You Don't Even Know Me... (Bennoda)

Chapter Eight

*One Week Later*

Chester and Mike sit downstairs in the studio, stretched out in chairs late at night.

"Oh, man," Chester yawns. "..what time is it?"

Mike tiredly looks down at his watch and groans. "4:25 am."

"Damn. Why can't we figure this one out?" He scratches out a lyric on a sheet of paper.

Mike rubs his face. "Maybe we're just going at this with the wrong approach."

"What do you mean?"

"Well...maybe we should just take a little break." He reaches down into a small mini fridge on the floor and tosses Chester a water bottle.

"Thanks."

The room goes quiet for a minute or two while Mike gathers his thoughts.

"Hey. I just remembered something," Chester looks up in response. "..I still haven't heard you sing."

Chester sighs. "Do we really have to fixate on that right now?"

"Well, I love everything you've written for us, but you still have to sing at some point if you want to be in a band," he set the water bottle down and straightened up at the desk.

Chester looks down at his shoes. "I...just don't know what to sing. It's not like we have any real songs."

Mike pulls up a program on his computer and types in "Hybrid Theory". A file appears on the screen. "Actually, I've been working on a few demos.."

He scrolls through a list of songs on the screen until he highlights one in particular. "Oh, like this one. I think you would really like this one."

Chester pulls his chair closer to the desk and looks on, then points at the screen. "This one...?"

"Yeah, why don't you give a shot?"

"Um, I think the melody goes like..this, doesn't it?"

Chester looks down and concentrates as he sings a small tune. Mike studies Chester as he hums the melody.

Woah...this kid deserves more credit for himself than he thinks. His voice is so beautiful, so delicate and soft but heavy and deep. It's definitely unique.

"Okay, get in the booth," Mike says excitedly, to Chester's confusion.

"W-what?"

"I have to hear you sing this, I think it could really work."

"Y-you think so?" He utters shyly.

"Definitely," he hands Chester a set of headphones. "...here, put these on."

Chester abides and locks the door of the booth behind him.

"Um...what do you want me to do?" He positions himself awkwardly.

Mike chuckles. "Just stand wherever you feel comfortable, and when I give you a cue, you can go ahead and start."

"...okay." He whispers nervously.

Mike types on his keyboard and presses a button, then points to Chester as if to signal to him.

Chester can hear Mikes vocals in his headphones begin to play.

"Hear the screaming in my dreaming
As it's seeming that you've played your part
Like you're heartless, take apart this
In the darkness but I know that I tried so hard"

Chester closes his eyes as he approaches the microphone and takes a deep breath.

"I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter"

Mike sits up close to his desk and envelops himself in Chester's voice.

This is insane, this is exactly how I had imagined it, and he's hitting the notes perfectly. Such an incredible range, with great potential. I definitely have to let the guys hear him.

Chester's POV

"...but in the end,
it doesn't even matter."

The song fades out and Chester removes his headphones and puts them on the stand. He catches Mike's eyes, nervously awaiting a response.

"So...h-how was that?" He says quietly.

Mike is silent for a few seconds. Unable to read his face, I instantly go into a panic. A million things suddenly started floating in and out of my mind.

What if he didn't like my voice? I knew I should've acted more confident. God, he must have really thought I sucked.

"Chester...?" Mike says finally.

"Yeah?"

"Do you like to sing?"

I was a little perplexed by his vague question. "Um...yeah?"

"Well, good, because you'll probably be doing a lot of that for the next few days. That was great."

My mind and body both sighed in relief. Good...he didn't hate it.

I exited the booth and took my spot next to Mike. "You really think I'm good?"

He laughed. "'Good' is maybe too limiting a title to describe it, but yes. It was beautiful."

"Thanks," I met Mike's gaze then smiled.

Mike chuckled under his breath.

"What?" I said, wondering what provoked him.

"...nothing, it's just..you have a bit of a crooked smile."

"Gee, thanks," I scoffed.

"N-no," Mike stumbled on his words between laughs. "Don't worry, I think it's cute."

Mike's words instantly made my heart jump. He thinks I'm cute...?

I suddenly felt that thing again. That weird feeling in my stomach followed by a pounding in my chest.

Mike scooted closer to me and put his hand on my leg. My anxiety made my heart beat twice as fast.

He then grabbed my hand and held it in his. His hand was warm and inviting...much like his aura in general.

He smiled and ran a hand through my hair and my body stiffened. Embarrassed, I tried to not look at him directly.

"What's wrong?" I suddenly heard him ask.

This wasn't normal. It couldn't be. Every time I put my trust in someone, they would always let me down. I looked at Mike's kind eyes. Maybe he was different.

I took a small breath. "I'm...s-scared." I felt him pull my head up to meet his eyes.

"Chaz..." He says softly. "..you should never be scared of me...ever. I would never hurt you." He gives a half smile, hoping to convince me of his words.

"Do you understand?"

I paused for a moment then nodded.

I tried to relax my mind as I felt what was about to happen. Mike pulled me close to his body, just as warm and inviting as I had anticipated.

He placed his hands on either side of my face and ran his hand across my cheek. He seemed to admire what was in front of him before softly pressing his lips against mine.

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I reciprocated and kissed him back. I moved my hand to his back and I could smell his intoxicating scent. Muffled, but sexy and safe.

I couldn't believe what I was doing. When did I start liking guys? Then again, this was just as exciting and new as it was unreal. This was supposed to be wrong but it felt like it was right, like it was meant to happen. My mind suffocated itself with thoughts, so I stopped thinking and just let my feelings take over.

~~~~~