Landon's POV
God I love this guy, he has done nothing but help me become a better person, When he came over. I could do nothing but shower him with the affection he so desperately wanted. I'm so glad I met him and now. With him holding me in his arms as we lay in bed. I'm so in love with you Mitch.
Preston: "Guys?"
Landon: "Hm?"
Preston: "We gotta go, Now."
Landon: "Ok, Ok I'm coming hang on. Mitch? Baby we need to get up."
Mitch: "Fuck."
Landon: "What?"
I pushed him once and realized he was just asleep which made me relax visibly. He looked over at me and sighed before crawling out of bed and reaching into his pocket. He sighed again before looking over at me, tears welling in his eyes.
Landon: "Mitch?"
Mitch: "I love you Landon. So fucking much."
Landon: "I love you too."
He leaned in and held his hands on my cheeks, holding my gently as he reached over and kissed me, deeply. It was like he had never kissed someone before in his life. And that worried me, quite a lot actually.
Landon: "Mitch are you ok?"
Mitch: "I'm fine Princess... I promise."
I watched him stand up before walking to his bags in the corner of the room. They had already been packed and ready to go, even though he promised me we would leave together. I mean when a family member is in so much pain, I knew he wouldn't be able to stay. So why was he so upset about leaving?
Preston: "COME ON GUYS WE DON'T HAVE ALL DAY."
I quickly put on a change of shirt and shorts before walking into the kitchen. Preston smiling at us as he normally does, ever single day before he decides to make breakfast and then we leave. Though this time he didn't make breakfast.
Preston: "Hey Mitch remember what..."
Mitch: "I fucking got it Preston. Don't ever remind me."
Landon: "Mitch?"
Mitch: "I'm fine."
Landon: "Then why don't I believe you?"
Preston: "Yeah Mitch? Why are you in such a bad mood?"
Mitch: "It's nothing."
Landon: "Are you ok?"
Mitch: "For fuck sake no. No I'm not ok. And you two aren't helping."
Landon: "Then let us? Mitch we can't help if you don't talk to us."
Mitch: "Preston can you just drive me to the airport."
Preston: "So your just going to leave him here? After what you did you are just going to leave him without saying anything?"
Mitch: "Landon, I'm sorry, but I can't come back."
Landon: "What?"
At that, Mitchell up and left the condo, Preston looked just as shocked as I did.
Landon: "What. Did you do?"
Preston: "I didn't do anything."
Landon: "CLEARLY YOU FUCKING DID WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BOYFRIEND?"
Preston: "He was never your boyfriend. I caught him Landon. With someone else. And I was destroyed beyond belief and I could barely do anything to help. So I confronted him about it, I pulled up evidence to support it and you know what he did, he accepted it, just let it happen and it destroyed me, because I knew how much it would hurt you."
With tears streaming down my face. Preston walked over to me and pulled me into his embrace, trying to calm me down but I knew it wasn't what I needed right now. What I needed was Mitch, or at least that's what I thought. To come here and hold me, Tell me I was going to be fine. And that Preston was lying. But the way Preston spoke to me, The way he held me and his hand stroking my back trying to make it better. I felt so uncomfortable.
Preston: "I'll be back later ok? Please don't go anywhere."
Landon: "Ok. I won't."
Mitch's POV
I thought back on Landon and what Preston said to me, that I wasn't allowed to we Landon anymore. That he didn't like me being a "Bad" influence on him, even though since I've been here we have done nothing but actively record, he has smiled more so than I have ever seen him smile and to make it worse for me. He told me he loved me. He actually loved me, and Now Preston hates me for no valid reason.
Preston: "You waited outside?"
Mitch: "I don't have much of a choice do I?"
Preston: "No. You're doing the right thing you know that right?"
Mitch: "I'm only doing the right thing because it's what you what. What the fuck did I do to make you hate me Preston? I thought we were actually getting along, we are close friends. Preston I'm sorry for whatever I did, but fuck I love Landon, And I mean that so fucking genuinely that you have honestly killed me inside."
