Another long one. Also a bit of a Harem reference in here for you. ;)

Honking his horn seemed a bit rude, but Mitch would rather not sit in his car watching his best friend shove her tongue down some stranger's throat... some stranger that he would be spending the next 48 hours with. So it's only rational that he would slam down on his steering wheel, causing the couple in front of him to jump apart.

"I'll miss you so much," he heard Miranda whisper to the guy... what was his name again? Sam? Steve? He should really remember his name if he's going to be sitting in a car next to him all the way to New York City.

"Me too, baby," Scott ( that's his name ), whispered back to Miranda, giving her a final kiss before climbing into the passenger side of the car. "So, are we off?"

"That depends, did you swap enough spit?" Mitch bit back, unintentionally being exceptionally rude to this boy he should be getting on his good side.

"Someone's touchy," Scott mumbles while Mitch pulls out of his old college.

After getting his degree in sound engineering, Mitch went searching for a job that would start his career. He found one at a decent sized company, with their corporate offices based in New York City. They told him they would pay for half of his rent if he moved beside one of their buildings. With an offer like that, Mitch quickly signed the contract and started packing his bags.

It was when he told his best friend for most of college, Miranda, that he got the job and would be taking the trip up there in his little car, that she asked if he would mind giving her boyfriend, of 5 months mind you, Scott, a ride to the city. Mitch hardly refused, as he would have someone to help pay for gas, and at this point, he needed all the financial help he could get.

So, now here they are today, taking the long journey towards both of their futures. Well, for Mitch's future. He wasn't too sure why Scott was taking the trip down.

"So... why exactly are you here?" Mitch asked, realizing only after how rude he had been coming off. "I mean, why are you going to New York?"

"Well," Scott started, in his devilishly smooth tone of voice, "My dad died about a year ago, and he had a fully paid apartment in the city. After getting my degree I decided that I could move there, find a job, live for free, and everything would work out great."

"Oh," Mitch whispered, wondering what exactly to say about this new revelation about the stranger he met merely hours before. "I'm sorry about your dad."

"Eh, it's alright. We weren't super close anyways. Parents divorced when I was a kid and I never really knew my dad after that," Scott brushed it off, so Mitch didn't think to continue the conversation.

They sat in silence for a few hours, Scott reading from a few magazines and Mitch keeping his eyes attentive on the road ahead of him.

Just as the sun was lowering over the horizon, Scott's stomach let out a low grumble and Mitch's head snapped towards him.

"Are you hungry? Do you wanna stop?" Mitch asked.

"Well, yeah. But it you aren't, that's okay."

"No it's alright, I can always go for something to eat."

"Well then it's settled."

The two pulled off the highway at the next diner they passed. When they walked in, the food smelled decent enough and the people were nice enough, so they guessed this place would do.

"Hello, welcome to Dave's Diner, what can I get you two?" A pretty waitress walked over with bright blonde hair that just touched the curve of her waist.

"Can I have the cheeseburger please?" Scott asked sweetly, handing over his menu to the girl. Their hands brushed and the waitress giggled and batted her lashes while Mitch was about to throw up.

"Anything else, sweetie?" The girl asked and Mitch was just about fuming. He was here too. Not that he was interested in the waitress anyways, but the lack of service towards him bugged him. Forget what he said about people being nice enough.

"I would actually like to order," Mitch snapped, and the waitress gave him a look that could've probably killed him. Nonetheless, she readied her pen and Mitch started reading off his order. "I would like the garden salad please, but no tomatoes. And could you add chicken? Unless it isn't free range, then no chicken. Instead I would like some extra lettuce. Also can you make sure no spinach, I'm allergic. And I would like ranch on the side... unless it's creamy. If it is then I would like the balsamic vinegar. On the side as well. Thanks." Mitch flashes her a grin and hands the stunned girl his menu before she walks away.

"Well, aren't you something else," Scott stated bluntly.

"No, I just know what I like."

The two chatted about small things, like the weather and Mitch's job, for a while before their food came and while they ate there were very few words spoken between the two. It wasn't until a dab of Mitch's ranch dressing slipped onto his chin when everything shifted.

"Here, I'll help," Scott offered, leaning across the table to wipe Mitch's chin as his cheeks turned a bright pink. Scott sat back and stared at Mitch for a moment before letting out a sigh. "You know, Mitch, you are quite an attractive guy."

Now, Mitch wasn't expecting this. He actually expected anything but that, seeing as Scott was just shoving his tongue down his best friend's throat only this morning.

"Um, thanks?" Mitch stuttered out, getting caught on his tongue. "You're dating Miranda."

"Yeah, it's not like it was going to last anyways," Scott shrugged and it was as if Scott's shoulders went up and Mitch's jaw dropped down.

"Uh, can we get the check please?" Mitch shouter towards the waitress, throwing his napkin onto his plate and pushing himself out from the tiny booth.

"Is something wrong, Mitch?" Scott rushed after him as Mitch stormed to the front of the diner and fished for his wallet from his bag. "Don't worry about it," Scott pushed him out of the way and placed some cash down on the counter before walking out the door and into the car.

