Summer In Barcelona

S I X T E E N

A week passed; each day more eventful than the last. Benji had to find a new job since the library was finished, Sam was on vacation, so Jorge didn't have to worry about his tyranny, not to mention he was out of the studio more often than not for the projects assigned by Sebastian. Benji and Jorge decided Benji should move in with him, leaving Antonio the apartment. She insisted she didn't want to be alone so Noen moved in with her. Quite uneventful, so uneventful that there was vague sense that something eventful was about to happen.

It didn't. Another week past, and although Sam was back, Jorge was rarely around the studio when he was. Christmas came and went, leaving all four friends exhausted on New Year's. They were all happy though, there was no denying that.

The letter came a week after that, for Jorge from his parents. His cousin Maria was getting married in the spring, his invitation was enclosed in the letter, saying he could bring as many friends as he pleased, he just had to let them know in advance. Jorge refused to go. He didn't want to make a fool of himself in front of not only his family but her fiancé's family. Benji, being the persuasive man he is, convinced him to R.S.V.P, and take all three of them with him in order to feel less awkward. Jorge refused, even as he wrote back and sent his confirmation of him, Benji, Noen, and Antonio. Benji told him he was proud that he did the right thing, kissed his cheek, and cooked dinner. Jorge freaking out the whole time.

That's how he got where he is now, looking for a dress for Antonio. She was incredibly picky. The three boys got their outfits rather quickly. Each of them picked out an outfit that consisted of nice dark jeans and button ups because Jorge despised suits and he didn't want to do it in the first place, so Noen and Benji decided to make it better for him. Antonio held up a long sparkly blue dress.

"What about this one?" she asked, holding it up to her body.

"I think you need something shorter" Benji said, picking up the same dress just at knee length. "Like this one" he said, holding it up to her instead.

"You're right, but not in this design, if its short it needs to have movement, like a sun dress but nice" she informed, going to the summer section of the boutique. She picked up several before she settled on a creamy white one with little red roses all over the front. It was sleeveless, a single strap went around her neck. "This is gorgeous" she announced, turning to Jorge. "What do you think?" she asked, giving an experimental twirl. Jorge just shrugged from where he say. He hadn't said anything the whole trip, which even Benji found to be rather dramatic.

"Su bonito" (It's pretty) he informed, not wanting to annoy Antonio, he knew she was excited for this.

"Perfect, let me try it on and see if it fits okay" she announced, disappearing into the dressing room. Benji joined Jorge on the love seat he was sitting on.

"Qué pasa cariño?" (What's wrong honey) he said, having begun speaking Spanish with him more.

"¿Debemos irnos? No es tarde para echarse atrás" (Must we go? It's not to late to back out) he whined. Benji shook his head. "No lo entiendes, no he hablado con mis padres en casi tres años, y ahora voy a aparecer como si nada hubiera pasado." (You don't understand, I haven't talked to my parents in almost three years and now I'm just going to show up like nothing happened) he explained quietly, the girl behind the register seemed rather interested in what they were saying by the way she was inconspicuously hanging dresses only a few feet away.

"Don't worry it'll be fine; can you switch to English for me? That girl is eavesdropping" he said quietly. Jorge huffed.

"I just don't get why they seemed so okay in the letter; they didn't seem upset at all" he frowned. It was true, the way his mother wrote the letter it sounded as though they were almost excited to contact him when they hadn't tried for years. Before Benji could respond, Antonio walked out, looking stunning as usual. She spun around quickly, the dress floating up and almost showing her underwear.