Your Best Friend, Benedict Cumberbatch

Chapter 2

You woke up the next morning in your bed still fully clothed and your eye make up smeared down your face. How many bottles of wine did you have?! You can't even remember Ben leaving.

*Continuous, loud knocking on the front door*

"Alright, alright I'm coming, give me a second!" you shouted as you dragged yourself out of bed, ignoring the pounding in your head, and into the living room to open the door.

Oh, he's still here, you thought as you looked to your right and saw Ben sprawled out on your sofa, clearly passed out from one too many glasses.

"Hey Sophie" you said as you opened the front door, putting on the friendliest smile you possibly had the energy to muster up right now, "is everything alrig-"

"Where's my husband? He didn't come home last night." She almost shouts, barging past you, obviously thinking something had happened between you and Ben, and that she was about to catch you out.

All the sudden you hear shuffling noises coming from the sofa. Ben had been woken up from the sound of Sophie's voice.

"Ben, what are you doing? You didn't come home last night, and I was worried sick"

"Hey baby," he said, getting up from the sofa, as fast as he possibly could with a hangover (which wasn't very fast at all. Bit stumbly actually), and kissing her on the cheek "I'm sorry, we had a bit too many and I fell asleep".

"You could have phoned and let me know you were staying out."

"I know, I'm sorry, you know what I'm like with my phone" he replied, as he moved about looking for it.

"It's there" you pointed. "To be honest Sophie, I only live a 5-minute walk from you guys, you could have come over last night if you were that worried".

They both glared at you. "No, sorry, not my argument. I'll be in my bedroom if you need me." You said as you hurriedly walked into your room and closed the door.

"You couldn't have been that worried" Ben said to Sophie as you left the room, "there's not one text or missed call on my phone".

"That is not the point Ben, you should let me know. I shouldn't have to be turning up at Ella's house in the morning wondering if you're in here, worried you've been up to something!' 

Letting out a sigh, "No, baby you're right. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Time just went way too fast, and I wasn't thinking. Come on, let's go, I'll make it up to you," he replied, taking her hand "I've missed you so much. Let's spend all day in bed, like we used to, just wrapped in each others arms and watching films. It's been so long since we've done that".

Taking Ben's hand and walking to the front door with him "No, let's go out. I don't want to spend all day in bed. And, like you said, you need to make it up to me." 

Ben frowned slightly, but quickly turned it into a smile so that she couldn't see his disappointment "whatever you want, darling".

She's a nightmare, you thought, as you heard the front door close and headed back out into your living room, plopping yourself on the sofa. Which, with this hangover, is probably where you'll be all day.

*Text message alert*

- Hey Ella, what are you up to today? A.

You saw the notification pop up on the top of your phone from your friend Alexandra, Alex for short.

- Hangover from hell, not moving from my sofa. What about you? E.

*Phone starts ringing*

Alex - Incoming

"Hey" you said as you answered the phone.

"Hey" Alex replied. "Sorry, I couldn't be bothered to text. I was just going to ask if you wanted to go out for lunch, but I'm guessing that's a no?"

"Yes, sorry, I can't possibly move right now. And, if I eat, I think I might throw it up."

"Ah lovely, so a good night then. To be fair, I don't feel much better. What did you do?"

"Ben just came round. We opened way too many bottles of wine. It was so awkward this morning though..." you said as you explained the whole situation with Sophie to her.

"That's weird" Alex laughed, "I bumped into Sophie's friends last night. Apparently, Sophie was there at the beginning, but left by the time I met them. Then, she turned back up at the bar about 1am, and she didn't leave until 4am. She couldn't have been that worried".

"That is weird! But I'm staying out of it. Ben falls apart around her, does whatever she says. She could punch him in the face, and he'd apologise" you laughed sadly. You don't know what hold she had over him, but sometimes you wish you could shake him. "You know what she's like though, has a million friendship groups, probably double booked or something and had to go between groups." You said, not wanting to look too far into things.

"Probably" Alex chuckled.

"She looked pretty good this morning, considering she'd been out until 4am. You'd have never known. I'm sure I couldn't have fallen asleep later than 1am and I look horrific"

'Ah, the bitch" Alex laughed. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Enjoy the hangover. Is it this Monday you start your new job by the way?"

"Yeah, this Monday"

"Only two days to go, exciting! Well good luck...not that you need it. You'll be great"

"Ha, thank you. I'll let you know how it goes. Speak to you later"

"Bye Ella."

You sat there and started thinking about your new PA role. You weren't sure if it was the hangover, but you started feeling anxious, and was hoping that your new employer was as lovely as Ben was.

That's how you met Ben. You were his personal assistant for a few years. When he started dating Sophie though, her jealousy got too much and was annoying the hell out of you. You never said anything to Ben about it, but you decided it was probably a good time to move on. Ben, ever the gentlemen, took it well and your friendship hasn't faltered at all. If anything, it has gotten better.

Sunday Evening

- How's the doghouse going? E.

- Ha. Ha. Very funny. B.

- Just checking she hadn't chopped your balls off. E.

- They're still perfectly intact, thank you very much. B.

- Good to know. In all seriousness, is everything ok now? E.

- Yes, all good now, thank you. I took her out shopping yesterday, seemed to do the trick. Seriously, you women and your handbags! I'm going to need to do five more Dr Strange films at this rate. B.

- Haha. You'll be working until you're 90 if you're not careful. By the way, we're not all into expensive handbags. E

- Yes, I know, I was only joking. Good luck on your new job tomorrow by the way x B.

- Thank you x. E.

- When do you fly back to LA? E.

- I must have told you 30 times already. Wednesday. B.

- Sorry, I tend to zone out when you speak. E.

- Clearly! I will try my best to come round before I go. So you can tell me about your new job and what men you fancy in the office this time. B.

- Please do. I'll be sure to keep you updated. Night Ben. E.

- Night dickhead. B.

You chuckled as you put your phone on your nightstand. You're starting to regret calling him a dickhead, you hope it's not his new nickname for you.