Break Free

Chapter Thirty Six

"Mike's different than who he was back in school," Talinda mentioned when the three had gotten settled down back at the friends' home. Talinda came with out of Chester's paranoia that Steve had followed them to the hospital and would take her to spite him - though Mike just believed that was an excuse to spend more time with her. The two were currently alone in the living room as Mike had locked himself in his. The friends had kicked out Steve's stuff so the two were going to sleep separately until they ease back into normality.

"Wh-wha-what d-do y-you m-mean?" Chester stuttered, internally cursing himself for it.

"You're stuttering. Are you okay?"

~

"You're stuttering. Are you okay?" Mike heard Talinda ask the question with such concern. He went down the stairs, but stopped at the bottom and sat down. He knew she was with Chester, he remembered how Chester used to stutter around his uncle, but he didn't want to come in the room just yet.

"Y-Yeah, I-I'm f-fine. I-I g-guess the," He paused and cleared his throat, hoping the stutter would simply disappear. "I-I w-was just ca-caught o-o-offguard."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Chaz. I didn't mean to freak you out by saying that."

"Y-You d-didn't. I-I noticed it too," Chester stopped stuttering once he admitted he thought the same way. It was a thought Chester had buried as deep down as he could. He never let himself think about Mike that way.

"You did? I mean, Mike was just so soft spoken at school, but he had no problem scolding you at the hospital. I mean, at the hospital! I couldn't make out what he was saying, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but you have a broken arm, you were in pain. He shouldn't have yelled at you, at least not then. I mean before all this, he was so..." She trailed off, lost at words after her rant. Mike was listening much more closely now.

"Different," Chester finished for her. "But familiar, because he wasn't just different, he was like me. We both didn't have a family. The people who claimed to be were hurting us. We were both being abused in different ways. We had a love for art and music. We just... We could talk about anything and be okay, but now... Now it just feels like everything I say is wrong. He has his family, I just have Toby. I consider my friends my family, but it's just not the same. He wasn't being hurt when Steve was hurting me. I don't even know if he likes art anymore. Nothing's okay."

"Chaz, honey, I'm so sorry," She pulled him closer to her. He wasn't crying, though she could feel his walls beginning to break. "It will be okay. Mike will come around."

"He won't, Talinda. It's all just wrong. At the hospital, I decided to do whatever he says. I can't handle him yelling at me anymore, it breaks me more than anyone has ever done before. It hurts," He admitted and she pulled him in for a real hug on the couch and he wanted to cry, more than anything, but the tears wouldn't fall.

Mike blinked a few times, unsure if he should go down there. He had heard everything from his spot on the stairs, but was left with a few options on what to do next. He could accuse Chester of cheating on him with Talinda, make Chester do whatever he wanted, or... Wrap Chester in his arms and comfort him. He wondered if he was sick of being the bad guy and remembered a time where he felt like a victim. When he did, Chester was by his side. He was there and Mike wasn't for him for either times Chester was being treated the same way. He stuck up for him back when he himself was being hurt, but when he was okay, he just let Chester rot in Hell.

"I don't know what's going to happen next. I'm freaked out. Steve has custody of me and I'm still a couple weeks from turing eighteen. He could grab me any day again and make sure I can't escape this time. I'm scared," Chester was breathing more roughly now, afraid the tears would flow straight from his eyes like a faucet. He felt a different arm grab him and pull him towards their body. He pushed away slightly and saw Mike. He couldn't help but smile and felt comfortable enough to let himself cry and push himself into Mike's body.

"Chester, I'm so sorry I haven't been there for you. You've been scared and freaking out, while I've just been... well... freaking out on you. I'm sorry we kicked our relationship back to gear on a bad note. I'll make it up to you," Mike said softly, running his fingers through Chester's hair gently. "We'll have a date tomorrow, just us."

"R-Really?" Chester sniffled, pulling away to show Mike the smile on his face. Mike leaned in and let their noses rest beside each other. He looked into those haunting eyes that he fell in love with and kissed him.

"Yes, Chazzy. We'll go on a date, no one else is invited."

"Awe, damnit. I was hoping Mike would buy dinner," The couple heard Brad whine, followed by disappointed groans by the other guys. They heard a smacking noise, followed by a harsh whisper.

"Shut up! They'll know we were eavesdropping the whole time!" Phoenix sneered quietly, but it made Chester giggle and Mike smiled profoundly, his heart racing at that sound.

"I'll pick you up at your room bright and early - noon," Mike smiled and Chester laughed.

"Noon is good."

"I'd take it another step forward and say it's perfect."

"It is perfect," Chester said softly and the two kissed again, before Mike stood and left the room.

"You two are so adorable," Talinda smiled after Mike left. Chester turned to her and shrugged.

"Not always. Sometimes Mike's really gross, but I am too so," He shrugged again and laughed a little. Mike always put him in a good mood when he was nice. He hoped the date tomorrow would go perfectly and not hit any snags.

"I don't mean to barge into your life, but it's getting really late and I'm afraid of falling asleep behind the wheel on my way home. Do you mind if I spend the night here?" Talinda asked and Chester smiled softly.

"Sure, that's no problem at all. Hold on a second," He went into the kitchen, where the others heard him coming and quickly tried to act natural. He pulled Toby and Rob aside. "Hey, Talinda needs a place to crash tonight and since Toby's the only girl in the house, I figured she'd be more comfortable sharing a room with her."

"I think she'd be most comfortable sharing a room with you, Chaz. Someone has the hots for you other than Mike," Rob mentioned and Chester shook her head.

"Please, don't talk like that, Rob. Do you mind, Toby? Rob can stay in my room tonight," Chester snuck a little wink Rob's way to make up for Rob pointing out Talinda's crush on Chester. Rob stiffened, trying to make himself taller before realizing he was taller and Chester's basically a tiny stick to him.

"Yeah, Chaz's room sounds fun," Rob blew him a kiss and Chester cringed. Toby rolled her eyes and lightly smacked Rob on the head.

"Of course. Sleep well, boys," Toby smiled before going into the living room to greet Talinda and take her to her room.