#wlcfl

“Why is it that when I like a guy… they don’t like me back?” I asked. “‘Cause I’m tired of getting the short end of the stick?”

I was sitting in Mitch’s room on his bed, tears coming down my face. Not like steady tears, but they were coming out slowly… if that made any sense.

Mitch moved from his desk to sit beside me, putting an arm around my shoulder to try and comfort me. You couldn’t tell that he was a little bit muscular, but his muscles were there. 

“Hey, it’s gonna be okay,” he said. “They’re just stupid and can’t see the awesome person that you are.”

I looked at him, nothing but honesty in his eyes. Smiling a little, I nodded my head and looked down, whispering, “Okay. Thanks.”

“You’re my best friend,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for.”

I looked back up at him, an unimpressed look on my face. “No need to get all cocky there, Rapp.”

He chucked again, pushing lightly on my knee, while saying, “You love it, Y/L/N. We both know it.”

“Do I?” I asked, narrowed eyes, but a playful look to my face.

“Yes, you do.”

I chuckled and leaned over the side of his bed, grabbing my bag and opening it, taking the notebooks and pencils out that I needed to rewrite my notes and to start on my homework.

A little background about Mitch and I; we’re best friends. Have been since about the third grade when my family moved from Florida to Massachusetts. We lived across the street from each other and have been inseparable ever since his parents came over with him and his brother to welcome us into the neighborhood. 

When Mitch’s parents died, he became distant even though he and his brother lived with us until he and I graduated from his high school; his younger brother, Steven, a couple years behind us.

Yes, Mitch did get kicked out of three boarding schools because of his bad behavior or “discipline problems”. Was I there by his side? No, not really. He got into fights and even initiated some of them, which is something the school didn’t tolerate. 

Anyway, let’s go forward to college… where we are now. Syracuse University! Mitch and I both had a pact to go to the same college when we started our freshman year of high school. We didn’t wanna be apart. When we both got our individual scholarships, we were both ecstatic; he got one for lacrosse and I got one for softball. 

Going to the same college as Mitch has had it’s ups and downs, but mostly it’s ups. We’re hard on each other about the classes we have together, and we hold each other accountable for the classes that we don’t have together. It’s weird, but just go with it.

I sighed as I stared at my homework, not wanting to finish it. Quickly glancing at Mitch through my eyelashes, I saw that he was deep in concentration with his own homework. So, I grabbed my laptop and opened it, working on a project that I started what seemed like forever ago, but was just a few days ago. 

“Why do you have your computer open?” Mitch asked.

I looked at him over the top of my laptop, confused as to how he knew that. “You’re not even looking this way. How do you know I have my computer open?”

Finally locking eyes with me for a second, he said, “I’m your best friend. I know your mannerisms. When you sigh while doing your homework like you just did, you always grab your laptop and start working on it, your mousepad clicking more than your keyboard.”

Letting out a quick sigh, I just looked at him before reaching over and grabbing a pen, chucking it at him, which garnered a laugh out of him. “You’re an ass, you know that?”

“You love it,” he smiled. Before he went to say something else, his phone dinged with a message. Watching as he read that message on the screen, I knew exactly what it was. Or rather who it was. 

“Hey, listen--”

“I know,” I said. “Katrina. Date night?”

Mitch sighed while placing his phone back down, nodding. “Yeah. She keeps rescheduling on me. Told me that tonight was the only night she had free, so she wants to go to dinner.”

“Fancy place, or a place where you can still wear your clothes from lacrosse practice?”

“The diner down the street,” he explained, packing his bag back up. “Want me to bring you back anything?” Thinking it over for a moment, I ultimately decided that I didn’t want to intrude on their dinner date, so I respectfully declined, letting him know that I knew where everything was in his kitchen and that I would be perfectly fine.

Mitch had a small apartment to himself that we both absolutely loved. I helped him move in, and I may or may not have a drawer in his bedroom dedicated to my own clothes.

He finally nodded while getting up from the foot of his bed that he moved to once we started getting to work on homework. “Alright, uhm… I’ll be back later. If you leave and go back to your apartment, just text me and let me know.” “Will do,” I saluted. “Have fun.”

