Chapter Text
He was already pretty drunk when Sam showed up. Hawk was making out with a random girl. Demetri was trying to talk to a girl. Aisha was doing god knows what. He was talking with a group off guys he just met. Normally he was either silent and shy or an awkward blabbermouth. The alcohol gave home a comfortable in-between. He finally felt like life was good to him. He forgot about Sam. Then she showed up.
Miguel knew that screaming wouldn’t help. But after all her lying he just had to let his anger out. Ignoring him all day. Then showing up to the party that he invited her to with her new boyfriend. He had all right to be angry. After letting all of it out he just felt empty.
She drove off without pretty boy. He still had his fists up, a look of confusion on his face. Miguel let down his fist. There was no point in fighting anymore. At this the boy relaxed a little.
“So you are the other guy?” Miguel asked.
“Like she told you, we're just friend” pretty boy said.
“Yeah yeah. You probably say that to every guy whose girlfriend you steal pretty boy” Miguel said.
Did I he really just say pretty boy.
“I didn’t steal your girlfriend and I’m not a pretty b-…. Why am I even arguing with you.” pretty boy said while blushing.
“You ask-king me” Miguel said with words slurred, while pointing at his chest. His finger felt weird on his chest bone. Like he stabbed himself. Then he felt his car keys in his hand. He probably did stab himself. Now the adrenaline had worn off the felt the alcohol again. He just wanted to go home.
"Whatever” pretty boy said loudly while walking away.
Miguel just wanted to go home and forget about today. With his keys in his hand he stumbled around the car park. He couldn’t find his mom’s car. He’d tried two cars already. With every minute that passed he felt drunker. At this point he was just walking in circles. He was ready to start crying. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You’re in no condition to drive." the guy said. When Miguel turned around he saw who it was.
“oh. Gre-aat it’s you again” Miguel said. He said while crouching down. He sat down with his back against a car. “I just… wa-nt to get home, oo-ke.” Miguel whined. It wasn’t like him to act like a child. He was just done with the day.
“I’m not letting you drive drunk. Just give me your keys and I’ll drive you home.” pretty boy said.
“I’m not giving my ke-ys to a pre-tty boy like you” Miguel said.
“Dude, stop calling me that.” pretty boy said.
“it’s. It’s not like I have a name.” Miguel retorted.
“My name’s Robby.” Robby said while bending down to give Miguel a hand shake. Miguel mistook the handshake for a helping hand. He took his hand. Then tried to get up and failed miserably. He fell down, taking Robby with him. Robby seeing that this drunk guy wasn’t moving went to sit next to him.
“My name’s… Uhm.” Miguel said.
“Miguel I knows your name. No need to remember it right now. More importantly where do you live?” Robby said. Now that his drunk anger had worn off he looked like a sleepy puppy. Big brown eyes staring at him sleepelly. Robby moved closer to him. They were now almost touching.
“You kno–w my name?”
“Sam talks about you, alot.” Robby said. Miguel smiled at that.
“What… What did she say about me?”
“I don’t have time for your relationship drama. Just give me the keys and I’ll drive you home” Robby said impatiently.
“I’m not supposed to let anyone else drive my mom’s car.” Miguel all but whispered.
Robby's altruism was running out. Miguel was about to fall asleep. He was sitting on the sidewalk back against a car. Seeing that Miguel wasn’t going anywhere. Robby would just get one of his friends. They could deal with him. With the drunk driving averted, his job was done.
“Miguel I’m going to walk home. I’ll tell your friends wher-.”
“Wait. Don’t. Don’t leave me.” Miguel pleaded. Grabbing Robby’s shoulders clinging to him.
“Where do you live? I’ll walk you.”
Miguel looked around searching. He pointed started pointing.
“that way.” Miguel said.
Robby stood up.
“Oke give me your hand.” Robby took Miguel’s hand and lifted him up. Miguel staggered so much while walking that Robby had to support him. While they walked Miguel gave vague directions to his house. From what he gathered Miguel’s house was near his. He just started walking to his house. Miguel could sober up at his place. He could drive home later. When they where at Robby’s front door Miguel seemed to notice they weren’t in his neighborhood. He put his ear against the door. He always checked before he went in.
