· N E R D ·

t h i r t y - f o u r

The date was July 15th, meaning the two lovebirds had exactly one week left in Germany. They'd been seeing and doing all the things typical tourists would see and do, but now they wanted a little break. They wanted to just relax and practically do nothing... So what better way to do that than go to an open-air cinema?

Their River Spree tour guide had recommended Volkspark Friedrichshain because it was apparently a Berliner favorite, so that's where they went. They had no clue what movie would be playing (or if it would even be in English), but they went anyway. It didn't matter to them if they understood the dialogue or the plot; what mattered was that they were together, relaxed, and having fun in the midst of their confusion.

• · • · •

"Well that was enjoyable."

"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't understand it, either."

"I'm sure you understood more than me, though."

Evan gave Jonathan a goofy grin as he took his jacket off. "Even if I did, I still couldn't tell you a gist."

Jonathan took his jacket off as well and hung it up on one of the hooks. "You should teach me some German."

"Me? Why?"

"Because you're hella smart and you love teaching me stuff. Nobody else could have taught me about New York making snow illegal."

"I'm surprised you remember that."

"Of course I remember that," Jonathan said, crossing his arms. "It's the strangest thing you've ever said to me. My brain couldn't forget it even if it tried."

After a moment of contemplating, Evan sighed and gave in like he always did. "Fine, I'll teach you some German. Only because I can never say no to you. I should have taught you sooner so you'd have more time to practice. We're only here for another week."

Jonathan took a seat at the kitchen table. "It doesn't matter if I practice here or back in New Jersey, what matters is that I'm learning, right?"

"Right." Evan sat down kitty-corner to his boyfriend. "How much do you wanna learn?"

"Just start with the basics. We'll stop if it becomes too much."

"Alright, if you say so..."

• · • · •

"Hallo, ich heiße Evan. Wie heißt du?"

"Ich bin Jonathan. Wie geht's?"

"Sehr gut, danke. Und du?"

"Auch gut."

"Wunderbar. Wie alt bist du?"

"Ich bin zwanzig. Wie alt bist du?"

"Neunzehn. Mein Geburtstag ist der 31. Mai."

The conversation drifts off and then Evan laughs. Jonathan just nods in content.

"Not bad for only half an hour," Evan compliments. "You catch on fast."

"It helps that I have such a smart boyfriend." Jonathan grins. "Besides, we both go to one of the most prestigious colleges in the States — I'm not a dummy when it comes to learning."

"Okay, okay, Mr. Show Off. We'll stop there. Let's go get dinner or something, all this teaching makes me hungry."

"Me too, but not for food."

"You horny jerk, buy me food first!"

"Fine, but what happens afterwards is not my fault."

"Fine."