Mitch was sitting in the office explaining the encounter with Alex again.

"Mitch, are you sure  you didn't just stumble and fall. Other than the little incident with Mr. Hoying which wasn't his fault, Alex has been nothing but a model student." Mrs. Smith commented.
"Wasn't his fault?" Mitch asked, now more upset that the principal was still blaming his boyfriend for the fight.
"I know you and Scott are close friends but everyone knows that boy is nothing but bad news."
"Umm, excuse me?!?!"
"Mitchell, you're too good to continue to waste your time defending him. Don't let him ruin your future."
"He is my future. He's the love of my life. And it's clear you did nothing to protect him from Alex and you'll do nothing to protect me. I'm a sitting duck without Scott. But you don't even care because Alex is a fucking perfect child!"
"Excuse me Mitch, you do not use those words with me. It's clear Scott has had an effect on your personality. You would have never spoken to an adult like that before he came along."
"Quit talking about my boyfriend like that! You don't fucking know him. Do not act like you do. Adult or not, you're pissing me off."
"You know what, you want to continue speaking to me that way? I'm calling your parents, you're suspended until next week."
"That's bullshit!"
"Mitch!"
"Whatever, I'll sit with the secretary until my mom gets here."

Nel came running into the office not fifteen minutes later demanding an explanation from her son.

"Mitchell Coby Michael Grassi, what has gotten into you?"
"What did she tell you mom?"
"That you cursed her out!"
"I only cursed at her, I did not curse her out."
"Still Mitch, you got yourself suspended."
"Did she not tell you about Alex and why I was in her office to begin with?"
"No, what about Alex? Isn't that the boy Scott got in the fight with?"
"Yes it is."
"What did he do to you? Did he touch you?!?"
"Well... kind of..."
"Kind of, Mitch, what the hell did that boy do you?"
"He pushed me and I fell. He told me "it isn't over". But when I tried to tell Mrs. Smith that, she took Alex's side. She started saying bad stuff about Scott. And that's why I cursed at her. And don't even think about asking me to apologize because I'm not mom. She had no right saying that kind of stuff about Scott."
"I know honey. Scott's a good boy, no matter what's happened in his past or where he is right now, I know that. And that bitch in there is about to know it too."

And with that his mother turned and walked into the principal's office unannounced, leaving Mitch to stare after her dumbfounded.

At home, Mrs. Grassi called Ms. Marez to let her know the situation that had occurred and to let her know that Mitch would be able to ride up to Dallas with the quartet if they were still offering.

That night Mitch fell asleep, excited that he would see his boyfriend tomorrow and overjoyed that he had managed to stand up for Scott.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Avi laid in his bunk, begging for sleep that would not come.

"Scott... Scott... are you awake... Scott!"
"What is it Avi? I need my beauty sleep?"
"Nothing's going to help that face Hoying."
"What the hell do you need Kaplan?"
"I can't sleep."
"Why not?"
"I don't know."
"Yes you do. He's not here and you're worried and upset. Now, do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know. It's just I know he can't really sleep when he's in solitary. He's talked about it before. He hates being by himself for so long. And I still feel like it's my fault."
"It's not your fault. He'll be okay, you'll see him tomorrow. Even sooner if you turn over and go straight to sleep."
"I'll try... and Scott?"
"Huh??"
"Thank you."
"For??"
"Being a friend to both Kevin and me. We were worried about having someone in here and hiding but I'm glad you accepted us."
"It would have been dumb to hateful to someone who plays on the same team don't you think?"
"True, well anyway, I'm going to try to go to sleep. Night Scott.
"Night, Av,"