Mitch pulled open the driver's door and slammed it shut while Scott slid into his own seat. "Why would you even say stuff like that?" Mitch scoffed, not turning on the car, just sitting in his seat and staring out in front of him.

"I was just stating a fact, Mitch. Surely you know that you're attractive. I know I am."

"The difference between me and you is that I'm not so pretentious. And I just don't admit to strangers that they're attractive."

"Well, it wasn't like we were ever going to see each other again."

Mitch froze at this. He finally turned to look at Scott and he just shrugged again. "What do you mean by that? I thought, ya know, we might be, I don't know, friends."

"It wouldn't have worked out anyways," Scott stated, turning towards the windshield.

Mitch huffed and turned on the car, hastily pulling out of the parking lot and heading back on to the highway. "Why do you say that?"

"Why do I say what?"

"That we wouldn't work out. As friends, I mean."

"It's simple," Scott stated. "If two people find each other attractive, they will never be able to be just friends. One will end up falling in love with the other and it will just be a mess of platonic and non-platonic feelings and it will blow up. End of story."

"Well aren't you the Debbie Downer," Mitch huffed again, staring straight ahead for the rest of the drive to New York.

-------

After several more hours of driving, a couple pit stops, and a few snapped words at each other, Mitch and Scott crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into the heart of Manhattan, both of the boys marveling at the sight.

Mitch pulled up next to Scott's apartment, surprisingly only 14 blocks away from where Mitch was staying.

"It's was nice meeting you, Mitch," Scott said before sliding out of the car. "Too bad we couldn't be friends, you're the only person I know in New York."

And Mitch wanted to fight back, he wanted to yell at him that if it weren't for his stupid rule that maybe they could be friends and they wouldn't have to be starting this new adventure in both of their lives alone. But Mitch just watched Scott walk into his apartment, with one last half assed wave and he was off.

Mitch drove off thinking he was better off without Scott anyways.

-------

4 years later

Scott had to travel a lot. It wasn't like he was complaining, he got to travel, and for free. But it would be nice to just stay in one spot for more than a couple weeks. After moving to New York, he found a job about a month after, and a good one at that. He worked for a PR firm and loved every second he was on the job.

He was heading back home to New York after a couple days in L.A., where he was meeting a few customers to talk over contracts and deals, when he saw him.

It was like seeing a ghost of his past when he walked by, but he knew it was him. Mitch. It had to be, with his dark side swept hair and small body and deep brown eyes. Actually, he wasn't sure if they were his brown eyes because they were closed, immersed in a kiss with another boy. Man actually.

And Scott just stood there, staring at the couple kissing, because he hasn't seen Mitch in 4 years. Ever since he first came to New York and Mitch was a best friend to his ex-girlfriend. Damn, what was her name again? Michelle? No. Well, it didn't really matter because there was Mitch. So into this kiss and- oh shit, he opened his eyes.

And oh- The man he was kissing was Connor, one of the many business partners Scott's company works with. Great, now they're both staring at him because he was staring at them. Well fuck.

"Scott Hoying!" Connor called, pulling him in for a quick hug and a pat on the back before pulling away, Mitch clinging to Connor's arm and staring up at Scott through his long eyelashes, and yep, those are Mitch's brown eyes.

"Hey Connor, how's it going?" Scott said back in a much quieter tone than Connor had, but he never took his eyes off Mitch.

"Good, just sending my beautiful boyfriend back to New York," Connor smiled at Mitch and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, the blush rising from Mitch's neck up to the place where Connor's lips just were.

"Well, I better leave you two alone then, it was nice meeting you Mitch," Scott said because with the way Mitch was looking at him, he wasn't sure if Mitch remembered him or not. He feels very foolish and so he goes straight to get on to his place, ready to feel somewhat guilty about how he's feeling about Mitch forgetting about him.

But what Scott doesn't realize, was that Mitch was standing in shock at the interaction, barely reacting to his boyfriend's lips that attached to his once again.

"What's wrong babe?" Connor asked, pulling away to get a good look at Mitch's face.

"Nothing, I just..." Mitch sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I know Scott. I drove him to New York, what was it, like four years ago... when we first came. He was dating my best friend at the time. He didn't even remember me."

"I'm sure he did, maybe he was just shocked," Connor reasoned with him, pulling Mitch in close to place a kiss on his forehead. "Now, you need to go. Don't want you missing your flight."

Mitch sighed a last time, pressing a firm kiss to Connor's lips and whispered I love you's exchanged between the two, and he was off.

-------

"Would you like my nuts?" Mitch hears a soft voice whisper in his ear and he almost jumped right out of his seat.

"N-no, I mean... what?" Mitch turned to see none other than Scott Hoying seated directly behind him, a giant smile gracing his face.

"You told me when we drove to New York that you hate sleeping on planes," Scott grinned and Mitch's eyes widened. So he did remember. "I was just trying to keep you awake."

"I am perfectly capable of keeping myself awake, thank you," Mitch crossed his arms and turned in his seat to face forward again.

A stewardess soon came and asked Mitch what he would like, and he rattled off his order, listing specifics.

"Some people never change, do they?" Scott asked from behind him after flashing a flirty smile to the flight attendant and sending her on her way.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"You still know exactly what you want."

"And I prefer to keep it that way."

