I Remember You! (Rafael)

[Deleted]

Zachary needed a change of pace, or more like, a change of scenery. Being at home was nice, it really was! But it was still next to impossible for him to get any work done and exams were once again just around the corner. Exams and papers all at once and Zach just needed to be able to concentrate on them for a few hours straight per day to stay on schedule. But of course, peace and quiet had never been a quality of the Bishop family home. Luckily, there were several shops around town with wifi convenience that he could go to and get some of his work done. Like the coffee shop

Zach stepped into the Velvet-Tone Coffehouse and stood in line for what seemed like forever. Luckily, most everyone there seemed to be taking their orders to go, which meant there would be plenty of space for Zach to lay out his work on one of the tables without waiting around for a space to be free or having to awkwardly share a table with someone he didn't know. When he got to the counter, things seemed to be going a little more smoothly. He put in the order then stepped off to the side while he waited for the barista to finish making it. When they finally called him up, Zach was a little less annoyed than he'd been when he first arrived. He stepped up to the counter and grabbed his drink.

Zach probably should have been moving a little more slowly or been paying attention, because as soon as he stepped back to turn around, he bumped into someone. The caused him to lean back awkwardly as he turned so as to not elbow the other customer or possibly dump the hot contents of his cup all over the stranger. Except when Zach lifted his eyes at the person, he realized that the stranger was not exactly a stranger. "Oh...uh...Hi." Strange how he could remember the face of the person he was not-so-successfully hitting on at Jade's party, while drunk, and not the face of Kai's baby momma. What was his name again? "You're, uh...Rafi...right?"

[Rafael Soto Vega]

Rafael liked to do his homework at the coffee shop. It was just the right mix of privacy and noise that he was used to. And it was much easier for Rafi to focus around the aroma of coffee and pastries instead of his small, dark, dingy apartment. And now that finals were approaching, he was finding any excuse to get himself out of the apartment and out into the world where he could dream a little bit when the math got too hard.

Today in particular he was working on an essay, deciding to write it in Spanish first and translate later. Normally he wouldn't go through the effort, especially since he never really learned to write in Spanish - only English. But since this paper was a huge percentage of his final grade, he was stressing out and was trying to make it as perfect as possible. It was nice that he was able to take a break and get a coffee and a snack when things got too crazy and too tough.

As he got up to get into line, he was immediately struck by what was soon obviously another person. "Lo siento! Lo siento!" he said quickly, realizing he hadn't even looked to see if someone was walking toward him. He composed himself, and finally looked up at the victim of his poor observational skills. He was stone faced for a moment when the man said his name. But then Rafi realized he did know the guy - it was just hard to tell at first since it had been so dark at that party. "Yes. Yes... And you are Zach, yes?" Rafi asked, pointing to the man from Jade's kitchen, almost positive he managed to remember his name despite the alcohol that was consumed directly after introduction.

[Deleted]

How many times had Zach been here in the past to do his studies? Back when he was still living at home, it was every other day. At home there was always the risk of someone bothering and interrupting his concentration in addition to being loud. Here, while it was loud, at least the people here had no reason to come up to him and bother him while he was deep in concentration. For the noise, Zach could just put in his earphones and listen to mind-numbing music, preferably stuff he didn’t have to actually listen to.

It was rare that someone actually bothered to come up to him and engage in conversation while he was wearing his “go away I’m busy” face. But this time…this time it was Zach who was more interested in engaging upon seeing someone that he knew and recognized. Even though from where they knew each other was a bit….unconventional.

Actually, considering his behavior that night, Zach was actually a little embarrassed to see Rafi again. No, not just a little, quite a lot. Especially since it seemed that Rafi remembered Zach as well. Zach meekly scratched his chin. “Yeah, that’s right.” But now what…were they supposed to talk? Zach kind of wanted to, but…clearly he was to awkward to just ask straight out without fumbling around with his words. “I…I didn’t expect to see you…again. I mean, clearly there was no reason to, we don’t exactly….and what I mean is I didn’t expect to run into you here.” Or at all. Which was a given still. But Zach had a tendency of pointing out the obvious.

He looked around towards the exit. “Do you…uh, live around here?” Because that wasn’t stalker creepy at all!

