I follow him.
It’s getting darker and darker, and we’re moving away from the downtown area into a neighborhood of lonelier streets. This is a bad idea. What am I doing? I’ve never followed him before, but I’m interested to know why he lied to his friends. Although, honestly, that’s not my problem.
Ares doesn’t slow down and it’s as if he knows exactly where he’s going. I pass a small wooden bridge, and a cool night breeze brushes over me as dark clouds swallow what sunlight is left. I hug myself and moisten my lips. Where is he going in the dark?
I can no longer see the road, only a dirt path that takes us into the forest. My confusion is growing. I know that there’s nothing here but trees and darkness. Ares jumps over a small fence to the place I least expected to see—the town cemetery.
What the hell? I didn’t even know you could get to the town cemetery by going this way. And what’s he doing here? Oh no. My imagination is running wild again.
He’s a vampire, and he comes here to reflect on whether or not to kill his next victim. Or worse, he knows I’m following him and brought me here to suck my blood dry.
No, no, no, no, I can’t die a virgin.
Hesitantly, I hop over the small fence too. I can’t believe I’m following him into the cemetery. To say that this place is spooky is an understatement. The clouds that are still covering the sky paired with an occasional flash of lightning make me feel like I’m in a horror movie.
Being the fool that I am, I continue to follow my crush as he weaves through the graves. I consider that maybe he’s going to visit someone, but there haven’t been any deaths in Ares’s family that I can remember. Believe me, in a small town you hear about everything, and everyone knows everyone.
Ares walks faster, and I struggle to catch up with him, all while keeping a safe distance. We enter an area of mausoleums, which resemble small houses for those who are no longer with us. Ares turns a corner, and I hurry to follow him, but when I round the corner, he’s gone.
Shit.
Staying calm, I cross the little path between mausoleums, but I don’t see him anywhere. I swallow thickly, my heart beating like crazy in my chest. A flash of lightning followed by a rumble of thunder startles me. This was a really bad idea. What was I doing following him to the cemetery? I turn around. I need to get out of here before one of these souls decides to come after me.
This is what I get for being curious, I deserve it. Another flare of lightning, another crash of thunder, and my poor heart is on the verge of collapse. I’m passing in front of a crypt when I hear strange noises.
Shit, shit, shit.
I’m not going to stick around to find out who or what it is. I hurry, almost running, and of course, because I’m clumsy when I’m scared, I trip over a tree root and fall to my hands and knees. I sit on the back of my thighs, shaking my hands when I feel it. Something, or someone, is behind me. A shadow falls over the path in front of me, a shapeless silhouette.
I scream so loud that my throat burns. I get up fast and turn to start praying in defense and then I see him.
Ares.
FOUR
The Cemetery
Ares stands in front of me, his black jacket partially covering the green T-shirt I saw him wearing at practice, an umbrella over his head, and his free hand in the pocket of his black shorts. He looks like what he is: a rich, athletic young man.
He appears calm, as if he hasn’t just scared me so badly that I almost fainted. It’s the first time I’ve been this close to him. I underestimated his height, which is very intimidating, and his cold gaze only makes me more nervous. A faint sheen of sweat dampens the back of my neck, and I squeeze my hands at my sides. It’s surreal to face him after watching him from a distance for so long. I’m not ready even though I’ve pictured this moment a thousand times, but in none of those imaginary scenarios were we in a cemetery, nor was I sweaty and wet from the rain.
“You scared me,” I say, clutching at my chest.
He doesn’t speak but just stands there, silently watching me. Seconds go by that feel like years before a smirk unfolds on his full lips.
“You deserve it,” he replies.
“Why?”
“You know why.” He turns his back on me and walks back toward the mausoleums.
“Wait!”
Ares comes to a clearing and sits on a small headstone, putting his umbrella aside. I stand there watching him like an idiot, unsure of what to do with myself. He takes a lighter and a box of cigarettes out of his pocket and starts smoking. His eyes are on the cemetery sprawling around us, but he seems absorbed in his thoughts, smoke curling out from his mouth.