Run to You

8

Mitch freezes in front of me. He doesn't want to talk about it. I can tell. But after a moment, he relaxes.

"I guess I do owe you a better explanation, since I left you for so long, and you also just saved my ass from Travis." He closes his eyes for a second. "The first part you already know about. I met Travis at Starbucks. He was nice and funny, so we exchanged numbers, and a while later, started dating." He takes a deep breath. "For the first month or so, he was the guy I thought he was: kind, and caring, and just so, so, perfect. Then he started to gradually get meaner and meaner. He would shout at me for every little thing, accuse me of cheating on him every time I went out with you."

"I'm so sorry I didn't help sooner, Mitchy." He shakes his head.

"It's not your fault. Anyways, one day, he told me I couldn't contact you anymore. That was the first time I fought back. It was also the first time he hit me." I feel tears sting my eyes. I'm glad that he cared enough to fight for me, but I also feel horrible. It's my fault Travis hurt him. "After that, it just got worse and worse. He would beat me, yell at me, degrade me... I even ended up in the hospital a few times." The way he talks so casually about it makes my heart ache. This feels normal to him. Being treated like shit is what he's used to.

"What... what were you fighting about the night you came to me?" He takes a deep breath.

"You." My eyebrows go up.

"What?"

"Yeah." He gives a humorless chuckle. "I started yelling at him for making me leave you. I said you were 'the only person who ever cared about me' and all that jazz. Then he threatened to kill me, and I ran. I was going to sleep in my car, but I just couldn't stand to be alone. I was so scared. So then I went to the only person I could think of, and here we are."

"Mitchy... you do know I'm not the only person who cared about you, right? I do care about you, but so do your parents, Kirstie, Kevin, Avi, Matt, Todrick... so many people care about you and love you." He smiles.

"But with you, it's different." I put a hand on his waist, pulling him close to me. He rests his head on my shoulder, letting out a sigh of contentment. Then he looks up at me. "I'd like to meet with our old friends. I miss them a lot." I nod.

"Of course. Do you want to meet up with all of them at once, or-"

"Yeah, that's fine." I narrow my eyes. Mitch has always had terrible anxiety, and it's gotten worse over the last year.

"Are you sure?" He frowns.

"Of course." I nod.

"Okay. But if you change your mind, let me know. I'll invite them over tomorrow. Do you want me to let them know you'll be here, or should we leave that out in case you decide to wait?"

"Tell them. I'm ready." I nod, texting the group chat with me, Alex, Avi, Kirstie, Kevin, Matt, Nicole, Tyler, and Todrick.

Me: Hey guys. Do you think you'd be able to come over to my house around noon tomorrow?

Kirstie: Yeah I can make it

Avi: Yeah

Matt: Sure

Kevin: I'll be there

Nicole: Ofc

Tyler: Yas of course I'll be able to make time for my main bitch

Toddy: Yeah. Is there something going on or did you just want to hang out?

Me: Well there is something you should know.

Kirstie: What?

Me: Mitch is here.

Tyler: Haha very funny

Nicole: We all know that he ran off to who knows where with lover boy. Why would he be back now?

Me: If you don't believe me, that's fine. You'll see when you get here.

I put my phone on silent. I don't need to see any more of their doubtful messages. Mitch looks at me.

"What did they say?" When I hear the anxiety in his voice, I wonder if this is really a good idea. I shake the thought from my head, though. If Mitch says he's ready, I have to believe him. I force a smile.

"They said they'd come." Mitch looks relieved and terrified at the same time. "Hey. Don't worry. It'll be fine." He smiles.

"I know. It's gonna be great."