I'll Run to You // Awsten Knight

Chapter 41-Merry Christmas

December 25th, 2017

Awsten woke up full of energy. It was nine in the morning, and everybody else was likely still asleep, but he noted that he didn't wake up next to Hope that morning. 

She could be downstairs or in the bathroom, he convinced himself. Then, he wasted no time to run downstairs and didn't care about the volume of noise his feet made as he went to the living room.

Awsten wasn't as surprised as he should've been when he saw Hope sitting on the couch watching something on her phone. "You're up way too early even for today," he said tiredly. While he was glad to see that she didn't leave in the middle of the night like he thought briefly, she was up too early for him to adjust.

His eyes still hurt in the light of the dim ceiling lights, but Awsten made his way to Hope and dropped right onto the couch, immediately resting his head on her shoulder as if he was going to fall asleep right there.

"You need your coffee don't you?" There was humor in her comment, but even Awsten could tell she was tired as well. "I think I do too."

"I don't think we're in luck today, there's no possible way I'm leaving this house at all." He took her hand is his as casual as he could make it. Despite Awsten's words, he was never that great with being alone with someone he was this intimate with. Truthfully, he needed all the reassurance Hope could give him. The constant thoughts of messing up felt like a tidal wave crashing over him.

But Awsten didn't need to do anything that special to impress or win her over, she took one first look at him and immediately started swooning.

"Oh good morning!" Gracie hollered down the stairs, Hope had never seen her this enthusiastic in the morning, and frankly, neither had Awsten. 

Their parents came down reluctantly behind Gracie, clearly both as tired as Awsten and Hope.

"You're pattering your feet down the stairs like Courage," Awsten comments to his sister, laughing at his own joke.

She rolled her eyes dramatically from that, "I am not a dog, Awsten," Gracie went over to him and playfully pushed his head forward.

"Are you sure about that?" Then there was a small pause before Awsten just burst out laughing. Truthfully, it was a little charming from how he could find himself so funny, and a lot of people appreciated that, especially Hope. He helped brighten the mood of almost any conversation.

Ginny started into the conversation, "Don't be rude Awsten."

It still didn't keep him from releasing the small giggles once Hope joined in, trying not to show her humor from the situation.

//

Hope POV

Awsten insisted to everyone that I would open something first, but I felt out of place doing that. It was their family after all. Was he watching me out of excitement? I couldn't tell with that look on his face, but I've seen it enough this week to know he's nervous.

"Just do it! Nothing is gonna hurt you," I watched Awsten say right before he shoved the last piece of donut into his mouth.

If I'm being honest, the wrapping paper looked too good to just rip open, but Awsten said he does it so I might as well just go for it. I took the gift from his hands with a bit more hesitation than I should've had.

It was definitely framed, from what I could tell, or feel to be exact. What was it though?

Awsten told me again to just rip the paper, so I figured, why not? I did as he said and he could probably see the wheels turning in my head to what it was. My happiness was probably so obvious to him that he gave the the brightest smile I've seen in my goddamn life. 

I couldn't think coherently, if it wasn't, then it was close to all of the photos we've taken together on tour in a single frame. It sounds dramatic, but the longer I looked at the more I started to tear up. 

In an attempt not to, I just grabbed Awsten's hand and looked him in the eyes. Those same eyes I remembered from the day I saw him, it all came back to me in a huge wave. I only snapped out of it when he asked me, "Do you like it?"

Do I like it? Is this guy serious? I was literally about to start crying and he asked me that? 

I guess I just forgot that Awsten's family was there because I just sort of pulled him toward me and kissed him right there. It wasn't long though, just a fill-in because I didn't know what to say.

Behind me, I heard Gracie make a fake gagging sound from her throat.

Awsten wrapped his arms around my waist, sort of like he was protecting me from the nothingness of the meaning of it. "We're not going through this again," he laughed lightly.

I turned my face to him, "Okay, now it's your turn."