An Unbreakable Bond

Fourteen

Mitch woke up the next day, his eyes full of unshed tears. He sniffed as he hugged the bear Travis gave to him a couple months back, holding onto it with all his might. Why did Travis have to leave?

I received a student teacher job in New York. I can't stay. I'm sorry, Mitch.

Mitch hugged the bear tighter as he sat down on the couch, crying harder this time. He could feel his chest heave with each sob, not knowing how loud his cries were. He felt the couch dip down and a pair of arms wrap around him gently, putting his head on their chest. He could feel Scott's fingers run through his hair as he began to cry harder, inconsolable now.

I'll do anything to make you happy, Mitchy.

Scott laid himself and Mitch down, hugging his younger brother tightly as he could feel the tears soak his shirt. The brunet gripped onto Scott's shirt tightly, sobbing louder each time. Kirstie walked in, frowning at her emotional brother.

"Did he breakup with Travis?" Kirstie asked, sitting down on the coffee table. Scott nodded as Mitch let out another sob. "Poor thing. What happened?"

"Travis was offered a job in New York and he couldn't deny it. He was told this a couple months ago and he didn't tell Mitch about it until last night," Scott replied, hearing his brother's sobs die down a bit. Mitch whimpered quietly, not wanting to let go of his brother's shirt. "Are you ready for school?"

"Yeah, I guess," Kirstie answered, adjusting her skirt. She frowned once more, looking at Mitch. "Is he going?"

"I don't think so," Scott answered, sitting up. He took Mitch up with him, wiping the tears away. *Are you going to school?*

*No. He's going to be there.* Mitch signed back, his lip quivering. More tears ran down his face as he sobbed again. *Why does it hurt so bad?*

*It's going to hurt, buddy. All breakups do.* Scot answered, wiping away the excess tears. He stood up, stretching a bit. *I need to go to work. If you need anything, Avi and Kevin are next door. I'll ask them to come over.*

Mitch nodded as he laid back on the couch, refusing to look at his siblings. Kirstie sighed as she kissed Mitch's forehead, frowning at him.

*I love you, Mitchy.*

*I love you too, Kirst.*

Kirstie stood up, smiling at her older brother. She hasn't fought with her brothers for the longest time and she honestly couldn't be more proud of herself. Scott smiled back as he wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulders, thinking back to old times.

He wants nothing more than for those moments to come back. He misses them, but he knows that they will never come back.

If only he knew the truth.

~~~

"Why have you been hanging out with Ariana?" A girl asked Kirstie, throwing an apple away. "Are you friends with her now?"

"No, we're just in the play together. That's all."

"That's so gay," a boy yelled, getting the next table's attention. Kirstie rolled her eyes as she shook her head.