Angel stood looking at Kirstie for a moment, a bit surprised and confused.

"Hiya!" Kirstie smiled adorably.

"Um, is..."

Scott appeared in the doorway behind Kirstie and Angel just looked at him.

"Ang, hey. Um, this is Kirstie and Kirst this is Angel, my girlfriend."

Kirstie extended her hand with the sweetest smile she could muster.

Angel shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Kirstie."

"You too," Kirstie stated with some extra peppiness added in. She already didn't like this girl. She was gorgeous, like Victoria's Secret model gorgeous, but she looked stuffy and snobby, like Victoria's Secret model snobby. With her businessy pants and businessy shirt and heels that made her tower over the barefooted Kirstie. She wanted to mess up the other girl's hair or untuck her designer shirt from her designer pants. She was too put together - it was too... BLAH

This was not at all the type of girl Scott should be with. This was not at all the type of  PERSON Scott should be with. She seemed a lot older than them, even though she looked their age. Kirstie hated it, all of it.

She's obviously evil if her hair is that shiny and perfectly curled. No one has skin that perfect. She had to have sold her soul to the devil or something. Maybe she's a demon!

Scott shifted a bit. Kirstie just seemed to move closer and closer to him the more he moved away.

"Babe, can I talk to you for a minute?" Angel gave him a pointed look.

He sighed knowing there was going to be a fight. They rarely had them but, boy when they did...

"Yeah, Kirst can you give us a few?"

Kirstie felt the evil streak rise in her.  "Sure, hon. Hurry back!" She leaned up on her toes, holding onto his shoulder for balance, and kissed his cheek before hurrying back into the apartment.

Scott thought nothing of it. Kirstie always kissed him on the cheek or sat in his lap or hugged him. She was just a very contact oriented person.  After he entered the hallway and closed the door behind him, he turned to a very upset Angel.  

Shi†.

"What the hell, Scott?"

"What?"

"I thought you were staying with Mitch, not some little teenage airhead who is practically throwing herself at you!"

Scott could do nothing but blink in surprise at her. He'd never seen this side of Angel before. She was usually soft-spoken and just as sweet as Kirstie. He couldn't remember ever hearing her say a mean thing about anyone.

"She's not throwing herself at me and she's not an airhead. She's one of my best friends, Ang."  

Angel softened a bit as she realized how harsh she'd sounded.

"I'm sorry. That was really mean. I really didn't mean it. I didn't... I just... she was kissing you and... answering the door and...you've been so distant lately.."

Scott raised an eyebrow at her stuttering.

"Angel Brookes, is that jealousy I see on you?" he laughed a bit.

She blushed and looked down at his shirt.

He smirked and pulled her against him. "It's kinda hot."

She laughed and shook her head as he enveloped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Kirstie is definitely not a threat." He was quite amused at the thought. He leaned back a bit to look her in the eyes. "I promise."

She nodded and leaned up to press a small kiss to his lips.

"How's Mitch doing?"

Scott did NOT want to talk about the man he had been basically cheating on her with. Well, he didn't want to talk about him with her.

"He's doing ok. He's having a bit of trouble getting around though. He'll be alright."

"Good. Oh, here..." She moved from Scott's arms and handed him a brown paper bag. "Remember when I was on crutches after we went ice skating in New York?"

Scott winced. "You mean that time I was a klutz and broke you??"

She laughed. "You fell into me, it was an accident. Besides, it was an amazing trip, despite the fracture."

He nodded, remembering how much fun they'd had until the accidental injury.

"Anyway, I remembered how painful the crutches were before we found those memory foam cushions for them. Sooo I picked some up for Mitch."

Scott looked in the bag and then back at the woman in front of him.

"That was really nice, Ang. I'm sure he'll really appreciate it."  

"Aaaand..." She reached into her purse. "For some reason Dr. Alister's office called me instead of you. They let me know that your glasses were ready so Kate let me drop by and pick them up for you and also the contacts that you ordered. She said if you need them adjusted just to swing by." She handed him the black glasses case and a little blue bag containing his boxes of contacts.

