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RAQUEL

3 MONTHS LATER

The eyes are the mirror of the soul....

Where have I heard that before? It doesn't matter, I just know how true that phrase is, I never imagined I could see so much just by looking into someone's eyes, it's like I'm reading their biography.

Ares doesn't say anything, he just looks at me, the deep blue of his eyes looking so bright with the morning sun reflecting in them. I don't know how long it's been since we woke up, we're lying on our sides, looking into each other's eyes.

His hand rests on the side of my face, his thumb caressing my cheek. I wish I could stop time.

To stay like this forever, without having to face the world or worry about anything else.

I realize that happiness is not a perpetual state, it's just perfect little moments.

Ares closes his eyes, and kisses me on the forehead. When he pulls away, the emotions in his eyes are as clear as water: love, passion. It makes me remember our beginning when I couldn't decipher him at all.

A new emotion settles in the pit of my stomach: fear. When something is so perfect, the dread that something could ruin it can be very aggravating.

The alarm on his cell phone interrupts our moment, Ares moves to grab it from the nightstand and turn off the alarm, and turns to me again.

"We have to go."

"Arg!" I shout. "Remind me why I have to study."

Ares stands up, and stretches.

"Because you want to be a psychologist and help people and for that you need to finish high school."

That makes me smile like a fool.

"Good motivation," I get out of bed too, I just have his shirt on. "I'll let you be my first patient if you promise I'll be yours."

The good mood vanishes into thin air, Ares looks away without responding, and starts walking towards his bathroom. I furrow my eyebrows, but say nothing; the subject of his university studies has become sensitive for the past month. He has to talk to his parents, make a decision on which college to apply to, as the application deadlines for many colleges are passing.

After watching him disappear behind the bathroom door, and listening to the shower, I look for my backpack which is next to a small library that Ares has with books from school. I take advantage of the days when mom is on shift to come and stay with him, so I bring my school bag with clothes so I won't be late for school in the morning.

At first, it was awkward for me, I was embarrassed to be with Ares' parents and his siblings, but as time went on I realized that this house spends more time empty than with people, and when they are home, they tend to be locked in their own worlds or, in this case, rooms.

The one I have interacted with quite a bit has been Claudia. She and I simply have chemistry, we get along very well and, although at first glance she may seem like a cold and closed girl, she is actually very sweet.

These three months have been wonderful. Ares has behaved like a prince, we've hung out, spent time with my friends and his friends, enjoyed wonderful sex almost every day. We haven't had any fights so far and I thank our Virgin of Abdominals for that. I think I deserve this period of peace after all I went through in the beginning.

I'm taking my clothes out of my backpack and put them on the table where Ares places his laptop. I see several envelopes next to it, I sort through them to put them behind the laptop when a stamp on one of them catches my eye: University of North Carolina. I recognize it because that was the university I applied to.

I press my lips together, confused, Ares has never been interested in that university, he always told me he would like to study in one of the Ivy League. Curious, I pull out the paper inside because the envelope has already been opened and my heart stops.

Thank you for your interest in our Management program for the semester, we will be reviewing your information and qualifications and will notify you our decision.

What the fuck...?

Management? University of North Carolina?

At that moment Ares comes out of the bathroom, with a towel around his waist while with the other one he is drying his hair.

"You can go in now, I..." he stops when he sees me with the paper in my hand.

"UNC? Management?" I show him the paper.

"I was going to tell you..."

"Did you apply to UNC? Management? What did I miss?"

"Raquel..."

"What happened to Medicine? Princeton? Yale? Harvard? What happened?" I don't know why I'm so upset. Ares twists his lips, looking away. I'm upset that he's giving up.

"I have to be realistic, Raquel."

"Realistic?"

He throws the towel aside and runs his hand over his face.

"Management or law, that's what my family needs"

I can't believe I'm hearing him say that.

"What about what you need?"

He ignores my question.

"It's the same college you applied to. Aren't you glad to know we'll be together?"

"Don't try to make this about me, this is about you, about what you want for your life."

"This is what I want for my life, to be someone useful for my family and to be by your side, that's all I want."

