If I Didn't

26 - Scott

"We love you guys and we'll see you next week," I said to the camera. Mitch grinned out of the corner of my eye, but not in my direction. Instead, his gaze was directed to Jake, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes as he laughed.

"Okay. Kiss blow?"

"On three," Mitch confirmed. I nodded, and I turned my attention back to the camera.

We blew a kiss like we usually do to end our videos, and then we sang the usual harmony. I stood to turn off the recording button.

Mitch clapped his hands in the air.
"Alright! So...Scott?"

I turned to face him, eyes fixed on removing our camera from the tripod.
"Yeah?"

"Jake and I are going to eat. Do you want to tag along..? Or I could bring you a meal."

I rolled my eyes down at the ground. Nothing about this felt real or natural to me at all. Mitch never liked a guy enough to have him sit through video sessions. He never brought one home on the first date.

"Nah, I wouldn't want Jake to feel like he's a third wheel or anything," I said in a teasing voice. Both of the boys laughed.

He thought I was joking.

"But really. Just bring me something, I guess."

"Cool. I'll be back soon. Don't edit that video without me, okay?"

"Got it," I said. I heard shuffling footsteps, and eventually, a door slam.
When I was sure that Mitch wasn't coming back, I searched around until I found my phone.

There are people in your life who you just know when to call for an emergency.

This was, indeed, an emergency of sorts.

I dialed in a number, and then I brought the phone to my ear. I continued cleaning, turning off our light fixtures and dragging them to the side of the room like we usually did.

Hey, we don't clean the house to impress. As long as there's enough room for people to party and have fun, we could care less.

The special friend picked up on the third ring.

"Scotttttttt!"

"Hey, T. Do you think you could come over? I need to run something by you."

"How about you being yourself over here to me, because I'm trying to cook but I don't know what the hell I'm doing." There was a loud ding sound far away, and the boy cursed wildly into the phone. I couldn't help but laugh at the sound of his struggling.

"I'll be over in about 15 minutes. Don't burn your house down before I get there."

"No promises, big boy. Wait...wait oh Jesus help me! It's changing colors!"

He hung up, and I laughed before grabbing my keys and exiting the lonely apartment.

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