Chester Bennington - Unusual Neighbor

Unpleasant encounters that got you thinking

On my way home, after a long day of work, I decided to stop by my favorite Muffin's store. It's been too long since I've actually been here. Lately, Chester is the one that comes here and buy them - well, maybe because he is always fucking things up and uses the muffins as a way to apologize. Not that I complain, but I would like him to buy them for me just because he wants to and not just as bribery.

Things with Chester has been developing slowly and - I might even say - in a good way. 

He is trying, I know he is. He wants to share his secrets with me, but something stops him every time we talk about the matter. I guess I'll just have to be patient.

I was lost in my thoughts when I left the store that I didn't even notice that someone was walking behind me, whispering my name. Whenever I walk on the street, thinking about my own stuff, even the pope could say hi to me that I wouldn't notice. There have been several times when I was walking and someone I know stopped in front of me to greet me; I walked around the person without even noticing and go away. People usually ask me if I am mad at them when, in fact, I'm just distracted.

Eventually, the man that called my name rushed behind and reached my side. I  finally noticed and looked at him.

Mike.

"What do you want? Want me to kick your ass again?" I said not even bothering to stop to talk to him. He followed me anyway with a smile on his lips.

"You didn't kick my ass. I let you do that."

"Yeah, whatever." 

Mike didn't give up and I wasn't sure what the fuck he wanted from me. I don't even know him, and the only time I spoke to him I threatened to call the police, so I had no idea what the hell he intended.

"Hey," he stopped me by grabbing my arm. I shove it away from his grip and looked him with enraged eyes. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened the other night. You have nothing to do with it and I shouldn't have treated you that way. You seem like a nice girl. At least, that's what the girl in the Muffin's store say."

I narrowed my eyes at him and asked him if he was following me around. Mike started laughing. He wasn't being unpolite like he was nights ago, he was actually being friendly. But I was still uneased around him.

"Relax. No, I am not following you around. I saw you here a few weeks ago with Chester, and then I came here several times and saw you here. So I guessed you're a loyal customer and asked about you."

"Why? Are you a stalker?"

Mike laughed again and nodded his head.

"No, not at all."

"That's what looks like," I crossed my arms in front of my chest and supported the weight of my body in one leg, looking at him in a judgmental way. "You're following Chester. Why is that?"

He grinned.

"Ya see? Chester and I and a bunch of other guys were best friends once, a long time ago. And I thought that he was a good person, but it turns out that I was wrong."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I don't know what happened between you two, but you should stay away and get a life. You're being stupid. Haven't you seen what he is becoming because of you? "

"Becoming what? A poor thing? Don't pity him. He didn't pity me or my family. And I know he hasn't told you what happened. He knows that when he tells you, you'll break up with him."

"We're not dating."

"Yeah, but you want it," he smirked and I just stood there, facing him with no answer for him. I knew he caught me. I knew he could see how much I care for Chester more than a friend is supposed to, and he is using that against me. "You don't want to be caught in the middle of this mess. If you want a good life, stay away. Run while you can."

"Why do you think I would listen to you?" He grinned even more. "Besides, I don't run away from problems that easily."

"I can see that," he eyed me from above, crossing his muscular arms against his chest. "But at least I warned you of the dangers attached to Chester."

"Dangers? You seem more dangerous than Chester."

"Not everything is what it seems"

" If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then probably it is a duck."

Mike started laughing, uncrossing his arms as his hands started looking for his car keys in his pockets. I noticed his movement and thanked God that he was preparing to leave me alone.

"You're a funny girl. It's a shame that I didn't meet you in another situation." Then he turned around and walked away.

And as I watched him disappear in his grey car with a smirk on his lips, I couldn't help but think about every word Mike said. This is getting more confusing by the minute, and part of me is actually getting worried about what this big horrible secret might be. Chester doesn't talk to his family; he had best friends that he doesn't see anymore and one of them is actually stalking him and harassing him.

I was worried that Mike could turn into an aggressive mode, I mean, I don't even know him.

After our conversation, it seemed to me like he is a nice guy, but holds some kind of grudge against Chester. But if Chester said that whatever happened was proved that it wasn't his fault, why would Mike keep going after him? What could have possibly happened that made Mike and Chester like this?

Even after arriving at my apartment, I was processing everything, everything that I know, everything that Chester told me and the conversation with Mike. I know I should tell Chester about it, but he would be unnecessarily worried - nothing really happened, we just talked.

Besides, it's not like he tells me everything too, right?