Alright, this is the last part. Hope you guys enjoyed the ride :)

The knock at the front door startles Scott out of his thoughts and he tears his gaze away from his phone that's sitting on the coffee table, silent, to glance back over his shoulder at the door. He'd only posted the picture just over an hour ago; supposes he could give it a little more time before he tries Plan B to get Mitch's attention.

He pushes himself off the couch to go grab the door. He could've sworn he gave his mom a key...

He pulls the door open and everything freezes, including time. His breath catches in his throat. HIs heart is pounding in his chest and his stomach feels like it's dropping. He licks his lips, blinks at the boy standing in front of him. "Hey..." He murmurs, trailing off as he leans his body weight against the edge of the door.

"Hi." Mitch whispers back, both hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. "Is your mom around?"

Scott raises an eyebrow, and can;t help the teasing comment that slips out. "You're looking for my mom right now?"

Mitch shrugs, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Not really."

Scott steps aside then, opening the door wider to let Mitch inside. "She went shopping a little while ago." He replies, closing the door behind them. He's about to continue, more out of nervousness than anything, when Mitch throws himself at Scott, kissing him and backing him further into his apartment. Scott's words are swallowed by Mitch's mouth, and forgotten the moment Mitch swipes his tongue along Scott's bottom lip.

They stumble across the floor, Mitch guiding Scott, rather poorly, back towards the living room. The backs of Scott's knees hit the edge of the couch right before he falls back onto it. Mitch follows, fingers buried in Scott's hair and lips attaching to the little spot that drives Scott crazy under his jaw as he straddles him.

"Stop...Mitch, stop." The blonde pants, pushing gently as Mitch's shoulders. Mitch lets himself be pushed back, lifting his gaze up to meet Scott's. "We need to talk. Well, I need to talk to you and you need to listen because there are things I need to say and I need to say them before this goes any further." Scott explains softly. "You deserve to hear them."

"Okay." Mitch nods, climbing off of Scott's lap and sitting next to him on the couch.

Scott looks at him, memorizing every detail. It's been less than a day since he last saw Mitch and yet, somehow, it feels like it's been longer...like it's been too long. And a lot has happened since then. There's been a lot of things that Scott has come to terms with, that he's finally let himself acknowledge and believe. "I love you." He says softly, his eyes still locked on to Mitch's. Mitch's eyes flicker with his own emotion, with the recognition of having heard that before. "I know I could've chosen a better time, a better way, to say it for the first time, but it's true. I love you...and I guess I always have," he admits. He sees the way Mitch's chest expands with the long, deep breath he takes in response.

He can tell that Mitch wants to respond, can tell he wants to speak, but now that he's started, he doesn't want to stop...just in case he won't be able to start back up again. So he continues, before Mitch can say anything, and his gaze never leaves Mitch's. "When you kissed me, that first time, I was 18 and I was scared of falling in love and...and at first I thought it was just you messing around y'know? And then I think at some point I realized you weren't, but I still couldn't... I just ignored whatever it was I thought I was feeling because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. And then I just got really really good at hiding it...

And then that New Year's happened and... you started talking about it and brought it all back up. I couldn't think straight. I spent three years ignoring everything thinking it didn't even matter anymore and then there you were, wanting me to kiss you again and...and I was fucking terrified. It wasn't that I didn't want to kiss you I just..." He cuts himself off, runs a shaky hand through his hair. "Then after that first time we hooked up, I just panicked. That's why I left to go get breakfast...to give myself some time to think about what we were gonna do...what I was gonna do. And I just didn't want anything to change, y'know, so I thought if we just chalked it up to being nothing more than a one night stand...just the two of us giving in to the one thing we'd always wanted...then everything would go back to normal. Except it didn't because it just made everything in my head even worse and I couldn't stop thinking about it... I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Mitch blushes, looks down at where his hands have gathered the fabric of his shirt between his fingers before looking back up at Scott.

"As far as everything else goes... the seeing other people, not wanting anyone to know... that had nothing to do with you okay? And it definitely didn't have to do with the fact that you're a guy. It was all me and my issues. I mean, yeah, you're the only guy I've ever been with and that was a big deal, but only for about a minute. and it was only because you're the only guy I've ever been attracted to to begin with y'know?

It's not so much that I was in denial as much as it just...scared me. It scared me Mitch. That I could have all these feelings...for anyone, let alone you, my best friend...and not have any control over them. I could feel you creeping in, the way you always had, only it was worse because I was letting you where I've never let anyone else.

I guess I just...I guess I thought that if i didn't acknowledge it...if I didn't tell anyone, especially my mom, then it didn't have to be a big deal. I thought if we could just be together and not have to worry about anything or anybody else then...then it didn't have to mean anything.

But it means everything Mitchy. You mean everything. And you deserve for everyone to know that. I'm ready for everyone to know that." He finishes. He stares at Mitch, finding himself waiting rather impatiently for Mitch to react, to do anything. His heart feels like it's beating faster than ever and his stomach feels like it's jumped into his throat, which would explain why it feels hard to breathe.

That was it. That was all he had planned to say...all he could say. This is everything he's ever thought and everything he's ever tried to hide, all out in the open for Mitch. He feels like he's holding his heart out in his hands, offering to give it to Mitch to keep safe and hoping...praying... that Mitch won't hand it back. He just really hopes that Mitch still wants this. "Say something," he pleads.

