Not Warriors- Awsten Knight

Chapter 60

Claire walked back to the bus alone, she had sent Awsten a text letting him know that she was heading over but with no response figured that he was probably already asleep. 

She didn't blame him, he went to bed early as it normally was and to add in the stress of the night. That was completely caused by her, she would never want to wake him up. 

A part of her debated going back to her bus, settling into her own bunk and just sleeping for the foreseeable future but she knew that the rest of the boys would want to talk about everything that had happened and after her conversation with Collin she just didn't feel like she was ready to sit and talk about it some more. 

She was thankful for the fact that someone had left the bus door unlocked, and she was able to slip inside without having to call someone to let her in. 

She was surprised to find Geoff, Otto, and Jawn still awake playing video games in the living room. 

No one blinked twice to see that Claire was coming onto their bus in the middle of the night, apart of her wasn't sure if it was due to the fact that they were too engrossed in the Mario Kart round they were playing or if they were just used to it. 

"Let me guess you found bleachers to lay on and watch for shooting stars." Otto says, looking over at her with a smile. 

Claire was grateful for the way that Otto never forced her to talk about things that were weighing on her mind, for as long as she had known him he always took the route of soft humor to lighten situations in a way she was never good at. 

She sighs, sitting down on the couch across from the time. "Am I really that predictable." 

Jawn laughs nodding his head, "I mean yeah kinda but I don't blame you." 

"Are you okay?" Geoff asks, which catches her by surprise. 

They hadn't really gotten much time to talk at all over the course of the tour, and while he was always nice to her, she hadn't pictured him taking the time to check to see how she was. 

"I am." she says with another sigh, "tired?" she replies, shaking her head at her own words. 

"I actually don't think that there's a word in the English language to describe the way I am feeling right now, but I really appreciate you checking in on me." she tells him thankfully, mustering up a smile. 

Geoff nods, returning the smile before turning back to the game that they were playing. 

"Ya know Claire, we can always just bring you on to take pictures for us. I could always use a second shooter." Jawn says out of blue, causing her to look at him with a slight expression of disbelief. 

She shakes her head quickly, "I would absolutely never come in, just to step on your toes." she dismisses, not putting much thought into what he said. 

"You should think about it. If for whatever reason you step down from working with the boys, we would love to have you with us. I know that it would be a lot, and it might be weird for you and Awsten's relationship so you'd have to think about that part but the offer always stands." he says reassuringly. 

"I'm sure if it came down to it, I could find a job touring with another band or just go back to studio work." she says dismissing him before he can bring it up again. 

Jawn realized that he wasn't going to get anywhere with her right now in this conversation, but he also knew in the back of his head that she would hate to start all over again with a new band on the road. 

"I agree with Jawn, we would love to have you around more often." Geoff lets her know kindly, smiling at her. 

Sure, studio photography was nice because it was consistent, but once you got used to the thrill of concert photography there was almost no going back. 

"Hey was he okay when he got back tonight?" she asks the boys quietly, trying to change to subject. 

Otto looks over at her smiling, "He was just worried about you Claire, I think he blames himself for a lot of it. You know how he can be, once he knew you were safe he came back and almost immediately fell asleep. We put him in his bunk." he says softly. 

She nods in response, looking towards the bunks. "He scooted over to the wall as soon as we put him in, I think he subconsciously made space for you." Otto tells her with a laugh. 

"They crammed in his bunk bed together in high school for years, a bus bunk is like home for them." Jawn says teasingly. 

Claire yawns, stretching while she stands up. "I am going to go to bed, I'll probably be out in the morning before y'all wake up. I love you all, goodnight." she says kindly. 

"Aw shucks you love all of us?" Otto says back to her, causing her to roll her eyes. 

"Yeah, sadly." she teases. 

She hears the boys reply from behind her as she quietly creeps down the narrow hall to the bunks, opening up Awstens curtain before climbing in and shutting it behind her. 

"Hi bub, it's just me." she mumbles softly as he shifts to wrap his arm around her waist. 

She feels him nod against her back, "Mm I knew it was you before you even opened the curtain, when you try to be quiet you're so much fucking louder for some reason." he says sleepily, his tone playful. 

Claire lets out a soft laugh shaking her head, "hey now don't be a smart ass." 

"Love you bear." he mumbles, his words lightly slurred from him falling asleep. 

"I love you Aws. Goodnight." she tells him gently as she feels his breath slowing down already.