Through my Window by ARIANA Godoy ,Chapter 35,The Friend – RAQUEL –

What a night! Everything has become so complicated since Ares came into my life. He’s been like a little hurricane, destroying everything in his path. He’s had his sweet moments, but those are overshadowed by all the times he’s screwed up. How can he be sweet one second and then so cold? I sigh, and my breath is visible coming out of my mouth. It’s getting really chilly. Maybe leaving the bar wasn’t my brightest idea, but anything was better than standing there holding it all in. I try to call Dani again, but there’s no answer. The tree behind me feels hard against my back, so I move away from it. And then I hear him. “Raquel!” Startled, I glance up the street and see Ares walking quickly toward me. His concern is evident on his face, but at this point I don’t want to care. I’d like to say I feel nothing when I see him, but I do. When he reaches me, he wraps me in a tight hug. “I thought I wouldn’t find you.” I stand still without raising my arms to return his embrace. He pulls away from me and takes my face in both hands.
“Are you all right?” I don’t say anything, and I just take his hands off my face. He looks hurt, but he lets me. “You’re really upset, aren’t you?” “No. I’m disappointed.” The coldness in my own voice surprises us both. “I . . .” He scratches the back of his head, messing up his black hair. “I’m sorry.” “Okay.” He frowns. “Okay? Raquel, talk to me, I know you have a million things to say.” I shrug my shoulders. “Not really.” “You’re lying, come on, insult me, shout at me, but don’t be silent. Your silence is . . . agonizing.” “What do you want me to say?” He turns his back to me, holding his head as if he doesn’t know what to say. When he turns to me again, his voice is soft. “I’m really sorry.” A sad smile forms on my mouth. “That’s not enough.” “I know. I know it isn’t. Just . . . give me another chance.” My sadness grows. “That’s what this has become, an endless cycle of opportunities. You hurt me, you apologize, and I come back to you like it’s nothing.” “Raquel . . .” “Maybe it’s my fault for having high expectations when it comes to you.” A grimace of pain crosses his face. I turn around and start to walk away. I don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m going, but I need to get away from him. “Raquel,” he calls me back. “Wait.” He grabs my arm, turning me toward him once more. “This is all new to me, and that’s not an excuse. I’ve never . . . tried anything serious with anyone before. I don’t know what to do. I know it seems obvious to a lot of people, but it’s not to me.”
I wiggle out of his grip. “It’s common sense, Ares. You have the highest IQ in the county, but you can’t figure out that it would be a bad idea to take me to a place where there are two girls you’ve fucked?” “Two girls I’ve fucked?” He looks confused. “Oh, Natalie . . .” He really didn’t remember? “How do you know . . . ? Ah, shit, I forgot about that. It was a one-night thing, nothing important.” “Of course.” “What else did she tell you?” I lift my chin. “She also told me that you used to make fun of me with your friends . . . about my crush on you.” He doesn’t seem surprised. “That was long before I talked to you. We hadn’t even met.” “And I’m supposed to believe you?” “Why wouldn’t you believe me? I’ve never lied to you.” “Of course, I forgot that honesty is one of your qualities.” His blue eyes are full of sincerity. “I know that was sarcasm, but I’m really not lying to you. Natalie never meant anything to me.” I cross my arms over my chest. “And what am I to you?” He looks down. “You know what you are to me.” “After tonight I have no idea.” He looks up, his eyes are shining with a feeling that makes my heart race. “You’re . . . my witch. The girl who cast a spell on me. Who makes me want to be different, to try new things that are scary but worth it, because of you.” The tickling in my stomach is unbearable. “Nice words, but they’re not enough. I need facts. I need you to show me that you really want to be with me.” “I’m learning. What else do you want me to do?” He looks so vulnerable right now.