“What are you doing?” Miguel asked while standing way to close. Robby didn’t answer and just hushed him.
His mom was home and she had company. Normally he would just sneak true the window. Go to his room, put headphones on and wait till the guy left. He didn’t want to explain that to Miguel. He just turned around and leaned against the door. Where could they go now. It was getting late.
“Uhm… Do you remember where you live.”
Miguel started pointing again. Robby stopped him.
“No, I mean like a street or something”
Miguel screwed up his face like he was thinking. He shook his head and stopped mid shake. Then pulled out his wallet. He held it up to Robby. He looked like a proud puppy showing his owner what he found. Robby opened the wallet. Inside it said: property of Miguel Diaz if found call 1******** or bring to this address *****.
“You’ve had that all this time? We walked passed there. You could have been home already.”
Miguel just looked at him with an apologetic look. Robby really couldn’t be mad at a drunk guy for forgetting stuff. They started walking to Miguel’s house. While walking Robby started recognizing things. The homes reminded him of his dad’s neighborhood. As they kept walking he started recognizing more stuff. The he realized they were walking to his dad’s house.
“Please tell me you do not live with my dad.” Robby said.
All kinds of thoughts went to Robby’s head. Miguel and his dad seemed close. Miguel wasn’t much older than Robby. He had never seen or heard of Miguel’s dad. Was he his brother? Robby started freaking out. He stopped walking. Grabbed Miguel’s shoulders and shook him. This got Miguel’s attention.
"Do you live with him? " Robby asked.
“With who?” Miguel asked.
“Johnny. Do you live with my Johnny?” Robby asked frantic.
“Yeahhh… Sensei lives next to us. We’re neighbors.” Miguel answered cheerfully.
“Miguel do you know who your father is.” Robby asked.
All happiness fell from Miguel his face. Robby almost wished he hadn’t asked.
“I don’t want to talk about that asshole.” Miguel said while pulling Robby’s hands off him.
Robby had never heard the other boy curse. The cursing combined with the look on Miguel’s face made him regret his question. He was just being paranoid. He caught up with Miguel and tried to apologize. The other boy just ignored him. He wouldn’t even look him in the eyes. When Robby caught a glimpse of his face he knew why. Miguel was crying. Not the bawling your eyes out kind. He was crying in a way familiar to Robby. The real man don’t cry kind of crying. He could just imagine one of his mom’s boyfriends saying: “Suck it up buttercup.” after giving him the belt or a shoe or a fist.
Robby tried apologizing again. Miguel was still not answering. Miguel was now shaking a little. Robby stood in front of him and put his hand on his shoulders. He tried apologizing again. Miguel still wouldn’t look at him. Then Robby did something that he wish someone would have done to him when he was younger. He hugged Miguel. It was a little awkward. Luckily it was already late enough that there weren’t a lot of people. Robby didn’t know what to do with his hands. He just put them on Miguel’s back and held them there. Miguel started hugging him back. He felt Miguel’s wet cheeks against his neck. His shaky breath and the same awkward hands. Then Miguel started bawling. It wasn’t pretty but Robby could feel that Miguel really needed that. After Miguel stopped they started walking again. This time no awkwardness or drunken mumbling. Just a comfortable silence. When they got to the apartment building Miguel stopped and turned around. Robby checked his wallet again.
“That’s your house right?” Robby asked
“Yes.” Miguel said.
"So let’s go then. " Robby said.
“Not yet. I’m still to drunk. If my mom finds out I drank I’ll be grounded till senior year. Just wait with me” Miguel pleaded.
Miguel started walking. Robby followed silently. They ended up in an empty apartment a few doors down from his home. The door had a chain on it but the lock wasn’t closed. They never did. From afar it looked locked so there wasn’t a problem. The guy who used to live there broke the door. The landlord has yet to fix it. Miguel moved the chain out of the way and opened the door. The apartment was rundown and looked like it had been robbed. The only furniture a small couch in the middle of the living room. The floor was covered in dust and random paper. The kitchen missed all cabinet doors but still had a few glasses. Robby grabbed two and started rinsing them in the sink. When he walked into the living room he found Miguel sitting on the couch. He handed him a glass of water. Miguel thanked him. Robby thought about where to sleep. He could bring Miguel home and then sneak into this apartment again. The couch wasn’t to dirty. Many there were blankets in the bedroom. His thoughts were interrupted by miguel.
