Falling - Benny and Nina - An Adapted In The Heights Roleplay (COMPLETE)

7 - Falling Hand in Hand

When they arrived, Benny took a deep breath. "You ready?" he asked Nina.

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and said, "Yes." She broke a sweat, nervous to tell the story again.

"Okay, here goes!" Benny opened the door for Nina and they both wondered in. Usnavi and Vanessa were both sat there at the little table in the corner talking as they walked in.

"Can I grab 2 Cafe con Leches please, Usnavi," Benny asked as soon as they walked through the door, he looked over to Nina, who still had a slightly glassy layer over her eyes.

Usnavi jumped up, grabbed the pot, and poured 2 cups out for Benny and Nina.  As he put them out on the table, Benny pulled some cash out his pocket and paid Usnavi. He was there practically every day, so he didn't even need telling how much it was.

Nina felt lightheaded as she and Benny approached the table. She grabbed Benny's hand for support, praying that nothing drastic would happen.

Benny instantly knew she wasn't okay, he could see it written all over her face that something was wrong. He helped her sit down and then bent down so he was on his knees and whispered in her ear, "Are you 100% you want to tell them now, you look terrible as if you are about to throw up, and sweetheart that the last thing I want today. I can still tell them if you don't want to, you don't have to do anything, but it's your choice, Usnavi and Vanessa will understand, I'm sure." He looked into her half-closed eyes and stroked the curls out of her face, waiting for a response.

Nina stuttered out, "I-I need to tell them." She felt woozy, but still attempted, despite knowing it wasn't working, to keep it from Benny. She stammered, "I'll be alright. I'll feel better if I tell them, at least a little bit."

"But you're physically swaying Nina, you clearly aren't well. If you're desperate to tell them now then go for it, but if you can't then don't panic or worry about it, you can tell them tomorrow." He held both of her hands and his and told her slightly louder so the other 2 could hear him "I only what what's best for YOU and what will make YOU happy. Okay"

She said, "Okay. I want to tell them," trying to gain some strength. Nina looked up and over at the table, her heartbeat speeding up a bit. She wondered how the rest of them still felt well in the sweltering summer heat. Although Nina knew that she wasn't all that well, she also knew what she had to do, and that was tell them. Getting it off her chest to Benny was relieving, but this should, in her point of view, help even more than that did. She said, "I'm ready," and shuffled her chair closer to the table.

Benny held her hand the whole time swapping his gaze from his girlfriend, to his best friend. He was beginning to become more anxious as Nina began to speak, nervous as to what would happen. She broke down massively when it was just the 2 of them alone in each other's arms, what would happen when she told everyone else? Then Nina began to speak, and all his attention was on her voice and her words.

Nina shook fiercely, but powered on, saying, "Hi Vanessa, Usnavi," nodding at both of them. She said, "I couldn't keep up with my grades," she looked at her hands, that Benny was still holding, instead of them," The point is, I had to drop out." There were audible gasps from the both of them. Nina looked broken. She continued, "I was working three jobs, with homework and my grades on top of that, and it was just too much pressure. My grades dropped and along with them, so did I. I dropped out of college." Her uneasy half-smile dropped into a deep frown, her brows furrowed, and her broken eyes looked shattered.

Benny continued to watch Nina as she struggled to say everything that had been going on at college. When she had finished Benny stood up and pulled Nina up with him and just hugged her, tighter than he had at the park. He knew that she needed him right now more than anything else in the world. "I'm so, so, proud of you Nina, I know how difficult that was for you, but you did it." he whispered into her ear as he felt warm tears soak through his shirt.

When Benny pulled her up, Nina was half confused, and half grateful. She wasn't sure how to emotionally respond anymore, her brain riddled with whatever was making her dizzy and sick. She wasn't sure whether she should cry or laugh, smile or frown. She wasn't sure who to cry on, who to run to. Her eyes closed, but despite the drowsiness she had been experiencing in the moments before, and even then, it didn't make her pass out. She just leaned against Benny's chest, hugging his torso tightly, a death grip nearly and let it all out.

Benny and Nina stood in each other's arms for a while. Benny could sense the tension growing around them with Vanessa and Usnavi. Neither of them had actually said anything yet, which worried Benny as he wanted to know their thoughts on Nina dropping out. Although his mind was also rushing around wondering what they thought of the way he and Nina had been acting around each other ever since they arrived.

Benny thought he heard Usnavi whisper something to Vanessa about how 3 hours ago he and Nina walked off suddenly, but he was unsure.

Usnavi whispered to Vanessa, "Yo, do you think that they're like, you know, together? They walked off together earlier but no further evidence."

Vanessa looked towards Usnavi and glared at him. "Yo, do you think it's your business if they are together or not. This is obviously really tough on Nina? Benny's probably just consoling her, they are close friends anyway."

Usnavi shrugged and said, "I dunno, it just seemed like there was something more they had to tell us."

Nina heard Usnavi and Vanessa talking about them, she reluctantly let go of Benny, held his hand interlocking their fingers and then turned to the two at the table, saying, "Oh- um, we forgot to say, Benny and I are also a couple, but we're trying to keep it a secret from my parents," Nina stopped to get a reaction, a nod at least, but nothing came. She said, "You know how much my dad dislikes Benny. Are you," scared, she ended, "...upset?"

Usnavi shook his head and said, "No, no of course not. I'm just surprised that after all these years you two finally figured out how perfect you are for each other. I'm stunned, but still happy for you!"

Despite the final comment, Nina gave him a death glare, as to her, those comments sounded as if they were insulting her.

Benny held her close, knowing she was just in a fragile moment right now. He whispered to Usnavi, "Don't worry about it, she'll be fine in the morning."

Nina heard it and said, "No, I'm alright. I'm just tired, sorry Usnavi." She felt bad for acting like a jerk, but truth be told, she didn't have the emotional ability to feel sick to her stomach, because she already did physically.

"Ok Nina, I need to get you home, you're exhausted, sick and need to lie down. And as much as I want to just be able to hold you in my arms tonight we both know that's not possible." Benny said as he gently kissed her forehead as she leaned onto him.

"Oh god, fine," she said, "But can I at least go to Abuela's? I don't want to see my parents right now." Nina stood up fully, swaying gently. Even though she didn't feel anything, she was, to everyone else, clearly wobbling. She said, "Bye Vanessa, bye Usnavi." in a small voice, as if from a million miles away instead of right there.

Benny, immediately grabbed her arm protectively and put it around his back and placed his arm around hers to try and stop her from swaying quite so much. 'At least we only have to cross the road' Benny thought to himself. He said goodbye to Vanessa and Usnavi and then walked out.

When he put his arm around her, she finally realized how much she had been wobbling. Her eyes widened in realization.