Mitch blinks, tilting his head to the side. "A-are you sure?" he asks carefully, his voice sounding small and timid.

Scott smirks, "It's a little late for that Mitchy, considering Jake obviously already knows, and I told my mom."

Mitch stares at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. "You what? When?"

"This morning... or, I guess, early afternoon. She knew something was wrong, knew we had a fight and we talked a bit about you and how you can never stay mad at me and then it just slipped out. I told her everything she needed to know and it turns out, she already knew."

"She did?"

Scott shrugs. "Apparently both my mom and grandma knew how we both felt all along. Mom knew I've been in love with you for years and she told me she could tell something was different when we both went back home earlier this year. She was just waiting for me, or both of us, to tell her."

Mitch stays silent for a moment, looking as though he's letting Scott's words sink in. And Scott waits, impatiently, for Mitch to let everything process. It had taken Scott years, after all, for him to register how he truly felt. "And you're sure? Like a thousand percent sure?" He asks again.

Scott kisses him, pushes Mitch back against the couch as he places his legs on either side of Mitch's legs. His hands come up to cup MItch's face, while Mitch's arms wrap themselves instinctively around his waist. "You know, for someone who barged in here just a little bit ago to make out with me, you sure ask a lot of questions." Scott teases, his lips brushing lightly against Mitch's.

"I just want to make sure we're on the same page n-"

"I'm positive." Scott insists again, pressing a chaste kiss to Mitch's lips. "I'll take you on a date tonight, if you want." He whispers, following it up with another kiss. "I'll call my sisters in the morning." Another kiss. "I'll get the band to come over after my mom leaves and tell them and then we can make out in front of them."

Mitch giggles, "I'm pretty sure they already know from that Instagram post."

"Oh. Right, I forgot about that." The blonde mutters, looking thoughtful for a moment. A smirk tugs at his lips, then, and he presses his forehead against Mitch's. "We'll just have to make out even more then."

Mitch smiles, pulling Scott in to kiss him. "Do you think we could postpone our date until tomorrow?"

Scott raises an eyebrow. "You wanna hang out with my mom don't you?'

Mitch nods, and excited, almost child like grin spreading across his lips. "I didn't get to last night."

"And who's fault is that?" Scott teases.

"Actually, yours."

Scott can't help the instinctive flinch that follows as he looks down between them.

"Hey," Mitch whispers, lifting Scott's chin up to look at him. "I forgive you. Over and done with."

"Then I guess I owe you huh?" And my mom, well, she wasn't very happy that it was my fault you left either."

As if on cue the front door opens and Connie walks in to the front hall. Several things happen then; Both Scott and Mitch untangle themselves, Scott crawls to the other side of the couch, Mitch turns almost all the way around to face Connie, and Connie's entire face lights up as she sees Mitch.

"Mitch!" She coos, closing the door behind her. She's holding quite a few shopping bags in each hand, which she immediately drops before joining them in the living room.

Mitch grins and pushes himself off the couch to accept her hug.

"I'm so sorry my son was such an idiot." She murmurs causing him to laugh.

Scott rolls his eyes as he gets to his feet. "Thanks mom," he says dryly.

Connie pulls away first, and laughs when Mitch continues to cling to her.

"You two are ridiculous." Scott scoffs teasingly as he slips past them and makes his way to the kitchen.

"Scott's just jealous because he knows he has to share you while I'm here." She states, patting Mitch's back while they follow Scott to the kitchen.

"Damn right I am." Scott replies, grabbing three water bottles out of the fridge, handing them out and walking to the other side of the island, playfully glaring at Mitch. "He's already ditched going on a date with me to hang out with you."

"At least he has his priorities straight." Connie remarks.

Mitch snorts, rolling his eyes affectionately when Scott sticks his tongue out at him.

"How about we go out to eat?" Connie asks.

"I'm up for anything if you're paying." Scott teases.

"That sounds great Connie." Mitch replies politely.

"I'm gonna go change and then we'll leave, okay?"

"Thanks mom." Scott murmurs genuinely as she leaves the room. He looks at Mitch, who's staring back at him, smiling contently. "You're too nice to her." he says, sauntering around the end of the island to stand in front of Mitch. "That's why she never wants to leave when she visits."

Mitch scoffs. "You love when she's here and you miss her when she's gone. Don't deny it."

Scott narrows his gaze and Mitch challenges him with raised eyebrows before they both erupt into small giggles and Scott tugs Mitch towards him with the belt loops on his jeans. "You know what else I love?"

Mitch wraps his arms around Scott's neck, bringing his forehead down to his. "Say it." He whispers.

"This." Scott whispers. "Us. You."

Mitch sighs, absentmindedly playing with the fabric of Scott's shirt. He looks down for a minute at his fingers, then back up to look Scott in the eye. "Are we really doing this?"

Scott smiles softly, nudging his nose gently against Mitch's "If you'll still have me."

Mitch nods, because how could he not?

"I can't promise that it's gonna be perfect. Or that I'm gonna be any good at it. But just...just bear with me, okay?"

"Yeah." Mitch breathes.

Scott chews at his bottom lip as he lets out a shaky breath of his own. "Promise?"

"Promise," Mitch whispers, before sealing it, sealing everything, with a kiss.