Unwell.

7. I Know, Right Now You Can't Tell

Author's Note: Bopping around to No Ego by Citizen Queen right now. Loving ittttt.

7. I Know, Right Now You Can't Tell

Mitch had forgotten that the one-month mark meant that he could have visitors. Not that he anticipated having people kicking down his door in a desperate attempt to see him, but he wasn't expecting the news to come so quickly that he had someone waiting for him in the visitor's lounge.

Scott looked up from his book as the nurse told Mitch this news. The blond watched him silently as he put on his shoes and hopped off the bed, fixing his hair in the mirror.

"Who do you think it is?" Scott asked. Mitch didn't miss the sad tone in Scott's voice, and he wasn't sure if that was because Scott hadn't had any visitors yet, or because he didn't like to share his friend with the world. He knew that this was an unhealthy thought, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

Mitch felt a sudden warmth in his chest at that latter fact. He liked the idea of belonging to Scott. It made him feel wanted, which was a foreign feeling to him until this point in his life.

"It's probably just my mom and dad."

Scott nodded. "Have fun, Mitchy."

Mitch paused in his tracks and smiled. His entire body tingled when Scott called him that.

They squealed like two twelve-year-old girls when they saw each other. He had forgotten how much he missed her until she was standing right in front of him. She was in his arms in an instant, and they jumped up and down together before letting go.

"How's school? How's home? How's your love life? Did you get a new best friend? Tell me everything." Mitch couldn't stop the questions from spilling from his lips. Kirstin laughed.

"Slow down. We have a whole hour together," Kirstin teased. "Things are good. I just miss you so much. It's been tough without you."

Mitch smiled. "It's been tough for me, too." Part of him felt guilty, because in reality, it hadn't been terribly hard without her. Scott filled the voice that Kirstin left behind very well. Mitch didn't want to feel like Scott replaced her, necessarily, but he was certainly a nice distraction.

"You look different. You look... more at-ease?" Kirstin asked, and Mitch knew exactly what she meant. "I didn't expect you to look so happy in here. In fact, I've been really worried about you."

"Things have been good here," Mitch shrugged. "I even... made a friend. Well, I guess you could call him a friend... or maybe more..."

Kirstin looked like she might take off into outer space with how jittery she became with those words. Her mouth was agape and her hands were flapping comically. Mitch couldn't help but laugh.

"Spill."

"He may or may not be my roommate," Mitch replied, coyly.

And their conversation continued like this, with Kirstin asking question after question, and with Mitch being vague in his answers, only providing the solid answers that yes, Scott was tall, blond, and beautiful, and that Mitch was falling hard.

He returned to his room after the visit, but Scott was gone. Mitch tried to shake off the feeling of disappointment.

He wandered the halls, looking for his friend, feeling an overwhelming need to see him. The feeling was confusing, but not unwelcome. In fact, it was actually exciting.

But Scott was nowhere to be found. Mitch approached the rec room, where the sound of a piano was luring him closer.

The notes were haunting. Mitch recognized them immediately. The song had always been a favorite of his, and now more than ever, the lyrics hit extremely close to home.

As he entered the rec room, he was met with a familiar head of blond hair looking down at the piano keys, focused on the notes, and Mitch could just make out Scott's small smile as he played the melody.

It was 'Mad World'. Not the Tears for Fears version, but Gary Jules.

As he came closer, Scott didn't look up. It was as though he was so focused, he was transfixed. Mitch had no idea that he could play the piano, let alone that he could play it like this.

Mitch couldn't help himself. He took a breath right as Scott began to play the chorus.

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad,
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles, it's a very, very mad world

Scott's head snapped upwards with Mitch's first line, and his small smile stretched into a grin with each word. Mitch's heart fluttered as he leaned over the piano, and Scott finished the song with a few haunting flourishes.

"I didn't know you could play."

"I didn't know you could sing."

Mitch could feel his cheeks burning and he couldn't help but smile at Scott's fond face.

"I like to, every once in a while."

"You should sing more often. And by more often, I mean that you should sing every word you ever have to say."

"Only if you follow me around with a tiny little piano, playing me pretty melodies."

"If I can hear that voice more often? Done deal."

Mitch moved to sit next to Scott on the piano bench, where they were now seated shoulder to shoulder.

"How was the visit?" Scott asked, and his tone changed. There was sadness in his words again.

"It was great. It ended up being my best friend, Kirstin." Mitch said, smiling softly. "I would love for you to meet her one day. You two would hit it off, I think."

Scott was quiet for a moment as he poked at a few piano keys. "I don't think she would like me very much."

Mitch wasn't sure where that thought had come from, but he didn't like it. "Why wouldn't she like you?"

Scott laughed. It was self-deprecating and hollow, and Mitch despised the sound. "Not many people do."

"Why would you say that?"

Scott was silent, and Mitch felt guilty as he began to feel more frustrated with the taller man.

"People don't really like the fact that I exist, in general," Scott confessed after a few moments. Mitch couldn't figure out who or what had made him feel this way, but it was clear that Scott believed those words with his whole heart.

"What about me?"

"You're different."

"How so?"

"You're perfect. And so special. And for some reason, I'm lucky enough that you want to know me."

"Well, I know you hate it when I say things like this, but humor me for a minute, okay?"

Scott locked his icy blue eyes with him for a moment, and Mitch forgot every word that he was going to say. He shook off the feeling of breathlessness, because what he was about to say was too important for him to become distracted.

"You're very special. And you're so smart. And funny. And you're so handsome you leave me breathless, sometimes. You're worthy of love. Okay?"

"Do you tell yourself those things? Because you seem so quick to say them to me, but I'd like to know if you ever give yourself that kind of love. Because it's well-deserved, just so you know."

"I... don't. But I'm willing to try to start. If you do, that is."

"I'll tell you how pretty you are any time you want."

Mitch felt his cheeks flush again, and he couldn't help the smile that came over him. "That's not what I meant."

Scott laughed gently. It was warmer and it was genuine. "I know what you meant. And you have a deal. I'll try. I can't make promises, but I can try. I think I'd do anything to make you happy, at this point."

"Good. Now play me another song."