Part 41
To say that everything went back to normal after that would be a lie. At first Mitch didn't remember anything that had happened before his suicide attempt… other than Nathan breaking up with him and calling him a cheater. He remembered the harassment and hurt he'd felt but that was all. But then… he started to remember the rest. How he got beaten up while Nathan and Otto watched before just walking away and he remembered all pain he felt.
The day he remembered he refused to let Nathan kiss him and Mitch spent the whole visit yelling at Nathan for what he and Otto had done and Nathan kept on asking for forgiveness. They all did whenever they came to visit, but Mitch was so hurt about what happened, the beat up, that he didn't even want to see Nathan or Otto after he remembered it. The boys from the Tiger, Rob and Wes were the only ones he would let visit him, well he would let the others visit. He just didn't talk to them.
A few more days went by and Mitch returned to school. When he got there he tried to make himself small and stay in the shadows. But people wouldn't let him. They would pull him out, hug him, beg for forgiveness and some even cried. They all felt guilty, which Mitch didn't understand because he was the one trying to take his own life, not them. But everyone that had made something that would hurt him came to him and asked for forgiveness and he was taken into Carmichael's office to talk to him every day. Mitch felt good doing it… but he was still unhappy.
"We got to do something", Nathan said as he paced the Warbler hall. Mitch hadn't returned there yet.
"We know", Austin said. "But we can't force him to like and trust everyone again. Not after something like this. We must use tact and all our skill in making friends."
"Oh hush what we need is just some puppy-eyes", Justine said and kissed Austin's cheek. She then looked at Wes.
"Why are you looking at me like that", he asked and she smiled.
"Because you can make anyone of us do whatever you want as soon as we look into your puppy-eyes."
"Don't know what you're talking about", Wes mumbled and looked away from her. Everyone else just laughed.
"But seriously", Austin said and everyone's attention was on him again. "We must leave Mitch to sort this out by himself and with the help of those he wants help from. He's been through something really terrible and he won't be fine just like that…"
"But we can't just sit here and do nothing!" Otto objected. "We've been trying to make him realize we really are sorry. Do you suggest we should stop saying sorry?"
"No", Austin said calmly. "Just don't expect him to accept your apologies quite yet. It even took Justine, Joe, Wes, Rob, I and all others he has forgiven some time to get forgiven."
"Just keep acting normal around him and he'll notice that you really do want him back", Joseph added calmly. "But we also have to give him space and freedom."
"Excuse me", Jesse said and raised his hand. "May I say something?"
Austin nodded at him and Jesse got to his feet.
"Now that we all know Mitch is back and well again", he said. "I suggest we focus on something more important."
"What is more important than getting our friend to feel as if he belongs", Julian spat.
"Sectionals", Jesse said and looked around. "Sectionals is in two weeks and we have yet to decide numbers."
"Don't you think we have something more important than that to focus on right now", Wes spat at him and Jesse glared at him.
"Yes of course", he said. "But do you really think Mitch would want us to lose because of him?"
"No", Austin said. "He wouldn't but we won't as long as the group his whole and without the tense and distressed air that is right now living within the group. Do you really think we could even win with all this negative energy Jesse? Answer me honestly. Do you really think we can win when we are all like this?"
"I", Jesse began and locked eyes with Austin. The council leader narrowed his eyes and Jesse bit his lip. "Maybe, if we think of something else."
"If we think of something else we won't focus on the numbers", Austin said.
"I meant something other than Mitch trying to kill himself because of a silly misunderstanding."
"It was not silly", Austin said sharply. His voice sounded like the crack of a whip and Jesse twitched as if he was hit. "What happened was horrible and only prove the importance of listening to both sides of a conflict before you pick sides! We are all to blame for what happened. None of us were here when Carmichael held his speech but it was recorded and I've been watching it. I know almost everyone has and our dear principal points out that there is not one person to blame for what happened.
We are all to blame because we were quick to judge, quick to go into offensive instead of defensive, planted blame on others and just didn't listen. Had any of us just listened or done instead of just watching none of this would've happened. We are all to blame because we all turned the blind eye or the blind ear. Some turned both and some did it without knowing. Some tried to do what was right but it only ended up making things worse.
We all had to pay for that misunderstanding and Nate and especially Mitch more than anyone else. It cost us a lot. We nearly lost a friend and we lost the group dynamic. We may even have lost a member completely. We don't know yet because Mitch is withdrawn out of fear and worry. So before we do anything else we have to make sure that Mitch is okay, that he feel we are his friends and that we are there for him no matter what. Sectionals is one of the last things on my mind."
"You are our leader", Jesse objected. "It should be amongst the first!"
"I think making sure my friend and teammate is okay ranks much higher than that Jesse. We are not Vocal Adrenaline that uses members that collapse on stage as props. We are friends, we are brothers. We are one team, one unity and I'll be damned if I'd let all that fall because I was thinking of sectionals."
"Hear, hear", Rob said and clapped his hands while Joseph and Otto patted Austin's back.
"If life as a novelist won't work out for you", Otto said happily. "You really should think of going into politics. I'd vote for you as president!"
Everyone laughed, except Jesse. He was glaring at Austin with hatred but the older boy promptly ignored him.
"President Austin Diaz", Justine teased. "I love it. Can I be first lady?"
"Whatever you want", Austin said and kissed her cheek and she blushed.
"Hey!" Otto objected and the pair turned to him.
"What", Justine asked.
"Since when are you two so lovey dovey?"