[Rafael Soto Vega]

Rafi could tell that Zach was a bit... uncomfortable - possibly embarrassed by his conduct at the party where they had met. Though Rafi wasn't so sure he needed to be. They both had a bit too much that night, it wasn't as if the Latino couldn't have said no to Zach's offers to pour drinks. Sure, things got a bit strange and Rafi still didn't completely understand what had happened that night, but it wasn't as if anything that had occurred hurt or angered Rafael.

So for Rafael, seeing Zach at the coffee shop was a more pleasant surprise- and an opportunity to step away from his books and frustration. He definitely didn't expect to run into Zach again, unless of course Jade invited them both to another event. "I could not have guessed you would have been here either," Rafi said with a laugh. "But let us be honest, we do not know each other," Rafi added smartly. He didn't even know Zach's last name!

"Well... in a way," Rafi said when Zach asked him if he lived near by - Rafi reacting positively to Zach's first attempt of getting to know him better than 'that drunk guy in the bright orange pants'. "I have an apartment about three bus stops down... by the college I go to," Rafael explained. "I take the bus here to study and work sometimes. I like the smells and the noises," he explained. It reminded him of home. It made him happy. People made him happy.

[Deleted]

That night…Zach wasn’t even sure what he was thinking that night. Between the alcohol and getting irrationally jealous, Zach was nowhere near behaving like his normal self…what was normal anyway? If Zach wanted to act as normal as he always did, he wouldn’t have been drinking in the first place. And besides, maybe that was just what normal was for Zach when he had some alcohol in him? If Zach were an alcoholic, then he’d be acting that way all the time! ….that probably wasn’t a good idea…

But at least this random encounter gave Zach a chance to…make a better impression on Jade’s friend? Because drunk and stupid was hardly the last thing he wanted Rafi to remember about him.

Zach smiled, nodding along with Rafi’s enthusiasm. “You…you’re right. We don’t,” he said lamely with a equally lame chuckle. But obviously it didn’t have to stay that way.

“Oh, well I….” Now what was he supposed to say? “Yeah, I used to come here a lot too back when I was still living at home. It’s….pretty convenient.” Zach smiled through a brief but awkward lull in the conversation before speaking up again. “Uh…do you want to…sit down?” he asked, thumbing to an undetermined area behind him. “I think we’re kind of….” Zach dodged another person trying to get by. “…being…fire hazards.” He chuckled nervously.

[Rafael Soto Vega]

Rafi chuckled as he let another person by them, only just then realizing how in the way they had been. Stopping right in front of the counter was probably not the best course of action. "Ah, yes, of course," Rafi said, as if the notion of sitting down had been lost on him entirely. "I have the table over in the corner. The one with the text books," Rafi explained pointing back where he had been sitting previous. "Just let me get another drink and I shall meet you back there," he offered, since he still hadn't accomplished what he had gotten up to do in the first place.

It only took another moment for Rafi to get his cup filled with coffee once more, and he headed back toward the table where he had directed his companion. He only spilled a little bit of the drink on the way, and luckily didn't burn his fingers which was nice - he was usually less lucky. Setting him in the same spot he had been earlier, Rafi smiled lightly at Zach as he closed the textbooks he had layed out in front of him to set them to the side. It would be rude to keep them out as a possible distraction.

He took a sip of his coffee before finally addressing Zach. "It is actually quite nice to see a familiar face here," Rafi admitted, "It is not very often that somebody joins me for a much needed break," he said tapping the top of his books. He was glad the semester was almost over. It had been quite difficult, and he wasn't positive he would pass all of his classes, but he was trying.

[Deleted]

Oh, good. Zach wasn’t sure if he was being too presumptuous or not in inviting Rafi to sit down, though it ended up with Rafi being the one to invite Zach over to his table. Zach peered over into the corner where the other student had set up his studying nest and was reminded of the many days of his undergraduate program where he did the exact same thing. “Okay, I’ll, uh….wait. There.” Zach nodded a bit robotically before stepping away and letting his new companion go and get his drink.

Zach slipped into the seat across from where Rafi had set up his little study niche, holding his own drink between both hands and thrumming his fingers against the site as he waited. Luckily it wasn’t long, after all, how long did it take to make a coffee?

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Usually, it’s the other way around. People…well, my siblings keep trying to make me take breaks when I don’t want one…” Kai did the same thing. “But when I do there’s….nobody around…” Believe it or not, introverts got lonely. And when they wanted attention, they wanted it now. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why he and Kai just didn’t work out, the other guy’s attention was always everywhere else except where Zach wanted it. “Soo…what are you studying…there?” Zach pointed to the books that Rafi just closed.

