Chester Bennington - Unusual Neighbor

Teaching can get you into strange positions

When I was arriving at the flower store, my phone rang inside my pocket. For a moment, I smiled thinking it could be Chester, I rarely get any phone calls or messages if not from him. But when I saw Rachel's ID on the screen, I took a deep breath and picked up the phone at last.

"Hi," I said.

"Hiiiiii," I heard Rachel and Monica screaming on the other side of the line.

"Rachel? Monica?"

"We missed you and we decided to call you. It's been almost two months since we last saw you, and we really really miss you." Monica said. "Things were hard at first, but then our mother started to get softer and she's actually really cool now."

"Really?" I asked, skeptical.

"Yes! And she's even more open to new stuff, we are slowly getting free." Rachel said with a happy voice. "You changed stuff around here, Ana. And you were right, there is more out there than this bubble."

"I am so happy to hear that," a tear stroll down my cheek. "Live your lives, don't let anyone live them for you. I want to visit you, but I still need to talk to our parents. I think it's time to make up."

"Finally!" They yelled in unison.

"Until then, you can always come here and visit me. But you can't tell anyone where I am, ok?"

"We promise," Rachel said immediately.

"Alright, I'll send you a message with the address and you'll come here. It's not very far away, but you can always spend the night here."

I heard them whispering something to each other, but I couldn't quite understand what it was. It seems that Monica wanted to ask something and Rachel was telling her to shut up and that she should stick her nose in her own business, but Monica asked it anyway.

"And have you met anyone already? Like, a guy?"

I was taken aback with her question, but I laughed anyway.

"No, not a guy in whatever way you're thinking. But I did make a friend, though. I think..."

They both started giggling like two little girls in highschool talking about boys in the bathroom. I rolled my eyes at the sound.

"It's nothing like that. When I came here I didn't know anyone, he was the first person I've met that was actually tolerable. And right now I regret telling you this."

"It's ok, we won't tell anyone," Rachel said. "I promise."

"What's the name of our future brother-in-law?" Monica asked, earning a punch in the arm from Rachel. "What? This is Ana! She always runs away from boys. Having a male friend is a huge improvement!"

"No, I don't run away from boys," I answered immediately, slightly offended. "You're crazy, and his name is Chester. But now I need you --kids -- to let me go, I have to work."

"Oh, when can we see you?"

"I don't know. I'll text you later."

I hung up the call and got to work. Janice was opening the store and greeted me with a huge smile on her lips.

"Good morning, Ana. You look good today, did something happen?"

"Good morning, Janice. Nothing significant, I just talked to my sisters, I really miss them."

"Nah, it's not just that, is it? It's that boy -- what is his name? -- Chester! That's it! Chester. That smile is because of him, isn't it?" She asked me in a nonchalant tone as she was starting her work. She didn't want to make a big deal out of this because she knows I would never answer her the truth. So she pretended she was more focused on the flowers she was watering.