Summer In Barcelona

F I V E

Jorge got out the car, looking around in awe. How had he never seen this place? Benji got out as well, reaching in the back and pulling out a picnic basket Jorge hadn't even realized had been there. Jorge followed Benji until they were in the centre of the field, where Benji set the basket down and sat. Jorge looked at him for a moment, then at the ground. It hadn't rained recently, so maybe he could avoid an awkward wet spot on the seat of his pants. He sat, crossing his legs. The grass and flowers surrounding them reminded Jorge of the summer months when he was a kid and his mom would take him and his siblings to Parque del Laberint d'Horta, the few times he had felt free. They sat in silence for what felt like years, before Benji spoke up.

"You don't have allergies, do you?" he sked, sounding genuinely concerned. The question struck Jorge as odd, since they were already there, it seemed like he had only just thoguht to ask.

"Doesn't all people have them?" he asked, tilting his head. Benji smiled.

"Speak Spanish with me" he suggested, his voice soft and low. Jorge bit his lip. No one had ever specifically asked for him to use Spanish with them, especially if it wasn't their first language, every one preferred English if they didn't speak it fluently. It made it easier on them, no matter how trying it was on Jorge's end.

"Why?" he asked. Benji smiled sheepishly.

"Su hermosa" he copied Jorge's earlier words. Jorge blushed ducking his head. He had the sudden urge to kiss him again, on the lips this time. Wanted to tumble into the flowers and get lost in the smell of the Salvia and Forget-Me-Nots as he fell farther into orbit inside the universe known as Benji because after just a day he found himself enamoured by his presence and that damn smile. Jorge could've sworn Benji single handedly hung the sun and moon and used the stars in his eyes for the stars in the sky, and Jorge didn't know what to do with beauty like that.

" De acuerdo" he agreed, smiling. Benji returned the smile, turning his face to the sky, locating the first stars as they appeared. Jorge followed his gaze, sighing. It was so peaceful. Jorge returned his gaze to Benji, watching his Adams apple move as he swallowed. Jorge rested his head on his hand, a smile on his lips that he hadn't realized he was wearing until Benji looked down, smiling.

"What?" he asked, blushing brightly. Jorge shook his head, sitting up.

"Anyway, I made some pasta" he announced, moving to the basket. Jorge laughed at how abruptly the topic changed. "I'm not that great of a cook, but the recipe wasn't to hard to follow" he smiled, pulling out hard plastic Tupperware container and two dishes to eat it on. Jorge accepted the plate of strange looking pasta, asking what it was. "Well, its supposed to be creamy pasta, it has garlic and I think a shallot, I don't know, I'm not even sure what a shallot is" he shrugged. Jorge ate one of the cherry tomatoes, smiling. He loved tomatoes, that and bananas. His eyes lit up in amazement. It was surprisingly good, a little cold, but still amazing.

"Es muy bueno" (it's very good) he complimented, smiling at him in the dying light. Benji must not have thought that one through, since they were steadily being shrouded in darkness.

"Wait one moment" Benji announced, standing up and brushing the seat of his pants off. Jorge grew uneasy when he heard Benji's footsteps fade and the car engine start up. He scolded himself for worrying, Benji wouldn't just leave him in the middle of a field somewhere. He jumped when the headlights turned on bathing him in the war orange glow. He heard Benji laugh in the distance, before he jogged back over.

"I didn't mean to startle you" he smiled, sitting down.

"Estás bien." (you're fine) he laughed at himself. He was being childish. The two were quiet, the only sound was cicadas chirping and the hooting of some late-night owls. If you listened close enough you could here the pattering of squirrels as they scrambled up trees and the flapping of bat wings as they flew in search of food.

"¿Qué te parece Barcelona?" (how do you like Barcelona) Jorge asked, sipping some of the lemonade Benji brought. It was a little sour, but it was good.

