[Anglais] À travers ma fenêtre

36

Sweat . . .

Margaritas . . .

Laughter . . .

Music . . .

I never thought I could sweat like this, but apparently dancing in a crowd of people has that effect. Everyone is cheerful right now. I'm a little dizzy, so I decide to stop drinking. Marco appears on the dance floor and his eyes meet mine. "Why don't you dance with me, Raquel?"

My eyes travel to Ares, who's talking to his friends but glancing at me frequently. Ares and I are in a very fragile situation right now. Although I'm making him win my heart, I don't want to do anything that could lead to misunderstandings or uncomfortable situations. Marco is waiting for my answer, and I wrinkle my nose.

"Thanks, but maybe another day."

Marco says nothing, just grabs his glass and, without taking his eyes off me, takes a long drink.

Gregory appears out of nowhere and gives me five. "What are you doing for Halloween? Do you have plans?"

I can barely hear him through the loud, pounding music.

"Not really, it's still two weeks away."

"We think we're going to a party in town, I imagine you're coming."

Ares hasn't mentioned it.

"Maybe."

Gregory sighs. "Do you think I should be a vampire or a sexy cop?"

I laugh. Why does he have two such opposite options?

He taps my shoulder gently. "Seriously, I need a girl's opinion."

"Hmmm," I look at him and imagine him in both costumes. "I think you'd make a very sexy vampire."

"I knew it!" He looks proud, and I just smile.

I feel someone looking at me, and I glance around. Andrea is murdering me with her eyes.

"Your girlfriend doesn't look very happy," I tell him, taking a sip of my margarita. Gregory gives her a quick glance.

"She's not my girlfriend." I don't say anything, not wanting to seem nosy, but Gregory keeps talking. "I liked her a lot, but . . . she's just like her friends."

"What do you mean?"

"All the boys at this table are from wealthy families," he says, and my eyes go over each one of them: Ares, Zahid, Oscar, Luis, Marco, and then back to Gregory. "They're the next managers and owners of companies, corporations, businesses . . ."

Gregory points to several guys dressed in black around the bar. "See those guys? They're bodyguards. We're never alone, even if it looks that way."

But what does that have to do with Andrea? Gregory seems to notice the confusion on my face.

"There are very few people who approach us without an agenda. Andrea . . ." He pauses, and there's a slight sadness in his voice when he continues. "Let's just say that her feelings were not genuine."

I squeeze his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"I'm fine, I'll be fine. I'll rock Halloween in my vampire costume."

"I'm sure you will."

A lively song plays, and Natalie and Andrea get up and begin to dance for the seated boys. Samy just checks her cell phone. Andrea moves in front of Gregory, and I look away uncomfortably. She better not even think about getting closer to Ares.