Awsten had a hard time again; this time it was in the halls and he didn't want anybody seeing. The problem was that there were too many of them, they had created a blockade and weren't going to let him through. They never liked the purple-haired boy and he could never figure out why. As much as Awsten wanted to surpass this whole ordeal, the only route to get to his class was this way. He couldn't be late to Miss Wilson's class again - she threatened a detention. When he's put into situations like these, he feels overwhelmed; kind of detached. It's in these moments, where he takes time to make up all the things that he could be ridiculed for. These thoughts dragoon tears form in his eyes. Awsten doesn't like to feel weak and abhors crying in front of people. As he looked up at the group of boys, he considers their pack mentality - they think they are more powerful as a group. How pathetic, he thinks and snorts in derision out loud by accident.
Awsten heard some words over the dissonance, but couldn't quite figure out what they were. That was until he felt a harsh pressure on his chest that takes the wind out of him as he falls to the floor. He puts the pieces together to realise that those words were 'did you just laugh at me?', to which the answer was no. Awsten stayed sat on the floor with one hand on his chest, the other where it was when it broke his fall. His wrist hurts and the thought of it being broken flashes through his mind. Before he can think too long, the group of boys crowd around him; leering over him like demons.
Abruptly, an opening appears in front of him and a familiar face appears. Awsten tries to get up and pretend that he is handling the situation. Awsten punches the closest boy to him (he didn't actually do anything, as Awsten realises later). Awsten's arm is then tugged and he is pulled out of the circle and pulled down the hallway. He looks back to see a guy, maybe the one who started it, on the ground with people circling him. Before he could get a good look, he was yanked around a corner and pulled into a warm embrace. He knows it's Geoff, but he struggles out of the arms.
"Hey, Aws, it's me, baby." Geoff soothes, but Awsten isn't having any of it. He still tears himself away from Geoff and stares at him, angrily breathing for a second.
Awsten says the first thing that comes to mind, "I can handle it by myself, you know!" He wasn't sure if he meant it, but as long as he didn't look like a baby in front of Geoff, everything would be okay. But everything would not be okay.
Geoff looked hurt, but snapped, "Yeah, 'cause that looked handled!" Geoff, himself, wasn't sure if he meant what he said and in retrospect that was a bad idea.
Awsten put his hands on his hips and snarled, "You came at a bad time. It was fine until you came along and now you're going to get us both into trouble!" He couldn't take arguing with Geoff, but it meant he wouldn't be weak. He felt tears forming at his eyes, so he turned around.
"You and I both know that that's not true! I'm just trying to help!" Geoff retorted and tears formed in his eyes - Awsten knew because his voice wobbled the tiniest bit.
Awsten was going to reply, but the bell rang and he sprinted to his next lesson. He felt awful, but he didn't need help. He wasn't some retarded kid that can't do anything by himself. He can handle his own shit. He feels his wrist - it's his right one - because it still aches. He can barely take notes and resolved to just steal some from Jawn who was on the other side of the classroom.
Awsten didn't want to eat at lunch, so hid in the library. He his under the sofa and read a Stephen King book. He noticed Geoff's shoes walk past multiple times, but he never saw Awsten. He also almost got his face stood on by some random girl who was bearing combat boots. Checking his phone, he saw all the missed phone calls and texts from Geoff; he was apologising. Awsten didn't know how to feel.
Awsten passed Geoff a myriad of times in the hallways. Geoff always said hello and tried to apologise, but Awsten would turn his head away and keep walking. Awsten wasn't exactly sure why he was so upset at Geoff, but he didn't want to blame himself. He started to really feel bad at the end of school when he passed Geoff's car with Geoff at the wheel. Awsten always got a lift from Geoff, but this time he didn't. It didn't help that Geoff - upon seeing Awsten - perked up. The look Geoff gave Awsten was like a kicked puppy and made Awsten cry. Awsten used this excuse to blame him even more.
