Summer In Barcelona

T E N

He had expected tears, had expected his parents to admit that they missed him and were sorry for driving him so far away. They didn't. Benji wasn't surprised in the least, though he did have to remind himself occasionally that he came for Rowyn not for his parents. They didn't matter, not then. The first time he had seen Rowyn in the hospital, he had teared up, nearly crying. He hadn't, made sure to keep a brave face for him. He had been unconscious, the nurse explaining that he was in a coma or something. Benji couldn't hear past the ringing in his ears. He was so mad at whoever did this and so mad that he hadn't been there when it first happened, coming nearly a day late. He inhaled sharply, sitting next to his brothers bed.

"Hey, Row" he smiled. He didn't know why he was smiling, Rowyn couldn't see it, so he stopped. It was too hard to smile. "I'm sorry I wasn't here, you know' he said quietly, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I've been in Barcelona, crazy right? It's beautiful" he admitted, looking wistfully out the window. "The people are so nice, incredible really, now nice they are" he sighed.

"You met someone, didn't you?" Thomas asked from the doorway. Benji stood up, turning to him.

"Thomas!" he exclaimed, hugging him close to him. Thomas laughed, pushing him away.

"Happy to see you too" he smiled. Benji nodded. A sudden awkward silence fell over them. It made Benji want to pull his hair out, to throw a fit like a child, to do something besides stand there under Thomas' stare.

"I'm sorry I ran off to Barcelona and didn't even call you guys to let you know I was alive" Benji blurted, unable to help himself. Thomas chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Rowyn and I understand, its mom and dad you have to worry about" he shrugged, walking farther into the room. Benji followed him, offering him a chair, which Thomas accepted gratefully. "So, back to the amazing people of Barcelona, what's his name?" Thomas asked, eyeing him with a knowing glint in his eyes.

"His name is Jorge" he easily smiled a blush lightly dusting his cheeks. Thomas smiled. "He's my neighbour" he informed. Thomas snorted.

"Don't tell me you have a boy next door type love?" Thomas teased. Benji sunk back into his seat, smiling.

"No" he lied, looking away. Thomas laughed.

"Way to go, Benji, you went to Barcelona and that the most stereotypical thing happen to you, how's it feel to have he exact same love story as billions of people on this planet?" Thomas asked. This shouldn't have made Benji irritated, but it did. Did he want to be mad? No/ Was his anger justified? Not really. But there it was.

"No one's love story is the same, Thomas" Benji said, rolling his eyes. "Everyone's different" he muttered, crossing his arms. Thomas laughed.

"You're really pissed about that? Come on, Benji, he was the boy next door, let me guess there was a lot of pining a few awkward encounters and then you confessed your love for one another" Thomas guessed, only for Benji to shake his head triumphantly.

"No, actually, we met the first day I moved there, I asked him out the next day, we fought the day after that, made up, and now I'm here because apparently I was only gone for a week before I was called back home" Benji informed. He couldn't believe it had only been a week. He felt as if it had been a year; so much had happened. Thomas was silent, understanding how shitty the situation was. He couldn't help feeling bad. Benji, no matter how short of a time it was, had made a life for himself in Barcelona and here they were fucking it up again. It wasn't fair to Benji.

"I'm sorry dude, this must suck" he levelled with him, trying to put himself in that situation to see how he would feel. He probably would have gotten made over being told that his love story was like everyone else's too if he had to put said love story on the back burner so he could come back and take care of his family. Benji just shrugged. He wasn't in the mood to talk anymore, he just wanted to call Jorge and beg for him to fly out to Canada and stay with him while he was there, but that was too much to ask the already stressed out boy. He had a new job that needed him and Benji didn't want his parents to meet him and say sly remarks about his looks or the way he talked because his parents were low enough to do that especially since he was a boy. It'd be different if Jorge was a girl. Everything would be. Benji stood up, excusing himself. He waled into the hall, looking for anyone with scrubs on to tell him where he could find a phone. A nice orderly with purple scrubs told him there was one that visitors could use on the first floor near the bathrooms and that where Benji went. He practically punched the numbers to his apartment into the dial, waiting. Antonio picked up within a few rings sounding groggy as though she just woke up. Benji forgot all about time zones in his rush to here Jorge's sweet melodic voice telling him he'd be alright.

