I lied.

Here you guys go.

I didn't want to wait until tomorrow.

Enjoy.

Alex ran to Scott's house, out of breath and sweaty, but he didn't care. Scott was being sent to rehab.

And no one knows how long.

Alex knocked on the door rapidly, the door opening right away. It was Connie, her eyes full of tears as she looked up at Alex.

"He's having a hard time, Alex. He needs you."

Alex nodded, his heart breaking as he heard Scott crying loudly. Landon had a frown on his face, looking up at Alex with a confused expression.

"What's the matta with Unka Scott? Does he have a boo-boo? Mommy kisses my boo-boos away."

"Um, it's a bit too old for you to know, Lando. It's hard to explain," Alex responded, picking up Landon carefully. "Let's go check on him."

Landon nodded excitedly, frowning once more as he saw his uncle in his grandpa's embrace. Scott was holding onto his father as hard as he could, his sobs shaking his body while Rick whispered comforting words to his son, tearing up as he ran a hand up and down Scott's back.

"I know, son. I know."

"Unka Scott? Do you have a boo-boo?"

Scott looked over at Landon, sobbing in relief when he saw Alex holding his nephew. Scott nodded, wiping his eyes and clearing his throat befure answering.

"Yeah, kiddo. The boo-boo is in my head. You can't see it."

"Can I kiss your head to make it better?"

Scott teared up some more, nodding as he dunked his head a bit. Landon leaned over and kissed Scott tenderly, giggling as he smiled at Scott.

"Mommy says that kissing makes everything better and happier. I hope your head is happy."

"I hope so too. It'll take some time though," Scott replied, smiling softly before looking at Alex. He frowned, tears gathering in his eyes before he cleared his throat. "Um, Lando. How about you play a game with Grandpa, okay? Allie and I have to ta-"

"Unka Scott, what's in your pocket?"

Scott widened his eyes, thinking of what to say when Rick took the object out of his son's pocket. The older Hoying gasped, shaking his head as he looked back at his son.

"Scott, why do you have this? This is the weapon that was-Lando, go outside for a sec."

Landon nodded, running out of the room as Scott began to hyperventilate. Rick looked at his son, shaking his head as he set through weapon down.

"Scott, who did it?"

"Who di-did wha-"

"Don't play dumb with me!"

Scott jumped, looking back at Alex for help, but Alex didn't know what to say. All he knew was that Scott was in trouble. Rick waited for a few more seconds until he shook his head, taking out his handcuffs.

"Scott, you are under arrest for stealing an important piece of evidence in a case."

Scott nodded, hearing his rights read to him as Alex watched through blurry eyes, wondering why Scott stole a weapon.

Why would Scott ever do that?

Why?

~~~

"Sooo...your parents are back together?"

Mitch nodded as he played with his fingers, his prosthetic leg off and about on his floor. Mario hummed in response, smiling as he looked at his friend.

"Everyone in choir misses you. They talk about you all the time. We always joke that no one could sing as high as you."

Mitch nodded, smiling a bit as he thought about choir and everything he has missed since he last went to school. He wanted to be a part of the senior concert so bad, but could he be a part of it?

"Um, Mario? Do you think Miss. Winters will let me be in the senior concert? If I could sing?"

"Of course, but she isn't going to be Miss. Winters anymore. She's engaged," Mario exclaimed happily, Mitch's smile growing as he gasped. "She's getting married in the summer."

"Wow," Mitch murmured, smiling as he thought about his wonderful teacher. Miss. Winters deserved everything she wanted. "I'm happy for her."

"Same," Mario murmured, thinking back to the senior concert. He sighed, looking back at Mitch happiky. "She said you could be a part of the concert, even if you can't sing. She needs an accompanist."

"Okay," Mitch nodded, smiling brightly only to frown. He teared up for some reason, looking at Mario with trembling lips. "I miss him, Mario. Gosh, I miss him. Why do I miss someone I don't need?"

"Oh, Mitch."

Mario hugged Mitch as the broken boy began to cry, trying to figure out what he could do to make his friend feel better when Avi walked inside the room. It looked like Avi was crying himself, clearing his throat as loud as he could. Mario and Mitch looked at him, Mitch wiping his eyes before talking to his father.

"Yes, Pops?"

"Um, Rick and Connie just called your dad," Avi spoke quietly, taking a deep breath befure continuing. "The weapon that was used on you during your...you know."

Mitch nodded, waiting for more clarification as he thought back to that night.

It was frightening and he wished no one else would go through it.

"Anyway, it was stolen, but Rick found it. Scott stole the weapon from the lab."

Mitch gasped, trying his best not to smile. Scott was caught?!

What happens if he finally gets the justice he deserves?

"He is going to have a trial and we'll see how long he'll be in jail. We don't know yet," Avi whispered, shaking his head before talking more. "Probably a year or so."

Mitch's heart dropped at those words. Scott is going to jail for a year even though the tall blond almost killed Mitch twice? This was unfair.

"Mitch, are you okay?"

Mitch shook his head, putting on his prosthetic leg so he could go somewhere to think. He stood up only fall on the ground, his vision blurring at the blunt force.  All he saw was Mario and Avi running over to him when black took over his vision.

Scott wasn't going to be reprimanded for hurting him.

Only for stealing that stupid knife.

Why can't anything go the way he wants it to? Why has his life gone to this?

Why him?

Why?

