defect ➵ scömìche

fourteen

Scott Hoying's POV

KIRSTIE TOLD ME EVERYTHING. I felt broken when I heard the news. I felt furious when I heard what happened to him. But I was a little grateful that James went easy on him. I was definitely angry that he even touched Mitch, and when I stormed out of the hospital, Kirstie and Avi tried to stop me, but they couldn't and I wasn't going to let them. I needed to stop this. I needed to end this. When Mitch lives through this, all of them are going to target him — and it'll be all my fault.

I shouldn't have talked to him that night. I shouldn't have allowed Kirstie to give him my number. I shouldn't have gotten him cat food and chocolate. I shouldn't have went to that stupid carnival with him, Kirstie, and his friends. I shouldn't have. This is why I don't talk to people — this is why I can't make any other friends than Kirstie. This is why.

And so when I ran into someone as I left the hospital, I looked at them, and I know that my eyes became darker than blue. "James," I said to him. "Scott," he grinned. "How's the boy?"

"The boy is doing fine. Did you know that he has a name? What a shocker!" I muttered sarcastically. "I couldn't care for it. Anyways, he lived through it?" James asked me curiously. I stared at him, then nodded. "Yes."

"That's unfortunate," he sighed. "But think of it as a warning next time, alright? I gave you a month and you didn't update me on anything. You're supposed to pay up in a month."

"I don't think you understand that I'm trying to, and yet here you are laying in your couch made of gold, watching TV and dealing drugs for a living. Maybe you should step up your game, yeah?" I rolled my eyes. "Scott, you need to start looking in the mirror. You've been falling apart, while I've been fine."

"Falling apart? If you consider meeting three people in the matter of a day and actually becoming friends with them, one of them you probably have feelings for, and going somewhere that you never wanted to before until the one you decided you liked had asked you to go as falling apart, then I sure as hell wouldn't mind falling apart," I sighed.

He seemed a bit shocked, and I wouldn't blame him since I never stood up for myself. But then as I looked over what I said, I realized my self conscious admitted to having feelings for one of them, and somehow I knew for a fact that it wasn't Avi, Kevin, or Kirstie.

"You're still a mess. And a lot of messes can't be fixed."

I didn't exactly realize what I was doing until I finally looked in front of me. Seeing James under my violent control was a little weird since he was taller than me and a giant basically, and he seemed to try and make me let go of my grip, but then I heard a soft voice behind me and I widened my eyes as James's eyes went to something behind me - or someone. "Scott?"

I stopped immediately and lifted my arm from his throat, looking behind myself. "Mitch?"

"What are you doing?" He seemed a little scared but I could tell he was trying his best to hide it. "Nothing," I replied quickly.

He sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "You're not supposed to use violence to fix this."

"I know, but he hurt you, Mitch," I tried to reason with him. Right when he was about to respond, Kirstie came running up to his side and was panting. Then she looked at me, and I saw a flash of fear in her eyes when she saw James. "M–Mitch, we need to go."

"Fine," he nodded, obliging as she pulled him away. As I watched them leave, James launched at me. I dodged him, and let out a long breath. "I'm done with you, James. But I'm too tired for this shit. How about you leave me alone and I'll leave you alone, deal?"

He laughed, "Once you get me the money you owe me, then we'll talk being left alone."

***

"You okay?" Kirstie mumbled, looking at me everywhere she could. "Yeah. He didn't hurt me. He tried, but he didn't."

"That's good. So, I was—" and then I interrupted her by accident. "Help me," I said. She looked at me with a confused expression, "What?"

"I don't know what I'm feeling," I explained. "For Mitch?" She asked immediately, and when I nodded, a big smile spread across her face. "I think you like him a lot."

"That doesn't count. I don't."

"Oh really?" She smirked. "Yes," I confirmed.

"Whatever I say, you have to say the first thing that comes to mind, alright?" She inquired and I nodded, waiting.

"Mitch."

"Hearts," I almost tripped over my words, and redness appeared on my cheeks. She continued nonetheless.

"Hearts."

"Love."

"Love."

"M-m-my friends?" I stuttered. "Say what you were going to say."

"Mitch," I said as quietly as I could.

"Kirstie."

"Dogs."

"Kevin."

"Beatboxing."

"Avi."

"Meat, definitely."

"Mitch."

"Cute."

And then she spoke. "I think I've gathered enough information to clearly state, with proof, that you are indeed falling for Mitch Grassi."

"Well, shit," I muttered. "Congratulations. He'll be released from the hospital tomorrow, what are you gonna do?" She said in a game-narrator-voice.

"I don't know. I'll let whatever happens happen."

"That's a bit odd. No planning for Scotty?" She teased.

"Yeah. I'll go with the flow this time. I won't do a thing," I ran a hand through my blond hair. "And if it all turns out good, then great. But if it all turns out not the way I expected, then that's okay."

"Good choice, Scott. Goodnight," she said, and as she rushed out of my apartment, my heart beat against my chest crazily, and then I sent Mitch a text that explained I'd be there tomorrow. As soon as I did, the nerves slowly left me, and I thought of him, unsurprisingly. It was always him.

***

a/n:: clicheclichexlixhelxiehcoieche (but fluffy) ok but I know how everything's gonna like happen and lemme just say this is prob gonna be the shortest ass book I have ever written bc I'm trying to shoot for 20 chapters but it looks like this might be 16 or 17 or something?? hopefully longer. let's see what happenssss also sorry for the short chapter ok bye now