Playing With Fire

Skyler's POV

"Can I have a word with you?" My brother asked, and I was shocked to find him leaning on my car, waiting for me in the parking lot. I wondered where Selena could be since Stanley is her chauffeur every day, and sometimes I wonder if my younger brother developed some feelings for her.

"What is it, Stan? I guess it was so urgent that you couldn't wait for me at home, and I was wondering what it could be since it has been a long time since you have spared time for me." I responded.

"Look who's talking; you are the busy one, big brother, that you have forgotten it was mom's death anniversary today." He responded, and I could feel the blush on my face as I felt so ashamed of myself that I hadn't remembered.

"I am sorry, Stan," I replied in more than a whisper as I tried to recover from embarrassment.

"It was okay, Selena was already at the cemetery, and I had been waiting for you for ages." He replied as he opened the passenger's door of my car.

"Kevin said you will be seeing Erika; you have to choose, you will be seeing her, or you will come with me." He said as I settled myself into the driver's seat, and I was glad we didn't do our usual routine today since our coach needed to attend an important meeting this evening.

"I will text Erika that I can't meet her," I responded.

"That is a good choice," he replied, and I drove away from the school parking lot after I sent my message to Erika, and I heard my phone chime right away, and I could tell it was a reply from the director's daughter.

It was starting to get dark, maybe because it was about to rain, as I could see the overcast sky, and I drove the car faster, knowing the cemetery would close soon.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Stan?" I asked and looked at my brother sideways when I could no longer take it as I could feel him staring at me like there was something he wanted to tell me.

"Are you interested in Selena?" He asked, and my brother's question almost made me stop the break.

"Why are you asking me that kind of question? Why do you care if I am interested in Selena? I know you are only her best friend unless something is going on between you two," I answered, and he chuckled.

"Of course, Selena is my best friend, and I don't want her to get hurt," Stanley responded. I didn't know how to answer my brother since I knew I needed to stay away from her even if I wished to be with her.

"Is that a yes?" Stan asked, and I shook my head.

"I am not interested in Selena, Stan; what made you think I like her?" I replied.

"Okay, if you don't like her, you better stop flirting with Selena, big brother; she is different from the girls you had a fling with, and spare her the heartache and humiliation." My brother declared.

"I am not flirting with her, Stan," I responded.

"And why did you kiss her?" He asked, and I gripped the steering wheel as I looked at the cemetery entrance.

"It was nothing, Stan," I replied.

"You've got to be kidding me; of all people, why do you have to play with Selena's feelings?" He asked, and I laughed.

"Relax, the kiss I shared with Selena was different, and I don't need to explain to you why I kissed a girl, Stanley; that is none of your business," I said, and I could no longer stop myself from raising my voice at my brother.

"I am making it my business, Sky, she is innocent, and you know Selena has no boyfriend, and she has no experience with boys," my brother yelled at me.

"You don't need to be pissed with me, you may think Selena is innocent, but she is not stupid, Stanley. You better stop worrying about your best friend because she knows how to take good care of herself." I replied, and he slumped his back on the backrest of his seat.

"Don't hurt her, Skyler, or I will kill you," he warned, and I shook my head.

"I won't hurt Selena because you know me; I don't have any plan on courting anyone; I don't want to have a serious relationship with any girl because she will never be my priority; I always prioritize my scholarship, Stan, it was my only hope in getting accepted to the best school in the country," I replied.

"You don't need to be a varsity, Skyler, and everyone knew that; you are the eldest son of Florencio Alcarazo," he replied.

"Yeah, I know, but I wished to be a professional basketball player, and I wanted to earn it through my hard work. It would be rewarding to study on my own and without the support of our filthy rich father." I said.

"Have it your way, as long as you will not break Selena's heart," my brother responded, and I laughed.

"I am not breaking anyone's heart. I don't like commitment. Besides, you were right, she is way out of my league, and Selena deserves someone who will love and take good care of her." I stated.

"Shit, it is almost closing time," I added as I realized we were late.

"Don't worry. I gave Selena enough money and instructed her to give it to the guard on duty, so he would open the gate for us no matter how long we stay in the memorial park and spend time at mom's grave." He replied.

The guard was beaming as we reached the gate of the memorial park, and I drove inside without questions; parked the car as quickly as I could.

I was in awe as I watched Selena squat in front of my mother's grave, and I could tell she was talking to our mom. How I wished she had met our mother, and I don't know why I wanted Selena to meet the woman who taught me how to be grounded at all times.

Selena looked so hot, even without makeup. And her simplicity made me become so attracted to her, and I was scared of the realization that I was beginning to fall for my brother's best friend.

"What took you so long?" She asked Stanley while she was avoiding my gaze. I could tell she was sad, and I wondered what was wrong. My brother pulled her up while I was dying to take his place, but I didn't wish for Stan's suspicion of me would become worst.

I wasn't lying when I told Stanley I didn't have any plans on courting his best friend since I didn't want to have a girlfriend at the moment. Besides, I wanted to graduate High School without complications, and I am enjoying my single life.

"I am sorry, we caught up in the middle of heavy traffic," my brother lied, and I felt thankful he didn't tell Selena I had forgotten it was my mom's death anniversary.

"Okay, you should light the candles first before you pray," Selena said as she handed all the candles to Stanley, and then she stepped to the side and lowered her head while I couldn't stop myself from looking at her.

I am sure she was avoiding me again, and she was back to being the old Selena and not the girl I kissed at the plantation. I had forgotten to ask her why she was always like that to me.

She only talked to me if I ever asked her a question about her father, and she would only find an excuse to leave me every time we saw each other in our mansion.

I missed the girl I kissed in the clearing under the moonlight. I only moved and turned my head when I heard Stan clear his throat, and he was giving me a stern look.

"Hey, mom, I am deeply sorry that I had forgotten it was your death anniversary today, maybe because I don't want to remember the pain of losing you," I said in my mind after I lit the candle.

It was the saddest day of my life, and I couldn't believe it until now that she was gone. My mother was beautiful, and we loved her so dearly.

"Please be our guiding light, mom, I know you are now happy in heaven, and I am sorry if I am still wishing that you are still alive. I love you, mom." I added, and I talked with my mother in silence.

Even if I couldn't see my mom anymore, she would always be with us. I admit I miss my mother like crazy, but I am grateful that dad was a good father to us, and even if we are not against it if he will get married again, our father told us he would only have one wife in his lifetime, and it was so sweet of him.

I know how much they love each other, and it was so sad that their love story ended because my mom died, yet dad would always say he couldn't wait to be reunited with our mother in the afterlife.

I said goodbye to my mom with a heavy heart. I let Stanley and Selena walk ahead of me since I could tell she was ignoring me.

I tried to smile, but she didn't smile back at me. I don't know if she didn't see me or if she was only giving me cold treatment to make me back off.

I watched Selena in silence as she talked with Stanley, and she didn't even bother to say thank you when I opened the back door of my car for her.

I felt hurt, and Selena was the only girl who touched my ego; since all the girls I kissed would be dying to see me again after sharing hot kisses, and it made me realize Selena is one hell of a girl; I shouldn't mess with her, and she was driving me crazy.

I know it was a crazy idea to know her, but I couldn't stop my head from thinking about her. I admit Selena's presence was making me excited and scared simultaneously.

I drove the car in silence as I thought of a way how to make her speak with me, and I didn't care if I was playing with fire as long as I could kiss and hug her again.