Adolescence

Chapter 3

Mitch's POV

Mitch sat on a couch in the small studio, as he strummed his guitar and tried to help Harry think of a melody for the next song. To say they were stuck was a long shot. They were way more than stuck. Harry had probably gone through his whole journal by now and claimed that each one was missing something. Mitch looked around at the different songs scattered around the room, before stopping on one that caught his attention.

"Hey, what about this one?" He asked Harry. Harry grabbed the sheet of paper from him and Mitch began strumming a few chords to go with the lyrics.

"I don't know man, I...um... wrote this one when I was still in the band," Harry explained as he read the lyrics. Mitch nodded in understanding and put his focus back on his guitar. Harry continued to sit there, deep in thought, as he kept his eyes on the song in his hand.

"Actually, keep playing that," Harry told Mitch. Mitch nodded and continued playing the new melody, understanding that Harry would build off of it.

Meet me in th-

As soon as Harry began to get into the song, a phone started ringing in the studio. Mitch grabbed his phone and saw Collins' name flash across the screen. He knew she would understand that he was at work as he silenced the call and put the phone back into his pocket.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"Now that Mitchell is done interrupting us let's get back to work shall we,"

Meet me in the hal-

The phone rang again.

"Oh, for fucks sake," Harry grumbled under his breath, slightly chuckling.

"I'm sorry, I uh, gotta take this," Mitch said. At this point, he knew it had to be important if she was calling twice. He made his way outside of the studio, with hopes that no one would hear his call.

"Collins, hey sorry, I'm at work. Is everything okay," He starts but stops talking when he hears sobs on the other side of the phone. He could hear the girl talking, but the cries were too loud for him to make out anything she was saying.

"Lin, I need you to take deep breaths for me okay," He said in hopes to calm her down. He listened as she took two shaky breaths and began to try and explain.

"He's really bad Mitch. My dad. He's dying and I was never there for him," Collins told her best friend between sobs. Mitch was at a loss for words. He likes to think he has advice for every situation, but this time he had none.

"Lin, listen to me. He knows you love him. He's always known what he means to you," He told Collins. He knew the words wouldn't do much, but he was trying his best.

"No," She started, "you're lying. Cole...Cole told me I was no better than Mom. He told me he was going to be all alone."

Mitch instantly knew he needed to be with the girl in person. She needed someone, and not just over the phone.

"I'll be there in 20," Mitch said before hanging up the phone and walking back into the studio. He had to keep tears from spilling out of his eyes as he thought about the broken girl on the other end of the call. He had never heard cries so sad before, especially not from her.

"I have to leave," He said to everyone in the studio. Harry looked up in shock.

"If you think the song is that bad we can write a new one," Harry said trying to make a joke, only to have everyone roll their eyes in response.

"Sorry, It's, uh, my friend's dad is sick and she just needs a friend right now," Mitch explained, slightly avoiding Harry's eyes. He knew it was impossible, but he thought that somehow Harry would figure out he was talking about Collins.

"Yeah man, of course, do whatever you need," Harry nodded understandingly. Mitch said a quick thanks before rushing out the door to comfort his hurting friend.