Summer In Barcelona

T W E L V E

Days turned to weeks turned to months. Jorge had lost hope that Benji was ever coming home. Every phone call, every letter, was just broken promises. He always said soon, and Jorge had begun to forget the meaning of the word. He was currently out with Antonio and Noen window shopping in town. The air was brisk for Barcelona even if it was the middle of December. The last time he saw Benji it was June. His heart was as heavy as the bags he as holding for Antonio because she didn't know the meaning of window shopping. He was leaning against a lamp post, watching as Antonio touched practically everything. He doubted there was a pair of sunglasses in town she hadn't tried on.

"Cheer up, whore" Noen tried, wrapping his arm around his shoulders. Jorge just shook his head, looking at the sky. It was a bright blue, the kind that hurt your eyes and almost looked like paint. He knew both Antonio and Noen were tired of hearing about Benji and how much he missed him, so he suffered in silence. He handed Antonio her things as she walked out, smiling cheerfully. Jorge wasn't going to lie; Antonio was pretty cool. She was really owning this whole spontaneous move to Barcelona. There was never a dull moment with her, and she somewhere made Jorge feel better, not okay, but better. As long as Benji wasn't next door, he wouldn't be alright. Antonio slipped a pair of black sunglasses over her eyes, a pair identical to the ones Jorge and Noen always wore. They looked like they were a part of some club. Jorge almost laughed at that.

"Do you guys want to grab some lunch?" Antonio asked, looking around still in awe even after seven months. Jorge hadn't realized how hungry he was until food was actually mentioned, and he said just as much.

"Yeah, there is a cute café near here" Noen informed. It never ceased to amaze Jorge, how much Noen knew about Barcelona. He could get you from one side of the country to the next without needing any help and Jorge loved that. He had grown up there and didn't now half the shit Noen did.

Onna Café was a cute hole in the wall in town with high stools and dark oak wood floor. The barista was kind even as it took Antonio ten minutes to decide between an almond croissant or one of the salads. She eventually went with both and an iced coffee. Jorge and Noen both got breakfast sandwiches despite it being close to two in the afternoon. There were a few other people, which according to the boy behind the counter, was pretty empty for the café, especially on a Friday. They got there food and sat down by one of the windows, sun shining through and warming the table. Jorge sipped his coffee, which he preferred hot over Noen's and Antonio's cold coffees. It was good, unlike a few other café's in town, they didn't put to much cream in it, so it still tasted like coffee and not straight sugar.

"So, what are you guys going to do the rest of the day?" Antonio asked, picking the almonds off of her croissant and eating them by themselves. Noen shrugged, to busy inspecting his food to answer.

"I'm probably going to try to call Benji, see what he's doing, if Rowyn's getting any better." He shrugged. Her and Noen shared a pitying look before turning back to there lunch. Jorge frowned, resting his chin in his hand, and looking out the window, watching pedestrians mill around. Nothing could ever go wrong for them in this moment and that pissed Jorge off. He had felt like that before and right when he found his footing in something resembling happiness, the rug was yanked from beneath his feet. It wasn't fair. He wasn't so hungry anymore. His stomach hurt ad his mouth tasted sour. Taste he had gotten used too ever since Benji left, of was the taste of an oncoming emotional break and he wasn't in the mood for it. He took a sip of coffee and scrubbed a hand through his hair.

"You should eat, whore" Noen suggested. Antonio frowned.

"Why do you call him such an awful name?" she asked.