26

Soccer.

The most popular sport in the world and one of my favorites. I don't know when I developed the passion to watch the games, maybe it was from the day I saw Ares playing with a ball in the backyard of his house or maybe it was that first game that Dani's mother took us to see her brother play, I don't know. The fact is, I really enjoy watching a soccer game.

I am very excited, but my sweaty hands and beating like crazy heart are not the effect of the sport, those reactions have a first and last name: Ares Hidalgo.

Why does it make me so nervous to know that I'm going to see him?

He will be far away; he won't even notice my presence among so many people in the bleachers. I need to calm down.

We got there and as I predicted the place is full, Dani had trouble finding a spot in the parking lot but after a while she found one. We walk on the bleachers and keep going up for a place to sit. There is a large space in the second row of seats, and we will have a good view of the field, so we stay there. Dani sits first, then Apollo, Carlos, Yoshi, and me.

There are two clear cheering sides, we are on the side of Daniel and Ares' team. The grass on the field looks very green and well-trimmed. There is still a bit of daylight even though the sun is gone. The sky looks gray welcoming the darkness of the night, the great lights of the field are on, illuminating. I swallow thickly as my eyes go to the players stretching and practicing with the ball near the goal. Ares' team uniform is black with red stripes and numbers while the other team's is white.

Number 5, where are you, Greek God?

As if he wanted to answer me, Ares comes out of a group of boys on his team, walking with that confidence that characterizes him. My heart flies out to chase him. The uniform shorts fit perfectly to his defined legs and the shirt fits tight revealing those arms that have taken me tightly. He wears some kind of thin red elastic headband to keep his black hair away from his face. And on his left arm he wears the team captain's band.

My God, why are you making it so hard for me?

Why does he have to get hotter every day?

Ares meets another player whose back I can only see, but he seems very familiar to me. They talk, and Ares looks serious, as if deciding something important. The unknown player turns slightly, and I can see him.

Marco. How come I forgot he also plays on this team?

I bite my lip remembering the dance I did to Marco. God, what a shame. But hey, Marco doesn't look bad in that uniform. My eyes go down his body.

Well, that's a nice ass.

I give myself a mental slap, having sex has definitely released my perverted side to its fullest. Ares laughs and shakes his head at something Marco says, and I stop breathing. He looks so cute when he laughs.

"Rachel?" Yoshi brings me back to reality.

"Yes?" I look at his and Yoshi has his eyes narrowed.

"Enjoying the view?"

I giggle, "A little."

"I asked you if you want soda, I'll get some."

"Nah, I'm good."

Carlos pokes his head out from behind Yoshi's back, "Are you sure you don't want anything, my princess?"

"I'm fine."

Apollo and Dani seem to be chatting, well, Dani is talking and Apollo is just there nodding red as a tomato.

Carlos and Yoshi go down to get sodas when the sports commentator starts, "Good evening! Welcome to the opening game for this school year soccer championship. Please welcome the Grenwich Tigers guest team!"

The bar team outside howls, yells and parties while we just boo them. Then the commentator continues, "Now let's give our local team a supporting round of applause: The Panthers!"

Everyone is freaking out, screaming and jumping, myself included. I take advantage of the fact that the boys have left to get to Apollo's side. Dani sees me and immediately takes Apollo by the shoulders and moves him so that she is between us.

Dani whispers in my ear, "I understand why you were coming to practice, everyone is hot, of course with the exception of my brother because ew."

"Where is Daniel?"

Dani takes my chin and moves my face in the direction of the goal, "There. You sure are focused on your Voldemort to notice my simple brother."

"Did you read Harry Potter too?" Apollo interrupts excitedly, "You two are super cool."

Dani winks at him, "We know."

Apollo frowns, "But who do you call Voldemort?"

I close my mouth and Dani shrugs, "Just a random boy."

The narrator appears again, "Well, it's time for the big game, everyone. Let's give both teams a round of applause and let's wish them well!"

The crowd screams, raising their hands in the air. From my side, everyone starts yelling 'Panthers, panthers' the emotion of the game seeps into my veins and for a second, I enjoy it, forgetting that arrogant captain who has my heart in his hands.

The rivalry between the two teams is in the air. Grenwich is the nearest town and they always denigrate us. We have made them swallow their words over and over again, The Panthers have won several championships and we even went to the state competition while they never pass the first round.

The teams walk on to the field, each player to his position and the stands vibrate with the jumps, shouts and cheer of the people. I applaud, my eyes falling on him again, how can I not look at him when he looks so excited?

You are an idiot, Rachel.

My conscience reproaches me, he has hurt me so much and I still keep looking at him and sighing like a fool. Why can't I control what I feel? I wish feelings had an on / off button, that would make things so easy for a lot of people.

Feelings...