"Excuse me," the lady beside Mitch butted into their banter. "Would you like to switch seats with me?" She asked Scott and Mitch's jaw dropped.

"Uh, no... that's alri-"

"That would be great, thank you!" Scott cut Mitch off, already standing from his seat to switch with the lady beside Mitch.

So, Grassi, How's life?" Scott asked Mitch, fiddling with his seatbelt once he was settle in next to Mitch.

"Great, actually. I was promoted to head of my department last month at the studio and can now fly back and forth between our different studios placed in New York, L.A. and Las Vegas. Met Connor on the way. We've been dating for over a year now," Mitch finished with a small grin, thinking about how his life truly had turned out great.

"Wow," Scott snapped Mitch out of his thoughts. "Aren't you going to ask me about my life?"

"Well I didn't ask for you to come sit here, did I, Hoying?"

"Still touchy," Scott tsked. "Well, if you're dying to know, I'm married now."

"Oh, so it did work out with you and Miranda."

"No, his name is Kyle. Really great guy actually. He would have to be seeing as I married him," Scott grinned and Mitch, well, he was shocked.

"So you're what, bisexual?"

"Doesn't matter. I wasn't lying to you Mitch when I said that two people who find each other attractive can't be friends, seeing as I could find anyone attractive if they appealed to me."

"Huh," Mitch shrugged his shoulders and pondered this for a moment. He was so sure Scott was straight. But now that he thinks about it, it makes sense. Scott just loves everyone.

"Why, is there a problem with that?" Scott replied.

Mitch scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Seeing how I was just making out with my boyfriend, I don't think I have a problem with that."

"Touche, Grassi," Scott nodded.

The two drifted into easy conversation eventually. Mitch wondered why Scott thought they could never be friends in the first place. His analogy was actually shit if you asked him.

It was when they landed and the two were making their way off the plane that Mitch felt sort of an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He likes Scott, likes spending time with him. Maybe now that they're both in serious relationships Scott would reconsider his thinking. So Mitch tells him just that.

"I still find you attractive, Mitch," Scott smirked at him, picking up his luggage and dragging it behind him.

"You're married," Mitch deadpanned and Scott just laughed.

"That doesn't mean I don't have eyes."

And them Scott walked away, simple as that, while Mitch was stuck frozen in the middle of the airport, left to think about just who Scott Hoying really is.

-------

2 years later

Scott's depressed. Well, maybe not depressed depressed, but he's really fucking sad.

"You need to go out," Alex stated from the other side of Scott's apartment, taking a sip of his water. "You probably just feel like shit because you haven't left this place in like, 2 weeks."

"No, Alex," Scott snapped back. "I feel like shit because I just got divorced because my shitting ex husband cheated on me with his shitty best friend in my shitty bed and now all of that shitty shit has made me feel like shit."

"That's a lot of shit," Alex stated, walking over to Scott, nudging him over so he could sit on the couch as well. "You still need to go out. Meet new people, mingle, get over him." Alex wouldn't dare say his name.

"Maybe you're right," Scott sighed, and Alex felt as if the heavens were opening up since he had been trying to get Scott out of the house for the past few days. Finally after much persistence, he agreed.

"You should probably shower first though. I love you, but you stink."

"That's what heartbreak and loneliness will do to you," and all Alex could do was roll his eyes at Scott's comment.

-------

"Avi, stop messing around, I seriously need to look for this book," Mitch shook his head as he was rifling through the stacks upon stacks of books in this neat little bookstore by his work. Avi, his best friend, on the other hand was playing around in the kids section, picking up every toy there was to offer.

Mitch had been told by his boss that he wanted a specific book that would help them at the studio, and the only place to get it would be in this specific store. Of course, the owners of this bookstore weren't too keen on organization and had told Mitch the section could book could be lying anywhere in.

"Lighten up, Mitch," Avi laughed and walked over to where Mitch was slowly melting away from the stress of trying to find this specific book. "Look at that hot man over there, maybe he can loosen up your attitude."

When Mitch looked up in the direction Avi's finger was pointing, he froze and dropped the book he had in his hand, causing many of the heads in the store to look his way, including the one he was staring at. His first reaction was to duck down behind the book shelf.

"What is wrong with you, Mitch?" Avi crouched down beside the brunette only to have a hand slapped over his mouth.

"That's Scott fucking Hoying and I swear to god he is stalking me or something!" Mitch hissed and Avi couldn't help but let out a small chuckle behind Mitch's hand.

"Why don't you go talk to him?"

"I can't!"

"Why not?"

"Yeah, Mitch. Why not?" Another voice joined in on the conversation.

Mitch slowly turned and tilted his head up, only to be met with the blonde haired man himself. Jesus Christ.

"Hi, Scott," Mitch slowly stood up and was met with Scott's so very blue eyes and that same radiant smile that Mitch knew all those years back.

"Fancy seeing you here," Scott let out a small laugh. "How's Connor?"

"Uh...we um... I-"

"They broke up, like last year," Avi piped up from behind a speechless Mitch and Scott's eyes widening a bit.

"Such a shame. You two seemed so good together," Scott rambled and Mitch wanted to punch him.

