The next day was full of big changes. Scott made the mistake of confessing to Alex that he now remembered him. Alex had been elated and almost immediately got on the phone to try and lengthen his stay.

He’d wanted to grab that phone and throw it against the wall, or just scream at him that he didn’t want him to stay, but instead he just kept his mouth shut. 

He nearly cried in relief when Mitch was back within sight, but that relief was short lived. Mitch looked like death. He was pale and looked far too small in the oversized sweater. (He couldn't completely remember but something told him that it was his own sweater that Mitch was wearing.)  He wanted to tell Alex to get the hell out of Mitch’s chair, but he knew that wouldn't go over so well. So he stayed quiet and watched as his friend took a seat in the far corner next to the same window he’d stood next to when Scott first woke up. He was far too quiet. Scott hated it. 

It was strange going through the conversations of the day without Mitch’s voice chiming in every now and then. He hadn’t said anything the entire time. Then the worst happened. The doctor had come to talk to about some test results and Mitch had had a bit of a cough. Of course the doctor noticed it and decided to take a look at Mitch while he was there. 

Mitch was sick. Apparently lack of sleep and food weakens the immune system and being in a place where sick people congregate, it wasn't exactly a surprise that he caught a bug. The problem with that is that he couldn’t be around Scott. 

The doctor explained that Mitch had to stay away until he wasn’t contagious anymore. Scott had tried to protest it, but rules are rules and Avi agreed to go with Mitch back to the hotel after getting his meds.

Neither boy was very much fun to be around after that. Scott was mopey and cranky, Mitch was sick and depressed. Talk about great company. 

______

4 days passed. The situation was beginning to wear on everyone, but Mitch was dealing with everything as if the world was ending. He didn’t really speak to anyone. Scott had stopped calling and texting him, and he just fell into the abyss of his own mind. Alex had gotten his time extended, but only for a couple of days. He'd left the day before and Avi had taken the night shift. Tonight it was Kirstie's turn so Mitch was alone. That morning he’d gone to the clinic at the hospital for a follow up and gotten the ok to see Scott again, but for reasons even he wasn’t sure about he had just gone straight back to the hotel instead of heading up to Scott’s room. 

Maybe Scott didn’t want to see him. Maybe now that he remembered Alex (Kirstie had filled him in) he didn’t need Mitch to fill a void. Maybe things really were getting back to normal. 

He was laying on Kirstie's bed when he felt his phone buzz and pulled it from his pocket. 

Sconcé: im mad at you

He didn’t know what to say to that, so he didn’t say anything. 5 minutes passed before it buzzed again. 

Sconcé: Kelly told me you got cleared to come back  but ur not here

He knew the nurses had become close to their little group, but the thought that one of them had let that fact slip upset him a bit, mostly because it made him feel guilty. He didn’t know how to respond to that either, so he tossed the phone down again. 

Sconcé: I know ur reading this! It tells me you read it!

Sconcé: answer me

Sconcé: i miss u 

Sconcé: r u mad at me

Sconcé: plz come back 

It took him a bit before he picked up the phone again. It was buzzing like a damn vibrator. He chewed on his lip. 

Mitch: i’m not mad at you just not feeling gr8

Mitch: I promise I’ll be there tomorrow

Sconcé: ur chair will be waiting

He couldn’t stop the small smile on his lips. He started to put the phone back down again but typed one last message. 

Mitch: miss u too alot

_____

“How in the world did Mitch stand sleeping in this chair for so long.” Kirstie shifted for probably the 10,000th time trying to find some way to get comfortable. 

Scott smiled, albeit a sad smile, but still. “He was the only one who didn’t complain. Alex bitched and moaned about it every second.” 

Kirstie punched the pillow one more time to try to get it to sit the way she wanted it. “Stupid hospital pillows.” 

Scott laughed at her. “You didn’t have to stay. I don’t like being alone but.. I don’t want you to be miserable.” 

“You shush. If Mitch can do it for a million years then I can do it for one night until his bony butt comes back.” 

Scott’s smile fell a bit. “I miss him. He says he’s not mad but I can tell something’s wrong.” 

She busied herself with picking out a movie on Netflix, Scott’s laptop propped up on a cart. There was no way she’d be able to have this conversation. Mitch spent most of his time locked in the tour bus that was parked at their hotel. She barely saw him except when she brought him food and forced him to eat. Scott’s mom was so worried about him she had contemplated flying his mom out just to try and help him. “Soooo whatcha wanna watch?” 

He narrowed his eyes at her. “What aren’t you telling me?” 

She tried to think fast, she searched the sky for a way to divert this conversation. 

“Kirstin Taylor Maldonado. Tell me.” 

She was too surprised by the fact that he knew her entire name to even do anything but stare at him with wide eyes. 

“You… you remember my name?” 