That's a strong word, one that I don't take lightly. But I know that I have feelings for him, I know that I deceive myself by saying that 'I am falling in love with him' when the truth is that I am already in love, there is no turning back. However, admitting what I feel does not change anything, because he doesn't feel the same, so I must swallow my feelings and go on with my life as if nothing had happened.

Yoshi comes back, Carlos sitting next to him. Yoshi offers me his soda, "Are you sure you don't want some? It's Strawberry Coke, the one you like."

I smile at him, "Just a sip." I drink a little and give it back.

Yoshi adjusts his glasses and shoots me a few glances, like he wants to say something but doesn't. Our eyes meet and I have forgotten how cute my best friend is, "Rachel... Is something wrong between you and that Hidalgo guy?"

"Apollo? Of course not, it's a—"

"I don't mean Apollo, and you know it."

I bite both lips, buying time, "No, of course not." Why am I lying to you?

Yoshi opens his mouth to protest but the whistle is blown, starting the game. I give Yoshi a smile and focus on the game. All the players are full of energy and the desire to win is heavy. The beginning of the game is very busy, with very good and successful passes.

Carlos whistles with excitement, "Wow! Did you see how he ran to get that? That captain is very good."

Ares is playing very well and that doesn't help with the whole thing about swallowing my feelings when I want to scream like a fangirl every time he gets close to goal area.

Dani hits me with her elbow, "You have a good taste, besides being hot and smart, he's good with sports."

And he's also very good at sex.

I limit myself to just giving her a closed mouth smile.

Almost halfway through the first half, Ares is running with the ball alone, approaching the goal, everyone stands up in the bleachers, encouraging him to continue. But then the goalkeeper comes out and runs toward him crashing into Ares in a thud. A scream of horror leaves my lips when I see Ares on the ground, writhing in pain holding his face.

Without thinking, I run down the bleachers, almost falling off the small metal stairs. The small fence that divides the field and the bleachers stops me, I hold onto that fence as if my life depended on it. I see him get up with the help of Marco and other players who bring him to the edge of the field near where I am, I am even more alarmed when I see the blood coming out of his nose.

The narrator informs the audience, "Wow, it looks like there was a big clash between the captain and the goalkeeper. The referee pull a yellow card out, but The Panthers are not satisfied."

Ares' coach hands him a cloth and Ares takes it, wiping the blood, his blue eyes meet mine and I can't help but mouth to him, "Are you okay?"

Ares nods. And then I realize that once again I got carried away by my emotions, what the hell am I doing? Why did I run here like the typical girlfriend? I am nobody to him.

Angry with myself, I return to the bleachers where everyone looks at me strangely, waiting for an explanation except for Dani who knows the whole story. Yoshi looks at me with those accusing eyes that say 'You lied to me'

"I just..." I start, unsure how to explain it, "It's my neighbor, you know, I wanted to know if he was okay."

Carlos believes it so easily, "Aw! My Rachel is such a good neighbor, that's why you are the woman of my life, your solidarity is impressive."

Yoshi rolls his eyes and Dani gives me a knowing look. I realize that Apollo is not in his place, Dani explains, "He ran the other way when you did, I think he's making sure his brother is okay."

"That was a very dirty play," says Carlos, "That was a penalty kick."

Yoshi takes a sip of his soda, "I agree."

Apollo returns, his face red but not with pity this time, it is the first time I have seen him so angry. Dani squeezes his shoulder comfortingly, "He's going to be okay."

Apollo says nothing, just clenches his fists at his sides and sits up, taking a deep breath. I find it extremely cute how much he cares so much about his brother, Apollo is the sweetest boy I have ever met. The game continues, but the tension between the teams can be felt in the air. The panthers are angry about the unfair blow their captain received. Ares continues to play, checking his nose from time to time, there is no more blood, but I imagine it still hurts.

Poor thing.

No, no poor thing, he broke your heart.

Get it together, idiot.

It is almost the end of the first half when the best play of the game begins, the midfielder makes a long pass to Marco who after outwitting two players, passes it to Ares who runs to receive it to one side of the goal. Everyone rises with excitement; Ares kicks the ball diagonally and it enters the goal from a corner at an impressive angle.

"GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL!"

The place is going to explode, we all jump and scream like crazy.

"In your face, you fucking goalkeeper!" Apollo yells, surprising us all.

Ares runs out with his arms outstretched in the air, celebrating the goal, he approaches the bleachers and takes the edge of his shirt lifting it up showing something written on his stomach. It says:

W I T C H

I stop breathing, bringing my hand to my mouth in surprise.

The narrator speaks, "Goaaaall! It seems that the scorer is dedicating his goal to someone, who will be the lucky witch?"

Ares' gaze meets mine and he smiles at me before being hugged from behind by all of his teammates, celebrating.

My heart threatens to jump out of my chest, beating desperately, did he just ...?

Ares Hidalgo is going to drive me crazy with his confusing, mixed signals.

Correction, he already drove me crazy.

>> Double update, next chapter >>