"What about you, Scott? How are you and, what was his name again?"

"Kyle," Scott spat through gritted teeth.

"Yes, that was his name. Still happily married? Any little ones?" Mitch smiled devilishly.

"Actually no. Caught him with his best friend and divorced him. Made it official last month," Scott barely got out without choking on his own voice.

"Always so straight forward, aren't you, Scott? Such a shame," Mitch shook his head, hoping Scott received a taste of his own medicine.

"So, have you moved on so quickly with this attractive looking man behind you?" Scott eyes Avi up and down, raising his eyebrows slightly when he met his eyes.

"No, actually. This is Avi, my best friend."

"Pleasure to meet you, Avi," Scott stuck out his hand and if Mitch didn't know how vile Scott was, he would think Scott was actually being nice.

"Likewise," Avi gripped Scott's hand, but Mitch could tell that he was visibly uncomfortable. The tension between Mitch and Scott was so thick, he thought everyone in the book store was probably uncomfortable.

"Well, Mitch, it was nice catching up with you. Maybe we can go out for coffee sometime, take a stroll through Central Park," Scott stated, and Mitch thought anything would be better than spending time alone with him.

"No thanks, I-"

"Actually, Mitch, I think that's a great idea," Avi jumped into the conversation again, and if Mitch could, he would consider killing him right there. "I have to meet  up with someone in about 5 minutes, and I don't wanna leave you on your own. You wouldn't mind keeping him company, would you Scott?"

"Of course not," Scott flashed his signature smile once again and Mitch wanted to throw up. "Come on Mitch, I'm not getting any younger."

And with that, Scott tugged Mitch out of the book store and the two made their way towards Central Park in silence.

"I know the last place you want to be is here with me Mitch," Scott started. "But if I'm being honest with you, I'm desperate."

"What do you mean?" Mitch questioned, turning slightly to look directly at Scott.

"Ever since the divorce, I haven't been the greatest. I'm losing all my friends. The only one I've got left is Alex, and his one and only breakup was a mutual agreement. I need someone who knows what I'm going through," Scott looked at Mitch with pleading eyes and Mitch sighed.

"I know what you mean," Mitch admitted. "I wanted to get married. Connor and I had been dating for three years and I loved him. I thought he was the one. He didn't want the same and when I asked him why he just said he never wanted to get married. The next morning he was gone."

"I'm so sorry, Mitch."

"I'm sorry for you too, Scott. How do you even sleep in your own bed anymore?" Mitch shoved Scott's shoulder jokingly and Scott let out a small laugh.

"I don't. I had to buy a whole new bed set and mattress." The two boys were in fits of laughter, drawing the attention of several people in the area.

"You know, Scott."

"What?"

"I think your rule is stupid. I think we can be friends."

Scott stopped walking and Mitch stopped too, turning around after walking a few steps ahead of him. "You know what, Mitch?" Scott asked, looking up from his shoes. "I think you're right/"

-------

The two became inseparable. Of course, Mitch has to work and Scott had to work, but they both didn't travel as much as they did before. But when they traveled they even found ways to hang out, like watching the same movie while talking on the phone about it.

And yeah, Scott still had Alex and Mitch had Avi, but the two became unspoken best friends. They could shit talk about their exes and neither of them would tell the other they need to drop it and move on. They understood each other, and that was all they needed.

-------

"And how do you know just how good you are in bed?" Mitch asked Scott with a laugh after taking a sip of coffee.

"I have never not had someone orgasm with me," Scott stated quite confidently and Mitch scoffed.

"How do you know they weren't faking it?" Mitch challenged.

"You can't fake an orgasm, Mitch. Especially with a guy."

"Do you always top?"

"Uh, no?"

Then how  do you know they've had an orgasm? You can't see the cum unless you look at the condom afterwards. And do you?"

"Oh my god," Scott let out a laugh and Mitch just raised his eyebrows.

"I'm just saying, Scott, it isn't hard to fake an orgasm."

"Oh yeah?" Scott dropped his fork and stared into Mitch's eyes.

Mitch set his coffee down and started to take irregular breaths. "Oh yeah," Mitch moaned, reaching his hand up to tug at his hair.

"Mitch, what are you doing?" Scott was practically sweating after Mitch started letting out these sinful mewls. In the middle of a restaurant for god's sake.

"Oh, yes, right there, mmmm," Mitch moaned louder, tugging on his hair and letting his eyes droop closed. "Yes! Oh yeah, that's the spot!" He was practically screaming and Scott's jaw was almost to the floor. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh shit! That's it oh my god YES!" Mitch finished with one last loud moan, slamming his hand on the table and smiling at Scott.

"Sound familiar?"

"You are something else, Grassi."

-------

"I'm nervous," Scott admitted, tightening up his tie in the mirror before smoothing out his coat that was placed on his shoulders.

"And what, you think I'm not?" Alex asked, popping up behind Scott in the mirror and fixing up his already perfect hair.

"Yeah, I know, but I just want you to like Mitch. I think you two would be a good match," Scott smiled and patted Alex on the shoulder before the two walked out of his apartment together.

