Chapter Sixteen

                                    

                                          
Phoenix's Pov: 
                          
All the guys came over to my house. I was secretly irritated by this, as we all usually just meet up at Mike and Chester's place, but I couldn't complain because they're my best friends. Mike was on his way and said he had some stuff to share, I was curious.
                          
I'm still somewhat mad at Mike but Chester's forgiveness towards him triggered my own. I just want both of them to be happy. I wish I knew how Brad felt, I want him to be light hearted too. All of my friends seem to be caught up in some sort of nonsense.
                          
I heard the familiar sound of Mike's car engine pulling into my driveway. I was puzzled when Mike came up to the house and hadn't turned his car off. He let himself in, also making me sigh in agony as that bothers me. 
                          
"Hey, guys. Come on, my house. We're all packing in my car." He stated and we came with no questions asked, I was inwardly thanking God that my messy friends would be out of my home. 
                          
~
                          
"So why are we horribly car pooling again?" Joe groaned, being completely squished by Rob and Brad in the back seat. I had the comfortable front with Mike.
                          
"Okay, you guys need to make admins with one of our... Guests." Mike said unsteadily and my eye brows furrowed together in curiosity.
                          
"Who is it?" I asked and Mike seemed to hesitate. That's definitely not a good sign.
                          
"Jason." He said in a small voice and the back seat suddenly boomed with yelling from the other guys, no words being able to be made out.
                          
"Guys! Shut up!" Mike barked and they silenced. I sat in shock. How could they let this monster stay with them? "Chester said he changed and trusted him so please respect Chester's choice." 
                          
"It's hard to when Jason fucking sexually abused him as a kid! I'd tear his fucking head off if I could!" Brad snapped and I saw in one of the mirrors that his hands were bundled into fists.
                          
"And I'd help." Rob spat, which surprised me. Our usual sweet and silent drummer truly hated Jason.
                          
"Guys, calm down. Trust Chester's choice. I think it's not the right one to be honest and I don't believe he changed but I'll respect his decision and try to be civil with Jason." I spoke up and Mike gave me an appreciative smile. 
                          
"Thank you." He said genuinely and the back seat grew quiet until Joe spoke up.
                          
"I can be civil too." He sighed.
                          
"So can we." Rob caved and Brad nodded as we pulled into their driveway. 
                          
"Okay, let's go in than." Mike said after parking the car and we all followed him up to the house. Something immediately felt off.
                          
"Chester! We're here!" Joe called, looking eager to see our vocalist. We all love Chester so much, we usually get the vibe Joe's feeling right now when we visit and if I didn't have such an odd feeling, I would act like Joe.
                          
"Chaz?" Mike called, uncertainty lacing his voice. Where is Chester.
                          
"He's feeling ill from withdrawal, he's in the master bathroom emptying his stomach." A familiar voice said and I felt chills running down my spine. My eyes rose and saw Jason heading down the stairs. He went into the living room and sat on the couch. We followed. 
                          
"Oh, I should check up on him than." Mike said once we all were settled in the living room.
                          
"He'll be fine." Jason assured him and my eyes squinted. Something was most definitely off and Jason had something to do with it. I can feel it.
                          
Brad's Pov: 
                          
Something was completely off and by the look on Phoenix's face, I could tell I wasn't the only one sensing it. I rose and all eyes were caught on me.
                          
"I'll just check up on Chester and then I'll be back down." I said and Phoenix instantly nodded, his eyes thanking me. Joe looked somewhat confused but I could tell he was thankful too. The best part about being so close to these guys, is that I can tell what they're thinking just by the look on their faces.
                          
I headed upstairs, feeling absolutely dreadful. Who knew if Chester had truly fallen ill. I just can't explain the horrible knots wrapped around my stomach. 
                          
I stepped into the bathroom, hearing Chester sobbing and tears filled my own eyes. I had snuck in but when I saw Chester, it felt like everything in the world stopped moving.
                          
He was shirtless and covered in horrible bruises that began hiding his tattoos. They were huge and dark. He had scars laced all around him and his back was facing me. His shoulders rose and fell, shaking madly. He looked thinner than usual.
                          
"Ch-Chaz?" I croaked and he turned around and I realized he also only had boxers on. I gasped instantly when I saw fingerprints bruised on the inside and outside of his thighs and claw marks all over his legs.
                          
My mind flipped to when I stumbled upon Chester the night he got raped. I instantly knew Chester was being hurt again from what I saw last time but apparently, it wasn't just rape. It was constant sexual abuse. Every scar and blemish looked fresh, it was all recent. No wonder my best friend was sobbing his heart out in the bathroom, refusing to be downstairs with his friends. He was clearly afraid and hurt.
                          
"Does Mike know?" I blurted out without realizing and he shook his head, sobbing all over again. I went to his side and draped my arms around him firmly. "You'll be okay, Chazzy. Who's doing this to you?" 
                          
"N-No! Brad, no one can know about this!" He stuttered and my mind flickered back to when we had a similar conversation after I found him the next morning after he was raped.
                          
"They need to know, Chaz." I said softly, echoing what I had said before, hoping it would work to convince him to tell the others. 
                          
"Brad, no. Everything will be okay, just trust me. I'm fine." He assured me but I rolled my eyes. 
                          
"Chester, you're being raped and abused!" I snapped and his eyes filled with tears again. 
                          
"No, Brad, no! It never happened! This never happened!" He yelled and I backed out of the door. He slammed it shut and his sobbing echoed throughout the room. I remembered what had happened last time and it was all far too similar. It scared me how the past was repeating, and I didn't like it.
                          
I left him alone, deciding he just needed time alone.