Chapter 6 (I'm late and I'm sorry I missed you too)

Mitchel

Mitchel awoke to the sound of his phone buzzing at least ten times in a row. It vibrated over his desk and hit his cheek in an impossibly painful manor. He snapped up, tugging his headphones off his head and looking around in confusion. This only caused a wave of unwelcome nausea to crash over him like a tidal wave. The faint sound of his song still playing through the headphones quickly pulled him out of his sleepy mood. 

It was 10:37 in the morning, and Mitchel had forgotten all about his commitments for the day. He checked his phone as he stood up and speed-walked to his room. 

Messages:  

10:35 am- Clinton: Yo10:35 am- Clinton: Hey 10:36 am- Clinton: Mitchel where are you10:36 am- Christian<3: Are you here?10:36 am- Christian<3: dude where are you?10:36 am- Clinton: get your ass over here10:36 am- Christian<3: THE INTERVIEW IS IN HALF AN HOUR HURY UP MAN10:36 am- Clinton: u little bitch are u asleep10:37 am- Clinton: wake the fuck up 

"Fuck," Mitchel said slowly. He'd forgotten all about the interview with the band which was scheduled for 11:00 in the morning. It was in downtown LA, and he was in no position to drive. Quickly, Mitchel called for an Uber while struggling to change into a pair of clean clothes and brush his teeth.  Mitchel smelled like alcohol, but he had no time to shower. By the time the car arrived, Mitchel looked just about as crappy as he felt as he ate a piece of bread. 

"I really need you to hurry," Mitchel announced, and climbed into the backseat. The driver turned around quickly and stared at Mitchel in awe. "Oh my God, are you in Chase Atlantic?" The girl asked. She practically had stars in his eyes. Mitchel squinted at her through his sunglasses, nodding hesitantly. 

"Yes, actually. Are you a fan?" He tried to sound as polite and energetic as possible, but he couldn't help but duck his head as he checked his phone. His bandmates were still in a tizzy. "I knew it! I could tell from your voice. Oh, so I guess I know your address now!"  She said, smiling widely. Mitchel bounced his knee, saying, "Thank you so much, but I'm really late. Can you start driving?"

"Oh!" The girl smacked her head and turned around. "Yeah, of course. Sorry," She said quickly. The girl talked the entire time about Christian, and Mitchel couldn't help but agree with most of the things she said about his voice and good looks. She drove quickly for him, not hesitating to run multiple red lights. 

"If you don't mind, can I get a picture?" She asked as she pulled up at Mitchel's destination. "Uh," Mitchel said, but the driver who was named Ashly got out of the car and practically ran towards Mitchel. She slid her arm around his waist and took the picture before he could even adjust his sunglasses. The flash from her phone strained his eyes, and he flinched though she didn't seem to notice. 

Ashly then gushed about how much she loved him and how happy she was to drive him while Mitchel thanked her in a flustered manor and told her he had to get going. 

Before he could leave, the doors to the building burst open, and his two bandmates rushed out to Mitchel's side. "Where the fuck were you?" Clinton yelled, and then he saw Ashly who's face was visibly red from her efforts to not scream and jump in joy. "Oh my god," She repeatedly whispered to herself and took multiple pictures. 

"Sorry, guys," Mitchel said timidly, but Christian had already grabbed hold of his wrist. "Forget it, let's just get going," He said and dragged Mitchel off. He turned around to glance at Ashly and say good bye, but she was already in her car and speeding away. 

"Ugh, you reek," Clinton gagged. "What happened?" "Guys, I really am sorry. I lost track of time and..." he trailed off when he saw Christian's face. He let go of Mitchel's arm and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "We were worried about you," He told him. "The plan was that we'd all meet up an hour before. I knew I should have come home last night..." 

They were in the elevator now, heading up to the studio where they'd soon answer too many personal questions for seemingly no reason. "What? No-" Mitchel began, but Clinton cut him off. "Christian told me about the doctor when we were waiting for you. I know you've got some stuff you're dealing with, but your health comes first. We just want you to be okay," He said. Clinton had a soft touch to his tone, one that was vulnerable and sincere. Mitchel knew how much his bandmates cared about him and it pained him to know he let them down. 

"It was a one-time thing," Mitchel said and took off his glasses. "And the alcohol?" Clinton asked. "You were drinking alone.""I was celebrating an achievement." "What about the tear tracks?" Christian asked. "What?"

Christian's hand went to Mitchel's face, his thumb brushing against his cheeks. For a brief moment, Mitchel forgot about their issue and leaned into his best friend's warm touch. He remembered the dream he had earlier, the one that was more of a memory of his teenage years. He hadn't had that dream in a very long time, and recalling it had caused him to cry in his sleep. 

Mitchel shook his head as the elevator doors opened and saved him from their conversation. "Come on, let's just do this," He said and stumbled past the sliding doors. Behind him, Christian and Clinton exchanged worried glances and then followed him. 