Both older students blushed and looked at anything but their friends. The cat calls, laughs and cheers started immediately. Wes smiled and looked up at the door, he smiled when he saw a short brunette boy watch them with a sad smile. As the others continued to torment Austin and Justine Wes snuck out and looked at the brunette.
"Is she happy", Mitch whispered.
"I think so", Wes answered. "She and Austin really got closer after what happened. One can say you pulled them together."
"Who knew it would take such extreme methods", Mitch whispered. "I've been trying to pair them up for years…"
"Well Justine is too stubborn to just let her feelings flow and Austin is… shyish."
"Yeah…"
"Why don't you come in?"
"I can't…"
Wes smiled sadly and took Mitch's hand.
"We miss you", he said.
"I know", Mitch whispered. "I miss everyone too…"
"So why don't you come in?"
"Because… Almost everyone in there hurt me far worse than any gun ever could."
"I know but everyone is really sorry… I am too."
"For what"
"For not doing more."
"You did what you could Wes… I've already told you so."
"I know, but it doesn't feel so since you are not with us anymore. Everyone miss you… did you hear Austin's speech?"
"I did", Mitch mumbled. "Otto is right, he could be a president with that kind of speech."
"I'd vote for him."
"Me too…"
"Won't you come in?"
Mitch shook his head and Wes hugged him. Mitch hugged him back and they left together, to go to the Bean and talk a bit with Ma Trixie. She had been spoiling and cuddling, mothering and taken care of Mitch more than ever. It was good for him and for her, it was an outlet for her and Mitch didn't object to being showed some unconditional love.
Nathan and Otto sat in their room trying to figure out a way to get Mitch back. There must be some way they could do it! They had been at it since Warbler practice. They'd been trying to find a song that would work, but it was hard. They were so deep in thought that they didn't notice Wes come into the room and start up Nathan's computer. They didn't notice him until he started a song on Otto's stereo. When it started to play the two juniors jumped up in fright and turned towards it and saw Wes there. He held up a CD and pointed at one of the songs. Nathan walked up and took the CD case and read the title. He then looked at Wes who was smiling. Nathan smiled back and gave him a big hug.
Mitch was sitting in one of the commons doing some homework. He knew people were looking at him with pity and the worst thing was that all the Warblers were in the room, but they didn't do anything. No one approached him. Justine, Austin, Joseph, Oliver and Wes had hugged him and then moved over to talk with the other Warblers. Mitch sighed and looked at his homework and felt the tears well up. Not even Nathan tried to approach him anymore, he did that every day except for today. He guessed Nathan really didn't love him anymore.
Mitch knew he had been really cold towards his ex but it was just because he was hurting. He'd spent so much time on his own now and had found it in him to let it go. He'd gotten the whole story about what happened at what everyone felt from Justine and Austin. Something good had come out of it. The boys in the dorms were closer than ever, Austin had managed to be proud of his sexuality, Austin and Justine were dating, Wes had showed that he was man enough to stand up for what was right even when it was his best friends that were in the wrong and Mitch had realized that he really was loved.
He knew that either his and Nathan's relationship would now be stronger than ever… or as it seemed now… die forever. He tried to keep his tears back when he suddenly heard the Warblers starting to sing and someone right behind him took the lead. It was Nathan, Mitch would knew his voice anywhere and Nathan sang:
Nathan: I've been living to see you.
Dying to see you, but it shouldn't be like this.
This was unexpected,
What do I do now?
Could we start again please?
Mitch turned around and looked up at Nathan. Nathan was smiling sadly at him and took his hand carefully.
Nathan: I've been very hopeful, so far.
Now for the first time, I think we're going wrong.
Hurry up and tell me,
This is just a dream.
Oh could we start again please?
Mitch sniffled and got up, moving his hand away from Nathan and headed for the door. That's when he heard a new voice sing… Otto.
Otto: I think you've made your point now. – Mitch froze in his movement and stopped by the door. He could feel all eyes on him.
You've even gone a bit too far to get the message home.
Before it gets too frightening,
We ought to call a halt,
All: So could we start again please? – Mitch felt a hand on his shoulder and knew it was Otto. Otto gently squeezed his shoulder and Mitch turned around. He saw Nathan slowly move towards him.
Nathan: I've been living to see you.
Dying to see you, but it shouldn't be like this.
This was unexpected,
What do I do now?
Could we start again please? – Nathan took Mitch's both hands in one of his and used his other to caress Mitch's face and wipe away the tears.
Otto: I think you've made your point now.
You've even gone a bit too far to get the message home.
Before it gets too frightening,
We ought to call a halt,
So could we start again please?
All: Could we start again please? (Repeat 5 times)
Mitch: Could we start again?
Nathan grinned as Mitch looked at him through his eyelashes. Nathan takes both of Mitch's hands and everyone watches them carefully. Nathan slowly moves closer and moves his lips towards Mitch's, but then he is surprised. The shorter boy gets his hands loose, grabs Nathan's collar and pulls him in for a desperate kiss. The Warblers and everyone else watching cheers loudly. Natch was back and by the looks of it, judged from the hungry kisses and happy tears, it was going to last.
TBC Sorry for shortness!
Answer to non-members' (or not signed in members') reviews:
Sarah - His nickname is Peter Pan and since he is a freshman he hasn't been mentioned that much.
Paula - Tackar :)
Lissi47 - I know he reminds me of Thad as well :P It keeps happening.
Singing Violet - Thank you for your kind words :) I am not a starkid fan... doesn't even know what it is :P