I'm more determined to finish my stories before this year ends. 2020 needs some kind of positive outcome.

Enjoy!

PLEASE REVIEW. I havent read your thoughts in so long. I've missed what you guys think of this story!

"Where have you been?" Shane asked after a quiet dinner.

Mitchie walked to the library and took a seat in one of the lounge couches, Shane sat opposite to her. He looked at her appearance. She was wearing an oversized UCLA sweater and some Capri leggings? I think that's what his ex girlfriends used to call those black stretchy pants that showed off every curve of their bodies.

Shane cleared his throat as he let his mind go there. It's been a long time since he was affectionate with someone. He was missing the feeling of someone touching him, caressing him. Shane snapped out of those thoughts and sat taller, in a way to hide his growing bulge.

Mitchie sat numb, she knew she looked crazy. It had been days since she actually looked at herself in the mirror and thought 'wow I look a mess'. But there was no motivation for her to get up and try. She was still in a manic state. She didn't understand why her first words were with Shane. Emotions came crashing down on her and she couldn't keep them in any longer.

Her stomach hurt from all the food she ate. Even though it was a quarter of what her mom served her it was the first meal she's had in almost two weeks. She sighed as her feet took her to the library. Giant in tow.

She took a seat on her favorite couch. It was oddly from Ikea and not imported from some fancy store in Paris or Spain like most of her parents' other furniture. It was her dad's couch in college. And he's kept it ever since. He swore this couch was his home since he lived on it during his med school years. It was Mitchie's favorite spot in this empty home.

Shane looked over at the shell of the spunky girl he'd grown to like a few weeks ago. She didn't look the same. Looked like she was going through it.

"Where have you been?" Shane asked softly.

Mitchie flinched at his hand on her shoulder, "around."

"Let me in."

Mitchie shook her head. Tears welling in her eyes. She knew if she didn't leave the room they were going to spill. Mitchie didn't cry often. And hated having an audience.

"I can't."

"Please?" Shane asked.

Mitchie stood up, and rushed up the staircase. Shane right on her heels.

"Mitchie. Stop! Please talk to me."

Mitchie's shoulder slumped as she let out a gasp. She held onto the rails and her body fell limp. Her shoulders shook as the emotions she's been keeping bottled in spilled out of her.

Shane caught her in his arms, he looked around wondering where Mitchie's parents had gone after dinner but didn't see them anywhere. He held on tighter and Mitchie slid onto his lap.

He could feel her bones as she sat on him. This felt different from the night of the party. That night she felt lightweight, but she had meat on her. She wasn't skin and bones. He knew whenever Mitchie was it had done something drastic. He was afraid of bringing up the post. He was afraid of speaking. He liked her safe in his arms. That's where he wanted her. Always. He will keep her safe from every bad thing out in the world.

"I can't let you in." Mitchie sniffled, "it'll become real if I do."

Shane shooed her quiet as he picked her up bridal style and walked up the stairs. He looked around but the long hallways confused him. He looked to his left and saw a door cracked open. The pastel yellow walls somehow looked inviting. He knew that was Mitchie's room.

He walked into her room and sat her on her bed. He grabbed the chair near her vanity and sat down. Shane didn't know where her parents had gone but he wasn't going to be found on Mitchie's bed. They had trusted a complete stranger into their home. To stay with their distraught daughter. He wasn't going to ruin that now.

"I'm here. You don't have to let me in if you don't want to. Just know that I'm here."

"Grab my things please and turn them on." Mitchie motioned for her phone and laptop that sat on her desk. They looked brand new.

"Okay." Shane said as he placed them in front of her.

She played with her phone then handed it to him.

"I need to start all over. I need your phone number."

Shane nodded and typed it in. He gave it back to Mitchie.

Her eyes widened before she let her lips turn up into the smallest smile he'd ever seen.

"The Giant" followed by his phone number is what he put it.

"How did we get here?" Mitchie asked Shane.

Shane only looked at her with a confused look. Without looking up and missing a beat Mitchie could almost hear his thoughts.

"Weeks ago I was beating your ass at beer pong. Now I'm here. A shell of who I used to be." Mitchie's voice sounded strained. Like she hadn't been using it for a while and all this talking was making her throat dry.

"What happened?"

"Like you don't already know." Mitchie sighed. Her smile went away and a frown plastered on her face. She didn't even bother to stop and worry about wrinkles.

Shane was nervous. He'd never seen this side of her. He didn't think there was any other side besides the bitchy version he had grown to get used to and like.

"Is that why you left?"

"Wouldn't you? The whole damn school kept talking about it. Like fuck me for being a virgin. But not literally because i actually want to fucking wait. Are all the girls sleazy here that it was that unheard of? Because if all it takes for me to lose my damn virginity i might just do that. So it'll all stop. I just want it to fucking stop." Mitchie said staring coldly down at the ground.

Shane sighed. He didn't know what to do in this situation. He didn't want to tell mitchie that she was right. If she lost her virginity she might not be the talk of the town. But he couldn't because he didn't know what she would do in this state she was in. He didn't want her to go find someone not worth it. Shane wanted Mitchie to stay true to herself.

"I don't think that's the case," he treaded lightly on the subject, "I think what started it was the jealousy Misty had from the start. We aren't used to someone like you in this town. Everyone knows everyone. So when someone like you came into this town, it was like having our own celebrity. They couldn't shut up about you. Everything you did everyone noticed."

"I wish i could take it back. I wish i would've fought my parents into staying. Coming here was a mistake." Mitchie said after a few minutes of silence.

She took in what Shane was saying. Her mind was telling her that whatever he was saying had a point. She stood out like a sore thumb. She didn't calm down her attitude and ways even though she knew she should have.

But why do I have to change?

You don't have to. They should stop being jealous of what you have and be thankful to be around your presence.

Mitchie groaned as she fell backwards onto her bed. Her mind and heart were in two different places. She wanted to go back to her new normal.

This wasn't her. She let her inner demons win.

"I should be going. I wasn't planning on staying out this late. My parents are probably wondering where I am." Shane said. He got up from the chair and put it back to place. He took her in her room. Everything just looked expensive. It was spotless, everything had a spot and everything had a theme. He thought back to his four walls. He had random posters up on his walls, his bed was a hand me down from Jason. The sheets were new because he bought them earlier that year but he'd been using Jason's. This room was double the size of his.

"Will you come by tomorrow? My parents are having a hard time going back to their new normal. And I want to show them I'm fine. I just dont think i can be alone." Mitchie's dark circles eyes asked.

Shane stood by the door in shock. He hesitated.

"Never mind i guess. It was a stupid idea, I'll see you at school." Mitchie said sensing his hesitation.

He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Mitchie frowned as she closed the door and he heard the doorknob lock.

"Fuck." Shane whispered harshly to himself.