"Whaaaat?" I whined as Chester shook me awake, and out of a very nice dream involving me, Benji and a deserted swimming pool full of chocolate sauce.

"We're here," he smiled widely at me, "In good 'ol Virginneyah! Now up and at 'em soldier!"

"Ugh, piss off," I groaned, "I'm tired..."

"No can do Mike," Chester appologized, "We're at the hotel now... you can always go right back to sleep."

"Fine," I sighed, sitting up slowly and making sure not to bang my head on the top of my bunk, before sliding out slowly and looking for some clothes to wear. I spotted my backpack and pulled out the first shirt I saw and put it on along with my jeans, yawning sleepily.

I then shouldered my bag and went outside. "Alright Shinoda, hand over the bay key," Rob said, holding his hand out.

"What? I don't have it," I mumbled sleepily, reaching into my pocket and pulling the key out, "Alright, maybe I DO have it..."

"Uh huh," Rob laughed, taking it from me and unlocking the storage area under the bus so we could get our suitcases.

I grabbed mine and looked up intime to see the Good Charlotte tour bus pull up beside ours. "MIKE!"

I was caught off guard and stumbled as Benji basically threw himself onto me, hugging me tightly. "I missed you!"

"Missed you too," I laughed, hugging him back, "Whats new on the GC bus?"

"Nothing," he laughed, picking up his suitcase, "How about the LP bus?"

"Nothing there either," I smiled, walking into the hotel with him, "It sucks that we can't share a room."

"I know," he sighed, "I hate it. But it's good in a way I guess... so the other bandmates don't feel all rejected."

"Yeah.. I suppose so," I agreed, "Would you wanna go swimming later? At maybe..." I paued to check my watch, "3:00?"

"Sounds good," Benji smiled, "Joel's probably gonna come too... he has some secret obsession with swimming."

"Alright," I laughed, "I'll make sure to bring Chester for him. I think he wanted to talk to Joel anyways."

*~*~*~*

*Benji*

"Jooooooel," I called, looking around the hotel room for him. It was now 2:30, and we had a half hour to meet Mike and Chester at the pool. Billy, Paul and Chris had taken to the hotel's video arcade, so who knows when we'd see them again.

"Yeah Benj?" Joel asked, coming out from the bathroom.

"Wanna go swimming with Mike and Chester?" I asked him, knowing what the answer would be. He grinned, his eyes lighting up like a little child. "Yeah!" he smiled, "I'm so there!"

"Calm yourself," I laughed, going into the bedroom with him to change, "Mike said something about Chester wanting to talk to you too," I told him.

"He did?" Joel asked, digging through his backpack for his boardies, "What about?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. He didn't say. Just that Chester told him that he wanted to talk to you about something."

Joel nodded, stripping down to his boxers and pulling his boardies on. I did the same, feeling a bit weird. I didn't like swimming very much, since it meant you'd be practically naked, save for shorts, but Joel loved it. Something about it being relaxing or whatever.

I grabbed my towel and draped it around my neck, grabbing the key and handing it to Joel, who slid it around his neck. This hotel had actual keys, and not those card-key thingies. Here, they gave you a few copies of the key, each around a chain. Pretty conveinent hey?

"Damn it's cold," Joel grimaced as the cool chain hit his bare chest.

"You'll live," I smirked, "Get Chester to warm you up."

"I think I will," Joel smirked back, heading out of the room, locking the door behind us.

*~*~*~*

*Chester*

"Noda, I'm bored," I complained, sitting on the edge of the pool with my feet dangelling in the water, "When are Joel and Benji gonna get here?"

"In a few minutes," Mike laughed, sitting down beside me, "Don't worry so much."

"How can I not?" I sighed, "I'm about to tell the guy whom I hope will be my future boyfriend, about my wife whose divorcing me, and I'm hoping he won't turn me down or freak out and never wanna see me again. You tell me how I can not worry so much, and I'll listen."

"Ouch," Mike gasped, placing his hand over his heart, "That hurts me right here Chazzy."

I snickered, ruffling his hair up. "Shuttup ya big baby."

Mike opened his mouth to say something, but ended up with a mouthful of water instead as two people decided to cannonball into the pool, right infront of us.

"Hi," Benji grinned as he and Joel surfaced, "Aw, did we get you guys wet?"

Mike spit out the water from his mouth, hitting Benji square in the face. "Ewwww Mike germs," Benji giggled, wiping his face off.

"That's it, you're mine," Mike growled, jumping in the pool and swimming after Benji. I guess it's safe to say we're lucky the pool area was deserted...

"Hello," Joel smiled, pulling himself up into a sitting posistion beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder, the cold water dripping down my back and chest.

"Yeow dude that's cold!" I yelped, shoving him.

"Sorry," Joel smiled, "But you're gonna get wet by going in the pool anyways."

"Who said I was going in the pool?" I smiled sweetly.

"I did," Joel grinned, "Fair warning."

"Gee thanks," I laughed, "Hey Joel, I wanted to talk you about something serious."

Joel nodded, letting me know that I had his full attention. "Alright, well, remember the past few days... when we um..." I trailed off.

"Fucked?" Joel grinned cheesily, "Yes, I do."

I felt myself blushing and nodded. "Yeah... well... what I'm trying to say is... it... it felt like more. Like, it was more to me than just "fucking." It was like... I have feelings for you.. romantic feelings."

Joel nodded, his eyes searching mine. "Chester... I um.. I feel the same. I just.. I didn't know wether or not I should've said anything. I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same."

"I do," I nodded, "I do like you. A lot. The thing is, I have a wife at the moment, but she's divorcing from me. She called earlier to tell me. She said she can't handle having a husband who's never there and always on tour. And... I don't know... I haven't really felt anything for her anymore. When we first went out, it was like, sparks flying because Linkin Park wasn't around yet. But then I got really involved with the band, and we just kinda grew apart. And then I met you... and it was like love at first sight, all over again. As corny as that sounds, but it's true. And that's the thing... you understand what it's like to be in a band... you really understand me. And I think I'm done babbling now."

"Chester... I'm glad you told me," Joel smiled at me, his eyes full of understanding, "That just shows me how much I can trust you. I'd be honored to be your boyfriend.. if you'll have me?"

I nodded, feeling tears of relief and happiness flooding my eyes, before I basically threw myself into Joel's arms, hugging him tightly.

*~*~*~*

*Benji*

"Now I got you Madden," Mike growled sexily, pinning me into the corner of the three foot end of the pool, "There's no escape for you now!"

"Oooooh I'm sooo scared," I teased in a sarcastic voice, giggling as Mike pouted.

"Benjiiiiiii you're ruining my scaryness damnit!" he pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Awww... you're so adorable when you do that," I smiled, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing him softly.

*~*~*~*