- 42 -

I allow myself to enjoy Ares' hug for five seconds.

Although I know I can't expect him to change overnight, he should at least try a little harder. Telling me that he would fight for me, starting from zero, yes, it was nice. However, ignoring me for a whole week? Bad move. It just seemed like he had trouble using logic or maybe he's never had to use it with girls.

Experience...

Maybe Ares has never had to make an effort in any way with women, one look from those beautiful eyes, and that sexy smile he has, is more than enough to get any girl. I know, including myself, but I'm trying to get out of that pile.

Ignoring the protests of my heart, going against my stupid hormones that I know are rejoicing in his nearness, I step back, pushing him away from me. When my gaze meets his, I can see the confusion swimming in them. This is so hard.

I clear my throat.

"What are you doing here?"

He furrows his brows at the icy tone of my voice.

"I came to see you."

I smile at him.

"Well, you saw me, I gotta go," I turn on my heels and start walking back to my friends.

Ares grabs my arm, turning me towards him again.

"Hey, wait."

"Yes?"

His eyes inspect my face, as if he were analyzing every detail.

"You're mad at me."

"No."

"Yes, you are," he gives me that crooked smile I like so much. "You look cute when you're angry."

I stop breathing for a second. What am I supposed to say to that?

Be strong, Raquel. Think about that time you decided to give up chocolate because it caused you so much acne; it was hard, but you did it.

Ares is chocolate.

You don't want acne.

But it is so delicious.

Acne hurts!

Not knowing what to say, I give him another simple smile.

"I'm sorry, witch, it was quite a week..." his smile fades, "quite a complicated one."

His playful countenance disappears and is replaced by sadness that he struggles to hide. I want to ask him if something happened, but I have a feeling he won't tell me.

"It's okay, you don't owe me any explanations, we're just friends after all."

The moment my words come out of my mouth, and I see the impact they have on him, I regret them. I hurt him, and that was not my purpose, I just wanted to make a joke to calm the tension. Ares licks his lips as if trying to overlook what I just said.

"Well, actually, I came looking for you, I want to go out with you today."

"I already have plans, I'm sorry."

Ares glances behind me.

"With them?"

"Yes, we're going to celebrate passing an exam." Ares raises an eyebrow.

"And you don't usually pass?"

Not with such a high score as today.

"Hey, it's not that, it's just... It's Friday. You know, we make up any reason to celebrate."

"Can't you make up an excuse and come with me?"

"No, you should have told me in advance."

"Raquel!" Carlos shouts my name in a hurry. Ares looks at him, from head to toe.

"Who is he?"

"A classmate, I really must go," clinging to my self-control I give him one last smile and walk away from him.

I'm about to catch up with my friends when Ares appears walking beside me, and I give him a strange look.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm coming with you," he informs me as if it were a fact. "I am your 'friend'," again he makes those quotation marks with his fingers. "So I may as well be part of a celebration of friends."

I narrow my eyes and open my mouth to protest, but Ares steps forward to greet Dani. He introduces himself to Carlos, giving him a firm handshake.

Dani gives me a look of what the hell...? And I answer her with a confused shrug.

"Well, where are we going?" Ares asks, smiling with his charisma at full volume. Dani smiles back.

"We thought about going to the café on Main Street."

Ares gives us a confused look.

"Do you celebrate with coffee?" Dani arches an eyebrow.

"Yes. Any problem with that?"

He raises his hands peacefully.

"No, none, but I have alcohol in my house," Ares offers.

Ha! Trying to take me to your territory, Greek god?

Nice try.

Carlos' face lights up.

"Really?"

Ares nods, finding an ally.

"Yes, and of very good quality."

Carlos looks at us.

"Shall we go?"

Dani and I exchange glances, but she saves the day.

"No, thank you, we prefer coffee."

Carlos pouts.

"But..." Dani grabs his arm, digging her nails into it. "Ow! Coffee! Yes, coffee is better."

Ares looks disappointed.

"Well, I guess I'll have to drink alone with Apolo."

Dani looks at him suddenly.

"Apolo?"

He puts his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Yes, he must be so lonely at home."

Dani hesitates and I can see that now she really wants to go to Ares' house.

How manipulative!

He bought Carlos with alcohol and Dani with Apolo. His moves are smart, I must admit. Dani doesn't say anything, keeps her eyes on the ground. I know she won't say she wants to go out loud, because she will always put our friendship first, as she always has. She's leaving the decision in my hands and that's why I love her so much.

Carlos and Dani want to go and that makes me feel like the bad guy if I say no, and Ares knows that. He is very smart to manipulate, but not to make things the right way with me. That's where his brain fails him.

"All right, let's go with him," I report, surrendering.

My house is at the back of theirs, I just have to go with them, let them get comfortable and leave. It sounds like an easy plan, but every time I've gone to Ares' house, I've ended up in bed with him, or on the couch. There's something inside me that tells me this time will be different.

