WARNING: Depression, eating disorder

Fifteen years later

"Scott, Kirstie! Time for school!"

"Ewwww!"

"I don't want to go to school!"

Avi shook his head, walking into the kitchen. He smiled when he saw Mitch and Joseph talking to Kevin, knowing from even a distance that those two are brothers. Avi sat down, smiling at Mitch sweetly.

"Hey, Mitch. How's your new medicine treating you?"

"It's working well," the twenty year old murmured, stirring the spoon in his coffee around. Joseph put a gentle hand on his brother's back, a faraway look in his eyes. "Makes me drowsy, but it's doing its work."

"That's good."

About ten years after Lila and Paul were arrested, a section of abuse was taught in Mitch's English class. He learned more of what his aunt and her boyfriend did to him and as time wore on, he became depressed. He couldn't understand why it happened.

Was it his fault?

What did he do?

Why did this happen to him?

His eating disorder worsened. If he wasn't eating, he was working out to 'lose weight'. If he was eating, he ate small amounts of food. If he did eat, he'll throw it up. This kept on happening for three years until Mitch's body just gave out on him. He passed out and the doctors were certain that he wasn't going to make it. He's much better, but he'll have relapses every once in a while.

As for his depression, that was much harder to fight off. He rarely went out with Scott and Kirstie, not feeling motivated to do anything. The fact that this morning he woke up and got out of bed by himself without having anyone getting him out of bed and making himself a cup of coffee was huge.

That might seem nothing to a person with a healthy mind, but that means a lot to someone with depression.

"I'm up," Scott sang, smiling when he saw that Mitch was up. He kissed the younger man's temple sweetly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "I see that you got up by yourself. I'm so proud of you, baby."

"Thank you," Mitch murmured shyly, his cheeks becoming red. He smiled up at, his eyes full of happiness. "Mr. Lazy decided to get up?"

"Heck yeah," Scott argued, tickling Mitch a bit. Mitch giggled, trying to fight Scott back. "You can't fight with me!"

At that moment, Kevin walked downstairs. Kirstie and Ariana were behind him, smiles on their faces. Mitch raised an eyebrow, wondering what was going on.

"Scott, what is happ-"

"Shhh," Scott commanded, not caring that he was in his shirt and underwear. Mitch was too! "Just shut up for five minutes and you will be able to say whatever you want."

Mitch nodded, pretending to zip his lips. Kirstie and Ariana giggled, taking out their phones as Kevin, Avi, and Joseph did the same thing. Mitch raised an eyebrow, quite confused.

"Are we shooting some kind of por-"

"SHHHHHH," Scott hissed, smiling when Mitch put his hands up in defeat. Scott sighed, looking up at Mitch sweetly. "I remember the day I first met you. It was the first day of school and you were under my and Kirstie's tree which, by the way, we still haven't given you an Indian burn for that. Anyway, I knew the moment I laid she on you that you were the one.

"We became friends quickly and I would have never known that you will become my boyfriend. You helped me find myself and hopefully, I did the same for you. Finding yourself is so hard, but when you have people who  love you and will support you through everything, you could do most anything.

"You are the strongest person I know. You battled some of the hardest battles I know and you win every time. You're in the middle of a battle right now and even though it's hard, you give harder each day. I get so happy when you wake up just to brush your teeth without anyone encouraging you to get out of bed. The smallest things you do make me happy because it shows that you are motivated to do everything that you want to do and I cannot be anymore proud of you."

Scott stopped for a second, sobbing quietly as he opened the drawer. Mitch was crying, unable to hold himself together. He cried even more when Scott pulled out a ring, wiping his eyes roughly as his boyfriend managed to stabilize his breath.

"Mitch, not only do I want to be your motivation, I want to be the person you wake up to every morning. Will you please make me the happiest man in the world and let me be your motivation and husband?"

Mitch nodded, unable to talk and really see. Scott slipped the ring on Mitch's finger, the both of them laughing when they recognized what it was.

"Is that the ring that belonged to the Ring Pop you gave me when you were six?"

"Yep. I cleaned it. Just for you."

"Okay, stop being lovey dovey," Kevin commanded, patting Mitch's back gently. "You're finally an Olusola."

"I know!"

"I better be an Olusola soon," Ariana murmured, shaking her head as she looked up at Kirstie. Kirstie smiled, shaking her head as she pecked her girlfriend's lips.

"Hashtag soon."

Ariana rolled her eyes, kissing Kirstie back before leaving the house. Joseph stood up, smiling at his younger brother and Scott.

"You be nice to him, you hear?" Joseph asked, looking at Scott seriously. Scott nodded, kissing Mitch's temple again. "Good because if you don't, you'll be the one getting an Indian burn. Bye,
Mitch."

"Bye, JoJo."

Joseph left, leaving the family by themselves. All was quiet until...

"Oh, shoot."

"What did you do this time, Scott?"

Scott blushed, smiling sheepishly as he remembered something.

"Mitch's real ring is in the trash."

"Dang it, Scott!"

"It's okay," Mitch spoke up, looking at the Ring Pop ring. He kissed Scott, happy to be in his arms. "You don't need to have a ring to show someone that you love them."

END

A/N: Well, there's the end! Also, there is no sequel! Sorry to anyone who wanted one! Maintaining a series stresses me out.😂😂😂 Anyways, I hope that you all enjoyed the ending of this book and remember that I love you all.:)

-Maddie🐶💕🎤