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Chapter 17: Rafael

Bernard's POV

We (meaning everyone that lived with Sabastin) were now waiting at the airport patiently for Rafael to arrive. I couldn't wait to see him, but I coouldn't bring myself to be overjoyed. Like Sabastin had suggested Rouge and I had stayed away from each other. The thing was Rouge and I seemed to have the same problem,we had no friends. We had had each other and Varano(well sorta) not to mention Sabastin and Jessie. So we worked alone in all that we were assigned and completely ignored each other. I hated it. So I was glad when school was over to say the least and now we were waiting for my coisin and then we'd stop at Rouge's. I wanted more than anything to be with Rouge right now, he was my best friend and I missed him even though I had seen him. I heard a loud hoot and looked up to see Rafael bouncing through the crowd and I smiled before running up to him.

"Long time no see," greeted Rafael with a grin, " I've missed my little cousin."

"Missed you too Raf," I chirped giving him a quick hug and took his hand, "follow me and I'll introduce you to the people I live with."

"You live with other people," inquired Rafael lloking at me curiously.

"Yeah, they're really nice and italian except for Jessie," I explained leading him to my group of friends. Jessie broke into a smile as he saw Rafael and I come into view and I returned his smile sull force.

"Hey you guys," I chirped pulling Rafael beside him, "this is my cousin Rafael. Rafael this is Varano, Jessie, and Sabastin."

"Nice to meet you," greeted Rafael with a beaming smile, "thanks for taking care of Bernard."

"No problem," assured Sabastin with a wave of his hand, "we couldn't let him stay in that dangerous apartment, it looked like it was about to collapse."

"You know you could have asked for more money," lectured Rafael gving me a pointed looked before looking at Varano, "so you're the one he wrote about his letter."

"You wrote about me in your letter," implored Varano giving me a teasing smile.

"Yeah," I replied blushing lightly. Rafael let out a snicker and Jessie let out a giggle, maybe having the two of them together wasn't a good idea."

"We'd better get going," voiced Sabastin, " we still have to pick up Rouge and Night."

"So Bernard, tell me what you've been doing in the land of freedom," voiced Rafael and though it sounded like an innocnet question I knew it would cause some serious problems if I told him too much.

"How about we wait until we get home," I questioned opeing the door to the blue truck and Jessie went with Sabastin to his car.

"Something bothering you," questioned Rafael looking at me worriedly while getting into the truck.

"No," I assured with a small smile, "it's just I'd rather be comfortable on the couch while you're giving me the thrid degree."

"You know me too well," agreed Rafael ruffling my hair, " you're happy and that's the most important thing."

"So...how's Isabelle," I questioned giving him a knowing smile. Isabelle is the girl Rafael's been crushing on since he was 16, he's 20 now.

"She's fine," answered Rafael with a big grin, "we're dating now."

"Way to go,"I teased with a laugh, " now you just have to marry her and you'll be set for life."

"Well, at least I can marry my special someone," defended Rafael with mock annoyance. I only stuck my tongue out at him, but the truth to his statement hurt.

"So who's Rouge," inquired Rafael curiously.

"He's my best friend," I answered with a small smile, "he's an art major too."

"Seems like you made more friends here in America than you did in Italy," observed Rafael thoughtfully.

"That's because you weren't here to scare them away," I teased.

"Hey! That was one time and that girl was a bad influence," defended Rafael crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"She was hanging upside down from her bed," I argued, "you're not the best influence either. If I remember correctly you're the one who took me to my first gay club."

"That's different," retorted Rafael with a wave of his hand, "I didn't want you to be lonely and I knew a lot of people there so if you got into trouble they'd help you."

"So that's why that one guy was always looking at me," I questioned curiously.

"Maybe," voiced Rafael shruggin his shoulders.

"Are you going in," inquired Varano and I realized that we were in the college dorm parking lot.

"yeah, I wanted to meet Night anyway," I answered hopping out of the car, "you're coming too right?" I knew it sounded childish, but I felt a little uneasy being around here having heard about Antino.

"I'm not letting you go in there by yourself," assured Varano and I gave him a warm smile.

"What's the big deal," questioned Rafael looking at us both curiously, "it's just a building."

"It's whose in the building we're worried about," stated Varano finally getting out of the truck.

