I'll Run to You // Awsten Knight

Chapter 3-Bowling

September 4th, 2017

Hope hears a knock coming from her apartment door, "Must be Awsten," she says to herself. She opens the door to find Awsten in a teal muscle tee with three ducks on it. She notices the shirt and giggles. Awsten has a white rose in his hand and hands it to Hope as she steps out of the apartment. "Is this a date since Otto or Geoff didn't want to come?" She asks.

"What? No, no, no, I just thought I'd give you a rose cause Maliki said the white ones are your favorite flower. I hope they were right," he explains with a worried face.

 "No, they were right, thank you Awsten." He hands the rose to her with the biggest smile and she takes it.

The gesture is sweet and she's glad he didn't try to make this a date, after her last partner and whatever is going on with Maliki, she's not ready for any of that.

They head down the hall and down the elevator, soon leading to the exit of the apartment complex. They get to his car and Awsten opens the door for Hope, as she tries to hide the blush rising on her cheeks. Awsten soon gets in the car after her and they head off to..wherever the hell they're going.

 "Where are we going?" she asks. 

"I have an idea," He responds back. 

Oh shit, maybe he IS a weirdo, or a serial killer? I just hope he doesn't take me to a "friend's" house, that always never works out in the movies.

Hope is so caught up in her thoughts she almost doesn't hear Awsten speaking, "Hey, are you okay? You seem a little distracted." 

She darts her head toward him so quickly that she felt a sharp pain in her neck from how quickly he caught her off guard, "Hm? Ow!"

Awsten starts laughing until he realizes she didn't even crack a smile, "Sorry," he clears his throat, "sorry." Awsten immediately puts his eyes on the road, and keeps them there, this is exactly what he didn't want to happen. 

"No, I'm sorry I made you feel bad for laughing. I genuinely don't mind, don't worry." Awsten is still a little embarrassed, but relieved she doesn't mind.

A half hour passes and Awsten pulls into a parking lot, he had Hope blindfold herself so it would be a surprise. "Okay, you can take it off now," he says. 

"Thank fuck, I was about to rip it off anyway." She looks up to find a colorful one-story building with a sign that shows 'Del Mar Lanes'. 

She quietly squeals in happiness. "Have you never been here? It's one of the most popular bowling alleys in New York." Hope just shakes her head in anticipation.

 "I just have to warn you, as soon as we walk out of this car, the paparazzi are about to show."

 Awsten scoffs and smiles "Come on, it can't be that bad. Besides, it's not like they're gonna run up to us before we get in the building." He opens the door.

 "Awsten, I've had this happen way too many times to be wrong here." 

She opens the door too and the pair joins in front of the car. "Told ya, no one's here to take a bunch of silly photos." As soon as he finished his sentence, he turned around after seeing a quick flash come from behind, soon enough people ran out of the bowling alley and people started taking photos.

Hope just grabs her bag and lifts it to her face and quickly runs into the building, Awsten running behind her as quickly as he can.

 They made it into the building and Awsten started talking "Damn you run fast." 

Hope just laughs and says "Well, when this has happened to you for years, you kind of pick up just the right speed to get away without falling on your face. Of course I have tripped a few times, and maybe got a bloody nose, and embarrassed myself in front of millions. But that doesn't matter." Awsten shoots back a shocked look.

"Anyway, let's just get our shoes and play."

 She starts heading to the anchor to get her shoes, he follows too and thinks to himself, man how can she be so short but so fast? Magic? Oh fuck I'm slowing down, shit ,shit, shit.

He finally catches up to her as she tells the girl her shoe size.

A few minutes pass and they both have their shoes on and are ready to start, they get a lane and choose their bowling balls. "Hmm, oh this orange one looks cool." Hope picks up an electric orange ball with tiny spots of red, blue, and white, but still mostly orange. Awsten just chooses a regular red ball, he doesn't feel the need to be so fascinated by a bowling ball. "Are you ready for me to kick your ass little mister?" Hope teases him. 

"Oh hell nah, you're the one going down. Get ready for the best shot you've ever fucking seen in your pathetic little life." He seems so concentrated watching Hope's ball roll down the alley that he doesn't even notice the fake offence Hope has taken, putting her hand on her heart and slightly smiling while her jaw is dropped.

"Excuse me, I'm the one who's won three Grammy's you know." She folds her arms with a satisfied and playful smile.

"Fine, fine. Maybe you did win some silly awards, but at least I can get a strike." Awsten says as he watches her only knock down four pins. 

"Shut the fuck up." She slightly pushes him. 

"Make me.." Awsten says. Hope just stares at him intensely, wondering why he just said that. "Shit, fuck, I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that. I uh- you have a dirty mind."