Recovery PV Reid & Ben Finished

Although he knew there really wasn't a reason to feel the way that he did, the young boy figured it for the best. He wasn't a sage but it felt like the best course of action. "I know, I know." he chuckled, his hand coming up to rest on the back of his neck. Reid rubbed it, sore from sitting at odd positions and just in general. He wasn't an idiot to not tell that Ben wasn't okay and he wasn't the right person to be around right this instant. There was business he didn't mind being in and there were things he would rather not be a part of. 

He brushed his hair back with a single frustrated sweep, momentarily revealing the wound that was on the side of his head. "You two take care, all right? If you need me, I'm going to be around. I uh - I hope you feel better Bloom." he smiled, nodding to the two. "Take care uh - Ben." He had some things to clear up, other duties to take care of, and people he wanted to check up on. One of them was Felicity, yet he hadn't seen her yet.

His head glanced at the empty bed where Felicity used to be, a bit of worry etched on his features. Maybe he can check on Dymphna, perhaps she was around. He didn't know why he put himself in such uncomfortable situations, but he did. But he continued on, hands in his pockets as he made a straight beeline towards the exit. His back was a little hunched, a forlorn language that seemed to be masked behind his nonchalant attitude. The Owlery would keep him company for now, he probably needed it. 

[EXIT. - TOPIC LEFT]

A small smile was placed on her heart-shaped face when Reid left. A part of her wanted him to leave, but most of her wanted him to stay. She knew that she would be in the hospital wing for a few days, would he come to visit her or would he just wait until she gets out? Perhaps he believes that now she had Ben, she did not need him anymore. I still need you, she thought, wanting his friendship.

Once Reid left, Bloom looked back at Ben who seemed to be crying. She could tell that he was extremely worried about her. She wondered how long he'd been crying for her to notice just now about it. Her hand, already on top of his, began to caress his fingers, showing a physical way of telling him that she was okay.

Bloom felt as though there was something off. Was it her? No, it had to be something else. Could Ben feel that there was some chemistry between her and Reid? They had a different friendship, even after she confessed her feelings for him. Could he be able to sense that? she asked herself.

"What's on your mind?" she asked, hoping he would open up to her. Bloom winced at the random pinch of her wound. She tried her hardest to ignore the tedious pain.

As Reid left the room, despite his earlier remarks, Ben felt a sense of relief. His emotions were finally hitting a normal level once he was out and Bloom began to comfort him more. Both eyes had been watching Reid go, but now they focused entirely on his girlfriend injured in the bed next to him. She was comforting him, even when she was the one hurt.

"I don't think we want in there right now," he said, trying to smile and joke with Bloom. "It's a right old mess. Just worried about you..."

His tone became slightly more serious at the end. Sharing insecurities about Reid did not seem the right thing to share for now. Ben needed time to decide if that was an issue or not. Emotional decisions led to a bad outcome. Though Bloom and him dating was an emotional decision... he tried to push that thought away. Bloom could not possibly be bad for him as far as he could fathom at the time.

"Honestly," he said after giving his last comment a moment. "I feel guilty that I was inside and not with you. Not sure on the full story, or who if anyone is at fault, but I'm really glad you and Reid are okay."

When he said Reid's name he could not help but add a bit of a negative inflection in his voice. It wasn't even that he felt anger towards Reid. It was pure jealousy for him being there and saving her. For her smile towards him and not towards Ben. Was that selfish? Probably was. Ben did not understand his emotions or even where to begin. He wanted Reid to be his friend and Bloom to be his girlfriend, but he over thought everything.

Is this love? Dad always glared at other men my mum so much as smiled at... I don't know. Am I too young for love?

Bloom smirked at her boyfriend. It was the joking and charm that made her crush on Ben in the first place. She wanted to know what he was thinking, but it seemed that he was shutting himself out. Bloom looked at him, her eyes brown eyes matching his. She thought that if she could look into his eyes, she could know what was wrong. However, that was very unlikely.

Looking away and down at her blankets, she blushed. She never had anyone care for her as much as he was expressing with her now. Well, other than her parents, but that was different. This was a completely different and new experience for her. Bloom looked back up to Ben, her cheeks still glowing red.

"It takes more than just a spider to get me," she joked. Was it a joke? she thought, thinking that it was perhaps too soon, even for her. Her mind immediately shifted to the spider that was inches away from her, it's leg piercing her stomach. She winced once more, feeling the pain in her abdomen area. She tried her hardest to ignore the pain again, showing Ben that she was okay.