"No."

Ares raises an eyebrow.

"No?"

"You're just taking the comfortable path, you're giving up without even trying and taking refuge in the thought that at least we'll be together."

"At least? I didn't know being together was so unimportant to you."

"Again, don't try to make this about me or about us."

"How can it not be about us? If I apply to those other colleges, do you know how far away we'll be? I'm going to have to move to another state, Raquel."

I know...

I've thought about it so many times...

But I can't be selfish...

"I know, but you'll be studying what you want to study, following your dream, that's enough for me."

"Don't give me that shit," he comes closer to me. "You want us to split up?"

"I just want you to do what you want to do."

"This is what I want to do, this is what I'll do, this is my decision."

I run my hands through my hair.

"It's not. Why are you so stubborn?"

I see him hesitate, his eyes are on mine.

"Because I love you," I stop breathing. "And just imagining being away from you tears me apart."

"Me too..."

I move closer to him, and take his face in my hands.

"I love you too, and because I love you, I want you to be happy and achieve everything you want in this life."

He puts his forehead on mine.

"I can't be happy without you."

"I'm not going anywhere, we'll find a way, long distance relationship or whatever." Pause. "I'd rather do that than see you every day at a university that has never caught your attention, studying something you hate. I don't want to see you suffer that way."

"My family won't support me."

"Have you talked to them? At least try," I give him a short kiss. "Please?"

"Okay."

His lips meet mine, in a soft kiss but filled with so many emotions that my heart races. I reciprocate, running my hands around his neck, kissing him deeply. My hormones rage, feeling his wet torso against me, and it doesn't help that he's only wearing a towel. Our mouths move harder against each other, brushing and licking, so I press my breasts against him with desire.

Ares lifts me up, sitting me on the computer table and reaching between my legs, and I interrupt the kiss breathlessly.

"We're going to be late."

"A quickie."

He kisses me again, lifting up his shirt that I'm wearing, with no underwear. The towel falls to the floor and Ares pulls me tighter against him, forcing me to spread my legs wide for him. I'm on the pill, now, so we don't use condoms anymore.

Before I can say anything to him, he penetrates me, and a moan of surprise escapes from me, but is stifled by his lips. His movements are rough and deep, but they feel fucking good. I hold tight to his neck, as he thrusts into me, the table crashes against the wall with each thrust.

Our kisses become uncontrolled and wet, it's not long before we both reach orgasm. Breathing fast, we embrace. Having so much sex has its advantages, we know each other intimately, we know where to touch, lick or how to move to reach orgasm.

"Ares, let's..." Oh, shit... Apolo turns his back as he comes in without warning.

Quickly, Ares picks up the towel and covers himself, stepping in front of me to cover me. Apolo continues to stare into the distance.

"We're going to be late, I'll wait for you downstairs."

As soon as he leaves, I burst out laughing, tapping Ares' shoulder.

"I told you to close that door."

I know, we've become cheeky and shameless. Ares gives me a short kiss and carries me towards the bathroom.

"Come on, we'll save time by bathing together," I let out a laugh, but bury my face in his neck.

#

ARES HIDALGO

"Well? "My father begins, holding a glass of whiskey in his hand. Artemis is sitting next to him, checking a chart on his tablet. My mother is on the other side, looking at me curiously. Apolo is next to me, giving me the occasional worried glance.

We are in the home study, on the small couch to one side of my father's large desk. I called this family meeting as soon as I got home from school. I'm not going to lie, my hands are sweaty and I don't know where the hell all my saliva went. My throat is so dry it hurts.

"Ares?" My mother calls me, everyone is waiting for me.

I can't give up without a fight, Raquel's disappointed face comes to my mind, motivating me.

"As you know, it's time to apply to colleges." Artemis puts down his tablet.

"Do you need help with that? I can make some calls."

"No, I...," Shit, I didn't think this would be so hard; the moment I let those words out of my mouth, I would expose myself, my vulnerability would come out, and I don't want to get hurt.

"Ares, son," my father encourages me. "Say what you have to say."

Summoning my courage, I clench my hands at my sides.

"I want to study medicine."