The tears started to fall while I told him off. I fucking love this boy, and he is about to be torn away from me because of what? Is Preston jealous? Does Preston hate me?
Mitch: "What did I do to you?"
Preston: "You took, my cousin away from me. We use to be so close and ever since he started dating you he has done nothing but brush me aside and he won't even talk to me anymore. And you fucking did it."
Mitch: "What? You don't hate me?"
Preston: "No I don't hate you. I hate what this situation is, I refuse to let you see my cousin or at least until you work up the courage to apologize to him."
Mitch: "I didn't do anything. Preston you should have told me I could have fixed this."
Since we began chatting we had ridden the elevator down to the car park before we made it there, I had placed my bags inside but I hadn't gotten in yet.
Mitch: "What did you tell him."
I had my hand on the door but when he spoke. I crumbled.
Preston: "I told m you cheated on m with some girl. Saying you never loved him and that he was just easy fun on the side."
Mitch: "You... no."
I felt my legs start to shake before I fell to my knees, my head in my hands as I tried to think of why the fuck he would say that. Why he would think of something like that. It made me feel like there was nothing left. As if there was a void inside me and yet, the butterflies I felt when I held m, when we were together, the nervous feeling I got whenever he wanted to call me. Whenever we were talking to each other, he would always have the biggest grin on his face. And now, I could see him holding himself, crying himself back to sleep because his cousin was jealous. The tears falling down his face gave me nightmares, making me want to hate myself for even letting Preston take hold of this. He refused to let me do anything. And now...
Mitch: "I. Hate you."
Preston: "Sorry what? Couldn't hear you over the fact that you are wallowing in your own self pity."
Mitch: "I SAID I HATE YOU! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PRESTON! WHY WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT!"
Preston: "YOU TOOK AWAY MY COUSIN! YOU MADE HIM HATE ME SO DON'T YOU DARE PIN THIS ON ME!"
Mitch: "I DIDN'T SAY OR DO ANYTHING! FOR fuck sake."
I leaned against the car while crying my eyes out. I felt so dead inside, he hadn't just ended my relationship with his beautiful cousin, he tore me apart. He tore Landon apart, I could tell he would be destroyed inside, thinking everything is fine and then all of a sudden Preston tells him this? How the fuck am I supposed to talk to him, hear m laugh, feel his soft hold on me. Fuck you Preston
Mitch: "Fuck you Preston, I'm not going anywhere."
Before he could speak I got up and sprinted as fast as I could to the elevator. Once I got there. I pressed the button and watched as the door opened up while it was still on this level. As soon as I got in I pressed the close door button as soon as I could while pressing the numbered button for the floor of his condo. I was not going to let Landon go without a fight, Not if this is how Preston is going to treat me. He doesn't even hate us, as people. Because of his faith and his religion, he just hates that he thinks I took Landon away from him? What the fuck is wrong with him? I could have fucking decked the cunt I swear to god... Lachlan really has influenced me in a bad way. I'll fucking deck him too. Once the elevator doors opened I heard my phone vibrate In my pocket.
Preston: "You are making a huge mistake. Leave my fucking cousin alone. He hasn't done anything wrong."
Mitch: "Exactly. He hasn't done anything wrong, So why the fuck did you not just tell him you were jealous? That you felt like you were losing your cousin? Preston why didn't you think about this like a normal person?"
Preston: "BECAUSE I WASN'T THINKING OK! MITCHELL I'm sorry. For what I said ok I'm sorry but it doesn't change what is going on. I fucking hate, that you have taken Landon away from me and I know we are adults. He will eventually leave anyway. But he doesn't have any family. He doesn't have anywhere to go. Where would he go because I refuse to let him go with you. He has no family Mitch. I just wanted to give him the love and affection he needs while growing up. He has lived with me, for seven years since his family were robbed and killed. I have looked after him through trauma, nightmares, panic and anxiety attacks, Depression. I've stopped him from killing himself so many times. Please don't take him away from me..."
