Save Battery City

Gerard Fucking Way...no, that's Mikey's thing

-Hayley's POV-

"Wow, this is really good, man," Mike said to Tre.

"Thanks," he responded.

"I agree," Hayley said. "I didn't know you were such a good cook."

Tre laughed a little. "Eh, Billie is a way better cook than me. I don't know where he gets it from, but he's really good. Hey, BeeJ, will you make us dinner tonight?"

Billie shrugged. "Sure, why not? You gonna stay, Mike?"

"No, I don't think so," Mike replied. "Chester is feeling really down. He won't let the other guys help him, so I should go try and help." He stood up and put his dishes in the sink. "Thanks so much for brunch." He was about to walk out the door when he remembered something. "Hey, do you guys wanna stay in touch? I can give you my phone number and we can hang out again sometime."

Hayley nodded. "Yeah, sure. That'd be nice."

Mike wrote down his number on some paper and handed it to her. "Give it to everyone else, too. Bye, guys!" And with that, he was out the door.

"Where do you think he's going?" Gerard asked.

"Probably to his friend's house like he said," Hayley answered. She typed Mike's number into her phone before passing it to Billie. "Gerard, promise me you'll tell me if you're ever feeling...ya know, depressed, okay?"

Gerard looked around the room awkwardly. "What makes you think I'm depressed?"

"Nothing, I just...I've noticed you're not yourself lately, and I wanted you to ever tell me if something's wrong."

"Okay, Mom," he said. He obviously meant it as a joke but felt bad after saying it. Hayley just sighed and kept eating.

-Mike's POV-

Holy shit. Gerard Fucking Way was in the same room with him for an hour. No that's Mikey's thing. Doesn't matter. One of Mike's favorite singers were just eating with them. Frank, too. He was literally about to explode, but his phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts.

Chester: Hey, thanks for looking out for me but I'm fine

Mike: No, you're not. Something's wrong I can tell

Chester: Don't worry about it

Mike: I'm almost there

He put his phone away and looked around. This neighborhood was familiar by now. Mike knew pretty much every turn. He saw Chester's house didn't have any cars in the driveway. Oh, shit. What now?

"Chester?" he called when he walked up to the door. "Are you there?" He went inside to see his friend sitting on the couch watching tv.

"Hey, Mike," he said, calmly. "What's up?"

"What's up? I'm wanting to know what's been bugging you."

Chester turned to look at Mike. "Nothing's wrong. Just a little tired, is all."

Mike sighed and went to sit by him. He quickly grabbed his arm to look at it. "Really?" he asked. "Why?"

Chester pulled his arm away and looked at the floor. "I don't know. It just-it just happened. I wasn't even thinking about it."

Mike just sighed again. "I don't understand why you keep doing this. Those cuts are gonna scar you for the rest of your life. Is this why everyone else couldn't help you?"

Chester didn't answer.

"I'm gonna go now," he said, sadly. The truth was, he didn't want to go. But he also didn't want to be around Chester. He stood up and went back outside. A few seconds later, Chester came to the door.

"Please don't go, Mike," he pleaded. "I-I won't do it again. I'm sorry."

Mike stood there with his back to him. "I just need a little alone time, okay?"

"I haven't seen you in a week. Is that not enough time?"

He turned around to face him. "You're right. I'm just gonna grab something for you to eat, okay? I'll be back soon."

Chester nodded, "Okay," he said and went back inside.

The road was quiet today. Mike decided to use this time to clear his head. His phone buzzed while he was walking.

Unknown: Hey, Mike. It's Hayley.

Mike: Oh hey. I'm so sorry, but I can't really talk rn. Thanks for the number, though.

Unknown: Oh, okay. I'll text you later then.

He put some earbuds in and played some quiet music; something he didn't do very often. Most people didn't like his style of music (besides Brad, and Joe; they liked the same stuff). He personally found Patrick's and Gerard's voices comforting. They were really the only non hip hop artists he listened to.

After picking up food, Mike made his way back to Chester's house.

"Hey, Chaz," he said as he stepped inside. "I brought you some Taco Bell."

Chester looked up from his computer. "Oh, thanks," he said. He stood up as Mike set it on the table. "What'd you get for yourself?"

"I already ate this morning."

"With who?"

"Just some new people I met."

Chester nodded and started eating a burrito. "Lemme guess, you listened to those bands of yours on the way there?" he joked.

Mike laughed a little. "You know it."

He smiled and took another bite.

"So, about earlier..."

Chester looked up at him as he was talking.

"I'm sorry I...everything. I'm sorry about everything," Mike said.

He nodded. "Me, too. I shouldn't do that stuff..."

"...but...?"

"But what?"

"I just thought you were gonna say something else." They sat there in silence for a while. Mike pulled out his phone and texted Hayley back.

Mike: So, you and everyone else wanna go to dinner tonight?

Hayley: Yeah, sure! That sounds good. I'll tell the guys.

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed again.

Unknown: Hey, it's Gerard. The guy with the longer black hair.

Mike: Hey, man.

He felt so weird texting Gerard like he was his best friend.

Unknown: Hayley said you wanted to get dinner with us tonight?

Mike: Yeah, I just wanted to get Chaz out of the house, ya know?

Unknown: Who?

Mike: Oh, sorry. Chester.

Unknown: Oh okay. Well, we'll see you tonight :)

He put his phone in his pocket and turned to Chester. "So, you wanna go get some dinner with me and my friends tonight?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not? Sounds fun." He stood up and put the trash in the garbage. "Should I get dressed in something nice?"

"Nah. Just, like, sweats. Something casual."

He nodded and went into his room.

-Hayley's POV-

"Guys, Mike asked if we wanted to go get dinner with him tonight?" she said to everyone.

"I'm down," Frank, Billie, and Gerard said.

"Tre?"

"Yeah, I'll come."

"Perfect. I'll tell him, and we can see him tonight."