Let Me In Your Heart Again | Hardzello♡

Chapter 12

Ben gets up from his own hospital bed, and walks over to Joe's. He sits down at the foot, and takes a few deep breaths as he waits for the dizzyness to fade. Once it's gone, he gently taps Joe. 'Joe?' He says softly.
Joe ends his conversation with Rami, and gives the younger boy a quizzical look.
'I think I'm ready to tell the rest of the story.' Ben looks nervously at Gwil, who gives him a reassuring nod.
'A-are you sure? We can also talk about this when we can go home?' Joe says, still worried about the boy. He knows it's not just about the fact that he stopped breathing. It's about Ben's past as well, and the ginger doesn't want him to feel pressured to tell it. 
Ben shakes his head. 'No, I'm sure. Gwil and Rami will help me now and then, because I don't know everything exactly anymore.'
Joe looks at Rami and Gwil, still not sure. 'Trust him Joe.' Rami says softly.
The ginger nods and looks at Ben. He frowns when he sees Ben's face slowly getting paler from sitting up straight so long. Joe immediately tries to signal Gwil, to let him know Ben isn't feeling well. When the blond isn't looking for a moment, Joe points at him, hoping Gwil or Rami will see.
Fortunately, Gwil notices. 'Ben, what do you say if we roll your bed next to Joe's? Then you can lie down stretched out.'
Ben shakes his head. 'No no, I feel f-fine.' He mumbles.
His three friends all shake their head immediately.
'You're obviously not fine, your face looks whiter than a glass of milk.' Rami says.
'Stop being stubborn, we'll move your bed.' Gwil says sternly.
Ben sees in his friend's eyes that he means it and nods obediently.
Behind him he hears Joe giggling softly at his face.
Ben turns around, giving the ginger an indignant look, but then he giggles as well.
'Are you sure you feel good enough to finish your story? I know it's deeper than just me having some fever.' Joe says softly, making sure the other boys won't hear it. With a comforting smile, the ginger puts his hand on Ben's knee.
Ben looks at Joe's hand, almost melting under the touch. He looks into Joe's eyes, a smile appearing on his face. Then he realizes he must look really stupid right now, and he blinks a few times. 'Uhm, y-yeah I'm sure.' He mumbles.
'Your bed is waiting for you, Mr Hardy.' Rami says with a smile before he helps Ben to get onto the bed.
The blond shows them a small smile. 'Thanks guys, for everything. I don't deserve your help.' His friends see the smile change into a quite sad look.
Gwil is about to say something, when Ben starts talking again.
Ben sighs deeply. 'Let's just get this over with. Let me continue with my story.'
Joe nods.
'Where was I? Oh right. When we arrived at the hospital you were immediately taken to the emergency room. We had been waiting for news for half an hour, and I just couldn't take it anymore. I was so angry with myself.' Ben says with a sigh. He looks down at his lap in embarrasment.
'So, I went to the restrooms. I looked at myself in the mirror and was disgusted with myself. I thought it was all my fault, so I decided to punish myself. I took the pocket knife that I always carry, and well, I cut my hand. I immediately regretted it, and messaged Gwil to ask if he could come to the toilets. I don't really know what happened next. It's all a blur.' He looks questioningly at Gwil.
The tall boy nods. 'In the message, Ben asked if I could come to the bathroom as soon as possible, and not tell anyone where I was going. So I told Rami and Brian I had to call someone. I almost had a heart attack when I walked into the restrooms. I saw Ben standing over the sink, which was all covered with blood. I called Rami, but as the phone rang, I saw that Ben was about to pass out. I put my phone on speaker, and was just in time to catch Ben before he hit his head.' Gwil explains with a frown.
'I went to get a nurse as soon as possible.' Rami continues. 'They then took Ben to this room, where he immediately had to be put on an IV. We were told he had severe blood loss, and it might become dangerous if the bleeding did not stop. About 40 minutes later we heard that he was awake and okay, and that we could go to him.'
Ben looks away because he doesn't want his friends to see him cry.
Which doesn't work, because Joe notices immediately. He opens his arms for the boy. 'Come here buddy.'
Ben gets up, sits down next to Joe, and starts crying softly.
'We'll leave you two alone.' Gwil whispers before he and Rami get up and leave the room.
Joe nods gratefully.

'I'm so sorry Joe, I don't know what had gotten into me.' Ben sobs, gently putting his head on Joe's chest.
Joe puts his arm around his friend. 'It's all right Ben, really. But promise me you'll never do it again? Please just talk to me instead, okay?'
Ben nods. Slowly, the sobbing stops, and the boy closes his eyes. He listens to Joe's heartbeat, and slowly feels himself drifting off.
After a while Joe feels Ben's muscles relax. 'Sleep tight buddy.' He whispers. He looks at the clock and sees that it is only a quarter past eleven. Their check up is not until noon, so they still have some time to rest.
Joe closes his eyes as well, gently rubbing his hand over Ben's back. It doesn't take long for the ginger to fall asleep too.
'Hey guys we're going to...-' Rami stops talking as soon as he sees his two friends are fast asleep.
'Pssst, Gwil.' Rami gestures to Gwil to come and see.
Gwil walks into the room, and looks at his sleeping fellow actors. 'What a cute couple they are.' He grins.
'When they're out of the hospital, we have to convince them to go on a date.' Rami says, already sounding exited.
Gwil nods with a big smile. 'But for now we just have to let them sleep. Let's go to the set and tell everyone they are fine again.' He suggests.
Rami nods im agreement. 'Good idea.'
They both leave the room and close the door behind them.

***********

It's been almost a week after Joe and Ben were hospitalized. During the days, Gwil and Rami always come by, and time flies by.
But the nights are the hardest. Sometimes time seems to stand still. Certainly this night was a hard one.

Ben has been awake all night already, just staring at the ceiling. It isn't until a ray of light peeps past the curtains, that he realizes it's morning already. With a loud sigh, Ben closes his eyes, trying to get some sleep anyway. His eyes open when a few whimpers come from his side. 'Joey?' The blond mumbles confused.

Joe starts tossing and turning in his bed as he breaks into a sweat. A few frightened screams escape his mouth.
Then he hears Ben's voice faintly: 'Joe! Joe wakes up! It's just a dream. Wake up!'
Joe's eyes shoot open, and the boy sits up. He looks at Ben in confusion.
The blonde can see the panic in his eyes. 'Hey, it's okay, you just had a nightmare. Are you okay?'
Joe nods slowly. Then he looks at his hand. He turned so much that his IV has come loose.
'I'll call the nurse.' Ben says while looking at the IV. He pushes a button on the side of his bed, and less than half a minute later the nurse is in their room.
Even though Joe is still a bit shaking, she decides to do the check ups right now.
After Joe is completely checked, she asks Ben: 'Back behind the curtain again?'
Ben shakes his head. 'N-no. He can see the wound.'
The nurse nods and begins to remove Ben's old bandage.
Joe gasps when he sees the wound the knife left behind.....

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Hey hey♡ I hope you're all safe
I had my first soccer competition in months :) But I had to wear a mask when I wasn't on the field

And I have to wear a mask at school :(
But yeah everything to ban this virus♡ I hope you liked this chapter, and don't worry

I will upload a few more extra chapters this weekend♡

Xx from me