Page 66 of Through My Window
“That was a really dirty move,” Carlos says.
Yoshi takes a sip of his soda. “I agree.”
Apolo returns, and his face is red but not with grief. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so angry.
Dani squeezes his shoulder comfortingly. “He’s going to be fine.”
Apolo says nothing, just clenches his fists at his sides and sits back, taking a deep breath. I think it’s extremely cute that he cares so much about his brother. The game continues, and the tension between the teams is palpable. The Panthers are angry. Ares continues to play, checking his nose from time to time. There’s no more blood, but I imagine it still hurts.
Poor thing.
No, poor little nothing, he broke your heart.
Get it together, Raquel.
It’s almost the end of the first half when the best play of the match begins. The midfielder makes a long pass to Marco, who, after outwitting two opposing players, passes it to Ares, who runs to receive it at the side of the goal. Everyone climbs to their feet in excitement. Ares kicks the ball diagonally and it goes into the goal from the corner at an impressive angle.
“GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAL!” the announcer’s voice booms.
We all jump and scream like crazy. The place is going to explode.
“In your face, you fucking goalie!” Apolo shouts, surprising us all.
Ares runs with his arms stretched in the air, celebrating the goal. As he approaches the stands, he grabs the edge of his shirt and lifts it up to reveal something written on his stomach.
Witch.
I stop breathing, bringing my hand to my mouth in surprise.
The announcer speaks. “Wow, it looks like the scorer is dedicating his goal to someone. Who is the lucky witch?”
Ares’s gaze meets mine, and he smiles at me before being embraced from behind by all of his teammates in celebration. My heart beats wildly and threatens to burst out of my chest.
Ares Hidalgo is going to drive me crazy with his confusing signals.
Correction: he has already driven me crazy.
TWENTY-FOUR
The Confession
When the game ends, I’m still processing the fact that Ares Hidalgo dedicated a goal to me. A thousand thoughts have run through my head in the last ten minutes. Maybe he has a secret girlfriend that he calls Witch—someone who isn’t me. But he looked at me and smiled . . . at me.
I’m overthinking.
I shouldn’t let him get to me. I shouldn’t let one gesture break my resolve to stay away from him. Yes, he might have dedicated a goal to me, but that shouldn’t be enough, not after all the damage he’s done.
Part of me—most of me—wants to run into his arms, but the rational part, the part that has regained her dignity, doesn’t approve, and I decide to listen to her. Though I wonder if my decision is actually due to a different emotion, one that’s new to me: fear. Fear of letting him in and getting hurt once more. I can’t take it again, so I won’t risk it.
“Wow, that was exciting,” Dani says, pressing her elbow into my ribs playfully as we walk down the bleachers.
“Yeah,” Apolo agrees. “I loved the game. Three–nil. That goalie deserved it after what he did to my brother.”
“We have to celebrate!” Carlos tries to take my hand, but Dani, like an expert ninja, slaps him, deflecting him. “Ow!”
“You deserve it,” I say, “ I don’t like being grabbed like that.”
“Understood,” assures Carlos.
