together we are stronger • bennoda

Chapter 13 - confession

Mike's POV

The next morning I woke up feeling like shit again. Every day was like that now, since Brad just gave up on our friendship and Chester pitied me for it and for turning his face on me that day. I didn't want his pity, I hated that but deep down I knew he just wanted to make me feel happy again.

I entered school and for my surprise, I didn't spot Chester anywhere. He was probably late, maybe he overslept.

I walked slowly to my locker and picked my books, when I was about to close it, I heard snickering behind me and I just knew it was Caleb. I'm not putting up with his shit today, I don't have the patience. I truly don't know how Chester was capable of tolerating him for so long. No surprise he burst out that day to protect me. He protected me, even if he was going to get himself hurt, he still protected. This thought brought a smile to my face, a real one.

I walked away leaving Caleb behind and hoping he wouldn't bother me today, but, of course, I was wrong. He followed me and pulled me by my hoodie almost suffocating me. I let out a strangled noise and he laughed.

"Hey dickhead, where's your little whore?" He said referring to Chester and my eyes glistened with anger. I didn't answer and he laughed again.

"Did you go too hard on him and he couldn't walk today?" Tristan said this time laughing too. I was breathing heavily and loudly, my eyes closed as I tried to focus on something else to control my anger. I was already so stressed from all the shit that was going on with my life and I still had to put up with Caleb's shit? No way!

"Shut up." I said calmly opening my eyes and looking straight at his face. He brushed his shoulder length brown hair back and licked his lips approaching me.

"Or what?" He said back with that fucking smirk. Oh, how I hate that fucking smirk.

"Or you're gonna regret it." I threatened in the same tone as before with a hoarse voice.

"Oh, I will?" He laughed loudly putting his hands over his belly and arching his back. Tristan snickered by his side. I clenched my teeth and started to walk away just to have my hoodie pulled back again.

I turned swinging my arm as I turned to face him. When I was inches from hitting his jaw, a hand stopped me. At first I thought it was Chester - trust me, he was way stronger than he looked - but then I realized it wasn't him, the person who held me didn't have the soft, silky, delicate hands of Chester, his arms weren't slender like Chester's and his grip was harsh, not protective like Chester's. I finally looked at the person's face and saw Dave there. He was looking at me with shock in his green eyes. Caleb had his hands up to protect his face and my fist was still inches from him.

I shook my arm out of the ginger's grip and looked at his face intently before waking away. I was so angry.

~

Chester didn't show up at all yesterday and I didn't go to his house either because I was too stressed for that. I was hoping on seeing him today, my head was spinning with worry.

When I entered the school he wasn't there yet but I still had some hope he'd show up. I hurried to my locker and then to my first class to avoid Caleb, I wasn't looking forward to getting  angry again.

~

Turned out that Chester didn't show up today either and my thoughts wouldn't let me alone. I got out of school after the classes and rushed to his place. I didn't even bother telling my mother that I'd spend some time out, my head was too busy thinking about several possibilities of what might have happened to Chester.

When I finally got to his house I stopped my tracks and leaned my forehead against his door, catching my breath. I saw that his father's car wasn't parked there and entered without even knocking. I rushed upstairs to his room and my mouth dropped.