Ten Minutes Ago // Ben Tyler Cook

Part Three / Chapter Nine

Months of rehearsals pass quickly as we learn music, choreography, and blocking on stage. Before I know it, it's spring, which means longer rehearsals, preview shows, and opening night in a few months. Ben and I have only talked a handful of times and each conversation with him is awkward.
   
Two months before the official opening of the show, Kyle announces that he's hosting a movie night for the cast. After rehearsal one evening, we all congregate in his apartment, eating pizza and hanging out. Once everyone arrives, we settle in front of the tv as some movie I've never seen starts. I take a spot on the floor since the couch is already overloaded with ensemble members deciding to test the weight limit. I'm content until, somehow, the only spot left for Ben to take is right next to me. Great. I find it hard to pay attention to the movie when he's less than two feet away from me; there's a reason I've been avoiding him. He makes it hard to focus, no matter what I'm doing. As the movie progresses, I finally am able to pay attention. It ends on a cliffhanger, and groans rise out of the group as the credits roll.
   
"Is there a sequel?" I ask.
   
"Yeah, do you guys want to watch it?" Kyle asks, earning a resounding 'yes' from us. He nods and pulls it up on the tv. While the opening scene is playing, however, I get a phone call. It's Connor. Confused, I excuse myself from the living room and step into the hallway.
   
"Hey, Connor," I say after I accept the call. "Is everything-"
   
"Marlee, are you sitting down?" My brother breaks in, his voice shaking. I frown. He usually doesn't get worked up over things. Something must be wrong.
   
"Uh, hang on." I go back to the living room and get Kyle's attention. He gets up and walks over to me.
   
"What's wrong?"
   
"Is there a place I can go to talk to my brother?" I motion to the phone in my hand. "Somewhere private? I think something's wrong."
   
"Yeah, you can sit in my bedroom if you want," he offers, showing me the door. "Lucky for you, I just cleaned it."
   
"Thanks." I nod, closing the door behind me as I sit down on the edge of his bed. "What happened?" I ask Connor, hoping it isn't anything too bad.

~ * ~ * ~

Ben's POV
About half an hour after she left, I realize Marlee hasn't returned from her phone call. Beginning to grow worried, I turn to face Kyle sitting above me on the couch. "Is Marlee okay?" I mouth, and he shrugs.

Although I may be the last person she wants to talk to if something really is wrong, I get up to go check on her. When I reach the door to the bedroom, I lightly rap my knuckles on it.

"Marlee? Are you okay?" I call to her quietly. No response. "Marlee?" I try again. Still, no answer. I give her a few more seconds to reply before slowly opening the door. She's sitting on the edge of the bed, staring down at her hands in her lap. "Are you okay?" I ask gently. She looks up and I notice how pale she looks. Closing the door behind me, I slowly move toward her. "What happened?"

   
"Connor called," she mumbles, her eyes locked on the wall.
   
"Marlee?" I prompt after she says nothing else.
   
"I-I think I'm going to be sick." She quickly gets up and opens the door to the small bathroom connected to Kyle's room. She practically collapses by the toilet. I flip the bathroom lights on, following to make sure she's okay. Instead of getting sick, she looks like she's closer to passing out.

I kneel next to her on the bathroom floor, worried. "Do you need something to drink?" I ask. She doesn't acknowledge my question. "Marlee," I say, firmer this time. I place my hand over hers. Finally, she looks at me. I can't read the emotion in her eyes. "Tell me what Connor said."

"Connor said th-that he got a call from my mom," she starts, having difficulty explaining this to me. "She wanted him to tell me that Asia got in a car accident." Tears fill her eyes. "I-I don't know exactly what happened, but they took her to the hospital. And...and she didn't make it." She lets out a sob as she tells me what happened. "My sister's dead," Marlee manages to say. Out of instinct, I wrap my arms around her tightly, tears coming to my own eyes. She leans into me, and I don't say anything for what feels like an eternity.

"We need to get you home," I whisper finally. Her crying has subsided some. "Come on, I'm going to take you home." I let go of Marlee, take her hand, and help her stand up. She has trouble taking the first few steps, so I hold my arm around her to help her keep moving. We slowly exit the bedroom. As we walk past the living room, I make a motion to the rest of the cast not to ask what's wrong.

With a little bit of difficulty, we finally reach my car outside. I help Marlee in the passenger side, quickly get in the other door, and start the car. Realizing I don't know where she lives, I turn to Marlee. "You're going to have to give me your address, okay?" She nods, mumbling the address as I enter it in my phone. Marlee says nothing the entire ride, and neither do I.

The eight minute drive passes slowly. Once I get Marlee inside her apartment, I take her to the small bedroom.

When I get up from putting her on the bed, she grabs my wrist. "Please don't go," she pleads quietly, eyes wide. "Don't leave me alone." Her request breaks my heart.

I nod slowly. "I'm not going anywhere." I sit back down on the bed next to her, deciding I'm not going to leave her alone for the night. We sit quietly for almost an hour, and soon, Marlee begins to breathe heavily. I glance over at her; she's asleep. Careful not to wake her, I get up off the bed and leave the room. I turn out the lights in the apartment and lay down on her couch. It's not very comfortable to lay on, but I'd gladly lay on even a bed of nails all night just to make sure Marlee's okay.

~~~~~
this is a long chapter whoops