Mitch's first day back in school hits him harder than he anticipated. He's back, which means classes, lessons, focus, but it also means his friends. It's funny how some friends just completely drain you from your energy while with others, you feel so refreshed. Mitch knows that his friendship with his little group isn't the healthiest one, but it's not like he's close to them, anyways. Luke, yes. Chad? Maybe. Usually, he'd be jumping at the opportunity to see them again but now he's almost dreading it. He especially doesn't want to see Trent, not now that he's so much more aware and at peace with himself. And he certainly doesn't want to see him bullying a boy he likes. His secret best friend.
Mitch sits down next to Luke, his usual spot in the cafeteria. Most of his friends are already there but they're too engrossed in a conversation about Jenette's boobs at the party this past week end that they don't even notice him.
"Where's Trent?" Mitch asks, frowning. Luke just shrugs, biting into his sandwich.
"I saw him this morning, but I don't know."
Suddenly, there's a loud scream and something shatters on the floor. All kids in the cafeteria turn around to see what's happening, and as soon as Mitch spots Trent with Scott's bag in his hands, Scott's tray on the floor with everything that used to be on it he feels angry. For a split of a second Mitch debates whether to risk being outed and help Scott or pretend he didn't notice but his common sense takes the upper hand and he rushes over to his friend.
"What the fuck, Trent?!" He looks right into Trent's eyes, pushing him away from Scott. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Thankfully, his old self is back just in time because otherwise he might've been too scared to do anything.
Trent just points at a red-faced, embarrassed Scott. Mitch wants to slap this stupid bitch that is in his friend group.
"This fag here," Trent begins, "I hate him."
"Calm the fuck down! He's never done anything to you!"
"How come you're stopping me now, bitch?!" Trent continues, getting closer and closer to Mitch. He's speaking loud, making sure the whole school hears what he has to say. "You never said anything and now you're missing for a week and suddenly you're Mother Theresa? What got into you?!"
"Watch your fucking mouth," Mitch hisses. "I'm just saying that Scott-"
"Oh, I know." He laughs obnoxiously. "You're a fag too, aren't you? Gay for that fat ass slut right here? Why don't you just suck his dick like you did with Dylan all these years? Oh yeah, and at parties you sleep with girls, huh? My ass! Hooking up with guys every single time!" He looks down at Mitch, scrunching his nose. Mitch has a hand up to cover his mouth. He can't believe what just came out of his friend's mouth. "You're disgusting, Mitchell. I would say go to hell, but you're already on your way there. Say hi to your the the devil for me!"
Mitch can't handle it. He turns around, forcing his tears not to fall. They don't, but he feels on the verge of breaking down, crying. He feels humiliated. But before he lets Trent feel like the winner, he turns back around, punching him straight in the jaw. He hears a crack and the boy falls to the ground, knocked out, but he couldn't care less. He goes up to Scott, carefully. He wants to ask him if he's okay, but if he opens his mouth he's going to cry.
"Are you okay?" He forces himself to say, anyways. He swallows, blinking the tears away. Scott just nods slightly, but before he can ask Mitch the same thing, Mitch speaks up again. It's a whisper this time. He doesn't want the school to know any more of his private stuff. "I'm going to the bathroom. Please don't follow me."
And he turns around, heading for the restrooms. Luke follows shut quickly.
"Get out, I'm not in the mood for your lectures."
"Mitch, I just want to help you."
"Oh, yeah?!" Mitch snaps. "Why didn't you come and help me when I actually needed it?!"
"I- I don't-" Luke raises his hands in surrender, taking a few steps back.
"Exactly!" Mitch shouts. "You never care about anything! Your reputation is the most important thing to you, you'll just go ahead insulting the people that mean a lot to me, and then when I tell you something you just remember what you want to!"
"What? Mitch, that's absolutely not true!"
"When I told you I was feeling like shit because I thought Scott hated me?!"
"What?" Luke frowns. "That's a trick question. You never said that."
Mitch rolls his eyes. "How about you read between the lines for once?" He balls his fists. He's close to crying, but if he punches something he won't. He looks at the wall... And punches.
"Mitch!" Luke rushes over to him, taking his hand carefully into his. "What were you thinking? Don't do that!"
"Fuck off!" Mitch shakes him off. He can't contain his tears anymore, they're falling. This is the first time anyone is seeing him cry. "Trent humiliated me in front of the whole school! Now everyone knows I'm gay. Fucking everyone! And you don't give a damn about the fact that I'd rather die than be here at the moment!"
