#mitch kramer

THE DAY COULD NOT HAVE DRAGGED ON ANY SLOWER. Mitch was sitting in the back of the classroom trying his hardest to concatenate on the useless boring lecture.

It was about the great..something? No.. Whatever it was, it wasn’t worth remembering. He gazed around the classroom trying to find anything entertaining but there was nothing, only other absolutely bored out of their mind classmates. He sighed rolling his eyes to the window.

Just as he was getting bored of a paper bag blowing across the parking lot, you walked past. He sat up straight, his eyes following you across the asphalt parking lot.

There you were, hair blowing in the wind with a smile painted on your face and cigarette tight between your ring filled knuckles. He tried to take a picture in his mind of you. To remember the way your bell bottoms clung tightly to your legs and how nice the flowered fitted blouse complimented you.

He thought back to a particular moment on the last day of school a few months ago. It was a little foggy and hard to remember. Well, to his defense he wasn’t very clear minded at the time. He sat on a trucks bed nursing a beer in his hand and looking towards the stars that never seemed to sit still, all spinning in his vison

You walked past and before Mitch could think your sandal caught onto shoe and you went tumbling over onto the ground.

He jumped off the truck looking over you, his mouth gushing a million apologies per second. You lifted yourself off the ground and looked at him and laughed. His heart skipped a beat and mid sentence he trailed off completely blind sided.

You smirked, pushing yourself onto your bottom and wiping the grass of your top. “It’s okay.” 

He nodded awkwardly, unsure of how to act infront of a girl like you. But you didn’t make fun of him or insult him or even send a harsh glare. You just asked very nicely, “Could I have a hand at least?” 

He could feel his mind drifting now, making up scenarios of you and him. Stupid ones, ones that would never happen in his wildest dreams, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t hope they would happen. And maybe, just maybe, if he thought hard enough they would. 

He could feel a blush creeping up on his cheeks. Then an annoying finger poking into his back with a “PSSTTT.”

He craned his neck back towards his  long blonde best friend. Carl was leaning over onto his desk then finally stopped his jabs once Mitch paid attention to him.

“Are you looking at Y/N, man?” Carl whispered with a shit eating grin on his face.

Mitch rubbed his nose then clenched his eyes closed trying to block the annoying muffled chuckle of Carls voice and the heat arising in his cheeks even more.

“No way. You must be crazy. She’s outta of your league.” Carl went on, leaning off of his desk and instead balancing on his chair. 

“Shut up.” Mitch’s eyes darted around the classroom to a few peers that have now set their sights onto him. He tried to turn back to the teacher but Carl kept it on. 

“I’m serious, man. Does she even know your name-?” Mitch cut him off 

“Yeah, she does actually.” But instead of his response shutting Carl up like he intended it only made him erupt into a fit of laughter. The chair beneath Carl slid backwards, his back collided with the hard tiled ground and a loud slam echoed through the classroom.

Now everyone’s eyes were truly on the two of them. Including the teacher who crossed his arms and with one stern look Mitch knew he was done for.

<—————————————--------------->

The hallways were quiet other than the back-and-forth arguing between Carl and Mitch. Two bright orange passes to the office were crumbled both in their hands. Carl wouldn’t stop this time and eventually Mitch gave up on trying to shut him up. 

The two of them twisted on their heels at the end of the hallway, Mitch taking the corner with a sharp turn.

BAM!

He collided with something solid and warm, the force bouncing him back into a locker. The metal let out a hallow clang. Just his luck.  Mitch blinked twice, eyes widening at the person into of him. His heart shook with shock.

This must’ve a been a blessing, the big man in the clouds must of heard his troubles and actually answered his prayers.

You stood infront of him pushing your hair back then locking eyes with his brown orbs. The edges of your lips pulled into a slow, knowing smile as you realize the person infront of you.

“Mitch!” You said, voice low enough to make him lean in just a little to catch the words slipping from your mouth. You remembered his name..?

“You really need to watch where you’re going,” You raised your eyebrow as Mitch rubbed his nose.

“Yeah, uh, lesson learned sorry.” Mitch mutters, his gaze flickering over towards Carl. The blondie obviously looks to be caught off guard, frozen between the two of them with his mouth slightly open. 

You giggled, the softness of your voice sending shivers down his spine. For a split second, Mitch motioned towards you at Carl with his eyes. He blinked looking between the two of you before finally coming to his senses.

Carl cleared his throat, quickly stepping back. “Uh, I’ll see you at the office.” Then he turned around fast walking down the highway.

