I'll Run to You // Awsten Knight

Chapter 34-Judgemental

November 24th, 2017

It was the afternoon and everyone was at the dining table together. It felt awkward for all of them, considering nobody was talking to one another. The only time Cherie had talked to Hope, was to say hello and during their phone call a couple days ago. She said she was sorry, but after that, she still didn't talk to her very much. Perhaps Lee put her up to it? Hope didn't get an answer why.

Hope and Lee were sitting next to each other, they didn't get along all too well when they were younger, but these days it got better. Issues were managed to be worked out, that was something Hope's therapist had told her to do when things got rough between them. So it was nice to them when they were together, which happened more lately now than ever.

"Have you been talking to Awsten lately?" Lee asked Hope.

"We try to manage, he's just been really busy lately. They're already working on things for their Europe tour and he's been meeting with a few people in the studio. He's been helping a lot of people with their own songs and lyrics, it's actually really cool. He hasn't told me much more about it yet, but he told me he will when he can."

"It sounds like he's just ignoring you," Cherie barged into the conversation.

Hope frowned, thinking her mother was right. They usually talked a lot more, but a lot has happened in just a mere two days. Hope yet refused to believe her mother's words, "I don't think so, he's just been busy with the album and trying to work everything out. It's been hard on him lately considering he's on the fence about even releasing it."

"Well that just sounds like laziness," Cherie rolled her eyes, only looking at her plate after and nothing else.

Hope's eyebrows are unintentionally furrowed, "What is your problem with him?"

Before Cherie could speak, she was interrupted by Hope's phone ringing.

She checked it and a small smile broke onto her face, "It's Awsten, give me a second."

"No," Cherie said defensively, almost like the situation was offending her. "Sit back down, he can leave you a message."

Hope shook her head and walked into the kitchen, answering the phone, "Hey Aws, what's going on?"

There wasn't an answer, all she could hear from the other line was an extremely quiet sound of crying.

"Awsten, what's going on?" She asked again, with a more sense of urgency in her voice. She started walking down the hallway and went outside onto the front porch.

"I can't fucking deal with this stress," Awsten managed to let out quietly.

"Awsten, breathe. Let's start with one thing at a time."

"Most of it is because of Equal Vision," he took a small pause for a deep breath. "They're up our asses about the album and telling us it needs to be out sooner and sooner, it's not even completely finished yet. They're pushing and pushing us to finish it that I can't even focus on what I need to do."

"Is it because of the contract?"

There was another pause, this one taking a little longer than usual, "Yeah...they just want the money off of the album and when the time's over they won't have any issues getting rid of us."

"Have any other labels reached out to you guys yet?"

"A couple showed interest in us, but when we got back to them it was just silence. It's like a game of tag with five year olds, the labels are chasing us and then they give up after barely trying for ten minutes." Awsten's breathing sounds almost back to normal after a minute of talking.

"What else is stressing you out?" Hope's voice was now softer, doing what she can over the phone to try to calm him down.

"It's just all of these things I'm counted on to do, I don't know if I can shove all of it into my schedule. With the album, helping people at the studio, and now Travis wants to start a podcast in a few weeks, which I'm not saying no to, but it's a lot." His speech sounded rushed, like he was forcing everything out at once and not thinking about a thing he was saying.

"Maybe you can ask not to do the podcast so soon or postpone some of the stuff at the studio? I'm sure either of them would understand, I would."

Awsten started to consider it, maybe changing some days at the studio would help a little. "I think you're right." He let out a small laugh.

It relieved Hope to hear that, "I wish my mom would just take the time to listen to me talk about you. She would think so much different about you if she did. She calls you a self-centered asshole and that's quite the opposite. If she knew what you're going through."

"Well why don't you just let me talk to her right now?"

"Oh no, she's pissed that I left the room just to call you, she wouldn't do anything but lecture you and leave. It was all she did to me when I was younger, I still get them now, just not as much though."

Awsten's face dropped slightly, "Then um...maybe I should go."

"Yeah," Hope nodded. "I'll text you in the morning, okay? I miss you so much."

"Okay, I miss you too, but I'm going to see you soon. Don't worry."

The phone call ended and Hope just sat with herself for a minute before walking back inside and sitting back down with her family, a blank expression on her face.

Cherie scoffed, "A pervert, a man that can't take care of his own hair, and now he can't even be a man and cries? Who does this guy think he is?"

That was just enough to set Hope over the edge, nearly bursting into tears, "This guy is the person that means the most to me right now, and you won't even give him a chance. He's been pressured so much to the point that he can't even handle it and this is what you have to say about it? You're fucking ridiculous!"

"Hope Allard, you take that back right now young lady." Cherie's voice was stern, but still was shaky, knowing her daughter was right but never admitting it.

Hope stood up, "I will not take back anything I've said. I'm leaving as soon as I get up tomorrow and if you aren't there to say goodbye then I don't give a shit." She walked as quickly as she could without running, upstairs and closed her door harshly.

She immediately started packing her things and tried her best to sleep afterward, but her anger just made it even more difficult.

Then, there was a small knock on her door.

"Piss off," Hope snapped.

Lee opened the door, looking concerned.

"Look, Lee, I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

She walked over to Hope and sat on her bed, "I don't know why she's doing this, but neither of you deserve it. You deserve to be happy together without anyone trying to ruin it. You two are perfect together and nobody..nobody should interfere with it."

"I'm glad you feel that way, but mom isn't going to change her mind unless Awsten can do it himself, and I don't think I've given him the best first impression."

"When she finally does, I'm sure she's going to love him. He's definitely going to change her mind, I have no doubt about it."