel! Rachel!"

I never thought that the first cheer they would ever give me would be for me to drink alcohol. Apollo, Samy, and Gregory are around me at the edge of the pool, offering me a shot of tequila. And I hesitate, the truth is I feel a little dizzy, I have lost count of how much alcohol I have consumed so far and that is not good. Especially since I'm in the pool.

Defeated, I take the small glass and take the shot. The tequila runs down my throat setting everything on fire on its way to my stomach. I wince but Apollo gives me a high five, "Yeah!"

"I'm surprised," Samy admits smiling.

Samy has just been kind and very attentive to me, she looks like a good girl. Although I know that she likes Ares, it's obvious, I don't dislike her. She hasn't done anything to me.

Gregory sips his drink and huffs, taking a deep breath, "It feels softer every time, it doesn't even burn my throat anymore."

"That's because you're already drunk," I pat him on the back.

I look into the deep end of the pool and see the stupid Greek God, talking to Marco, they both look very serious. Shame invades me when I remember myself dancing for Marco. Are they talking about me? Oh God!

The water is hot and feels divine against my cold skin, little waves that form when we move and they crash against the back of my arms.

"We should play something," Gregory offers, tossing his hair, splashing us all.

Apollo holds his chin thinking, "Something like hiding?"

Samy laughs, "No, something more fun! Like truth or dare or Never have I ever."

I knit my brows together, "Never have I ever?"

Samy nods, "Yes, I'll explain it. For example, let's say I start: I say Never Have I ever gotten drunk and those people who have done it take a sip."

"What if you've done it too?"

"I also drink, it's funny because you'll know the things that others have done or not done when you see them drink or not. The suspense is great."

"Okay," says Gregory. "But do we need more people or what?"

It's only us and that group with Ares over there in the pool. The rest of people has left already. I have no idea what time it is.

Gregory yells for the group and the three boys swim towards us. I get nervous because I haven't interacted with Ares since our little conversation.

We get out of the pool, and the cool night wind gives me chills, my dress sticks to my body but I have drunk so much that I no longer care. We sat on the wet floor in a circle. Apolo and Gregory are by my sides, by their side Samy, then Marco, Ares and Luis. The tequila bottle is in the middle. Ares is sitting across me.

Samy explains the rules again to the newcomers.

Ares snorts, "What kind of game is this?"

Samy glares at him, "I already explained the rules so just play."

"Anyone brave?"

Nobody.

Samy sighs, "Cowards, I'll start." She takes her glass. "Never have I ever sneak out of my house." She drinks and everyone else drinks too, but I don't.

They look at me in surprise, "What?"

Gregory rubs my head, "Aw! You are a well-behaved little angel."

Ares doesn't pay attention to me, he's too busy lighting a cigarette, the smoke comes out of his mouth, while we wait for Marco's turn.

Marco keeps that serious and expressionless face that characterizes him, brushes his lower lip with his thumb thinking, "Never have I ever broken someone's heart."

"Ohhh!" Luis exclaims, amused, "I think we'll all drink."

My eyes fall on Ares and I watch sadly as he brings his glass to his lips, and drinks. I know he has broken a lot of hearts but somehow, I feel like he's drinking thinking about mine, how he broke my stupid hopeful heart.

Again everyone drinks except me.

Luis growls, "Really, Rachel? You're never broken a heart?"

Samy moans, "At this rate we'll end up drunk and Raquel sober."

I shrug, "I'm being honest, I swear."

Ares fixes his eyes on me and an arrogant smile fills his perfect lips, "Don't worry, it's my turn, I'll make her drink."

Gregory gives him five, "Come on, let's see, surprise us."

Ares takes his glass and holds it up to me, "Never have I ever stalked someone."

Low blow.

Everyone looks at me, waiting for my reaction, I clench my hands at my sides and bite my lower lip. Feeling like the weirdo of the group, I raise my glass and take a sip. Everyone watches me in silence. Angrily, my eyes meet Ares' and I see him smile.

But then he does something that takes my breath away.

He drinks.

He puts his glass back on the floor.

Apollo laughs, "We have two stalkers here, I can't believe it."

Luis claps Ares on the back, "I never thought you would be the one to stalk someone, I always thought you would be the one being stalked."

Ares doesn't take his eyes off mine, "I was but life takes many turns."

Samy clears her throat, "Okay, okay, next."

Luis raises the glass, "Let's make this interesting, never I have ever given oral sex." the heat invades my cheeks, and I know everyone is going to drink, except me and Apollo, maybe. Luis, Gregory, Marco and a very embarrassed Samy drink. In agony, I watch Ares waiting for him to have a good drink.

But he doesn't.

Gregory seems to be saying out loud what we all think, "I can't believe it! Ares Hidalgo! You've never gone down on someone?"

Luis shakes his head, "You're lying."

Ares finishes his cigarette, stubbing it out on the floor next to him, "Haven't yet."

He says it so natural, so calm.

We all look at each other, Apollo can't control his curiosity, "Why not?"

Ares shrugs, "Haven't felt like it. It's intimate and very personal to me."

Gregory nods, "And  Ares isn't interested in an intimate, personal relationship."

Samy lowers her head, playing with her fingers on her lap. Did she ... and him ...? As far as I know, they are just friends. But Samy's reactions remind me of mine when he repeatedly breaks my heart.

Did something happen between them?

