Yeeepp.

Well...I'm sorry.

College has taken a toll on me and it's only the fourth day, lol.

But it's SO much better than high school.

By a long shot.

Yeah, there's a lot of homework, but it's a lot of typing and reading and those are my strong points soooo...

Yayness.

With this book...

Be honest...

Do you like the flashback chapters?

Thank you to everyone who is reading this even when I'm being a terrible author.

Comment away, loves.

Pretty please.

I'll try to write the next chapter this week. 

If I can't...

Homework has taken my time.

I'm very, very, very sorry.

WARNING: panic attack, nonconseual drug injection

Alex still couldn't believe that he did that.

But he loved it.

But it was so wrong.

So morally wrong.

He missed Scott's ex-best friend.

Why?

I don't have feelings for him! Right?

Alex shook his head, smiling when he saw Mitch curled up in a ball. He was sleeping, his bangs covering his face. He was snoring, his hand tucked under his cheek as his chest raised up and down. Alex stood up, getting the blanket from his couch to make the boy warm when the doorbell rang. Alex raised an eyebrow, walking over to his door to see Scott on the other side.

Duck my life.

Alex sighed, taking a deep breath before smiling and opening the door for his boyfriend. Scott smiled, a bag full of blankets, movies, and snacks in in it. Alex let his boyfriend in without saying a word, making Scott frown a bit as he set down the bag neat the couch.

Almost seeing Mitch.

"I got stuff for tonight, babe. Did you forget?"

"Forget what?" Alex asked, his heart beating fast at the fact that Scott was in Mitch's proximity. Scott scoffed, shaking his head as he crossed his arms. "Refresh my memor-"

"Our first year anniversary?! You forgot about it?!"

Duck.

"I did for a second, but now that you say that, I remem-"

"Alex? Is everything okay?"

Alex widened his eyes as Scott looked over at Mitch, both boys making direct contact. Mitch looked frightened, clutching the blanket Alex gave him. Scott looked angry at first, but that quickly turned into a look of dismay, his blue eyes gathering with tears as he looked back at Alex.

"You're hanging out with the person that almost killed me, Allie? I could be because of him, but you're hangouts out with him? Why?"

Alex didn't know how to answer, looking over at Mitch to see his brown eyes full of anxiety.

Am I supposed to defend him? He could have hurt Scott! I could forgive Scott for lying. I won't defend Mitch.  

Mitch was breathing quickly now, tears in his eyes as he stood up. He stood up, letting the blanket fall onto the ground and walked past Scott, flinching when the blond went to wipe away the 'tears' in his eyes. Mitch looked up at Alex, his lip quivering as he sighed quietly. Alex stared at him, refusing to say anything.

He really hurt Scott.

Little did Alex know, he was hurting Mitch more.

And it hurt more than the pain Mitch went through because of Scott and Kirstie.

Than the dumb drugs.

"I spoke to you because I trust you. Now I don't know how to feel," Mitch whispered before walking out. He turned back once more, sobbing before saying one last thing. "Goodbye, Alex."

The door closed slowly, taking away Alex's view of the broken boy.

And he tried his best to ignore it, thinking that he was succeeding when he was actually missing Mitch with all his heart.

Alex sighed to himself, looking up at Scott apologetically. Scott looked a bit better, smiling happily as he got the bag of stuff. Alex ignored that too, but it really bothered him that Scott was suddenly happy.

"Now that loser is gone, why don't we start our date night? I just need to text Kirstie real quick. Wizard of Oz is in here if you want to watch that. We're going to have so much fun."

Alex nodded, but he couldn't stop looking at the door. His chest hurt for some reason.

Why does it hurt?

~~~

"Oh, Mitch!"

Mitch was crying loudly, his face red as Avi hugged him tightly. His sobs shook his body, almost collapsing in a heap.

In front of Alex's house.

"Ssh, ssh. Don't make yourself sick, Mitchy. He wasn't made for you."

Mitch held onto his father like he was the only person he had left when he realized one thing.

Avi is the only person he had left.

Scott and Kirstie stabbed him and left him for dead, Kevin left him, none of his friends except for Mario still talk to him...

And Alex just left him.

I have no one.

"Let's take you home, okay? You need to lay down."

Mitch nodded as he went into the car, sobbing quietly the entire time. Avi kept his eyes on the road the entire time, putting his hand on Mitch's knee only to have the young adult flinch abruptly. Avi sighed to himself, trying his best not to cry.

I know it was a dumb idea to bring Mitch over there. Because of that boy, he'll never get better again.

The drive was longer than Mitch wanted it to be so he was happy when they made it to the house. He ran up to the porch, unlocking the door with his key and procceded to run inside. He ran upstairs and into his room, throwing himself onto his pillow to burst into uncontrollable tears once more. He punched at his pillow, wanting nothing more than to scream.

He hated having no one. It hurt so bad.

As he was crying, he heard a window open. He widened his eyes, knowing that the one out of two people that went through his window was...

"Hi, Mitchy."

Mitch sat up, Kirstie inside of his room. She was crossing her arms, glaring at the small boy before snorting and shaking her head. She walked over to the small boy, scoffing before taking again.

"You made Scott upset and that's a big no-no. Also, Mario's upset that you don't go to school anymore! He'll be more upset when he realizes that you're dead from an 'accidental' drug overdose."

With that said, Kirstie pulled a needle out of her pocket. Mitch widened his eyes, whimpering as Kirstie advanced over to him. Kirstie laughed, straddling Mitch's hips as he fought back. She rolled up his sleeve, laughing maniacally at the scars that were caused by the stabs Mitch encountered from so long ago.

"You're going to relapse again. How sad."

Kirstie pouted before smiling evilly and stabbed the needle in Mitch's arm. Mitch was about to scream when Kirstie covered his mouth, pushing the syringe at the same. Mitch cried loudly, knowing one thing and one thing only.

My sobriety is broken. I'm broken.

The drug kicked it, making Mitch cry harder as the hallucinations kicked in. Kirstie smirked, taking the needle out only to take out anther one.

"Here's the needle that'll end it all. People will think you committed suicide. They would have expected it because you're so sad. They would never blame Kirstin Maldonado, oh no. They would have never expected Angelina's daughter planning to stab you nineteen times. They would only think I'm a grieving friend. Say goodbye, Mi-"

"Mitchell! You asleep?"

Kirstie widened her eyes, throwing the needle out of the window and practically jumped out like a dancer. Mitch was unable to move, the drug taking over his frail body as Avi walked upstairs. He was shaking, teats rolling down his cheeks as tried his best to fight off his high.

"Mitch! You okay?"

Pops is going to be so mad at me. I'm such a bad child. Why did he adopt me?

"Mitch? Are you oka-Mitch!"

Mitch's vision was blurring now, his body shaking uncontrollably for some reason. He rolled off his bed, Avi running over to him as fast as he can.

"Mitch, it's okay, baby. It's okay. Wait, what's wro-"

Mitch couldn't responded because his body began to shake out of his control, his eyes empty as drool dribbled down his chin. Avi screamed, crying as he called a number he never wanted to call.

"My son's having a seizure! Please help!"

