Hushed (Book 2 of the Silent Series)

The Legendary Kirstie

Scott still hadn't answered Mitch texts. Avi had told him about their conversation, and Mitch had mixed emotions about it. It made him really sad knowing what Scott was going through, but knowing that he was getting through it made him feel a lot better.

There was just one thing that made Mitch upset: Scott had told him that he wouldn't shut him out when things get rough, and that was exactly what he did. Mitch never really shut out Scott, he actually went to him when things got hard, because his comfort was better than any others.

"Quit staring at your phone, Mitch. He will text you eventually." Kirstie says. Mitch rolls his eyes, setting his phone down and anxiously patting his foot against he ground.

"I m-miss him." Mitch says, and Kirstie throws her arm around his shoulders.

"I know, babes. He will be here soon." Mitch hated the word soon, because soon could be anywhere from a minute to a few years. It wasn't specific, and was a waste of a dictionary space.

He hadn't had any contact with Scott for at least a month, and it was making Mitch go crazy. He still felt guilty about the grad party, and he knew Scott deserved to know. He didn't want to tell him when he was like this and not talking to Mitch. He wanted to wait for a good time, but there never really was a good time anymore.

"Hey, Mitchy." Kirstie says. Mitch focuses on Kirstie. "You're new boss, you know him?" Mitch nods. "He is a total stud." Mitch chuckles.

What about Jeremy?

"He'll be okay." She jokes. "Actually, he probably wouldn't." She continues joking. A knock sounds from the door. Kirstie looks at Mitch in confusion, they weren't expecting anyone. Mitch's thoughts immediately went to Scott, but he was pretty sure he wouldn't be here.

Kirstie opens the door.

"Hi..." Mitch hears her say. He couldn't see the door, he was sitting at the table.

"Is Mitch here?" Mitch recognized the voice immediately. He jumps up, pushes Kirstie out of the way, and jumps into his arms. "Babe!"

Kirstie was beyond confused. Mitch pulls back from the hug, trying to figure out a way to tell Kirstie that this was Zip without getting his notebook.

"I'm Zip." He introduces himself, holding out his hand to Kirstie.

"Oh, you're Zip!" Kirstie exclaims, pushing away his hand and pulling him in for a hug instead. "I'm Kirstie."

"The legendary Kirstie? I've heard a million things about you!" Zip shouts. She chuckles.

"I've heard much about you too." Mitch smiles at their instant bond, knowing that they were a lot alike and would easily become friends.

"Where's Scott? Doesn't he live with you guys?" Zip asks, putting his eyes back on Mitch. Mitch drops his head, looking at the ground. Kirstie awkwardly pulls Zip aside. Mitch wasn't stupid, he knew she was explaining the situation.

"Rough subject?" Zip asks. Kirstie nods.

"He didn't end up coming. Still single for them two."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, he didn't tell me. We text all of the time, I can't believe he wouldn't tell me."

"He was really upset about it. Scott stayed in Arlington for personal issues, but he said he would come back in a little when summer started, and now he hasn't been contacting with us at all. One of our friends has been keeping us updated with him."

"What happened?"

"He isn't doing good. His friend is in the hospital, and he doesn't want to leave Arlington because he has a connection to the place, he is really lonely and everyone knows how horrible being alone is, but he keeps shutting people out. He hasn't talked to anyone for a month, until his friend finally woke up and he showed up at our friend, Avi's, house. Avi had been taking care of him, finally knocked some sense into him."

"So he is coming back soon, right? I wanted to meet him. That's horrible, Kirstie. Is Mitch okay?"

"Mitch has been better, but he is fine. We have no idea when he is coming back. Avi said probably a little bit after Alex gets out of the hospital."

"Can I talk to him about it?"

"Yeah. Just don't bring up anything about Scott's mental state unless you want him to get all defensive."

Zip walks back to Mitch, and without talking, he pulls him in for a hug, holding it until Mitch got his emotions back together.

He groans, both of them pulling away. Mitch shoots him a shy smile.

"The o-others?" Mitch asks, changing the subject.

"Karma and Shy?"

"Yes."

"Shy got a new job and has been working a lot and Karma went to college. They're both doing great. Shy and I actually live together, it's great. It's actually not to far from here, like seven hours away." Mitch smiles, glad to here that his side was doing good, unlike Mitch's.

His phone buzzes, and he instantly pulls it out. He sighs in relief, a giant smile across his face.

Scott: It was the people that made it great, not the place. You made my year amazing. It was all you.

Mitch could feel himself tearing up, it had been so long since he talked to Scott. His words meant everything to him. Kirstie looks over his shoulder and at the texts.

"AWWW, MITCH!" She yells. "THAT IS SO CUTE." Mitch chuckles, opening the texting app and typing to reply.

Mitch: I miss you. Please come back.

Scott: Soon, my love.

Mitch: How long? I can't take being without you anymore, it's been like almost three months.

Scott: When Alex is better. When he lets me talk to him without freaking out that I'm in the room. Once he and I are good, and I explain that I'm going to LA. Very soon.

Mitch: Tell him to be your bestie again so I can see you.

Scott: I wish it was that easy.

Mitch: Why did you shut me out again? You told me that next time you were going through something, he would talk to me about it and not shut me out again.

Scott: It's really complicated. I'm sorry. My phone hasn't been turned on in over a month.

Mitch: Why?

Scott: Can I explain later? It's a bad topic.

Mitch: Of course. We don't have to talk about anything that happened right now, I'm just so happy you are talking to me again.

Scott: I don't know how I went so long without talking to you.

Mitch: Me either.