Before he officially left, he walked over to me and placed a quick to my forehead, something he’s always done. It’s more of a “I’ll see you later” type of thing, nothing romantic at all about it.

After I heard the door shut and lock, I got more comfortable in the spot I claimed as mine on his bed, continuing my project. 

I’m not sure how long I worked on my project before I fell asleep. The only thing I knew was that when I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, Mitch was asleep on the couch, tv and table lamp on. 

After I did my business, I turned off the lamp and grabbed the remote, turning the tv off before waking Mitch up and telling him to come lay in the bed while I took the couch. Before I could lay down after he stood, he grabbed my hand gently and gave me those sleepy eyes that I just could not resist; those eyes telling me to just sleep in the bed with him, platonically, of course.

Now, the thing that most people don’t know is that I have a secret about Mitch that I’ve been carrying for years. One that Mitch himself doesn’t even know. I’m sure you’ve guessed it by now, but… I’ve had a crush on Mitch since high school. And-and-and, no. It’s not some high school crush. 

This is one that I’ve tried to act on, especially as of late. But when Mitch met Katrina, it was all downhill from there. Crush is still there, oh yes. But knowing that Mitch will never feel the same hurts.

So, laying here with Mitch in the dark, listening to him softly snoring put me in my feels very hard. Knowing that I’ll never get the chance to be with him for the rest of our lives, listening to him softly snoring every night, even in old age.

We’re getting sappy now, so we’ll just leave it at that as I cuddle a little closer to him, and finally fall back asleep.

~~~

When I woke up the next morning, Mitch was laying on his back while I was tucked into his side. Not wanting to lay here any longer, mostly because I had a morning class, I slowly and quietly slid myself from under his arm, and stepped onto the floor. 

After I grabbed my bag and put my laptop back in it, I put my shoes on, not hearing Mitch sit up. 

“Where are you going?” he asked, sleepily.

I sighed quietly and turned around to face him. “I have a morning class.”

At the look on his face, I knew he was thinking over his own class schedule, asking himself, “Do I have a class?”

“Yes, now get up,” I said. “I’m going home to change. When I get back, you had better had a shower and gotten dressed.”

Fake saluting, Mitch said “Yes, ma’am,” before I walked out of his apartment.

When I walked into my own apartment, my roommate and best friend, Lily, was sitting at the bar in our kitchen drinking some coffee while looking at something on her computer.

“Hey, Lill,” I greeted. “What’cha looking at?”

“Oh, nothing,” she sighed. “Just my schedule for the day.” Lily was very organized with her school and work schedule. “I’ve got a late morning class, then my afternoon class. Work after school, then nothing once I get back home. Speaking of, you never came home last night.” She gave me a look only a mother could give that immediately made me cave.

“Okay, so, I was at Mitch’s last night,” I began. “We were studying and then he left because Katrina asked about a date night or whatever, so he went and I stayed, then I ended up falling asleep and I was gonna take the couch and have him sleep in his own bed, but he gave me those eyes that asked me to stay and I did–”

“Y/N/N! Slow down!” Lily exclaimed. “Why do you keep torturing yourself by hanging out with him? I mean, I get he’s your best friend and forever crush, but I just don’t get it.”

Sighing, I set my bag down on the couch. “I don’t know, Lill. I really don’t. Every time I think about not hanging out with him for even a day, I get all sad.” My phone dinging got my attention, so I pulled it out of my bag and looked at the screen, seeing a text from Mitch.

From Mitch: hey, im ready. you coming back?

I replied to him, saying that I was and to give me a few minutes to get dressed since I had just gotten home and was talking with Lily. After she asked me who it was, I explained the text and she understood, telling me to get dressed and to head out so that Mitch and I wouldn’t be late for class. After changing my clothes and spraying myself down with some body spray, I walked out the door and went straight back to Mitch’s. 

The best thing about Mitch’s apartment is that it was close to our first class of the day. No, we didn’t have the same class. We were different majors; he was an international business major, and I was a communication, journalism major.

Once I got to his apartment, I let myself in with the spare key Mitch had made for me. “Mitch! You ready?” I asked, walking into the kitchen.

“Ow, fuck” I heard him say. I closed my eyes and sighed as I heard his footsteps and him say, “Yeah, yeah. I’m ready.”

“Good, let’s go.” I turned on my heel and walked out of the door, waiting for Mitch in the hallway.

Once he closed and locked the door, we were both on our way to my car to head to our first class. I parked as close as I could before we both got out and grabbed our bags from the backseat. 

“We still on for lunch?” I asked as we both rounded the car.

“Yeah, always,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I make time for my best friend?”

Shrugging, I looked down at the grass. “I don’t know. With you being with Katrina and all, it just feels like you don’t ever have time for your best friend anymore. But, I’m probably just overthinking it, to be honest.”

Mitch put an arm around my shoulders, bringing me into his side a little more. “I will always make time for you, Y/N/N.”

I chuckled. “Good. I don’t wanna have to kick your ass.”

Pulling me tighter into him, placing a platonic kiss to the side of my head after saying, “You wish.”

Laughing, I pushed him away, looking up at the building that held my first class of the day, wishing Mitch good luck in his. Once I saw Lily standing by the door, I waved to her before her and I went to our class.

When class was done, I called up Mitch, seeing if he was ready for our walk to our next classes, but he didn’t answer his phone. Not really thinking anything of it, I texted him, telling him that I was ready for our walk. He replied that he was already on his way to his next class with Katrina, since they had it together.

Lily saw the disappointed look on my face and looped her arm through mine. “Come on. Let’s go get a coffee.”

This brightened my spirits, my response of, “Ugghhhh, yes,” brought a laugh out of her.

“Every time you do that, it sounds like you’re having sex,” she said.

“A good, iced vanilla almond milk latte is better than sex,” I said. “Not that I’m having much of it right now, this schedule has me insanely busy.”

“But not busy enough to have lunch and sleepover dates with your guy best friend.”

I looked at her, brows furrowed. “That’s different. That's a habit.”

“Uh huh, sure.”

“Let’s go get this coffee. I feel like I’m gonna fall right here on this concrete after that class.”

