"Mitchie, I know you're at home eating pizza. Come over to the Gray house, we're eating spaghetti. Call me up and Nate will come get you." BEEEEP. It was Alex's twentieth message of the night. Mitchie got off of the couch and walked over to the phone to delete the message. She took a bite off of her slice of pepperoni pizza and went back to the couch.

Then the phone rang again, Mitchie didn't bother to pick up. It was most likely going to be Alex again.

"Hey baby, it's Scott. Come over. I got some fresh gloves." BEEEEP. Mitchie stared at the phone and contemplated going over to the frat house. After chewing over a piece of pizza, she stood up and deleted the message. As she stood there, she thought about a month ago, when she officially told Shane that she wasn't going to hang out with him anymore. She dropped her slice of pizza and pulled up the shirt that she borrowed from Shane awhile back. She examined her bruises. She then lifted up the sleeves of the shirt, more bruises now turning blue. She let go of the sleeve. She thought more and more and she went back to her seat on the couch picking up another slice on the way. Mitchie was a mess. The makeup was caked onto her face and her complexion drained. She turned on her T.V. and ended up on the only thing that wasn't on commercial-TMZ.

"So, what do we have on Shane Gray?"

"Well, we caught him wheeling out of Centennial Hospital. An insider heard him say that he's tired of not hearing from a girl."

"Who's this girl?"

"The girl's name is Mitchie Torres. She's the girl that they went on tour with last summer."

"No need to explain more, the girl use to always be at the hospital with him right?"

"Yeah, paparazzi caught her coming out of the hospital in the mornings with a change of clothes. They seemed like Shane's."

"And, now she's not visiting anymore? No more swap of clothing?"

"Nope."

"Alright who has the next story?"

"Well, Vanessa Anne Hudgens was caught with ano-"

Mitchie turned off the T.V. She made a face of disgust and dropped the slice of pizza without really paying attention to where it fell. She ran over to the refrigerator/freezer. She pulled out a carton of ice cream and pulled out the ice cream scoop from a drawer. She flipped off the carton lid and began to hungrily plunge into the ice cream using the carton as a bowl and the ice cream scoop as a spoon. As she scooped the ice cream into her mouth, some missed her mouth and it melted down her cheek. She leaned against the cabinets and slid down. She threw down the carton and crawled over to the pantry grabbing a box of Twinkies off the bottom shelf. She ripped the box open with her teeth causing the separately wrapped Twinkies to fall to the ground. She dove to the ground to pick one up. She quickly unwrapped it and stuffed the plastic-free Twinkie into her mouth. She laid on the ground and stayed that way staring at the ceiling.

"Mitchie, you're in a bad way. We want you to find some help." Alex's voice was calm and steady as she stood in front of a tired looking Mitchie.

Mitchie was somewhat shocked that Alex would even suggest such a thing, "What are you talking about, Alex? I don't need help. I'm not even in 'a bad way'. I'm perfectly fine."

Nate was next to speak to his draining friend, "Mitchie, you're going on tour with us again this summer but you're not going to be able to because you're not well enough."

Mitchie became defensive, "What are you talking about Nate? I'm perfectly fine and healthy. I can most certainly go on tour with you guys again because I'm ready."

Miley shook her head, "No, Mitchie. You're not ready. You're not physically well. And from what we can tell, you're not mentally well either."

Mitchie was in disbelief, "Are you guys serious right now? You're seriously telling me that I'm ill in the head and body? I can't believe this." Mitchie stood up pushing through the wall of her friends but they didn't budge, "Guys move. I'm done here. I no longer feel the need to talk to you right now. See I made my own decision. I'm pretty sure that means I'm mentally well."

Nate gently sat Mitchie down, "Mitchie, it's not that we're trying to be jerks or anything. It's just we're worried about you. We haven't seen you since last month. You missed coffeehouse. That's so unlike you. Since the beginning of the year, that's all you would talk about."

Mitchie stood up, "Well, I still think about it but I just got busy. That's all."

Alex rubbed Mitchie's man undershirt sleeve clad arm lightly, "Mitchie, we all know what you hide underneath your clothes."

