Joshua has always been easy to read, the opposite of Ares. Even now when I’m supposed to be in control of the situation, I don’t know what Ares is thinking, or what he wants, or how I’m supposed to interpret his silence. I wish I could read Ares the same way I can read Joshua. It’s understandable, though, because I’ve had a lifetime of knowing Joshua, whereas with Ares it’s only been a few months.
Time . . .
Is that what I need to understand this man?
“Raquel?” Dani waves her hand in front of my eyes. “Are we going to accept this or not?”
I hesitate for a moment, but there’s no point in turning it away. Joshua won’t know if we use it or not. “We’ll accept it.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon reading the summary and studying for the test.
Friday
“We passed!” Dani shouts, checking the grades on the site.
“Ahhh!” I jump up and hug her tightly as we spin around like crazy.
We separate, scream, and hug each other again. We’re still at school even though the last class is over. We were waiting to see if the teacher would post the grades from this morning’s test.
“What’s all the fuss?” Carlos appears at our side.
We separate again, and Dani pinches his cheeks. “Leech! We passed the Lit exam.”
“Ow!” Carlos breaks free, stroking his cheeks. “Really? We need to celebrate; it’s on me.”
“For the first time, you say something intelligent,” Dani gives him five, surprising us both. She must be in a very good mood to accept an invitation from Carlos.
Joshua comes out of one of the classrooms and walks in our direction. He’s wearing his backpack on one shoulder, and a hooded sweater, with his unruly brown hair escaping from his hat. His honey-colored eyes meet mine, and, for a moment, his steps waver as if he doesn’t know what to do, but then he continues walking.
Carlos opens his mouth to say something, but Dani grabs his arm and shakes her head. Joshua passes me on one side, lowering his gaze. I know I should at least say thank you, but the words don’t want to come out of my mouth. Will I ever be able to forgive him? Am I being hypocritical for giving Ares so many chances and not being able to give my best friend a second chance? These are questions to which I still don’t have an answer. Dani seems to read my mind and turns to him.
“Hey,” she calls. Joshua stops and turns to us slightly. “Thank you.”
He just smiles at us and continues on his way. However, I can’t help but notice the sadness in his eyes, and, for the first time, I put myself in his shoes. Joshua has no other friends other than Dani and me. Socializing has never been his forte. People only approach him for notes or help. He’s always been in his world of comics, books, and video games.
He must be so lonely now . . .
Dani appears at my side and takes my hand, squeezing it.
“He made his own decisions,” she says. I look at her. How can she read my mind so well? “You’re having a hard time because of him. It’s okay if you feel bad, but don’t feel like you have to forgive him, take your time.”
I manage to smile, and, taking one last look down the hallway where he disappeared, I try to focus on the fact that I passed the test.
“I think we should go,” I tell them.
Carlos smiles from ear to ear and hugs me sideways. “To celebrate with the owner of my heart!”
Dani grabs him by the ear. “Don’t get clingy, or you won’t go with us.”
“Ouch! Ouch! Got it.”
We leave school, teasing Carlos because he didn’t pass and yet he’s going to celebrate with us. I’m laughing when I cross the corner into the parking lot, and my eyes fall on a black car that I recognize.
I halt in my tracks. Dani and Carlos continue on ahead for a few steps until they realize that I’ve stopped walking. Dani gives me a confused look.
“What’s wrong?”
My poor heart feels him before my eyes can see him, and it begins to beat desperately. I stop breathing, clenching my sweaty hands at my sides. My stomach feels funny. God, I had forgotten the effect that boy has on me.
And then it happens.
Ares gets out of the car, closes the door, and leans his back against it. He puts his hands inside the pockets of the black leather jacket he’s wearing. He looks at me and the world around me disappears as those blue eyes meet mine.
I missed you so much . . .
I want to run to him, jump up, and hug him tight until he complains. I want to take his face in my hands and kiss him until I run out of air. I want to feel him against me, with his warmth enveloping me.