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

42 - Falling to Everyone

A/N - some strong language

Benny walked over to the salon. He didn't know how he was going to tell the girls. He wished Nina was with him, but he knew Sonny needed her more. He was still only 16 and now had no parental figure to guide him though the rest of his teenage years. He walked through the door, thankfully there was no one else in there.

"Hey ladies" Benny said looking down at his feet.

"Hey Benny, what's up? Everything okay? Have you and Nina been fighting?" Carla asked sweetly and sounded genuinely concerned.

"One, how do you know about Nina and I? Two, no we haven't been fighting. Three, what I'm about to say is really hard."

They both walked over to him knowing something serious had happened. "Vanessa told us, be we've not shared it in any gossip sessions, it's still only us and those you've told who know. And what's happened?" Dani told him.

"We've lost Abuela Claudia." Benny whispered stuttering on his words.

Both their jaws dropped open.

"Did I hear that right" Carla sniffled. "Abuela Claudia has died." She pulled Benny into a hug, tears flowing from her eyes. Benny accepted her hug, he held her gently, nowhere near as tight as he held Nina. It was nice, Carla was able to calm him a little. After they pulled away, he gave Dani a hug as well. After a few minutes silence, Carla asked him: "How did you find out, when did it happen?"

"I was at her's this morning, I then went to the bodega and within an hour realized I'd left my phone at Abuela's. I went back to go get it and I found her in lying in bed, dead. I ran and told Nina, Usnavi and Vanessa who were all in the bodega. Then I came and told you. Sonny also now knows."

"Let's all go over to the bodega." Dani said.

"I know you want us all to mourn together but I think it's best if we leave the others to it. Usnavi, Nina and Sonny are really struggling. I'm going to set up some form of candle lighting ceremony this afternoon for everyone. So, I'll see you there. It'll probably be around 4pm."

"Oh, okay, see you then" they said in unison.

He gave them each another hug and ran out the door, he really just wanted to be back in Nina's arms.

Sonny was standing by Abuela's old stoop, watching it. "She was just here..." he said over and over still in a shock of disbelief.

Nina went behind him and wrapped her arms around him gently in a hug. "I know, Sonny, I know," she said, "It's alright." She wished there were something else she could do to help him.

"It's not alright. We're all gonna be lost. She was the only one to distribute the peace between us."

"Shhhh. I know, Sonny. I know."

As Benny headed back towards the bodega he saw Nina and Sonny still on the stoop. He walked towards them and put his hands on her shoulders and started running his hands up and down her arms.

Sonny sniffled, wiping his eyes.

Nina squeezed Sonny a little harder to try to calm him down. She hated to see people she was close to this damaged. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

"It's not your fault, Nina..."

Nina sighed. She felt sick to her stomach.

"I'm sorry too," Benny said from behind. "I was thinking we do a candle lighting ceremony at 4 to honor her life, something to involve the entire barrio. Where we can all mourn together."

Nina jumped. She hadn't even realized he was there, honestly. "Sure," she said when she finally realized who it was.

Sonny nodded. "It's a good idea, Benny."