A/N: Ugh this is so short but the next bit didn't fit in with the tone of this chapter at all so I had to cut it off. No Kirstie in this chapter but lots of talking about her obviously. Um also thanks so much for 2,500 reads. That is absolutely mindblowing to me and I totally didn't expect it. Thanks for all of the votes and comments, they remind me that this isn't just for my benefit! I am eternally grateful.
Once we’ve finished talking we decide to watch a movie. We’re just trying to choose which one when our buzzer goes off. I tell Kevin that I’ll get it and I get up from the couch and go to see who it is. I walk down the stairs and to the front door of the building barefoot. I’m kind of hoping it’s Kirstie so my first reaction when I see Mitch standing there is disappointment. This is quickly replaced by genuine nervousness when I register the glare he’s giving me. ‘Could you please explain why on earth Kirstie is sat in mine and Scott’s apartment crying her eyes out over “some boy” who she can’t tell us about.’
Shit. I made her cry. Shit. Apparently my shock and unhappiness are visible on my face because he tones down the glare a bit. ‘Avi. She obviously couldn’t explain in front of Scott and I’m trying to give you a chance to tell me what happened rather than going with my original plan which was to egg your car.’ I wince slightly. Not so much at the idea of him threatening to egg my car but at the thought that he might actually be angry enough to do it. We don’t really fall out. I can’t remember a time where I’ve seriously argued with any of the group and now I’ve made Kirstie cry and made Mitch angry with me. Kevin isn’t exactly impressed either and I know if Scott knew I was the one who upset Kirstie he would probably hate me.
‘I told her that I like her.’ Mitch nods ‘Ok.’ ‘And then she said she wasn’t sure how she felt about me and I was kind of an asshole.’ ‘How much of an asshole?’ ‘Well I made her cry so.’ I sigh in frustration and put my head in my hands. ‘I basically told her that she owed me for everything and that I was there to pick up the pieces when she broke up with people so I deserved an explanation.’ I remember too late that Mitch doesn’t know all of what’s been going on between us. ‘So I take it the other day wasn’t the first time then?’ I shake my head slowly. ‘The first time was during the sing-off.’
Mitch blinks at me. ‘So you’ve been having sex on and off for two years and it’s been just sex the whole time and then out of the blue you basically demand that she have feelings for you?’ I wince. ‘It wasn’t like that.’ ‘Seriously? You did the whole nice guy thing. The, I’ve been your friend and now you owe me a relationship thing.’ ‘It wasn’t like that. We haven’t just been friends.’ Mitch sighs exasperatedly and clenches his fists. ‘You agreed that it was just sex.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you getting feelings for her. There’s nothing wrong with telling her. But being an idiot because she doesn’t instantly leap into your arms is pretty low Avi.’
He’s scowling at me pretty intensely by this point. ‘I didn’t mean to upset her. I was just pissed and hurt that she didn’t feel the same way.’ ‘Avi, I’m going to leave now. You’re not going to speak to Kirstie until she tells me it’s ok.’ ‘What? Like that’s your decision.’ ‘It’s not my decision Avi but it’s also definitely not yours. You owe her an apology but first you need to give her some time to feel better.’ He shakes his head. ‘I just can’t believe this Avi. You’re the nicest guy in the world and then you do this. Scott has basically no clue what’s going on but even he’s threatening to kill the guy.’ ‘I didn’t mean to hurt her. I’m just so in love with her and I want to be with her so much and it's stupid because a few days ago it's like it didn't mean anything to me and now it's everything in the world.’ ‘What?’ I realise my mistake when I see the look on his face. ‘You’re in love with her?’ I’m in love with her. Shit. I’m in love with her. ‘Yes.’ I say it through gritted teeth and Mitch sighs. ‘You are an idiot. Have you told her?’ ‘No.’ ‘Wow, I’m almost feeling sorry for you.’ ‘I’ve never even really thought it before, let alone said it out loud.’ He still doesn’t look happy with me.
‘What did Mitch want?’ This is too much. Kirstie already hates me and I doubt her and Mitch can keep this from Scott for long. ‘It was Kirstie.’ ‘What was? What happened?’ His voice is higher than normal and he’s facing me directly. ‘She’s the girl.’ ‘Oh.’ He sinks back into the couch and switches off the TV. I sit down next to him. ‘The first time was during the sing off.’ We’re both facing the TV and I’m staring at the empty screen. ‘Ok.’ ‘Yeah. I suppose it just took me a long time to work out how great she is.’ ‘So everything you said the other day?’ ‘Yep. All about Kirstie.’ He breathes out deeply and when he speaks, his voice is strained. ‘And she is the girl who you yelled at.’ ‘Yes.’ He puts his head in his hands. ‘I can’t deal with you right now Avi. It was bad enough when it was just some random girl but this is Kirstie. As in our bandmate and best friend.’ He stands up and walks into his room and I'm left alone.
A/N: Yep now Mitch and Kevin both know everything. Scott's still in the dark but that's not likely to last long. I want to really look at the affect this has on the group as a whole and the friendships and general band dynamic before I focus back in on Avi and Kirstie. Like Mitch said she needs time so aside from flashbacks there's not really going to be any Kavi interaction in the next few chapters.
