***

"Slut!"

A girl shouted as she walked by. Mitch rolled his eyes and slammed his locker shut. A rumor had been flying around school that Mitch slept with the principle when he got called into the office for an hour.

No, it didn't happen. He got called in for an hour with his parents because there was a problem with his application transfer to college. So he had to sort it out and it took up a lot of time, when he left, a boy named Jet asked,
"What did you do? Suck his dick?"

Mitch was confused, he wasn't exactly disliked at this school and bullying wasn't really a problem, but alas, the name calling, trash throwing, and disgusted glances began. Everytime he tried explaining that he was working in his college applications, people just scoffed and ignored him.

After the first rumor, it got worse. Guy after guy began pouring out of their mouths as Mitch's 'toys.' When Mitch only had sex once.

Mitch walked away, trying to let it go. But as he continued walking down the hallway, a piece of crumbled paper was thrown at him. Having reached his boiling point that day, frustrated tears stung in his eyes as he picked up the piece of paper and threw it back to another girl.

"Just stop! Please!" He yelled at her before storming off into the bathroom. He made sure nobody was in the stalls before angry smashing his fist on the bathroom counter.

Why him?

Why out of all people it had to be him?

But he had to deal with it. At least it wasn't like, Kirstie or something. He would take it, even if he hated it.

He had Kirstie and Scott, his two best friends. That's all he needs...
Right? Yeah, right.

***

School was let out early that day and Mitch couldn't be happier.
After quickly leaving his class to avoid any negative attention, he spotted Kirstie and Scott and practically dragged them outside.

Mitch and Kirstie began talking about the days boring events as Scott listens and occasionally commented.

"Was anyone...mean today?" Kirstie then asked when their topics died down. Scott glanced over at Mitch and frowned slightly and Mitch's face totally dropped.

"I-...uh, not anymore then usual. Anyway--"

"Mitch, you have to tell the principle."
Mitch laughed loudly and shook his head slightly.

"Seriously? Anytime I go near the principles office people say 'looking for a good time?' Yeah, that's not happening. And it's like principle Matt doesn't already know."

Kirstie shook her head as she slightly scoffed, she hated high school. She loved learning, but not this. Especially not when her best friend was being harassed on the daily.

"Mitch, he can do something about."
Scott tried, really wanting all of it to stop. Mitch scoffed before replying.

"Yeah, he can also 'do me.' I've heard that one before." Scott rolled his eyes. Not at Mitch, but at the entire situation.

Nobody said a word on the walk back to Scott's house.

***

The trio walked inside Scotts house, totally dropping the conversation about Mitch.
Mitch excused himself to the bathroom when they dropped their backpacks. H the front door.

Scott and Kirstie went straight to the kitchen in search for some snacks as they waited for Mitch to return.

Scott greeted his mother Connie when he saw her in the kitchen leaning against the counter on her cellphone. She asked the normal question, "how was school?" "Any homework?" And "did you get your grades yet?"

Scott replied with the normal, "good." "Yep." And "nope."
And he and Kirstie browsed the kitchen pantry.

And soon when Connie noticed Mitch wasn't their, she asked why.
"Oh, he's in the bathroom." Kirstie replied as she gestured toward the bag of Doritos. Scott nodded and grabbed them, then leaving.

"Oh." Connie murmured, turning her phone off and checking whatever was in the oven.
Kirstie raised her eyebrows and glanced at Scott, to which he shrugged in reply.

"Is there a problem?" Kirstie asked, her voice laced with confusion and a touch of frustration.

Connie didn't reply right away as she shut the oven and turned the oven light on and walk over to the sink.

"Well, I just think he's a bit of a bad influence on you to is all." That got Scotts attention.
He looked at his mother confusedly and took a glance at kirstie who had the same expression.

"What, why? You've known him for ten years and you've never brought this up?"
Connie sighed and turned the faucet on and put a drop of dish soap in a pan.

"I just heard from other parents of your classmates that Mitch apparently had sex with the principle."
Kirstie rolled her eyes, murmuring a quiet 'not you too...'

"You can't possibly think that's true, right? You know Mitch, he never breaks the rules. Especially not the law."
Connie shrugged slightly with another sigh.

"Well, you two aren't with him all the time. You never know when he's...I don't know, playing around? I'm not saying I don't like Mitch, you know I love him like my own son, but I just don't want you two to think sleeping around is an okay think to do."

Scotts veins were practically about to jump out of his neck at her words, Kirstie had a completely defensive stand.

"Do you call your own son a slut, mom?" He asked, trying not to tell so Mitch wouldn't here. Connie turned towards him and placed a hand on her hip.

"Scott. I'm not calling him a slut! I never said that."

Kirstie opened her mouth to defend him, but Connie began speaking again.
"I know he's a great kid, and I know you guys are best friends and believe everything he says, but how on earth could you believe that he doesn't sleep around when the entire school and the parent school board says that he has and to keep your kids especially your sons away from him!?"

Scott slammed his first on the counter angrily and broke eyecontact with his mother.

"Just hear me out...have you been with him 24/7?"
Kirstie and Scott shook their heads.

"Okay. Does he always tell you where's he's been or if he's been talking to someone?"
Kirstie and Scott shook their heads again, a little slower this time.

"I know Mitch isn't a bad kid, I love him and I want the best for him...but neither of you two can prove that he hasn't done some bad things...that's all." Connie went back to the pan with a small frown on her face.

Scott and Kirstie made eyecontact, their eyes showing their uneasiness and then inability to fight back.

Just then, Mitch looked at himself in the mirror and quickly wiped all the tears away and hoped his eyes didn't look too red to them.

He sighed with a shake of his head.

He heard everything.

***

Scott and Kirstie were in the living room, snacking on Doritos and making light conversation as Mitch left the bathroom. He didn't approach them however, but stayed near the front.

"Oh, there you are--oh, gosh. Mitch, are you okay?" Scott asked, instantly noticing his eyes.

Mitch just scoffed slightly.
You stopped defending me. You stopped believing me. You're supposed to believe me, I'm your best friend. Why does nobody believe me?

"I'm actually just gonna head home." Mitch said bitterly, grabbing his backpack aggressively and threw it over his shoulder.

"Mitch?" Kirstie stood up too with concern, and took a step towards Mitch. He stepped back and shook his head towards her, a disgusted look on his face.

"Don't fucking come near me. Wouldn't want you guys to somehow follow in my footsteps and become a slut such as myself. See you later."
Mitch left without another word and slammed the front door shut, causing the wreath on it to fall.

Kirstie looked at Scott with a shocked expression and sadness in her eyes before she spoke quietly.
"I'm going to take a wild shot in the dark and say I think he heard your mom..."

****