“Why did you ask me about my dad?” Miguel said out of the blue.
Robby really hopped Miguel had forgotten that. Hopefully he didn’t remember anything else.
“It was nothing. Just forget about it.” Robby answered.
“It wasn’t nothing. You looked like your life depended on the answer. So why were you asking.” Miguel said.
Robby really didn’t want to say the truth. It would make him sound like he had daddy issues. He always wanted a dad. growing up he always saw his friend with their dads. Playing sports with them. Going to the mall with them. Even just being brought to school by them. He always thought that some day his dad would come back and take care of him. His mom would dump her boyfriend and they’d be a happy family again. As he grew older he learned more about his dad. He lived in the city. He used to do karate. Robby went to visit him once. He made it to building but couldn’t bring himself to knock on the door. He just sat outside watching. Then he saw his dad come out. Later he came back with a lot of beer. Robby watched true the window as his dad drank it. His dad passed out drunk. Drooling while sitting in his recliner. That was the day Robbie stopped dreaming for his dad to come back. He was just like his mom’s boyfriends. A dunk nobody. When he saw his dad with Miguel he was mad. Not because his dad started a dojo. Not because his dad started training Miguel. His dad got his act together for once. The part that hurt was that he couldn’t do it for him. He could deal with his dad not being there because he had to get his live in order. But seeing his dad get his act together for someone else. It made Robby feel like he wasn’t enough for his dad. He wasn’t enough for his mom to. No one wanted him. Everyone just tolerated him. But how could he tell Miguel all that. He settled for lying. The thing he’s best at.
“I wanted to know about the guy I was walking home.” Robby said.
“You say that like we’re on a date.” Miguel said chuckling.
“I’ll bring you flowers next time.” Robby said while laughing.
When they both stopped laughing. Miguel looked at Robby all serious all of a sudden.
“My father was a really bad guy. My mom and i… We had to get away from him. My grandma helped us and then she was a target too.”
Robby wished he’d just told the truth. He could tell it hurt for Miguel to talk about this.
“We sold everything to get to this country. I was really small but I can still remember. It was hardest in my grandma. She sold our family home and spend all her savings to get us here. Anything for family she said. She used to get really homesick. Then she’d put on music and dance with me. She’d kook and then we would dance some more. When my mom would come home she’d join us.”
Robby was really happy that the story got better at the end. He handed Miguel the second glass of water.
“I showed you mine now show me yours.” Miguel said softly.
“uhm my dad… He’s not in the picture.” Robby said.
Miguel kept looking at him. Urging him to keep talking.
“My mom got pregnant young. He couldn’t step up. He didn’t even pay child suport. Mom raised me on her own. The closest thing to a dad I ever had was the guys she brought home.” Robby said.
He felt Miguel’s arm on his shoulder. He’d never really opened up to someone like this. It felt nice to let things out.
“Is that what you were doing at the door. Listening if she brought home a guy.” Miguel asked.
“yeah.” Robby answered.
“Dude I know it’s awkward but you don’t have to hide for your mom’s boyfriends.” Miguel said.
“You don’t get it.” Robby said.
To Robby boyfriend meant something else then to Miguel. When Miguel said boyfriend he meant partner some who takes care of you. Someone who loves you. Someone that pays on the first date and kisses you at the door. The guys his mom brought Jaime where boyfriends only in name. Most of them stayed around for a few days and were gone. Most of them didn’t even knew his mom had kids. A lot of them got angry when they found out his mom had kids. She’d usually under sell her age a bit. When the guys found out in usually don’t go well. Not all got violent but it happens often enough that Robby had to be carefull.
“Are you sober enough to go home?” Robby asked.
“I am” Miguel answered.