“That’s on you. You’re used to getting everything the easy way, but not this time. If you want to be with me, you’ll have to fight for it and earn it. We’ll start as friends.” “As friends? Friends don’t feel the way you and I feel. They don’t desire each other the way we do.” “I know, but you need to earn things after all the times you’ve ruined everything.” He runs his hand over his face. “Are you telling me I won’t be able to kiss you or touch you?” I just nod. “Are you leaving me in the friend zone?” “No, not really. Well, yes, but with the possibility of getting out if you learn.” An ironic smile fills his lips. “No one has ever left me in the friend zone.” “There’s always a first time.” He gets closer to me. “What if I don’t agree to be your friend?” “Well,” it takes all my strength to continue, “then, unfortunately, you are out of my life.” “Wow, I really hurt you this time.” A car passes by on the street next to us, the streetlights cast shadows on the side of his face. It’s getting colder. “Yes, or no?” I press. “You know very well that I’ll take anything you offer.” He runs his hand through his hair. “All right, we’ll do it your way, but on one condition.” “What condition?” “During this period of ‘friendship,’” he makes quotation marks with his fingers, “you can’t date other guys; you’re still my girl.” A couple walks past us, laughing, and continue down the street. I wait and then whisper: “Why are you always so possessive?” “I just want to make it clear that, although we’re starting over as friends, that doesn’t mean you’re going to be able to date other guys. Got it?”
“Friends don’t have those rights.” “Raquel . . .” “All right, Mr. Jealous, no dating other people, but that applies to you too.” “And it’s okay to play dirty.” My eyebrows almost come together. “What do you mean?” “Just because I’m your ‘friend,’” he makes quotation marks with his fingers again, “doesn’t mean I can’t try to seduce you.” He extends his hand. “Do we have a deal?” I nod and squeeze his hand. “Yes.” He lifts my hand and brings it to his lips, giving it a wet kiss without taking his eyes off mine. I swallow and free my hand. He gives me a crooked smile. “What do you want to do? Do you want me to take you home or do you want to go back in there?” I debate the options in my head. I decide to go back in just to test Ares, to see how he’s going to deal with this situation now that he’s realized he didn’t handle it the right way. With a lot more confidence, I go back inside the club with him. The table is almost empty, with the exception of Natalie and Samy, who are talking. I guess the others have gone dancing. I sit next to Natalie and Ares sits on my other side. She gives me an annoyed look, but I just smile at her. Volví, perra. I’m back, bitch, as Dani would say. “Do you want something to drink?” Ares asks in my ear. “A margarita,” I reply. A short while later, a margarita glass appears in front of me, and Ares sits back down next to me. Electronic music begins to play, and Natalie gets up, moving to the beat. She walks past me and stops in front of Ares.
“Do you want to dance?” She holds out her hand. I take a sip of my drink, faking a smile. “No.” He doesn’t even give her an explanation. “Oh, don’t be boring. Why not?” Ares shrugs and takes my hand. “Because the only one I want to dance with is Raquel.” I didn’t expect that. Natalie goes back to her place. Ares squeezes my hand and forces me to stand up so we can dance. This is going to get interesting. We push through the crowd until we’re in the middle of the mass of bodies moving to the rhythm. I’m nervous; I can’t deny it. It’s the first time we’ve danced together. Ares stands in front of me, waiting. He looks so perfectly beautiful under the different colored lights. I bite my lower lip and start to move, and he follows my lead, pressing against me. I put my hands around his neck, moving my hips gently against him. I can feel his breath on my face, his body against mine. Being so close to him is intoxicating, and I realize that I may be underestimating the effect he has on me with us starting out as friends. Ares rests his hands on my waist, moving with me. The sexual tension between us is palpable, like an electric current coursing through our bodies. He turns me around and hugs me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist. He rests his chin on my shoulder and places a soft kiss on my neck. His lips feel wet and warm against my skin. I don’t know how much time passes, but I don’t want this moment to end. I want to stay like this with him so that nothing changes, and nothing gets ruined again because I can’t bear it. The music changes and gnash’s “i hate u, i love u” plays, and I turn to face him and sing it with him. He looks so cute, singing, looking into my eyes.
Ares takes my hand and makes me do a dramatic move. I burst out laughing, and he keeps singing. The world around us disappears; it’s just him and me, singing and dancing like idiots in the middle of the crowd. A sense of peace and joy pervades my heart. I want to believe in him. I’ll give him one last shot to win my love. I’ll be cheering for the idiot Greek god who stole my heart.