"Please don't feel guilty. We can't always be in the same place at the same time. Nothing is your fault," she replied, trying to make him feel better. Bloom was utterly confused as to why he would put the blame on himself. There was truly nothing he could have done. Even if he was there, there would have been even more injury than her stomach and Reid's scratches. Bloom heard his inflection when he mentioned Reid's name, but did not think any of it. She assumed that he was just emphasizing his name for worry.

"Thank you for coming to see me. It means a lot," she said, "you being here makes me feel better." Bloom squeezed his hand with hers and tried to pull him closer to her. She was unable to move, but her small body was able to have some room next to her. She wanted him to lay next to her, closer than where he was.

For some reason, she needed that touch of support. Sometimes, whenever Bloom felt small and alone, her sister, Claire, would be there to support her. She would lay down next to her and cuddle with her until she felt better. She hoped that Ben would be okay with her sudden physical request.

"Thank you," Ben said as he finally stopped crying and felt stress leaving his body. "I've never been a boyfriend before, so I don't know what to do all the time..."

He felt himself being pulled closer but he was worried he would hurt her if he came too close. Bloom seemed to insist so he very carefully laid near her, but they had to touch which made him feel awkward. As much as he liked Bloom, he was still an eleven year old boy unsure of what he wanted with girls. All he understood was he liked her.

"I can't imagine myself being anywhere else," he added, now that the two small kids were both on the bed. "You make me feel so much less lost than I used to here."

Ben's eyes were pointed at the ceiling now, but he still held Bloom's hand. He had this slight awkwardness to being so close on a bed that made him nervous. She would likely notice his hand was clammy and he was sweating a little. Plus his lack of eye contact.. likely made him seem silly. The Ravenclaw boy also wondered if he was breaking a rule right then.

I want to hug her, will that hurt?

"How bad is it?" he finally asked after a few moments, glancing towards Bloom only momentarily. 

Glad that he was feeling better and his crying stopped, Bloom was happy that he agreed to come lay down next to her. Still holding his hand, they were both looking up at the ceiling. She was staring at the wooden beams that cut through an arched ceiling. It was very old fashioned architecture, which did not surprise her as it was a very old castle kept up with magic.

Her cheeks became redder than before, she tilted her head to look at Ben. She was close enough where some of her face was tickled by his locks of hair. Her face felt hot from his comment about how she made him less lost. How could one person do that to another? What did she do to make him feel so whole? It was such a compliment that she had no idea how to respond. She, instead, squeezed his hand once more showing that she was there for him.

Bloom moved her head back to staring at the ceiling. For some reason, Ben wasn't wanting to look at her. Was he uncomfortable? Did he not like laying down with her like this? She did not think it was anything more than just support, but perhaps to him, it meant so much more.

"It's pretty bad," she answered, moving some hair from her face with her other hand. "The nurse has been giving me a potion every other hour. She said it is supposed to numb the pain," she added, wincing at the pain that she was giving attention to.

"Ben...," she started and her eyes started watering. "I was so scared. I-" Bloom paused and swayed her head towards her Ravenclaw boyfriend. "I'm glad you're here with me now," her eyes began to form tears and she took a deep breath, wincing once more from the pain from her breathing. Her heart started pounding at the thought. She wanted to kiss his cheek, but she did not know if that was okay. She had no idea how a relationship worked. She instead played it cute and nuzzled the tip of her button nose against his cheek and rested her head against his; her forehead against his temple.

A shiver went down Ben's spine when she turned and her face brushed against his own. He felt himself freeze but luckily he was already sitting still, lying down even. Her tears and obvious care broke him free, momentarily at least, of his own fears. She had been afraid. She was glad to have him. 

It's pretty bad? She's going to be okay though... they said that!

Ben eventually got a hold of his frozen self and squeezed Bloom's hand back. He turned his head and they were nose to nose for a moment. He looked into her eyes, wet with tears of her own now. His free hand wiped them away tenderly before he spoke.

"It's okay... I'm here. It's over. Just rest." Ben wasn't sure if that was the right thing but he said it anyways.

His head turned back so he was looking towards the ceiling. He let out a deep sigh again and gently rubbed Bloom's hand some more. After just a brief moment away he turned back and kissed her nose gently. A smile spread across his lips as he looked Bloom in the eyes.