“The office? What’d you get yourself into?” You placed a hand on your hip with an amusing smile.

There’s no way Mitch was going to tell you it was all your fault he was sent down. If you hadn’t been walking in that parking lot then he wouldn’t have had been staring and if he hadn’t of been staring then Carl wouldn’t have made a scene. He tried to think of something fast, something impressive that would make him seem interesting.

“I- uh accidentally got caught uh- skipping!” He blurted out nodding his head. “Skipping, yeah.” 

You titled your head, “Hm. Did you use the gym’s door to leave?” You asked and Mitch confidently answered with a “Yes.”

“That’s your fault then, the coach can be a prick. You gotta use the side door on the end of the building.” 

Mitch’s face fell in embarrassment. Idiot, he thought to himself. He face palmed. 

You snickered placing a hand on his shoulder. Mitch froze, the blood rushing to his face as he stared into your eyes. You’d put him a trance. 

“It happens to the best of us. Actually, I’ve been caught there a handful of times my freshman year… don’t tell anyone though.” You drifted off, breaking eye contact the boy.

“I won’t- noted though. About the side door!” He breathily chuckled, tucking his brown lock behind his ear.

“Anyway, when you’re done getting suspended you should think about coming to my party tonight?” You pull your purse off of your shoulder and begin to dig into it.

Mitch thinks back to what Dawson told him “Gotta play it cool, you know? Can’t let her know how much you like her. ‘Cause if she knows she’ll dump you like that!”

He starts to stammer, blurting out a million words per second trying to shift between being cool and nonchalant. You nudge him lightly, holding out a little paper with writing on it. 

“Well, if your plans fall through show up.” Then, like on cue, the bell rings and the hallway floods with other students and before he can bid a thoughtful goodbye. 

<——————————————-------------->

  A handful of cars were already taking up the block, parked at every corner of every inch lining the dimly lit street. Mitch anxiously strolled closer and closer towards your house. He tried to swallow the anxiety bubbling inside of him. 

He stood infront of your door and knocked a couple times before stepping back and rocking on his heels. The door opened wide, the smell of pot and cigerettes hit Mitch in the face. He looked up meeting the eyes of Pink. 

He stood framed in the doorway in his signature night-out look, dressed in his loose collared long sleeve and a pair of wide legged jeans. 

“Hey, man.” Pink nodded his head up before stepping away and letting Mitch enter the house.

“Whatcha doin’ here tonight?” Pink questioned watching as Mitch pushed his hair back.

“Oh nothing, much. You know how it is.” He tried to play it off, his eyes circling around the place trying to find Y/N. Pink must’ve notices his wandering gaze because he props the question. 

“Who you lookin’ for, man?” Mitch swallowed, feeling a knot tighten in his throat. Pink started to walk between the crowd of people. Pushing through gently, eyes set on the table full of drinks. Mitch followed close behind, a few hellos interrupting his answer. 

 Pink grins grabbing two beers from the table handing one to Mitch. Mitch takes it as Pink opens his with an opener. He hands it to Mitch who embarrassingly struggles for a second before twisting it off successfully. 

“Oh, i’m uh- just scouting the place, looking for anyone- someone-“  He’s cut off adruptly. 

“Pink. Mitch.” A feminine voice cooed from behind Mitch. It startled him, he moved in slow motion setting his sights onto you. 

There you stood, your hair with feathered waves in a tight blouse which stopped just under your ribs leaving your mid drift shown and even tighter jeans. In your hand, a beer can hung next to your waist but just as Mitch took notice of it you brought it up your lips and took a swig.

You licked your lips, Mitch’s heart dropped straight to his pants. He clenched the beer in his hand. 

Pink grinned pushing his tongue into his cheek. You knew what you were doing and it was driving Pink crazy.

He was about to say something but it was quickly forgotten when he realized he wasn’t the only one watching. He bit the inside of his lip. That just wasn’t going to fly with him. Not when it involved you.

Before Mitch could get a word in, Pink thought of something swiftly to lure you away from the audience you were playing at. 

“Y/N, couldya step over here quick?” He said, stepping forward sending a glare towards Mitch before turning towards you with a sly smirk.

“If you really want me to.” You shrugged with a slight smile. Innocently batting your eyelashes placing your beer on the table next to you. 

“Oh I really want you.” He paused with a subtle wink. Your cheeks turned pink. “-to.” 

He pushed his hand up to your shoulder, letting the tip of his pinkie brush against your bare neck. Then he glided his hand down looping it within your belt pulling you with him. He glanced over his shoulder, making sure Mitch saw every move he was making. 

