Page 49 of Through My Window
Ares: Witch.
Really? Who says hello like that? Just him. Curious to know what he has to say, I answer curtly.
Me: What?
He takes a while, and I get more and more anxious.
Ares: Stop by my house when you can.
So he can use me again? No, thank you, I want to write back, but I don’t want to give him the pleasure of knowing how bad he made me feel.
Me: You’re crazy. Why would I do that?
Ares: You left something here.
Me: I told you I don’t want the phone.
Ares sends a photo.
When I open it, it’s a picture of his hand holding the silver chain my mom gave me when I was nine years old. It has a pendant with my name on it. Instinctively, my hand goes up to my neck to confirm that I don’t have it. I have never taken it off. How did I not realize that I didn’t have it? Maybe I was too busy with my postdeflowering spite.
The thought of seeing Ares fills me with both rage and excitement. That jerk has spread his instability to me. Regaining a bit of my dignity, I type a reply.
Me: You can send it to school with Apolo on Monday.
Ares: Are you afraid to see me?
Me: I don’t want to see you.
Ares: Liar.
Me: Think what you want.
Ares: Why are you angry?
Me: And you dare to ask. Just send it with Apolo and leave me alone.
Ares: I don’t understand your anger, we both know how much you liked it. I remember your moans clearly.
I blush and look away. I feel stupid because he can’t see me.
Me: Ares, I don’t want to talk to you.
Ares: You’re going to be mine again, Witch.
A sinful shiver runs through me.No, no, Raquel, don’t fall. I don’t answer him and leave him on seen. He writes again.
Ares: If you want your chain, come and get it. I’m not going to send it via anyone. I’ll wait for you here, bye.
I growl in frustration. If Mom finds out I lost that necklace, she’ll kill me. After showering and putting on a casual floral print summer dress, I go to rescue my chain. I have my strategy laid out so I won’t fall for his games. I won’t even go into his house. I’ll wait for him to bring the chain outside.
Project Chain Rescue Without Losing My Dignity Along the Way: activated.
EIGHTEEN
The Party
I can’t believe I’m back at the Hidalgos’, and it hasn’t even been a week. In my defense, if Mom finds out that I don’t have the chain, she’ll be so upset with me that she will force me to watch all the nighttime soap operas with her. Pure torture, I know.