~~~

As I sat in our normal booth at our favorite diner, I had most of my schoolwork in front of me, getting a headstart on the easier things while saving the harder stuff for when I was in more comfortable clothes lounging in my own bed or couch.

A body sat in front of me, fingers lacing together on the table. “Okay, so here’s the deal. You’re gonna come back over, but before you do that, you’re gonna pack a bag for at least a couple nights.”

Chuckling while writing out a draft for an assignment, I said, “Oh, yeah?”

“Yes. I have a test tomorrow and I need your help cramming for it.”

Looking up at Mitch through my lashes for a moment, I looked back down to my paper, responding, “Katrina can’t help?”

“Nah, she’s busy.”

I scoffed, not liking that answer. “So, I’m your last resort?” I asked, packing up my stuff, as to not be rude.

“No, you’re not,” he answered. “I figured you’d be busy studying for your own exams, so I asked her and she said she was busy tonight, so I went back to my first choice.”

“You’re confusing me,” I chuckled. “Let’s just eat. I went ahead and ordered for you.”

Mitch smiled, “You’re the best.”

“I know.”

~~~

“ ‘What are some of the problems that come up during international business negotiations? 25 pts for each one you put down.’, ” I read from Mitch’s study guide.

“Uhhhh,” he thought. “Payment issues, and…” He thought for a moment more as I checked off the answer he gave me. “Negotiations?”

“Negotiations in Home Country,” I corrected. “I’ll give it to you anyway. Just try to remember ‘home country’ if you wanna put that answer down.”

“Okay. Can we do at least one more? I’m getting pretty tired,” he said. “Kinda just wanna hang out now. We’ve been at this for hours.”

I nodded my head, giving my answer of, “Sure,” before I looked back down at the paper. “Alright, uhm…” I looked at the paper, skimming through for another question. “Oh! ‘What is international business?’ ”

“Shit, uhm,” he muttered.

“You’re thinking too hard about it,” I said. “Don’t think about it and I’m sure it’ll come to you. At least that’s what my dad used to say.”

Looking at me as if I gave him the answer, he said confidently, “International business encompasses all commercial activities that take place to promote the transfer of goods, services, resources, people, ideas, and technologies across national boundaries.”

I put the paper and clapped my hands once in excitement with a smile on my face. “You’re gonna pass your test!”

Laughing happily, Mitch twisted from his side to his back, putting his arms above his head. “Finally!” He turned his head towards me, asking, “What do you wanna do?”

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Watch a movie?”

Getting off his bed, I went into the living room where the movies were kept in a super big CD holder. I flipped through them, finding one that we both loved. “How about 21 Jumpstreet?”

“Let’s do it!”