Robby got up and looked at his phone. It was almost 3 at night. It was way to late to walk home again. Miguel peeked over and saw the time.
“You can sleep over at mine if you want” Miguel said.
“Your mom would be ok with that?” Robby asked.
“She’d be happy just for the fact that I made a friend” Miguel said.
The started walking to his house. Ignoring the fact that Miguel had just called Robby his friend. They were already in the living room when they remembered their total lack of an excuse for being late. His mom was hysterical screening at Miguel for being so late. Not answering his phone. Not calling. She wanted to to call the cop she said. All this filled in with Spanish from a woman that Robby assumed to be Miguel’s grandma.
"I had to help my friend… Robby… " Miguel started. He was a really bad lier.
“Hi, Miss Diaz. I’m Robby. Miguel offered to bring me home. When I got home I coil dent find my keys. I lost them somewhere at the party. Robby drove me back and helped me look for them. We couldn’t find the keys in the dark. Miguel then offered to let me sleep over here, if that’s ok with you.” Robby stepped in to help.
His mom looked taken aback by this. She apologized to Robby and Miguel. She offered them some food but Robby declined. It was a wonder she hasnt smelled the alcohol by now. Spilling next to her would be pushing his luck. When Robby got to Miguel his room it looked different from what he’d expected. There was a bed, a night stand, a desk and a closet that was it. No posters on the wall no childhood memorabilia. Most hotel rooms looked more lived in.
“just moved here.” Miguel explained.
“we don’t have any extra blankets and stuff yet so… We’ll have to share the bed.” Miguel said.
Miguel kept looking at Robby. It took some time for him to understand that the other boy expected a response. It had been a long day. He had spent the all of his brain power on the quick thinking he did in the living room.
“it’s fine.” Robby said.
At the confirmation Miguel started to change clothes. He took of his shirt and put on another pair of shorts. He usually slept in his boxers but he couldn’t do that with Robby here. He handed Robby a pair of his shorts. Then turned the lights off and laid down. The day had been a failure but an educational failure. Miguel thought Robby was a jerk. Today he learned that he wasn’t. He was nice enough to help a guy home. Even after he got attacked by him. Nice enough to comfort him. He couldn’t reconcile this with the girlfriend stealing.
When Robby went to lie down it was a tight fit. Miguel’s bed wasn’t big. They weren’t touching but Robby could feel Miguel’s body heat. When Miguel pulled the blanket over them Robby could feel their legs touch. Miguel was lying on his back. Robby was lying on his side facing him. Robby could just make out the edge of Miguel’s face. He was studying the shape of his face when Miguel turned to him.
“Robby. Can I ask you something” Miguel whispered.
“You just did” Robby whispered back.
“Does Sam really talk about me.” Miguel asked.
“Yeah, alot.” Robby answered.
“What does she say about me?” Miguel asked.
“That your funny and smart and caring. She also talked about the time you helped her steal her brother’s iPad so he had to play outside for once.” Robby answered.
“So you’re definitely not together” Miguel asked.
“No were not. I just rain with her dad sometimes. I stayed over late and she was supposed to bring me home. She wanted to see you first.” Robby said.
“I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry for attacking you” Miguel said.
“no worries” Robby responded absently.
Robby was only half listening with Miguel’s face turned he could now admire his face fully. Miguel noticed Robby looking. It was the same look he gave Sam.
“Can I ask you something else?” Miguel asked. Before Robby could say something the question came.
“Can I kiss you?” as he asked this Miguel started moving towards Robby slowly. Giving him time to pull back if the answer was no. Robby put his hand on Miguel’s cheek and kissed him. His lips were soft. Robby became even more aware of all the places their bodies touched. Their feet where now intertwined. Robby moved his hand to Miguel’s hip to pull him closer. Then Robby heard Miguel’s grandma say something in spanish. They both unlocked and shifted back.
“She said we have to go to sleep.” Miguel said embarrassed.
Robby relaxed a little an lied down on his back. Then he felt Miguel put his head on his chest. Miguel felt Robby put his hand on his head. He fel asleep listening to Robby’s heartbeat.