I'll Run to You // Awsten Knight

Chapter 27-They're Back

November 12th, 2017

Hope woke up later than usual do this morning; she could hardly remember last night, but seeing Awsten next to her helped her remember every bit of it.

It feels like it isn't real to her, but it is, and she's always had her doubts about it.

She have never felt this happy in so long and it feels unnatural to be happy without faking it. Hope's always pretended to be happy around other people but was just so miserable. Even just having Awsten in her life for the first time, she could tell her life was going to turn around for the best. Everything about him just completely traps her in a trance. 

Awsten always seems so happy and cheerful all the time, but Hope has seen his bad times. She's just glad he trusts her enough with his feelings considering he doesn't talk to a lot of people about how he feels.

On more good news, the person they saw during the tour hasn't showed up at all, they all just wish they knew what they did that for.

Hope's thoughts were quickly interrupted by Awsten waking up, turning over to look at her.

"You are the only thing I want to wake up to," she heard him say.

Hope lets out a small sigh and a crooked smile, "You know it can't always be like that though, at least not right now."

"Yeah, with us living literally over one thousand miles away from each other and tours coming up. We're both going in February but I'll be back sooner than you will. Then I have warped tour and you'll be in New York. Then we're going on our European tour and after that, America. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this, our free time is literally controlled by a bunch of people right now. I can barely see you at all." Awsten looked so incredibly unhappy it was hard to look at.

"You shouldn't be sorry, I knew this was going to be hard for us, but I was willing to take the risk." 

Awsten gently puts his hand on the side of Hope's face, "This is more serious than you think. I can't be here for you all the time and god I wish I could. I'm going to miss birthdays and anniversaries, even holidays. You're going to miss them too but I just wish I could be there for you all the time and I've wanted to since the day we met. I want to be by your side through everything, drop it all just to see you."

Hope could cry at the words Awsten's saying, he sounds completely drained and he's only just woken up.

But suddenly, there was a large bang on the front door of the apartment. Hope's instinct was to go look at what had caused the noise, but Awsten quickly stopped her. "Let me go first, we don't know what that could've been."

Hope was about to debate with him about the situation, but he got up immediately after his statement and Hope followed right behind him.

They quickly and quietly crossed the apartment floor, and Awsten cautiously opened the door. But, nothing was there except a small, light pink box with a white ribbon around it. Something felt off about the way it looked, but neither of them could tell what it was.

"What the fuck?" Awsten tried not to yell, but was clearly astonished. There was a note attached, but no name, it was completely anonymous. 

Hope starts panicking, her hands on her forehead, shading her face, "No, no, no."

Awsten looks up and turns to look at her, "Hope, calm down."

"Calm down?" Hope shouts, "I cannot calm the fuck down right now! I thought they were gone, I almost knew they were gone, I fucking hoped they were gone...but I guess I was wrong."

"Hope, let's get you some water." He can tell her heartrate is increasing.

"You think water is going to help me? I have a stalker and you think water can help? Fuck off, Awsten, leave me alone."

Awsten was completely shocked and at a loss for words from what she said to him, but doesn't want to argue any more. He quickly gets her a bottle of water, leaves to the bathroom, and locks the door. What did I do wrong?

From the bathroom, he can hear Hope walking heavily around the floor, then a glass shatters.

After ten minutes, Hope quietly knocked on the bathroom door and Awsten opened it. Hope's eyes were red and she looked like she had been beaten up, but with no scars, just a few bruises on her arms and one on her face.

"Oh my god." Awsten whispered, he gently took her in his arms and sat on the floor with her.

He holds her tighter once he hears her start to cry again.

"Awsten, I'm so sorry."

"Shh, don't talk. I'm the one that should be sorry. You were right, I should have done more to help you, you needed it."

"Listen to me, I overreacted a...lot, and I'm so sorry about that. Even though there's no real excuse for that, I was overwhelmed. I just wanted them to be gone and I thought they were. I just had false hopes." 

"Look, I'm going to comfort you through this, even if it takes longer than how long I was planning to stay."

"Thank you, Awsten," Hope says, they go to the living room and lay together, talking and laughing, Awsten just wants to see her happy again.