"If you want you can come too," I voiced looking in the truck at my cousin, " I really want you to meet Rouge." Rafael nodded his agreement and all three of us went up to Rouge's dorm room. I knocked on the door a couple times and waited for someone to answer. I heard an it's open and opened the door cautiously. The room was a little messy and a man with black hair and hazel eyes was sitting on the couch smoking, that was probably Night.

"What can I do for ya'," asked Night calmly.

"I'm Bernard," I introduced with a small smile," that's Rafael and Varano. We're suppose to pick you up."

"I'm Night," introduced Night, "Rouge is in the shower right now. He's been freaking out ever since Antino showed up." As that was said Rouge appeared fully dressed and ready to go.

"Hey guys," greeted Rouge with a small smile, "I really appercaite what you're doing for me."

"What are friends for," I chirped giving him a reasssuring smile before pulling him over to Rafael, " this is Rafael, my cousin."

"Nice to meet you," greeted Rouge shaking Rafael's hand.

"Same here," voiced Rafael with a smile.

"Well, we'd better get our stuff,"stated Rouge before scurrying off to another room.

"Don't you have anything you need," I questioned noticing Night hadn't moved from his spot on the couch.

"It's all here," assured Night lifting up a small suitcase, " it's Rouge who has all the stuff."

"Hey, I don't have that much," argued Rouge while dragging a small suitcase with wheels and an overstuffed backpack.

"You could survive on a deserted island with all the silly stuff you have in there," teased Night with a smile before putting out his cigarette, "let's go before Antino shows back up."

"Thanks Night," voiced Rouge softly giving Night a hug, "thanks for coming with me even though you have no idea what's going on."

"Yeah, well I can't leave you with Varano," argued Night becoming serious, "I won't let him hurt you."

"Thanks," voiced Rouge, " but you don't have to, Varano won't hurt me and even if he wanted to Bernard wouldn't let him."

"Don't worry," I assured with a small smile, " we're taking you with us so you'll be safe not to cause problems." Night didn't reply, but gave Varano a suspicious glare, luckily Rafael saved us.

"Well, lets go," urged Rafael with a fake yawn, "that trip took a lot out of me." So we left Rouge's and Night's room and made our way towards the parking lot.

"Well, Rouge since you're friends with Jessie... I was hoping you and Night could ride with them," I stated hesitantly, "Varano brought then truck and there's for more than three of us."

"It's okay," assured Rouoge with a bright smile, "I'd like to see how things are going with Jessie."

"They're going pretty great I assume," joked Varano with a chuckle, " we still catch them having sex on the kitchen tabls so you might want to eat in the livingroom." Rafael chuckled good naturedly and I smiled. To some that comment might have seemed rude, but Varano was just joking around while seriously warning thme about some of the things that went on in our house.

We parked in the drive first so Sabastin could get out of the drive easily when he drove Jessie and I to the club.

Jessie and I had already come up with a plan. I'd go to the club by the name of Onyx if anyone wanted to know and if a club ever cared for me to dance for them I'd be introduced and telephone as Onyx. It was a good plan, but it still made me a little nervous. I refused to be a free loader though and I needed the work so I was stuck. As for the clothing, Jessie and I would just leave early and get changed in the bathroom.

We got out of the truck and Rafael petted Chiro affectionately.

"So, you're not the only one in your family who likes the little monster," ovserved Varano while scrunching up his nose.

"Chiro's just a puppy," I defended, " nothing's wrong with him and he's cute. Why don't you like him?"

"He destroys anything that's mine," answered Varano frowning down at Chiro who in return wagged his tail.

"So," voiced Rafael looking at Sabastin's house, "this is where you live? It's nice." With the first sign of Rafael's approval I knew that for now at least, this would be okay."

InsanePhoenix: I'm glad you like my writing style. I haven't had a new reviewer in what seems like forever. I'm really happy that you like all my stories. LOL. Yeah, this story is the fluffiest I can write them. Thanks for the review!!

SerialxLain: Yeah, I'm a horrible proofreader I apologize I'll eventually fix it when I have time. I'm glad you like Night. He's a little rougher around the edges, but him and Rouge will work good together. And no molesting my characters! LOL. Thanks for the review.