*click*
“Hello?”
“Ben, is Christian there?”
“Paul! Have you found her? What’s going on?”
“I need to speak to Christian.”
“Why? What’s happened? Where have you been? You’ve been gone since yesterday!”
“Nothing’s happened, I just need a quick word with Chris.”
“Oh, alright. Hang on.”
“Hello?”
“Chris, it’s Paul.”
*click*
“Hey, we were getting worried about you! Well I was – thought you were gonna leave me to look after Ben on my own. Deserter.”
“I’ve found Chloe.”
“Well that’s great! I’ll tell Ben.”
“No, hang on: I need you to tell him something specific.”
“Alright… Is something up? Has something happened to Chloe?”
“You could say that…”
“What? Is Chloe okay?”
“Not really.”
“Why? What’s happened?”
“I can’t tell you – I promised her I wouldn’t – but she’s in a pretty bad way.”
“Wha- Oh, okay. But is she alright? She’s still alive?”
“Yeah, she’s still alive. I think she’ll be okay eventually… Anyway, I need you to tell Ben that I’ve found her-”
“Where are you?”
“Chloe’s flat, but for God’s sake don’t tell Ben that: he’ll be right round here.”
“Doesn’t she want to see him?”
“No, not yet.”
“Why?”
“Look, Chris, will you just tell Ben that I’ve found Chloe, she’s okay-”
“But I thought she wasn’t okay.”
“Well she’s not, but he doesn’t need to know that. So tell him she’s safe and well and everything, but that she’s not ready to see him yet.”
“Okay. What if he asks where you are?”
“Just tell him you don’t know, but make sure he thinks we’re definitely not at the flat – that’s the last thing Chloe needs.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, and don’t tell Mark anything.”
“What – nothing?”
“Nothing.”
“Not even that you’ve found Chloe?”
“No, definitely not that. If he asks, tell him you haven’t heard anything.”
“What’s this got to do with Mark?”
“Ben?”
“Ben, put the phone down! This is a private conversation!”
“No! Why didn’t you tell me you’ve found Chloe?”
“Oh shit, Ben, where the hell are you?”
“He’s on the extension.”
“You didn’t tell me there was an extension!”
“I didn’t know it was a secret conversation.”
“Why are you keeping secrets about Chloe? What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing! She’s fine!”
“No she’s not – you just told Chris not to tell me where she is because she doesn’t want to see me! Why doesn’t she want to see me? What have I done?!”
“Ben, mate, I think you must have misheard.”
“No I didn’t – why are you lying to me? What’s going on?”
“Nothing, honest!”
“And what the hell has all this got to do with Mark?!”
“Nothing!”
“Stop saying nothing! Why did you tell Chris not to tell him about Chloe?”
“Because…”
“What’s going on, Paul?! I need to know how Chloe is – she’s my girlfriend; I love her! I need to know she’s alright!”
“She is!”
“She’s not! You just said she’s not!”
“Look, Ben, maybe if you just calm down…”
“I’m coming round.”
“No, Ben, I really-”
*click*
“Shit. Chris-”
“I’m on it.”
*click*