After much discussion between Scott and Mitch, they both decided that they needed to meet each other's best friends. And maybe, possibly, try to hook up with them. Scott had already met Avi and agreed that he was attractive. Mitch had only ever seen picture of Alex, but anyone would drop dead for the man, with his sharp cut jaw line and flawless hair. They decided that they should move on. And with each other's best friends.

"Nice to meet you, Alex," Mitch shook his hand quickly, taking a seat next to him. "Scott's told me a lot about you."

"Likewise," Alex smiled and tucked his chair in.

One the other side, Avi and Scott chatted away, smiling slightly at something the other person would say and engaging in conversation.

"So, uh..." Mitch started, thinking of something, anything, he could say to Alex. "What kind of music do you like?"

"I'm more of a visual arts kind of guy," Alex shrugged and Mitch immediately froze up. How was he supposed to be with a guy who doesn't even like something that is his entire life.

"Actually," Avi notoriously piped up into another conversation. "Me too."

"Who's your favorite artist?" Alex asked, raising his eyebrows at the boy sat across the table.

"I'm more of a classic kind of guy. Van Gogh, Picasso. But I'm also really into a lot of modern stuff. Photography especially." Avi answered, Alex nodding along to every word he said.

"Photography? I'm actually a model," Alex smiled and of course  Alex would be a model. "Artists tend to like my body. Use me as they please."

Scott just about spat his water everywhere and Mitch's eyes bulged out of his head, while Avi sat there silently, staring Alex up and down.

"I'm a photographer, maybe I could use you sometime."

Mitch wanted to vomit all over the table, and from the way Scott was looking at the two, he felt the same.

"Great idea," Alex smirked at Avi from across the table, eyes only for him. "Maybe we could head out of here now? I have a studio in my apartment."

"Actually?" Avi's eyes lit up and Alex nodded his head. "Then what are we waiting for?"

The two men basically fell over each other trying to get out of the restaurant as fast as they could before they could even eat their food, and Mitch and Scott were stuck staring at each other in awe.

"Well," Mitch coughed out. "I guess that worked for everyone but the people it was intended to work for."

Scott laughed and grabbed Mitch's hand to pull him up from the table. "Come on. Let's go back to my place and cry over a tub of ice cream because of how lonely we are."

-------

"Mitch, I'm looking for new bed sheets, not a damn karaoke machine," Scott laughed as Mitch started pressing buttons on the small contraption.

"Sing with me, Scotty," Mitch shoved a microphone in Scott's hand as the tune of a song started up and Scott couldn't help but comply with his demand.

"Only for you, Mitch," Scott proclaimed, singing out the first lyrics of the song. Mitch laughed so hard he turned red and Scott was sure he probably peed himself by the end. They got so lost in each other that Scott didn't even notice someone walking his way.

"Scott?" A voice asked behind him and Scott froze instantly. "Is that you?"

Scott whipped around to see him. Kyle. And with none other than the man he cheated on Scott with, Mark.

"Uh, Hi, Kyle," Scott choked out and Mitch came up beside him to grab his hand tightly, realizing just who this man was.

"How are you?" Kyle asked softly. Scott felt like he could cry any second.

"I'm fine," Scott bit out. "How are you?"

"Graet, actually," Kyle smile slightly, linking his arm through Mark's. "Mark and I just got married last month."

"Well," Scott could barely breathe, much less talk. The only thing keeping him mentally checked in was Mitch's hand keeping a tight grip on his. "That's great to hear."

"Who is this?" Kyle looked Mitch up and down and Scott wanted to shove himself in front of his prying eyes so that they wouldn't get to Mitch.

"Hi, I'm Mitch," Mitch smiled behind Scott and gave a small wave.

"Nice to meet you, Mitch. And nice to see you again, Scott," Kyle gave one last smile and a wave before he walked away and out of the store.

"Hey," Mitch spoke softly beside Scott and Scott let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Are you alright?"

Scott wore the fakest smile he had ever put on. He know Mitch could see right through it, but at that moment that was the least of his worries.

-------

After that, Scott decided to sleep with anything that had legs. First is was Danielle, she actually stuck around for about a week, but then Scott got rid of her, just like he would do to Ryan, then Chris, then Krystal, then Jayden, and his latest one, Matt.

He had a routine. Fuck them, wake up the next morning and get out without leaving a trace that he was ever there.

Mitch was worried about Scott. He seemed happy, the happiest he had been in a long time. Maybe it was because he was banging someone every other night, or maybe it was just a facade, but it wasn't Scott.

"How do you do it?" Mitch asked one night when the two were having an American Horror Story marathon.

"Do what?"

"Just have sex with someone and leave. Like it was nothing."

"No strings attached," Scott shrugged and popped another chip in his mouth. "You don't honestly care about them, you're just using them for sex."

"That's probably the most horrible thing I've ever heard you say," Mitch gasped. "And that's saying a lot because you say some pretty horrible things."

"Hey!" Scott laughed, tossing a chip at Mitch's face. "They're doing the same thing, so what's the big deal?"

"How do you know? Maybe one of them fell in love with you."

Scott thought about it for a moment. "I wouldn't be surprised, it's me we're talking about."

Mitch scoffed and threw the chip back at Scott, hitting him directly on the forehead.

-------

"We're getting married!'