See it as a challenge, Raquel.

On the way to Ares' house, I call my mother telling her that I'm going to study with Dani at a café. The tension with her has dropped a bit, but I still have to let her know where I am from time to time.

The car smells of him and, although I try to ignore what his closeness provokes in me, my body doesn't lie and can't control its reactions. His house is still as elegant as I remember it. Carlos keeps talking about everything he sees and Dani meticulously arranges her hair when she thinks no one is looking.

A smiling Apolo comes out of the hallway and waves at us, looking so cute with his messy hair, a loose unbuttoned plaid shirt revealing a white t-shirt inside and jeans.

"Oh, Apolo," Carlos greets him, "Do you live here?"

"He is my brother," Ares explains.

The red-haired maid comes down the stairs, carrying an empty basket.

"Good evening."

We all return the greeting cordially. Ares orders her in a gentle voice.

"Claudia, prepare some drinks and take them to the playroom, please."

Oh, no, not the playroom.

Is he doing it on purpose?

I look at him for a second and his mischievous grin tells me yes.

Dani and Apolo greet each other awkwardly and I wonder what has been going on between those two lately. I need to catch up. We all go into the playroom, and it's still as much the same as I remember it: the big TV, the different video game consoles, the couch: the couch where I lost my virginity.

The passion, the wildness, the sensations. His lips on mine, his hands all over my body, the friction of our naked bodies. Unconsciously, my fingers touch my lips. I miss him and it's torture to have him so close and have to keep the distance between us.

"Remembering something?" his voice brings me back to reality and I lower my hand as fast as I can to turn around in front of Ares.

"No." My eyes search for the others, who are turning on the console and setting everything up while laughing at something Carlos said.

"Don't lie," He gets a little closer. "I remember that night when you came in here, too."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I feign insanity and step aside to pass him and head to the group.

As I pass by him, he takes my arm and stops me.

"Every time I sit on that couch, I remember you: naked, virgin, wet for me."

I swallow thickly, letting go off him.

"Stop saying such things."

"Why? Are you afraid to get wet and let me fuck you again?"

I say nothing and walk away from him. Suddenly it's hot in here.

Virgin of the Abs, why do you make it so difficult for me?

"Uh, are you okay, princess?" Carlos asks me when I join the group. "You're all red."

"Princess?" Ares asks, reaching us.

Carlos grins like a fool.

"Yes, she is my princess, the owner of this humble heart."

And that was how the most uncomfortable minute of silence of the day was created. Ares crosses his arms over his chest, giving Carlos a murderous look.

Dani and I look at each other not knowing what to do. Carlos keeps smiling innocently.

Apolo notices the tension.

"Oh, Carlos, you are always so funny."

"Let's play," Dani changes the subject.

Surprisingly, Ares plays along.

"Sure, how about if Carlos and I have the first duel?"

Carlos points to Ares and then to himself.

"You and me?"

"Yes, but a duel without a prize is no fun."

Carlos gets excited.

"What is the prize?"

Ares looks at me and I expect the worst.

"If you win, you can take three original games from my collection."

Carlos' face lights up so easily.

"What if I lose?"

"You call Raquel by her name from now on. No princess or whatever you're used to calling her."

The coldness in his voice, in his request, reminded me of how icy this guy can be. Carlos laughs loudly, surprising us all. No one says anything, I don't think anyone moves. I open my mouth to tell him that he has no right to meddle in my life and what others call me, but Carlos beats me to do so.

"No."

"What?"

"If it's like that, then I won't play."

Ares lowers his hands.

"Are you afraid of losing?"

"No, I'm a very funny person, but what I feel for her is no joke to me."

Ares clenches his jaw.

"What you feel about her?"

"That's right, and it may not be reciprocated, but at least I have the courage to shout it out to everyone and I don't go around manipulating and creating stupid games to get what I want."

Oh.

Ares' knuckles turn white from how hard he is clenching his fists. Carlos smiles.

"Men fight for what they want openly, children act this way," he says, pointing to Ares.

Ares holds back and it seems to be so hard for him. Without a word, he turns around and walks out of the playroom pulling the door behind him. I let out a sigh of relief. Carlos smiles at me as always.

Dani sits on the couch next to us.

"You're crazy! I thought I was going to die of a heart attack."

Apolo has an expression I can't quite make out. Is he angry? For the first time I can't read his sweet face.

"You were lucky, you shouldn't have provoked him like that."

Carlos stands up.

"I am not afraid of your brother."

Apolo smiles and it's not sweet, it's that cheeky grin the Hidalgo's wear when they don't like something.

"You talk a lot about maturity, but you just provoked someone while being aware of their strong emotions to make yourself look like the mature one and the victim. Who is the one playing stupid games? I'll be right back."

He leaves through the same door through which his brother disappeared. Regardless of who is right, Apolo will always be on Ares' side, they are brothers after all.

The enigmatic Hidalgo brothers.