"All the way down, all the way down, all the way down," they yelled in unison.
The girls tried t o encourage the youngest of all t o drink the entire contents of her glass in one sip. However, the blonde with green eyes could not do it, because she did not like the taste of tequila or a n y alcoholic beverage. I didn't understand how there were people who drank liquor until their livers dried up, if the taste of alcoholic beverages was so awful.
She licked her lips, wrinkled her nose, a n d put the glass back o n the table.
Aháva grimaced a n d wiped the corner of her lip with the back of her hand.
-I do not can. It's disgusting,” h e yelled, due t o the high volume of the music. How do they make you drink this? It i s awful!
—Booo. Don't be a spoilsport,” the eldest of all spoke up. Lauren, a pretty woman about six feet tall, slim, with black hair, gray eyes, a n d white Caucasian skin.
"You said you'd have a couple of drinks with us," Jessica, the giggling redhead with black eyes a n d tanned skin, reminded her.
-I know but I can not. I don't understand how people drink this thing.” Aháva shrugged a n d couldn't help wincing at the unpleasant feeling in her throat. It's like I'm drinking fire,” h e added, running his hand down his neck. I think my esophagus suffered third degree burns.
"Don't be so exaggerated," Alicia, a pretty girl of Mexican descent joined the discussion. Watch a n d learn —he said a n d grabbed the shot t o drink it down in one gulp.
The three girls roared with laughter at Aháva's astonished face.
"Don't be a baby," Lauren teased.
"That's the trouble with being a n only child." You don't learn the good things in life," Alicia commented.
"And the one with seven siblings says so," Jessica pointed out.
-Exact. a n d because I have seven older brothers, I dare t o say that I know a lot of things. My brothers took care of bringing m e up t o date,” the Latina explained proudly.
"I will not be a n only child for long," Aháva exclaimed. Her three friends turned t o see her with wide eyes. What?” The blonde shrugged. My mother told m e last week.
"I understood that pregnancies after forty are high risk," Lauren said.
“My mom i s thirty-nine. It's not even past four decades,” Aháva clarified. By the way, Alicia —he looked at the named one—. I don't think it's necessary t o drink alcohol t o enjoy the good things in life.
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," Jessica a n d Lauren chanted as a mockery of Alicia.
"Come on, baby!" A couple of drinks will help you lose your inhibitions —the girl shook her hair with the Puerto Rican singularity that characterized her.
-Nope. Thanks. I prefer t o keep my inhibitions active. It's the only thing that differentiates m e from the rest of the women here —Aháva took a quick look at her surroundings a n d saw the vast majority of girls drinking, dancing in a vulgar way or in the arms of some guy who didn't know the meaning of privacy .
Lauren, Jessica, a n d Alicia fell silent at their friend's scathing comment. They hated when she got all prissy a n d puritanical. They loved her more when she was wild a n d fun, but that was only achieved when they convinced her t o have a few drinks t o warm up.
Alicia took a glass a n d refilled it with tequila. h e extended it towards Aháva.
"Take this a n d we won't bother you all night," h e said defiantly.
The blonde looked at the glass sideways. h e grabbed it a n d swallowed the liquid in one fell swoop. h e wrinkled his nose a n d placed the glass back o n the table, making it clatter against the wood.
"Done," Aháva said, looking at her friend in the same challenging way. I hope you keep your word,” she added a n d groped for a glass of water, but Lauren grabbed it before she reached for them. What are you doing?
"Enjoy the bitter taste for a moment, at least," the brunette commented.
Aháva rolled her eyes a n d jumped t o her feet.
"As you wish," she muttered a n d turned t o walk away from her friends.
"Where are you going?" Jessica asked.
"For some water," the blonde yelled into the distance.
-God! How bitter! —Mumbled Alicia.
"It's normal," Jessica said. She i s not used t o this.
-Have t o learn. In college she won't have u s t o protect her,” Lauren commented. a n yone can trick her a n d hurt her.
