A/n: This one is kind of long. -AV

Of course Kirstie couldn't deny a Mitch a girls' night which is how they ended up sitting in the middle of Mitch's bed gasping for air as they reminisced on funny stories from their childhood.

One about Mitch forgetting his lines during a community theater production. He was 7 and stood in the middle of the stage crying until his mother had to leave her position in the symphony pit and escort him off. It wasn't funny to 7 year old Mitch, but 16 year old Mitch was glad he can laugh about it now.

Another story about Kirstie breaking her arm during her birthday party. She instead on having a bouncy castle. She was a princess and Mitch was supposed to be her prince and catch her when she jumped from the castle. Of course he failed, resulting in her landing and fracturing her radius. She was mad for weeks after that. Now they knew that Mitch couldn't rescue the princess because he himself was the boy princess.

A final story about their breakup. Kirstie had been devastated when Mitch said he couldn't date her anymore. Mitch felt her heartbreak and his broke too. She wasn't his girlfriend anymore but she was still his best friend. And he loved her, just not in that way. She understood when he explained that it truly wasn't her, it was him. He liked parts she didn't have and there wasn't really anything she could do to change that. It took a while but they finally found their way back to old habits of being besties and practically sisters.

He couldn't imagine his life without her in it. He regretted shutting her out the past few weeks, too caught up to realize that he need her support through this ordeal.

"Ughh... my stomach hurts from laughing too hard. Can you believe all the crazy shit we used to get into Mitchy?"
"Honestly yes I can!"
"Let's go get snacks! It's girls' night and we haven't even opened the ice cream. I brought your favorite, strawberry!"

Mitch just looked at her. He was enjoying his night so much. He didn't want to ruin her fun either. But he had his piece of toast that morning, then he ate one and a half slices of pizza for dinner, he wasn't sure he could actually eat any ice cream as appetizing as it sounded. He took a deep breath and made eye contact with his friend.

"Oh goodness, I'm so sorry Mitch. I didn't think. Have you eaten though?"

Mitch repeated his menu for the day, receiving a worried look from Kirstie.

"That's really not a lot Mitch."
"I know it's not but it's about all I can manage right now. But if you want ice cream we'll go down and get it."
"Are you eating any?"
Mitch sighed, "I'll try. Just a little. For you and for Scott."
"Thanks Mitty."
"You're welcome Kitty."

Mitch managed to eat three whole spoonfuls of ice cream before his stomach rolled and he had to stop. However, Kirst smiled triumphantly, proud her friend was working on getting better. Soon Kirstin too had abandoned the ice cream tub to melt on Mitch's bedside table as they watched Moana. It was their current favorite movie which resulted in the duo belting the lyrics to every song that played. They took turns reciting the lines, switching off characters as the movie progressed.

Nel stuck her head in as the final credits rolled telling them that she and Mike were headed to bed and had early plans tomorrow. She made sure to tell them to be careful on the drive to and from Dallas and that Kirstie was to remind Mitch to text his mother often. She said her final goodnight as the teens began cleaning up the bedroom and getting ready to sleep.

"What time are we leaving tomorrow?" Kirst asked as she threw away the acetone soaked cotton pads they'd used on their nails.
"Umm... your boyfriend's driving so ask him."
"I'm just supposed to let him know when to pick us up. It doesn't matter to him."
"Well they start visitation on Saturdays at 11 and they last until 4."
"Can we stay the whole time?"
"Yea. But the block of time from 11-2 is done communally. So we won't be alone, we'd be sitting in a large room with others as they visit. The last two hours are private though. That's how I visit him during the week. I've never been to the communal visit before so it'll be new for me."
"Well I've never visited anyone in jail so this whole thing is new to me. Is it scary? Like going in a jail?"
"Not as scary as you might think."
"How does it work? Do they have to strip search me and stuff?"
Mitch couldn't help but laugh at his clueless friend, "no honey. They do search you. They pat you down and they don't let you take anything in with you. Or at least during the private visits they don't. Ms. Cook told me that I'm allowed to take lunch tomorrow and eat with him since it's during a meal time. He has to still eat the jail food but I can take him individually wrapped snacks that he can take back to him cell for later."
"We should leave early enough to stop and pick up some of his favorites."
"I think he'd appreciate that."
"So let's leave around 8. That gives us time to go shopping for snacks and get their early so we can get searched and be ready right at 11. I want to spend as much time with him as I can."
"You and me both girl!"
"Can all three of us be with him at once?"
"Yea."
"Okay so how about we all visit from 11-2, then Jer and I will head out for a while and you can take the private visitation time alone?"
"But you guys want to see him too..."
"We will. But you two deserve a few hours of alone time."
"Technically not alone time, there's a guard outside the door and a camera that watches and records everything."
"Whatever, set an alarm for 6. We need to get up and be pretty for our boys tomorrow."
"Ughh..."
"Or you can sleep in... I figured you'd be excited about seeing Scott and would want to get all pretty."
"Will you help me get ready tomorrow?"
"Girl you know it!"
"Good. Now I'm exhausted let's go to bed."
"I hear you. Night Mitchy."
"Night Kit-Kat."

