Let Me In Your Heart Again | Hardzello♡

Chapter 23

Hey guys, another chapter for you today. Mostly because I'm bored as fuck here at the hospital. At least I'm allowed to walk a bit so my legs won't get useless :) I'm pretty lonely here because my roommate just left the hospital, and my friends can't come over because of the corona virus :( I spend most of the time with writing or sleeping. But enough 'bout me, let's get back to the book ♥

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Joe grabs his phone and quickly calls Gwil for help. After three tries, he still gets voicemail. He swears under his breath. When he looks at Ben, his heart nearly shatters.
Tears are ready to start falling, while the boy is wheezing softly.
Joe bites his lip. He needs to do something to help his friend. And so he sits down next to Ben. 'Ben? Ben, listen to me. I'm gonna help you, buddy. I promise. You hear me?' The ginger lifts Ben's head with his finger to make sure Ben hears him.
The younger boy nods, still panicking.
Joe takes a deep breath. 'Okay, now repeat after me. Inalare. Espirare.'
Ben looks at Joe, and the tears start flowing. 'In- inalare. E-espirare.' He sobs.
'And breathe.' Joe says.
Ben lets out a shaky breath.
The ginger takes Ben's hand and puts it on his chest. 'Try to follow my breath.' Joe says. 'Now, say it again. Inalare, espirare.'
Ben nods, and still softly sobbing, he stutters the words "Inalare, espirare" again.
Joe smiles. 'You're doing so good. Now take a deep breath again.'

That way they stay in the lift for a while. After a few good breaths, Ben has calmed down a bit. 'T-thank you. I'm sorry you had to see me like this.' The younger boy looks at Joe apologetically.
'Hey, you don't have to apologize for things like this. I used to have frequent anxiety attacks. I know how you feel. You can't help it ' Joe says before he puts his arm around Ben.
The latter looks at him gratefully. The blond gently lets his head rest on Joe's shoulder as he closes his eyes. He feels himself getting warm inside. It just feels right.
'You never told me you're afraid of elevators? At least that's why you panicked so right?' Joe asks carefully.
Ben opens his eyes and shakes his head. 'I never take the lift, not because I'm specifically afraid of lifts, but because I have claustrophobia.' He gets up, turning his back to Joe. 'I get it if you want to cancel our date. What do you want with a loser like me.'
Joe wants to say something, but then his phone rings. 'Hello? Oh Rami I'm so glad to talk to you! Ben and I are stuck in the elevator. Okay thanks!' He puts his phone back in his pocket and turns to Ben. 'Rami and Gwil are on their way with someone from the hotel. It won't be long before we're free again.'
Ben nods briefly, still avoiding the ginger's gaze.
'Ben, listen to me. I don't care that you're afraid of small spaces. I like you just the way you are. And I'd still love to go on a date with you.' Joe says as he gets up.
Ben turns around, a relieved smile on his face. 'Really?' He asks, his voice nearly above a whisper.
Joe nods with a huge smile before opening his arms for the boy. 'Come here buddy.'
Ben doesn't hesitate, and falls into his arms. They keep hugging each other like that, not wanting the moment to end.
Joe feels Ben's muscles relax a little, causing the ginger to smile even more.
Their hug is disturbed by the lift that opens.
Gwil and Rami are standing in the opening of the doors.
Ben lets go of Joe, and takes the boy's hand before pulling him along out of the lift.
The blond breathes a sigh of relief. 'Thank you so, so much guys.' He says before letting go of Joe's hand.
Gwil chuckles softly. 'Was it that bad in there?'
Ben frowns as he looks to Joe for a little help.
'Well uhm, I almost had a panic attack in there. So you guys arrived just in time.' Joe says when he sees Ben's helpless look.
Ben gives him a grateful smile before mouthing a "thank you" to the boy.
Rami checks his watch. 'We're fifteen minutes late for the set, and Joe still has to breakfast.'
Joe shakes his head. 'I'll eat something on the way. Let's go right away.'