Scott smiled. "Thank heaven above, because I've been wearing these for like 2 months."

Angel laughed and made a face. "That is disgusting."

He laughed.

"So when do I get to see my boyfriend again?"

He looked at her. "Actually, I was hoping maybe Monday night I could stay at your place. We haven't had any alone time in awhile."

That brought a smile to her lips. "That sounds perfect." She tugged him closer by his shirt and kissed him before looking up at him with a soft smile. She looked almost sad. "I've really missed you."

And just like that he felt the guilt begin to press down on him. This woman before him was nothing but wonderful to him and always had been. She was going out of her way for him, to take care of him, to make HIM happy. What was he doing for her?

Shoving your tongue down someone else's throat. And not just any someone else, a MALE someone else. Great repayment, Scott. Classy.

It had never felt wrong with Zac. He knew with Zac there was no attachment, no worry. With Mitch, there was everything. He was emotionally invested in the other man in such a way that, while it felt perfect, he knew it was wrong. Well, it was wrong while he remained with Angel. He had been unfaithful to this woman. This woman whom he had, undeservingly, called his for closing in on 3 years. This woman who had saved his life, and helped bring him out of one of the darkest places imaginable.  His face fell as all of the things he should have known all along were suddenly realized.  He was a cheater.

"Hey..." she touched his face. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. I just, I miss you too."

She raised an eyebrow, obviously seeing right through the small fib. "Scott, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

He felt his heart begin to thunder in his chest. "I know. Monday. There's a lot we need to talk about."

She looked a bit concerned. "Should I be worried?"

"No, no. I just want to pull out a bottle of wine and talk. I need some advice from someone who knows me. Someone I trust." He smiled, his head tilted a bit to the side.

"Alright, baby. Monday.  Well, I should let you get back to your friends. I'm sorry again for saying that about, Kirstie."

He chuckled and shook his head. "I'll call you later."

She nodded and kissed him one last time for good measure. "Tell Mitch I hope he gets better soon."

He nodded and held her close, nuzzling into the kiwi scent of her hair.  "I love you." He said it first. He did love her, he was just sketchy on whether or not it was the same as how he loved Mitch.

"I love you too, always." She grinned and looked up and kissed his chin.

He chewed on his bottom lip as he watched her walked away.  He leaned against the wall outside of Mitch's door and ran his hands over his face.

He had until Monday to make a decision. He couldn't lead the two of them on anymore. He had NO idea what the solution was. He had no idea what he was going to do.

The only thing he did know was that it was going to hurt like hell no matter what he did.

~

Kirstie hurried away from the door as she heard the click of Angel's heels walking away. She threw herself down in the chair next to Mitch with a huff.

"Well, that was enlightening."

"So share!" Mitch urged.

"I don't think you wanna know. "  She looked over at her friend. She loved Scott to death, but he was apparently not planning to let go of his girlfriend anytime soon. He hadn't even avoided the mandatory "I love you" - HE had said it FIRST. She didn't want her best friend to get hurt because Scott was just experimenting with him. She didn't know what to think.

Mitch's heart sank at both Kirstie's words and her expression. "KT?"

She looked at Mitch sympathetically. "I-" She cut off as the door clicked open and Scott reappeared.

"Sorry about that."

Kirstie chewed on her lip. "She seemed nice- ish."

Scott nodded a bit, looking a bit lost.

Mitch put on his best concerned face. "You ok?"

Kirstie looked between them.

"Iiii have some laundry I have to finish soooo... I'll just leave you two alone."  She gave Mitch a quick hug and then a brief hug for Scott before she left.

Mitch shifted in his seat as silence filled the room. He didn't like this awkwardness at all.

Scott was picking at his fingers. "Angel brought you something."

"Me?" Mitch looked wary. "Does it bite? It's not ticking is it?"

Scott shook his head and sat next to him, pulling the new cushions out of the bag. "For your crutches."

