The Lost Girl

Chapter 17: Fear and Coping

Ben Cook's POV

When I woke up I was back in the hospital. Sky, Quinn, Ben, and Andrew were all around the room. Quinn was sleeping on Ben's shoulder. Andrew was texting and Sky was sleeping. His hand was holding mine. I flexed my hand and Sky sat up in his chair.
"Ben, you're awake," he said excitedly.
"What happened?" I asked.
"You passed out at Ben's apartment," Sky replied. "You scared everyone."
"But I'm okay now, right?"
"We don't know. The doctors haven't said anything about that yet."
"Wow, usually they're right on top of things like that."
"Yeah," Sky said. Then the door opened and a male doctor came in.
"Oh, you're awake. That's good," the doctor said.
"How bad is he?" Ben asked from the chair he was sitting in.
"He'll be okay. He was given too high of a pain killer," the doctor replied.

Josh's POV

I sat in the corner of a room. I wanted to break out, but I knew it would be hopeless. So I just sat there, curled up in a ball. I brought my knees so close to my chest and rested my face on my knees. I could feel the tears coming. Then the door to the room swung open and I looked up. Jeff stepped in with a creepy smile on his face.
"You were really good last night," he said. I scooted into the corner as much as I could. I didn't want to be near him at all.
"Well don't you have anything to say, my little Broadway star."
"S-s-s-screw you," I stuttered. Jeff didn't seem too phased.
"You already did," he said. He was so relaxed about it. I began to remember what happened when he brought me into the room. I felt dirty. I stood up.
"Please let me go," I said. Jeff shook his head.
"If I do that, I'll have to take Quinn away. Do you really wnat that?"
"No, I guess not."
"Good. We should probably get you on the streets tonight. We'll see how ya do," Jeff said. A whole bunch of some feeling I hadn't gotten before came crashing over me. It felt like fear and anxiety. But there was nothing I could do to stop it. Tears welled up in my eyes and I slid down the wall of the room. Jeff left the room and I began to cry. I wanted to leave so badly, but knew that if I did he'd take Quinn.

Quinn's POV

I was sitting in next to Ben while Sky and Ben went to get some food and Andrew took a phone call.
"Do you think Josh is alright?" Ben asked.
"I hope so. You never know with people like Jeff," I replied.
"Quinn, I know you don't like talking about it, but you've survived this. Please tell me that Josh is going to be okay."
"I-I-I can't. Ben, there's a reason I don't like talking about it."
"I know, but I need to hear that he'll be okay."
"Ben, I don't have those answers. I became mute by the time they brought me here," I said. Tears were forming in my eyes.
"Quinn, I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd be against talking about it. I just thought you could tell me something about Josh and you could heal a bit," Ben said. He was right. Healing could come from talking about it. But what was there to talk about? I don't remember everything. I remember Washington and being here on Broadway, but not too much about being trafficked.
"It's okay," I said. My voice had reverted back to being really quiet.
"Ben, are you feeling up for some hospital food?" Ben said from the door. I turned around and faced him.
"Yeah sure. I'm freaking starving," Ben said as he sat up in the bed. Ben handed Ben a tray of food. It kinda looked like school food.
"Here you go, Quinn," Ben said as he handed me a tray as well. Sky pulled a chair up to the bed next to me.
"Hey, Ben," he said.
"Quinn reverted back to being really quiet," Ben said. I heard Ben drop something. I turned around to Ben picking up a tray.
"She what?!" He said. He was worried.
"It's my fault. I tried to get some words of encouragement about Josh. I'm really worried about him," Ben said. He looked at Ben sadly.
"Quinn, is it true?" Ben asked. He put a hand on my back and I jumped. My eyes grew wide and I felt tears come to my eyes.
"Ben, you're scaring her," Sky said. He took Ben's hand off me. I stood up and ran out. I ran all the way to Ben Cook's apartment. When I got inside it I turned to the one thing I knew I could trust. I pulled out the phone Ben got me and dialed Jeremy's number.
"Hello?" he ansered.
"Jeremy, can you come get me? I'm at Ben's apartment," I said.
"Uh, yeah, hold on, Quinn," he said. He hung up and I could feel some tears well up in my eyes. I sat down on the couch.
By the time Jeremy came over I was wrapped up in one of Josh's blankets and was curled up on the couch.
"Hey, Quinn," Jeremy said when he came in.
"Hey," I said. I sat up and he sat next to me.
"You'll be okay. I talked with Ben, both of them. Ben didn't mean to scare you. He's really sorry."
"I know he is. I just want to go home," I said. I rested my head on Jeremy's shoulder.
"Come on, I'll bring you to my house," he said. He got up and held out a hand for me.
"Okay, but I'm bringing this. I need something to comfort me," I said. Jeremy smiled and then we left.

Ben's POV

I sat in the chair she was sitting in when I came back from running after her. I set my head on the bed. I didn't know what to you. Then my phone buzzed.
"Hello?" I answered it.
"Hey, Ben, this is Jeremy. I just got off the phone with Quinn. She wants me to pick her up," Jeremy said.
"Then do it," I replied.
"Okay, I just want to know why she's not with you."
"I scared her and I didn't mean to. I want to talk her. Can you bring her back here?"
"I'll try. If she gets too scared I'm goign to take her back to my apartment."
"Fair enough. See you when you get here," I said. Then Jeremy hung up. I turned to Sky. "I think we should find a way to relax a bit. All of us. We've been on edge since she got here. We need to take her somewhere relaxing."
"Where would we go?" Sky asked.
"Maybe we could take her to another Broadway show. Something really good."
"Like what?"
"Phantom of the Opera?" Ben suggested.
"You're right. She's been there before. I left her there with Kara when you two got kidnapped," I said. I texted Kara to get some tickets for Phantom of the Opera.