The Things I Love About You Part 2 (Completed)

C h a p t e r T e n

"Thanks, Travis." I just stand there, reaching gingerly toward the counter for support as my knees start to wobble.

"Scott?"

"What?" Scott's tone is harsh, but I barely notice over the numbness spreading through my body.

"I really am sorry. For-for everything. I hope we can move past it and be friends again. Bye." The line clicks and Scott pushes the phone away.

"Mitch? Are you okay?" I look up at him, and start laughing.

"He was messing with me. That has to be it, he was messing with me. He's still trying to get back at me for rejecting him for you."

"N-no, Mitch, he wasn't."

"Of fucking course he was. My parents aren't dead. My sisters aren't dead. I just talked to Riley and Megan yesterday. They're fine." The numbness is spreading.

"Listen to me."

"Why are you helping Travis mess with me? I thought you loved me."

"Mitch, stop and listen to me." He grabs my wrist so I can't turn and leave. "Your parents died in a car crash and your sisters were with them. None of them survived, okay? This is real. It happened. Travis isn't messing with you and I'm definitely not helping him."

"Wait...you mean...." And then I start to sob. I sob so hard that my knees give out and I collapse to the floor. I am screaming something incomprehensible. Scott kneels next to me and wraps his arms around my shoulders, but I shove him back. "Don't fucking touch me!" He looks hurt, but right now all I care about is my parents. I stand up and run to our room, slamming and locking the door behind me before falling to the ground in a heap again and sobbing into the carpet.

****

A few hours later, my sobs have reduced to hiccups and I sit in my bed with two empty boxes of tissues at my side and a blanket pressed against my face. The only light in the room is the outline of the window from behind my closed curtains, and my mouth feels dry. My head is pounding. Every so often, Scott comes to my door and knocks quietly, asking to come in. I haven't responded yet.

"Honey? You should drink some water." I hear his voice drift through the door quietly. "Mitch?" I stand up and walk over to the door, hesitating before opening it. I take the glass of water in his hand and walk back into the room without speaking. "Can I stay with you?" I nod and crawl back into the bed. He sits awkwardly on the edge of the other side of the mattress, clearly afraid to upset me again. I reach for him and I see relief wash over him as he moves next to me.

"I just...I can't believe that it's true." I whisper between gulps of water.

"I know." he whispers back, running his fingers through my hair. "I know this doesn't mean a whole lot, but I'm sorry." I look up at him.

"It means more than you know." I bury my face in his chest as tears begin to flow down my face again.

****

After another hour or so of sitting with Scott on our bed, he suggests that we watch a movie. Even though Christmas was weeks ago, I choose Christmas Vacation. Even though it reminds me of my parents, because they both loved it, it is the only thing that will make me laugh. I fall asleep halfway through.

Short awkward chappy. Sorry please don't hate me