unbreakable heaven • awsten knight

1.28 treacherous

houston tx
april 2009

Ellie is curled up on the seat in her bay window, staring out at the rain that continues to pour.

Awsten tries to focus on the task that he has in front of him, but he's finding it difficult.

He can't stop thinking about how pretty Ellie is.

He's staring and he knows it's rude to stare, but he can't seem to help it.

He only averts his gaze when Ellie turns to him and catches him already looking. Awsten clears his throat, hoping that it wasn't too obvious, as his face turns a little red.

"So, uh, have you figured out which songs you're playing yet?" He asks, his voice coming out quieter than intended, but he clears his throat again in hopes that it'll rid of the nervousness in his tone.

"I think so, yeah," Ellie nods. "Sorry, I'm supposed to be helping you," she adds, quickly, getting up from her seat and joining him on the floor.

"You're all good, don't worry," Awsten assures her, glancing up at her again, offering her a sheepish smile.

The two of them are working on flyers together for an upcoming show.

Ellie has managed to bag a regular gig at The Continental Club; she's now putting more and more of her time and effort into her music, which seems to be paying off so far.

Next Friday, there's a few performers lined up for a particularly busy evening. Ellie is playing, and so are Awsten's band, The Blue Poptarts.

Awsten and Ellie have never played on the same lineup before; they've only ever attended each other's shows separately, so they're both excited, as well as nervous.

Ellie is admittedly a little more nervous. She's debuting a new song, which may or may not be about Awsten.

She's been trying not to let herself think about how he's going to be there and he's going to hear the song that she's written about him.

He's heard plenty of her songs by now, but this is different. It's about him. He could recognise that it's about him and it could send him running fifty miles in the wrong direction. She really doesn't want that.

"Ellie," Awsten says, gently.

She hadn't realised that he was trying to get her attention, but it becomes apparent when his eyebrows are dipped in concern.

"Sorry, I, uh—" Ellie shakes herself out of her thoughts. "What did you say?"

"I just asked if you're playing guitar yourself again for the show," Awsten repeats, softly. "You did a great job last time," he compliments with a smile.

"Thank you, I—" Ellie blushes at the praise, "Yeah, I probably will, actually," she answers. "It feels more personal when it's my own songs, y'know?"

"Yeah, totally," Awsten agrees with a nod, before continuing to cut around one of the posters he'd printed off, ridding of the unwanted white trimming around the edges.

Ellie helps Awsten decide on a draft setlist to bring to band practice tonight, but she keeps her's a secret from him. He asks her about it, but she only insists that it'll make her more nervous if she tells him what songs she's playing; he doesn't push it after that.