the dark you fear in the night // gawsten

fifteen (final)

geoff wakes up at one thirty the next afternoon, and he can't believe what he sees in his bed. awsten is sleeping peacefully, and likely didn't wake up again. he's clinging to geoff's torso like a lifeline and has his head buried in his chest. geoff smiles and lays his head back down and looks at awsten's sleeping form.

his nose twitches occasionally and his mouth is open a little. his chest is rising and falling at a steady pace and he just looks really soft overall. geoff kisses the top of the blue haired boy's head, gentle and cautious to not wake him.

he cranes his neck to look out the window behind him and sees that the sky is dark and it's pouring rain out. now he's kinda glad he was off today. he didn't want to deal with the nasty rain. and besides, if he wasn't off today, he wouldn't be able to witness the actual angel in his bed right now.

he's thinking about what he said last night and if awsten heard him. he partially hopes that he heard him, as it was something calm and loving and something that awsten probably needed to hear.

awsten did hear every word that geoff said to him. whenever he described a new memory, it would play back in his mind, replacing his nightmares and causing his body to calm down and feel okay again. despite not remembering what happened after senior prom, when geoff described every moment again, he was able to see it all play out again.

he remembers how he and geoff slow danced during iris by the goo goo dolls, then immediately going fucking hard to yeah by usher. he remembers geoff getting so drunk that he accidentally punched student council president hayley williams in the face. luckily, hayley was cool and also slightly drunk so she didn't go to the principal.

he remembers geoff and him going into the bathroom with otto, john o'callaghan, and elijah daniel and watching elijah smoke a joint in one of the bathroom stalls. how they didn't get caught was beyond him. john kept trying to take the flask from geoff, who kept snatching it away and trying to hide it in his suit coat. awsten was laying on the floor, crying with laughter that night.

he remembers geoff's formal tuxedo and his dark green colored tie, and how awsten himself wore a plain white t-shirt and a pink tie. while awsten was sitting in geoff's lap, he remembers geoff pulling awsten close by his tie and kissing him deeply. geoff tasted like vodka and raspberry flavored mints. goeff remembers that awsten tasted heavily of vodka and hershey's chocolate.

awsten's mouth twitches into a smile and geoff swears it's the cutest thing he's ever seen in his entire life. his eyes open slowly and geoff looks down into the soft color, the younger's eyes slightly glossy with a tired gaze. he yawns quietly and looks up into geoff's eyes, giving a small smile.

"good afternoon," geoff says with a laugh.

awsten puts his hand on his forehead and sits up, confused. "what time is it?" awsten asks, listening to the rain pitter-patter on the windows and on the roof.

"one thirty," geoff says as he stands up, cracking his back.

"holy shit."

"how did you sleep?" geoff asks, looking at awsten. awsten looks back, his eyes wide and bags under his eyes prominent. but, behind the tired and droopy eyes, is a layer of happiness. he's happy and he feels good and he feels safe.

for the first time in years, awsten answers truthfully, "really fucking well."