****This is a set up chapter. Nothing particularly exciting, but quite a bit of mounting tension, I think.
*Scott's P.O.V*
"Hey Scooter, can we hit Urban Outfitters before we leave? I need a new sweater for Europe." Kirstie and I have been shopping literally all day, and her request was responded to accordingly.
"You know I love to shop, KK, but we've already been in there twice and it's all the way on the other side of the mall. Can't we just take a break for like, half an hour?" My feet hurt like a bitch and I've got lines in my arms from the stupid bags.
"C'mon, Scotty the mall closes in half an hour...okay, how about this; if you do Urban Outfitters, I'll take you to Chipotle as soon as we're done. Sound fair?" Wait, did she say something about food? Aw, hell yeah.
"Now that you put it that way, lead the way, madam!"
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Two sweaters, three beanies, and two very large burritos later, Kirstie and I are chilling on the Chipotle patio with some rather large margaritas. We've just finished laughing at something that will probably never be funny again when she leans back and looks at me, taking a dramatic sip of her drink.
"So, Scottland, tell me something. How are you and Michelle getting along these days?"
"Funny you should ask, really. He's been acting sort of strange lately. Almost...distant. Not like he's losing interest, but like he's trying to test me. About a month ago he sort of threw me against the wall when we were making out, so I giggled because he's so small, you know? He got a really weird look in his eyes, and his jaw tightened for just a second before he went back to normal...Kit? Are you alright?" Her face has paled slightly and she is staring at me with wide eyes.
"Scott...how much time have you been spending with Alex?"
"Eh, a little more than usual, I guess. Why?"
"And does Mitch ever just disappear for an hour or two without explanation?"
"Yeah, now that I think about it...KK, what the hell is going on? Is Mitch a super human or something?" At this point I am incredibly confused. What does Kirstie know about Mitch that I don't?
"Oh geez...there's no stopping it now. You said this has been going on a whole month? You have NO idea what you've got coming. He only did this for a week when it happened to me and it was still pretty bad. I suggest you get your ass home right now and BEG for him to go easy. Did he say he was going out tonight?" I gape at her for a little bit before stuttering out a reply.
"Kirstie...what the hell are you talking about? What do I have coming, what am I begging for, and what happened between you two that was 'pretty bad'?" My voice gets a little louder on the last part, a trace of alarm tingeing my words.
"Listen, Scott. There's a...side to our Mitchell that not many people know about. In fact, apparently nobody knows about it but me and him. I figured you would've had to face it by now, but I guess not. Do you remember when he and I went on that spring break trip in '08?"
"Yeah, you guys totally fell off the grid that week. Why? What happened?" She takes a long drink of her margarita before she answers me.
"We told everybody we were going to Galveston, but we actually flew to New York. It was the craziest week of my life. We'd been saving up for that trip since the eighth grade, so we had a decent hotel and good fake IDs. That whole week we did nothing but watch movies, eat pizza, and go clubbing. I've never gone so hard in all my life, Scooter. It was the greatest." A twinkle danced in her eyes at the no doubt fuzzy memories.
