Pathways // Gawsten [Book 2]

22 - Drown In The Deep End

Otto slowly climbed out of his bunk, trying not to wake a napping Grace. He noticed she'd been getting more tired as the pregnancy progressed, and he wanted to let her sleep every chance she got, which was not easy on the road.

He quietly pulled the curtain closed and walked into the main room where Geoff was sat playing Mario Cart on his Nintendo Switch. It was only them three on the bus, as Awsten and Jawn had decided to go out exploring, and Zakk and Lucas were out doing some type of manager business. Geoff wanted to stay behind and just play video games, and Otto opted to stay with Grace, who was also now beginning to experience the morning sickness. 

Walking slowly into the main room, he closed the door which separated the bunks from the rest of the bus. Geoff was completely oblivious to Otto walking in the room, and Otto just walked over to the kitchen while watching Geoff win another match,

"Having fun?" Otto asked, making Geoff jump and spin around.

"Geez, you scared me... Well, I'm winning," Geoff smirked,

"That makes a change," Otto joked, and Geoff gaped.

Otto went into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. He was trying to cut back on all the unhealthy stuff now that things were going to be changing. He walked over to the couch and slumped down next to Geoff, who was now changing the wheels on his car. The two sat in silence until Geoff paused the game and turned to Otto,

"Is everything okay with Grace? I heard her getting sick this morning and she's been sleeping a lot more recently..." Geoff trailed off, and Otto tried to hide his smile.

Sure, Grace was only just over a month along, but everything was going fine. He understood that Grace wanted to keep it quiet until they knew everything was going to be okay, but Geoff was his best friend, and it was so hard keeping it hidden from everyone. He was going to be a father, and he wanted to share it with the whole world, although probably starting with his best friend.

"Why are you smiling?" Geoff asked, confused, and Otto realised he hadn't replied,

"You can't mention it to anyone if I tell you," Otto said, and Geoff nodded,

"Sure..." 

Otto looked around and made sure the door to the bunks was still closed and no one was about to walk onto the bus,

"Grace is pregnant!" Otto gleamed and a smiled burst onto Geoff's face before he pulled him into a hug,

"Oh my god that's amazing!" Geoff said excitedly (albeit shocked), and squeezed his best friend.

He couldn't deny he thought this might have happened a little too fast, since they hadn't even been back together as a group for that long, but he knew that Grace and Otto had talked about this. He knew they'd be great parents, and he just hoped the past wouldn't come back to haunt them.

"I know, I'm so happy," Otto said as Geoff pulled away.

And it was true; he was happy. Things were going great, and now he was about to start a family with the love of his life.

"How far along is she?" Geoff asked, leaning back still with a smile on his face.

"Only a month, but I couldn't handle not telling anyone." Otto said, cautiously looking back at the door. 

"Wow... That's great, dude, I'm so happy for you." Geoff spoke, "But if you want this kid to grow up cool, you better learn to kick ass at Mario Cart." 

With that, Geoff leaned across to pass Otto the other controller, and Otto smirked.

"You're on." 

-

Geoff was stood watching the opening band finish their set from backstage. He gripped his guitar neck tightly, and turned around when he felt someone tap his shoulder. Jawn was stood there and quickly handed him the setlist before running off without saying anything. Geoff looked down at the setlist and was quickly confused when he saw an unnamed song had been added at the end of the set. But he didn't have time to question it before he was being pushed on stage.

The set played out well, and Awsten had a glint in his eyes he hadn't had in a while. At the end of the usual set, they all exited the stage and Awsten quickly switched his electric out for his acoustic and made his way back onstage. Geoff stood next to Jawn, who was smirking knowingly at Geoff, and Grace and Otto. 

The lights in the venue dimmed, and Geoff noticed that there were fairy lights around the mic stand and the floor of the stage. Soon, Awsten began playing a familiar acoustic tune Geoff recognised as Lucky People. Geoff couldn't help the tears that flooded his eyes from happiness. Awsten was playing the song he wrote for Geoff live to a thousand people. Sure, he'd changed a few words to make it more ambiguous, but it was still for him. He kept seeing Awsten glance at him and smile his way through the song.

In the middle of the song, he heard Awsten began to get choked up singing, but he laughed it off as the fans awed. He couldn't wait for him to come off stage so he could tell him how much he loved him. As soon as the song ended, Geoff had tears down his face, and his friends were in awe. All the lights flickered off, and Awsten ran off stage and into Geoff's arms.

"I love you so, so much." Geoff whispered into Awsten's shoulder,

"Why are you crying, baby?" Awsten chuckled, and Geoff sniffled as he smiled,

"Just because you make me so incredibly happy." Geoff replied as he gripped Awsten's hand. Geoff was completely and utterly sure he had never been more in love with Awsten than he was in that moment. He never wanted to let go of Awsten's hand, and he was certain he could listen to that song forever.

They could all hear the crowd begin to disperse, and they also began to make their way out back, letting the crew pack up the equipment (aka, Jawn, Lucas and Zakk, and the opening band). 

Otto began to follow but noticed Grace wasn't following him,

"You okay?" He asked, worried, but Grace just nodded and smiled weakly.

"Yeah, I'll be right out." She said softly and Otto cautiously walked away with his friends. She watched them all walk away before sighing and putting her head in her hands. 

Everyone was so happy and she was about to mess everything up for everyone. She was about to destroy Otto and his trust, and ruin Geoff and Awsten's relationship. She knew she should have seen this coming, and now she could be in a mess she couldn't get out of.

She looked down at her stomach and whispered,

"Even if Awsten is your daddy, I won't love you any less." Grace sniffled softly. She placed her hands on her stomach and thought about the upcoming months.

She couldn't hide the truth forever, and she found herself lucky that Otto hadn't told anyone about the pregnancy yet. She was oblivious to the fact Geoff now knew, and Awsten was dangerously close to finding out. 

Grace kept muttering to the baby and herself how much she was going to love the child regardless of the father. If only Jawn hadn't seen her.