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Roll call!"

Scott jumped from his bunk and stood beside Avi.

"Kaplan... here... Hoying... here... Olusola... SC... okay you two, head to breakfast."

They got their trays and sat in their usual spots. The empty place beside Avi very noticeable.

"At least you know he's still in solitary. That's what SC stands for right?"
"Yea, it does but why? It's going on three days. For falling asleep in the wrong bunk. That's a bit extreme."
"I agree but hey, you know how strict they are here."
"Unfortunately."

The rest of breakfast was pretty much silent. Neither of the boys knew what to say, each in his own head about their missing friend.

"Okay boys," a guard called, "out to the yard for a while, then you'll shower and those of you that have visitors will be escorted down to the common area. Move!"

The two threw out their trash and made their way outside in the early morning sun. There was still dew on the ground so they decided to take a seat on the patch of cement that held the weight benches. They sat in the corner so they wouldn't disturb anyone who wanted to work out this early on a Saturday morning. The silence from breakfast continued until they heard soft footsteps approaching them from behind. They both turned to see who it was.

"Kevy!!!!!" Avi nearly screamed, trying to contain himself and not jump up and attack his boyfriend with hugs and kisses.
"Hey, baby! How are you?" Kevin sat between the two others, it was then that Avi really got to look at him.
"How am I? Kevin what the fuck happened to your eye?"

Kevin's left eye was severely swollen and bruised, as was his cheek. Avi could make out a cut on his upper lip, lips that he longed to kiss. He glanced down taking one of Kevin's hands in his own to inspect his busted knuckles.

"Avi, as much as I want to, we can't hold hands out here."
"What happened to you Kev? You're gone for days then you come back like this."
"I got into a bit of an... altercation."
"A fight? You got in a fight? Why?"
Kevin sighed looking straight ahead.
Scott finally spoke up, "Kevin, you don't seem like the fighting type. And weren't you in solitary confinement, aren't you alone there? Who would you have fought with?"
"Well, you're alone most of the time but showers and meals are done as a group. So everyone in solitary goes at once. Just we're not allowed to talk to anyone unless it's answering a guard."
"Kevin, I still want to know what happened to you babe."

Avi laid his hand beside Kevin's which was resting between their bodies. He stuck out his pinky to rest on top of Kevin's craving contact from the other boy.

"We were in the dinner line my first day in solitary. There was this other kid, I've never seen him before. Apparently he knew me though. Called me a fag the started saying shit about you Avi. And you know that pisses me off more than anything. You weren't even there to defend yourself. Well, the guards heard him and told him to stop but they were snickering the whole time. He took that as a pass to keep taunting me. I tried to ignore him but it kept getting worse. He kept saying vulgar things and no one was stopping him now. So I emptied my tray and hit him with it. He came at me, hints the black eye, then we were brawling. It took four guards to pull us apart. I spent the rest of the night in the infirmary. The next day I was back in solitary. They just let me out after breakfast today."
"Dammit Kevin! I don't know whether to be proud or upset?"
Kevin and Scott both chuckled, "you can be both sweetheart."
"Good! Cause I am! I can't believe you got in a fight. All those times telling me to ignore people then you go all Muhammad Ali! But I'm so proud that you defended yourself."
"I didn't just defend myself. I was defending you too. Mostly you. Had he just been talking about me, I would have probably let it go."
Avi leaned over to whisper even though he knew he was out of earshot of the guards and cameras, "I love you Kevin."
"I love you too Avriel."

Avi smiled looking directly into Kevin's brown eyes, taking in all the love and admiration he saw. Until Scott interrupted.

"So, did you mess up your release day?"
"Uhhhh, yea, kind of. They don't take too well to people fighting. Especially those that were already being punished."
"How bad Kev?" Avi asked.
"A month."
"What?!?"
"Yea, I know. But like I said that's 4 more weeks I get to spend with you."
"But you were so close to almost being out babes."
"I don't care."
"Have you told your parents?"
"I haven't. I don't know if the powers that be have. But I'll talk to them today at visitation. Are your folks coming?"
"They're supposed to. What about you Scott?"
"I don't know. I didn't ask. Which they came by yesterday so..."
"True... Avi, I'm going to tell my parents today."
"Tell them what?"
"That I'm bisexual. That I'm in love with a man."
"Are you sure about that Kevin? Your parents are ultra conservative."
"I'm sure. Do it now, they can't murder me because I'm in juvy and it gives them two and half months to get used to the idea. If you don't want them to know you specifically I won't say anything. They'll just know you have a dick."
"I don't care if they know who I am but if you're telling your parents I'm telling mine."
"Only if you want to Avi. I don't want to force you out if you're not ready."
"I think I am ready. I mean Esth and Josh know. I guess it's time to let my parents in on the secret."
"So we're doing this?" Kevin questioned, wanting to make sure Avi was positive.
"Together."
"Forever. Boop."
Avi grinned the biggest smile he had shown in days, "boop."