((sorry i haven't edited yet))

A couple of days quickly turned into a week and every second that ticked by was driving Mitch to insanity. It's not like he never saw Scott, PTX meetings and appearances at least gave him a small taste, but the blonde was still a bit distant and Mitch was wearing thin. He wasn't sure how to broach the subject again, but shouldn't Scott give him some sort of sign that he was ready? What if he was waiting on a sign from Mitch? It was all very confusing.

He decided to try something and hoped maybe it would be the olive branch Scott was waiting for.

"Scott?" He jogged to catch up with the long legged man as he headed out of studio.

Scott gave him a kind smile as he turned around. It wasn't his usual smile, but it was better than nothing. "What's up?"

God he felt like a teenager talking to his first crush. His palms began to sweat and he began to fidget nervously. "I know you're doing the whole.. space thing...but um... Tyler is having this party at his place tonight and I didn't know if you ... maybe wanted to go? I mean he asked me to invite you. Not that that's the only reason I asked you..."

Scott bit his lip but his smile never wavered. "I would, but I can't."

"Oh." His heart sank just a bit as the hope that had welled up in him was dashed.

"Mitch, it's not because I don't want to go, I just already made plans."

INSECURITY ALERT! INSECURITY ALERT!

"Ok... I just thought I'd ask. So I guess I'll see you... sometime." He quickly backed up a step and turned but fingers wrapped around his arm and pulled him back.

"Oh no you don't."

His back collided with a body and Scott wrapped him up tight in his arms. It was odd to feel all the tension leave his body for the first time in a week. He closed his eyes and relaxed into the embrace and he wrapped his fingers around the forearms encircling him. He felt a shiver as Scott's face burrowed into his neck and his breath tickled his skin as he spoke in a quiet voice.

"Megg is coming over. Jake is picking up stuff Alex left behind and I needed someone to talk to, I guess."

"Ok." Mitch closed his eyes just basking at the feelings crowding his chest now that he was back in Scott's arms.

"I miss you." It was nothing more than a whisper against his skin, but the short sentence echoed in his ears as if it had been screamed.

"I miss you too." Are you ok? Are you eating things that aren't fast food? Are your attacks under control? When do I get you back?

He took a deep breath, the other man doing the same as he squeezed Mitch tight for a few moments.

"I'm almost there... I promise. Just a few more days."

A few more DAYS? Now I understand why fans get pissed about #soon. It sucks.

He didn't trust his voice so he just gave a short nod. When Scott backed away and released him he wanted to turn around and cling to his body like a needy child when their parents leave them for the first time at a new babysitters or daycare. He just barely managed to keep himself in check.

"I love you."

He still couldn't bring himself to say it back but he spun on his heel and wrapped his arms around Scott in a tight hug.

Scott just chuckled and squeezed him again. "Soon."

Mitch raised his eyes to playfully glare at him. "Don't you dare soon me."

Scott laughed and Mitch pushed him away with a half hearted shove and a hint of a smile.

~~~~

He was enjoying himself for the most part. Tyler was good at putting himself in the center of attention and there were enough distractions and libations to keep his mind occupied. He was practically glued to Connor's side the entire time. It wasn't that he was doing it on purpose, but Con had become something of a security blanket for him. There was a level of safety he felt when he was around the other boy and as unstable as everything around him felt, Connor was the one thing he felt like he could count on to pick him up if he began to fall apart. His friend didn't seem to mind and was sure to include him no matter what was going on.

They'd both settled into one of the corners, both watching Hannah demonstrate her best whip/nae nae attempt when Mitch caught a large set of blue eyes staring their way. At first he thought they were directed at him, but they didn't register being noticed at first and continued to stare. By the time he realized they were aimed at Connor, their owner had realized he'd been caught and quickly looked away. He didn't say anything for awhile but began to notice throughout the night that someone was turning on their flirt game and, for once, it wasn't him.

"What's with you and Troye?" He leaned in to whisper in Con's ear.

"What do you mean?" Connor's confused expression almost made him chuckle.

"I mean the fact that he's been watching you all night."

The red began to crawl up Connor's neck to his cheeks. "Probably watching you not me."

He snorted. "I am thirsty enough to recognize that same thirst when I see it in someone else's eyes."

"Now you're just talking nonsense." Connor joked, but his eyes raised and green met blue across the room.

Mitch felt a surge of jealousy as Troye bravely held the other's gaze and small smile lifted his lips. It only got worse when Connor responded with his own smile and then they both looked away. He knew it wasn't fair to be jealous, especially in his current situation, but just because he'd chosen Scott didn't mean he wasn't just a bit jealous of someone else getting to enjoy Connor. No one said jealousy was rational.

"Mmmhmm. Nonsense." He smirked.

"He's a good friend. He wouldn't... I mean he would never ... like me like that. I mean... he's Troye."

"And you're Connor. Have a bit more faith in yourself, girl. Besides, he's on his way over here and I think I'm going to go save Korey from whatever Mamrie is trying to rope him into doing. Or maybe I'll just watch.  Have fun."

He made his way over to another group and had barely gotten into conversation with Hannah and Ingrid when he noticed Con and Troye deep in conversation already, both relaxing into the couch as they talked about whatever.

Everything happens for a reason.

He looked down as his phone went off in his pocket, the message from Scott making his insides warm and his smile grow.

Goodnight gorgeous

~~~~

"Why do I smell food and why are you near the stove?" Connor peered from the hallway, eyes narrowing at the man in the kitchen.