+ + +

The interview was brutal. (And that was an understatement.)Mitchel was beginning to think that his day couldn't get any worse after the interviewer asked him and Christian why they didn't kiss on stage anymore. "We kind of grew out of it," Christian replied. It was a lie, and he knew it. Christian still kissed Clinton occasionally, so it was obviously utter bullshit. The real reason was because Molly was uncomfortable with their close contact. She said it was weird. ("I'm not homophobic or anything, I just don't understand why two grown ass men need to kiss all the time if they're just friends, and they both are dating a girl!") 

Jordan never had an issue with the kissing, so naturally it pissed Mitchel off when Molly cared so much. But Jordan knew how Mitchel really felt about Christian. Maybe that's why she let him. However, Christian was head-over-heels in love with the girl, and would do (or not do) just about anything to make her happy. That was fine, Mitchel figured. He knew what it was like to love somebody like that. But it didn't make his lie feel any better. It was for the best, Mitchel knew. The interviewer didn't need to know their business. 

After a while, it wasn't so bad. The interviewer (Chase was his name. What a coincidence) asked the trio a series of uninteresting questions about their music and tour life("One time, Clinton and I had to share a tube of toothpaste for the road and Christian stole it to use for his face").

And then came the classic relationship questions. These made the three of them the most uncomfortable because it always seemed like they wanted to know more than they should. Chase leaned in closer to Clinton and said, "So I understand that you and your girlfriend, Sydney are now engaged! Congratulations, by the way." 

Clinton glanced at Mitchel and frowned. His face said, "here we go again..." but he replied anyway. "Thank you, yeah we've been engaged for about eight months now." Clinton glanced at the camera and blew a kiss, silently mouthing the words, "I love you."

This caused Chase to laugh both abruptly and quite loudly in what Clinton called the fake interrogation laugh. This special laugh was seemingly supposed to put the interviewee at ease, but it just make everyone really, really uncomfortable. (Including the camera crew.)

Chase leaned over to make eye contact with Christian. "And how about you, Christian? How's your relationship with, uh, M-" Christian interrupted Chase and said, "Molly and I are doing well." 

It was all too obvious that his monotone reply was not enough to satisfy Chase. He leaned forward, never breaking his eye contact. It looked like he was about to fall out of his chair, and Mitchel couldn't help but chuckle a little. Maybe it was all the drinks he had getting to his head, or maybe he just really wanted to wrap up the interview. Maybe he just wanted to make a little noise. Mitchel answered for Christian. 

"Christian and Molly have been dating for a year or so. I'd say they're pretty in love," He blurted out. Mitchel glanced at Christian as Chase nodded his head intensely. "I mean," He continued, "they look great together, y'know? They're both super good-looking, and they complete each other. It's a beautiful thing, love, y'know what I mean? They-" 

"Thank you. For that." Christian said, furrowing his brows. "I'm not done," Mitchel said, waving his best friend off. He took the Microphone from Chase's hand and leaned back on the bright yellow couch he sat on and crossed his leg over the other. "They really have something you just can't imagine. Like a Disney movie or something. But without the chasity, right?" Mitchel chuckled to himself. He was beginning to be dully aware of the light throbbing sensation in his head. 

"But what I don't get is how a couple can appear to be so good, and actually be that great. Like, Molly is such a sweet girl, and Christian's the literal sunshine. Usually, people say that opposites attract. And I mean, if I do say so myself, I am definitely not the literal sun-" 

Chase lightly grabbed the microphone from Mitchel's hand. When he tried to keep talking, he pulled until Mitchel let go. "You've got a good point, there, Mitchel," He said and smiled sweetly. Chase glanced at the camera and made a cutting motion with his fingers, mouthing the words, "we'll cut that out later." 

He looked back at Mitchel, glancing at his piece of paper and delicately fixing his hair. "We got a little off track, but what I wanted to ask is, we know about the big breakup from last year," Chase said and set down his paper. "I mean, it was all the fans would talk about for months. So what I want to know- what we all want to know- is, what happens next? Are we going to see another girlfriend, or are we going to see you riding solo for a bit?" He asked. 

Mitchel cleared his throat. The throbbing in his head wouldn't stop, and his song was playing in his head again. Mitchel thought that it would go away, but it was back again and louder than ever. But now it had lyrics. He listened to them as Chase asked his question, the lyrics mercilessly taunting him. 

He bit his lip and folded his fingers. His song had struck a nerve, and a large wave of sadness washed over him. Don't cry, don't cry, don' cry, Mitchel repeated in his head. He cleared his throat. 

"No, actually, I'm taking a break from dating," he replied. "Ya hear that, ladies?" Chase asked,  looking at the camera. "None of the boys are looking for a new relationship! Maybe next time," He said, earning a chuckle from Christian, Clinton, and the camera crew. 

Mitchel sat, staring blankly into the camera as Chase ended off the interview. His song played in his head so loud that he was starting to get a headache, and when the three members left the room after shaking the interviewer's hand, Mitchel hurried off to the bathroom because he felt sick.