Mitchie gave Alex a confused look, "What are you talking about Alex? Are you talking about skin? Because I'm absolutely sure you do it too."

Alex shook her head 'no', "Mitchie, please. I'm just trying to help you. Please just let me help you. It's been so long. We haven't seen you. Then we come to your place and it's a mess. It's like a dump zone in here. You look like you haven't eaten anything in days. I call you but you don't answer or return my calls. We know you spend a lot of time at Scott's. Please just tell me why. Tell me why you think it's okay for him to hit you when you say 'no'. Please just tell me. I want to understand why, Mitchie!" Alex was now pleading with Mitchie as she wore a worried and hurt expression on her face.

Mitchie pulled her arm away abruptly and said nastily, "No, Alex. I will not tell you what is wrong with me because there is nothing wrong with me. I am not trying to hide anything from you guys. So what if I have been spending time at Scott's? It's just like Miley in Andrew's room. So what if it's a mess in here. I just don't clean. And I have eaten food. I just ate too. And Scott does not hit me. I don't know where you thought that up Alex. Because he does not hit me! He just does not hit me!" Mitchie sat down defeated.

Miley swallowed loudly and squatted down to be head level with Mitchie and as Miley spoke she rubbed Mitchie's sweatpant covered knee, "Mitchie, we know he hits you. We've all seen it. You even told Shane that he does. You can't possibly hide it from us now. So listen, maybe it's not that you need professional mental help but you need to break up with Scott. We understand it was a fun relationship at first because well, it was a distraction from Shane but it's not working out now. He's hurting you and that's the last thing a guy you love should do to you."

Mitchie sharply turned her gaze from her fiddling thumbs and dangerously into Miley's eyes, "You think you know what love is, Miley? All you do is go for the next chase. You think you know everything but you don't. Scott shows his love to me differently than how Andrew shows his affection to you."

Miley sighed, "I know you're upset right now, Mitchie, and that's why you're acting irrationally. Put yourself together for pete's sake. Get out of this house for once. Not to go to Scott's but just to come hang out with us. Mrs. Gray is cooking a special dinner tonight if you want to come. Everybody's going to be there. Just like old times. Shane, us, Max, Justin, Frankie. All of us."

Mitchie could really use some home-cooked food but she said, "No." Once she heard it was at the Grays' she immediately thought 'no'. Shane knew her the best. If he saw her like this, there was no way that she could convince him to leave her alone until he knew for sure that she was okay and healthy again.

Alex let go of her breath she was unknowingly holding, "We love you, Mitchie. Just please come for one night. Just one night." Tears began to fall down Alex's cheek. Nate was rubbing her back soothingly and Mitchie had not seen Alex cry since before Nate and Alex were going out.

Mitchie couldn't watch her best friend cry anymore, especially because of her. Mitchie stood up and grabbed Alex in a hug. After a few seconds, Mitchie quietly said in Alex's hair, "I'll go."

Miley was super excited, "You will? That's great. Let me go get you an outfit that's suitable for tonight. You most definitely can not wear those man clothes. I mean they look good on you but still. At least wear girl clothes when you see Mrs. Gray again." Miley ran upstairs to pick out an outfit for Mitchie.

Alex let go of Mitchie and went to the bathroom to wipe off the tears and fix her eye makeup. Nate sat down with Mitchie, quickly scanning her current outfit, and quietly asked, "You still love him, don't you Mitchie?"

Mitchie looked over at Nate with frightened eyes and nodded her head.

"Mrs. Gray!" All the noise of hustle and bustle was going on in the background as Mitchie went up to Mrs. Gray to give her a hug. As soon as they entered the house, Nate, Miley, and Alex went straight to setting up the table, while Max, Justin, and Frankie were out in the front yard kicking around a soccer ball. Mr. Gray was also in the kitchen with Mrs. Gray helping with the preparation of dinner. The couple greeted Mitchie as if they hadn't seen her in years.

"Mitchie! Honey, we haven't seen you in so long! Where have you been hiding off?" Mrs. Gray pulled Mitchie in for a hug.

Mitchie giggled and shrugged 'I don't know'. She quickly said "Hey Mr. Gray!" and gave a little wave.