He lead you to some empty corner of your living room. He softly pushed you against the wall, his arm placed above your head and you melted into his touch. 

The thrum of music from the record player vibrated the walls faintly. You tried to act cool, focus on the words and not the elephant in the room. But you couldn’t, he leaned in close. His lips just hovering over yours but not close enough for your likening. Oh how the tables have turned now. 

He smelt of cigerettes, a touch of weed from a joint he bummed off, and  cologne. His eyes were half open trying to search for a reaction in yours. As much as you tried to act like this didn’t bother you, he could see that glimmer circling around your irises. 

“What do you think you’re doin’?” You press your head to the wall looking up at him. Pressing your lips together you blinked. 

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He hoarsely chuckled, finding that response amusing. Was this a game to you? His gaze flickering, running down your neck but retreating back to your eye contact to speak. 

“Careful there, Y/N. You’re walking in the wrong direction.” He dragged out the last word tugging a stray strand of hair behind your ear. His hands trailed down towards your cheek, gliding his thumb over the soft plush of your skin. 

“You have quite the imagination, Pink.” You titled your head to the side as he leaned in again, this time closer almost touching.

“I’m not imagining anything.” He pushed his knuckle underneath your chin slowly, dauntingly slow, his lips grazed over yours. 

You could feel every inch of the deliberate pace he kept. Your pulse hammered loudly in your ear like a drum. He stretched every second out. Every moment was purposeful, tortuous in his patience. The heat of his breath was enough to make your skin prickle.

His lips touched yours, his hand coming up back to your cheek pushing you close. The warmth of his mouth was fleeting and taunting. Your tongue swiped across his lips, head bobbing with each movement he made.

Your hand leapt up into his hair, fingers twirling his brown curls and in response his other hand came down around your back pushing you into him closer. 

You gasped, he hungrily kissed you harder smushing his face into yours. You pressed your hand flat on his chest pulling away slowly, biting his lip as you went. He tried to push his lips back onto yours but was met with a finger.

“We’re in public.” You coo at him looking around the living room. No one’s really paying attention but still, your point still stood. He gently squished his hand onto your cheeks forcing you to look back to him. 

“So what? I’m not allowed to show off?” He breathily inquired pulling your waist closer. You rolled your eyes. 

“Show off what, hm?” He silences you with a briskly kiss. You hum against his lips and he pulls away once more.

“You, N/N.” 

<——————————————->

 Mitch felt stupid, really stupid now that he watched the interaction between you and Pink. He should’ve knew a girl like you would be with a guy like Pink. You were just being nice and Mitch got carried away. It was all really in his imagination 

A pungent scent of pot hit Mitch in the face, a hand reached out pushing a half burnt joint in his direction.

“Want a hit, man?” Mitch nodded a little sorrowfully taking the joint in his fingers and pressing it to his lips. He looked back towards you.

Slater followed too, his red drowsy eyes gradually putting the pieces together. 

“Oh, Y/N, she’s a cool girl a cool cool  girl… She rolled this for me.” He motions towards the joint in Mitch’s hand. He couldn’t escape you, could he? 

Mitch audibly groans shoving the joint back to Slater who seems a bit confused. 

“Are they…” Mitch paused for a second, dreading the answer. “-together?”

Slater took a long drag, exhaling the white smoke from his nostrils watching it curl up in lazy spirals.

“Well, yeah man. That’s Pinks girl, don’tcha know?” Mitch’s stomach drops, it was too good to be true. The music from inside spills out into the night, but Mitch barely hears- only the dull, thud of realization. 

*I've heard (from various sources) that one of the reasons they didn't cast well-known actors at the time, because they spent a good portion (I think like 1mil/6 million?) of the budget on the soundtrack alone. I've also heard McConaughey say it was because there was a lull in coming-of-age movies and so there weren't as many well-known teen actors at the time! I'm pretty sure he talks about that in the doc I linked at the top of the post, but lmk if I'm wrong!

I really like this choice, especially as someone who grew up during the MCU when actors started getting cast just because of their name. that's happened forever and ever and definitely didn't start with the MCU, but it's still super refreshing to have a cast comprised of (at the time) small actors that were devoted to the film and not the fame.

it just adds to the authenticity and makes it so easy to disappear into the snapshot of time that dazed captures. i won't ramble on for too much longer and there are already youtube videos that say pretty much the same thing, but i just feel like Dazed shows its characters through a window and we can only see the parts in front of the window, but if we look hard enough we can see a little bit more. but i just work here.