+ ocho

It had been a couple of days since I had arrived at Silvia and Enrique's house and he was strangely avoiding me. Every time I would walk into his office to start our very first lesson, he always found some excuse and claimed he was busy. I didn't think anything of it at first, but then I started to think his behavior was getting suspicious.

With each passing day, it also seemed like Silvia was more and more busy with her acting career. She hardly ever spent any time at home with the kids and I feared it would be difficult for them. Not seeing their mother for so long, I thought they would forget about her.

Luis Enrique was inside, taking his nap while Alejandra and I sat in the back yard together. The little girl's face brightened at an idea that came to her. "Lets play hide and seek." She told me in a mixture of Spanish and English. Since I was teaching their father English, Silvia thought it would be a good idea for the children to learn a second language as well. The plan was that Enrique would record an album in English to break into the American market, and then they would move to Hollywood where Silvia would try her luck appearing in films, even if she had to get an entirely new personality and make over like actress Rita Hayworth.

My nose crinkled at the thought. "I'm too old for that, sweetie."

"Please." She begged and gave me the look that was impossible to resist. Along with a smile that was identical to her father's.

Rolling my eyes at her, I sighed as my resolve melted like butter. "Fine."

-

"Ninety-nine, one hundred! Ready or not, here I come!" I called out loudly.

With my hands on my hips, I scanned the entirety of the back yard. It was vast, seeming to go on for miles. But I knew she was out there, she was only three years old and couldn't have gotten far. There was also a security booth by the front gates where two guards were stationed. There was no way she could get out of the house. My eyes fell upon a wooden playhouse far off, near the edge of the property. It was white and had a blue roof, but it also seemed like the perfect hiding place for a little girl.

I jogged over there and a smile graced my lips when I saw the little girl I was looking for, sitting on a sky blue play couch just like the one I had when I was a little girl, only mine was pink. 

"Found you!" I grinned and opened the door. I had to crouch down a bit to get inside, but I was able to get to her. Running around me easily, Alejandra giggled mischievously and closed the front door to the play house.

I hadn't noticed it, but it locked from the outside and she had locked me in. I was surprised that for a three year old, she was able to do that much. The only other exit was a small window next to the door, but I was unsure if I would fit through it.

"Alejandra!" I called, a twinge of claustrophobia setting in. "Get back here!"

But the little girl ran all the way into the house giggling and shut the back door.

"Great." I sighed in frustration, plopping down on the play sofa that was nearby.

It was almost two hours before Enrique came to find me. "Anna Belen!" He called my name.

"Over here!" I yelled out the window.

He chuckled when he saw me inside the small play house. Unlocking the door, he asked, "What are you doing in here?"

Crawling out of the playhouse on my hands and knees and getting back on my feet, I informed him. "Well Alejandra and I were playing hide and seek..."

He interrupted me, his lips forming a tight line as he put the pieces together. "Alejandra did this to you? That girl's gonna get a talking to."

I shook my head quickly. The last thing I wanted was for Alejandra to get in trouble when she was just trying to play with me for a bit. "No. Please don't be upset with her, she's just a little girl."

"She has to understand that she can't do that." Enrique explained.

"But I'm fine." I reasoned with him, my hazel colored eyes searching for his dark brown ones. And I was, other than my legs being tired and sore for having to crouch for almost two hours. "So there's no use in getting mad at her."

Heaving a sigh of defeat, he told me. "Okay, I won't say anything to her."

The two of us walked into the house in silence and he led me down the hall to his office. He sat in front of his desk while I sat across from him. "I'd like to get started with my first lesson." He told me.

"I don't have my materials." I replied sheepishly.

But he opened a drawer from his desk and pulled out a briefcase, my briefcase. He coughed awkwardly. "I hope you don't mind I got this from your room."

Shaking my head, I told him, "I don't mind." 

If I had to be completely honest, I was a bit bothered by what I saw. My room wasn't locked, but that didn't mean I thought it was okay for him to just go in there and grab my things. There was also the fact that he hadn't exactly snooped through my things to find my briefcase, it was sitting right on my desk. But I couldn't deny that it still bothered me. But I was a people pleaser, and I wanted him to like me. He was my boss and my childhood crush, and it was his house after all. My mind just made a million excuses, rationalizing what he did. I ended up telling myself that it wasn't that serious.

Taking the briefcase from his hands, I opened it to grab a children's book I brought with me from the US. Opening it up to the first page, I said, "Okay, we're going to read this together. You will repeat after me and feel free to stop me if you think I'm going too fast." It was always easy to start with material for children since the vocabulary was simple and easy to read.

And he nodded, following my lead.

-

Placing the materials back into my portfolio, I told him with a smile. "You did really well today. Maybe in a few days you'll be able to read the book all on your own."

