Let Me In Your Heart Again | Hardzello♡

Chapter 20

The next morning, Joe wakes up from the sound of the toaster, indicating that the toast is ready. He rubs his eyes and sits up. He looks around the room in confusion.
This is not his own hotel room.
Then Ben walks into the room. 'Morning sunshine! You were sleeping so well this morning so I thought I'd just let you sleep for a while.' The blond can't help but smile at Joe's sleepy face. 'I made us some breakfast. Hungry?'
Joe yawns and nods. He checks his phone and sees that it is already a quarter past eleven. He pulls a sweater over his head and gets out of bed.
Not much later Joe is sitting next to Ben at the breakfast table. 'How do you feel?' He asks, surprised at the cheerful Ben.
'Amazingly good, actually. Only some pain from the bruises, but that will go away.' Ben says before he takes a bite of his toast.
Joe thinks back to last night, and giggles softly.
Ben gives him a questioning look.
'You were so mad at me last night. You muttered that you wanted to sleep and that I "should leave you fucking alone".' Joe says, answering the questioning look on Ben's face.
The blond's eyes widen. Then he starts to blush. 'Oh my God. Did I really say that? I'm sorry, that was not conscious.'
Joe smiles widely. 'It's okay, I would also get angry with the person who wakes me up every hour.'
During the rest of breakfast, the two talk mostly about work. About anything but last night.
When they've both finished their breakfast, Joe wants to grap the plates to put in the dishwasher.
'Allow me, you've taken enough care of me already.' Ben takes over the plates and smiles at Joe.

Not much later there is a knock on the door. Joe get up to open the door and sees Rami and Gwil. 'Hey guys, come in.'
Once Ben has made tea for everyone, he sits down in a chair opposite his friends.
After Gwil asks how the night went and how Ben feels, the room falls silent for a moment.
Ben sees Gwil nod to him. Ben knows that he has to tell the story about Allen. Certainly Joe is entitled to that. But Ben is terrified that Joe doesn't want anything to do with him anymore after he knows the truth.
He takes a deep breath. 'Guys? I think I have some explaining to do.'
Joe puts down his tea. 'Ben, you don't have to do it right now. I told you, it'll come in its own time.' He says with a small, caring smile.
But Ben shakes his head. 'I guess this is the time then.'
Joe nods. 'Okay then.'

Ben swallows, getting ready to tell the thing from his past that has been haunting him ever since. 'It's just... when you stopped breathing, it wasn't the first time my best friend stopped breathing. When I was in high school I had only one real friend. His name was Allen. He was the only one who didn't bully me.' The blond pauses, taking a deep breath. He looks down, and starts fiddling with his hands.
'Allen and I always did everything together. Like swimming. On a hot day we decided to go for a swim together in the small lake next to our village. After a while, we wanted to go home. But before we went, Allen wanted to jump into the water one last time, from the bridge. I was already scared of heights back then, so I didn't want to. Allen said that he would then jump alone then. He climbed over the railing, but the moment he wanted to jump he slipped. He hit his head before falling into the water unconsciously.'
Joe immediately gasps. He looks at Ben in shock, his hand over his mouth.
Rami also looks at Ben with wide eyes.
But the blond doesn't even see it. He just looks down at his hands, trying to keep the tears away. 'O-of course I ran into the water as quickly as possible to save him.'
Ben bites his lip ever so slightly, really struggling to find the right words. 'I dragged him out of the water with all my strength. I took my phone and called the emergency services. When I saw that he was not breathing, I completely panicked. He looked as purple as you did that one night, Joe. I tried everything to get him to breathe again while waiting for the ambulance. But they arrived too late for Allen.'
Ben sniffles softly and wipes away a tear. 'My parents and I couldn't show ourselves anywhere in the village without people calling us names. They called me a murderer. My parents never forgave me for that, and kicked me out of the house at the age of 17. I was no longer their son, they said. As soon as I had enough money I changed my last name from Jones to Hardy.'
Joe gives the boy a look of sympathy. 'I- I'm so sorry Ben. I did not know that.' He gets up and walks up to the blond boy.
Ben can see tears sparkling in his eyes.
The ginger opens his arms, inviting Ben for a hug. The latter hugs him without hesitation.
'I'm so sorry about Allen.' Joe whispers during the hug.
As soon as Ben and Joe let go of each other, Ben looks anxiously at Rami. The black-haired boy hasn't said anything yet, and is just staring into space with wide eyes.
'Rami?' Gwil nudges him.
'Oh sorry.' Rami looks up, blinking a few times. 'I just can't believe your parents treated you like that. It wasn't your fault.' Rami gets up, and also gives Ben a hug.
Gwil joins the hug as well, and the four of them just keep hugging like that for a minute or two.

After everyone has recovered a bit from the fierce story, they all sit down again.
'But there's one thing I don't understand yet. What has that Corey guy to do with you and Allen?' Joe asks.
Ben sighs. 'Corey is Allen's older brother. As soon as he found out what had happened, he vowed to get revenge on me.' He bows his head.
Joe gets up and sits down next to Ben. He puts his arm around the boy as some kind of comfort.
'When he started calling you ugly I got so angry.' Ben says softly to Joe. 
The latter looks at him pityingly but doesn't say anything yet.
'I'm only so afraid these bruises aren't enough revenge for him yet.' Ben whispers, so soft Joe can't even hear it. 
Joe looks at Gwil and Rami. 'Can you two leave me and Ben alone for a moment?'
His friends nod and leave the room.
As soon as they're gone, Joe turns back to Ben. 'Thank you for standing up for me.'
Ben shrugs. 'No problem.'
'Hey, if you hadn't stood up for me you wouldn't have been beaten up either, silly. I owe you. Big time.' Joe looks at his friend gratefully. His heart starts to beat faster when he sees a small smile on Ben's face.
He opens his mouth to speak, but then starts hesitating. Should he ask him?

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Wow, chapter 20 already guys. I actually kinda forgot about this chapter. Probably because I'm 25 chapters ahead :)

Btw, thanks for all the love you give me guys. You really make my day with all your comments via wattpad and Instagram. Tips are always welcome too though♡

Talk to you later guys, xxx from me aka  queenborhap_gifs♡