The Enderlox Trilogy III: Seto's Triumph

E I G H T: All Fall Down

***JEROME'S POV***

I'm speechless. Totally, absolutely, speechless. I don't understand.

What just happened?

Did Mitch just say--

..No way.

He's got to be joking. To fool Max. He has to be.

He has to.

***MITCH'S POV***

I finally said it.

Finally.

I've been meaning to tell Jerome for so long, it's been bugging me ever since Ashley came into the picture. I can even remember the day I became aware of my deep love for Jerome. Like it was yesterday, in fact.

It was, in fact, six months or so ago, and not yesterday, when I realized. I was walking over to Jerome's quarters back at SkyBase, before Skybrine, Enderlox, Jason and the Wither, Ashley, or Jerome's wave of depression. I was just walking over to him to talk, but Jerome didn't know that. I was drunk, having just suffered an ill-tempered fight with my girlfriend Maya that ended in her screaming "Fine!" and walking out, and I knew that we were over. I may be an idiot, but I'm not stupid. I had way too much to drink and I needed a shoulder to cry on. And what better shoulder than a Bacca's?

I walked into the room. "Jerome?" I said, my words slurring even though I tried to control it.

"Mitch? What happened, you okay?"

"M-- Maya," I said, letting all the pain flood into her name.

Jerome said nothing, but that nothing meant everything. He walked over and gave me a hug, and I cried on his shoulder like I hoped I wouldn't, but he let me anyway. What a friend.

My pessimistic drunk side revved it's engine and shifted into drive. And yet, what kind of friend are you, walking in with no warning and yelling, forcing Jerome to pay attention to your stupid feelings? It's not what you should do. No best friends ever do that. You're a terrible person. If thoughts could kill, I would have been dead.

My rational, optimistic side counters immediately, of course. Jerome will always listen to you, it's what friends do. Jerome has come to you like this before, it's only natural. That's the alcohol talking, stay calm, be rational. You're a good person, you're just in a rough spot. It happens to everybody. Everybody, Mitch. Trust me. How can I not? It was my own thoughts speaking to me.

And then, a side I had never felt before raised its voice for the first time. Yes, Mitch. Jerome will always be here for you, through thick and thin, through all of your troubles. Your Bacca, nobody else's. Don't let him slip away, Mitch. Act now, and he won't think anything of it. It'll be like a free pass, the first one's on the house. Who knows? He might even enjoy it. Show him how you feel, Mitch. Show him.

"Okay," I said aloud, agreeing with the third voice.

"What?" Jerome asks me.

I kissed him. Right on the lips, and his eyes widened before they closed. He let me go for a moment before surprisingly kissing back, and seeming to enjoy it. Maybe I wasn't the only one drinking that night. Whatever, I didn't care. Just like the Third Voice said, too. First one's on the house.

Ever since then, I've been letting the Third Voice take control. My heart skips a beat when I see him, especially now that he's human. Those eyes, his deep brown, perfect eyes. And as I sit there on Max's couch, listening to everyone confess a secrets like asking forgiveness for a sin, I just.. I look into his eyes and the Third Voice says, Do it. Now or never. And I did.

"I-I-" I can't do it. The Third Voice speaks again, encouraging me. Come on, Mitch. Look him in the eyes and tell him how you feel. Remember that first night? That could be every night, Mitch. But it won't be unless you tell him. Voice your opinion, get it off your chest.

Okay, I think. Now or never..

"I love Jerome, I have for awhile." I state, walking out of the room shortly after. I leave the cave, waiting outside and hoping he won't find me, feeling embarrassed, wanting to yell at the Third Voice. The Third Voice would have just told me it was right if it decided to speak to me then, though. And I would have believed it.

<><><><><>

Jerome hasn't come back to the tent yet. Nooch wants to talk, but I won't listen. Jason and Ty had an argument earlier, and won't talk to each other. Sky seems on edge about having to team up with the Squids, and Seto is very withdrawn. Not as withdrawn as me, though, as I haven't said a word since I told Jerome. Not that I haven't wanted to. I'm just so worried if I open my mouth someone will tease me, saying something like, "Haha, Mitch is bi! Wow, and the guy he loves is straight. That's two sins at once, good going Mitch!"

Of course, my rational side says that none of my friends would ever do that, and subconsciously I know that, but I can't bring myself to speak. And so here I am, sitting silently, waiting for Jerome to return so I can tell him I'm sorry, that I was kidding, that I don't love him, even though I do. It might ruin me, but if Jerome is happy, I'm happy. Even if I'm not.

***JEROME'S POV***

Should I go back to the tent?

No, Mitch will be there. I can't.

But Mitch will be there, I have to.

What if he does something to hurt himself?

That's the final straw, the one that breaks the horses back. I'm going. I adjust my Bacca hat on my head as I walk off towards the tents. I pass Ty and Sky's, and I can hear Ty sobbing, and Sky is calming him down. Ty probably thinks Ashley doesn't love him anymore, how sad. Meanwhile my first and best friend loves me and I don't know what to do. I pass Seto's tent, and I see a purple light flash on and off, Seto's silhouette, illuminated by the light when it flashes. Ashley is alone in her tent, just sitting there, probably deep in thought. I know I am. My tent is the last in line, and I finally make my way there. The light is out, but I can tell Mitch is awake. Something's telling me.

A deep breath at the tent flap, and in I go.

"Mitch?" I ask.

He's crying. Mitch mutters something inaudible, indiscernible, and muffled by tears.

"What?" I ask, sitting down next to my best friend.

"I'm sorry! I know you hate me now, I'm sorry. I can't change, Jerome. Please don't hate me, please don't leave me." He collapses into tears.

"I don't hate you," I say calmly. "I could never hate you. Sure, you're annoying sometimes, but I could never hate you." I do my best to lighten the mood, making a joke. I give Mitch a reassuring hug and he looks up, surprised.

"Really?"

"Really." And without thinking I close the distance, remembering that night half a year ago, and how much I enjoyed it. How great it was. How perfect that kiss was.

Perfect.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Like the new chapter titles? Well, it's a song by OneRepublic called All Fall Down. Go check it out!

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Remember, every time you vote, an ole gets a sombrero, and every time you comment, an annoying light stops flickering. So take the time and make the world sombrero-full, flicker-free place!

Stay Classy,

Gweesto.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Stats as of republishing:

2.39k reads

70 votes

36 comments