He ran a hand through his hair nervously. It was only his first day, but I could tell he had been embarrassed by his pronunciation of words the entire time. "You think so?"

"Definitely." I grinned.

I returned to my room to see my diary on the nightstand. Realizing I hadn't looked at it in days, I picked it up in my hands and opened it up as I plopped myself down on my bed, on my stomach. I did a double take as I saw another item on my nightstand. It was a letter addressed to me, and the name on the side of the sender was Dieter Damm Villalpando. By now, his team had returned to Guadalajara, and I thought he would forget about having met me. He probably had girls just offering themselves up to him all the time. But it seemed I was still on his mind.

I opened up the letter with a grin on my lips. Enrique Guzman wasn't the only man I admired. I also liked Paul Anka, who was Enrique's Canadian counterpart at the moment, Chivas, and The Beatles. But if I had to be honest with myself, my favorite had always been Enrique Guzman.

His letter talked about his game and how they had won it the next day after he and I met. He also mentioned that he had tried to call me that afternoon, but had no luck. He said that he wanted to take me out on a date and that I was the most beautiful girl his eyes had seen, and that I should call him as soon as I got his letter. He finally disclosed that he would be visiting me, today of all days, and I shot up out of bed.

He was on his way and I had just opened the letter. I also needed to ask Silvia and Enrique for permission to go out on a work night.

There was a knock coming from my open door and I looked up to see none other than Enrique. He took one look at the bright smile on my face and took a guess, "Reading a letter from your family?"

I shook my head. "Its a letter from Dieter. He's that boy we met at the park last week." I informed him with excitement.

"Oh." Was all he said.

"Yeah," I nodded, my smile growing bigger. "And I was wondering if I could have the night off to go out with him. I haven't gotten a day off since I got here and he says he'll be coming from Guadalajara to visit me..." I trailed off.

He nodded, his face expressionless. It was more like he was trying to be happy for me, but he just couldn't. "Yeah. That's fine. You can go out."

"Thank you!" I jumped out of my bed and rushed over to my closet, sifting through my clothes. But nothing convinced me. When he remained at the door, I realized he may have had something to tell me. Looking at him from behind my closet door, I asked, "Did you need anything?"

He admitted sheepishly. "I was going to invite you to dinner with the kids and I, since Silvia isn't home...But I don't want to keep you if you have plans already."

My smile instantly dropped into a frown. "I can cancel my plans with Dieter." And I meant it. I knew things with him and Silvia weren't going so well and if he needed me, I would stay like the friend I wanted to be for him. But at the same time I felt bad for Dieter. It was a five hour drive into Mexico City from Guadalajara. I didn't want him to come all this way for nothing.

He shook his head, offering a smile. But it seemed all but genuine. "Don't. Its better for you to spend time with other people too."

"If you're sure..." I sighed.

"I'm sure." He assured me.

Turning around, he walked away, disappearing down the hallway. I went to close the door and changed into something casual, but also good for a restaurant dinner. I didn't know what to expect really, so I went with a floral summer dress and wedges, my long black hair was straightened and I had even added a hair clip that matched with my dress. Adding a light layer of make-up to my face, I was ready to go.

I made my way down the hall when one of the maids came to tell me that Dieter was waiting for me outside.

Fidgeting with my dress and my hair, I became distracted and bumped into someone who set his hands on my shoulders to stabilize me. When I looked up, my eyes were met by his dark brown orbs.

"Sorry." I muttered in embarrassment.

His hands trailed down the exposed skin of my arms slowly, taking it all in. I sucked in a breath at the feel of his hands on my skin, goosebumps appearing where his hands touched me. I heard him gulp before he patted me on the head like a small child. "Good luck on your date." He told me, forcing a smile onto his lips.

"Thank you." I replied with a nervous smile.

-

I finally made it outside where Dieter was waiting for me inside a beautiful black car. Like a gentleman, he got out of the car and opened the passenger side door for me. A smile made way onto my face as I told him, "Thank you."

He went around to the driver's side and hopped in.

Putting the car into drive, we were on our way down the street. I buckled my seat belt on and turned in my seat to look at him. "So, where are we going?"

He grinned. "That's a surprise."

-

just another little update since this story is already written and i just need to edit the parts before i post them. i'll probably be posting them little by little over the next couple of days.

i need to keep myself distracted. especially since my boyfriend broke up with me a month ago and i miss him. but then i also have my work crush. we've been talking a lot and he keeps sending mixed signals.

like he acts like we're together but then other times he's moody.

so i thought i'd give him space and not seek him out. if he wants to talk to me, he knows where to find me. either  way i'm going to see him tomorrow at work. but anyway, if anyone is even reading this, thank you.

-clary