Not Warriors- Awsten Knight

Chapter 16

Claire was excited to watch Waterparks play today, the conversation that her and Awsten had last night felt good. It was healthy, and she was proud of the both of them for being able to sit and reminisce over their past without it hurting.

She meant what she said when she told Awsten that she wouldn't be opposed to working towards the both of them being friends again, but she knew not to get ahead of herself.

If there was one thing that Claire was good at, it's romanticizing things around her and it clouds her judgment. So she had to constantly remind herself that things might not always be smooth sailing between her and Awsten, just because their conversation last night was good doesn't mean it would be that way every time.

Jawn had been talking her ear off all morning, Claire thinks that he was more excited she was going to be there than anyone else.

Claire was planning on bringing her camera to their set to take some pictures here and there as long as it was okay with Jawn. She didn't want to step on anyone's toes but Awsten's bands back home were the whole reason she knew how to take pictures and she wanted to do it again today.

She didn't think that Jawn would have an issue with it but she would always rather be on the safe side than sorry.

"Hey Jawn" she calls out to him from the front of the bus and he pokes his head out from his bunk.

"What's up Claire?" he asks her with a sweet smile on his face.

"Do you care if I bring my camera with me and take some pictures of the boys during their set today?" she asks him softly.

Jawn laughs in response shaking his head, "Why would I care if you brought your camera Claire?" he asks her.

Claire shrugs a little brushing him off, "I just didn't want to step on any toes, I'd always rather check first you know?" she tells him sincerely, packing up her camera bag.

"You could never step on my toes when it comes to something like that, but you are going to have to give me some tips on how to make Awsten's hair stand out more in photos because I can't seem to get it right." Jawn tells her, half jokingly and half serious and she smiles. 

"I think you forget my Aws had brown hair" she says and freezes, her Aws she thinks to herself and frowns slightly. 

She definitely did not mean to say that out loud, but now that it was out in the world there was no taking it back. 

Jawn opened his mouth to talk and before he got the chance she turned to him with her finger up.

"We don't have to talk about that lets pretend that just didn't happen yeah? Okay cool, lets go the boys are on soon." she says hurriedly and Jawn sighs softly, he knew not to push it and if she didn't want to talk about it that was the end of it so he dropped it and Claire was overly thankful for that. 

Awsten's face lit up when he saw Claire walking his way with Jawn in tow. He knew that she had agreed the night before but truthfully wouldn't of blamed her if she had changed her mind about going due to it being too much. 

All of the boys waved happily, just excited for her to be there. 

"Do you have your camera?" he asks her, his eyes growing wide and she nods excitedly turning sideways showing her backpack. 

It was the same one that Awsten had gotten her when she had gotten accepted into the photography program at school, he had admittedly spent entirely too much money on it but it made his heart feel fuzzy to see her still using it after all of these years. 

"It's been a while, but if it wasn't for Cast Among Hero's I would never know how to do band photography so I wanted to see a side by side comparison." she tells him honestly, and they both hear Geoff stifle a laugh. 

Claire shoots him a confused look, and Awsten groans. 

"Awsten your old bands name was lyrics to Canals by All Time Low?" Geoff asks with an eyebrow up, and Claire starts to giggle before coming to Awsten's  defense. 

"It's my favorite All Time Low song Geoff." she says sweetly, and she watches Awsten's face grow red. 

"Of all of their songs? Canals?." he asks in disbelief and she nods matter of factly.

"Yep, always has been. Always will be." Claire responds happily. 

"Alright that's really sweet he named the band after one of your favorite songs. Who knew he was such a romantic?" Geoff says laughing, and his met with Claire's laughter too. 

"I'm considering anyone lucky enough to know him would know he's that romantic." Claire counter argues with a small shrug. 

She watches as Awsten's face turns red as he gives her a genuine smile, and she winks back. 

"Can't argue that one" Geoff says honestly, dropping the subject completely. 

Claire really liked Geoff, he was a huge step up from any of the other guitarists that had been in Awstens local bands. He was kind, and always made it a point to make sure that everyone was comfortable and she appreciated that more than he knew. 

"So I am assuming I'm not hearing Bones of 92' today?" Claire asked Awsten as he was mid sip of water, and the question took him by such surprise he ended up spitting his water out onto the ground while coughing. 

"God no Claire, that song hasn't heard the light of day since like 2013?" he said questioningly, looking around for confirmation from the boys.

"I think it was 2012, we only played it once or twice." Otto says racking his brain to think, and quickly nods confirming his thoughts. 

"Okay, so if I don't get to hear my favorite Waterparks song what do I get to hear?" Claire asks teasing softly and Awsten shakes his head. 

"It cannot be your favorite Waterparks song when you never heard it being played, and you haven't heard any other songs." he shoots back before handing her the setlist. 

Waterparks Setlist 
Journeys Left Foot Stage

Blonde
Crave
Not Warriors
Take Her To The Moon
Lucky People
Rare
Stupid For You 

Claire looks the list over a few times, studying each song trying to picture what they could sound like in her head before handing it back to Awsten. 

"I think I'm going to like Not Warriors and Rare the most." she says confidently and he smiles, about to say something when they are called to go out on stage. 

"I'll see you after." she tells him sweetly before heading into the photography pit with Jawn.