Josh's POV

Grace and I had left the apartment to get some ice cream. We walked in and I went up to order our ice creams.

"One Double Chock Chip and One Cookie Dough please".

"Coming right up".

I reached into my pocket to get change and I looked back to see Grace staring out of the window. I wonder what she is thinking?
I looked back towards the counter then my face fell even more. I'd ordered Ben's favourite ice cream.

"Sir?"

"Oh right sorry," I apologised handing him the money.

I walked back towards Grace and sat down.

"Sorry, I kinda ordered Ben's favourite"

"It's fine, I like cookie dough" she giggled slightly, "Sorry"

I shook my head and held one of her hands.

"Grace," I started, "it's okay, Ben is going to be fine- and the last thing he wants is for us to sit here and be sad. He knows we're looking for him and he knows we won't give up hope ever."

She looked at me with big sorrowful eyes. The weight of the world was pushing down on her eyes, begging them to start raining, but she was holding them back. Her lip quivered slightly, then she sucked in a big breath.

"We should go see the show tonight" I suggested.

She simply nodded and began to eat her ice cream. I texted Jeff to see if it was okay, and he sent me two e-tickets through - front row on the mezzanine.

We went straight to the theatre seeing as we looked semi decent, not like it mattered neither of us was prepared to get dressed up.

We went through stage door, wanting to wish the boys good luck before the show. Grace hadn't performed for two nights but no one seemed to mind- they knew how much Ben meant to her. It was hard, walking down the the hallway, without Ben. I remembered running down the hallway with a football before we went missing, annoying everyone- but we didn't care it was fun. But those fun times were gone.

I walked into the male ensemble room, to find all the boys par Ben in there. They had put all the Get well soon cards that the fansies had sent in still believing he was off ill on his dresser.

"You alright Josh" asked Sky, coming over and patting me on the back.

The boys all looked expectantly at me willing for me to answer- I could see the concern in their eyes.

But I couldn't answer. I just broke down crying, falling to my knees sobbing into my hands whilst shaking my head. I wasn't okay. I needed Ben.

The boys all rushed over to me and we had one massive group hug - them not letting go. We all were going through the same thing, a member of our cast was missing and it was ripping us all to pieces.

15 minuets was called, so I went to get Grace so that we could take our seats. I found her sat in the corridor, her eyes puffy with Will rubbing her back as she gasped for air. It was hard on her as well.

She looked up at me, and I held my hand for her to come with me. She weakly took it, before glancing back at Will who was dressed at Les. I mouthed thank you at him before we went to take our seats.

Grace began to fidget in her seat waiting for the show to start. I noticed she did it a lot, anxiety I think, but it has happened a lot more since Ben was gone. It was really hitting her hard, making her restless. I put my hand on her knee to stop her wriggling. She looked down at her knee then up at me before apologising.

"It's okay, just remember what I told you earlier" .

She looked at me one for time before the house lights went down and the overture began. I put my arm around her shoulder to remind her the I was here sure that she knew she wasn't alone.

When Stephan came on as racetrack she tended up slightly but relaxed slightly when I began rubbing her arm, comforting her. Lizzy (names after my best friend guys) was a great Katherine tonight, she poured a lot of emotions into her performance. She and Ben were close, a new couple dabbling in their emotions, but it still hurt her. I noted that I should text her to see how she's going.

Interval came slowly, and whilst everyone around us moved we stood still, frozen again, letting time flow around us.

Act 2 came on and Grace looked on the verge of tears. She always said it was Ben's song. And Ben was singing it. Whilst everyone laughed at "a fancy clam with a pearl inside line" we simply remembered Ben- and how much she enjoyed saying that line.

The show finished and I looked over to Grace to see her asleep. I picked her up and walked her back to the apartment. I lay her down in bed and tucked her in. I vowed then and their to keep her safe, I know Ben had done the same and now I was picking up the reigns while he was gone.

I went to sit out on my fire escape. I looked up at the sky and the stars that twinkled ever so slightly. Hope. That what they were.

Please come home Ben - we need you

I was pulled out of my daze by police sirens down below and I took it as my queue to sleep. I stuck my head into Grace's door to see her face illuminated by the moonlight flooding through her window. I gently closed the door and went to my bed. I hadn't slept in here for a while- I always waited for Ben in the armchair in the living room. But wherever he was in this world, I just prayed that he hadn't lost hope.