Page 174 of Through My Window
I should have exercised. Why am I so out of shape?
Because you don’t exercise, you idiot, you just said so.
In the distance I can see Ares’s silhouette. Marco passes me by, like The Flash. Once again, I hate soccer players.
My heart is about to burst out of my chest as Dani also catches up with me.
“Run, Raquel, run!”
“I’m not . . .” I run out of air. “Forrest Gump!”
Dani laughs. “I know, but I always wanted to say that. Seriously, run!” She flies by, and I give her the finger.
“What the fuck do you think I’ve been doing?” I mumble.
Samy, Apolo, and Joshua also pass me. Oh no, them too? I’m officially the last one. I’m about to panic when I see Ares come back for me. He grabs my hand to literally pull me after him. The dogs are barking loudly behind me, and I don’t even dare look.
How did we end up being chased by four dogs? Let’s just say alcohol and bad decisions played a part—with emphasis on bad decisions.
I had the bright idea to continue the celebration after the party at Ares’s house was over. My idea was to drink at my house and listen to music, but, of course, that wasn’t enough. Dani, my so-called best friend, came up with the wonderful idea to show us a lake she found last week while jogging or whatever. So, obviously, all of us with alcohol on the brain bravely let her bring us there. But what Dani didn’t know is that the lake isn’t open to the public because it’s not for the public. It’s private property, part of a ranch guarded by dogs.
And that’s how we ended up running for our lives.
With Ares’s help, I jump the fence—the fence that should have warned us initially that it wasn’t public land—and we leave the dogs on the other side. I fall to my knees dramatically, my heart pounding in my ears, in my head, everywhere.
“I’m . . .” I can only breathe heavily for a moment. “I’m going to die.”
Ares, Marco, and Apolo look like they haven’t just run for their lives. They’re not even sweating. To my relief, Dani and Samy are a few steps away from me, grunting and breathing just as heavily as I am. And Joshua, well, let’s just say Joshua is not in his right mind.
Samy can barely speak when she says: “I’m going to kill you, Daniela.”
“I . . .” Dani raises her hand in lieu of speech.
“That was . . . unbelievable!” Joshua says. We all give him a what-the-fuck look. He runs his hand over his face. “It was like a video game, live play, the adrenaline, wow.”
Okay, there’s a chance that some of us are still very drunk. Dani laughs out of nowhere. Scratch that possibility; we’re all still drunk. Joshua’s sweet brown eyes fall on me.
“And I have to say, if this were a video game, you’d be so dead, Raquel. I would never choose your character to play.”
For the second time that night I give the finger to someone. Alcohol is making me rude. I raise my eyes to the sky, surprised at how clear it’s getting.
“Oh shit. Is that the sun?” I ask. Dani laughs again, and Joshua joins in. Apolo follows my gaze.
“Oh, it’s dawn.”
At what point did the night pass us by? Alcohol made us lose track of time.
Marco watches Samy, and the adoration is obvious in his eyes: he’s so in love. He and Samy are dating now, and I’m glad. Samy deserves to be happy, and he’s a good person. My eyes fall on Apolo, who’s looking at Daniela discreetly. I wonder if there’s hope for them or not.
The delicious new summer weather settles against my skin, warming it. It’s so nice to be outside like this with no coats or jackets. I missed this.
“It’s a perfect day to go to the beach,” Dani says.
“You’re right, I wish we could go.” Samy pouts. Joshua paces back and forth. He gets very hyper when he drinks.
“Why don’t we go?” he asks. We all turn our heads toward him, and he continues. “Ares and Marco are sober, and we can all fit in their cars.”
“Don’t go around making decisions for others,” Dani says, hitting him with her elbow, but Ares smiles.