And it's just like their 'double date' all over again except Scott actually spits out his drink this time and Mitch gets this grin that could probably split his face in two.

"Congratulations!" Mitch exclaimed, leaping over the table paced outside the small coffee shop the men visited once Alex and Avi told Scott and Mitch they had some big news.

"I'm so happy for you two!" Scott shouted, pulling Alex into a firm hug.

"Well, It didn't seem like it from your spit shower you almost gave me," Alex laughed, pushing Scott away so he could cuddle up to Avi.

"I feel so proud, Scott," Mitch sniffed dramatically. "Without us these two idiots wouldn't have known each other and made their own sex tape the first night they met."

"It wasn't a sex tape," Avi grumbled and Alex only smiled widely, pecking his now fiance on the cheek.

"So when's the wedding?" Scott demanded excitedly, practically bouncing out of his seat.

"Two months from tomorrow. It's really soon, but it's just gonna be a small thing and we didn't want to wait too long," The couple grinned at each other and Scott and Mitch cooed at the two, badgering them for more details about the big day.

-------

Everything was going great. Avi and Alex were busy planning their wedding, which was now only a month away. Scott and Mitch were, of course, asked to be the best men. Mitch was meeting people, Scott was meeting people. Everything was going great. Until it wasn't so great.

-------

It was a Friday night and Alex and Avi were having a small party to celebrate their engagement at their apartment they moved in to together about a week ago.

Mitch had brought Jared, someone he had started seeing a few weeks ago, met him just after Alex and Avi had announced their engagement. Scott brought a college senior, Ollie, who had starting working as an intern at the company Scott worked at.

They played pictionary and drank until the pictures started to seem a little blurry.

"So, Ollie, tell us a little bit about yourself," Mitch turned towards the man, or boy, on Scott's left.

"Well, I like to bake!" Ollie stated, a little too enthusiastic for Mitch's liking.

"He's actually really good," Alex pipes up from the corner where he is draped across Avi's lap. "He made a really nice cake just for tonight. I don't think he should be going into PR work, he should go to culinary school instead."

"Well, Jared, What about you?" Scott asked, peeking out from behind a blushing Ollie after Alex's kind words.

"He's in the running to be drafted into the Yankees next year," Mitch gushed beside him, gripping onto his arm.

"Huh, no way," Scott huffed, pulling Ollie closer to his side.

Two can play at that game, Mitch thought as he glared across at Scott. "Hey Avi, why don't you come into the kitchen with me so we can get out Ollie's really nice cake."

"Okay, sounds good Mitch," Avi kissed Alex before heading off to the kitchen, and Mitch did the same to Jared, holding him in the kiss longer than Avi had with Alex.

Scott wanted to vomit looking at the couple basically sucking face in front of him. He placed a small kiss to Ollie's temple before demanding Alex that he show him Avi's latest photos that he took from last week.

"Doesn't Ollie seem a little... young for Scott?" Mitch asked once he was in the kitchen with Avi, opening the cake box on the counter.

"Well, he's super talented," Avi pointed out. "Taste that frosting."

Mitch swiped his finger across one of the piped flowers on the side of the cake, popping his finger into his mouth and almost moaning. "Well fuck me."

"I mean," Mitch thought out loud in the kitchen. "Scott doesn't even like cake."

"Since when did Mitch start dating older men?" Scott asked from the other side of the apartment, flipping through the photographs Alex was proudly putting on display.

"I don't know, but Jared seems nice enough. He'll definitely bring in the money."

"Mitch doesn't even like sports," Scott huffed, throwing the pictures onto the table.

-------

"Scott," Mitch sniffed through the phone after Scott picked it up on the second ring. He was only lying in bed watching Funny Girl anyways.

"Yeah, what's up? You watching Funny Girl?"

"I saw him today," Mitch cried through the phone and Scott muted the TV, listening to his broken sounding best friend. "Connor. I saw Connor."

"When? Where?" Scott asked frantically, completely turning off the TV now.

"At work, he's in town from L.A.. It was awful Scott, I couldn't even keep a conversation with him without running off in tears. I thought I was over him, Scott, until he was talking about how he's engaged!"

"Mitchy," Scott soothed, jumping out of bed and pulling a sweater out of his closet. "I'm coming over now."

"You don't have to do that," Mitch whispered through the phone.

"But I want to," Scott stated, slipping his shoes on. "I'll be there in 10."

-------

"Mitch?" Scott called out as he slipped in Mitch's apartment. They had  the keys to each other's' places so it was natural for Scott to just walk in on his own.

"In here," Mitch called out, his voice hoarse from crying.

Scott quickly made his way to Mitch's room and found him sitting on the edge of his bed surrounded by tissues

"Oh, Mitchy," Scott whispered just as Mitch met his eyes. Instead of the rich brown, Scott saw they were dull and bloodshot, filled with tears.

Mitch let out another sob and Scott quickly rushed to sit next to him, pulling him into his arms and running a hand up and down his back. It was gross, Scott had to admit, he probably wouldn't even try to save the sweater he was wearing, now covered with Mitch's snot and tears.

"Why can't I just move on?" Mitch struggled through the tears and Scott's heart clenched uncomfortably in his chest at the sight of his poor best friend.

