- 40 -

Sweat...

Margaritas...

Laughter...

Music...

That combination has invaded the night, I never thought I could sweat like this, but apparently dancing in a crowd of people has that effect. I pull my hair back, looking for a place to sit at the table. Everyone is cheerful right now, we've had too many drinks for anyone to be sane.

I'm a little dizzy, so I pause my drinking. 

Marco appears, and his eyes meet mine.

"Why don't you dance with me, Raquel?"

My sight travels to Ares, who is talking to his friends, but still glances at me frequently. Ares and I are in a very fragile situation right now. Although I'm making him win my heart, I don't want to do anything that could lead to misunderstandings or uncomfortable situations. Also, Marco hasn't been entirely friendly with me.

Marco is waiting for my answer, and I wrinkle my nose.

"Nah, maybe another day."

Marco says nothing, just grabs his glass and, without taking his eyes off me, takes a long drink.

Gregory gives me five.

"What are you doing for Halloween? Do you have plans?"

"Not really, it's still two weeks away."

"We think we're going to a party in town, I imagine you're coming."

Ares has not mentioned it.

"Maybe."

Gregory sighs.

"Do you think I should be a vampire or a sexy cop?"

I openly laugh. Why does he have two such opposite options?

Gregory taps my shoulder gently.

"Seriously, I need a girl's opinion."

"Hmmm," I look at him and imagine him in both costumes. "I think you'd make a very sexy vampire."

"I knew it!" He looks proud and I just smile.

I feel someone looking at me and I glance around. Andrea is murdering me with her eyes.

"Your girlfriend doesn't look very happy," I commented, taking a sip of my margarita. Gregory gives him a quick glance.

"She's not my girlfriend."

I don't say anything, not wanting to seem nosy, but Gregory keeps talking.

"I liked her a lot, but..." he gives her a nostalgic look. "She's just like her friends."

"What do you mean?"

"All the boys at this table are from wealthy families," my eyes go through each one of them: Ares, Zahid, Oscar, Luis, Marco, and I end with Gregory. "They are the next managers and owners of companies, corporations and businesses."

"Oh."

Gregory points to several guys dressed in black around the bar.

"See those guys?" I nod. "They're bodyguards, we're never alone, even if it looks that way."

But what does that have to do with Andrea? Gregory seems to see the confusion on my face.

"There are very few people who approach us without any interest. Andrea..." I notice the slight sadness in his voice. "Let's just say that her feelings were not genuine."

I squeeze his shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

He hides his sadness with a smile.

"I'm fine, I'll be fine. I'll rock Halloween in my vampire costume."

I smile broadly.

"I'm sure you will."

A lively song plays, and Nathaly and Andrea get up, starting to dance to the boys who are seated. Samy just sits there, checking her cell phone. Andrea moves in front of Gregory and I look away uncomfortably. I keep an eye on Nathaly, she better not even think about getting closer to Ares.

Nathaly moves in front of Marco, who doesn't bother to hide his disinterest. She moves on to the next one, who is Luis, and he does applaud her and plays along. I watch her carefully get closer Oscar and then Zahid. Next is Ares and I stopped breathing. I can't make a scene here if she dances to him. What should I do?

Nathaly goes to move towards Ares, but he gives her such a cold stare that I feel shivers run through my whole body. I have forgotten how icy the Greek god can be. She ignores his stare and moves towards him, but before she can reach him, Ares gets up and says he's going to the bathroom, leaving her standing there alone.

Oh, Greek God, you are learning.

Nathaly presses her lips and returns to her seat. I grab my phone and type a text to Ares.

Good move. I am proud of my friend. :)

His response comes quickly.

Ares: You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Me: Pffft, nope, not a bit.

Ares: You will fall, "friend".

Me: Nah and I'm your friend, the quotation marks are not needed.

Ares: My "friend" who moans in my ear and asks for more when I fuck her hard.

A shiver runs through me and I feel the heat invade my face.

Me: Very inappropriate, my friend.

Ares: Inappropriate are the things I want to do to you, you have no idea.

Phew, it's hot in here all of a sudden. Like the coward I am, I don't answer him, I'm afraid of what he might say to me.

Time is flying by and it's time to go. I can't believe it's three in the morning. In the parking lot, everyone starts to say goodbye. The cold outside didn't sit with Samy very well when we leave; Marco is holding her and helps her into the car.

We all get into the car and Ares starts the engine and I am grateful for the heat. Marco blows on Samy's face.

"Hey, Samantha."

"I think I'm drunk." Samy says and bursts out laughing. I feel sorry for her.

Ares looks at her in the rearview mirror.

"Do you think so?"

Marco sighs, holding her in the back seat.

"We can't take her home like this, her mother would kill her."

"I know," Ares starts driving, "She'd better stay at my place".

I turn my head so quickly toward him that my neck hurts, and I give him an incredulous look.

Marco runs his hand through his hair.

"Yes, I will also stay at your house to help carry her."

Calm down, Raquel, they are friends.

Marco will stay there too, it's normal; they are friends staying at their friend's house.

But jealousy is eating me up inside. When we get to my house, I hesitate to get off, but I don't want to make a scene, especially in front of Marco.

Controlling myself, I fake a smile.

"Well, I hope you have a good night."

I open the car door, but Ares takes my hand and brings it to his lips.

"Trust me, witch."

