Scott's P.O.V.

I slowly walked into Mitch's hospital room, sitting in the plastic chair beside it.

"Hey," Mitch croaked.

I bit my lip to keep from crying.

"Hey Mitchie. How are you feeling?"

He winced as he tried to sit up a little farther. "As good as I can be."

I nodded, taking his hand in mine. "Look, I'm so sorry for everything that I said to you. I shouldn't have asked you to choose, and I shouldn't have gotten mad. I understand why you did what you did now."

Tears started to roll down his face. "Scott, I know how Rebeca felt now."

"Mitch, you don't have to-"

"She was abused for years Scott! I only went through it for a couple of months, and I already know how she felt. I know why she couldn't tell anyone how badly Alan was treating her. I know that she didn't want anybody to find out. And worst of all Scott, I know how she felt right before Alan killed her."

"Mitch, it's okay," I cooed softly, rubbing circles into his hand.

"Scott I thought I was going to die."

I felt tears of my own start to fall down my face as I stared into Mitch's bloodshot eyes.

"Mitch, I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you. Especially like this. I couldn't save Rebeca, and I almost lost you too. I can't lose two of my best friends in the same way that Rebeca went. You and Kirstie were almost goners. I'm so sorry Mitch. I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay Scott. You couldn't have known..."

We were silent for the next few minutes until Nurse Cheyenne knocked on the door frame.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting something. I'm here to get Mr. Grassi for his surgery."

"What are you talking about?" Mitch asked, sounding very worried.

"You didn't tell him that he was going in to surgery?" I asked angrily, standing up.

Nurse Cheyenne shook her head. "I didn't think-"

"Scott, I'm scared."

Mitch squeezed my hand so tightly it turned white.

"Mitch, just try and calm down. Please."

"Scott I've never had a surgery before! Don't let me go!"

"You have to! It's going to fix everything! I'll be waiting for you when you get back, I promise."

He gulped, but didn't let to of my hand. "I'm still so scared."

Without thinking, I leaned in close to his face and pressed my lips to his. I quickly pulled away, looking at his face carefully.

"I...um...look Scott. I'm not ready for a relationship right after...you know..."

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Right. No I totally understand. Sorry, that was out of line."

"I just...can't right now, alright?"

I nodded as two hospital attendants began to roll Mitch out of the room.

"I'll be right here for you when you get out!"

And just like that, Mitch had disappeared. I looked at the empty doorway sadly.

"Excuse me, but are you two...?"

I looked pointedly at Nurse Cheyenne.

"Gay? Yes we are. Obviously not dating, but still gay. And I'm proud of it!"

I smiled to myself, because for the first time in my entire life, I had stood up for myself. It felt amazing.

"I just want you to know that even though I come from a very Christian background, I'm not going to let my religion get in the way of helping somebody. I'm going to do everything in my power to see to it that Mr. Grassi gets better."

I was speechless. Never before had I met such a sweet woman, and she was promising to take care of Mitch. This complete stranger had moved me to tears.

"Thank you. So much," I whispered, wrapping her in a huge hug.

"No problem Mr. Hoying. Now I should probably get down to the operating room."

She quickly left the room, and I followed her lead, going the opposite direction. I really hoped that I knew how to get out of this place. I needed to run out and pick up a few things before Mitch came back.

Kirstie's P.O.V.

Where were Scott and Mitch? Scott should've been back by now at least, right? What was keeping them so long?

"Ms. Maldonado? Do you need any pain medication?"

"I'm fine," I mumbled, waving the nurse away.

"Kirst are you feeling all right?" Avi asked. I avoided his gaze.

"I said I'm fine."

"Alright."

"Why are you here?" I asked, my tone not harsh, but truly curious. He gave me a confused look.

"What do you mean? Do you not want me to be here?"

"I do! It's just...I thought you didn't want me..."

His eyes went wide. "Kirstie, how could you ever think that?"

"Well at the party a couple of nights ago, when that guy attacked me, you didn't do anything. I just thought you didn't care what happened to me after that."

"Oh Kirstie, I will always want you. I was drunk. I didn't mean it. I'm so sorry." He paused and but his lip, and I could tell that something was bothering him. Other than the conversation that we were having.

"What's wrong?"

He looked up at me, tears shining in his eyes.

"I'm just like him, aren't I?"

"Like who?"

"Troye. I hurt you while I was drunk, just like he did. I'm exactly like him."

I grabbed his hand. "No Avi! Baby you're nothing like him! Sure it was a mistake, but do you really think that you deserve to be compared to that psychopathic lunatic?"

He shrugged. "I don't know what to think anymore."

"Well then listen to me. I'm telling you that you and Troye are completely different. Troye likes to hurt people. You obviously don't. And it's not like you kidnapped and tortured people. It was one drunken mistake. Don't be too hard on yourself."

The tears were coming in steady streams now, and watching Avi cry made me want to cry.

So I did. Me and Avi sat together, crying like a couple of babies, completely ignoring Kevin sitting awkwardly across the room.

"Ms. Maldonado? We've finished all of our tests and decided that you can go home now. We'll just prescribe you some pain medication and you should be good to go!"

Kevin thanked the nurse and went out to go sign some release forms while Avi and I got ourselves together.

"Do you think we should go find Scott and Mitch?" I asked Avi as he carefully helped me up off of the bed.

"Nah. Something tells me that they should be alone right now," Avi replied with a sly smirk.