Onsra

Part 3

I woke up the next morning and Chester wasn't there. He spent the night in Scott's cabin but who knows if he actually did? He was as far away from camp as he could go last I saw and it was late. Brad started to wake up the same time I got out of bed and threw a shirt on. He came off the top bunk.

"Hey, Brad, did you see Chester last night?" I asked and he yawned, shaking his head.

"No but Scott came here and asked where he and you were once he noticed you weren't here either. You should go over there and tell him you stayed in camp. Where did you go anyway?"

"I went looking for Chester. I got lost in the woods but then Chester found me. He told me the way to go back but didn't go himself." I told Brad who seemed immediately puzzled by Chester's actions.

"Wonder why he didn't go to Scott's..."

"Beats me. I'll get dressed and go down there. Coming with?" I asked and Brad hesitated before nodding. We started getting ready to leave.

~Break~

"This is the cabin." I said, looking at my new map and back to the cabin. We approached the door and prepared to knock but then it opened and Chester stepped out. He looked scared and he couldn't hide the hurt in his eyes. When he saw us, he quickly looked down and pushed past us. Brad gave me a concerned look and then Scott came out. He looked like a mess, his hair tossed and bags under his eyes but he had that same creepy grin.

"Oh, Mike. I thought you had run off." Scott chuckled and I humored him with a fake smile.

"Of course not." 

"Where did you go?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. I thought of many lies I could spill but the truth shouldn't get me in trouble.

"I was walking around and got lost." I explained shortly and he nodded.

"It can happen. But you know something strange?"

"What?"

"Chester was missing too for the longest time. I had to go out and find him. Did you see him?" He asked me and I hesitated. I didn't want to get the other boy in trouble, especially since I'm feeling a strong connection to him. Plus, I want his trust. 

"No, I didn't see him."

"You wanted to go after him during the bonfire." He reminded me and I nodded.

"In truth, yes. I did want to go find him. He looked upset. I tried to search for him but I never did, just got lost." I shrugged and gave Brad a quick look that told him to continue his silence. 

"How did you find your way back?" He asked. It was more than obvious he was suspicious but I couldn't help but wonder why he was so concerned about Chester's whereabouts and closeness to me. 

"Well, I got angry and ripped my map but then I held it back together and managed to find my way." I said, adding some truth to my lies and he nodded.

"Alright." He turned to go back inside and we turned to leave but he spoke again, "Oh, and Mike? You don't have to protect him."

He went inside and closed the door. Brad and I started walking back to our cabin.

"What the hell was that, man?! You don't have to protect him?" Brad exclaimed and I sighed, shrugging my shoulders. 

"I don't know, but he's really weird." I said and Brad nodded in agreement.

"I think he's doing something really fucked up to Chester." Brad voiced his opinion and I stopped walking to look at him. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind until now. I wanted Brad to elaborate. 

"Like what?" I asked.

"I don't know, just something fucked up. It'd explain why Chester looked so ashamed earlier, why he doesn't want to speak, and the reason why he seems so afraid. I've barely talked to him but I can tell he's a mess and needs some kind of help." Brad ran a hand into his hair and we continued to walk.

"Do you think Scott's... molesting him...?" I asked uncertainly and Brad gave me a look that showed it was exactly what he thought. "Really? I mean, I know Scott's creepy but that seems farfetched."

"Farfetched? Than how could you guess it? Did you realize Scott put a hand on your knee at that bonfire?! That stinks of sexual predator." Brad said as if it was a fact.

"Or a friendly gesture and Chester's just going through a lot at home." I muttered but then remembered when he had flinched yesterday. He definitely faced something physical but it might not be sexual. "We can't jump to conclusions." 

"Well I can and if I'm right, he's going through hell and you're not being the friend I can tell you want to be towards him. That kid needs help and he needs a friend."

"I'm becoming his friend."

"Has he let you in? Has he trusted you at all?"

"A little."

"What did he say?"

"I can't tell you." I said without any hesitation and Brad gave me a small smile as we saw our cabin.

"Good. Keep it that way. Don't break what he's giving you." He told me and I nodded. I was happy Brad seemed concerned for Chester as well. It wasn't just me who thought he needed someone. Maybe Chester will let our circle of friends take him in and make him one of us. Although he'll be completely different than us, he can still be our friend. "Mike?"

"Hmm?" I tore away from my thoughts.

"When you feel comfortable enough with Chester, ask him about Scott. Okay? He can't go through whatever it is he's going through alone." Brad told me and I nodded again.

"I will." I promised and Brad entered the cabin as we approached. The other guys were ready and looked like they were ready to leave. 

"Bradman, Noda, you coming with? We're playing some baseball." Phoenix asked kindly and I saw Chester writing in his notebook in the corner of his bed.

"No, I'll stay." I said a little too quickly and Phoenix looked behind himself, where I was looking, and looked back at me. He gave me a confused look but shrugged his shoulders.

"I'll come." Brad said, probably seeing I wanted some alone time with Chester and followed the others out without a word to me. I sat down at my bunk and opened my sketchbook. I looked up at Chester and had the incredible urge to draw him but I sighed and put my book away, resisting my temptation. It's too soon to creep him out like that.

"How was your night?" I asked, hoping it'd trigger Chester to confide in me but he looked up and all it set off was darkness behind his eyes. I was suddenly afraid of touching these subjects that I realized could set him off.

"Fine." Was all he said, which was the universal code for anything but fine. I ran a hand through my hair.

"Scott asked me a lot of questions today. He seemed really interested in if I saw you or not." I told him. I was afraid to mention Scott but I felt I had to.

"Mike... What did you say?" He asked softly, looking back at me. His eyes spoke of fear.

"I lied. I said I didn't see you." I said and he looked like he relaxed a little. He sighed and wrote more in his notebook. "Are you okay?"

"Don't talk to me, Mike... I don't want you to get hurt." He said, his voice cracking. I tried to see his eyes but he hid them well. I'd bet anything there were tears in them. What did he mean by I'll get hurt? He obviously wants a friend, who wouldn't? But something's holding him back, keeping him away from the happiness he so dearly wants.