Pathways // Gawsten [Book 2]

32 - Nothing Is Ever Simple

By the time Awsten woke up and tore himself away from his bunk, Lucas had returned with no Otto. He was sat on the phone to Otto's parents, explaining the situation, and everyone else sat around him could hear the cries of his mother through the phone.

Things has gone from bad to worse, and everyone had a pit in their stomach thinking the ending was going to be a lot worse than last time. What are the odds he comes back alive a second time? Will he return unharmed? There was a deep pit of dread in everyone's stomachs, flooding their minds with the same emotions as last time. Everyone had the same thought about the man who organised Otto's disappearance last time, but no one dared mention it. He couldn't come back, could he? There had been no warning, no indication. 

Awsten walked through the door sleepily and walked straight to the kitchen area, pulling out the carton of apple juice and taking a swig from the carton. It was only after he put the juice away back in the door of the fridge and turned around that he noticed everyone sat together in eery silence. 

Geoff's face was puffy and red, and his eyes were swollen. Awsten had scarcely seen Geoff cry, but it was blatantly obvious when he had been crying, or it was obvious to Awsten at least. A part of Awsten wanted to comfort him, but he couldn't bring himself too, not after everything that happened. Grace was crying slightly, and he could hear Lucas talking quietly down his phone. Jawn was sat with his head in his hands, and the room was deadly silent.

"What happened?" Awsten asked, and Jawn looked up at him. He thought for a moment wondering if he should lie to his friend, or tell him the truth in the most careful way he could. 

"Otto is missing again." Jawn said slowly, tearing his eyes away from Awsten, not wanting to see his reaction. 

Awsten couldn't stop the tears that began to sting the corner of his eyes eyes, and his eyes immediately flickered to Geoff to see if he would reveal it as a lie. His stomach plummeted when he saw Geoff look away from him, confirming what Jawn had said. 

"Geoff?" Awsten asked, and Geoff's head shot up, eyes narrowed.

"He's gone... and I don't appreciate the accusation." Geoff said, defensively.

"I didn't..." Awsten began, but before he could continue Geoff had stood up and was headed for the door.

"I'm going to clear my head". Geoff announced before slamming the bus door behind him. 

"or to hide a body" Jawn whispered under his breath, but no one heard him. Despite everything that had changed, Jawn's opinions failed to. He would always be more loyal to Awsten than to anyone else, and this didn't bode well for Geoff in regards to the history they all held.

Geoff was only in shorts and a jumper, and he was already regretting not wearing something warmer. He only had tennis shoes on and had no identification or belongings on him. He was all alone. He kept walking as far away from the bus as he could, turning a corner at his every opportunity to limit the chance of him being caught. 

He began to lose track of time as he was swallowed by his thoughts; how could Otto have gone missing again? What would they do if he didn't come back? Would they be forced to call the police again, then what would happen? Would Awsten go down for it again or would they all throw Geoff under the bus? He couldn't bear to let Awsten go down for Otto missing again, and he hated he had to think again. What kind of friend was he to let his friend go missing twice? And to have him be possibly kidnapped both times? 

Before his thoughts could drown him, he glanced up and saw a bunch or curly hair walking his way. His heart began to pound as his picked up his pace slightly to see who it was. As soon as the person in front of them lifted their hood down, he felt a wash of relief rush through him; it was Otto.