#wss61

“Hi, Riff.” Maria greeted him.

“Hey.” He raised his beer and took a swig.

“What are you watching?” She asked, walking into the living room.

“Some show Grazi and I have been watching. It’s kind of boring, but it makes Graz happy if I understand what the hell is going on.” He told her.

“That’s sweet.” Maria smiled. The cigarette smell hit her nose. She made a face.

“You good?” Riff asked, ashing his cigarette into an empty beer bottle on the coffee table.

“I’m fine, but-” She wiggled her nose. “Tony’s really happy to have you around more. I like seeing him happy, but can I talk to you about something?” Maria asked.

“You and Tony having problems?”

“No. Things with Tony are great. I just- can I make a request?” She asked. Riff looked at her. “Can you please not smoke in the apartment? You can go out to the fire escape or smoke out the window, but-”

“No.”

“What?”

“I live here too. I pay rent just like you go. I’m gonna smoke wherever the hell I want.” Riff replied.

“I would appreciate not getting second hand smoke from you.”

“So stay away when I’m smoking.”

“But you’re always smoking.”

“Exactly.” He purposefully blew smoke in her direction.

“I don’t want my curtains or the sofa to smell like cigarettes.”

“It’s really not that serious.” He laughed. “Did you give Bernardo this shit?”

“Bernardo didn’t smoke. I’m not asking for much, Riff. I would just-”

“Sorry to disappoint, sweetheart, but I am not going out of my way just because you’re having a pissy fit.”

“Why are you being so rude?” Maria asked.

“Am I being rude? I’m only defending myself. You’re the one being fucking rude.”

“I’m not telling you to stop smoking. I’m only asking to stop smoking in the apartment!” Maria began muttering in Spanish under her breath.

“I thought we talked about this when I moved in. I don’t appreciate you speaking spic.” He regretted it as soon as the word left his lips. Maria walked to her room, not wanting to burst into tears in front of Riff.

Riff was sitting at the kitchen table, reading a magazine when Tony came home.

“Hey, Tone.” Riff didn’t look up. Tony snatched the magazine. “Hey!”

“You called Maria a ‘spic’?” Tony asked. He was visibly upset. “Seriously, Riff?”

“I didn’t call her a spic. I told her to stop speaking spic. Big difference. It’s not that big of a deal.” Riff rolled his eyes. “You’re girl is just being whiny.”

“Excuse me?” Tony asked. “I will not have you disrespect her in my own house!” Tony raised his voice. “I am not going to put up with his shit, Riff! I thought you were better than this.”

“Are you being forreal right now?” Riff stood up. “I live here too. I pay rent. This is my house too. Don’t forget you asked me to move in.”

“That doesn’t mean you can disrespect her and throw that word around!” Tony yelled. Graziella walked into the apartment. She looked at Tony, surprised because he rarely raised his voice.

“I’m sorry your bi-” Riff stopped himself and took a deep breath. “You know what? Maybe it was a mistake for me and Graz to move in.”

“Yeah. Maybe it was a mistake.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Graziella asked. Tony shook his head and walked into his bedroom. He was far too tired to deal with Riff’s bullshit tonight. “Riff, what did you do?”

“We’re moving.” Riff walked to their bedroom.

“What the hell do you mean we’re moving? I am not moving.” She followed him. “Riff!”

“What!” He turned to look at her. “You know I wasn’t completely on board moving here! I just said yes because you were excited, but we don’t belong here.”

“Then where the hell do we belong? The old apartment with the rats? What the hell happened. What was Tony yelling at you about?”

“Maria and I got into a disagreement about my smoking.”

“She asked you to stop smoking in the apartment?” Graziella asked. Riff looked at her.

“Yeah, but I’m not gonna do that. I live here. I should be able to smoke wherever the hell I want to in my own home.”

“What word did you ‘throw around’?” She asked, placing her hands on her hips. “Tell me it’s not the one I’m thinking about. Tell me you didn’t call her that.”

“I didn’t call her a spic. I told her to stop talking spic, because I was under the impression that we’d all talk English here.”

“You are such an ass.”

“I didn’t mean to- I didn’t mean it. It just slipped out.” Riff lowered his guard.

