Run to You

4

I can't stop staring at him. My poor Mitchy. For an entire year, he lived with his abuser. I should've tried harder to contact him. The texts I saw from Travis keep resurfacing in my mind.

Stupid slut.

You'd better get your ass home now or you'll regret it, you little whore.

I want to get up and punch something. I want to go find Travis and give him a piece of my mind. But I don't want to wake up the skinny little brunette who has fallen asleep in my arms. Sighing, I stare down at him. Everything about him is so beautiful. As if it has a mind of it's own, my finger moves up to trace his features. I used to do this nearly every night when he fell asleep on me. Back when I was clueless enough to think that there was a chance that he might like me back. Now, that hope has been crushed.

When Mitch stirs, I pull my hand away from his face. I don't want him to think I'm weird. He yawns, opening his eyes.

"What time is it?" I check my phone.

"It's a little past midnight." He yawns again. "You should go to bed." He doesn't protest. He just goes toward my room.

"You should go to bed too, Scooter."

"I... I think I'll stay out here." His eyes narrow suspiciously. Then they're flooded with realization. I look down.

"Scott. Please tell me you did not give up your bed for me." I shrug. He sighs. "I can't take your bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"Nope. You've been through hell. I'm sleeping on the couch." He opens his mouth to argue, but I hold up a finger. "Mitchy. Just go to sleep. I really don't mind. You need the bed more than I do." He frowns at me.

"No. If you're too stubborn to let me sleep on the couch, we're sharing the bed." My heartbeat quickens. Stop it, Scott. You're being ridiculous. "You're way too tall to sleep on that couch, and we should both be able to fit." He starts walking toward my room, glancing back over his shoulder. "Come on, Scottney." I jump to my feet and follow him, trying to keep my eyes from his swaying hips.

---

I can't sleep. Being this close to Mitch, feeling him pressed against my body... how could anyone ever hurt such a perfect human? As quietly as possible, I reach over to the nightstand on Mitch's side of the bed to grab his phone, praying that he still has the same PIN as before. He does. I scroll through his contacts until I find Travis's number and punch it into my own phone. Then, after putting Mitch's phone back, I start to text Travis.

Me: You need to leave Mitch alone.

Me: I know what you did, you son of a bitch.

Me: Just leave him the fuck alone.

Of course, there's no answer. It's late. Travis is probably asleep, and when he reads the messages, there's no guarantee that he will reply to a text from an unknown number. I sigh, setting my phone back down.

Trying not to wake Mitch up, I carefully put my arm around his waist, holding him against me.

---

"Scooter, wake up." I groan, rubbing my eyes. "I made you coffee, Scotney!" He hands me the mug, and I gratefully accept it.

"Thanks, Mitchy." I sip it, smiling. But truthfully, I'm worried. Mitch almost seems overly happy, as if he's actually hurting, and now that I saw Travis's texts, he knows I'll be trying to keep an eye on him to make sure he's okay.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Babe. I'm good. Just tired." He lifts one of his flawless eyebrows. I can't tell if he believes me or not. I look back down at my coffee, taking another sip. After a few moments, my phone goes off. I check it.

@mitchgrassi: With my bestie. He's so adorable @scotthoying

Below the tweet is a picture of me sleeping

@scotthoying: @mitchgrassi you know it ;)

Mitch looks at his phone and giggles. I love his giggle.

"What's so funny?" I pout at him.

"Nothing, Scooter." My phone buzzes, and my mood instantly drops when I see that it's a text from Travis. I open it, frowning. "What's wrong?"

Travis: I don't know what you're talking about.

Travis: Is this Scott?

How did he know? Mitch and I haven't talked in a year, so why would he assume that Mitch is with me? Then it hits me. Twitter. Mitch posted about me on twitter.

Me: Is this my best friend's bitchy ex?

Travis: Best friend? He didn't talk to you for a year. You really think he wants to be your best friend?

Me: Fuck you.

Me: He only didn't talk to me because you wouldn't let him.

Travis: Oh so that's what he told you. I can assure you that it was completely little Mitchy's choice to abandon you like that. He doesn't want you, and he never will.

Angrily, I lock my phone, shoving it back into my pocket. It can't be true. Can it? Why would he want to stay with you anyways? The only reason he's back now is because you were the only option besides sleeping in his car, says the voice in my head. Suddenly, there's a hand on my bicep, and I jump.

"Scott, Baby, what's wrong?" I shake my head.

"Nothing. I'm completely fine. Don't worry about it." Almost the exact words I used when people asked me the same question after Mitch left. The difference is, Mitch can see through my words.

"Scott-"

"I said I'm fine!" I stand up, storming to my room and slamming the door behind me. Then, I collapse on the bed, crying. I never should've let myself start to fall for Mitch again. He doesn't want me. Nobody does.