Two Degrees of Separation

Chapter 13: Beautifully Broken Boy

Author's Note: Kind of a short one... sorry!! It's an important one, though!

Chapter 13: Beautifully Broken Boy

Scott was sprawled out on his couch, with Mitch clinging to his torso. This was a position with which they were quite familiar. Most would think they were looking at an old married couple in this position, but that was just the way that Scott and Mitch's relationship was.

Mitch occasionally tried to persuade Scott to talk, as it was alarming how emotionless he was. Scott would shut him down each time, telling him to pay attention to the Law and Order episode they were watching because it was "a pivotal part". Mitch was pretty sure his own eyes were rolling into the back of his head completely each time. He would simply clutch Scott tighter.

Three episodes later, the doorbell startled them out of their focus on the screen. Mitch raised his head and looked at Scott, eyes wide. They laid there, staring at each other for a moment, before they heard the sound again.

"I'll get it," Mitch whispered, kissing Scott on the cheek, sympathetically, as he felt the taller man's heart beating out of his chest. "You're okay," he added as he walked away.

Scott sat up, listening intently. For a moment, he couldn't hear a word.

"Mitch, hi..." the exquisite voice carried from the front step into the adjacent living room. Scott felt himself becoming emotional at the sound. He wanted to slap himself, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"Hi, Harry." Mitch replied. Scott had never been more thankful for Mitch. His voice was cold as he continued, "I don't think it's a very good idea for you to be here."

Scott couldn't hear Harry's reply, if there was one.

"Harry, stop."

"Please. Please let me in," Harry's voice was shaky. Scott tried to compose himself.

"Not now, Harry, please... Harry, I said stop."

And just like that, Harry was standing in front of him. His eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was a mess. He looked beautifully broken. Scott couldn't stand it. He was confused. It had only been three weeks of knowing each other. And beyond that, Harry had been the one to toss it aside. How could he be this upset? He had no right.

"Hi there." Scott simply said, trying as hard as he could to appear stronger than he was. He prayed that he looked somewhat decent. He wished he had had the wherewithal to make himself look as attractive as possible for this inevitable exchange. Instead, he was sitting in a t-shirt and shorts, with a snap-back on his head again.

At least his eyes weren't red and puffy. He refused to let Harry see that. Not after only three weeks. He would look pathetic. He noted that Harry didn't look pathetic at all, but Scott would. If you were to ask Scott about the logic of that, he wouldn't be able to explain it, but it was true.

Harry was on his knees now, with his hands resting gently on Scott's thighs, looking up at him with pleading eyes. Scott had to look away. The face in front of him was breaking his heart. His legs were burning where Harry lay his hands.

"Please... please look at me."

Scott laughed, coldly. He wished silently that Mitch would join them in the room again. He knew he wouldn't. He knew that Mitch would leave them alone.

"Please don't touch me," Scott countered, emotionlessly. He mentally patted himself on the back.

Scott turned his gaze to look into Harry's eyes and he nearly fell apart when he saw the pent-up emotion within them as Harry withdrew his hands.

"It wasn't what it looked like." Harry's voice cracked halfway through the statement. It was almost adorable. Almost.

"It looked like you were getting pretty cozy with your ex-girlfriend." Scott said, not breaking eye contact. He was feeling more confident now.

"I was drunk... and... I..."

Harry was cut off by Scott's cold laughter again. "I was drunk two nights ago, Harry. I'm proud to say that I didn't make out with anyone in the corner of a club."

Harry looked as though he had been kicked in the stomach at the thought.

"What you saw? That happened in a split second. Her lips were on mine before I could register what was happening... I pushed her off."

"You didn't push her off when she was dancing on you. In fact, I think I recall that you were actually humping her, for lack of a better word... I could see how she may have gotten the wrong idea."

"How did you know I was dancing with her?"

"Harry, there are videos of it. You must think I'm an idiot." Scott was becoming angrier by the moment. He stood up, running his hands through his hair. Harry stood up quickly, as if afraid that Scott would run from him.

Scott took a breath to calm himself before continuing. "I don't know what you were hoping for here. But Harry... I can't give it to you."

Harry's eyes were devoid of life in that moment. He looked like his soul had shattered with those words.

"I just want you." Harry's voice was wet and full of emotion. "Only you. Please."

"I won't be your experiment anymore. Mitch and I have plans. I guess I'll see you around?" Scott kept his tone even, but he knew his dam was about to break. He needed Harry to get out.

"Scott... you were never an experiment. Why would you say that?"

Scott walked to the front door, opening it and stepping to the side. "You can decide if you want to mess around with guys... but you can use someone else to figure that out." He gestured out the door with his hand, refusing to look Harry in the eye.

"You think I was... that I was using you?" Harry sounded more broken than ever. Scott was surprised that Harry was showing this much emotion after only a short time of knowing him. He remained silent.

"Goodbye, Scott." Harry nearly whispered. He stumbled out of the doorway, looking as though he may fall to his knees.

Scott's heart broke for him. But he refused to let Harry Styles make a fool out of him.

The door shut, and the dam finally broke. Scott leaned against the wall, slumping down to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest. He choked out a heart-wrenching sob. Small arms were around him within moments.

"Shhh... it's okay, Scooter. I'm so proud of you." Mitch's lips were pressed into his hair as he whispered the words, kissing the top of his head.

Scott fell into a fitful sleep later that night, with Mitch still wrapped around him, refusing to leave him alone. He was thankful for his best friend, but he couldn't help but wish that those arms belonged to someone else.

A/N: What do we think? Personally, I think I love these two together and I wish more people would write about them. That's just me.