[Rafael Soto Vega]

Rafael laughed at Zach's tale. He knew how siblings could be, though he craved his sister's presence. He was sure it was different for someone who was with their family all the time, though, and distractions could be less than welcome when they were constant.

"I am studying for my history and literature final," Rafael explained, tapping the top of each book as he referenced the subject. "I am fairly confident with the history, but literature is not my strong suit." Rafael laugh at himself as he explained, "It is hard enough to read in your second language let alone pick up on irony and things." He remembered reading A Modest Proposal in high school, and not realizing it was satirical until the very end, looking back on all the horrific ideas and deciding it simply hadto be satire - there was no way someone could seriously be suggesting man eat their own children...

"Have you had all your exams already?" Rafi asked, curious, remembering that Zach attended the University of Vermont - it was one of the few topics Rafi remembered talking about that night.

[Deleted]

Rafi didn’t know the half of it. While Zach had told him that he had siblings, he doubted that the other man had any idea about the twelve-sibling family that he was a part of. The Bishop Horde, as many liked to call them. Zach wondered for a moment if that was something he would have to explain to this person, or if Rafael would know just from hearing the name like so many others? Either way, Zach wasn’t going to offer the information unless it actually came up in conversation.

“I see. Well, I guess you’re in luck,” he started somewhat optimistically. “I’m actually…well, literature is kind of my specialty.” Zach wasn’t that great in history, but it was something he had no choice but to be decent in. Research was essential when one wanted to be a writer. “I guess I can understand that.” As he understood it, a lot of jokes were language based, like puns, so being proficient in the language was essential to understanding the joke. Then again, Zach was very proficient in English, and jokes still had the tendency to go right over his head.

“Actually…well, they’re mostly papers,” he admitted. English and creative writing majors didn’t often have actual exams. Just final projects. Maybe a presentation or two. “But they’re pretty much done.” Or completely. That’s what happened when you had no distractions from abnormally tall, good-looking, childish, impulsive….guys…. “When are your exams?” he asked.

[Rafael Soto Vega]

"I wish I only had papers to write," Rafi said with a laugh, "I am pretty sure google translate was made so I could pass writing classes." While Rafi was half serious, he had gotten much better at writing at least. His reading was fine too, but his comprehension was sometimes iffy. Or... most of the time iffy. "I suppose you are an literature major, then? Or something similar?" Rafi asked with a tilt of his head, wondering if Zach had told him that a few nights ago. He remembered that the man was on the newspaper with Jade... but that didn't necessarily mean anything.

"I would love your help some time, but not right now. My brain is mrddy from all of the work I have done," Rafi explained, using his fingers to gesture as he spoke - hoping it helped drive home any points that weren't clear in his word choice. Rafi became very good at communicating even when he tripped himself up.

"Jade told me about your friend. How is he feeling?" Rafi asked with a tilt of his head, not really knowing anything about the story, but knowing that Jade had paralyzed him during the party. He didn't understand why she would do that, or if she had meant to. He just knew it happened and he hoped whoever it was felt better than he must have that night.

[OOC: hope it's ok to assume Rafi knows at least a little about all that. I figure this will give a Zach a chance to talk about things if he wants ]

[Deleted]

Zach’s smile widened at the semi-joke. “Does that actually work?” he asked with a laugh. Zach had never seriously taken a language class before and rarely had a reason to use a language other than English, so google translate was not an application that he ever used, so he had no idea how accurate it would be to just copy and past your whole paper in one language and have it conveniently come out another. “Creative writing,” he offered. He honestly couldn’t remember if he’d said that before, but it probably didn’t hurt to repeat it. They were rather drunk last they met, there were probably a lot of things they didn’t quite remember. “I want to…I want to be a novelist one day.”

“Oh, okay,” he said with a nod. “Well, just..just let me know when, if you ever do need it.” Because Zach had very little else to do in his time wallowing over his “break-up” with Kai.

Speaking of Kai…

“Umm….he’s fine,” Zach lied. Well, he was fine after that whole incident and Zach(begrudgingly) forgave him, but Zach had no idea how he was doing right now. “….at least he was last I saw him,” physically. Mentally…who knew. “We haven’t talked much lately.” And you know what, he was probably just fine! Just fine and flirting with some new attraction he picked up in a bar somewhere!

