Serendipitous (Gawsten)

62. Semblance

Awsten had managed to calm himself down to the sound of Geoff's heartbeat. Every time the older boy spoke, all that he could think about was how angry he had sounded in his dream, and how soft he sounded now. Surprisingly enough, it was reassuring.

"Nightmare," Awsten mumbled into Geoff's tear-soaked shirt, still clutching onto the material so tightly that his fingers were numb. He needed to make sure that Geoff wasn't going to leave him, scared that if he let go then the older boy would. "U-Usually 'bout my dad. You said y-you thought I was pathetic a-a-and stupid and my dad w-was right. T-That I was a faggot and was o-only faking shit for attention. You told me-"

"-Awsten," Geoff carefully cupped Awsten's cheeks and lifted his head off of his chest to make the boy look up at him. "Sweetheart. I don't think any of that is true. Not one bit. You're so beautiful. I wouldn't think any of that, ever, okay?"

Awsten's eyes teared up slightly as he stared at Geoff, everything was just so vivid in his head. "You told me th-that you only used me f-for sex and that you didn't w-want me anymore."

Geoff just shook his head, brushing his fingers over Awsten's cheeks to catch the tears that were starting to fall again. "I already told you, that's bullshit. There are so many more reasons than sex as to why I like you, Aws. Don't get yourself worked up. I promise that I want you."

"No you don't. I'm basically a fucking enigma."

"Maybe I'm into that." Geoff smiled as Awsten buried his head back into Geoff's chest, both of them holding onto each other tightly. They felt like they were never going to let go again.

Everything was suddenly interrupted by the sound of Geoff's phone ringing from the pocket of his jeans that he was still wearing. They had no spare clothes, that was going to be a problem.

Geoff shuffled around as to try and retrieve his phone from his pocket, also attempting not to disturb Awsten too much. "It's my step-dad," Geoff sighed, staring down at the name on the screen. Awsten was about to question the whole 'step-dad' situation since this was the first time he'd heard about it, although the older boy had answered the phone and began talking.

"Yeah, I'm safe- I promise- I know, I can't tell you where I am." A quick glance over at Awsten, then back to the window. "Yeah, yeah. He's with me- he's safe, too- no, they're not worried, they're lying- I already told you that I'm not going to tell you where I am!- What do you mean 'why'?- Yes, but then he'll have to go home.- we're okay, I already told you that.- okay, I'll call you everyday. I'll come home eventually, I just needed space."

Geoff held eye contact with the younger boy as he was listening to what the man on the phone was saying. Based off of the tone of voice and Geoff's body language, him and his step-dad were fairly close, they were talking like good friends. Awsten envied that. He wondered what had happened with Geoff's dad, and if Jon, Geoff's step-father, was Sarah's biological father or not. He had so many questions.

"We're good friends! Yes, I know that I've been spending a lot of time with him lately. He's good company- yes, I do think you'd like him. Good sense of humour." Geoff smiled when Awsten blushed, it was obvious that the older boy was talking about him. "Yeah, okay. I love you. Tell mum I love her, too.- of course, tell Sarah as well. Just tell the whole fucking neighbourhood that I love them.- Hey, I'm twenty-one! I can swear, you aren't my dad.- oh, fuck off. Okay, I love you. Bye."

As soon as Geoff hung up, the two boys sat in silence for a moment before Awsten started to giggle for whatever reason but god, Geoff had never seen something so beautiful in his life. "Good friends?" Awsten questioned, wiping away the tears that were caught in his eyelashes once he had calmed down. "I see how it is."

"Oh, shut up," Geoff stuck his middle finger up at Awsten before pushing down one of the seats to climb out of the car. "I need air."

"C-Can I call Gracie?"

"Do you know her number?" Awsten quickly nodded and took Geoff's phone when he gave it to him, dialling it in and calling it as Geoff left the car, it felt lonely again. He sighed when it rang out, instead deciding to text her.

(***)*** ****: hey gracie its awsten. u ok? im worried

He sighed and put the phone down, getting out of the car and walking down the small slope to the river, where Geoff was sitting. He sat down next to him, neither of them saying anything as they stared out at the water in front of them, not wanting to destroy the subtle pink glow ya that sparked every time that their skin touched.

A/N:
I've never done an author's note?? Also this is wayyy overdue but I wanted to just say a massive thank you to takingteeth for literally editing all of my chapters before I post them lmao and also letting me cry to him for hours every night over stupid shit,, so yeah.