Cigarettes [Bennoda] ✔

Chapter 11

Chester's POV
December 15th finally came. I couldn't go of course, but at least Ryan and Amir could go and tell me all about it once they came back that night. They promised to come over once the concert was over.

I tried saving back up my money that month before, but when I went to buy a ticket, they were all sold out. I was so mad and frustrated. I just wanted this one thing and I was so fucking close at getting it.

All that day I was a depressed mess. Mike was in the same city as me playing only a few miles from where I lived and I couldn't go

My whole family seemed to understand how down I was and tried to cheer me up by taking me out to lunch at my favorite restaurant and they were constantly telling me stupid jokes to try and make me laugh. I was so happy that I had a family that was really close and caring.

After lunch, we all went back home. I went up to my room and waited for later on when Ryan and Amir would tell me about the show.

Ryan's POV
It was finally time for the Fort Minor show. I was excited of course, but I was so bummed that Chester wouldn't be there. I was going to see his favorite artist while he was stuck at home probably doing nothing but drinking and smoking. I tried almost everyday since I had bought my ticket to give it to him, but he wouldn't take it. I thought about not going at all, but he kept saying how he wanted me to go and tell him all about it afterwards.

Amir and I had both gotten meet and greet passes which was great. I was going to have him sign my The Rising Tied CD so I could give it to Chester since he couldn't come.

When we got to the venue, we waited in the meet and greet line for what seemed like forever. A bit of anxiety was rising in me the closer we got to the table. I never really had a hard time talking to people, but this was Mike Shinoda we are talking about. One of the most talented human beings on earth.

Soon we got up to the table and he greeted us with a smile and a "Hey, how are you guys?" "We're good!" I said back. I put my CD on the table, and he signed it.

"You look really familiar. Have I met you before?" He asked. "No, but we were at your show earlier this year. We came with our buddy Chester, who's like your biggest fan." I said. Of course I had to mention Chester to him.

He looked up at me quickly when I said Chester's name.

"Chester?" He asked. I nodded. "I remember that kid. Sweet boy." I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, he couldn't come because he spent all of his money helping his parents with the bills so..." I said. He got through signing my CD. I looked at it and smiled. It was his signature with a little drawing off to the side.

"Damn... I was really hoping he'd be here tonight. There are very few times when fans stick out and he's one of them." He said. "Yeah he was really hoping to come." I said. He started singing Amir's shirt and CD.

After that he motioned for me to move closer. "After the show, meet me at the Cane's down the road. We'll pay Chester a little surprise visit since he couldn't make it." He said quietly.  My eyes widened. "Really?" He nodded and smiled. "Okay. Yeah. It was really nice meeting you Mike." "Nice meeting you too... um" "Ryan." "Nice meeting you Ryan."

We walked away and I was fanboying just a bit. I was excited for the show, but even more excited for after the show. Chester was going to flip out when I showed up at his door with Mike.

Mike's POV
It was finally time for the Arizona show. I was so excited, but also scared. Excited because I might get to see Chester, and scared because I might not get to see him.

The day went like it normally did while I was on tour. I woke up in some hotel room, got dressed, got some coffee and then did sound check. After that I had my meet and greet.

The meet and greets that I had on this tour were so different than the one's I had had on the last tour. On the last one, I could just walk out side the venue and hang out, but now it was more "formal". I had to sit at a table while a line of people slowly went by for me to sign their things. I could only talk to a certain amount of time before security would tell me to wrap it up. I couldn't give hugs either which sucked. It felt like I wasn't really connecting with these people.

About halfway through the signing, a couple of young guys that I had definitely seen before came up to the table. I smiled and greeted them. The one with pitch black hair set down my album for me to sign. I decided to draw him a little picture on it along with my signature. While I was writing and drawing, I decided to talk to him.

"You look really familiar. Have I met you before?" I asked as I glanced up a second. He shook his head. "No, but we were at your show earlier this year. We came with our buddy Chester, who's like your biggest fan." He said. My head shot up when he mentioned Chester. That's where I had seen these guys before. They were in Chester's profile picture on Twitter.

I tried not to be creepy by how excited I was that I was even talking with someone he knew. I was almost shaking as soon as I heard his name. Is it creepy for a 26 year old to get excited over hearing and thinking about a 17 year old?

I tried to calm myself down. "Chester?" I asked in the most normal voice I could muster. I was so nervous and excited that I almost choked out the kid's name. He nodded. "I remember that kid. Sweet boy." He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, he couldn't come because he spent all of his money helping his parents with the bills so." He said.

My heart broke a little bit for him. He shouldn't have to pay for his families bills. He was a good kid though to step up and help out. I was starting to get sad that he wasn't going to be at the show. I had to think of something to do quick. I was going to see that boy that night if it killed me.

I motioned for him to come closer after I finished signing his and the  other boy's things. "After the show, meet me at the Cane's down the road. We'll pay Chester a little surprise visit since he couldn't make it." I said quietly.  He pulled back a bit and eyes widened. "Really?" I nodded. "Okay. Yeah. It was really nice meeting you Mike." He said nervously. "Nice meeting you too... um" I stopped because I wasn't sure what his name was. "Ryan." "Nice meeting you Ryan."

He and the other boy left and I finished my meet and greet. The show was great. It was just like any other show. It was amazing, but nothing extremely crazy stood out.

After the show, I quickly took a shower, like 5 minutes long, put on some new clothes, sprayed my cologne to make sure I didn't smell like death, and headed to Cane's to meet up with the boys.

I had a good feeling about the rest of the night.