"Wait... Didn't you say you're bi?"
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Mitch replies monotonously. "This is what you got? I told you I wanna die and this is what you're thinking about? Fuck you, Luke. You've hurt me so many times in two days it's insane. Scott makes me happy but you... You're taking everything that makes me happy from me." Mitch turns around to leave but he stops once he hears the most terrible words a best friend could ever say.
"I'm sorry that it's hard for me to get used to the fact you're not only in love with a boy but that boy is at the same time the fool of the entire school!"
Mitch turns around, staring at Luke intensely before he approaches him.
"Don't ever talk about him like that, ever again," he demands, gritting his teeth.
"When you said you were bi I thought I could deal with it because at least you can still date girls, but this... Is too much."
Mitch looks deeply into Luke's eyes.
"You know what I hate more than homophobes?" He asks. Luke just looks confused. "Closeted homophobes." He can see it, the look in his eyes as he panics and desperately tries to think of some kind I'd excuse.
"Just because you like to suck dicks doesn't mean I do!"
Mitch knows that slightly shaky sound of his voice. But he decides to just leave it there.
"Look, I don't care, Lukey. Just stop being a fucking asshole, yeah? I mean, at least I know now that I shouldn't trust you with anything, but at least you don't remember, right? Too bad I called you my best friend for so long."
And with that, he leaves the bathroom and heads to the one at the other end of the school. He slides down to the floor once he feels safe in one of the empty stalls. Thank god no one's in here.
He hears sobbing. Shit, he's not alone. He sighs. His sassy self is about to snap through and tell that person to shut the fuck up, but he knows what it's like to feel miserable and just wanting to hide from everyone, so he pretends he's not there. He gets out his phone to text Scott, say sorry because it is kind of his fault this all happened.
Mitch: Scotty... I'm so sorry about what happened. Fucking Trent, I stg. He's crazy
There's a sound coming from the other bathroom stall. A slight vibration, but Mitch knows it's the sound of a phone.
Scott is online.
Scott is typing.
Mitch: are u in the bathroom
Scott's typing stops and then continues.
Scott: yeah, where are you? It's okay, it's not your fault. Thank you for stepping in, Trent is a dick. I'm sorry for what happened to you.
"Scott?" Mitch asks softly. There is rustling, and one of the stall doors opens.
"Mitchy? Is that you?" Scott whispers softly. Mitch immediately gets up from the floor and goes to open the door. A tired, sad Scott is stood in front of him, his eyes puffy and red. Mitch hugs him as tightly as he can, feeling his heartbeat through the thick hooded sweatshirt he's wearing. He smells so good...
"I'm so sorry..." he whispers. "I should've known."
"Stop apologizing. It's not your fault."
"I know, but just-" Mitch leans back, looking into Scott's gorgeous eyes. "I'm kind of, officially, his friend. Well, now not anymore, obviously." He chuckles dryly. "Which is good. Yeah..."
"I know. It's humiliating."
Mitch looks away, still gripping onto Scott's biceps. It feels safer, he feels more steady.
"It is. I'm just... I wasn't ready for the whole school to know what a horrible person I am..."
Scott looks at him weirdly, with a frown. "Being gay isn't being horrible."
"No, I know," Mitch quickly answers. "That's not the part that I meant. I was talking about... the fact that I hook up with everyone and stuff..." He bites his lip once more, avoiding Scott's look. He knows it's going to be judging, who wouldn't judge a seventeen year-old hoe. He's had it coming for so long.
"Yeah, about that..."
"I know what you're gonna say, Scott. Don't. I know how wrong and fucked up that is."
"Don't say that, Mitchy. I know you. We're living together." He slightly tilts his chin up with his fingers, so Mitch's brown eyes meet his. "It's alright. As long as you don't fool people into thinking it's more than just that, it's absolutely okay. If I had your confidence, or looks for that matter, I would, too." He gives him a soft smile. "Don't be sad, Mitchy. You're okay." He hugs him once more, ignoring the fact that Mitch is once again blushing. You can only see it a little, but his cheeks are slightly pinker than usual, Scott can tell, especially in the bright light of the bathroom. He smiles. He knows that Mitch thinks he never blushes, and frankly he's never seen Mitch blush with anyone but him, and it makes his heart very happy. "Do you wanna get out of here?"
"Yes, please," Mitch whispers