Hybrid Theory: A [Linkin Park] Spinoff.

The Rising Tied.

I yawn and instinctively reach for my alarm clock, not realizing I'm still with the guys on tour,"Ugh.... Kenji! Shut your alarm off!! It's three in the morning!!!"
Joe shakes me,"Hey. Your phone is ringing."
I grunt and roll onto my side,"I don't recognize the ringtone. What's the caller ID say?"
"Someone called Aaron."
I open my eyes," Oh. That's the kid I ran into at Arby's a week ago. Let it ring."
"You sure?"
"Yep."
"Alright." Joe walks out.
I slowly sit up, my stomach contents threatening to surge out of my mouth,"Ugh.... I need something to eat...." I jump down from my bunk and walk into the living room,"Hey guys."
Mike smiles, Rob looks up from where he is idly drumming on the table, Phoenix looks up from his guitar, Brad looks up from his phone, and Chester smiles,"Hey, Kid."
I throw my hand up and walk into the kitchen.
Eren?
Chester's broken voice fills my head.
Yo?
Can I talk to you about something?
Always.
I'm coming in there.
Okay.
Chester walks in, his face stained with tears,"Eren. I don't know how to tell you this..."
I turn and lean against the refrigerator, a sudden cold edge along my spine,"Tell me what, Chester?"
"Have you ever been told about exactly how Mark died?"
I swallow hard,"No. Why?"
"I was the one who killed him. It was thirty-two below zero that night. The roads were slick, and neither my Chevy Silverado or his Ford Explorer could stop in time. Mark was going too fast when he hit the black ice. I was under the effects of a slight cocaine hit, and as far as I remember, I passed out before crossing the median and slamming into Mark's Explorer, killing him instantly."
I swallow down a hard sob,"Chester. I'm sure you didn't mean to hit him."
Chester laughs viciously," I shouldn't even have been behind the wheel that night. I was sick to begin with."
I sink into a sitting position, my head in my hands,"I....I don't know what to say. I'm not mad at you. I just never knew.."
"I should have known that I couldn't have hidden this from you in the first place..."
I sob heavily, my world torn apart.
Chester stands there,"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to destroy your family. I'm sorry."
I slowly force myself to my feet,"Why should I be angry about this? I barely remember Ma- err... Dad. If anything, I'm glad that you waited until now to tell me. Because any earlier, and I'm pretty sure I would have reacted completely differently." I walk over to Chester and throw my arms around his waist.
He sniffs back a tear as he ruffles my hair,"I'm glad that you are okay with this. I just hope this doesn't change anything between us."
I chuckle,"Chester. I was so afraid of causing you to walk on eggshells around me that after that day in the kitchen at my house, I never asked how it happened. It's fine."
Chester chuckles softly, his face red from embarrassment,"Yah know, you look really good in my white muscle t-shirt."
I smile,"Chaz. Really?"