Love, Hate and Flashing Lights ✧ j. bieber (Sequel to DYTLM)

Chapter 16: Why hide?

//Dae//

It's been months since I last seen or talked to Mitchell. I worried about him everyday, wondering how he was doing. I just always hoped he wouldn't make the wrong decisions. I sat at the kitchen table, pushing away my empty plate just as Justin had placed an article in front of me.

"What's this?" I asked, looking at the picture attached to it. My mind took a while to process until I realized it was a picture of Justin and I when we went out last night.

"I give up. Hiding is useless. I don't even know why I suggested it in the first place." He scoffed, turning away.

"I know you were just protecting me Justin. You were thinking of us." I said, my hand on his forearm, rubbing soothing circles with my thumb. He smiled faintly, before his eyes were trained on his fingers.

"I know. Hey Mitchell called my house phone, thinking you were here. I told him you were sleeping, said he needed to talk? How'd he even get the house phone?" Justin said curiously.

"I gave him my house phone and yours, a while back in case he needed to reach me. I just gave him the numbers to where I am most of the time. Do you mind if I go and see him? I want to know if he is okay."

"Go ahead. It's fine. He needs you. I have some work in the studio this morning so I'll be out as well." He pressed his lips to my cheek, before walking out.

I placed the dished into the sink before getting ready.

****

I stepped out of the car, my eyes observing the home. It was just as I remembered it, the first time I was here visiting Mitchell. I couldn't believe how long it was since then. Over a year.

But I was only ever here once.

And I remember that time, Mitchell tried to scare me into thinking there were ghosts in his house. I even remembered how happy Mitchell was to introduce Sammi to me.

I hoped Mitchell would once be as happy as he was back then.

We had quite a fall out since everything with Justin happened. And I missed Mitchell. Besides Jess, Mitchell was my only other closest friend. And I didn't want to lose him.

I took a breath, balling my hand into a fist and knocking on the door. Moments later his mom answered.

"Dae! It's been a while. Did you want to come in?"

"Oh, no. I'm fine. I was just looking for Mitchell. I missed a call from him and he wanted to talk?" I said, realizing if he wasn't home, he was probably out. 

"He went to therapy this morning but he should be here soon." She smiled, Sammi coming up behind her.

"Hey Sammi, how are you." I asked, crouching down to give her a hug. She smiled and waved before running off back into the house.

"Can you tell him to meet me at the park?"

"Sure thing. Bye honey." She waved.

I drove down to the park, waiting for him to come. It didn't take long before his car pulled up along the curb and parked.

"It's good to see you." He smiled taking a seat next to me on the playground steps.

"I'm glad you're okay. How is therapy going?" I asked, my eyes trailing over him. He seemed more youthful, color to his skin, healthier. The circles around his eyes were gone. And it looked like he had been getting sleep.

"It's going I guess. It helps. My mom keeps an eye on me at home."

"So what happened with everything on your dad. Why did he come back?" I asked, the words falling before I could stop them. I didn't want to hit a biling point with Mitchell. I felt like it might have been more of a sensitive topic still, so I was cautious asking.