~~~

“I know what you're thinking: angry, black captain. Well guess what? I'm black, and I worked my ASS off to be the captain. And sometimes, I get a little angry, so suck a dick!”

I was laughing so hard, I had Mitch pause the movie so that I could try and catch my breath. “That’s the funniest shit,” I laughed. 

“That got you belly laughing,” Mitch chuckled. “Was it that funny?”

Finishing up my laughing fit, I wiped the tears that started forming from my eyes. “Either I’m really tired or those lines just really got to me.”

At my yawn, Mitch let out a chuckle. “I think you’re just tired.”

Like a child not getting their way, I whined, “But we just started the movie!”

“And we can finish it tomorrow,” he said. Standing up, he took my hands in his, standing me up in the process. “Let’s get your teeth brushed and you in bed.”

“But I’m not sleepy.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I’m not.”

Laughing, he said, “Alright, Chip.”

I sent him a glare and a middle finger as I walked to his bathroom, yelling, “Fuck you, Mrs. Potts.” Standing in front of the mirror, I grabbed the toothbrush I always kept over here. After wetting the toothbrush and putting the toothpaste onto the bristles, I ran it back under the water and put the toothbrush into my mouth, turning it on. Yes, I had one of those fancy toothbrushes that pulsate.

Once my teeth were as clean as I was going to get them, I spit it out then rinsed, spitting out the water after. I walked out of the bathroom, turning off the light after drying my mouth with the towel sitting on the counter, seeing Mitch standing at the foot of his bed. All I could do was look at my best friend with a small smile on my face. Not because of the crush I had, but because I was proud. 

“Are you excited that you’re about to take your final exams in your college career?” I asked.

He looked up at me and smiled. “Yeah. Aren’t you taking yours, too?”

Nodding, I said, “Yeah, next week. But I know all my material, so.”

Walking towards me to brush his own teeth, he said, “‘Cause you’re smart as hell, but you’re still gonna study. Get into bed.” He kissed my head, like he always did before disappearing into the bathroom.

I chuckled to myself, shaking my head slightly. Hearing his phone ding, I went over and looked at the screen, seeing a text from Katrina. The smallest smile that I had on my face disappeared. 

Hearing the bathroom door open and Mitch’s sigh following, I let out my own sigh. “Uhm,” I said, clearing my throat and turning to face him. “Katrina texted you.”

“Did you check it?” he asked.

I shook my head, holding his phone out to him. “It’s not my business.”

The look on his face told me that he was confused by my actions. “You know you can just check it, right?” Giving him an unamused look, I deadpanned, “I don’t wanna see her tits or puss, Mitch.”

He chuckled, taking his phone from my hand, opening the text. “She, uhm, she wants to come over tonight.” Another ding and a frustrated sigh. “I told her you were staying to help me study.”

“It’s okay, Mitch. Really.”

A knock on the door caused both of our heads to turn towards it, my eyes closing in the process, Mitch’s name being heard faintly on the other side. I guess Mitch knew what my next move was because he walked over to me.

“Don’t move,” he whispered. He walked off towards the door, talking with Katrina. Faking like I was going to get some water, I walked out of the bedroom with the cup from Mitch’s nightstand, going to the kitchen. 

“Katrina–” Mitch said before he sighed.

“So, what’s the reason I can’t hang out with my boyfriend?” she asked.