~~~

Mitch was able to go home next week and when he did, he went home to letters and flowers from his classmates. Avi stood behind him, smiling weakly as Kevin carried the gifts Mitch received from the hospital. It was just like coming home from rehab.

But it was different this time.

Mitch came back from rehab happier, brighter, stronger, and ready to change his life for the better.

Now he's back to square one.

"Aunt Esther sent you some cookies," Avi told his son quietly, getting a Tubberware full of cookies. Mitch nodded, starting at the cookies absentmindly. "Um, I called the school. You're going to be on Home and Hospital until you get better."

Mitch didn't say a word. He only looked around him, overwhelmed by the cards and flowers that didn't mean jacksquat. Avi cleared his throat, smiling weakly once more before speaking again.

"Some people from church dropped off dinner for us tonight. It's your favo-"

"Avi, stop giving an itinerary for what might be the rest of Mitch's life. Just give him a break."

Avi glared at his husband, shaking his head before smiling at Mitch once more. Mitch was reading a card, one that just happened to be from Mario.

Hey, Mitchy! Everyone misses you so much! I've been thinking about you constantly. You are going to go through this patch of your life with flying colors and if you ever feel like giving up, I'll be with you the entire time. You are prevail in the end and I will stand right next to you the entire time. We will be singing buddies forever.:)

Love, Mario

Mitch wanted to cry. Mario's letter is probably the most genuine letter from anyone in the pile. He sniffed a bit, wiping at his nose only to get Avi's attention. Avi frowned as Kevin put down the gifts, walking over to his injured son carefully so he wouldn't trigger him in anyway.

"Mitch, you could cry. I'm right here."

Mitch nodded, starting to cry as he set the letter down. Avi walked over to him, hugging him as tightly yet carefully as he could. Kevin walked over to hug his son when something happened.

Something that broke his heart.

Mitch screamed loudly, breathing heavily as he fought himself out of Avi's grip. He backed off, crying loudly as he tried to get away from Kevin. Avi looked scared while Kevin looked heartbroken, the both of them wondering what was going on.

"Mitch, what's wro-"

"Tall...TALL!"

Mitch cried even louder, his back hitting the corner where he sat in front of if he got in trouble as a small child. He slid down the wall, gripping at his hair as he shook anxiously. Avi walked over, squatting in front of mitch to calm him down.

"Mitch, it's okay. Your attacker isn't here anymore. They won't hurt you anymore, okay? You're going to be okay."

Mitch shook his head, sobbing loudly as Kevin walked off. He hated being this way. He hated how his father, the one who taught him everything he needed in life, is now one of the people he fears the most.

All because of Scott.

"Kevin...Kevin?!"

Avi heard their bedroom door close, shaking his head angrily. He scoffed before turning back to his son, brushing his thin hair back while trying his best not to cry himself.

"It's okay, Mitch. Everything will be okay. I'm going to right here the entire time. It's all going to be okay."

Mitch nodded, breathing slowly now. He brought himself back to reality, throwing himself in Avi's arms, hugging his father tightly. Avi hugged him back, tearing up slightly as Mitch cried himself. Father and son cried while Kevin watched from upstairs, jealously coursing through his veins.

He always had such a strong relationship with Mitch, but Mitch has always been closer to Avi. It's always been like. He's never minded though. Not until today. It hurt. Mitch would never be as close with Kevin as with Avi.

And Kevin hates that.

"I just want you to be close, Mitch. I will never hurt you."

And that's when Kevin thought about leaving his family and house.

Forever.

A/N: Well...here you go! I actually liked this chapter a lot. I don't know how much longer I want this book to go on. Only time will tell. Anyways, I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter and remember that I love you all.:)

-Maddie🐶💕🎤