Saudade

7 (Summer 10 years ago)

Grade 11 was no fun for Cecilia.  All hard school work, lots of swim practice, not a lot of time to talk to Rui on the phone and preparing for senior year. She would mail Rui her poetry, most of her poems being about him and he would mail her back.  He didn't actually know they were about him, she tried not to make it obvious in her poems.  Rui told her he kept them all in his bedside table and re-read them every night. She thought it was so romantic.  They would call as much as they could.  They both could not wait for summer.

The first night she was there, Rui was working so she was going to meet him after he closed up the cafe.  around 10pm she started walking over to the cafe.  She couldn't help but smile as she walked the cobble stone street, and admired the moonlit ocean.  She walked until she reached Tony's cafe and stepped in.  It was empty and freshly mopped, with the chairs sitting on top of the tables.  She spotted Rui behind the counter wiping down surfaces, facing the other way.  "Hi." She said with the biggest smile on her face.  He turned around quickly recognizing her voice.  He dropped the towel and walked up to her, lifting her up into a tight hug.  "I missed you so, so much." He said burying his face into her neck and placing light kisses on her cheek.  "I missed you too." She giggled.

They sat down on the bar stools and chatted away about everything that was going on.  About Rui's school and how Nelson was the only person he every hangout with.  Cecilia told Rui about her friend group at school, Ali, Brent who was Ali's boyfriend, James and Mateo.  Rui got slightly jealous when Cecilia mentioned the two other guys, but Cecilia assured him that they had girlfriends outside of school.

"Do you want a drink?"  Cecilia asked smirking at Rui, standing up and walking behind the bar. Cecilia wasn't a big drinker, she had never gotten drunk but if someone offered her a drink she wouldn't decline.  "Tony would kill me."  Rui laughed,  Rui never drank.  "Well first off, he wouldn't know.  Secondly, he would more likely be mad at me."  Cecilia laughed grabbing two shot glasses and the bottle of Aguardiente.  "Just one drink, alright?"  Rui said raising his eyebrows.  "Alright."  Cecilia agreed, pouring two shot glasses.  They both made sour faces taking the shot.

"I'm done now." Rui mumbled after his second shot.  "Me too." Cecilia slurred, and burped, making Rui burst out laughing.  Cecilia had also had two shots which was clearly affecting her more than it was affecting Rui.  What Cecilia didn't know at the time, was she had a very low alcohol tolerance.  Very low. She was a light weight Queen. She felt dizzy, her head began to pound. "Rui, I don't feel too good." She said blinking hard trying to gain her balance.  "Yeah. you're looking a little pale."  Rui said standing up.  "Want some water?"  Rui asked.  Cecilia shook her head no.  "I can't go home like this, can I stay the night at yours?"  Cecilia asked.  "Yeah, my moms working late anyways."  Rui nodded. "I'm going to text my mom, she will be ok with it." Cecilia said pulling out her phone.

The streets were empty as they walked to Rui's house.  The street lights illuminating Rui's face.  "Have I ever told you how pretty you are?"  Cecilia giggled, walking sideways,  Rui holding her up as they walked.  "I don't think so." Rui laughed, his cheeks turning pink.  "Let's have kids together someday."  Cecilia announced, making Rui giggle.  "I'm down for that, but I think the alcohol has really gotten to you."  Rui said.  Cecilia suddenly felt a wave of nausea, making her feel a slight bit more sober.  "Rui, I'm about to throw up."  She announced with a panicked look on her face.

"Ok there's nobody around, there's a garbage can right there." Rui pointed to the black medal can.  She walked up to it, Rui still holding her up. She leaned over it making sure she wasn't touching it, gagging from the stench and throwing up.  Rui held back her hair and rubbed her back.  "You good?" Rui said once she stood up straight, She nodded. "I'll carry you."  He said, she jumped on his back, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm never drinking again."  Cecilia declared while she sat on Rui's bed.  "we'll see about that."  He laughed, scrummaging through his bathroom cabinet for Advil.  He brought her a full glass of water and a pill.  She took it with no problem.  "Let me grab you something to sleep in." Rui looked through his closeout, pulling out a pair of boxers and an Grupo Desportivo shirt.  Cecilia changed into them, with the shirt reaching her thighs.  Rui took off his shirt and changed into sweat pants, he turned off the lights and they got into bed.  He planned to sleep there just until Cecilia fell asleep so his mom wasn't mortified, then he would move to the couch.  Rui rubbed her back until she fell asleep.  He stood up, then placed a kiss on her forehead and made sure she was sleeping. "I love you, Cici." he whispered, his warm breath against her cheek. then walked out.

The rest of the summer Cecilia didn't have one sip of alcohol. She spent pretty much the whole time with Rui, attempting to surf again, watching his soccer games, sleeping at each others houses and hanging out with him and Nelson, Playing video games with them.  She became pretty good friends with Nelson too. She then went to visit her dads side of the family, Rui coming with her and her parents.  She was surprised with how well he handled the hectic family.  He was really good with her little cousins, and was really good at talking to her Tia's and Tio's.

One night her Parents, Tia's and Tio's all went for dinner and made Cecilia and Rui watch her Two little cousins.  Frida who was four and Nando who was two. The four of them watched a movie , Nando sitting on Rui's lap. Nando was obsessed with Rui, The whole week they had been at her uncle's house the two had been inseparable making everyone laugh.

They kids eventually fell asleep Rui brought them to their rooms.  He came back to Cecilia on the couch and sat beside her.  He faced her and placed a kiss on her lips.  "You're so good with kids." Cecilia whispered to him, Making Rui blush.  "How many kids do you want?" Rui asked putting her on his lap so she was facing him. "Two, one girl and one boy. How about you?"  Cecilia said placing a kiss on his birth mark.  "I want whatever you want, whatever makes you happy." He smiled kissing her her jaw and lightly running his tongue down her neck to her collar bone, causing a slight sound to come out of her.  She lifted his shirt and ran her hands over is abs.

He brought her in for a more passionate kiss, lifting her up and bringing her to the room they were sleeping in.  She quickly checked the time making sure her family wouldn't be home anytime soon.  He lay her down on the bed and peeled off his shirt.  She started to unbutton her shorts.  They continued, until Rui paused. "Are you sure?" He asked looking her in the eye, his pupils big and dark.  "I've never been more sure." She whispered to him.

A few days later they drove home to Apulia, sitting in the back of her parents car, holding hands the whole time.  That summer made Cecilia realize how serious their relationship was. It made her think more about what she wanted to do after high school, go to University in Coimbra,  and possibly move to Portugal.