I take a deep breath, I want to tell him that trust is something you earn, not something you ask for, but I swallow my words and get out of the car.

In the mild autumn chill, I watch the car disappear down the street.

#

ARES HIDALGO

"Ares, she won't get out of the car." Marco grunts in annoyance.

I close the driver's door and head for the back door. Samy is lying on her side on the seat, her legs dangling out of the car.

"Samy," I call her out and she looks at me. "You have to get out now."

"No," she murmurs, "everything is spinning."

"Come on, Samy," I say and carefully slip my hands under her legs and back to carry her. Marco closes the door behind me. We enter through the back of the house, Marco opens the doors for me. Samy clutches my neck tightly, murmuring.

"My dark prince."

Marco gives me a sad look when he hears her call me that. She has called me that since we were kids, according to her because I have always been there to save her, but what she has forgotten is that Marco has always been there for her too.

"I'm hungry." I take her to the guest rooms, because there's no way I'm going upstairs with her like that.

I get into the room and put her down, she staggers, but stands with help.

"You shouldn't have drunk so much."

She caresses her face awkwardly.

"I needed it."

Her black eyes meet mine and I know I shouldn't ask, but she expects me to.

"Why?"

She points to my chest.

"You know why."

Silence prevails between us for a few seconds, her expression grows sadder.

"Ares..."

"Huh?"

"You've been looking at your girlfriend all night, having a good time, you haven't even looked at me."

"Samantha..."

"And I was just watching you from afar, I've missed you so much," the plea in her voice makes me feel ashamed, I care about her, maybe not in the way she expects, but she is still very important to me. "Haven't you missed me even a little bit?"

I consider saying yes so as not to make her feel bad, but Raquel's face invades my mind, her smile, the way she wrinkles her face when she doesn't like something but doesn't want to say it, how I feel when she touches me. It's as if she's touching beyond my skin, as if with her hands she can reach into my heart and warm it. So, I don't respond, I don't want to give Samy false hopes when my heart belongs to Raquel.

Her black eyes fill with tears and I run my hand through my hair.

"Don't cry."

"You're an idiot. Did you know that?" the anger in her voice is sharp. "Why? Why did you have sex with me? Why did you play with me like all the others? I thought I was different, that you cared about me."

"Samy, I do care about you a lot."

"Bullshit! If you cared about me, you would never have let this go any further. You knew I had feelings for you, and if you didn't reciprocate, you shouldn't have let it go any further."

I approach her and try to reach for her with my hand, but she pulls away as if my touch is poisonous.

"Samantha..."

Tears fall freely down her cheeks.

"Why, Ares? Why did you kiss me that Christmas night? Why did you start something when you knew you felt nothing?"

"Samantha..."

"Tell me the truth for the first time in your life. Why?!"

"I was confused! I thought I had feelings for you, but I didn't! I'm sorry," the pain on her face makes my chest tighten. "I'm really sorry."

"You're sorry?" she lets out a tearful laugh. "How easy it is for you to say that, you destroy everything good around you and expect to fix it with "I'm sorry". That's not how life works, Ares. You can't go around hurting people and expecting forgiveness as if it's so simple."

"I know I'm fucked up, Samantha, but I..."

"You know you're fucked up, but you keep hurting people. You do nothing to change that."

"You don't know what you're talking about, I'm trying to be different."

"For her? You want to change for Raquel, don't you?"

"Yes."

She bites her lip.

"And... Couldn't you try that with me? Wasn't I enough for you?"

"It's not about that, Samantha. I just can't control the way I feel. I care about you a lot, but she's..." I pause, "she's.... What she makes me feel is... on another level."

A thick tear slides down her cheek.

"Do you love her?"

She looks so hurt, I don't want to hurt her anymore.

"You need to rest."

She nods and staggers to the bed, and she lies on her side facing in my direction, raising her hand beckoning me.

"Would you mind keeping me company until I fall asleep?"

I hesitate, but she looks so defeated that I can't hurt her anymore, so I lie down next to her, and our faces are a safe distance apart. She just looks at me, tears are rolling down the side of her face.

I caress her cheek.

"I'm sorry."

Her voice is weak.

"I love you so much it hurts."

It's the first time she tells me she loves me, but somehow her words don't surprise me, maybe I already knew.

She understands my silence and gives me a sad smile.

"I need to get away from you for a while, I need to get rid of these feelings. Because, as your best friend, I want to be happy for you, because you finally found someone who motivates you to change, someone who makes you happy, but these stupid feelings ruin everything."

"Take all the time you need, I'll be here when you get back."

She takes my hand.

"Do your best, Ares. You have a chance to be happy, don't ruin it, it's okay to open your heart, it doesn't make you weak. Don't be afraid."

"Afraid?" I let out a sarcastic laugh. "I'm terrified."

"I know," she squeezes my hand. "I know it's hard for you to trust people, but Raquel is a good girl."

"I know that, but I can't help feeling so fucking vulnerable," I sigh. "She has the power to destroy me, she could do it so easily if she wanted to."

"But she won't," she closes her eyes. "Good night, Ares."

I lean over and kiss her forehead.

"Good night, Samy."

--

Author's note: I just wanted to say how much I love Samantha. She's always been such a good friend to Ares, she needed to voice out her feelings to start moving on, she wants him to be happy even if it's not with her <3 We stan a mature queen. 

A.G.