“You need to apologize. I am not moving.” She told him. “If you want to move, be my guest, but I’m staying here.” He laid down on the bed, covering his face.

Graziella and Maria usually had the same days off. So the next day off, Graziella caught Maria, wanting to apologize for Riff.

“Hey, Maria. Are you hungry?” Graziella asked. “I’m making grilled cheese for lunch.”

“That sounds good, thank you.” Maria replied, sitting at the kitchen table.

“Great. How have you been?” Graziella asked.

“I’m alright. Y tu?”

“Tu es bien.” Graziella replied, proud of herself. Maria couldn’t hide her giggle. “What? Did I say it wrong?”

“I do appreciate the attempt, but I believe you mean ‘soy bien’.”

“Thanks. I really am trying to learn. I wanted to talk to you.”

“Are you and Riff moving out?” Maria asked.

“No, but I do want to apologize on his behalf. I know he can be rough around the edges sometimes.” Graziella explained. “But he can be really sweet sometimes.”

“You shouldn’t be apologizing for him. He- what he said was-”

“It was fucked up. I know. He didn’t mean it. He feels bad about it, but he’s too prideful to apologize and admit he was wrong.”

“I just wanted him to stop smoking indoors. That’s all.”

“I know. If we had the fire escape attached to our room he’d probably be more inclined to oblige, but he is so stubborn.”

“He’s so close and so important to Tony. I was hoping we could be friends, but- he’ll never see me as anything else. To him I am just a- a spic.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes it is.”

“I know Riff sometimes speaks without thinking and that is exactly what he did. I am so sorry. He shouldn’t have said what he said. I will talk to him about smoking indoors.” Graziella promised. “I’ll just have to get him a chair by the window.”

“Thank you, Graziella, but-”

“I’ll make sure he apologizes. You deserve that much. I really am sorry. I enjoy living here and the thought of having to move because of him-”

“I don’t want you to move either.” Maria told her. “You and Tony have seen a side of Riff that I never had. You two have only really said good things about him, but-”

“You haven’t seen that side of him yet. I know. He- it takes a while for Riff to warm up to people. He does like you! He just- he’s like a porcupine. Gotta get through the thorns to see the real him.”

“But he only shows me thorns.”

“That’s how he was with me when we first started dating too. It’s just how he is. Don’t give up on him. I know if you and him got to know each other better you two would really get along.”

“You really do love him.” Maria smiled.

“I would die for that dumbass of mine.” Graziella laughed. “I don’t see myself with anyone else.”

Riff sat at the kitchen table waiting for Maria and Tony to come home. He promised Graziella he’d apologize for being an asshole. The incident hadn’t sat right with him since it happened and he needed some peace of mind. Tony and Maria walked into the apartment, talking about the movie they’d just seen.

“Hey. How was the movie?” Riff asked. Tony watched him, incredulously.

“It was good! You and Graziella might like it.” Maria replied.

“We’ll have to check it out. Uh- Maria, can we talk?” Riff asked.

“Of course.” Maria nodded. She lightly patted Tony’s chest. “I’ll be okay.” She assured him. Tony kissed Maria before giving Riff a warning look and walking into their bedroom.

“Look, I’m sorry about what I said. I should have never said it. This is your home too. You have every right to speak whatever language you want. I am sorry. That word- I promised Grazi that I would try working it out of my vocabulary.”

“Thank you, Riff. I appreciate that.”

“I hope you can forgive me for talking out of my ass. And- about the smoking, I will try to not smoke inside.” He added.

“What if we switched rooms?” Maria asked. Riff looked at her, confused. “Because our room has the fire escape, and besides going out for some fresh air sometimes, Tony and I don’t use it. You could use it to smoke.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I’d have to talk to Grazi about it.”

“Okay.” Maria smiled. “I just want you to know that I like having you and Graziella around. I hope that we can get to know each other more. You’re one of the most important people to Tony. I mean you’re his brother.”

“Yeah. Well- he’s pissed with me right now.”

“Since you’ve apologized very nicely and I don’t believe in holding grudges, I will talk to him. I never meant to get between your friendship. I hope I never do again.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I fucked up.”