Chapter 6

                                    

                                          
Tumbling
*newsies tour cast
* Ben Cook// OC
* chapter 6
                          
**Quinns perspective**
                          
"It's your brother, baby. He got in an accident. He was rear ended by a drunk driver last night. He's in the hospital....you should come home, honey. The doctors say he may..."
                          
She broke down in sobs and couldn't recompose herself. I told her I'd be home as soon as possible. 
                          
After we hung up I just leaned against the pavilion for what seemed like a lifetime. 
                          
My little  brother Paison and I had been best friends since birth. He's only a year younger than me, and ever since we've been practically inseparable. We've had weekly FaceTime dates since I moved away, he was the hardest to leave behind. My parents were never super supportive when I mentioned moving away, but he had backed me up from day one, he even bought me my first fake plant for my first apartment. 
                          
If something was to happen to him, I have no idea what I'd do. 
                          
I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped back, startled, before looking up.
                          
Ben was gazing down at me, deep concern swimming in his bright blue eyes. "What's the matter?"
                          
I tried to hold back the welled up tears in my eyes, but they came anyway.  
                          
"It's my brother, Paison. He's in the hospital....car accident...really hurt..." 
I couldn't put together a full sentence. 
                          
Before I could even think, Ben's arms were wrapped around me in the biggest hug I had ever received. For the first time in a while I felt truly safe, wrapped in his arms. 
                          
He didn't let go until I looked up at him. 
                          
"Thank you." I said in a quiet voice, His hands still on my shoulders.
                          
"No problem. What can I do to help?" He said softly, his blue eyes searching mine. 
                          
Immediately, a thousand things I had to do rushed to my head. But one stood out above them all. I had to get home. 
                          
"I don't really want a ton of people to know. Can you tell Sky and Ezra that I'm leaving, tell them what happened? They'll understand. That would be a great favor so I can head out. I need to get home...pack.." I started to mumble as I thought of all the things I had to do. 
                          
"Alright I'll tell Sky and Ezra. you  get to the car and make a list of things we need to get at the store for the flight." he said in more of a command than a question.
                          
"What? You don't have to take m-"
                          
"Oh, yes I do. You need someone to help you, and I'm here for you."
                          
I gave him a hug as more tears filled my eyes. I'm not sure, but I felt a slight touch on my head, something that felt a lot like a kiss. 
                          
"Ok. I'm going to tell Sky and Ezra while you head to the car, you can pack and all that once we get there. Ezra can take the dog home with her, so you don't have to worry about Apollo."
                          
As he walked toward the pavilion I couldn't help but notice how cute he was when he took control.
                          
I got to the car when I realized, I'm an actress. Living in New York.  I don't have money for a flight home. 
                          
I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, called Owasso. A flight like that wouldn't cost much, but it was more than me, or my family, could spare at the moment. 
                          
All I knew is that I need to get home, and nothing would stop me. 
                          
When Ben got in the car, I told him my problem. 
                          
"That's tough." He said, furrowing his brow in thought. His face lit up as he said:
                          
"What about a road trip? It would take a few days, but we could camp out in the car so we didn't have to get a hotel, and we could make only a few gas stops." He said hopefully as he looked at me. 
                          
"We?" I said with confusion. 
                          
"Well, yeah." He said bashfully. "You can't go on a long  road trip by yourself, That's just plain dangerous."
                          
"Ben, you can't just drop everything and go to Oklahoma! You have a job and I life!"
                          
"Quinn, you need help. I want to help. I can get my understudy to cover for me for a few days, no big deal. Please, let me help." Ben pleaded. 
                          
I wanted him to come. We had only met a few days before, but I felt something about him that was different than what I felt for other friends. Something new. 
                          
"Are you sure?" I asked, looking into his face for a sign of backing out. I didn't see one. 
                          
"Positive." 
                          
"Ok." I said with a small smile. "This should be interesting." I thought to myself. 
                          
*************
                          
I called my mom while we were on our way to the store to pick up supplies for the trip. I explained what we were doing, and I think she was in too much emotion pain to care how I got home, just that I got there.  
                          
We went quickly into Target, and while I picked out our food for the 22 hour drive, Ben called the Newsies people to tell them he was "taking a break", he called it. 
                          
"Family emergency, man. Couldn't get out of it." He said to whoever was on the other end of the line. 
                          
Once he was done calling his people, and was cleared to go, it was my turn to call MY people. he picked out some other necessities for a road trip while I called.
                          
"Hello? Yes this is Quinn. Can I speak to [whoever she would need to talk to idk]. Hi! I'd like to ask for an absence pass for the next few days? My brother is very ill, and I need to go see him, is that possible? It is? thank you!"
                          
We checked out and walked to the car, where Ben opened the door for me. 
                          
"Wow, such a gentlemen!" I said in a mocking tone. 
                          
"Of course my lady!" His said in a (very bad) British accent, bowing very low. 
                          
I laughed as he walked to his door. 
                          
Once we got to my apartment the sun was setting, Giving the skyline of NYC a golden glow. He walked me to my door, and I invited him inside to help me unpack the things we had gotten. 
                          
As we unpacked, we decided to leave for Oklahoma before dawn tomorrow. 
                          
"Well I better get home to pack." He said As I walked him to the door. 
                          
"Thank you, again, for everything, Ben. You have gone above and beyond." 
                          
He wrapped me in the third hug of the day before he said, " you're the kind of person to go above and beyond for."