Mitch chewed on his lip. "That was sweet of her. Crutches are a bi†ch." He tried to laugh a bit around the words he was forcing out. Why did she have to be nice to him. He hated her, and now he kind of hated that he hated her. 

"Yeah, she said she hopes you get better soon." Scott played with his fingers. If this got any more awkward he wasn't sure he'd be able to cope.

"Scott-" Mitch was about tread into dangerous territory.  He was afraid to start this conversation, but it would have to be started at some point.

"-Wanna change and watch Pirates?" Scott interrupted. He could tell by Mitch's body language what he was about to shift their conversation towards. He didn't want to talk about it yet. He had until Monday to make his decision. This is what he needed to help him MAKE that decision. He needed to know if with Mitch was where he belonged. He needed to know if it  would be worth the sacrifices he was sure he'd have to make. 

They stared at each other, thoughts swirling. Finally Mitch's face softened and he nodded a bit, giving in to Scott's obvious, desperate veer from the almost conversation.

Scott gave him a tiny smile, and Mitch couldn't help but return it.

"C'mere you." He helped Mitch up. "Want me to carry you?"

"No. I gotta get used to these stupid crutches. Especially if we're going out in public tomorrow. I can use these snazzy new cushions I now have."  He didn't WANT to use the gift that Scott's girlfriend had given him, but crutches were actually really quite painful without them. He was kinda grateful for them.

"You'll have plenty of time for that later." Scott lifted him into his arms. He rather enjoyed carrying Mitch around. Besides, holding Mitch helped him forget the insecurities and doubts he had raging inside of him.

He needed this more than Mitch.

Not that Mitch really minded. He giggled and let Scott carry him into the bedroom again.

He also tried not think about the million and one things they really needed to talk about.  He wondered how long they could avoid them. 

~

They changed into their pajamas and got ready for bed rather quickly.

A tight tension hung in the air for a couple of minutes, lingering from the strain of their earlier almost conversation.  Thankfully it didn't last. They had become so accustomed to each other, were so intune, that they just slid into a serene peace without speaking a word.

Scott moved to change in the bathroom and brushed his teeth while Mitch changed in the bedroom.

Scott went shirtless, as he always slept that way. Mitch thought it would be a good idea to sleep shirtless too.  Y'know, just because.

When Scott finally climbed into the bed next to him after putting in the movie, Mitch didnt even feign innocence and curled into him immediately.

Scott kissed the top of his head when he laid it on his chest. He tried not to think of the way he'd done the same thing to his girlfriend minutes before.  This was his time with Mitch.  He was going to do whatever he wanted until Monday and if this was all the time he was going to get with the brown eyed beauty, then he was damɴ well going to enjoy every second.  No more holding back.  

Now that he'd set a deadline for himself, he felt relaxed.  For this weekend, he wouldn't belong to Angel, he'd belong to Mitch. Completely.

~ 

Mitch was content for once. He knew Kirstie had alluded to some unhappy truths, but he couldn't bring himself to ruin this moment. At least not yet.

He wrapped his arms around Scott just a bit more, snuggling into his side. Scott responded by intertwining their fingers loosely, his eyes never leaving the television. It had been a simple, natural reaction. For some reason it felt monumental to Mitch. He tried to stay focused on his human pillow, to enjoy every moment he could, but  he was beyond comfortable and before too long he had drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.

Scott was careful not to disturb him as he turned off the tv with the remote and turned a bit more towards the other man, holding him close before drifting off into a blissful slumber.

__________________________________________________

A/N  - apologies that its odd, but I did do a complete rewrite and this is going to reroute at least part of the story.   I did at least sort of determine where I wanted the story to go from here, so hopefully no huge delays.  Also I haven't had a second to edit/proofread/spell/grammer check anything so apologies for all of that as well.  Otherwise... happy day before superfruit Tuesday :-P   Thank you for every vote and every comment.  It really does make me want to write faster with every one I get :) <3