Black And White

Hundred Forty Four

"He's not answering?"

"No, he's not fucking answering." Mitch texted him a few more times, and then looked up. "Shit."

Alex looked around the classroom. "Gotta go check. But they're not letting people out."

"I mean, unless she catches me with my phone. Then I can go to the office."

"Don't want you to get in trouble, Mitchie. What if I just pretend to fall or something? Then you can take me to the nurse or whatever, and in doing so we can run like Hell to check on them."

Mitch glanced at him. "How exactly do you propose to do that?"

Alex only shrugged, standing from his seat with the paper in his hand. He walked to the teacher, and asked for help on a question.

After receiving whatever help he needed, he tripped on the corner of the desk, only to fall on the ground with a small yelp.

From the teacher's perspective, he just ate shit. But from Mitch's perspective, he'd just done a super cool push up thing.

Mitch jumped up quickly, rushing over. "Oh my goodness, Alex are you okay?"

Alex looked up at him. "I think so." Mitch started helping him stand up, but Alex 'slipped' and fell again.

Mitch looked up at the teacher. "I think he needs to go to the nurse. May I take him?"

"Of course, of course. Make sure he's okay."

Mitch helped Alex up again, Alex having to do a lot of the work. Alex then limped out of the classroom with Mitch under his arm, but as soon as they were out the door, they were running.

Mitch was almost out of breath by the time he saw the principals pulling the boys away from each other.

Scott was one of the first pulled out of the fight, and Mitch immediately stopped running at the sight of his face, blood pouring from a cut in his lip.

Mitch couldn't help but call his name, Alex grabbing his arm to stop him from getting closer.

Scott looked his way, and then said something to the administrator holding his arm, before he started hurrying toward Mitch and Alex.

Mitch stepped forward immediately, grabbing him in a hug. "Scott, what the Hell are you doing?"

"Some bitches were tryna step, and--"

"Scott, you know I don't understand that. What is going on?"

Scott exhaled loudly, stepping out of the hug. "On my way to class, I saw Avi and a bunch of boys getting into a fight. So I walked over to help him."

Mitch sighed at him. "If you get suspended again, so help me God..."

"I won't. They swung first."

"No, but if you threw any hits at all, you'll get in trouble too. That's how the school system works."

"But that's not how boys work, Mitch. It's like an unspoken thing. Avi was winning, which means the other boys take the fall for it."

"That... Doesn't make sense."

"Yeah it does. But you wouldn't know, and I'm happy about that."

Mitch shook his head slowly, eyes flashing down to Scott's mouth. "Honey, you're bleeding..."

"I know. Just need to put some of that disinfectant stuff on it. Call it a day."

Alex looked beyond them. "Where's Avi?"

"Still in there. Probably getting pulled out as we speak." He turned a little to see, and then shrugged. "I don't know. He's not gonna get in trouble."

Alex frowned. "Are you sure? Because this is definitely my fault."

"Nah. People are just on edge lately."

Mitch grabbed his hand. "We need to go to the nurse. Come on."

Scott shook his head. "Can't. Gotta wait for Avi."

"No. You're bleeding down your fucking chin, Scott. Let's go."

Alex looked up at them. "I'll stay here. Make sure he gets out okay."

Mitch nodded quickly, pulling Scott harshly. "Good. Let's go."

Scott frowned, allowing himself to be pulled along. "I-- But-- I mean, okay." He suddenly groaned. "Ew, blood tastes funny."

"Don't drink it, you fucking imbecile. You'll make yourself throw up."

"Really, I had no idea." Scott responded monotonously.

"Shut up." Mitch walked through the building nearest to the nurses office, but then made a quick left which resulted in Scott standing in one of their secret spots in the janitor's closets.

Scott stared down at him. "What are we doing?"

"I need you to tell me what happened. I have anxiety, and I wanna know that you're okay." Mitch reached out to squeeze Scott's arms, check his pulse, and lift his shirt a little all in a matter of seconds. "Does anything else hurt?"

Scott just watched him, without bothering to do anything about it. He'd found in all his time being with Mitch, to just let him do what he needed to do so the anxiety would go away, only helping when Mitch asked him to.

Mitch peeked at Scott's stomach, before reaching up to pull at the neckline of his shirt, only to stand on his tip toes and peek into the top of his shirt as well.

Scott continued to watch him. "Nothing hurts, babe."

"Promise?" Mitch met his eyes, squeezing Scott's shoulders and then reaching down to squeeze at his legs. "No bruises anywhere?"

"I promise, baby."

Mitch moved away for a second, and then suddenly reached out to hug him tightly. "Fuck, I was so worried."

"Didn't have to be. I'm okay."

"But your lip..." Mitch pouted, now staring at Scott's mouth with Scott's arms still around him. "I love your lips... I wish they didn't get hurt..."

"Good to know." Scott responded with a small chuckle.

Mitch kissed his cheek a few times. "But I'll settle for this if it makes you feel better."

"It doesn't. But I can think of something that would make me feel better." Scott responded lowly with a wink.

Mitch glared at him. "I was so worried about you, you asshole. All you want from me is--"

"Not true. I fell in love with your heart before I fell in love with your body. Don't forget that."

"That's not true. You've told me yourself that you only spoke to me because I was cute."

"That's different though. You have a pretty face, what can I say? I'm shallow that way. Regardless, I fell in love with who you are, before you even let me near your body."

Mitch stared at him for a second. "Hey... Will you do me a favor... And push your bottom lip out a little more so I can kiss you without touching the cut on your face?"

Scott tried his best, but instead of kissing him, Mitch just giggled at him.

Scott frowned then. "Did you do that just so you could laugh at me? You absolute asshole."

"No, no, it just made me laugh. Sorry..."

"Speaking of asshole... I still have an idea of what would make me feel better."

"No, Scott. You need to go to the nurse."

"And you will too, when I'm done."

**