Zach might have been visually disturbed while these thoughts circled through his head. He just needed to calm down.

[Rafael Soto Vega]

Rafi could tell he'd struck some kind of nerve as soon as he brought up the Mystery party-goer. He didn't mean to make Zach tense, but that seemed to be the result he'd be forced to play with. "I'm sorry to hear that," Rafi said, genuine concern in his eyes. Rafi just hated seeing people sad. He hated knowing that friendships crumbled. He hated thinking that by bringing it up he was causing some sort of pain.

"I can tell maybe I brought up a topic you wish not to speak about," Rafi said with wondering eyes, "But sometimes the best thing to do with these things is to speak of them. Many of my friends tell me I am good at listening, so if you need to talk you are more then welcome to use my ear," Rafi offered with a small smile. "It is the least I can do if you will help me with my assignments." It wasn't much, but at least Rafi could offer. He liked when other people talked more, anyway. It gave him more time to process before he spoke.

[Deleted]

“It’s alright,” he said with a fake air of ease. “He’ll be fine.” And Kai probably would be. He probably was. A lot more than Zach, for certain. He probably didn’t even miss the writer, probably hadn’t even spared a thought about him. Probably found something new to please himself with.

Zach’s eyes perked up confused at Rafi’s words. Had he really be that obvious? Well, that would be consistent. Everyone else seemed to be better at reading Zach than he was at reading himself.

Zach was hesitant, however. It seemed like that’d all he been doing lately, complaining and whining about the things that Kai did; to Jade, to Kailin. They listened because they were close and knew the situation for the most part. It was sort of expected with them being family and friend. Not that Rafi wasn’t a friend…but they had only just met. Was it really appropriate to be talking about such personal issues with a near-stranger? Then again, sometimes a outside opinion, someone who could be objective, was helpful. That’s what they said, at least.

“Thanks,” he said after a long, pensive pause. The word lingered in the air for yet another noticeable moment before he breathed and sighed, deciding to give in to Rafi’s offer. “I, um…..It’s stupid really,” he started with a dismissive laugh. “I, uhh…just…I just went through a pretty bad break-up…with him…that guy, and…and that’s pretty much it, I guess.” Zach fell quiet, feeling much like a foolish teenage girl whining about how her boyfriend cheated on her. It was…embarrassing. He felt his face flush.

[Rafael Soto Vega]

"Oh..." Rafael said, concerned lines on his face still lingering. "I'm sorry to hear that." He honestly wasn't sure what else to say to help - Rafael wasn't good with such things. Love confused him. Relationships confused him. He had only ever been in one relationship - and it was with a girl who refused to take no as an answer. Rafael learned a lot about himself during that period of time...

"Relationships are hard..." Rafael mused. "Do not feel like you must talk about it... but if you would like..." Rafi offered, seeing as the topic seemed to make "You just seem upset and that is no way to live." Rafael hated when people were sad. He hated when people refused to look at the bright side or the silver lining. "Are you sad because you still love him?" Rafi asked blatantly, not quite aware of the effect that kind of question could have on a person.

[Deleted]

Yup….Zach knew it was a bad idea to bring it up. They didn’t have to talk about it, Rafael was probably just being nice, but now it certainly felt like Zach was just an ex-girlfriend complaining and man-hating on the one who jaded her. Well, him. And now Zach’s admission just made thing awkward.

“Yeah…I guess.” It was his first relationship and he didn’t even realize/acknowledge it as such until they were already pretty much over. “Thanks,” he said with a polite smile. “…it’s not that I don’t want to talk about it….just…I don’t really know what to say. Or how much…you’d want to hear…” Zach was sure he wasn’t, given that Rafi hadn’t seemed to be too bothered by the subject(then again, Zach was horrible at reading people), but didn’t know how comfortable Rafi was in discussions of same-sex relationships. The fact that he continued it with such a heart-piercing question spoke loads to Zach, however, about…things. He…pretty much hit the nail on the head, as they say. And having it pointed out to him so bluntly…it did make Zach’s heart sore just thinking about the answer.

Zach nodded, feeling a flush of emotion start to prickle at his face. “Yeah,” he said with a slight burn in his throat. Zach swallowed, trying to get rid of it. “I am.” He didn’t want to talk about this anymore…though he probably needed to.