"Oh, I love it here, everyone is so nice and welcoming" he smiled. His eyes looked like honey in the headlights. Jorge nodded. "What bout you? I know you've lived here for a while, but do you like it?" he asked, tilting his head.

"El amor es una palabra fuerte" (love is a strong word) he said, glancing away from Benji "Quiero decir, es mi hogar, pero siempre fantaseaba con mudarme de aquí, y supongo que todavía lo hago a veces" (I mean, it's my home, but I always fantasized about moving out of here, and I guess I still do it sometimes) he admitted. Benji nodded. He understood that feeling.

"Where would you go?" Benji asked, leaning back on his hands, his bowl cast aside haphazardly.

"Francia o Irlanda tal vez, siempre he querido visitar Skelling Michael" (France or Ireland maybe, I've always wanted to visit Skellig Michael) he shrugged. Benji nodded, even though he had no idea what Skellig Michael was, he said just as much.

"La isla con los escalones de piedra natural" (the island with the natural stone steps_ Jorge described, smiling at the confused look on his face.

"Where did you hear about this?" Benji wondered, his hair flopping boyishly into his eyes.

"Leí sobre" (I read about it) he informed. They stared at each other a moment before Jorge looked away, leaving Benji looking triumphant. A small ball of light suddenly appeared before extinguishing and appearing a few feet away. Jorge smiled, memories erupting in his head. He jumped up, holding his hand out to Benji, who accepted albeit unsure as to what was happening.

"Luciérnagas" (Fireflies) was all he said before jogging away. Benji smiled, he hadn't caught Fireflies since he was a kid, and the prospect of doing just that ignited a sharp twinge of nostalgia that had Benji close to tears. It was wonderful. He went to the car, cutting the headlights so the bugs would appear brighter and chased after Jorge. Jorge had one hand cupped over the other, signalling he had gotten one. Benji smiled.

"obtener algo" (Get something) he ordered. Benji quickly retrieved the mason jar that had the lemonade in it and rinsed it out with one of the water bottles he had brought. He grabbed a piece of cheese cloth, using it to cover the jar when Jorge put the two fireflies he caught inside. They lit up and flew around the jar carelessly. Within the next few minutes the jar had become full of the bugs, lighting up and flying around together. They sat on the hood of the car, Jorge holding the jar in his lap.

"La mejor parte aún no ha llegado." (The best part hasn't come yet) he announced. Benji frowned. He thought this was the best part, it was always downhill from there because the bugs always died. Jorge sat there for a few more minutes, before getting up and walking over to the centre of the field, Benji staying by the car. Jorge looked back at Benji for a moment, before slowly sliding the cloth away, holding the jar up. Benji made his way over as the fireflies fought there way out of the jar, lighting up collectively. Jorge turned his head, looking at Benji. Before he could think about what was happening, Benji's lips were on his. Benji's fingers gently tilted his head up, getting a better angle. As they kissed beneath the firefly lights, Jorge decided then that he loved Benji. He wasn't aware of this decision being made, if he had been, he would've denounced himself as crazy for loving this man so much after he knocked on his door the first time the day before. But something somewhere deep inside of him woke up beneath Benji's soft lips and soothing touch. Something that, given a few days, would crave for the taste of Benji's lips again.

*

"I had a great time tonight" Benji said as he walked Jorge to his door.

"al igual que yo" (as did I) Jorge nodded, turning so they were facing each other, Jorge on the top step and Benji on the third so Jorge was a few inches taller than him. Benji looked up, happier, he was convinced, than he had ever been before.

"Can I call you?" he asked, chewing his lip.

"somos vecinos de al lado" (We live next door to each other) Jorge smiled. "Acaba de venir' (just come over) he added, pecking Benji's lips softly before turning to unlock his door.

"Good night Jorge" Benji bid farewell, beginning the walk next door, touching his lips and trying to contain his smile.

"Buenas noches, Benjamin" (Good night Benjamin) he replied, waving and walking inside.