Errands weren't supposed to take until 11pm, but inconveniences just kept knocking at your door. The pharmacy line was about 12 cars longer than you would have preferred (which was 0 cars), the mall was closed due to a gas leak, and this was the third store you'd been to in a row that was out of stock of usb to usb-c adapters because god forbid you be able to plug in your SD card reader.
"What if they don't have them?" Awsten asked, leaning all his weight onto the cart as the two of you mosied down the aisles of Walmart.
"I might just finally lose it."
He laughed at that, "worse than when you worked retail?"
"Oh, god no. Never worse than that"
"Sometimes I wish I worked retail."
"No, you don't," you countered as you turned into the electronics aisle.
"For the experience!"
"That is an experience you do NOT need," You slid the USB-C adapter box off the hook and eyed the cart, "why did you grab a cart?"
"Habit. Probably because you always buy more than what you actually come to the store for." He smirked.
"Shut up!"
But he was right. A shoe rack, a discounted sonic game, and a Reese's ice cream cake later, you were finally leaving the store and driving back to your apartment at 11:34pm. Awsten helped you unload everything out of his trunk and haul it up to your apartment, immediately putting away things because he knew that you wouldn't.
"I should go home, it's getting late."
"Noooooooo!" You whined from your spot on the couch.
"Well, what do you propose?" He put his hands on his hips.
"Stay over! We can do fun things like play Mario Kart and eat the cake I impulsively bought!" You sauntered over to him, grabbing his hands and swinging them back and forth.
"Mmmmmmm fine. I'll stay."
You jumped up and down in excitement, dragging him over to the couch and turning on the switch.
After a few rounds of Mario Kart and even a stab at the game you had bought, you somehow had wound up on the floor with the Reeses cake. You laid on your stomachs across from each other, the cake between you two. You didn't bother with plates, but instead just dug in with a fork and eyes bigger than your stomach.
"Do you think you're happier?" Awsten broke the silence, resting his head on his hand and eyeing you up and down curiously.
You perked up, shocked by the change in conversation.
"What do you mean?" You asked, mouth full of cake and head full of confusion.
"Do you think you're happier than you were... I don't know... A year ago?"
You put your fork down.
"Where is this coming from?" You asked.
"Just answer it." He persisted.
You take a moment to think.
"Yeah," you exhaled deeply, "I'm working as a producer full time, I have more control over my life than I ever have, I get to see you almost every day, so... yeah, I'd say I definitely am happier. Now will you tell me how this thought came to be or are you gonna keep being angsty and mysterious."
He giggled, which seemed to be proof enough that, yes, you were happier. So much happier.
"I was just thinking... I don't think a year ago I would have been open or... emotionally available enough to let myself do this."
YOU ARE READING
Why Can't I? (How Not To Just Stay Friends)
FanficYou and Awsten's relationship was not by any chance normal. But it's not like you were in love with him... ...right? (cross posted from ao3: im an ao3 writer but wanted this to reach more audiences)