"I don't know, MItch," Scott whispered softly, pulling Mitch away from his chest. "Neither Ollie or Jared worked out for us, so I'm in the same boat as you."

"We both knew they were just fillers," Mitch sniffed, wiping at his pink cheeks and red eyes. "I don't want a filler, Scott. I want real love. All this time, Connor said he didn't want to get married. But the truth was he just didn't want to marry me. He didn't love me."

"Oh, stop that, Mitch," Scott rolled his eyes, pulling Mitch back into his chest. "You would never want him back anyways."

"No," Mitch mumbled into Scott's chest. "But why didn't he want to marry me? It's because I'm too difficult."

"You are not," Scott retaliated, holding Mitch a little tighter.

"Yes, I am," Mitch sniffled, more tears being soaked into Scott's sweater. "No one will ever want me."

"Yes they will, Mitch. Don't say that," Scott soothed, rubbing Mitch's back again, hoping to give him more comfort. "I'm gonna go make some coffee for us."

Scott pulled back only to have Mitch hold onto him tighter. "No, Scott. Can you... can you just hold me for a little longer?" Mitch pleaded and Scott placed a small comforting kiss on Mitch's forehead before rocking him back and forth.

They do it all the time, small little pecks somewhere on the face. It's a thing and it's nothing. It doesn't mean close to what either of them think it means. But Mitch is leaning up and Scott is leaning down and their lips meet and Scott swears his lips feel like they're on fire.

Mitch pulled him back onto the bed and one thing lead to another. They slowly discarded each piece of clothing like they were discarding their worries and Scott thinks this might be a disaster. Then Mitch rolled his hips up and Scott changed his mind because how could something that is supposed to be a disaster feel this good?

And so it happened. They kissed and they touched and they explored and they brought each other to their highest highs and Scott could not believe it happened with Mitch. Mitch, who he has known for years and Mitch, who is his best friend, and Scott is regretting it now. Regretting saying that his rule is stupid because  hooking up with your best friend is anything but platonic.

-------

"Where are you going?" Mitch groggily asked the next morning when Scott slipped out from the bed, pulling his pants on from where they were previously lying on the floor.

"I have to get going," Scott barely got out, looking at Mitch and his soft bed hair and sleepy eyes, and he doesn't want to do this... really. But he has to.

"So soon?" Mitch's morning voice making Scott feel another pinch in his heart.

"Yeah, I've gotta get to work. But hey, tonight we should go out for dinner. I'll call you," Scott walked over to the side of the bed and gave Mitch a peck to the forehead before he grabbed his stuff and left.

Scott had done that many times before, leaving no trace that he was even there in the first place. But this was Mitch, not some one night stand.

He had a lot of shit to figure out.

-------

"This is nice," Scott stated, taking a sip from his wine glass where he was seated across from Mitch in some fancy restaurant.

"Yeah," Mitch smiled awkwardly and Scott just wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

"I just wanted to say that... um... I think sleeping together was a mistake," Scott spit out before he had any chance to find another excuse to not say it.

"Me too," Mitch shrugged and looked away from Scott to the waiter who was approaching them.

They ordered and of course Mitch asked for his very specific meal. Scott gives his usual apologetic smile to the waiter like he's trying to let him know that he'll get a good tip. Their meals come and it's silent between the two, which it never is.

"It's great when you don't need to talk to someone and it doesn't even feel awkward," Scott tried to break the silence, and all he got in return was a small smile and sad brown eyes.

-------

It was the day of Alex and Avi's wedding. The venue looked beautiful, the reception hall even more incredible, and Scott and Mitch were nowhere to be seen.

The two hadn't talked to each other since their night out and Alex and Avi both knew why. They both had to endure the freaked out phone calls because 'oh shit, I just slept with my best friend' and maybe a little bit of 'oh shit, there may be feelings there' and Scott and Mitch have been avoiding each other like the plague.

But both boys had to be at the wedding, seeing as they were both the best men. Of course, they both got there at the very last minute and they both received a harsh talking to from Alex after the ceremony because 'this is my day and you're not fucking it up.'

"Hi," Scott went up to Mitch who was watching Alex and Avi take their first dance at the reception hall.

"Hello," Mitch didn't even look in Scott's direction. "How are you?"

"I'm great," Scott tried to seem like he was telling the truth, he really did, but it was so hard. "So uh, are you seeing anyone?"

"I don't want to talk about this, Scott," Mitch snapped, eyes still on Avi and Alex smiling at each other on the dance floor.

"I was just asking."

"And you don't need to know," Mitch started walking away and Scott cautiously followed.

"When the hell are we going to get over this?!" Scott whisper yelled and Mitch whipped around.

"Get over it?! It just happened, Scott! Three weeks ago!"

"That's a long time!"

Mitch scoffed and rolled his eyes, turning around and walking away again, Scott following behind him still.

"Mitch!"

"You're acting like what happened didn't mean anything!" Mitch yelled, now in an empty hallway away from the reception.

"I never said that! Besides, we both said that it was a mistake!"

"You're right, biggest mistake of my life! But you do it all the time, Scott, and then you get up and run."

"I didn't run, MItch."