"I'll be here until they kick me out," he said, now fully turned towards his injured girlfriend. "Just tell me what to do..."

If she died from this... I'd... ugh... I'm staying right here.

Ben likely looked exhausted upon closer inspection now as well. He fought off a yawn after speaking, and bags hung under his eyes. His eyes still looked a bit bloodshot despite being done crying. He had been awake all night worrying and his body showed it. Yet he didn't want to sleep now either.

Her body felt so relaxed laying next to Ben. She had never felt so comfortable with someone else other than her family before. It was a new experience and although it should feel weird, the contact that she was getting from Ben was exactly what she needed to feel back into place. She could feel herself getting more and more drowned in her mind.

The fact that Ben had mentioned he would be there until he was kicked out made her heart beat faster and her stomach flutter. Is this what love felt like? No, she was too young to fall in love. She was probably very appreciative of Ben and his ability to be the best boyfriend she ever had. She felt her head squeezed by him and it made her feel safe.

Bloom's head felt heavy and relaxed against Ben's. Her eyes were starting to close. She was unable to keep them open. Bloom closed them once and opened them again-- fighting with her eye-muscles. Shut, open, shut... Bloom took a deep breath and winced, waking up once more. The pain was beginning to get stronger.

"Nurse!" she cried, her hand slightly squeezing Ben's hand from the pain.

The nurse, an older woman, came from her office and walked over to Bloom, a potion in her right hand. It was smoking and Bloom thought she was probably making each batch fresh. The nurse looked at Ben who was laying down next to Bloom and her eyebrows perked up.

"I recommend sitting up like a gentleman," she said, her voice shaky. She then gave Bloom the potion, in which she gulped down in one shot. Instantly, the pain subsided.

"Thank you," she said with relief and her eyes began to close again. However, instead of the pain keeping her up, it was the image of the spider once more. Am I ever going to sleep? she asked herself.

The nurse smiled at Bloom and raised one eyebrow at Ben. "You have ten more minutes before visiting hours are closed," she warned and the nurse walked back into her little office and closed the door.

"Just tell me what to do..."

Bloom had no idea what to tell him. What could he do? Honestly, with visiting hours coming to an end, she had no idea what she could have him do. Maybe he could sneak in and spend time with her at night? But then that takes away from his sleep. Bloom didn't answer because she had no idea how to answer him. All she did was tiredly smile at Ben, happy that he even offered.

"What are your plans for tonight?" she asked, wanting to change the subject and her mind off her wound. Typically, they would both be doing their rounds later in the night, but things were probably different as Prefects were not allowed to do their rounds by themselves. Perhaps Ben would have off and would have plans of his own to pursue.

Ben was still not as relaxed as Bloom, but he was at least happy to be there now. It shocked him a bit when she seemed to suddenly demand the nurse. He wondered what could be wrong, but the nurse seemed to have come prepared with some... terrible looking potion. Ben was unfamiliar with that to say the very least but he was sure it would do whatever was needed. Though he did feel himself becoming embarrassed as the nurse came closer and spoke her mind.

She probably is judging us....

He squeezed Bloom's hand tenderly as she took the concoction without hesitation. It made him a bit sad though when he heard he would be kicked out soon already. Why were visiting hours limited? Did the Nurse hate kids? Perhaps it was to give patients rest. Ben would not understand as a concerned eleven year old. Instead he pouted as he commented back to Bloom.

"Plans for the night?" he repeated back, questioning himself it seemed. "I don't know... hard to sneak in here... I might get some rest after classes if I can't visit..."

The Ravenclaw Prefect seemed a bit defeated at the idea of not being able to visit his girlfriend all day. He was worried she would need him while he was away. Visiting hours were strict and he did have to go to class. That was one plan at least. As for the patrols, he would likely not patrol as they had to go in pairs. He'd have to ask about that piece but some rest might do him good, if he could fall asleep after such an emotional ordeal.

"I guess I'm being kicked out soon,"  he added solemnly after a moment of thought. "I think I can come back after the last class of the day."

Another tender hand squeeze and smile marked his exit as he rolled off the bed and stood up. He looked down to Bloom for a minute before the nurse gave an obviously fake cough from her office door to motivate him. He was sure she would be okay but he didn't want to leave her. Slowly, he made his way to the corridors outside and would go to his second course of the day since he missed the first.