Mr. Gray was currently preoccupied trying to pour the pan drippings into a bowl but he cordially said "Hey!" in return.

Mitchie smiled widely which she forgot she could do. She hadn't genuinely smiled since before a month ago. As Mrs. Gray returned to cooking, Mitchie quickly left the kitchen and ran up to Shane's room. She slowly turned the doorknob to keep it from making too much noise and she opened the door. To her surprise, Shane was sitting there on his bed. Shane turned his head to her and looked her up and down. Miley had chosen a skimpy dress for her but instead Mitchie opted for a cute blouse and skinny jeans with gladiator sandals.

Quietly Mitchie made the first greeting, "Hey." Her eyes then self-consciously dropped down to the neatly folded stack of Shane's clothes she was holding. The stack had gotten pretty tall, which collected over time but now she wanted to give them back to Shane. All she wanted to do was leave them on his bed. She wasn't expecting him to be up here in his room watching T.V. She was hoping that she could just quickly leave it and slip back into the chaos downstairs.

Interrupting her thoughts, Shane asked, "Those mine?"

Mitchie distractedly answered, "Uh yeah." She mindlessly giggled, "They started collecting in my room and I figured that I don't need them anymore because..."

Shane picked up her unfinished sentence, "Because you could get them from Scott."

Mitchie looked up at Shane, "Mmyeah." Mitchie stood tense staring at Shane before continuing, "Um no. Actually, I just didn't want them anymore." Why couldn't she just tell him the truth? Of course she wanted his stupid clothes but it was unhealthy. She was with another boy and yet she slept in her ex's clothes, heck she did everything in those sweats. She practically never took them off unless she went to school. "It had nothing to do with what Scott wanted." Mitchie walked over to Shane's bed and placed the clothes down on his bed beside him. "It's what I want." Mitchie patted the stack of clothing and rested her hand on top.

Shane laid back on his bed, "Y'know Mitchie. I haven't seen you in awhile."

Mitchie still sounded distracted, "Ditto."

"So, where've you been? I missed you."

Mitchie jumped on the last part of his words to quickly, "You did? I mean, yeah I've been busy."

"Been busy... Doing what?"

"Listen, Shane, people fall in and out of love all the time. Sometimes love fades and sometimes it wasn't even love at all."

"What are you trying to say Mitchie?"

"I don't even know."

"I don't know either but Mitchie, let's just try to enjoy the night. We haven't seen you in awhile."

"Are you trying to end the conversation?"

Shane sighed, "Why are you trying to start a fight, Mitchie?"

Mitchie became defensive, "I'm not trying to. Why? Does it seem like I'm trying to?"

"Mitchie. Just for a second be quiet."

"Is that what you want, Shane, for me to be quiet? Well then you got it!" Mitchie started on her way out.

"Mitchie! Don't be silly and stop starting drama."

Mitchie spun around, "Say one more thing to me and I'll slap you!"

"Mitchie you're the one who's being a bitch."

...

"Mitchie you're the one who's being a bitch!"

"NO, I'm not Scott! I don't want to do anything right now. I'm tired! After that last beer, I think I'm hammered."

"Bitch, get up!" Scott pulled Mitchie harshly off the bed. "I said 'get up'!"

"Scott, please stop! I'm tired." Scott threw Mitchie against the wall. She screamed and grabbed her head as she slid down the wall and began to cry, "Why are you doing this to me! I thought you said you loved me!" Scott grabbed Mitchie's wrists and pulled her up. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and fear took over her eyes. Scott grasped harder. "Scott, you're hurting me! Let go!" She began to flail, "Let go!"

"Shut up, Mitchie!"

Fear filled Mitchie's body, "No! Stop Scott."

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" Scott slapped Mitchie across the face with such force that her body stumbled to the side and rammed into Scott's dresser. Scott hurried over to Mitchie with his fist balled up. Just as he was winding back and holding her shoulder as she sobbed, they both heard a bang on the door.

From the other side of the door was Andrew's voice, "Hey man! We know you're kinky! Quiet it down a little! Me and the lady are trying to get it on!"