"No, you fucking sprinted," Mitch spat and place his hands on his waist.

"Well, what do you want from me?!" Scott pleaded, wanting to fix this mess between them. Anything to fix this.

"I don't want anything from you!"

"Alright," Scott started in a softer voice. "I'm just telling you right now that I did not go over to your house that night to hook up with you, Mitch. You were there and your eyes were so sad, fuck, Mitch. I wanted to do anything to fix that!"

"Oh, what, so you took pity on me?" Mitch hissed back, his face turning even more red by the second.

"No, I didn't... I just-"

"Fuck you!" Mitch lands a hard slap to Scott's cheek and storms back into the reception.

-------

There is no contact between to two what so ever, and Scott is beginning to think there never will be. And that thought makes him really fucking sad. How is he supposed to go through life without Mitch? Mitch, who is shining and happy, and brings all good things to this world.

His life feels gray and shitty. He feels like he did after his divorce, before he became friends with Mitch.

Without all this contact, Scott has some time to think, and the main thing he thinks about is the saying 'you don't know what you have until it's gone' is pretty damn accurate.

He took advantage of Mitch. He didn't even realize what kind of gold he had in his life. Mitch was his sunshine, his everything. Without Mitch, fuck, he couldn't breathe properly.

It was like Mitch was his source of life, and that sounds so fucking cheesy, but it was so true, and all Scott wants to do is crawl into a hole and die because he messed everything up. He had to be stupid and open his stupid mouth and mess up everything good in his life.

In this time of thinking, Scott realize that he was in love with Mitch. Deeply, truly, genuinely, and in the best ways, painfully in love with Mitch. He was absolutely screwed.

-------

"You can always come later if you change your mind, Scott," Alex said over the phone with the loud music pounding in the background from the club him and Avi were at. And Mitch.

"I need to give him space," Scott sighed, flicking through the tv channels.

"Scott, he needs to see that you care about him."

"No, Alex, he needs to see that I care enough to give him some space."

"Whatever you say, Scott," Alex shouted over the music that grew louder in the background. "You know where to find us if you change your mind. Looks like Mitch is already trying to find himself a New year's kiss."

The line went dead and Scott's whole body felt like it was on fire. The image of Mitch kissing someone else burned in his head and he wanted to shake it out and instead burn the image of Mitch splayed out underneath of him, shouting his name.

And Scott knew exactly what he needed to do then.

He slipped on his tennis shoes that were sitting at the front door from when he came back from his run earlier, and grabbed the closest jacket to him before checking the time. 11:50.

Scott sprinted out the door, and he thought it was kind of ironic how just a few weeks ago Mitch was yelling at him that all he seems to do is sprint. At least this time he wasn't sprinting away from Mitch, but to him.

The club had to have been at least a 20 minute walk from his apartment, but Scott ran and ran and ran like he was running towards his future because, well, he was. This was his Mitch and he was in love with him and he would shout it from the rooftops if Mitch wanted him to.

He reached the club and had no idea what time it was, but he heard everyone yelling and he had a good idea then.

15, 14, 13

Scott frantically searched the crowded space for Mitch, looking up and down and coming up empty.

12,11,10

He ran around, turning around every dark haired man in hopes they would be him.

9,8,7

It's when he peered across the room, that he saw Mitch in the corner, looking around with his beautiful eyes, his pink lips pursed in a pout, and Scott grinned so wide before making his way over to him.

6,5,4

3,2

Scott grabbed Mitch's face in his hands.

1

And they kissed. It was wonderful and magical and Scott felt like his stomach was going to explode from the mass of butterflies. Then there were fireworks shooting off around them and Scott pulled away laughing because how fucking ironic.

"Scott, what are you-"

"I'm in love with you, Mitch," Scott shouted, cutting off a surprised looking Mitch. "I'm so in love with you Mitch. You are the sun and gold I never knew I had and Jesus, I sound like a complete idiot but I am so in love with you and I will get down on my knees if you want me to. I want you to be mine."

"You don't love me, Scott. You're just saying that because it's New Year's and you're lonely and I get that. But you don't love me," Mitch shook his head and Scott wanted to pull his hair out because what did he have to do to get it through Mitch's head for him to understand how much he loved him.

"How about this? I love how you know exactly what you want. I love how you can never fall asleep on airplanes. I love how your eyes change colors with your moods like you're some kind of mythical creature or something, but you're so beautiful that sometimes I think you are. I love how passionate you are about music and everything else you adore. I love how when you get mad your eyebrows furrow and your eyes crinkle so you don't even look mad, you just look adorable to me. I love how you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to bed at night.

"I love you, Mitch. And I came here tonight to tell you that. Not because I'm lonely or because of what day it is, but because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of you life to  start as soon as possible."

Mitch looked at him with wide eyes and he looked so goddamn beautiful it literally took Scott's breath away. Then Mitch was smiling the same way Scott was before he walked over to Mitch in the crowded club, and he was pulling Scott in for another kiss. And yeah, Scott thought, his rule was stupid, because if he had followed it, he wouldn't be here, with Mitch attached to his lips and his heart soaring out of his chest. He wouldn't be in love with his best friend. So yeah, fuck his stupid rule.