together we are stronger • bennoda

Chapter 26 - christmas

Chester's POV

A week had passed since the incident with Robert. I refuse to call him my father. Muto had been a better father in one week than he had in his whole life and I was grateful to finally have a decent father figure in my life. He accepted me and Mike's relationship quite well and was very caring towards me.

Today was already Christmas Eve and me and Mike needed to do all the Christmas shopping, which we left to the last minute. I had went to my old house to pick my money that I had saved for more than a year, so I had enough to buy nice presents to everyone and that made me happy.

"Let's go, Chester!" Mike shouted from downstairs. I always took a long time to get ready, you know, it's not easy to be that good looking if you're not dedicated to it. I finished fixing my hair, which was growing almost past my jaw since I hadn't cut it yet. I was thinking of getting a buzz cut maybe, the blonde was already fading and my hair was a mess. I grabbed one of Mike's caps and put it on while heading downstairs.

"Well you look gorgeous with my cap." Mike mocked but then smiled and kissed me.

"You asked me to hurry up so I had to take one of yours." I answered, he grabbed my hand and led us out to his dad's car. I sat behind the wheel and Mike sighed, siting on the passenger's seat.

"Are you sure you wanna drive?" He asked. He had been like this the whole week since that incident. I was feeling very down and he was being protective and caring, but I told him I was already fine. He didn't need to overprotect me, I could take care of myself. Don't get me wrong, I loved how he cared about me, but he was overreacting and I didn't want him to worry too much over something that was in the past now.

"Mike, I already told you I'm okay. Don't worry." I sighed and looked at him, grinning weakly while my hand caressed his thigh.

"I just wanted to make sure. Sorry..." he looked to the window and I started the engine.

"Don't be." I grabbed his face and kissed his lips briefly. He opened his eyes and smiled softly.

~

As soon as we got to the mall, we headed to Hot Topic. Mike would buy something for me and I'd buy something for him. I looked through the CDs and a Run-D.M.C one caught my gaze. I picked it up and went to look at some t-shirts. I decided on just buying the CD since I had already bought something else for him - which cost almost half of my money.

We paid for our things and went to other stores to buy presents for Donna and Muto. I bought Muto a perfume and Donna a pair of high heel sandals. Mike bought a bottle of wine for his dad and a purse for his mom. We headed to the food court and went to Burger King to order our food.

We sat at a table and waited until our food was ready and I went there to pick it up. We started to eat and all of a sudden I felt bad. I didn't quite feel the same, I felt alone and empty but I didn't want to worry Mike so I kept eating quietly. There was something inside me that was wrong, this sense of loneliness that suddenly overcame my whole being.

"Are you okay, Chaz?" Mike asked. Of course he'd notice. He always did, I loved this about him because he just knew me so well he could identify what was wrong by just the way I acted.

"I... I don't know, Mike." I suddenly felt like crying. I wanted to run away and lock myself in an empty room.

"What happened, hon'?" He asked and I smiled sadly, not exactly knowing the answer as he stretched his arm to reach my hand from above the table.

"Nothing." I said and swallowed the knot on my throat.

"C'mon, tell me, you know I wanna help."