The Fragility of Hope (Mavi)

Chapter 8

Taking a pretty significant break from writing so I can find inspiration to finish White Dragon. Hope you guys don't mind an extremely detailed episode of Superfruit, because I loved writing it.

***

He was very, very thankful that they had the next day off. Because as soon as Scott and Kirstie opened their mouths to speak that morning, the only thing that came out from them were tired squeaks.

Avi felt very guilty.

They put each other on vocal rest for the entire day, forced each other back into bed, and surrounded themselves with an excessive amount of water bottles. It was a funny sight, to see Scott and Kirstie texting each other and laughing with nothing but their breaths. It was like they were teenagers again, and Avi found himself smiling at the pair. What a joy it would be to be friends with them in high school.

Well, he was laughing, until Mitch was standing right next to his spot on the couch with an imposing stance. "Hey," he said awkwardly, and Avi decided that the cutest thing he'd ever seen in the entire world was Mitch playing with the hem of his $2,000 sweater like a child. "Can you do me a favor?"

He quirked an eyebrow and smiled even though he was screaming inside. "Depends." Of course I will. I'd do anything for you.

Mitch bit his lip nervously. "Well, I mean it's Monday, and uh, Scott can't talk, and um..."

"I commend you for your ability to confuse me, Mitchy," Avi said playfully. "You're very good at it."

Mitch smiled and hung his head as he blushed. "We usually film Superfruit on Mondays, and we don't have one saved up."

Avi leaned back and got ready to let him down, but Mitch clasped his hands together in a desperate plea and Avi decided that he'd let this one play out before he rejected him.

"Please! I know you said you'd never do one, but we have a perfect upload record this year! And I'd ask Kevin, but he's asleep, and it'll just be a cute and fun Q&A, and I swear I'll repay you, and I - "

Avi cut him off with a loud laugh that made him throw his head backwards, because damn him to hell if that wasn't the cutest thing he'd ever seen. "I'll do it," he chirped. "Give me like, 15 minutes to get ready, yeah?"

Mitch's eyes widened and he nodded, and his stupid little grin was so bright that Avi couldn't help but copy him, even as he stalked to the bathroom with Mitch tweeting excitedly behind him.

So that's how he found himself in front of Scott's camera and lights, holding back his smile as Mitch adjusted the focus. This version of Mitch always intimidated him a little bit -- the sassier and more upbeat Superfruit version of him. He was pretty much an exaggerated version of himself, with a higher voice and giggle, and Avi loved the way it sounded against his ears.

Mitch leaned back and cringed, adjusting his hair in the forward monitor. "I've never started an intro before," he said, and Avi immediately knew that he was in character. "Scotty! How do I do an intro?" He shouted playfully across the bus.

His phone dinged a few seconds later and reeled over in laughter when he read the text from Scott. He desperately held his phone out to Avi, and he couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh when he read it too. It was very plain and simple:

"fuck off ive been replaced"

Mitch showed it to the camera, and Avi decided that maybe this wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would.

And then Mitch finally gathered enough composure to start an intro, and Avi found himself slipping back into the humor that he usually held on a day to day basis. "What's up guys! Welcome to a very special edition of Superfruit, the best show on the internet! My name is Mitch -"