Turning on the tap, I looked up at them through my lashes, Katrina and I locking eyes. I could feel the tension rising like a raging fire, so I turned off the water and placed the cup in the sink, trying to be slick with walking away from the sink. “Ya’know what? Imma go. You two obviously have some stuff to work out.”

“Y/N/N–” Mitch started as I walked into his bedroom.

“No, let her go, Mitch,” Katrina interrupted.

Walking out of the bedroom, I had my overnight bag hanging from my shoulder, my backpack hanging on my arm by the straps. While I walked to the door, Mitch followed me, saying, “Stay. Please, just stay.”

With my hand on the knob, I turned my body a little to face him. “Mitch, your girlfriend is here. Just spend time with her. We can hang out after graduation.”

“That’s in three weeks.”

I shrugged, whispering, “I guess I’ll see you then.”

~~~

“Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe we’re sitting here about to graduate,” Lily said, very excitedly. 

“I know,” I squealed, a smile on my face. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since the start of the year!” I felt my phone vibrate against my leg, my dress having pockets. Pulling it out, I saw that I had a text from Mitch, saying that he was in the stand with my parents. I looked up, trying to find him in the crowd. 

“Who are you looking for?” Lily asked.

“Mitch.”

“He’s not graduating?” she asked, confused.

“No, he did. It was a couple days ago.”

“Oh. Wait, I see him.”

I looked over to where she was waving, seeing him standing with my dad. How I missed his salt and pepper hair, I’ll never know, but I’m glad I saw him. 

Once the Dean came on stage and did the opening ceremony, everyone quieted down, listening to her. I looked over at Lily, mouthing the same words our Dean was as she said, “This is a great group of students we have sitting here this year. All of them are unique in their own way.”

When the Dean was finished with speech, our girl from our class gave the welcome address before we finally were able to get up and walk across the stage to receive our diplomas. Once I was called, I couldn’t hear anything or anyone… except for Mitch. I heard him holler over everyone in the auditorium “That’s my best friend!”

Once everything was done and over with, all the graduates went outside and waited for our friends and family to find us. When I found my mom, I smiled, extremely happy that her and my dad came. I knew they were coming, but it’s different when you’re holding an accomplishment in your hands. Big hugs for both my parents before I was quickly turned around by Lily, who also gave me a hug.

The last person who I really wanted the hugs from was Mitch, who had a big smile on his face. As he gave me the hug, he lifted me up a little, spinning us around a couple times before stopping, my legs bent at a 90 degree angle the entire time.

When we both heard camera shutters from my parents phones, he set me down, both of us laughing at the embarrassment we were sharing.

About a thousand pictures later, the four of us made our way to our favorite spot off the campus. All of my stuff was already packed and waiting for me at my new apartment. While we were sitting at the restaurant, I turned to Mitch, asking where Steven was, his response being that he couldn’t make it because of his own exam schedule. I understood, as I was just there myself.

A little while later with everyone standing around the car, ready to go, Mitch received a phone call, walking away to answer. Yes sirs and no sirs heard throughout the conversation before a “Thanks. You, too” was heard before he came back to the car.

“What was that all about?” I asked, strapping myself in.

“Travel agent,” he confirmed. “Just wanting to confirm a trip I booked with him.”

A little hurt as to why I wasn’t in the loop, I asked, “Oh. Where you going?” “Ibiza, Spain. Graduation gift to Katrina. But it’s–” he said, hesitating at the end before continuing, “An engagement trip… hopefully.”

My heart stopped in my chest, my breathing stopping for a moment. He’s proposing? In Ibiza? I guess he noticed my reaction because he put his arm on the back of my chair, leaning in a little closer to keep the conversation between us.

“Look, I know it was supposed to be our after college before real world vacation, but she was real adamant on going.”

I shook my head, looking down at my drink. “No, it’s okay. I get it. It’s a beautiful place. She’ll love it.”

His phone ringing again stopped his response from coming out. “Hey, babe. No, I’m at dinner. Yeah. Yeah, tomorrow. Pack mine, please. Thanks. I love you. Bye.”

“You guys leave tomorrow?” I asked.

“Yeah. It was the soonest the agent could get us out there. But, I’ll be back next week and we can hang out then.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

~~~

When you graduate from college, it’s supposed to be a while before you can get a good, decent job. Unless your father works for the local news station and can get you a job pretty quickly.