It's Apollo's turn, "Let's  drink, never I have ever gotten drunk."

I give him a knowing smile, "Cheers!" Our glasses collide and then we drink.

It's my turn and I have no idea what to say.

Everyone is waiting for me impatiently.

Before they start bothering me, I speak up, "Never I have ever kissed anyone in this circle."

Marco raises an eyebrow, and Ares lets out a sarcastic laugh. With great attention, I watch as Ares, and Samy drink. Sadly, I drink too. So Samy has kissed Ares. The confirmation makes my heart clench in my chest. Something happened between them, watching Samy I feel at a disadvantage, she is very pretty and she is very nice. Without a doubt, Ares would choose her and not me in a heartbeat, I know I would choose her.

Gregory looks at us, "Whoa!"

After three rounds of the game, we are all too drunk to reason and play the game decently. So we decided to go swimming to clear our intoxicated minds. I stay in the shallow end, pouring water on my face and head, I'm dizzy but I know that if I stop drinking I can get home.

Samy hugs me from behind, "Rachel!"

I let go of her embrace and turn around, "Samy!"

"I think we've had too much to drink," she says to me and I nod, "You're very nice!"

I smile at her, "You too."

"I need to ask you something."

"Sure."

"When we were playing, you drank, I know it's obvious, but did you kiss Ares?"

Ok, drunk or not, I'm not ready for that question.

Samy gives me a sad smile, "That silence says it all, you... is there something going on between you two?"

"Samy..."

"No, no, sorry, don't answer that, I'm being very invasive."

I lick my lips, feeling uncomfortable but at the same time related to what she's feeling, "Do you... and him?"

She shakes her head, "I'm just the typical cliche, you know, the girl who falls in love with her best friend."

"If you guys have something going on, I'd never get in the way."

In that I am honest, I would never get into anyone's relationship. I have little dignity but break a relationship, never.

Samy takes my hand, "He and I have nothing, so stop looking so guilty."

"I'm sorry." I don't even know why I'm apologizing.

"Ares is... difficult, you know, he's been through a lot." She takes a sip from her glass, "Somehow, I thought I'd be the girl to change him, because I'm the only one he has let in. But the fact that he trusted me does not mean that he loves me, I understood that very late."

My heart breaks for her, she is definitely not a bad person, she is just a girl who fell in love with a boy who doesn't feel the same way, just like me, "I think we have something in common: a broken heart."

Samy shakes her head, "He likes you, Rachel, and he probably doesn't know how to handle it because it's never happened to him."

My heart races at her words, "I don't think so, he has made it clear to me that he is not interested in me."

"Ares is very complex, just like Artemis. They are boys raised by strict parents who always made it clear that having feelings is a weakness, it is giving another person power over you."

"And why is Apollo different?"

"When Apolo was born, the Hidalgo grandfather moved here for a while, he was the one who raised Apolo with a lot of love and patience. He tried to instill that in the older two but they were already grown up and they were experiencing things that they should not have experienced at that age."

"Like what things?"

"I'm not the one to tell that part, sorry."

"It's okay. How do you know all this?"

"I grew up with them, my mother is very close to their mother, and she always left me here when she had things to do. The service staff who have worked here for a lifetime also know the story."

"Samy! The driver is here, let's go!" Gregory, Luis, and Marco are drying off outside the pool, staggering from side to side.

"I'm coming!" Samy gives me a short hug, breaks away and smiles at me, "You're a good girl so don't ever think I don't like you or something because of Ares, okay?"

I smile back, "Okay."

I watch them leave, Apollo behind them muttering something about opening the door for them, I realize it's time for me to go too.

My eyes scan the pool and I freeze when I see Ares at the other end, his arms outstretched on the edge of the pool, staring at me.

We're alone.

And from the way he's looking at me, I know he plans to take advantage of that.

Run, Rachel, run!

Have you ever tried running in water?

It's fucking hard.

Since when is the edge of the pool so far?

Nervous, I turn to see where Ares was a few seconds ago, and he's no there anymore.

Shit!

I reach the edge, and I'm about to grab it when strong hands grab my hips. Ares presses me against the pool wall, his body defined behind me, his hot breath brushing the back of my neck, "Escaping, witch?"

I swallow, "It's late, I have to go, I..."

Ares sucks on my earlobe, his hands squeezing my hips gently, "You what?"

I make the grave mistake of turning in his arms, my hormones screeching at the sight in front of me. The Greek God all wet, his wet hair stuck to the sides of his face, his creamy skin looking perfect and those infinite blue eyes that remind me of the sky at sunrise. His lips are red, and they look so provocative. I try to think of all the hurt he has caused me with his words, with his actions but it is so difficult to focus, having him so close and with so much alcohol in my brain.

Ares caresses the side of my face, the action mystifies me, it doesn't seem like something he would do, "Stay with me tonight."

That surprises me but my absent dignity appears and takes control, "I'm not going to be that girl you use when you want, Ares."

"I don't expect you to be."

It sounds honest, and he looks so different, like he's tired of being an arrogant jerk, "Then don't ask me to stay."

He comes closer, his thumb still stroking my cheek, "Just stay, we don't have to do anything, I'm not going to touch you if you don't want to, just ..." he sighs, "Stay with me, please."

The vulnerability in his expression disarms me.

My heart and my dignity go into battle to make a decision.

What should I do?