Hale's

Chapter 13

Jonathan sighed heavily, dropping down on the couch next to Hale. "Don't ever do something like that behind my back. Like, ever!" He groaned.

Hale shrugged. "Okay. So do we call Rafael now?"

"I'm serious, Hale!" He said angrily, sitting up straighter so she would take him more seriously.

"If you weren't such a coward, I wouldn't have had to do that to begin with," she stated firmly.

"He left me! What was I supposed to do?"

"Tell him he's stupid and that you two are meant to be!" She clapped her hands together, making a cute face.

Jonathan rolled his eyes. "It's not a movie, Hale."

"Whatever. So do we call him?"

"I can't call him - I don't have his number." It's not like he would have called him if he had the number, right?

"I have it! He called the other day. Yay for caller ID!" She said enthusiastically, running over to the shelf to retrieve a piece of paper that she waved around frantically.

'Great... I should have seen that coming.' He sighed. "And what am I supposed to say?"

"That you forgive him for being stupid and want to marry him," She said with a firm nod.

"Yeah, no." Jonathan rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to call him. I don't even want to talk to him..."

"I don't believe you." Hale shook her head in determination. "According to what I know – and I know a lot thanks to your diary – you were devastated when Rafael left you and you're still crazy about him. I know it was also awful with mom, but unlike her, Rafael is still alive, so stop wasting time! You're destined to be together! Like Tristan and Isolde; Romeo and Juliet!"

"They were all dead in the end," Jonathan said drily.

"But they're immortal!" Hale countered dramatically.

"...Right. I'm going to bed."

"...It's 2pm," Hale said slowly.

"Goodnight."

~*~

"Rafael, darling!"

Rafael groaned internally as his mother caught him on the way up the staircase. "Yes, mother?" He asked politely, trying not to show her how down he was.

"I'm driving over to the club. Won't you join me?" She asked cheerfully.

"I'm really not in the mood right now." Country club and gossip was the last thing he wanted at the moment.

"Oh. Are you not feeling well?" She asked concerned, coming up the stairs to catch up with him. "Henry!" She barked loudly just before reaching him.

"I'm fine. Just tired..." Rafael sighed as their butler rushed in.

"Yes, madam?" He asked politely.

"Get Rafael some tea, he's not feeling well. And tell the driver I'll be another minute or so," she ordered the man before turning back to Rafael. "Now, now, my darling, whatever is the matter?" She cooed, coming further up the stairs.

"Nothing, mom," Rafael complained, a bit annoyed.

"Oh don't be like that. You know you can tell me anything – I'm always here for you," she beamed as they entered his room.

"Really, since when?" Rafael asked bitterly; under normal circumstances he never bothered, but right now he was already feeling so down he didn't feel like pretending anymore.

Samantha stared at him. "Since ever," she stated firmly.

Rafael rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm tired. I'm going to lie down."

"Rafael," she said softly. "I know I haven't always been there for you but..."

"You have never been there for me!" Rafael almost yelled, suddenly furious.

His mother looked shocked at his outburst but composed herself rather quickly. "Don't you dare put that all on me, Rafael. You shut me out of your life long ago, remember?" She said sharply. "How often did I try to be part of your life, but you didn't want to have anything to do with me? You even stopped coming home during summer while you were still in school! You stopped talking to me years ago... Right after you started going to Tonbridge," She added quietly.

Rafael stared at her. Had it really been like that? But she had always been so... annoying. She had been so nosey and... interested in his life that he didn't want to share because he knew she wouldn't approve. Was he also to blame for their bad relationship...?

"Oh Rafael... I'm sorry, sweetheart. I know things haven't been easy for you, but I just..." She shook her head. "What's the matter?" She asked softly.

Now he also felt like apologizing. In the past twenty years or so, the only things they ever really spoke of was work and the weather. They just didn't have anything in common and he felt misunderstood, so what should he have ever said to her?

"Wendy died," he mumbled quietly.

Samantha gasped softly, walking over to him immediately and hugging him. Something she had only done a handful of times ever since Rafael had begun attending school. "I'm so sorry, my love," she whispered softly as she caressed his hair soothingly.

Rafael sniffed quietly, finally letting his tears fall. "She died over ten years ago and I didn't even know," he muttered miserably.

Samantha guided him to the couch in his room where they sat down and she cradled him in her arms, like she used to when he'd been a little kid. At that moment he didn't even care that he was supposed to be a grown-up, because he felt miserable and just wanted someone to hold him while he cried over all the pain and loneliness he had felt over the past 12 years.

"I miss them so much," he sobbed quietly, only to stop dead. Had he seriously just said them?!

No way his mother would know who he meant that though, right? She knew he had also been really good friends with Jonathan, so it's not like she would come to any weird conclusions, right?

No, of course not. That was crazy... She had probably not even heard him right.

"I know, sweetheart. I know how much they meant to you..."