Soulmates

CHAPTER SEVEN

FIVE YEARS AGO

That was a moment. One of those moments you'll never forget in your life. The trio sang for the first time with Avi and Kevin and it sounded perfect. Okay okay, maybe not exactly perfect, but it was very special, almost magical. The combination of them felt just right, they fitted together so well. Of course there was a lot of work to do, but it felt like this could actually be big one day, if they did work hard for it. They were dreaming out loud and would give it their all to make their shared dream come true.

"So you guys are friends from high school?" Kevin asked. They we're all together at a café, celebrating that they got through the auditions with their new found group. This was crazy! They we're still getting to know each other, since they had only met shortly before and used almost all of their time to rehearse. They got to know each other a bit musically, but not yet very personally.

"Well, yeah, we know each other even longer! Since we were like what, eight years old?" Scott responded. Kirstin and Mitch nodded.

"Oh really?! That's cute! Such a long time! I thought it was for a shorter amount of time, since you told that you formed your group less than a year ago."

"Oh, no, that's when we started singing a capella together and named ourselves the 'trio', but yeah, we've been friends since we were kids" Kirstie clarified.

"And you've always been just friends, nothing else?" Avi asked curiously, raising his eyebrows and smirking, looking from Kirstie to the boys. 

Kirstie couldn't help but giggle at Avi's curiosity. "Actually no! I've dated them both for only a few months." Kirstie said, blushing because of the memories. Oh jeez, they were so young when all that happened. She looked at Mitch, who sassily said: "Until it turned out that I'm gay." 

"Yeah, same thing with me, I'm gay too" Scott quietly added, lowkey insecure, looking for their reaction. What if they weren't supportive of that? Scott didn't really expect Avi or Kevin to be homophobes, they seemed really nice and genuinely good people, but sometimes people of who'd you wouldn't expect, act homophobic. Coming out to new people didn't always make him this nervous, but Avi and Kevin had quickly become very important new people in his life. He cared what they'd think about them.

Kevin noticed Scott's nerves. "Hey, don't worry, that's completely fine, I don't mind" he reassured them. 

Scott smiled. Thank god, that was what he wanted to hear.

Avi continued being curious, as if no one just came out, as if that wasn't anything remarkable to do: "So you guys are dating?" he asked, pointing at Mitch and Scott. He assumed it more than he questioned it.

The boys laughed, both glad Avi acted as if them being gay and even possibly being a couple was the most normal thing on earth, which it basically was, of course. 

"Everybody thinks that all the time, but no! That's exactly what Kirstie assumed too after we had both came out to her," Scott said. 

"We're just best friends," Mitch clarified. 

"Oh, okay. Maybe that's not a bad thing, though. I mean, relationships and careers don't work together I think... even though I have to admit that you guys seem very mature. If you think of it, it sounds crazy that you're still such good friends, you know, because two best friends dated the same girl, and both broke up with her. That could've been a lot of drama," Avi imagined.

"Well... if you put it like that... It sounds crazy indeed! We're too close I guess. We're only drama kids when it means theatre!" Scott joked and they all laughed.

"So 'career', you said, Avi?" Mitch remarked.

"Uh, yeah... I don't know, but I really want to make something of this. I wanna take this seriously." Avi confessed.

Kevin agreed. "Yeah, you convinced me too. I really want to try this out, at least if you close guys let us in."

"Of course! We're a group of five people now. We're not the trio, we're Pentatonix. I wouldn't have called you if we didn't need you and want you as much to be a part of this." Scott stated.

Kevin smiled. He felt excited and also grateful. Sometimes life takes you to unexpected places and gives you exceptional chances. He was glad he eventually didn't turn this opportunity down. He had nothing to lose anyway. "You know what, if this turns out to work well, I'm seriously going to consider giving up becoming a doctor, because music is my passion." 

"It's so great to hear we're all in this together. Let's do this!" Mitch felt encouraged.

They continued dreaming and getting to know each other. They really bonded. A big journey was ahead of them and they felt it.

_____

"Mitchy, are you okay?" Scott asked worried. He noticed his friend, standing in their dressing room, looking down at nothing in particular, fidgeting.

"N-no. I'm so dead nervous Scotty. I-I don't feel well," Mitch stuttered, after shortly looking up at Scott. His body was shaking.

Scott didn't hesitate another second and wrapped his arms around his best friend. "Shh, buddy," he said, leaving a peck on his head, "you don't have to be nervous. You'll be great. You have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard and everybody will love it. Don't you worry Mitchy, we'll be great. We've practiced a lot and will give it our best shot. I really believe in this. We sound good together." Scott cupped Mitch's face. "Okay?" 

Mitch nodded slightly, staring into Scott's beautiful blue eyes. "Okay," he whispered. His hands felt warm on his cheeks.

"And by the way, it's okay to be little nervous. I am too. And excited." Scott still held Mitch's face in his hands and gave him his most adorable smile. He leaned forward, his forehead against Mitch's, eyes closed. 

Mitch had no idea how long they stood like that, kind of hugging. It was an intimate pose, somehow. He felt better. Scott gave the best pep talks and knew how to push his insecurity away. But it also partly was because of him he felt so insecure. He pulled him completely out of his comfort zone, joining this TV singing competition. But with Scott by his side he was safe. He made him do things he would never ever dare to do otherwise, which was not a bad thing actually. His ambition was attractive. He was like a sexy leader. 

Mitch was happy being so close to Scott again. He felt completely warm inside. He never realized how much he loved Scott until he had to miss him every day the past school year. And did he miss him, oh boy. Severely. Stupid college. Why again weren't they the same age? 

Mitch opened his eyes eventually, and looked straight at Scotts luscious lips. He felt his breath on his face. Impulsively, Mitch closed the very small gap between them, with his eyes closed again, and left a little soft kiss on Scott's lips. Before he realized, the gap was back and his eyes were open again. 

Scott seemed to lean in for another kiss for a second, but hesitated, opened his eyes, let go of his hands on Mitch's cheeks and leaned back. "Umm, we can't do this, Mitch," he nervously rubbed his upper legs.

Mitch wanted to smash his head because of his stupidity. He ruined this entire moment. "Yeah, I-I know, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was j-just eh led by the moment, I'm really sorry." He looked down. Shit, this was embarrassing. Why did he just do that? He didn't need  that, to deal with rejection right before the show!

"Mitch, I'm sorry, I'm  just saying that we can't because of what Avi said and you know... Maybe it's not right" Scott was too focused on other things right now. He lifted his chin up and looked straight into his hazel brown eyes that were a little wet, which broke his heart. Great, he felt miserable anyway. "... but I do love you, sweetheart. I do." 

"I love you too" Mitch's voice cracked. A tear rolled down his cheek. "So, always platonic then?" He needed to know how to figure this out.

"Yes baby, always platonic." Scott wrapped his arms around the tiny posture again and let go of a few tears too, which Mitch didn't notice.

They never talked about it again.