where you go, i'll follow {Awsten Knight}

i'd like to know your middle name

He had never thought he would see her again.

Awsten Knight is on a high. His bands latest album, FANDOM, is quite literally flying up the charts; he could taste platinum-selling artists Waterparks on his tongue every morning, and it had only been a month. He could feel the pride sink in deeper as each day passed, he wanted to feel this way forfuckingever, like he was actually on top of the world. He could only hope that G-Z do even better, so that he could never stop feeling this alive. This invincible.

Jawn had sent him out to the store, with very strict instructions to grab every last copy of Fandom you see, Awsten, I'm fuckin' serious, because you're so high maintenance and I won't listen to you cry if we don't have exactly a hundred. And also some salsa, at which point Geoff interrupted to ask him nicely if he could please grab some tortilla chips, too, because Jawn ate the rest of his the last time they were there and he was sick of having to replace them every other day.

Awsten had agreed, and set out for Target, the only trustworthy grocery store, in his humbly expert opinion. Shorter lines, better service, and it was so red. Incredible.

Otto calls him as he's walking through the sliding doors, and he answers with a roll of his eyes, already knowing exactly what he's going to say.

"Hey Aws, Geoff just wanted me to let you kn—"

"Yes I'll make sure the salsa is mild. And no, I'm not going to get two bags of the triangle chips, because I like the scoops, okay fuckers, and I—"

And that's when he sees her.

He would be able to recognize her wavy brunette hair with thin teal streaks anywhere, despite what he would have the fans believe. He'd blown it off in the Zach Sang interview, and every one after that, and he hadn't really let himself obsess over her, not after he'd poured his heart out into the song, but he did think about her in passing, maybe once a day, just occasionally. The girl at Target with the pretty smile and the fun teal hair.

And fuck, there she was again. Bright eyes scanning the aisle of CD's, the aisle Awsten needed to be in, of fucking course, chewing on her thumb slightly as she analyzes the rock section.

"Fuck, Otto, bye," he says quickly and quietly, but obviously not quiet enough, because suddenly, her eyes dart towards him, then she turns fully with slightly wide eyes and a polite smile.

"Hello," she says nicely, "can I help you with something?"

Awsten blushes at being caught staring, seriously dude, how weird can you be, and then can't help but take immediate notice of her outfit.

More accurately, her uniform.

Because of course he didn't notice the bright red polo and dumb khaki pants the first time he had seen her. Of course, Awsten had to go and write a crazy obsessive love song on his band's most successful album about not just any Target shopper, but an employee. A manager, if the label on her completely scratched off nametag was anything to go by.

No, really, it's cool. Just his luck.

"Oh, sorry, no," he says, "just needed a couplea CD's."

"Okay, lemme just get out of your way," she smiles, slides down the aisle a little, then stops and frowns in concentration. "Have I seen you before? You look very familiar."

"It's the colored hair," Awsten says with a laugh, "I'm also in a band, you might've heard of us, we're from around here. Waterparks?"

She hums. "I don't think so. To be honest, I listen to exclusively Florence + the Machine, it's really bad. I need to expand my palette, so..." she beelines towards the W's, and grabs a copy of Entertainment and Fandom, the only two albums out there under the Waterparks tab, and that's just great, isn't it? Awsten is so glad he's a musician right now. He couldn't be happier that he expresses all of his emotions via music released to the public. His invincibility from earlier has completely left the building, and he's struggling to come up with some reason, any reason, to convince her not to buy it.

No, the quiet, rational part of Awsten's brain reasons, it's not like she's seen any of the interviews where you've talked about it, and she probably never will. She'll never know Telephone is about her. And it's not like you'll see her again, you can avoid this Target now that you know she works here. Awsten sighs in relief. He can't always count on the rational part of his brain to come through, but when it does, he's truly thankful.

"I hope you enjoy," he says genuinely, "we're looking forward to having a new fan!"

"Maybe I could get your number," she says casually, nonchalantly, as if she hasn't just taken Awsten's entire world and thrown it on it's bare ass, "give you live feedback?"

You don't have to, the rational part of his brain says, you can say no and walk away from this impending disaster.

"Sure," Awsten finds himself saying anyway. He unlocks his phone, ignoring the 'RUDE' and '????' texts from Otto as he slides up the control center and turns Do Not Disturb on. He clicks on the contacts app and hands his phone to her, hoping she doesn't notice the shake in his hand when he passes it over.

"We're not allowed to have our phones on the floor," she says apologetically, focusing intently on the screen as she scrolls through emojis, "or I'd let you put yours in too. But I'll text myself so I know you're not some weirdo my roommate gave my number to."

"Does that happen often?" Awsten asks, almost worried, but she just grins in response as she hands his phone back to him.

He catches a glimpse of the message, 'HEYO LOTTIE THIS ISN'T A RANDOM CREEPO IT'S A RANDOM CUTIE' and can't help but smile before locking his phone and sliding it into his pocket.

"I do have to get back to work," Lottie (Lottie!!! What a cute name! Probably short for Charlotte!!! EVEN CUTER!!) says apologetically, "but I really look forward to listening to these..." she trails off, looking at him expectantly.

"Awsten," he says, "nice to meet ya."

"Charlotte," she holds out a hand to shake, and her hand is so soft and just the perfect temperature and he really feels like he could hold onto it forever. Jesus Geesh.

"I look forward to your glowing review, Charlotte," Awsten says regally, and turns to walk away before he says any-fuckin'-thing else.

"What if it sucks?!" Charlotte calls after him, and when Awsten turns back to look, she's laughing behind her hand, teal eyes sparkling. God damn.

"It won't," Awsten smirks, then turns around for good and makes his way out of Target and into the parking lot, hands empty. What a successful shopping trip.