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

14 - Falling Forever

Usnavi walked into the kitchen and waited for Benny. When Benny arrived he exclaimed "Yo, what's up?  Sonny was putting up a fuss about having to work the bodega again."

"Why am I not surprised? It's Sonny. And I'm really worried about Nina, she keeps saying she's fine, but I'm really doubtful. You know her, she's trying to be strong and independent, but she's struggling. Every time she's told someone about college she's broken down, it was worse when it was just us, but you saw how she was when she was telling you and Nessa, and it breaks my heart to see her in pain and struggling. I want to do all I can, but I can't. I get that we only got together today but yeah. Do you see where I'm coming from?"

Usnavi nodded. "I can definitely tell where you're coming from."

Benny responded, "I just don't know what to do man, Nina means the world to me. I'm so lucky to have her by my side. Honestly after today's events, I'm surprised I didn't realize that until she left for Stanford! I love her so much and I never want to let that girl go. It hurts to see her in this much pain and sadness and I can't seem to do anything about it." Tears stinging his eyes. He ran his hand through his hair, breathing deeply and taking a seat on a chair.

Usnavi sat down in a chair next to him. Since he didn't want to do anything that might be a little too close, he looked into his eyes with meaning. "Benny, all you can do is be there for her. It's the best that can be done, at this point. She's gone through hell and come back, and evidently, it's hard. It's even hard for me to see her like that, and I'm not her boyfriend. I can't imagine what it's like for you to witness this. But there's nothing that can be done to help much, except be by her side." He tried a pitiful smile at Benny, hoping that it gave him a bit of assurance.

"Okay, you've seen her through loads of tough times, admittedly nothing this bad, but you are literally a brother to her. You, Sonny, and Nina are basically Abuela's grandchildren. You two have known each other forever." Benny responded looking down at his shoes.

Usnavi looked at Benny, trying not to let pity fill his eyes. He said, "But Benny, despite that you came a bit later, you've still seen her go through loads of tough times. And to add to it, you're still her boyfriend. I may be a brother to her, but you're her boyfriend, that must mean so much more to her. Even though you haven't been here for as long as I have, I know for a fact that you're one of Abuela's grandchildren. You mean a lot to her. And Nina. I can see how much you mean to her, in her eyes. She's always so happy when you're around. I've always seen it, you two really love each other, and I'm so glad you finally realized you were meant to be together. We've all predicted it for years."

"Thanks Bro." He got up and pulled Usnavi up into a hug, it's all he needed right now. Admittedly, he'd much rather hug Nina, but that was out of the question for two reasons:

One- She was in the other room with Vanessa. She deserved some girl time! They also hadn't seen each other in a year.

Two- Her temperature was too high to hug her. If he did, she'd probably pass out, and that's not what he wanted.

Tears started to seep from his eyes and down his cheeks. They fell onto Usnavi's shirt, soaking into the soft cotton.

Usnavi hugged back, but hesitantly. Benny was never like this. What suddenly switched his emotions on? Seeing Nina hurt, in pain and struggling?

Eventually Benny pulled away, "Sorry man, today's been rough, you know." Still with a frown on his face and tears dripping from his eyes.

"No, it's alright. I can see why you're acting like this. I would act like that too, if it were me," Usnavi said. He hugged Benny tightly, knowing that he would need it.

Benny just stayed there, still as a statue. He didn't hug Usnavi back. He wanted to, but his body froze. All he could do was blink, his breath deepened and slowed down. He was completely helpless, unable to help Nina, unable to even help himself. He was frozen still, everything fading from his mind except the thought of his girlfriend eyes looking into his.

Usnavi noticed his odd behavior and exclaimed, "Benny, are you okay?"

Benny didn't respond, he hadn't even heard Usnavi say anything. He'd lost all sense of where he was. Still, rock solid. Usnavi shook Benny's shoulders. "Benny!" he shouted.

Nothing.

Benny's body began to flinch, but that was all.

Usnavi cried, "Please!" and held onto him, crying into his chest. He could still feel Nina's tears soaked into Benny's shirt from earlier.

"N...N...Ni" was all Benny could manage. His eyes were glassy and his body flinched every ten seconds. He only breathed once in between each flinch.

Usnavi's breath hitched in his throat, a lump forming. He didn't know what to do, until Benny mumbled, "Ni...N...Ni."  Despite the minuscule amount of information, he knew exactly what Benny meant. Benny wasn't the easiest person to get around, but Usnavi hauled him into the living room, trying to get him to sit down next to Nina.

Benny could feel the tugging on his body, but had no knowledge of what was actually happening to him. His limp yet frozen solid body just fell in the way it was being maneuvered. One word pounding in his mind. Nina.

Usnavi muttered, "Nina, any help please?"

Nina got up quickly, ran towards them and hugged Benny. He felt cold to the touch. Her heart was being tugged at.

"N...N...Nin..." was again all he managed, he hardly felt the warmth, and couldn't tell who it was. Was he with Nina? Was this Usnavi still? Had Abuela come in?

Nina cried. "Benny, it's me! It's Nina!" she bawled. She squeezed him tightly, crying into his chest again.

Benny felt something tight, he slowly was able to lift his head, and caught a glimpse of Nina's tear-filled eyes before his legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground pulling Nina down with him, due to the way she was hugging him.

She crawled off of Benny, shaking him. Her eyes welled up, upset that she couldn't help him.

All Benny could do was cry. His body wouldn't physically do anything else. He felt nothing physically but felt everything emotionally. He felt empty and broken. Still, he didn't know if Nina was actually there. All he wanted was her touch, her love and her lips. The way her smooth lips felt on his earlier that day was all he needed right now. He needed something to fill his heart that had been shattered by Nina's collapse earlier. And now he was the one collapsed.

Nina started to cry even more furiously, hot tears running down her face. "Benny!" she cried. She said, "No, no, nonononono," in a teary voice. Nina began to realize just how much she had stressed out Benny earlier.

Benny heard his name but that was all, his eyes blinked open every once in a while, but stayed closed the majority of the time. He was still unable to move most of his body.

Her sad tears turned to misery and guilt, and the small hiccups of rain became thunderstorms. The heaving breaths made her lightheaded, she grabbed Benny's hand for support, but when there was nothing in return to her squeeze, she passed out once again.