'Standing By' (Book 1)

Four

{Mitch's POV}

I didn't know how I felt telling Scott about these things. But when he asked me to lift up my sleeves to show him my scars, I did so. I trusted Scott, probably with my life.

"Mitch..." Scott said before he started to tear up.

"This is why I didn't want to show you." I said before getting up off the bed while pulling my sleeves back down.

"No. You can't go. We need to finish talking, Mitch."

"I don't want to. You've seen enough."

"I've seen enough? What more is there to see?" Shit. I spilled too much. I didn't want to show him the other places I cut.

"Show me, Mitch."

"I can't."

"Yes you can. It's okay." Scott told me as he rubbed my shoulder, comforting me.

"Ugh, fine." I then pulled off my shirt, revealing all my scars on my stomach, sides, and even showing him how awfully skinny I was.

"Mitch...they're worse here. Why?"

"Because no one sees me without my shirt on."

"Anywhere else?"

"Yes but I'd have to take off my pants."

"I don't care, I need to see."

"Fine." I then pulled off my jeans, slowly. The look on Scott's face was filled with so much pain, as if it hurt him to see this on me. Which, it did.

"Oh my gosh, Michelle. These are awful." He said attempting to touch the scars on my thighs. They went all the way down to my legs as well.

"Are we done now?"

"No. You can't just show me then not give me an explanation."

"You want an explanation as to why I cut myself?"

"Yes. I need one. I don't understand."

"You're judging me, aren't u?"

"No." I then started to cry. I hated this. The look on Scott's face made me feel worse about all this. I started putting my clothes back on as I was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"An explanation? Okay. Here's one. I feel terrible about myself. I was fat before and I'm still not how I want to be. It doesn't help that I'm jealous of you either."

"You're jealous of me?"

"Yes. You're perfect. You're not only skinny, but you're broad and buff. You're tall, handsome. I'm jealous of you and I have every reason to be."

"What? Like you're not perfect. Mitch, you don't need to have muscles, you're skinny. You're too skinny. I'm sure you don't eat as often as you need, which concerns me, but all these things you can change."

"No I can't. I can't work out like you. I'm too scrawny and small."

"You know what. Starting tomorrow you and I will go to the gym together. I'll help you work out so you don't break yourself."

"Scott-"

"No. I want to help you. I need to. What happens if it gets so bad that you want to die? That can't happen. You have too much to live for. Pentatonix, SuperFruit, your family."

"Yeah, but. Ugh. I don't wanna talk anymore Scott."

"It's okay." Scott pulled me in for a hug. I accepted. It felt so good to be in Scott's arms. It was warm and made me feel good.