It took a while to get home, but when he did he didn't cry; his nose stung like a bitch, though. He got changed into sweats and one of Geoff's shirts; he also put on a wrist support and swallowed some pain killers. His parents weren't home and wouldn't be until about ten, so he'd have to make his own dinner. Awsten laid on the sofa and didn't move, didn't even turn the TV on. He simply laid there, on his back, on the sofa.
Awsten was awakened by a doorbell, his doorbell. He groaned and slid off the sofa, then walked to the door. He opened it to find Geoff with a bouquet of daisies and an apologetic smile. Awsten didn't know what to do, part of him wanted to scream at Geoff because he was so frustrated with himself. But, the good part in him wanted to run up and hug him and have a happy ever after.
"Hey, Aws. I'm sorry. I made a reservation at the nice Italian place you like in town, what d'ya think?" Geoff smiles and hands the daisies to Awsten. Geoff was prepared for hell, he was prepared for Awsten to walk back into the house and ignore him. The last thing Geoff expected was the thing that actually happened.
Awsten broke down into tears and ran up to Geoff and jumped into his arms and cried. He gripped onto Geoff as tightly as he could as sobs wracked his body and he weeped. Geoff gripped onto him and walked into the house that he had grown so familiar with. He closed the door and sat on the sofa. Awsten adjusted himself. Geoff turned on the TV and located Netflix. Shortly after, The Office was playing and Awsten was settled.
"I still have pyjamas here, right?" Geoff asked and Awsten hummed. "Cool, d'ya mind if I stay over?" Awsten shook his head and held tighter onto Geoff. "Okay, Sweetheart, I'm gonna get changed. Then I'll be right back." It was then that Awsten noticed Geoff's attire: black skinny jeans; an untucked, white dress shirt and his nice boots. Date clothes. With some difficulty, Geoff manoeuvred Awsten off of him and ran to Awsten's room.
Geoff got changed into his basketball sleep shorts and zelda shirt. He also cancelled the reservations and grabbed all the blankets he could see. Then he sprinted down stairs, almost tripping on the fourth last one. He fell onto the sofa next to Awsten, dropped the blankets and picked Awsten up onto his lap. He managed to cover them both in blankets and made a cozy nest.
A little while into watching the screen - curled up together - Awsten grabbed Geoff's hand. Geoff was confused when he felt his hand being enclosed by a rough material. "Hey, baby. Why is your hand wrapped up?" Geoff inquired.
Awsten blushed profusely and replied, "Oh, I hurt it when they pushed me back. I landed on it and it hurt like a bitch." He sniffed and cuddled closer to Geoff. Geoff wrapped his arms tighter around Awsten's waist, still holding his hand.
"Awe, I'm sorry, Sweetie. I punched the guy that pushed you." Geoff explained and rubbed circles on Awsten's hip. "Just for the record: I know you can handle it by yourself, you just seemed a bit stunned and I thought I could help." Geoff subconsciously shrugged to himself.
Awsten sighed and turned around to face Geoff, he placed a brief kiss on his lips. "No, " Awsten started and seemed to struggle to find the words. "I'm sorry. I know you were helping, I just don't like... Feeling weak. And that made me flip out and I just—" His words got caught in his throat and tears formed in his eyes. "I love you." Awsten whimpered and buried his face in Geoff's chest.
"I love you, too, Sunshine." Geoff whispered into Awsten's hair. He hugged him tighter and whispered sweet things to him. "How about we order pizza?" Geoff offered. Awsten nodded, so Geoff grabbed his phone and ordered Dominoes. Awsten could feel the vibrations of Geoff's voice and found it comforting. Once Geoff had finished placing the order, he smiled, "Dominoes is just as good as the Italian place."
They spend the rest of the evening eating pizza, watching The Office and cuddling. They had both fallen asleep by the time Awsten's parents got home. Awsten was laid on Geoff's chest and Geoff had his arms securely wrapped around him. Awsten's mum saw the first - cuddled up on the sofa - she awed out loud.
"Honey, come look at this," She beckoned her husband over. "They're gonna get married one day." She beamed.
Mr. Knight put his arm around her waist and stated, "I'm so glad it's Geoff." He smiled, too. Then he guided them both upstairs to give the boys peace.