Aháva tried t o take long strides t o get t o the bar as quickly as possible. The club was packed a n d people seemed t o be possessed by some kind of demon of lust, as they groped each other while dancing grotesquely. The blonde looked at the couple o n her right a n d couldn't help but shudder. Could it be that they did not know about the existence of hotels? God! She didn't understand why she agreed t o go t o that place with her friends, if she never liked going t o places like that. She was more of mountains, rivers a n d beaches. h e liked t o be in contact with nature while enjoying the silence or reading a good book. I had known Lauren, Jessica, a n d Alicia since I was eight years old. h e had just moved with his parents t o California. They lived in the same neighborhood a n d went t o the same school. Since then they were inseparable friends.Aháva was about t o turn nineteen a n d college was just around the corner. h e would study at one of the most prestigious universiti
The car was parked in front of the place h e had been frequenting for the last few days. It was a good place t o dance (he loved t o dance) a n d have a couple of drinks in the company of a pretty woman. h e met Melanie in New York a n d since then she accompanied him o n his tour. That's how h e wanted it, a n d although August didn't need the woman who was willing t o have a good time with him, she was perfect, because she was funny a n d undramatic. (At least it seemed that way at first) I didn't understand how his attitude changed in a matter of three days.He shook his head a n d cleared his mind. I didn't want t o think about that. h e was ready t o celebrate that night h e appeared in the place h e had dreamed of for so many years. For every illusionist, the MGM Grand Garden Arena was a statement that h e was reaching the pinnacle of his career. His parents knew it a n d that i s why they traveled from Scotland t o accompany him. Her little sister couldn't make it o n time beca
She was silent, watching as that handsome man walked away. She didn't understand why she couldn't stop looking at him. She had seen handsome men many times. His father lived surrounded by them. Athletic men with heart-stopping butts. However, there was something about… Damn! h e didn't tell her his name a n d h e wanted very much t o know. h e hit his forehead as h e remembered how h e treated him. "How stupid I am. At this rate, I'm going t o be alone." She couldn't help but feel like a fool for being so rude t o him. Perhaps his intentions were sincere… or perhaps not. h e felt a little relief when h e remembered the way that girl almost ran away, she seemed t o be running away from him. Maybe h e was a lout a n d deserved every one of his mistreatment.Anyway, h e decided not t o think about it a n ymore. She shook her head a n d started t o go back t o the table with her friends, but as soon as she did, she realized that her friends weren't there. h e took a quick look around the
I shook my head hard to concentrate on my friend's voice. She kept talking, but I stopped listening to her for a moment because I was thinking about Harvey, the gorgeous blond I met two months ago on one of my many girls' outings with Gabrielle, and who I started dating four weeks ago. He was divorced and had two young children. All my life I was reluctant to have anything with a man with children, because my policy was always: If I can buy a new car, ¿why buy a used one? This thought became ingrained in me as a result of living with my stepmother. It's not that our relationship was bad, but I remember a couple of times I tried to make her life miserable, just for fun. I was afraid that divine justice would take its toll on me for those years of rebellion and headaches I'd caused Valerie. But there was something about Harvey that appealed to me so much. He was very direct and upfront. When he approached me, he didn't do it with the typical cliché phrases that all men use to approac
I turned to the man who was talking to me. There was something in that voice that made me evoke a thousand memories. I looked at him carefully for a while, because although his face was very familiar to me, I couldn't place him. I opened my eyes like saucers and my heart stopped for a fraction of a second when I recognized the owner of those green eyes that were looking at me. In front of me was the personification of all my fears, traumas and insecurities. The man who served as a benchmark to compare all the people who came into my life after him. It was a beautiful vision, and at the same time a nightmare come true. “Antoine,” I said his name with difficulty. If the mere memory of him stirred up a lot of emotions in me, can you imagine “what his presence did to me?” The imposing figure of a six-foot-tall man lay before me. His eyes were greener than I remembered them and he had a beautiful smile (the one that brought out a couple of dimples in his cheeks) plastered on his face. He
Munich, Germany. Of all the things he did not like doing, getting out of bed was one of them. But he had to, the alarm clock was so exasperating.We Are The Champions was the one song he hated most in the whole world. That morning, like every other, he regretted choosing thatQueen song. If there is a way to hate a song, that is to use it as an alarm clock ringer to wake up to. But it was not all bad, at least, if he woke up feeling low or blue,Freddy Mercury's voice would remind him he was a champion. Dominik Weigand at age 19, was the most coveted player this season. Sports critics dubbed him “The Bullet”, because he was unstoppable when it came to scoring goals. Although he was a celebrity, Dominik never acted as such. He would reject invitations to crazy wild parties all the time. He was raised differently from the rest of his team mates. From a very young age, his father taught him the va
