He Never Does || n.h

Chapter 15: Jack and Coke

Chapter 15:

I left Ben's house early the next day in his old shirt and sweatpants. It wasn't awkward between us or anything, I just had a small sense of regret. The kind that doesn't control your thoughts, but you still feel a small twinge ever present in your chest.

When I got home this morning I went straight to my room without speaking to anyone, I'm almost ashamed of what happened. It's somewhat of a secret.

And that's where I am now. Sitting on my floor as a numbness begins to consume me. The small twinge in my chest grows as I add to the list of all the things I've ever regretted in my head. And then I look to my left and see a small piece of paper folded on the floor. My heart drops into the pit of my stomach. I scramble over to the paper.

He's back. Rick is back and he's playing a game with me the way Kyle once did. This is the first note Rick has left me so far. What if it's a threat to Brook again? I immediately begin to cry at the thought of them both. They haven't crossed my mind for awhile, I almost felt the illusion of safety.

Almost.

With shaky fingers I unfold the note. My heart rate increases with each passing second in anticipation.

It's just a receipt.

I just had a mini heart attack over a receipt. I thought this would relieve me of my worries, the fact that it isn't a threat, but it doesn't. I just really need some reassurance right now. I feel like I'm obligated to call Ben because he is my boyfriend and therefore when I want comfort I should look to him.

I dial his number into my phone.

"Hello?" He answers. I put the phone on speaker phone because nobody else is here.

"Hi Ben." I sniffle.

"Babe, I thought I told you I'd be busy today." He says.

"I know, I just needed to talk to you." I say and wipe a tear from my eye.

"What's wrong?" He sighs.

"I'm just...I'm worried about Rick. What if he comes back for me?" I begin to cry into the receiver, unable to hide it anymore.

"Is that what this is about? Well do you have any reason to think he will? Any sign of him?" Ben says impatiently.

"No, but-" I begin to express my feelings.

"But nothing babe. You're just a little tired I bet. You should get some rest then maybe you won't be thinking so irrationally." He says with virtually no concern in his tone.

"Ben I'm not tired. Don't you think my concern is justified? He tried to kill me." I reply, shocked at his nonchalant attitude.

"Rosaline, listen to me. He hasn't tried to contact you yet so therefore he probably won't in the future. It's just common sense, use some." He says.

"God Ben could you please try to act like you care!" I say louder. Behind me I hear a door open but I ignore it. It can't be mine, nobody comes to see me.

"Hey don't you dare suggest I don't care! You know that's insulting right?" He says, sounding almost angry.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I guess I'm just scared." I sniffle.

"I know that babe. But you are just overthinking this. It'll be fine okay?" He says.

"Okay." I sigh in defeat.

"You trust me don't you?" He says softly.

"Yes." I reply in monotone. I don't like the way he is brushing this off.