"I was bored and you had things so I figured why not try to cook said things." Mitch smiled as he finished chopping vegetables and adding them to the pan on the stove.

""Will it be edible?" The other boy began to move towards the kitchen to get a closer look.

"I'm not completely useless."

"I didn't say that. I'm just... concerned about my apartment... and Sarah." Con moved closer and peered over Mitch's shoulder.

Mitch laughed as continued to work on the food in front of him. "I think you should be more concerned about the fact that you named your house plant that you never water."

Connor let out a dramatic gasp and looked over at the tree. "Don't listen to him Sarah. He doesn't understand our bond!"

Mitch rolled his eyes and moved to check something in the oven.

"Wait, what's in there?"

"You'll have to be a patient boy and wait and see."

Connor responded by perching his chin on Mitch's shoulder with a sad face and a pouty lip to match. He was quiet as he curiously watched Mitch cook. When Mitch heard the inhale and felt the tip of a nose at his neck he froze.

"Did you just smell me?!"

Connor laughed and backed away. "Just wanted to see what was so special."

Mitch rolled his eyes and reached back to smack him playfully. "Get out of here, loser. I'll call you when the food is ready."

Connor's face was bright with laughter as he retreated back to his office. Mitch smiled, but a large piece of him ached for someone else and the reminder that that someone was so close yet so far away chased away any trace of his smile.

He wasn't sure how much longer he could do this.

____

Connor barely looked up from his laptop as another body plopped down on the couch next to him.

"We should do something fun tonight."

Con looked up with a slight flush to his cheeks. "Um,  I'm going to the museum with Troye tonight."

Mitch smiled. "Thank GOD. It's about time you two stop dancing around each other. He's been over here almost every day since Ty's party."

"Shut up. It's just a friend thing." Connor couldn't hide his smile as he looked back to his computer screen.

"Sure it is..."

It was then that Connor looked up at him and just stared. It took a moment before Mitch met his eyes.

"What?"

"Mitch, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean what am I doing?"

"I mean... it's been over two weeks. You know I don't mind you staying here, but I hate watching you be stuck in sad limbo for this long."

"I'm not in sad limbo." Liar.

"You barely leave the house unless it's for work or with me, you mope around wearing sweaters that are way too big to be yours. You have to do something."

"Like what? He asked for space. What do you want me to do? I can't make him want to be with me!"

"Talk to him."

"I talk to him every day."

"One or two texts to tell each other goodnight is not talking."

"We talked when I picked up clothes and stuff. It's not like he's ignoring me.."

"But he is. You haven't done anything together that isn't professional since you've been here."

Mitch was quiet for a moment, trying not to think about it, trying not to over analyze... trying not to cry. "I'm sorry I've been here this long. I wasn't expecting-"

"-No. Don't start apologizing like you're an inconvenience, It's been really nice having you around and you know you don't have to leave any time soon, but I know you're not really happy here." Con put his laptop on the coffee table as Mitch hugged himself, blinking away tears again.

"I know," he whispered.

"You have to talk to him."

"He asked for time and space. As many questions as I have... I can't ask him."

"Why not? He's still your best friend."

"I miss him."

"Did you tell him that?"

"He knows."

"Does he?"

"What am I supposed to do? I didn't ASK for this! Everything was fine before all of this started! He throws all of this on me and then disappears to let me deal with it alone! It's not fücking fair!"

"Babe- " Connor softened... reaching out for him, but it was then that his doorbell went off. He sighed aloud. "It's probably the UPS guy. I'll be right back ok?"

Mitch nodded to himself, trying to stop the fall of tears that were becoming familiar friends. He was taken off guard when a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Um... Is Mitch around? I tried to call first but he didn't answer."

He froze unsure if he wanted to jump up and run into his arms or run to the guest room he'd been occupying the last couple of weeks and lock the door and refuse to come out. In the end he just stood from his place on the couch, hugging himself like a shield. He watched silently as Scott came inside and Connor closed the door behind him.

"I'm going to go for a drive. I'll leave you two alone." Connor quickly grabbed some shoes and his keys and was out the door.

"I tried to call first..." Scott repeated, standing in the middle of the room looking uncomfortable and out of place.

"I don't know where I put my phone down."

They stood staring at one another like they hadn't talked at all in the last few weeks... almost like strangers being locked in a room without knowing what to do or say.

Talk. Easier said than done.