It is 20 minutes to four and Dominik is still in his room. Looking out the window, although he seemed alienated by the view, in his head, he was only reviewing all the strategies coach came up with for him. He was not convinced and would tell Ewald as soon as he saw him…“Ready?” Friedrich looked in from outside the door.“I'm not for getting the ball from Delch. I want to go get it myself” Dominik replied.“What the hell are you talking about?”“I think it's best if Brauer was the retriever, we get along better.”Friedrich rose an eyebrow when he understood what Dominik was saying. Once again, as usual, he was underestimating Ewald's work. He always did, he always had something to say when the coach gave him directions.“You can tell Ewald when you see him. We gotta move, it's late”.They both took their bags wasting no time and headed for the airport.None of
LAX AirportLosAngeles, California. A pair of bright brown eyes looked stern at the clock. As if a mental power could speed up time. She would be working until noon, she had arranged it with her boss. She had to take her SAT's. In just a few more minutes, she would have to get up from there and get in the first cab she could find in order to make it in time to Campus. That was plan B. She decided to apply for Art and Architecture at UCLA as her second —and most realistic— option after applying for Archaeology at the American University in El Cairo. She knew how hard it was to make it in AU, so she decided she would also pursue a safe goal, regardless of her passion for past civilizations and ancient hidden treasures. Since she was a child, she dreamed of exploring the pyramids and discovering mummies. Her dreams faded to the background as the years passed. Nevertheless, she h
I turned to the man who was talking to me. There was something in that voice that made me evoke a thousand memories. I looked at him carefully for a while, because although his face was very familiar to me, I couldn't place him. I opened my eyes like saucers and my heart stopped for a fraction of a second when I recognized the owner of those green eyes that were looking at me. In front of me was the personification of all my fears, traumas and insecurities. The man who served as a benchmark to compare all the people who came into my life after him. It was a beautiful vision, and at the same time a nightmare come true. “Antoine,” I said his name with difficulty. If the mere memory of him stirred up a lot of emotions in me, can you imagine “what his presence did to me?” The imposing figure of a six-foot-tall man lay before me. His eyes were greener than I remembered them and he had a beautiful smile (the one that brought out a couple of dimples in his cheeks) plastered on his face. He
I shook my head hard to concentrate on my friend's voice. She kept talking, but I stopped listening to her for a moment because I was thinking about Harvey, the gorgeous blond I met two months ago on one of my many girls' outings with Gabrielle, and who I started dating four weeks ago. He was divorced and had two young children. All my life I was reluctant to have anything with a man with children, because my policy was always: If I can buy a new car, ¿why buy a used one? This thought became ingrained in me as a result of living with my stepmother. It's not that our relationship was bad, but I remember a couple of times I tried to make her life miserable, just for fun. I was afraid that divine justice would take its toll on me for those years of rebellion and headaches I'd caused Valerie. But there was something about Harvey that appealed to me so much. He was very direct and upfront. When he approached me, he didn't do it with the typical cliché phrases that all men use to approac
She was silent, watching as that handsome man walked away. She didn't understand why she couldn't stop looking at him. She had seen handsome men many times. His father lived surrounded by them. Athletic men with heart-stopping butts. However, there was something about… Damn! h e didn't tell her his name a n d h e wanted very much t o know. h e hit his forehead as h e remembered how h e treated him. "How stupid I am. At this rate, I'm going t o be alone." She couldn't help but feel like a fool for being so rude t o him. Perhaps his intentions were sincere… or perhaps not. h e felt a little relief when h e remembered the way that girl almost ran away, she seemed t o be running away from him. Maybe h e was a lout a n d deserved every one of his mistreatment.Anyway, h e decided not t o think about it a n ymore. She shook her head a n d started t o go back t o the table with her friends, but as soon as she did, she realized that her friends weren't there. h e took a quick look around the
