The Missing Pieces

The Last Chapter

*Mitch's POV*

I knock on Avi's door.

"Coming!" The door swings open. "Mitch..."

I'm sorry Avi.

"For... Oh, right. Yeah it's fine man I don't care. Come on in."

I sigh in relief.

Kirstie and Kevin are playing some game on the couch when I walk in.

I sit beside Kevin and he turns to me.

"I want to talk to you." He whispers.

I look down. He always makes me cry when we have these talks.

Kirstie beats Kevin in the game.

"Aww, man!"

"Yes!" Kirstie yells and kisses Avi.

Um I'm only 19. PDA.

"I'm going to Starbucks." Scott says.

"I'll go with." Kirstie says and Avi decides to tag along.

Now it's just me and Kevin.

"Hey Mitch?" He asks and I gulp and turn to him.

"When are you going to tell everyone?"

I squeeze my eyes shut.

"I don't know."

"Why don't you just tell them?"

"I'm- I'm not... sure I-I can sing..."

"Mitch... you've been able to talk for two months now. I think it's time."

I feel tears stinging at my eyes.

"Mitch, it's okay if you have to learn stuff again." He says and I let a tear fall.

"B-but my st-st-stutter..."

"It won't come out in songs. It never does." Kevin says and rubs my back.

"I'm... scared."

"I know you are. It's a hard thing to start back doing, Mitch. You haven't been talking nearly at all for months. You're doing good just talking to me right now."

I break down.

"I don't want... want the- the f-fans to betray me." I say between sobs.

"Mitch! Mitch, listen to me. You are a great singer and performer in general. You are kind, funny, and smart. You work hard at everything you do and you never give up. Your fans will never leave you, I promise."

I calm my breathing down and wipe my tears.

"I g-guess you're right. I-"

I cut off when the door opens.

I forgot how close we are to the Starbucks.

"We're home!" Kirstie yells and hands me my coffee.

"Thanks." I say and Kirstie smiles.

"Your talking is getting better."

"Thank you." I say and she stops.

"Did you just...?"

"Yes." I say and Scott and Avi turn to me.

"Mitch..." Scott says softly.

"I c-can... talk ag-gain." I smile and Scott's eyes fill up with tears.

"Mitch... You can talk!" He says and jumps to hug me, knocking me to the ground.

"Ow! Y-you need t-to work out!" I say and Scott smirks.

"Oh, really?"

I nod and Scott starts tickling my sides.

"Scott! Scott, I can't- I can't breathe!" I say through laughs.

He gets off of me and hands me my drink.

"Soundcheck in a little bit. Wanna go get ready?" Scott asks.

"Yeah." I say and we go back across the hall.

We get in our room and close the door.

I pick out an outfit and start to get dressed.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Scott says and I whip around.

"I... was s-scared."

"Why?" His piercing blue eyes stare into my brown ones.

"I... was... af-fraid th-that everyone would yell at me... for not being able to sing..."

"We would never do that to you, Mitch. We've all been through injuries, okay? We all have things about us that slow us down. It's okay."

He takes my hand.

"I love you, and don't forget it."

Can I sign?

"Of course! Let's get ready, though. We'll have to get dressed when we get there." Scott says and grabs his outfit and hair stuff.

I grabbed my phone and beauty supplies and slipped on my shoes.

Why is it so exhausting to talk?

We walk out the door and to the bus, thank goodness we're on the first floor.

We all sit in the lounge area and chat for a few minutes when it happens.

The shattering of glass.

The screams of my best friends.

The sight of blood on the pavement.

My head is throbbing.

My world fading to black.

Is this it?

Am I done?

I hear screaming.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath in, a stabbing pain everywhere.

"Mitch..."

"Sc-ott... Don't let me... go." I weakly grasp his hand.

"I'll run..." He sings the sweet lullaby.

"I'll run..." I join in.

"I'll run, run to you." The trio sings.

"Mitch, I..."

Scott closes his eyes.

I hear sirens.

"....love you." I finish just before my world fades to black.