The Missing Pieces

Caught.

*Mitch's POV*

"Mitch?"

Scott puts his hand on my shoulder.

"Mitch. What's wrong?"

I stare at the picture on my phone and the headline above it.

This is all my fault.

Band Rivalry between the Two Divas.

"Mitch!"

Scott snaps me out of it.

"Come on."

I get on the bus and sit with everyone else.

"Where are we off to?" Kevin asks.

"Virginia or something." Scott answers.

I look up at Scott's forehead.

There's a bruise.

He has a black eye.

I get up and motion for Scott to come with me.

"Be right back." Scott says and follows me into the back area.

"What's up? You're acting weird."

I show him the headline.

"Mitch..."

What do we do? This puts the whole band in jeopardy.

"Maybe no one will see it..."

Bull. It's probably everywhere now.

"Okay, don't flip out. We'll fix this. "

We need to tell everyone now so they can find out from us.

"Okay. Let's start with that. We also need to tell Jonathan."

I take a deep breath and walk back to the front of the bus.

"Are you guys okay?" Kirstie asks and I look at Scott.

"Yeah, just talking about some stuff."

"Cool, well we're working on a new arrangement." She says and hands me and Scott some sheet music.

I look at it and see that I have the lead.

I have a lead...?

"Um, yeah, is that okay...?" Kirstie asks.

Yeah.

"Okayyy well, let's get started, then." Kevin says and I quickly read over my words.

(This story is set right before Christmas)

"Mary, did you know, that your Baby Boy, would one day walk on water."

"Mary, did you know, that your Baby Boy, would save our sons and daughters."

I listen to the perfect #Scavi harmony and get ready for my solo.

"Mary, did you know, that your Baby Boy, would calm the storm with his hand."

I slow it down, causing everyone to have to change the tempo.

Idiot.

We do all of the stuff and I hit my high note yay good times.

That's not what's hard for me.

What's hard is the talking.

Singing is just... different.

I look at Scott.

"Hey, guys? Mitch and I have something to tell you." He says and everyone looks at him.

"I'll just show you."

He takes a tissue and wipes away his makeup, revealing the bruises.

Kirstie gasps. "Scott..."

"I know. I bet you're all wondering how this happened..."

They all nod.

"When Mitch... got drunk, I got really upset with him. I overreacted. So... I let him... beat me up, I guess."

Everyone is looking at me.

"But people found out and... word is getting out."

Jonathan looks up at Scott.

"Are you kidding?"

Scott bites his lip and tears fill his eyes.

"So, you just... let him?" Kirstie says.

I nod. Kevin saw it.

"I did." Kevin agrees.

"Do you guys know how bad this is for the press? Do you know what kind of mess you could get in? What were you thinking?" Jonathan yells.

"I'm 24 years old, Jonathan. I can do what I want." Scott says.

"Not when you're being followed by paps, you can't. You two are both on lockdown."

Scott rolls his eyes. "You can't put me on lockdown. I'm an adult."

"I'm your manager."

"This is all Mitch's fault anyway!"

The bus goes silent.

"Mitch..."

Tears well up in my eyes.

Of course it is.

It always is.

"I'm sorry, I-"

I slap him across the face.

Kirstie grabs my arm and pulls me back before Scott can do anything else.

I try to get out of her grasp.

Scott wiggles out of Kevin's hold and lunges towards me.

"HEY! " Esther stands up and yells.

Scott releases his fist and looks at Esther.

"Mitch. In the back. Scott in your bunk."

"He ruined my-"

"I don't wanna hear it, Scott. Go."

I get up and go sit in the back.

I never should have slapped Scott.

I shouldn't have beat him up.

None of this would've happened.

Now I'm being treated like a five year old.

That's what my mental age is, anyway.

I'm deteriorating.

I'm an adult, I shouldn't be getting treated like a child.

Children don't sing.

Maybe I shouldn't, either.