Mitch's POV

“Open my eyes unto this broken world

Searching for purpose that’s never there

The misery that never relieves its hold

Clouds my vision with grey despair…”

It was the day before graduation. Eli and I were on call while I packed my stuff up since I was spending the night with the others at Sarah's place. He wanted to show me a song he'd just finished writing and was singing it to me.

“But soon enough I see a flare

Shooting through my enclosed heart…”

He paused after the intro.

“Do you like it so far?”

“Of course I do!” I grinned, but remembered my camera was off so he couldn't see. “You wrote it, so of course it's good.”

“Are you sure?”

“Uh-huh!” I threw some clothes in my bag. “Anything Elliot-made gets the Mitch stamp of approval!”

“And you're not just saying that?”

“Of course not.” I tried to sound as sincere as possible. “I like it, really.”

A moment of silence passed.

“I love you.” He muttered.

“I love me too!” 

“Fuck you, dude.”

I laughed. “I love you too, Eli.”

__________________________________

Eli and I had just hung up and I was in my way downstairs to head out; that's when I heard mom and dad arguing.

They'd been doing that more often lately, but I hadn't thought much of it…

“—Don’t you take your idiot son and get out, then!”

“Maybe I will.”

Oh, that didn't sound good.

I'm used to Mom calling me names, but to dad's face? That was new.

And why would she suggest—?

“Honestly, this house would be better of without you two good-for-nothings around.” I heard a pot slam down. 

“Good for nothing? Who does all the work to support this family?”

“I have a job too! We'll be just fine if you walk out!”

…Uh-oh.

“And that son of yours can barely pass his classes. It's not like he's going to go anywhere important.”

I really wanted to just leave, but my feet felt glued to the staircase.

“Maybe he'd do better away from a wretched woman like yourself.”

A cabinet slammed.

“How dare you talk to your own wife like that!”

“How much longer are you going to be that, exactly?”

Oh.

Oh nonono.

I started having trouble breathing, and it felt like the world was spinning.

__________________________________

I don't really remember how I got to Sarah's place. Just that she opened the door and let me in, looking worried.

I stumbled past her family, giving those polite “hi"s you give when you really don't wanna be near someone but have to be nice for their sake. 

Come on, she has five sisters! And they're really loud! I didn't need to deal with that at the moment!

When I got up to her room, I realized the twins were already there.

“Why the fuck are you so sweaty?” Alex looked me up and down.

“Are you okay??” Rain asked.

“I'm—fine!” I grinned at them. “Just needed—a good run!”

They shared a look, but I just tossed my bag on the floor and stretched.

“What're we doing first?”

I definitely didn't miss the evil look the girls shared.

“...Uhh…what's that mean?”

They then grinned evilly at me.

“We're gonna do your hair in the morning,” Sarah started.

“But we have to get started tonight!” Rain clapped her hands.

I'm pretty sure my screams could be heard all the way across town.

__________________________________

In the middle of the night, I was laying there, head getting sore from how tight the hair curlers had been rolled into my skull; I was on my phone, texting Eli about it.

“Mitch?”

I looked up and noticed Sarah looking down at me with a frown.

“Are you doing okay?”

For a second, I wanted to tell her what I'd heard. That I was scared. That I didn't know why I was so scared.

But instead, I just grinned at her.

“Of course! Why d'ya ask?”

She stared at me for a long moment before yawning and shrugging.

“No reason. Just don't do any running before graduation tomorrow or your suit'll get all smelly.”

“Yeah, yeah…”

She rolled over; I did the same and picked my phone back up.

However, Eli seemed to pick up on something being wrong, too.

Tigerxx1: you know you can tell me anything, right?

That's the thing. I can tell him anything. Things I don't even wanna tell myself sometimes. 

It's just…easier with him.

And also…he would understand this better than anyone, cause he grew up in a custody battle until he was like, ten.

So I did what I didn't wanna do.

LukeaDuke: Mom and Dad might be getting a divorce.