Mitch: "I'm sorry for everything Preston. But I am not leaving him do you understand me? If anything, hearing about everything that has happened. I swear to god I need to be with him more than ever. And you broke him."
I couldn't bare to see his response as the elevator doors opened. I ran as fas as I could to the door before opening and barging inside. I could hear small whimpers and cries as I walked slowly around the corner into Preston's bath room. Seeing Landon sitting on the floor. Blood running down his arms with the knife on the floor beside him. His tears like tiny daggers piercing my heart, the blood just made me feel sick to my core, and not because of its foundations. But because my boy was on the ground, cut up and destroyed.
Mitch: "Landon."
I fell to my knees in front of him, my head falling forward and landing on his leg, he pulled it back and tried to kick me away, but his attempt was so weak, it was more like swatting a fly away than doing damage.
Mitch: "Landon, I love you, so fucking much. More than anything on this planet, I would never. Ever fucking cheat on you. I would never even look, at another man or woman in my life. I have. No reason to when I can come home to the most beautiful and incredible young man that could ever grace the presence of this world."
I looked up to see his tears still falling, I knew he wouldn't believe me. When it comes to accusing someone of cheating, You don't normally believe them.
Landon: "He. Said."
Mitch: "He lied. I don't care about what he thinks, All Ai care about is you. And he fucked up. Landon please, listen to me. I love you more than life and death itself. If anything happened to you it would fucking kill me inside."
I grabbed the cloth hanging over the basin and run the water. Letting it become wet before I slowly made my way to Landon, But I didn't have to move far. Landon quickly crawled over to me and turned himself around so his back was laying on my body. I leaned down and kissed the top of his head, over and over again. Not ever daring to stop in case he gets hurt again. I slowly and gently lifted his arm, the fresh lacerations shining from the light while a small drop of blood started to run down his arm to his fingers. I used the cloth and slowly started to dab at the cuts. He whimpered lightly into me while I held him with my other hand, Wrapping it around him while holding him up so I could clean his wound.
Landon: "Preston said you cheated on me. That I was nothing."
Mitch: "You mean absolutely fucking everything to me. And I would never, even dream of hurting you baby. I love you more than anything."
I kept kissing the top of his head lightly while cleaning the cuts. They were pretty deep and might end up leaving scars but that's why I was here. Once I had cleaned his arm. I threw the cloth into the bin next to the toilet before putting my other arm around him. Holding onto him while he kept crying. Every sound was killing me.
Landon: "How long have we been together?"
Mitch: "As in dating. Thinking back on it, we have been together for close to two years. You actually lied to me at first and told me you were 18. Until you turned 17 when Preston posted on twitter."
I heard him sob through a giggle while moving himself so he was sitting higher up on me. I moved my legs to cross them, letting him sit in my lap while he held on tight.
Landon: "Why did Preston say that you cheated?"
Mitch: "He thought I was taking you away from him."
I showed him the messages he sent me, and I heard him gasp. I'm sure he wouldn't have liked having his secret out for the world to hear. And I know it still hurts him, but he use to always tell me that he was just nervous or scared. And I never questioned him.
Mitch: "I love you more than anything, and No matter what Preston thinks. I know for a fact that I would never try and steal you away from him. He is all you have left. And I know deep down, that you would never let him go anyway. I love you so much Landon, but I think you need to tell Preston that I'm not stealing you."
Landon: "Do you really love me?"
Mitch: "I would do anything for you. And I mean truly. Anything."
Landon tried to stand up but his arm was causing him a tonne of pain, I'm sure he didn't think this through when he did it. I picked up the knife and put it into the sink. Knowing I would probably clean it later anyway. As he walked, taking me into the kitchen, I turned around to grab the first aid kit while he walked into our room. He came back out and took a seat on the stool while I pulled out the bandage and clip. I started going to work disinfecting the cut, Listening to him groan as the disinfectant burned his arm. But it soon stopped once I had applied the bandage and pressure. A few moments later, His arm was bandaged and the clip in place. Keeping it secured around his arm.
