"Scottie!"

"Kirstie!"

"Whatcha doing?"

"About to eat breakfast with Mitchy."

"Aw send me a pic!"

After he woke up and took a shower, Mitch made breakfast as Scott came in talking to Kirstie.

"Hey, you didn't have much but I managed to make eggs, bacon, and some biscuits."

They sat down and began eating only pausing to take and send the picture. Almost immediately, Kirstie messages back.

Kirstie: IS THAT A FUCKING HICKIE!

Scott froze and let his phone slide to the table. He turned and stared intensely at Mitch. Sure enough, right above his collarbone. Oh shit

Flashback

"I miss this. Us sitting in front of the tv with Spongebob playing, eating ice cream, in our pajamas."

"Yeah, I still can't see that damn yellow sponge without thinking of you."

"Hey now, I didn't get this sleeve for nothing."

At some point during the night, Scott brought out ice cream. He wasn't sure exactly when but it definitely felt like their old tradition, with Mitch going so far as to lay down with his head on Scott's lap.

He also wasn't exactly sure how they ended up making out but it happened. It was intense and sexual, with lust and longing in each one.

Scott began kissing Mitch's jawline, moving down to his neck before hitting the spot above his collarbone. Knowing Mitch, that had always been his sweet spot and nothing changed. Scott started nibbling and licking it. Sucking hard enough to leave a small hickie. Scott started to play with the hem of Mitch's shirt when Mitch came to his senses.

"Scott, wait!"

"What?"

"W-we can't do this."

"Why?"

Mitch reached up and lightly caressed Scott's chin. The chin he loved so much. He sat up and gently placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"Because I can't. This..this isn't what I want. We spent 4 years apart. We aren't together anymore a-and as bad as I want to do this, it can't happen."

"Mitch, I-I understand. I just thought-."

Scott sat up, letting his hold on Mitch's waist go. He ran his hands through his hair and sat back on his heels. Mitch sat up, looking at Scott with tears in his eyes.

"You thought things would suddenly change. You don't understand. I can't just live this life again. As much as I love being home and as much as I fucking missed you, I can't allow my feelings to get involved. Us having sex would complicate things more. I'll go pack my things and call an Uber."

"Mitch, there's no Uber in Arlington. Stay here. Get up in the morning and I'll take you back to the hotel."

Mitch stood up and leaned in to give Scott another kiss but he rejected it. Mitch frowned and wiped the tears now falling freely.

"Scott, please don't do this."

"No you're right. I wouldn't want to ruin your life."

Mitch solemnly shook his head before heading to the guest bedroom. Scott stayed up for a while, sobbing.

End of flashback

After explaining what happened to Kirstie and having her console him, Scott found himself in his car taking Mitch to the hotel. It was awkward. Neither one of them talking. When they reached the hotel, Mitch gave him a weak smile and left. Scott watched him walk in and sat in his car.

He quickly dialed Kirstie's number. Tears burned his eyes as she answered. She was with Avi, Esther and Kevin eating breakfast. She had also told them about last night. Hearing him crying, she quickly put it on speaker.

"Scooter? How are you feeling?"

"Kirstie, I can't lose him again."

"Well there goes my question."

"I thought making love to him change his mind. That maybe it would make him miss us. But he stopped me, Kit. Why doesn't he still love me?"

On the other end of the phone, his friends shook their heads. They haven't heard him like this. Not since Mitch left. Each one of them allowed their heart ache for him. Avi cleared his throat.

"Scotty, maybe....maybe he really has moved on."

"Av, you don't understand. Last night felt like so familiar. Like the shit we used to do. The look in his eyes, he still loves me. He...he just won't let himself feel."
_________

In the hotel room, Mitch wasn't doing any better. Nicole and Todrick were in the room talking to Candice when he walked in. He stared at them for a second before collapsing in sobs on the floor.

Candice and Nicole ran over him while Todrick grabbed him a bottle of water. He leaned on Candice's shoulder while Nicole stroked his back.

"Mitch, what's wrong?"

"I want to go home!"

"You are home."

"NO! LA. I can't.... I can't do this anymore."

"What happened?"

He looked up at Candice before sitting up and pointing to his collarbone. Candice's eyes widen as her jaw dropped.

"You had sex!?"

"No! We started to but I stopped it. I can't do that to myself. He was so nice. It felt good, you know, being there. We started falling into a routine I thought was forgotten. Then things started to get intimate. We were making out and suddenly I thought about what could happen. Things were so clouded. I thought about the look in his eyes when I walked out. I can't do that to him again."