Pathways // Gawsten [Book 2]

05 - My Heart is Your Home

Awsten and Grace end up staying the night in the apartment. They weren't entirely expecting to, and had remembered a few hotels in the event they'd need it, but from the second they saw their two friends alive in the flesh, they knew they didn't want to leave. 

Grace spent the night with Otto in his room, although everyone knew nothing would happen between the two yet. Grace was still adjusting to her boyfriend being alive, and had spent most of the day crying. She wanted nothing more than to just lay with him and fall asleep knowing he was only a few inches away.

Geoff, on the other hand, opted to sleep on the sofa. He knew Awsten wouldn't want to share the bed - not after everything that had happened - so he let him sleep on the bed. It was the least he could do after everything, and Geoff knew best that the sofa wasn't the most comfortable thing in the entire world, having spent too many mornings wake up there extremely hungover. 

In the morning, Geoff is the first to wake up. The sunlight streams in through the windows and hits his eyes, and honestly its the best waking up he's had in a long time. He was disoriented for a while before he remembered why he was on the sofa; Awsten and Grace had come to find him. And they found him. And Awsten was currently in his bed. 

Geoff shook his head and sat up, cracking his back and knuckles, letting the blanket fall from his lap to the floor, displeasing their dog which was apparently the landing ground for the blanket having slept on the floor next to the sofa. The sound echoed slightly on the walls, being the only sound throughout the whole apartment. Everyone was sound asleep, as expected. Geoff stood up and walked to the TV cabinet, checking the time on his phone.

10.34am.

They usually woke up around this time, and he thought it was late enough in the morning for it to be acceptable to begin to make necessary noise. Unplugging his phone, he walked into the kitchen and flicked the kettle on, leaning against the counter while the water boiled. Through the noise, he heard one of the bedroom doors open and was soon met with a tired purple-headed boy. Their dog perked up at the sight of someone else, but was obviously as tired as the rest of them, and flopped back down on the carpet.

Awsten nodded slightly as Geoff, obviously greeting him, before flopping down at one of the kitchen chairs. It was obvious he was tired, Awsten never used to wake up this late. But it was excusable, as yesterday was one hell of a day. None of them were expecting it.

Geoff grabbed four mugs out of the cupboard and pushed two to the side for Grace and Otto when they finally emerged from their rooms. He poured drinks into the other two and pushed one down in front of Awsten before taking a seat opposite him in silence.

Both of them had a lot to say to each other, but no idea how to bring it up. Neither of them necessarily wanted to, because they knew how bad it could all end. So, the two sat in silence until Grace and Otto emerged from Otto's bedroom about fifteen minutes later. 

"Morning," Otto waved as the two boys came into view. His hand was still intertwined with Grace's (who was now clad in one of Otto's shirts) and didn't let go even as he poured their drinks. 

Geoff moved seats closer to Awsten so Grace and Otto could sit next to each other, and he briefly caught the thankful smile from Grace. The two sat down in silence before Geoff spoke,

"How did you sleep?" He asked, mainly directed to Grace.

"Good... I'm not use to sleeping next to someone really... But-" She turned to Otto as she continued, "I loved having him next to me, it was so comforting." 

"I've spent a long ass time with him, Grace, and let me tell you, this is the happiest he's been in a while." Geoff smiled at her and Grace squeezed Otto's hand as he blushed slightly.