Summer In Barcelona

F O U R T E E N

TW Self Harm!! 

"Later" Noen said, walking with Antonio back to his apartment. They had left as soon as Jorge followed Benji down the hall, both knowing where that would lead.

"How do you even know?" Antonio asked, crossing her arms.

"It's Jorge, I've known him for years, I know when somethings up" he shrugged, swinging around alight post. Antonio frowned.

"I still don't believe it, how could anyone ever try and hurt him?" she asked, frowning.

"Jealousy? I don't know, Jorge's such a sweet kid, he should've been able to leave bullying in high school" Noen shrugged.

"This isn't bullying, Noen, this is harassment, this man, what's his name again?" she asked, looking at him.

"Samuel" he reminded.

"Samuel goes out of his way to belittle and hurt Jorge, there have been times where I have heard him crying and not the crying he does when he's having a particularly rough day missing Benji, no this was the sound of someone who felt worthless" Antonio shuddered, pissed anyone would make Jorge feel that way. "Why haven't you told Sebastian?" she asked.

"Because there is no proof, Jorge would never tell, and he doesn't even know I know" Noen explained. Antonio looked disgusted, as she should be. "I'm just going to tell Benji, he'll take care of it" Noen informed quietly.

"Have you met Benji? He's the softest human being ever, he'll confront Samuel and instead of beating the shit out of him for messing with Jorge, he'd offer to buy him a drink or mouthing" Antonio frowned.

"I doubt it, when someone is causing Jorge to feel that way, to hurt himself to make it do away, I'm positive Benji will kick their asses and probably end up in jail" Noen informed. As much as he wanted to see Samuel get what he deserved, Benji in jail was not a good thing.

"Wait, he's been hurting himself?" Antonio asked, stopping. Noen nodded, stopping along with her. "Hurting himself how?" she asked.

"You haven't seen the cuts on his arms?" he asked. He had seen them almost immediately, asking what they were. Jorge said was carrying a vase for his flowers and fell.

"No" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "How did Benji not see them?" she sked.

"He just got home to his loving boyfriend after being gone for the majority of the year, I'm fairly sure the fact that Jorge is alive is the only thing that matters. If he didn't see, maybe he's choosing not to, you know?" Noen shrugged. Antonio was unsatisfied with that.

"He should be able to notice something so wrong with the supposed love of his life" Antonio frowned.

"Antonio, they dated for like a week before Benji left, the majority of their relationship has been long distance, how the hell would he be able to sense such a change in him? Benji barely knows anything about Jorge, so it doesn't surprise me he doesn't know this" Noen informed. Antonio rose an eyebrow.

"Are you mad they re together?" she asked, raising her own eyebrows.

"No, I'm glad they are, I'm just saying he wouldn't be able to notice the shift in Jorge's mood if it smacked him in the face" Noen shrugged. Antonio shook her head. She considered Noen to be one of her best friends, however she knew he was wrong about this and prayed Benji did know. Prayed Benji talked to him, asked him about it, reassured him of it, made him feel better. No one else could and she recognised that. She was glad Jorge had someone like Benji, some people didn't.

"Whatever" she shrugged, continuing down the sidewalk. Noen followed.

*

Benji woke up before Jorge, like he often did. Well, did once before. He smiled at their laced fingers. He was so happy he almost forgot everything outside of his room. Outside of Jorge. He ran his thumb over Jorge's hand lifting it and kissing the back gently. He froze when he saw small, barely there lines dotting his wrist. They were light, only a shade lighter than his skin, but Benji saw them. Benji saw them and regretted every decision he had made the past few months that kept him from Jorge. He wanted, needed, to know who caused his boy to feel so bad that he had to hurt himself like that. His throat felt tight as he ran his fingers over them gently, kissing each one. He had never been to angry, yet so proud. Jorge had the chance, on multiple occasions by the looks of a few fresh-looking cuts on his arm, to take him life, to be free of this awful place, but he didn't. he stayed strong no matter how weak he felt. Benji pulled him closer, gripping him tight against his chest, burying his nose into his watermelon scented curls. he closed his eyes against the tears, biting his lip and immediately regretted it. It was still split from the previous fight he and his dad had and it had been reopened when the two were kissing earlier. He sighed, pressing a kiss to Jorge's forehead. He wanted nothing more than to talk to him about it, but something told him that's what Noen wanted to talk to him about. He would call Noen later and ask, then he'd talk to Jorge. Find out why and when. What drove him to this point? Benji's heart sank. What if it was because of him? What if Jorge was so torn up about Benji's absent he turned to self-harm? Benji would never forgive myself if that were true. He watched Jorge's sleeping face, which looked so peaceful, a little smile on his lips as though he was having a good dream. Benji only wished he would feel like that when he woke up, and even after that. Wanted nothing more than Jorge's happiness, feeling as though it were the only way he himself could be happy. He ran his fingertips over his cheek, making silent promises he could hopefully keep this time. 

a/n It's short and probably sloppy, but I just wanted to give a sneak peek into Noen and Benji's conversation later. I toyed with so many possibilities as to what it could be, but this option brought along the most conflict and character development. Sorry if the topic upsets anyone and if you want you don't have to read the next chapter, and I don't think I'll bring it up so heavily after it, it will mainly focus on Jorge's job and Samuel and how it started. Also, in the upcoming chapters we will get a glimpse of Protective Benji which is always fun. That's it, sorry to bore you with my an's. Love you, bye💖