It took him a moment to realize that yeah, yeah he did know her name. He’d remembered a LOT in the last few days, mostly about Alex and Kirstie and Avi. He remembered Esther almost entirely, even though she’d had to fly back to LA a while back just to help sort out everything in the wake of his accident. Kevin was harder to remember, but not as hard as one Mitchell Grassi. The more he wanted to remember the less he seemed to be able to. It was so insanely frustrating. 

“Don’t change the subject.” 

The smile that lit up her face slowly slid back down again and she began to fidget nervously. 

“Please tell me.” 

“He’s a mess without you.” 

Scott frowned. “I’m not exactly sunshine and daisies without him either.” 

“But… you have Alex. You have everyone else around you. Mitch is just … closed off. It’s hard to explain when you don’t remember.” 

He wished he did. God he wished he did. 

“Mitch doesn’t open up to anyone but you. Ever. He talks to me more than others, but never even close to what he was with you. With you it was like he was an open book. He could express himself and be honest and vulnerable and know that you were there for him no matter what. You’re his best friend, the person he always turned to when he needed to talk, needed to vent, needed advice. You know him better than anyone, you know how to fix him when he's broken, but now... now he's broken and you barely know him at all. He’s scared and worried about you. He’s worried about falling apart. He’s barely eating, barely sleeping. I don’t know how to help him.” 

She knew the moment she stopped talking that she’d made a mistake. She was going to just be vague but it had somehow just all slipped out in her want to get it off of her chest.

Scott was staring at the floor, already in his own head. “I’ll try harder. There has to be a way to make my memories come back.” 

“No, no. Scott please don’t worry yourself over this. I shouldn’t have said anything.” 

“Of course you should. He’s hurting and he needs me, but I’m not the version of me that he needs. Not yet.” 

“Scott-” 

“No. Tell me more about him. Tell me facts or stories or something.” 

“Babe - “ 

“I have to remember.” 

“You have to rest. You haven’t been sleeping well and the doctor said that’s why the migraines have gotten worse.” 

“It’s because Alex was sitting there!” 

“What?” She was completely thrown. 

“He doesn’t know that I know, but I do. He’s been cheating on me.” 

“That can’t be right.” 

“I kept trying to figure out why I didn’t feel right when he was around. It’s because I don’t trust him. I don’t remember all of the details but I remember the moment I found out. I was at his apartment and he left his phone out while he took a shower. I was going to take a picture of myself and put it as his background because I thought it would be funny. It only took me 2 tries to figure out his password, 1989, and as I did someone texted him. It said ‘I miss your lips. I miss your smile. I miss you being in my arms. Can’t wait until tomorrow night.’ Naturally I got curious. I mean, there’s not really anyway for that text to be innocent. I was right. According to their text conversation it had been happening for months. He told that guy he loved him and the worst part is the guy knew about me. I don’t remember why I stayed with him and I don’t remember why I didn’t tell Mitch, but i do remember that there WAS a reason. I just haven’t remembered it yet.” He licked his lips, feeling the beginnings of a migraine coming on. “I kept replaying a memory, this moment where I was crying on the couch and Mitch was singing to me. I remember now why I was crying.” 

“I’m going to murder him.” 

“Once I’m home I’m going to do it myself.” 

She took his hand, squeezing it tight. “Doc said it wouldn’t be too much longer.” 

He nodded, face already becoming pinched as the pain began to intensify. 

“I’ll call the nurse.” She got up to press the button before taking her seat again. “Want me to call Mitch?” 

He shook his head no, eyes closing. “Just… hold my hand.” 

_____________

It was a strange reunion. Avi came and dropped off Mitch and Kirstie was outside waiting for them. 

Mitch looked ragged as he grabbed his bag out of the backseat. 

“He’s waiting for you.” She smiled as she got into the car and they were gone before he could really ask any questions. 

He stood there for a moment just gaining courage. 

He felt himself relax for the first time in days when he saw that smile again. Scott’s entire face lit up as he entered the room. 

“I was starting to worry you were never coming back.” 

“I promised I would didn’t I?” He smiled and put his bag for the night in the closet and took his place in the chair next to Scott. 

The blonde boy flopped his hand out, waiting for another to take hold. It did without hesitation. 

“Just a few more days and I can go home. I can’t fly, but Avi said that the tour bus is here so” 

Mitch smiled. “That’s good.” 

“I hope you don’t mind, I kind of asked for everyone else to take a day off. I just wanted to spend some time with you. I missed you.” 

“I missed you too, Sasquatch.” 

“Are you feeling better?” 

He nodded. “The joys of modern medicine. Tip top shape in no time.” 

“You look tired. Did you sleep?” 

He nodded. “How are you? Remember anything new?” 

He chewed on his lip. “Lots. I hope you had coffee because we have a LOT to talk about.”