Sepulchral silence.

I feel my heart has been exposed, thrown in the middle of everyone, begging not to be hurt.

Artemis laughs.

"Are you kidding me?"

I want to chicken out and say yes, but I can't do that, not when I've come this far.

"No, I'm not kidding."

My father sets his glass of whiskey aside.

"Medicine?"

My mother cuts in.

"I thought we'd been clear about what the family needs, Ares. Your father needs another manager or head of legal in his companies."

My father backs her up.

"I told you we're opening another branch office in a few years, we're expanding and I need my children to be part of it. It's our family legacy."

"I know, and believe me it hasn't been easy for me to tell you this today; I don't want to be ungrateful. You have given me everything, but...." I speak with my heart in my hand. "I really want to be a doctor."

My mother clicks her tongue.

"Does this have to do with that thought as a child that you wanted to save your grandpa? Son, he's always had the best doctors, you don't have to become one for him."

Artemis puts his hands on his knees.

"Just apply to the Law or Management school I mentioned to you the other day."

"No," I shake my head, "This isn't a whim or because of my grandpa, I really want to be a doctor, I don't want to study management, let alone law."

My mother crosses her arms over her chest.

"And you're just going to put aside your family's needs? Don't be ungrateful."

"I just want to be happy," I mutter. "I want to study what I want," Artemis gives me an incredulous look.

"Even if that includes turning your back on your family?"

"I'm not..."

"No." My father replies. "We've all made sacrifices in this family, Ares. Do you think Artemis wanted to study management? No, but he did it for his family, we have what we have because we've been able to put aside what we want for what we need as a family."

That hurts.

"Really? How happy are you, Artemis?" my older brother gives me a cold look, and I look at my father. "Or are you, Dad? What good is so much money if we can't do what we want?"

My mother reprimands me.

"Don't be reckless, your father has already given you an answer."

"I'm not going to study management." My father clenches his jaw.

"Then you won't study anything," his coldness surprises me. "Nothing will come out of my pocket for your studies if you don't study what we need. I will not support a son who does not support the good of his family."

Apolo speaks for the first time.

"Dad..."

A lump forms in my throat, but I don't let tears form in my eyes. I don't want to look weaker than I have already shown.

"Dad, I want to be happy," I don't care about my pride or that everyone is there watching me. "Without your support I can't make it, without money there is nothing I can do, colleges are very expensive. Please support me."

My father's expression does not waver.

"The answer is no, Ares."

My mother's betrayal has changed him so much, controlling the pain in my heart, I get up, and walk to the door. I can hear Apolo talking to my father in the background, pleading with him, but I just keep walking.

When I get to my room, Raquel rises from the bed, looking at me cautiously, and I thank whatever is up there for having her, who supports me unconditionally, who doesn't turn her back on me, who I can break down with without embarrassment.

My lips shake, my vision is blurred by tears, I don't have to hold on anymore, or pretend anymore. Shit, how it hurts, she was right. I want to study medicine with all my heart and now that dream has vanished in front of me.

Raquel walks towards me slowly as if she is worried that any sudden movement will push me away. Her mouth opens, but she says nothing.

When she reaches me she hugs me, and I bury my face in her neck, crying, and I'm not ashamed, not with her, who knows every side of me, who has believed in me, even more than my own father.

"Shhhh," she whispers, stroking my hair. "You'll be all right, it's going to be all right."

I hear the door open and immediately pull away from Raquel, wiping away my tears defensively. Apolo comes in, his eyes are red.

"You can count on me," he says with determination. "I want you to know that not everyone in this family is turning their back on you, count on me," he smiles at me, but the sadness in his eyes is obvious. "We'll look for scholarships, we'll work part time these months, we'll figure it out...," his voice breaks. "Because you deserve to be happy, and you're not alone. Do you understand?"

This idiot... I smile and nod.

"I understand."

He gives me a thumbs up.

"Good."

Raquel grabs both our hands, smiling at us.

"We'll figure it out."

I know it's not going to be easy and the odds are against it, but for some reason I believe these two crazy people, so I smile.

"We'll figure it out."