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

67 - Falling Future

Benny and Nina sat there In each other's arms for a while. After about 15 minutes of silence Benny spoke again. "Nina, should we head up to your fire escape?"

"Um, okay." Nina sighed and closed the photo album they were looking at, placing it back in the box. She looked at Benny to put it back while she pulled herself up with the bed.

Benny stood up and returned the box to the corner of the room. He took her hand kissed her cheek and they headed over to the door.

Before they left, however, she let go of Benny's hand and went over to Abuela's bedside. A tear dripped down her cheek and onto Abuela's face. "I'm sorry, Abuela. I'm sorry," she whispered. She kissed Abuela's forehead and stood up, her head down and her curls seemingly limp. She loosely took Benny's hand and left with him.

Benny let go of her hand once outside and wrapped his arm around her waist.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, head still down. Her curls were like a sheer curtain around her face, the limpness decreasing the volume.

Benny looked at her. "Baby what's wrong." He stopped, and brushed her hair out the way.

"Just Abuela. Sorry for being such a drama queen. This is supposed to be a date, not a memorial ceremony."

"It's fine gorgeous, I completely understand. It was sudden and none of us were expecting it. If I wasn't trying to stay strong for you, I know I would have cried even more looking at the photos."

"You don't have to stay strong for me," she said, "Cry when you need to, and I'll comfort you. I don't like being the center of someone's attention all the time."

"You will always be the center of my attention, because I care about you Nina." He took her hands in his, rubbing her knuckles.

"But I don't want to be the reason you hold your emotions back. Don't be strong for me, Benny. Let it out when you need to. I'll be there, no matter how far away I may actually be."

"I'm fine now, it was just in there with the photos. Let's continue up to your fire escape, we can cuddle and chat up there."

"Okay." Nina leaned her head on his arm for the rest of the walk, their fingers intertwined.

"Fire escape stairs or main apartment entrance?"

"Stairs." She wasn't quite ready to check up on her father quite yet, nor would she want her parents intruding on their date.

"Let's go then princessa, lead the way."

Nina shakily walked up the stairs up to the top, then sat down, hugging her knees. She felt nostalgic just sitting there.

Benny sat next to her, he put an arm around her back rubbing her arm. He pulled her closer so that her head was resting on his shoulder. "This is nice, we should do this more often, even if on my fire escape."

"Yeah."

"I love you."

"I love you too." She turned her head to kiss him on the cheek, then laid it back on his shoulder.

Benny sat there admiring her, stroking her hair. "Before I say this, you have to promise me you won't disagree with what I say."

Quietly, she said, "You know I can't promise that, Benny. It's a natural reflex." Nina sighed.

"Okay, I'll say it anyway then. You look really beautiful right now, just sitting here in my arms."

"Um, erm, uh," she stalled, panicking.  After a few more moments of those sounds, she finally collected herself and said, "Thank you," in a high-pitched voice.