Summer In Barcelona

E L E V E N

"Benji?" was the first thing Rowyn said when they walked into the room. He looked both worried and relieved.

"Yeah, it's me kid" he smiled. Rowyn lay back, sighing.

"When'd you get here?" he asked. Benji sat in one of the chairs beside the bed.

"Not too long ago" he shrugged. They were silent as Rowyn adjusted in the bed with a pained groan.

"Where were you, anyway?" he asked, looking at him calmly. There was no anger in his expression, just gently curiosity.

"Uh, Barcelona" he admitted sheepishly. He had said it already, but that was when he thought no one was listening. Rowyn rose his eyebrows, seeming impressed. "Yeah, I know" he chuckled.

"Tell him the rest" Thomas suggested, smiling. Even if the exchange of 'I love you' unnerved him moments before, he was still happy for his brother.

"The rest of what?" Rowyn asked smiling.

"He met a guy" Thomas blurted, getting a swift elbow to the rib. Thomas hissed, moving away.

"A guy? Is he cute?" Rowyn teased, causing Benji to blush.

"Yes, he's cute! He's ridiculously cute and he talks to me in Spanish, it's so hot" he admitted, hiding his face in his hand.

"Don't tell me you have a thing for his accent?" Thomas accused. Benji shook his head vigorously before thinking about it. His voice was really hot and it did do things to him, but he wasn't about to tell them that.

"Of course not" he rolled his eyes. "I just like the way he talks sue me" he shrugged, smiling as Rowyn ordered him to tell him all the details regarding him. "Well, I met him the day I moved into my apartment, I was feeling rather good about my decisions and I wanted to get to know someone, so I knocked on his door and he answered. He didn't look very happy so I greeted him, introduced myself and he invited me in" Benji left out the fact that he sometimes still saw the distant sadness in his eyes as though it were something his company alone couldn't fix. "He made me lemonade and we talked a little bit, but it did get awkward after a little bit because we didn't know each other so I thanked him and left" he smiled, trying not to visibly cringe at that memory. "That night, I had gotten home from my job and I was trying to unlock my door, but it was stuck. Luckily, Jorge and his friend Noen showed up and Jorge helped, but he seemed eager to leave, probably because of that morning, I don't know. The next morning I asked him out and he accepted of course, why wouldn't he?" he joked. "Don't answer that. That evening we went on a picnic and caught fireflies and I kissed him" he shrugged, tucking his legs beneath him.

"A picnic?" Thomas asked at the same time Rowyn asked 'Fireflies?' Benji rolled his eyes.

"Leave me alone, it's romantic" he ordered, smirking. "Anyway, Antonio showed up"

"Seriously? Antonio? How is she?" Rowyn asked quickly, blushing. Benji almost forgot about his devotion to her.

"Yes, Antonio, and she's fine, she did however, upset Jorge because she was rude when he knocked on my door the next morning and he got worried and thought I was dating her" he informed.

"How could you date her? She leaves the hair from her hairbrush all over the bathroom sink" Thomas shrugged.

"That's exactly what I told him!" Benji exclaimed, laughing. "We argued, made up, then we made dinner together and went to bed because Antonio was with someone at my place" he shrugged. "Then I got the call to come here" he frowned.

"Sorry your family was such a bother" a voice said from the doorway. Benji stood, turning around.

"Mom, Dad" he nodded, looking to his brothers worried.