"i didn't ask to be loved, it just happened," mitch confesses to connor mcdavid one day after practice.
"what?" connor puts his drink down.
"you know what im talking about, mcdavid." mitch says.
"yeah, i guess i do," connor eyes mitch.
"im sorry." mitch apologizes.
"it's not your fault that he loves you, marner." connor squeezes mitch's arm in a reassuring way.
"it's my fault that he doesn't love you." mitch looks at the ground.
"you might hate my words, but you know that im right." mcdavid states.
mitch stands up from the table, and grabs his keys. connor looks puzzled, and wants to question the short boy.
"tell dylan," mitchell pauses. "tell him that i love him." mcdavid is up and across to mitch in seconds, grabbing his wrist.
"tell him that i said he deserves better. tell him that i said he deserves you." mitch finishes. connor's hand falls limp to his side, and mitch exits the apartment.
mitch's heart is heavy, his hands are cold, and his brain is empty of everything but dylan. dylan this, dylan that. mitch has to swallow his feelings to hold back the tears.
mitchell feels a hand grip onto his shoulder, and he turns to meet the face of a worried dylan strome. dylan's eyes pierce into him, and mitch can't look him in the eyes. he can barely even process words.
"why?" dylan asks.
"you deserve better." mitch looks at his feet.
"no, i deserve you." dylan protests.
"im not worth your time." mitch traces dylan's legs with his eyes.
"yes, you are." dylan insists.
"please don't do this." mitch pleads, his eyes finally finding the courage to meet dylan's face.
"all im doing is telling the truth." dylan locks eyes with the shorter boy.
"im not fucking worth it, dylan. i'll just ruin everything we built." tears flood to mitch's cheeks.
"mitch, please don't. i hate fucking seeing you like this." dylan brings the boy to his chest.
"im gunna hurt you, dylan. i don't want to hurt you." mitch sobs.
"it'd be worth it." dylan pauses to wipe mitch's tears. "every second, mitch. whether it be love or hate, every interaction with you is fucking worth it.
mitch can't even begin to form words, for they are all stuck in throat, begging to be free. he can't help but cry harder, and he tastes bitter silence again.
"say something, mitch." dylan demands. but mitch can't speak.
"please, mitch. just say one thing to reassure this whole mess." dylan's voice fades. "to reassure me" his voice cracks.
he wants to kiss dylan. mitch wants to hold dylan until they fade into the after together. but he can't seem to get the right words out. his throat is shut tight.
"i-" he takes a breath in. "i love you," he whispers to dylan.
dylan brings mitch even closer, arms gripping around his body.
"thank you." he whispers back, and mitch knows he doesn't need to hear those three words come from dylan's mouth, because he knows deep down that dylan has always loved him.