Scott looked down into Mitchie's eyes and for the first time during his rage attack he really saw what was there. Her fear of him. She sat there slumped and drunk. He calmed down, "Hey. Mitch, I'm really sorry." He pulled her into him as her sobs became heavier. "I'm really sorry, Mitch." He hugged her and held her close as he rocked her to quiet her until she fell asleep.

...

Tears slid out of Mitchie's and her eyes slammed open, "Do not call me a bitch. Don't ever call me that."

Shane sat up, "Whoa, Mitchie. Calm down. What's wrong?"

Mitchie took a step forward and darkly said, "Don't you ever call me a bitch again."

Shane cautiously got up off of his bed and hobbled closer to Mitchie, "Mitchie, calm down." He threw his hands up in the air.

"Step away from me Shane!" Shane inched closer. "I said 'step away'!" Mitchie broke down into tears now, "Shane get away from me! I said 'get away'!" Shane hurried and pulled Mitchie in for a hug as tears flooded her eyes. She fought for him to let go for a couple of seconds but then relaxed and let herself drain her tears onto Shane's t-shirt as he held her protectively. Shane soothingly shushed her and slid his hand down her back repeatedly.

"Wanna tell me what that was about?" Alex slid down beside Mitchie.

Mitchie sniffed and wiped away some tears before replying, "No."

Alex was not one to badger another when they were upset but she felt like she already knew what it was about and just wanted Mitchie to clarify it, "Mitchie, are you sure?"

Mitchie looked at Alex and gave her the death glare, "Yes, I am sure that I don't want to tell you Alex. How plainly do I have to say it again?"

"Then, please Mitchie, tell me what you are going to do about it? Please tell me who you want to talk to about it."

"Nobody, Alex. Why can't you understand that! Nothing is even wrong. There's nothing to talk about!."

Alex remained calm, "Mitchie, you and I both know that there is something wrong. Otherwise you wouldn't have broke down in Shane's room."

"I don't have to explain anything to you, Alex."

"What happened to us, Mitchie? We use to be best friends. I use to be your best friend. You use to tell me everything."

"Nothing happened to us, Alex. You want me to talk about it so badly with you then fine. I will tell you. Shane called me a bitch. So go to him now because it's his fault for throwing around names."

"Okay, I'll be right back." Alex got up off the Grays' home studio floor and ran up the stairs. Just as soon as Alex went up, Shane came down.

Mitchie heard the steps and called out without realizing who it was, "Wow, that was fast. Did he fess up to what he said?"

"He didn't have to."

Mitchie's head shot up and saw Shane standing in front of her, "What are you doing down here Shane?"

Shane sat down criss-cross applesauce or at least to the best of his abilities what with his cast and all in front of Mitchie, "So, Mitchie, tell me what's wrong."

"Why is everybody being so demanding? If I don't feel like saying anything, then I won't say anything and I'll tell them there's nothing to tell. So far I've told just about everybody who's asked that I don't want to talk about it and there's nothing to talk about."

"Alright, well, Mitchie. You make it pretty obvious that there's something wrong. You can't tell people that you don't want to talk about it and then say there's nothing to talk about. If there wasn't anything to talk about then you would have started off with there's nothing to talk about not I don't want to talk about it."

"Shut up Shane. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Mitchie, I obviously know you better then you thought."

"Why do you say that?"

"Is your breakdown about Scott?"

"Why would you say that Shane? I told you I love him."

"Do you really Mitchie? Just tell me the truth. Don't lie to me anymore."

"Yes."

"Mitchie. I know you well. Don't tell me lies. I know the truth already."

"Then why do you keep asking me if it's about Scott or not?"

"Ahh, so it is about Scott." A smirk grew on Shane's face.

Mitchie looked shocked and stuck in headlights, "I, uh, that's not what I said. Don't pull words out of my mouth."

"I don't have to Mitchie. I know you too well." His hand gently rested on her knee. As she let him, Shane took it as a good sign and scooted closer to her.

xoxo

I meant to post this a week ago. So sorry about that! Since summer is over and I'm starting to get busier, I don't know how often I'll be able to post, but I'm excited because it's finally Friday after a long week!