Cigarettes [Bennoda] ✔

Chapter 26

Mike's POV
Was I sad when Chester said he didn't want to come with me to my first award show? Of course. I mean I understood that he didn't want to deal with the paparazzi and media, but if he was going to be with me, then he eventually needed to get used to it.

I just wanted him to be there with me to cheer me on if I won, or comfort me if I didn't. I wanted him to stay for a few days and see my place and meet my family and friends. Even though I wanted nothing more than all that, I'd respect his decision if he decided he really didn't want to go.

After we had our little chat, I suggested that we go out and do something to get my mind off of the fact he didn't want to go to the event with me. I drove us to Ryan's house. Amir and Till were both there and all happy to see us.

"Hey Chester! Happy birthday!" Ryan yelled as he tackled Chester with a hug. "Thanks Ryan." Chester said with a laugh. "Happy birthday." Amir and Till both said. "Thank you." He said as he gave them a hug too.

"So what do you wanna do today?" Ryan asked. "Hmm... let's go to..." Chester said as he thought about it. "I want to go to the mall, but I'm afraid of people following us again." He said. I sighed.

"What?" Chester asked when I sighed. I shrugged. "I'm just... I don't want you to let the media control you. If you want to go out to the mall, then let's go out to the mall and have a good time. Sure, they might follow us and take a few pictures, but at least we'll be having fun." I said. He sighed. "Okay. Let's go to the mall." He said.

They all followed me to my car and we got in. It was funny watching Ryan, Amir and Till all try to get comfy in my small backseat.

We went to the mall and all went in. We shopped for a while and actually had fun. Chester and I still didn't hold hands in public which made me feel kind of bad. I mean, people were going to find out sooner or later that we were actually dating, and he was eighteen so I didn't understand why he wouldn't hold my hand.

I wanted to talk to him about it badly, but I didn't want to ruin his birthday so I just kept my mouth shut. We shopped around until around 4 in the afternoon. After that, we all went back to Chester's house and waited for his parents to finish cooking dinner.

When the food was done, we all sat around the table and his mom put plates in front of us. There was hardly enoigh room to move with all of us cramped around the table, but it was fun. We all talked and laughed the entire time we ate.

I wished my family would've been like this when I was growing up. We hardly talked while we ate dinner when I was younger, and if we did talk, it was usually my parents talking about how I needed to bring up my grades.

After we ate, his mom put a cake in the middle of the table and lit 18 candles for him to blow out. We sang happy birthday to him while he sat and smiled. "Make a wish baby." I whispered after we stopped singing. He leaned over the candles and thought for a few seconds before blowing out all of the candles.

He sat back down after blowing them out and looked at me with a smile. "What did you wish for?" I asked. "If I tell you it won't come true." He said. I gave him a little smile before turning back forward and eating my cake.

After we ate cake, we all migrated to the living room and just talked some more. Then after that, his parents and siblings went to bed. Us five decided to stay up a little longer. Chester got some beer from his room and we just chatted and drank. It was fun I guess. I learned a ton about everyone and they learned a lot about me. I still couldn't get over Chester not wanting to be close with me in public though.

I completely understand him being afraid of what the media says, but the fact that that he wouldn't walk close to me or hold my hand made me feel bad. I knew he loved me, but I couldn't help but feel like there was another reason besides the paparazzi that he didn't want to be close to me in public.