Skater Boy 《scomark》

CHAPTER FIVE

"Mitch, I swear to God, you drive like a crazy person and I lose ten years off my life every time I agree to get in a car with you." Mitch isn't an unsafe driver per se, but he accelerates much too fast and slows down very abruptly. It's terrifying. I will never understand how he passed his driving test on the first go around while it took me three tries to get a high enough score. I drive like a normal, safe driver while Mitch is just insane and makes me fear for my life.

Mitch watches me as I all but tumbled out of his car and onto the cool pavement of the parking lot. "Scott, you do realize just how gross the parking lot is, right?"

"Anything is better than being in that death chamber with you."

Mitch rolls his eyes at me, offering a hand so I can stand up without hurting my knee again. After falling over on Tuesday it seems like my knee is never going to fully heal, at least not to my mom's standards. "And you say that I'm the drama queen."

"You are but our kingdom has two queens."

Seeming satisfied with that answer, Mitch helps me off of the ground and we head across the parking lot. While the mall isn't my ideal place to spend a Friday night they do have soft pretzels and it means spending time with Mitch. So there are worse places I can be right about now.

"Let's start at Starbucks that way you don't abandon me half way through shopping."

I flash a cheesy grin. "I do take bribes. Good thinking, Mitchie."

"I know, Scotland. I've been buying your love for me for years." He grins back at me and I throw an arm around his shoulders. With just a glance it would look like we are boyfriends, but I can promise that will never happen. While I will happily protect Mitch with my life our relationship isn't meant to be anything but platonic.

"And that's a fact I'm entirely okay with."

We wait in an absurdly long line of preteen at Starbucks, ordering two of the biggest iced coffees they can legally sell us without having to warn us about heart attack. We spend the next fifteen minutes or so walking around, drinking coffee, and being the goofballs that we turn into when we're together with no parental supervision.

"We should get tattoos." Mitch looks over at me with a raised eyebrow when the words leave my mouth. "What? I think it would be cute. Just something small that shows we're a married couple."

Mitch laughs loudly. "Scott, you're insane but that's why I love you, so I guess I can't really complain."

"Whatever. When I turn eighteen it's happening."

Mitch shakes his head, but the smile never leaves. "I believe you. Now, let's get shopping!"

While I love fashion as much as the next gay, the way Mitch shops has always been a bit above my head. I'm not sure what stores Mitch drags me to or even what we're looking for. At first, he seems to just be buying a few random shorts and a ring that he claims to need more than life itself. I'm mainly just there to tell him what looks good and hold his bags. As the best friend, I'm entirely okay with this.

"I need to get some green tights."

I tilt my head slightly. "What? Why do you need those? I thought you said tights weren't your thing after everyone at your school started to wear them."

"Well, yeah, I did say that." He grins, meeting my eyes. "Scottie? I got the part."

It takes my brain a moment to catch up. "The part? Wait. No. You can't be serious, Mitch. You got it? How are you just now telling me this? This is huge, Mitch!"

Mitch grins, obviously proud of himself. I can't blame him either. After all, getting the role of Peter Pan in the school play is a really big accomplishment, especially since Mitch is only a junior. "I'm going to be Peter Pan!"