"Benji's place" she said through a yawn.

"I'm sorry to wake you Ant, but I need to speak to Jorge it's urgent" he said, tapping his foot anxiously.

"Hold on" she sighed, placing the receiver over the hook so the call was still going as she left to fetch Jorge. What was only ten minutes felt like a lifetime before Jorge's voice was serenading Benji's ears. His voice was raspy from sleep, or worse, tears, and Benji felt immediately relaxed.

"Benjamin" Jorge said happily. Benji smiled.

"It's me, Cariño" he reassured softly, leaning against the wall, tears threatening to pour down his cheeks.

"Te extraño" (I miss you) Jorge whispered quietly, sniffling. Benji nodded.

"I miss you too, baby, but don't worry its only a few days, I promise" Benji sighed, cradling the phone as though it were Jorge himself. "How was work?" Benji asked, inhaling shakily.

"Fue bueno, Sebastian ama mis fotos, dijo que tengo un ojo para lo misterioso, lo que sea que eso signifique, creo que significa que tomo fotos de cosas que parecen que tienen una historia para ellos (It was good, Sebastian loves my photos, he said I have an eye for the mysterious, whatever that means, I think he means I take pictures of things that look like they have a story to them) he said sounding unsure.

"You'll have to show some of your work sometime, when I get home, hopefully" Benji suggested.

"Claro" (Of course) Jorge agreed, sitting down.

"Did you and Noen get up to anything today?" he asked.

"E-en realidad no, estaba muy ocupado" (N-not really, he was really busy) he shrugged. Benji nodded. "¿Cómo fue su vuelo" (How was your flight?) Jorge asked, more than likely curling the chord around his finger like he was fond of doing.

"It was okay, I was seated beside this guy who slept the whole time and snored loudly" Benji said, smiling at Jorge's laugh.

"¿Qué hay de Rowyn, está bien" (What about Rowyn, is he alright?) he asked nervously. If Rowyn was okay, Benji would be able to come home sooner.

"He's sleeping, but the doctors said he should wake up within a week, I'll stay until he does, maybe a little longer" Benji informed, looking around the hall. Jorge let out an unsatisfied sob. "Don't worry, Jorge, I swear on my life I will be home within a month" he reassured. Jorge was crying, Benji could tell. He hated that, it made him want to cry as well. It also unsettled him; they were so far into the magic that is love the thought of being apart for so long drove them to tears.

"Te extraño" (I miss you) Jorge repeated, wiping his eyes.

"I miss you too pedacito de Cielo" (my little piece of heaven) he said. Jorge was quiet for a moment. Benji went to say something but Jorge spoke first.

"¿Tienes el dinero para un vuelo de regreso" (Do you even have the money for a flight back?) he asked, dreading the answer. Benji wished he hadn't asked.

"No, not yet, but I'll get a job and save up. It won't take long I promise" he said. He broke that promise as soon as he said it. A part time job would give him five dollars an hour at the most, only working a few hours a week for four weeks would probably only get him five hundred if he were lucky.

"Benji?" he heard Thomas call for him. He looked up as Thomas approached him.

"Yes?" he asked.

"He's awake" he informed, waiting for him to hang up. Benji nodded, feeling guilty for the disappointment he felt when he had to hang up with Jorge. "I've got to go, Cariño" Benji said. Jorge sniffled.

"Bien" Jorge mumbled. Benji went to hang up when Jorge spoke. "¡Esperar! Te amo, mi sol" (Wait! I love you my sun) he said. Benji's heart ached.

"I love you too, Jorge, tell Antonio I'll call later, okay?" he asked. Once he got Jorge's agreement, he hung up. He ignored Thomas who was staring at him like he had two heads or lost the one he had. Benji didn't blame him, but he refused to explain himself to him. He didn't have to explain himself to anyone, except maybe Jorge. But that was different, it was different because they, as of just then, officially loved each other and that made the distance easier. Somewhat.

a/n two updates in one day? Yes, and expect another because I want Benji back home too haha. Love you guys, bye : )