Landon: "I love you Mitch."
Mitch: "I love you too Landon. More than anything in this world."
Landon: "Will you uh... can you help me with something?"
Mitch: "Absolutely anything baby."
I heard the front door open and Preston walked in the front door. He took one look at us both and hung his head, sighing loudly.
Preston: "I'm going to transfer the money for your plane trip back into your account so you aren't without any, and I'll ring them up and let them know you will miss the flight. I'm going to put your bags into my room. I think I should stay in the office for a while. Landon can drive and he can take you to the office to record whenever you need to."
As he put my bags into his room. He came out with another bag before putting money on the counter.
Preston: "This is uh, for gas money so you don't have to pay for fuel. Or if you get hungry then go and get some dinner. I'll see you around."
Landon: "Wait please."
I watched as Landon got up from his stool and ran over to Preston, Pulling him into a hug.
Landon: "I know why you got jealous, I know why you did it. But I love him, more than anything in this world."
Landon got really quiet and I could barely hear him while I moved back to where Preston's first aid kit was stored and put it back. As I came back in, Preston took one look at me and looked down before heading out the door. Landon smiled to himself before looking at me.
Landon: "When I said, If you could help me."
Mitch: "Anything baby."
Landon: "Can you help me be happy. Forever?"
Mitch: "There isn't a moment on this planet, that could stop me from making you smile. At any point baby."
Landon: "Do you promise?"
Mitch: "I promise, And I will promise you all the way up until the day we die, and then we will haunt the fuck out of Preston if we beat him to it."
I heard him giggle before he stepped closer.
Landon: "You will love me. No matter what? Can I ask you something? I'm sorry about all the questions I just."
I noticed him starting to shake and get nervous, his voice laced with hesitation as he tried to get the words out. I closed the gap between us and pulled him into my embrace, Holding him tightly and secure until He wrapped his arms around me. I pulled back and leaned in, Kissing him softly while he held me. When I pulled away I could see his smile.
Mitch: "You can ask me a million questions and I swear I will find an answer to every fucking one if I have to."
Landon: "Ok."
Mitch: "So what did you want to ask me?"
Landon: "I'm worried about Preston."
Mitch: "Why are you worried about Preston?"
Landon: "I don't think he likes you."
Mitch: "I'm sure he is just being protective of you."
Landon: "I hope he get's use to you."
Mitch: "He will. Believe me he will."
Landon: "He doesn't have a choice."
Mitch: "Well of course he has a choice but I'm sure you will be nice as well."
Landon: "No he won't have a choice. I need to ask you something. And I'm trying to do this with confidence."
I watched him let go, his hands started to shake horribly and I tried to reach out to him, but every time I did, he just kept repeating the same word, "No" over and over.
Landon: "I have to do this."
Mitch: "Do what?"
I watched as he wrung his hands together, his head falling to face the floor before he took one step closer. Reaching for his back pocket and pulling out a small box. Tears filling his eyes as he cried out loud, sobbing while he fell to one knee. Opening the box in front of me to show a small, yet beautiful Platinum steel ring.
Landon: "Mitchell Donald Ralph Hughes... will, You uh... M-Marry me?"
I looked down at him as he started to cry, his eyes filling with tears when he held his head high to face me. His fingers trembling as he stayed in his position. So I took the steps to close the gap between us. Placing my hands softly around his as I felt him visibly start to relax. He was still so nervous and I don't blame him. After almost tow years... I fucking love this boy so much.
Mitch: "Landon."
I got down on my knees and moved closer to him, He dropped his other leg as I slowly picked up the box and placed it gently on the table beside us. He looked at me confused until I slowly leaned in, closing my eyes and kissing him. Gently, Softly. Just holding him as I showed him my emotions, wearing them proudly on my sleeve. As I pulled away. I raised my hands to his cheeks as I wiped away the tears.
Mitch: "I do."