~~~

"Why can't we-"

"For the last time, no. We are not sending him back to rehab. For someone who went to Yale, you aren't exactly the smartest person when it comes to your ideas."

Kevin scoffed and shook his head, just wanting what was best for Mitch. Mitch just came back home from the hospital and is currently sleeping as peaceful as he can.

Whatever peacefulness meant now.

"Why can't we?"

"Well, geez. Who else would send their mentally ill son who was just stabbed two weeks ago and tried to commit suicide a week later to a place where he felt alone and scared of everything? Not that hard to think about, Kevin. And people think I'm the dumb one of the relationship."

Kevin rolled his eyes and was about to give up when he opened the phone book, an ad catching his eyes right away.

James Kirk, Mental Health Therapist

Rates start at $125 per month

Will make expectations for those with severe illnesses

CALL NOW

555-0935

"How about therapy?"

Avi was about to fight back when he thought about that suggestion. Therapy might not be bad at all. Mitch would be close to home and still have access to his schoolwork and friends. That idea is perfect.

"I guess so. I'm just worried about prices. We might have to do a weekly thing, you know? Mitch might have to help pay with his own money though."

"He won't have to worry about that. I'll pay for it. It'll be my apology for not being close to him these past few weeks. He needs that fatherly protection and I'll be there to do that."

Avi smiled, even though he felt like there was something wrong about that statement. Kevin talked like that when there was something up, especially with their relationship. Avi was about to ask what was up when he heard a yawn, smiling when he saw Mitch by the stairs. The small boy was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, walking over to his parents to just sit on Avi's lap and wrap his arms around Avi's neck. Avi smiled, tearing up a bit as he kissed Mitch's forehead.

He didn't know what he would have done if Mitch ended up succeeding in killing himself.

"Hey, kiddo," Avi murmured, getting a hum back. Kevin smiled, getting his phone out of his pocket to call the therapist. "Is your mind happy?"

Mitch shrugged his shoulders, making himself more comfortable as Kevin called the therapist. Mitch didn't care much at all until he heard his name come out of Kevin's mouth, his eyes widening at the words following.

"Yes, I would love my son Mitch to have therapy sessions with you. He ne-hey!"

Mitch snuck over and hung up, shaking his head as he held the phone close to him. Avi sighed, taking the phone out of Mitch's grasp gently.

"Mitch, you need help. Therapy is what's best for you. I'm sorry, baby."

Mitch sniffled, turning away so Avi wouldn't be able to see him cry. When he felt the strong hand touch his face, however, he let go. He began to cry hard, hugging his father with all his might while Avi handed the phone back to Kevin. Avi held Mitch close to him, shushing him as he cried himself.

"I'm sorry, baby boy. I am so sorry."

Kevin called the therapist back with no hesitance, feeling his heart break as he wondered what Mitch ever did to deserve all this pain.

Why him?

A/N: Yeah, wasn't as short as I thought it would have been. I don't know what to say, lol. Anyways, I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter and remember that I love you all.:)

-Maddie🐶💕🎤