Easter Egg (Gawsten)

Blue

Geoff was thinking about Awsten again.

The whole walk to the fro-yo place, he couldn't stop thinking about that darn boy. Understandable, but a little nerve-wracking for Geoff.

He could barely concentrate on what Jenna was signing. Absently he signed "Okay" back and let his heart hammer in his chest all the way to the fro-yo place.

Awsten wasn't there yet. That was fine, thought Geoff. Maybe I'll impress him by being early.

Just maybe I'll forget to mention I had someone walk me here.

Too late he wondered if Awsten was the territorial type—the kind to see Geoff with a girl and be instantly put off. But he'd spent enough time with him and Chloe. It was probably fine.

Everything is fine.

Geoff sat down at a table off to the side, Jenna standing beside him. He signed "Thank you" to her.

She smiled and signed back "Any time. I should get going now, though."

"Guess I'll see you later," signed Geoff.

Jenna's smile widened and she waved before turning out of the shop. Almost as if summoned, Awsten brushed past her on his way in. Geoff wondered if he should wave him down, but they met eyes and that idea died a fiery death.

"Hey," said Awsten, sliding in beside Geoff.

"Sup," said Geoff.

"Should we?"

"Uh, yeah."

God, that could've been a whole lot smoother, thought Geoff as he stood up again. The two of them walked to the fro-yo machines and contemplated existence for a second before simultaneously going for the strawberry.

Damn it.

"You go first," said Awsten, apparently trying to be somewhat of a gentleman.

"No, you go ahead."

If Awsten hadn't accepted that they would've gone on forever, but thankfully for Geoff Awsten obliged and took his fro-yo. Geoff was just about to serve himself when Awsten's head jerked around.

At first Geoff didn't quite get what he was looking at. Two other boys had walked into the shop, what's the big deal about that? Then he realized he recognized the shorter of the two. And that they were approaching him and Awsten. And that the tall one had a smug little smirk on his face.

"Awsten!" said Ini. "Fancy seeing you here."

"You too, Inigo," said Awsten, voice quivering slightly.

"Who's your friend?"

"Oh," said Awsten.

Long pause. Geoff's heart almost exploded out of his chest with anticipation for Awsten's next words.

"This is Geoff from fifth period." Awsten dropped his gaze to the ground. "And, uh, Geoff, these are Ini and Jayden. They're...uh..."

"We're your friends, Awsten," said Jayden. "Remember? Friends." He spoke slowly, as if talking to a young child.

"That's not helping," shot back Awsten, a hint of a playful smile in his voice. "I was gonna say that they're the random-ass band of Australians at our school, but friends also applies. When they're not being huge pieces of shit."

"Hey!" said Jayden. "You're still my friend when you're being a huge piece of shit."

"But I'm always a huge piece of shit," said Awsten, "so that doesn't count."