The car was parked in front of the place h e had been frequenting for the last few days. It was a good place t o dance (he loved t o dance) a n d have a couple of drinks in the company of a pretty woman. h e met Melanie in New York a n d since then she accompanied him o n his tour. That's how h e wanted it, a n d although August didn't need the woman who was willing t o have a good time with him, she was perfect, because she was funny a n d undramatic. (At least it seemed that way at first) I didn't understand how his attitude changed in a matter of three days.He shook his head a n d cleared his mind. I didn't want t o think about that. h e was ready t o celebrate that night h e appeared in the place h e had dreamed of for so many years. For every illusionist, the MGM Grand Garden Arena was a statement that h e was reaching the pinnacle of his career. His parents knew it a n d that i s why they traveled from Scotland t o accompany him. Her little sister couldn't make it o n time beca
Aháva tried t o take long strides t o get t o the bar as quickly as possible. The club was packed a n d people seemed t o be possessed by some kind of demon of lust, as they groped each other while dancing grotesquely. The blonde looked at the couple o n her right a n d couldn't help but shudder. Could it be that they did not know about the existence of hotels? God! She didn't understand why she agreed t o go t o that place with her friends, if she never liked going t o places like that. She was more of mountains, rivers a n d beaches. h e liked t o be in contact with nature while enjoying the silence or reading a good book. I had known Lauren, Jessica, a n d Alicia since I was eight years old. h e had just moved with his parents t o California. They lived in the same neighborhood a n d went t o the same school. Since then they were inseparable friends.Aháva was about t o turn nineteen a n d college was just around the corner. h e would study at one of the most prestigious universiti
"All the way down, all the way down, all the way down," they yelled in unison.The girls tried t o encourage the youngest of all t o drink the entire contents of her glass in one sip. However, the blonde with green eyes could not do it, because she did not like the taste of tequila or a n y alcoholic beverage. I didn't understand how there were people who drank liquor until their livers dried up, if the taste of alcoholic beverages was so awful.She licked her lips, wrinkled her nose, a n d put the glass back o n the table.Aháva grimaced a n d wiped the corner of her lip with the back of her hand.-I do not can. It's disgusting,” h e yelled, due t o the high volume of the music. How do they make you drink this? It i s awful!—Booo. Don't be a spoilsport,” the eldest of all spoke up. Lauren, a pretty woman about six feet tall, slim, with black hair, gray eyes, a n d white Caucasian skin."You said you'd have a couple of drinks with us," Jessica, the giggling redhead with black eyes a
13 years laterHe smiled heartily, as h e always did after a presentation. Hearing the applause of his audience as h e walked offstage was undoubtedly his favorite thing since his father gave him a cape, top hat, a n d wand for his tenth birthday. h e decided t o dedicate himself t o illusionism when that afternoon at his grandmother's house, a magnificent magician left him speechless by drawing a dove o n a small blackboard a n d then shaking it a n d taking out a royal dove. As it did? It was the question that haunted August until h e reached adolescence a n d discovered it for himself after so much studying a n d practicing magic tricks. In the end, it wasn't as hard as I thought it was.After finishing school, the Real Centro Universitario María Cristina de San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Spain was her next step in her academic training, where she specialized in Illusionism. Having dreamy parents helped him a lot, otherwise h e would have had t o settle for being a graduate, enginee
One month after.Dominik glanced at Carlos surreptitiously a n d Carlos nodded, indicating that everything was ready. Charlotte could not suppress the small smile that came from her lips, because she knew perfectly well what was going t o happen next. She was also Weigand's accomplice. Samantha gave her friend a confused a n d questioning look."They say that h e who laughs alone remembers his pranks," she mumbled, poking the blonde's side with a finger.Charlotte laughed out loud."I'm just happy t o have married a wonderful man," the Polish woman commented, scanning her surroundings with her eyes.The garden looked beautiful, decorated in a vintage style with turquoise, white a n d silver decorations. Just two hours ago, Charlotte a n d Carlos had said "Yes, I do", in front of family a n d closest friends. Samantha was the maid of honor, a n d Dominik was the best man. Little Aháva played with some children, sons of some friends of the bride a n d groom."Who would have imagined it
Cairo International Airport"Samanta a n drade, calm down once a n d for all," demanded Charlie, whose nerves were o n edge, watching her friend walk from one side t o the other."What if h e gets scared when h e sees me?" My face i s not the same. These scars..."You're still beautiful," Carlos said. You don't have t o worry about that. Aháva adores you a n d doesn't care what you look like —he added —Although seeing it from a n other perspective, they give you a sensual air, almost like a pirate —Carlos joked, letting out a laugh."I think what you're worried about i s what someone else might think, right?" Charlie commented with some mischief."Dominik i s the least interested in how you look, I'm telling you." Carlos winked at her.Carlos a n d Charlotte got Samantha t o relax a bit.People were coming a n d going in all directions, but Sam was staring at the landing gate. a n xiety grew within her being with each passing second. Almost half a n hour had passed since the plane fr