What Happened in Between

Secrets

Years have passed and Mitch turned eleven. Living with anxiety was, of course, a new adjustment. It was usually hard for him to not excessively worry. He usually overthought and had troubles with concentration. He told his family that he could handle it, but they all knew deep down inside that it was anything but easy for him. They just want what's best for him because they forgot the last time he was actually happy.

Was it when he was four when Scott was teaching how to ride a bike? When Scott was teaching him, he fell over and cried. Scott, deciding to be funny and who felt bad for his brother's new injury, fell off his own bike to show Mitch it was okay to fall. Mitch laughed so hard that he cried. That was the last time he was actually happy.

Just when he was getting ready for kindergarten and his mind began to process his best memories, Carson ruined that. He took Mitch's years of happiness away. With a memory that's hard to retrieve, PTSD, a stutter, and now anxiety, it scared the family. Mitch tried to show that he was okay, but like it was said before, everyone knew that he was telling a lie so he could feel happy again.

~~~

"Hi, Mitch," Tori replied as the eleven year old walked in. He waved shyly, smiling at his vocal teacher. "I see that you're trying out music. How is that working out for you?"

"O-ok-ka-ay," he answered, looking around the room. Genevieve was nowhere to be found. "W-h-he-er-re's-s Gen?"

"Oh," Tori commented sadly, a frown appearing on her beautiful face. The vocal doctor sighed, looking sad. "She...she had to leave. She can't work here anymore."

"W-wh-hy?" Mitch asked, his eyebrow raised. He began to get sad himself. "Is s-sh-he-e o-ok-ka-ay-y?"

"Of course," Tori answered a bit too quickly then sighed. "I honestly don't known, honey. She just left. Nobody knows where she is."

Mitch nodded sadly, putting his head down. One of his favorite people is gone and probably never coming back. He met Genevieve when he was six and opened up to her. Now she's gone and probably never coming back.

~~~

Kirstin walked into her freshman English class and sat patiently on her desk. A red headed girl sat down next to her and turned around.

"Kirstin Maldonaldo?!"

The freshman quickly turned around to see Ariana, who was smirking at her. Her ex best friend was in her English class. Great...

"How's your gay brother?" Ariana snottily asked, laughing with her friends. "He came out of the closet when he was nine, right?"

"You need to shut it," Kirstin hissed, crossing her arms. It was hard to get Mitch's trust back after that.  They're close again, but the memory of what happened was still stored in their minds. "He is the sweetest little thing ever. Who cares if he is gay? My parents are gay."

"Exactly," Ariana commented, shaking her head. Her red hair matched her mischievous mannerisms. "Do you know how homophobic this town is? I'm surprised nobody has put a gun on your dads' foreheads."

Kirstin had enough. She was about to punch the redhead when a hand grabbed her elbow. She looked up to see a handsome boy looking down at her, his brown eyes calming her down instantly.

"No need to do that," he reassured, his deep baritone calming her down. She brought her arm back, looking up at him. "She's not worth it."

Kirstin nodded and looked at the boy until class started. Even then, she couldn't tear her eyes off of him. He was kind of dressed like Bender from The Breakfast Club without the long hair. She didn't know his name, but she wanted to know who he is.