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55

- RAQUEL -

Bittersweet . . .

That's how the news feels when Ares tells me what happened with his grandpa. I'm happy for him, even though the selfish part of me is kind of sad.

Now it's real: we're going to be separated. Just imagining being away from him makes my chest feel tight, cutting off my breath. Yet I know it's his dream. I know it's what he wants, and I would never do anything to stop him.

But boy, does it hurt.

"Raquel? Are you listening to me?"

Dani's voice sounds far away even though she's right next to me.

"Ah, sorry, my mind is elsewhere."

"It's our prom day, try to be present." She touches her forehead to emphasize that my mind needs to stop spinning and enjoy this day. Part of me can't believe that my senior year of high school is coming to an end, and that summer is here again, heralding almost a year since I first spoke to Ares.

"My love!" I hear from behind me, and I don't have to turn around to know who it is. Dani rolls her eyes.

"Here comes your intense prince," she teases as strong arms grab me from behind.

"My Juliet, my beautiful, my everything," Carlos whispers dramatically. I pull his arms off me and face him.

"Carlos, what have I told you about hugging me all the time?"

If Ares knew . . .

Carlos pouts. "But hugging is a normal thing between future spouses."

"Future spouses. . . . You get crazier every day." Dani rolls her eyes and grabs him by the ear as usual.

"Ow!" Carlos groans in pain but still manages to make eyes at her. "Crazier with love, you mean." Dani squeezes his ear again. "Ow! Ow!"

"You're so cheesy." Dani lets him go, falsely retching. Carlos rubs his ear.

"How are you spending prom day?" I ask, leaning my back against my locker.

"It feels like any other day," he replies.

Dani sighs and gives me a sad look. Carlos takes our hands.

"Don't worry. It'll be great," he reassures us, making me smile. Carlos is such a sweet and contagiously cheerful person. I really will miss him.

Nostalgia hits me by surprise. In a few weeks, there'll be no more of these hallways, no more of my lifelong classmates, no more of Carlos's craziness, and no more conversations in class before the teacher arrives. It's really coming to an end. Not only will I be leaving high school, but I'll be leaving this town to live in the residence halls on a college campus. I'm leaving all of this behind, and a part of me is terrified. Luckily, Dani and Yoshi are going to the same school as me. I won't be separated from them. I'll just have to separate from him.

My Greek god . . .

I push those thoughts away. They're too painful.

Carlos clears his throat.

"I know it's a silly question, but will you go to prom with me?" he asks. I give him a friendly smile.

"Carlos . . ."

Dani slips an arm around my shoulder, hugging me sideways.

"I'm sorry, Casanova, she's already coming with me."

Dani and I decided to be each other's date when we realized we didn't have one. Ares has to attend his own high school prom, not ours.

Carlos grunts.