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

43 - Falling from the Heat

Benny heard the door open, he looked up, still with red tear stained face and saw Nina. He wanted to jump up, run, pull her close and kiss her. But for some reason he couldn't, he just cried more. He put his head between his knees and cried, wondering if she did really want him.

Nina ran up to him, then squeezed him as tightly as she could. Her heart raced against his legs. She hoped that he actually wanted her there. She began to shake of pure emotion.

Vanessa walked back over and sat by Usnavi.

"Nina. I need you. I really need you." He cried.

"I know. I know," she responded shakily.

Benny was finally able to move himself. We wrapped his arms around her torso and pulled her closer.

She squeezed him tightly again, letting him know that she'd be there for him.

"Nina, can we step outside, I need some fresh air."

"Sure, love," she said. Nina stood up and took his hand, leading him outside.

When they were outside the bodega Benny took a deep breath in and out, in and out. He laid his head on Nina's shoulder.

She snaked her arm around his waist, squeezing.

"I know it bad and selfish to think this, but I missed you and felt alone while you were with Sonny and I had no one. I had no one to talk to, no one to comfort me, no one there." He paused for a moment. "I'm sorry for saying that. It's horrible, I know."

"No Benny, it's not. I should have been there for you too. I'm sorry for neglecting to see your needs."

"I should have been there better for you as well. I love you Nina and I'm sorry."

"Benny," she pleaded, "It's not your fault. Not one bit." As she finished her sentence, her voice softened to almost a whisper.

Instead of saying anything Benny pulled her into an actual hug. He put his arms under hers and placed them on her shoulder blades.

She wrapped her arms around him, only being able to reach around the top of his chest. She squeezed him tightly for a bit but then let go a little bit.

Benny leant over and rested his forehead on hers looking deep into her eyes. He kissed her nose, wondering how she would react.

The first thought in her mind was to flinch back, as it was a bit unexpected, but she didn't listen to that instinct. Instead, she let him do it, and giggled still looking up into his eyes.

He pulled his right arm out from behind her back and brought his hand to her neck and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Why do you have to be so adorable and cute all the time?" He whispered to her.

Nina smirked. "I dunno," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I guess I was just made that way."

He smirked back, "well I guess I'm lucky you were made that way." He wanted to kiss her so badly but felt it wasn't the right time to. They were still both trying to take in the knowledge of Abuela's death.

Suddenly, she squeezed him and buried her head in his chest, wanting to cry. Instead, she just shook. She didn't seem to have the ability to cry anymore.

"Nina, baby, what's wrong?" He asked suddenly, he held onto her tightly holding her head close to his chest, hoping it would comfort her.

"Abuela," she mumbled quietly into his chest, still shuddering a bit

"Aww, baby I know it's hard, it is for me too. We can get through this together. Everything will get better, I promise." He said as he stroked her hair to try and calm her down.

"Mmhm," she said, though at this point, she was seriously doubting it. Nothing seemed like it would ever get better.

"Baby, breathe, respira. I'm here for you, and I always will be." He continued to hold her close and he rested his head on hers. Closing his eyes, trying to think of other ways to help her without upsetting her even more.

Nina turned so that her side was up against his front, instead of having to suffocate in his chest. She leaned her head on his chest again, more comfortable than before. With his arms around her, she put her hands on his strong arms, feeling more comfort than before. She breathed deeply, her head reeling with a pulsing headache.

As Benny continued to hold Nina close. He started to feel heat radiating from what was her cold body. He rested the back of his hand against her forehead. "Nina, you're boiling. Sit down, I'm going to get you some cold water. Do you feel like you have a headache or anything?"

"I'm fine. Probably just a small headache or something."

"Okay, I'm still going to get you some water, we need to stay hydrated in this heat, that may be the cause of the headache." He helped her sit down on the curb. "I'll be back in a second."

"Okay," she said in almost a whisper. Waiting for Benny to get back, she put her head in her hands, rubbing her temples. She wished that for just one day, she could feel okay.

Benny ran back into the bodega. "Usnavi can I have as cold a glass or bottle of water as you can manage. Nina has a bit of a headache. We think it's a combination of the heat causing her to be dehydrated and everything that's happened today."

"Of course, dude," Usnavi said. He rushed over to the refrigerator behind the counter, grabbing a cold water bottle. "Here, get this out to Nina," he said, shoving it into Benny's hand. He didn't want a repeat of a few days ago.

"Thanks man." He grabbed the bottle and ran out to Nina. She was sat leaning against the wall of the bodega, her eyes closed. "Nina, I've got you some water." He said slightly panicked. He sat down beside her and shook her gently. Her eyes fluttering open.

Benny breathed a sigh of relief. He gave Nina the water bottle and pulled the hair out from her face and tucked it behind her ears.

She took it and thanked him, gulping down half of the bottle in one. It was only then that she realized just how parched she was. As she drank the remainder of the bottle, she wondered why she was having such a hard time adapting to the heat. California was just as bad, if she was being honest with herself.

"I said you needed water! I'll grab another in a second. First though, how do we tell your parents. We need to tell them and ideally now, they still don't know, and they really ought to. I know it will be hard to bring it up again, but it's for the best."

"Mmhm," she said in a teary voice. Once she collected herself a few moments later, she said, "I know. I'm just so scared."

"Same here baby, same here, but they need to know. We can't not tell them. I'm sorry." He stood up pulling her with him. He pulled her into another quick hug.

"I know," she said, dejected and frightened.

Benny took ahold of Nina's hand intertwining their fingers. Every day they did that, they seemed to slide together more seemingly than the last, as if they were made for each other's. They headed back into the bodega, Benny carrying the empty bottle.

"Hey, can we have 2 more please?" Benny said putting the bottle down then pulling some cash out his back pocket.

"Sure," Usnavi said. He grabbed the two bottles from the fridge and gave them to him, more gently than last time. He sat down next to Vanessa again, intertwining their fingers.

She squeezed his hand and laid her head on his shoulder.

Benny put the money next to the cash register for when Usnavi had the time to put it away. "Money's on the counter. Wish us luck, off to tell Kevin and Cami. See you just before 4."

"Good luck, it'll be okay, I promise. We'll see you."

Benny and Nina walkedout, hand in hand, water bottles in the other.