Of Beauty & Beast (Scomiche)

3. Separation

Rain had rushed through the thickly grouped treetops non-stop and soaked the entirety of the forest. The day was grey and miserable from the start, and Scott couldn't help but to find comfort in it. It matched exactly how he'd felt for the last 526 days, but today was bound to be one of his darkest days. He traced a heart into the cold, dewy glass of the window he'd been looking out of and closed his eyes.

"How's it going so far?" he had said quietly, setting down a plate of snacks on the end of his bed. He kept his own cup of tea in hand.

Mitch tossed the highlighter he'd been using aside and rubbed at his eyes with a groan. "Not great, I am completely going to fail. I just don't understand the conversions," he murmured, mostly to himself.

Scott smiled over his mug at the boy sitting on his bedroom floor. Mitch's petite body was swimming rather humorously in one of his t-shirts but he loved the sight. He took the opportunity of Mitch being distracted to watch him work for a moment. He himself had never attended an actual school or had been taught some of the seemingly unnecessary things Mitch was learning, so it interested him. Everything pertaining to the other boy interested him actually.

Mitch was surrounded by random papers and multiple open books, trying his best to teach himself the science material last minute. He did this before most of his upcoming tests and Scott had learned to pay his complaining no mind. He always managed to pass with a beautiful grade after all of his worrying.

Mitch uncovered his face and stared out of the span of floor-to-ceiling windows with longing eyes, "You're lucky you don't have to attend high school. You can just be out exploring this place, or in here relaxing with an amazing view..."

"Yes, you are quite amazing." Scott grabbed the plate from his bed then moved some of the scattered books over with his foot. He carefully sat down next to his best friend, watching as the brunette's cheeks went pink once he understood what he had meant. "Why don't you take a break?"

"Scott, I have to do homework on top of studying. I don't have the time."

"You've been here since breakfast and haven't came out to eat. Mom was a second away from swatting me with a wooden spoon if I didn't bring you something. Of course, I was going to but I didn't want to interrupt you yet." 

Mitch hadn't realized it until it was pointed out, but he really hadn't eaten anything in hours. His stomach ached at the reminder that it was empty. "Just a few more minutes?"

Scott tugged on one of his French braids and gave him a stern look, "Nope, now."

Mitch pouted for a moment but heaved a surrendering sigh. "Okay, fine... But then this was made for me, right?" he asked, already taking the steaming tea from Scott's hand.

The blonde rolled his eyes lightheartedly. He'd let him have whatever he wanted. "It is now, I guess. You're lucky I love you."

The smirk Mitch had gained faded away into something softer. Neither of them said that aloud too often. They usually let their actions speak loud enough for the both of them to understand.

"I love you, too, Beasty. And thanks for the food."

Scott leaned down to kiss him softly for a few moments in reply. Then he pulled away and started collecting a few papers before him, "Now, eat while I see if I can make your homework load a little lighter..."

Scott turned to press his back to the windows instead, shaking his head. No matter how many memories he searched through, he returned to the same conclusion. They had always been okay. Perfectly content and happy just being with one another. Mitch had never given any indication that their love was dwindling down instead of growing, so he can't understand why it was so easy for Mitch to just forget about him.