Grian's Perspective-

The days went fast, and Mumbo always kept giving me looks.

Looks like he wanted to ask me about Scar.

I was mostly able to avoid it since we were almost always with my family, and my father made sure that no one brought up Scar.

But one night, when we were packing up for our flight the next evening, we were left alone and he asked me.

"So...do you mind me asking about Scar?" Mumbo asked, rolling up one of his shirts.

I nodded, signaling that I did mind.

"I...I was just- "

"Did you not see me nod? I'm not comfortable with talking about Scar." I said firmly, walking out to grab my toothbrush.

"Oh...could you grab mi- "

"Yeah, sure." I said, closing the door behind me.

"That was rude."

I jumped and turned to see my father about 3/4 of the way up the stairs.

"Oh...you heard?"

He nodded.

I sighed and my father smiled softly as he walked over to me and patted my back.

"You have to open up to people."

"I know, but it was hard enough to open up to you."

"The more you talk about it, the easier it'll be."

"But there's no reason to."

My father raised an eyebrow and I sighed.

"I'm fine, I don't know what you're talking about."

My father chuckled.

"You and I know very well that you're bottling up a lot." He said, and I nodded.

"You gotta stop doing that, open up, let people know. And I'm sure Mumbo wants to help. He seems like a good guy."

I looked back at my door and bit my lip before saying,

"I just...I don't want Mumbo to turn out the same way Scar did."

"What do you mean?"

"Me and Scar started out as great friends, he even used to call us the best of friends, and then I started to form feelings for him. He confessed to me and we started dating. Skip to years later and he broke up with me. And then guess what? I end up meeting him a couple years later and he acts like we're cool. Like we're buddies."

"I just..." I sighed, "I can't have that happen again. I want to be friends with Mumbo, but we can't get too close because then I'll be a huge burden to him, just like I was with Scar."

"Grian, you're not a burden." My father said softly.

I nodded and then pointed to the restroom, putting on a smile.

"I gotta get my toothbrush and finish packing, love you."

My father narrowed his eyes but nodded and let me go.

-

"Sorry that took a couple minutes, I was talking with my da- "

I cut myself off as Mumbo hugged me.

He came to me slowly, carefully; a long embrace that was as comforting and hopeful as it was cool and comforting.

I felt my face flush before I lightly patted his back.

"Umm...what are you doing?" I asked after a second.

"Oh, sorry." Mumbo said, quickly breaking apart, his face also red.

"You alright?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, y-yeah. And thanks." He said, taking his toothbrush out of my hand.

Our hands lightly brushed up against each other and I felt my heart rate pick up.

He turned around as I shook my head.

I can't like him, it'll end up just like Scar did.

Later That Night (Mumbo's Perspective)-

I sighed as I turned in my bed so I was now facing the lightly snoring Grian.

I frowned softly.

I'm so sorry, Grian, I heard everything you said to your father. And know that you would never be a burden to me, friend or even something more.