Best + Bitter = Better

One day after

Geoff doesn't go to his classes the next day, he doesn't think he can possibly move. The ache that created the numbness yesterday was back, but it wasn't numb. It hurt him like nothing ever had before; not because it was more painful, it was just unusual. He hated it. He hated that he could be so affected by this situation.

-

When the day was nearing an end, he picked up his guitar. He played soft chords of a song that he was familiar with, he just couldn't recall the name. His pain dissolves into sound and soon enough a small smile plays on his lips.

Before he knows it, it's late and he's about to break the rule of no noise past 11 PM. He turned his lamp on, forcing it to cast a dull light over the room. Putting his guitar down was not an option, so he just quietens his chords a little. He stops after a second because he can hear footsteps outside of the door. It's strange because he can tell by the weight and stride that it should be Awsten; the thing is is that one stride is heavier than the other. It's either a pirate with a peg leg or someone with a limp. He shakes the idea out of his head and tries to figure out who else it could be. Jawn? Maybe he came to ask why he wasn't in his classes. The door opens and Geoff jumps in surprise. His eyes flick up to see two-tone ones. He's never before been so enraptured by the beauty of each eye - his lips curl into a smile as he looks at Awsten.

Awsten furrows his eyebrows, "Geoff, you're never up past half ten." He mutters as he presses himself up against the side of the door, leaning on it for support.

Geoff has a mental talk with himself. Now is the time to make things better. "I- I miss you." He confesses. Awsten has never seen him look so vulnerable: hiding behind the guitar on his lap, no eye contact, picking his fingernails. He has definitely never heard Geoff stutter, either.

Awsten's expression softens in concern, "What do you mean?" Awsten inquires calmly. He shuts the door, making sure it doesn't make a loud sound. He limps over to his bed and sits on the edge. Geoff shrugs and suddenly his fretboard is really interesting. "Geoff... Really, what do you mean?" Awsten has his hands under his thighs and is leaning forward in curiosity.

Geoff sighs quietly and appears to be thinking a lot about what he's about to say. "I just— I'm sorry. I miss the hell out of you and it's only been a day." Geoff risks a brief moment of eye contact before looking back at his nails. He hears Awsten about to say something and out of pure fear of what he's about to say, interrupts. "What are you doing back?"

The breath catches in Awsten's throat. He opens his mouth to talk, but snaps it shut almost immediately. Geoff's eyebrows twitched in confusion. Awsten opens his mouth again, but he's interrupted by a knock on the door and Jawn bursting into the room. Both heads snap to him.

Jawn looks between Geoff and Awsten. "Sorry, did I come at a bad time?" He gives an apologetic look to both men and settles his gaze on Geoff's form. He knows his best friend and he knows that he does not normally look so frail.

"No, sorry. I was just leaving, anyway. Have a good night." Awsten gushes and rushes to the door, leaving Geoff gaping in his wake. Geoff couldn't realistically manage getting up and running after him; his heart's too heavy. He looks at Jawn and wants to be angry, oh, he wants to be so utterly splenetic. But, he can't. He can't bring himself to because he knows deep down that it was his fault and everything that will ever happen to him or anyone around him will be his fault.

Jawn contemplates what he can say to make everything better. "I'm sorry, " He starts, but Geoff has launched himself off the bed and into Jawn's arms. "Oh, Bud... It's going to be okay." Jawn rubs his friend's back soothingly