I had only been out of school for a few days before my dad told me he had a job lined up for me, and that all I had to do was go down to the news station with him and start my new job. That was all planned by him.

What wasn’t planned by him, however, was when a story was placed down on my desk for me write up for the news website about a terrorist attack in Ibiza, Spain. Once I read the gist of everything, I stood up from my chair, seeing Mitch and Katrina’s names, only hers had her birth and death date.

I couldn’t help the sad emotions that came over me that day. I know that Katrina and I didn't exactly see eye to eye when it came down to our time with Mitch, but overall, she was a very sweet girl and Mitch deserved her.

It broke me to write the story on the attack, but I wasn’t able to give it to someone else. But after I wrote it and sent it off to be approved, I went to my dad's office and asked if there was any possible way I could go see Mitch. He gave me the okay, and off like a rocket, I went.

Once I got to Mitch’s apartment, I knocked on the door, waiting for him to answer. I heard shuffling like things were being moved around before silence followed. I knocked again, saying his name and who I was, him probably having PTSD from overseas.

The door opening caught my attention after I walked a few away, and I took in his appearance; shirtless with a bandage on his right shoulder. Tears started welling up in my eyes as I placed a hand over my mouth. I guess this upset him because he just walked back into his apartment, going back to whatever it was he was doing.

I walked in, seeing that he had boxes scattered around. “What are you doing?” I whispered.

“Packing Katrina’s things,” he answered shortly. “Her parents want her stuff back. I’m packing my stuff as well. I’m giving my lease up.”

“You haven’t been here for a month.”

“It’s too big for just me. I found another apartment across town.”

I nodded my head, pulling the strap of my crossbody purse over my head, setting it down on the kitchen table. “Alright. I’ll help. What do you–”

“I don’t need your help. If I did, I would’ve asked for it.”

His answer had taken me aback. I didn’t expect him to be so short and hurtful.

“Are you sure you don–”

“I said I don’t need your help. Leave.”

Scoffing, I replaced my purse on my shoulder, looking at him disappointedly. “Look, I get what happened on the beach was a fucking horrific thing to experience, but that doesn’t give you the right to be such an ass.”

“That piece of shit took everything from me,” he sneered. “So go back to your perfect little life and stay out of mine.”

I was shocked at what just came out of his mouth. I couldn’t believe the words he just spoke to me, tears falling down my cheeks like a waterfall. “When you find my best friend, have him give me a call with an apology.”

“You won’t get one.”

I turned on my heel and stormed out of the apartment, not looking back for the next 18 months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N 2: hi friends! i hope y’all liked this! it took me four and a half forevers to write, just because i had a hard time coming up with scenarios before the movie events of AA. if you saw this post, i know it says it’s coming in three parts, but i’m changing it to maybe more. i’m not sure, though. guess i’m gonna let the story take itself where it wants to go, lol. anyways, i hope y’all enjoyed this. pls don’t hesitate to let me know what you thought in the comments, reblogs, or even my askbox. 

Additional A/N: i know that in the movie, it doesn’t state whether or not the spain trip with mitch and katrina was a graduation gift or just a trip they planned / mitch planned for the engagement, so i added that in for sentimental reasons. part two will be out when i have it fully written.

~~~

Forever / Everything Taglist: @stiles-o-dylan24 @stixnstripesworld @fandom-princess-forevermore @quanticobae @mischiefandi @kellyashcroft @lauren-novak 

Mitch Rapp Taglist: @stixnstripesworld @fandom-princess-forevermore @quanticobae @loveanii​ @good-vibes-and-glitter​

If you’re tagged and didn’t want to be, please let me know.

~~~

*Please don’t post my writing anywhere else without my consent. The author of this work will always and forever be @stilinskiparker.

All characters, story lines, and plot aside from y/n and her storyline & plot, are all of the work of the creator of the late author, Vince Flynn. 

*These works contain material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited.

No part of these works may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.