Page 108 of Through You
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to be with you, idiot. I’ve always wanted to be with you.”
“But you rejected me that day.” It still pains me to say it.
She yawns as I wait for an explanation.
“Claudia?”
“I didn’t turn you down because I wanted to. I had to.”
I lean forward, and sit up straight. I cup her face with both hands and force her to look at me. “What are you talking about?”
Her eyes are half-closed. “Your mother . . .” she begins in a whisper, “she threatened me. She told me that if I didn’t reject you and push you away she would kick me and my mom out of the house.”
The blood boils in my veins, and I clench my jaw.
“I couldn’t let that happen, Artemis. My mom and I couldn’t land on the street again. You understand, don’t you?”
I pull her close. Of course I understand. Her mother means everything to her, and I would never be angry that she chose her over me. I’m furious, but not with Claudia. I’m mad that she was forced to choose. The fact that my mother put her in that position turns my stomach. And now everything makes sense. I always felt that Claudia reciprocated my feelings. It was why her rejection rattled me. I didn’t understand how I could be so wrong when it was blatantly obvious that she liked me. But my mother’s intrusion ruined everything.
How much more are you going to destroy for us, Mother? Doyou even care in the slightest about us? Tomorrow, I will make youlisten to me.
Claudia sighs as she falls asleep in my arms, and I kiss the side of her head. I guess we’re destined to be together, because in spite of all these obstacles, she’s here in my arms, just as it was meant to be.
Twenty-nine
Act natural, Claudia. Pretend you forgot it.
CLAUDIA
A light knocking on the wood panel wakes me up. I open my eyes, expecting to find the ceiling of my room. I furrow my eyebrows when I realize it’s not above me. My head is. I immediately sit up, and take stock of my surroundings.
Artemis’s room? Wait. . . How did I . . . ?
“Artemis, are you in there? I’m coming in.”
The sound of Apolo’s voice makes me curse under my breath.
I barely have time to jump out and hide behind the bed. From under the bed I watch Apolo’s feet parked by the open door.
“That’s strange. I thought he was here.”
Apolo leaves and closes the door. I let out a long breath and stand up. However, the youngest of the Hidalgos seems to have remembered something and he finds me frozen in place when he opens the door a second time. Apolo’s small brown eyes open wide, and his mouth forms the shape of a wideO. I clear my throat. I’m pretty sure my hair is a mess and that I look like I recently woke up.
It’s obvious that I slept here—my smudged makeup and messy outfit from last night are very telling.
“Good morning.” I wave to him, feeling awkward.
Apolo snaps out of his shock and runs his hand through his wet hair. He just showered, and is wearing a white shirt with a pair of jeans. He has his towel hanging around his neck.
“Good morning . . . I—” He coughs a little. “I needed to ask Artemis something.”
“Aah. He must be downstairs, or maybe he already left for work.”
I have no idea what the time is, but if Apolo is still here and not at school, it means that it’s still early.
“Then . . . I’ll go . . . downstairs.”