*************

About ten minutes later the four actors arrive on the set.
Upon entering, they see Brian and Roger talking to each other, each with a frustrated look on their faces.
Joe walks over to the two, quite curious about what the two are talking about. 'Hey Brian, Hey Roger. Everything okay here?'
Brian looks up in surprise. 'Oh uhm hey Joe. Yes everything okay. Just some stupid argument about cars.' The guitarist briefly glares at Roger. The latter rolls his eyes.
'I saw your message this morning, by the way. I am so proud of you.' Brian says with a proud look.
Joe immediately smiles.
Roger looks at them with an raised eyebrow. 'Are you two gonna tell me what's going on, or what?' He says frustrated.
Joe giggles. 'Ask your movie son. My lips are sealed.' He walks towards his trailer, leaving behind a smiling Brian and a confused Roger.

Roger briefly frowns, and then walks away.
Brian quickly chases him, not understanding where his friend is going. 'Where are you going? Adam is coming for his cameo. He can be here any minute.' He asks.
'What do you think I'm gonna do, curly hair? I'm going to ask my movie son what this is about.' Roger grins at Brian and walks towards Ben's trailer.
Brian shakes his head laughing, and walks with him.
When they approach the trailer, they meet Ben just stepping outside of his trailer. 'Oh, hey guys. I was just on my way to the makeup. Is Adam here yet?' The blond boy says.
Roger and Brian shake their heads.
'He's in a traffic jam.' Roger says before rolling eyes. 'But what we, or actually I came for...-' Roger starts his sentence with a grin. 'What's going on between you and Joe? He seems so happy today?'
Ben looks the other way with a shy smile. He feels he is starting to blush. 'We- we are going on a date tonight.' He says softly.
For a moment, Ben is scared about Roger's reaction. He never told anyone he's gay, so this might come as a surprise. What if Roger doesn't want someone gay to portray him?
But as soon as Ben looks up to see Roger's happy face, he knows better than that.
'But that's great news!' Roger looks at him proudly.
Ben smiles a little. 'You don't even look surprised.' He says with a soft giggle.
Roger smirks. 'Yeah well, no offence, but you made it really obvious. You always look at Joe like he's a piece of candy.' He says. The smirk on the drummer's face even grows when Ben starts to blush.
'Please take good care of Joe.' Brian says. Roger nods in agreement.
Ben smiles. 'It's just dinner guys.' He says as he looks down.
The two men grin.
'Yeah for now.' Roger says.
'I have the feeling it won't stay by just one date.' Brian adds. 'So promise you two will take good care of each other?'
Ben nods with flushed cheeks. 'That's a promise.'

~~~

The rest of the day is like any other day on set. Scenes are filmed, they have lunch together, and every now and then a scene has to be redone.
As their workday draws to a close, Joe becomes more and more nervous. After each scene he checks his watch, biting his lip every time again when he sees their date comes closer and closer.
And every time Rami sees it, and smirks. He walks over to Joe and gives him a reassuring nod. 'Don't worry. Whatever you're going to do with him tonight, he'll love it.'
Joe let's out a breath he didn't know he was holding. 'I just want everything to be perfect.' He mumbles.
Rami wants to say something, but the director's assistant calls the two to shoot a new scene.
When they only have to shoot two more scenes, the director calls everyone together. 'At the request of Roger and Brian we will continue tomorrow. Everyone worked very well today! Enjoy your free afternoon.' He says.
As soon as he's finished talking, everyone goes in a different direction.
Joe sees Ben, Rami and Gwil walking towards their trailers.
He looks at Brian and Roger in confusion. They don't see it, because they are talking to Adam.
Joe walks over to the three. 'Hey guys. Why did you ask to stop filming for today? Is everyone okay?' He asks a bit worried.
Roger and Brian give him a serious look while Adam looks down sadly.
Joe looks at the three anxiously, getting more and more worried now...