Broken

Chapter Two

Mike's Point of View:

I was angry about all the questions Chester pushed on me and stormed back to the bus, not bothering to leave Chester with the umbrella. Immediately after arriving, guilt washed over me for leaving him there to get drenched in the downpour, but something kept me moving in the opposite direction. 

Upon arrival, I tapped on the door and Bob opened the door for me, not uttering a single thought about Chester not being with me. I silently cursed him in my head for not caring about Chester, it irked me. Ignoring the lack of interest Bob had in Chester, I went to the back of the bus, near the bunks, and laid on the couch just a few feet away. My eyes instantly fluttered shut in exhaustion, sleep overcame me. I allowed my mind to rest without meaning to.

~

"Miiikkeee," An irritating voice pounded into my head. I groaned and tossed over on the couch. "Mike, get your ass up!"

"Go away," I moaned, grabbing a nearby pillow to cover my face.

"Mike, come on! We don't have all day, we're almost at the next venue," The sound I recognize as Brad stammers. I instantly sat up, eyes wide and breath caught in my throat.

"We're what?!" I yelped, remembering Chester was left behind. Tears sprung into my eyes. Paranoid thoughts started buzzing through my head, concerned for his health and safety, as he's constantly getting sick or hurt.

"We're almost at the next-"

"No! Where's Chester?!" I interrupted Brad, who looked increasingly terrified at my outburst.

"What do you mean? Isn't he in his bunk?" He asked, obviously extremely confused.

"No, no, no! Turn the bus around!" I yelled, hopping up off the couch and towards the front of the bus to Bob. "You have to turn the bus around! Chester's not on the bus!"

"What? I thought he came on in front of you! I could lose my job, that thoughtless asshole!" Bob snapped, pissed off at the fact that Chester wasn't aboard, but he was upset for all the wrong reasons, considering it was my fault after-all.

"Don't you dare say anything like that about Chester again! I left him behind, I thought you noticed he wasn't here! Oh, God! Please let him be okay!" I cried out, allowing the tears to break free. I didn't care if anyone saw, my only worries were of Chester. Bob made a U-turn and pressed on the gas. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed his number.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Please pick up, please pick up!

"Mike," A voice said on the other side that soothed my worries.

"Oh my god, Chester, I am so sorry! Please forgive me, I didn't know you hadn't gotten back on the bus," I attempted to excuse myself, but he just sighed deeply in return.

"Mike, it's okay. You didn't turn the bus around, did you?" He asked, I could still hear the hurt pricking his voice as it strained slightly.

"Of course I did! We need to come get you, Chaz!"

"I'm already at the venue, you better tell Bob to go back around," He said bluntly, before ending the call.

"Bob, go back towards the venue, Chester's already there," I told Bob with an aggravated sigh. Bob grunted, but did as I asked and turned back the right direction. Roughly twenty minutes later, we finally arrived at our destination. We were playing an indoor stadium this time and it was in a large dome with stairs in front of the building. Chester was seated at the top, looking utterly miserable, which re-triggered my guilt. I quickly jumped out of the bus and raced towards him.

"Chester, I am so sorry! I didn't know Bob took off without you! Are you hurt? Do you have a cold? We can cancel or postpone the concert if you're not feeling wel-"

"Mike, stop it. You don't actually care about my well being," He sighed, saying something under his breath that I couldn't quite make out.

"Of course I care about you, Ches! It was just the whole thing with Anna was pinching a nerve. I am so sorry," I apologized, willing to beg for his forgiveness. I silently prayed that he wouldn't ask more about my divorce with Anna. If he knew what had happened, it would most-likely crush him.

"What exactly did happen to you and Anna? You said she cheated, who did she cheat on you with?" He questioned, my prayers going unanswered.

"I don't want to talk about it," I decide to respond with, instantly regretting that choice as I felt him rise with suspicion.

"Was it someone in the band?" He asked, trying to push me into revealing the truth. I shook my head.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I huffed, silently begging him to drop the subject.

"Mike, please just tell me!" He shouted, rising from his spot and tightly gripping onto my hands as he made eye contact with me.

"I-it... It was with Talinda," I sighed, revealing the doubtful truth.

"That slut," Chester murmured, shaking his head and letting go of my hands.

"What? That's your wife you're talking about! How come you're not surprised?" I shout at him as he walked towards the tour bus. He turned and looked back into my eyes.

"Ex wife, Mike," He simply said before entering the tour bus. He and Talinda got a divorce? That's impossible! They were so happy together - or seemed to be. Did he know that Talinda must've been cheating on him at the time, but didn't know with who? Billions of possibilities flooded my mind as Brad and Phoenix walked up behind me.

"Mike, what was that all about?" Phoenix asked, setting a soothing hand on my shoulder.

"Uh - it was nothing," I stuttered, not wanting to speak about this again. I just wanted to find Chester and apologize again and again until he forgives me.

"It didn't sound like nothing, Mike. What was that about Anna cheating on you with Talinda?" Brad asked.

"It's just how it sounds," I sighed, eyeing their disbelieving. "I have to go apologize to Chester again."

"Did Chester say they got a divorce?" Phoenix asked me as I tried to pull away. I nodded my head briefly and escaped his grasp. "He didn't even tell us. He must be miserable."

"He can't be too bad if he's made it this far on his own," Brad countered which then lead to an argument between the two over Chester. Normally, I'd cut into the fight, but my only concern right now is Chester.