galileo figaro magnifico ➳ ben hardy [1]

phone call

      "bat wielding dino deaky," theodosia slurred in greeting as joseph answered the phone. "how are you, dude?"
      "theo, buddy, are you drunk?"
      "utterly pissed, as ben would say," she giggled, then stopped abruptly. "ack."
      "hey, why are you calling me so early-slash-late? and why are you so drunk? what's up?"
      she let out a groan rolling over where she lay in bed. "benny basically broke up with me," she explained.
      "he what, now?" joe sat up straight in bed, heart pounding. "why the fuck would he do that?"
      "because some shit went down in regards to étienne," she huffed.
      "étienne? ah, timothée. but i thought he and tim were on good terms?" he fired off, confused.
      "not timmy!" she hollered. "brodeur! that scumbag, overdrawn bank fee étienne brodeur!"
      "ah, coffee shop guy. got it. what happened?"
      "i don't know specifics," theo huffed. "ben had gone to get us coffee and pastries at the shop because he didn't realise we do not go there anymore, and when he came back he packed all his shit, said we needed a break, and just left. and he won't answer my calls or texts. tim texted to say that ben is at his but won't reply. and when i went over they wouldn't let me in so i went to the bar. they let me in there."
      joe was getting more worried by the minute. "theodosia, where are you right now?"
      "i'm at home - not home, my flat. my home currently won't speak to me." she began to cry, choking on her own sobs. "joseph, what am i going to do?"
      "there's not much you can do, bud. sober up and wait. i know that tim will probably talk ben out of this jealousy fit. brodeur probably said something just to provoke him."
      "joe, brodeur couldn't have said anything to him."
      "how so?"
      "brodeur is in jail and will be for the next fifteen years of his life."
      "and why's that? what happened?"
      "brodeur raped me, joe."
      joe felt his breath catch in his throat, his heart sinking. a mixture of anger and sadness flooded his body, upset that such a thing happened to their little groupie and wanting nothing more than to pummel the offender. "theo, is this your big secret? why? why didn't you tell us?"
      "because i'm still trying to process that it happened to me. that my body, the very vessel carrying my soul, had such a crime committed against it. but it's fine; i'm fine. i'm dealing. he's behind bars and will never have contact with me ever again. i'm free to heal without distraction. i didn't want to guys to bore me with pity and sympathies, either. i'm getting enough of that from my castmates."
      "you could have told us, theo. we wouldn't have done that. we would have just been there for you to talk to and help out."
      "anyways," she cut in, changing the subject.
      "anyways, ben will come back. i'm sure of it."
      "what if he doesn't?" theo asked, whispering now. "i don't think i'll survive if this is an actual breakup."
      "elaborate?"
      "i really think he's the one, joe. you know what i mean? like, i really see myself marrying him and settling down in a big victorian house and having plants and cats and hell, maybe even popping out a siano-hardy baby or five. i want that with him and only him."
      joe felt his heart break in his chest, wanting that for the two of them, as well. "we all want to see that happen, and i'm sure it will. all in due time. but right now, i need you to just settle in bed, maybe get some sleep and just wait this out. i can get in contact with your castmates and have them come wait with you?" he offered, worried for her.
      "okay," she whispered, allowing her body to relax into her bed. "hey, dino man?"
      "yes, theo?"
      "i love you, dude. don't forget that."
      he gave a little chuckle, a melancholy smile on his face, feeling as though the information in the phone call had aged him a thousand years. "whatever you say."
      "say it back?"
      "i love you, theo. you know i do. we all do. now rest up, all right?"
      "all right."