Geoff's POV

After three long weeks, the project was done. The results showed that many people were more interested in Awsten beating the shit out of me than why he was doing it or making any attempt to stop it. Nice to know. Luckily Awsten never asked why my Mom didn't ask about the bruises. She didn't care. She couldn't care.

I sighed and closed the folder, shoving it into my bag for the following Monday. I fucking hated Monday's. With nothing to do I just stared at the blank wall, spacing out completely. The longer I stared the more I started to over think, evaluate and ponder the deeper questions of life like: Why are we here? Why did my dad have to die? Where's my Mom right now? Why did my Aunt move in here and not just take me with here? Is that spider in the corner staring into my soul?

A knock on the front door broke my slow descent into madness and forced me to go downstairs to answer it. Behind the white door was a small, purple haired boy with a bag almost twice the size of him on his back. "Jesus Awsten are you running away? You're only staying for two days."

He smiled sheepishly at me after taking his shoes off and setting the bag down on the floor. "Well I brought a shit ton of movies and food and I bought you a present because I feel bad about what I did." The poor boy looked close to tears again.

Once more I hugged him tightly and told him that I forgave him while he tried not to cry. Once he had calmed down he rummaged in his bag, almost disappearing completely, before emerging with a large, wrapped object and a small wrapped object. He handed them to me with shaking hands. I took them graciously and gestured for him to follow me into the living room.

Flopping down onto the sofa, I ripped open the first one and rolled my eyes, a small smile on my face. "Awsten, you shouldn't have." I threw the stuffed minion at him and started to open the smaller package. This one was a little harder to open due to all the fucking tape which was practically impossible to open. With the help of nails and teeth I managed to unwrap it and was left with a black box. Inside was a Legend of Zelda necklace sitting on a velvet cushion.

"Aws...I love it." His dual chromed eyes looked up at me, shining with relief and unshed tears. "I love anything from you because you're so amazing." I admitted. He blushed and giggled and so help me his fucking giggle! Fuck me! Wait what? That's...never mind.

Awsten took the necklace out the box and fastened it around my neck. I hugged him afterwards before balling the paper up and throwing it into the bin in the corner.

"He shoots, he scores." I cheered. "You're an idiot."

"Yeah but you love me." I teased. He stuck his tongue out at me and threw the motionless minion next to him back at me. "Thanks. I'll treasure it forever."

"Whatever, I don't care I'm just hungry. Want me to order pizza?" I shook my head. "My house, you're the guest so I'll do it."

"Well I could order and you could pay. That's what I was thinking."

"Fine." I sighed dramatically and rolled off the sofa but was secretly relieved. I hate talking to people just in general. Unless it's Awsten. I don't know what it is about him but something just makes me want to tell him everything. Everything. Whilst he was calling the pizza place I quickly checked that my room was tidy and that the floor could be seen. It just about was.

I moved some clothes off the floor and shoved them into my wardrobe and kicked my bag under the bed. Perfect. "Geoff, the pizza will be here in about twenty minutes." Awsten called. I ran downstairs, almost knocking over the smaller boy. "Sorry." I blushed. "It's ok."

"Why were you late that day?"

"Which day?"

"When we first started the project." I clarified.

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything."

Awsten's POV

I sighed and sat down on the sofa under the chandelier and turned to face Geoff. He moved from the doorway to next to me and waited patiently until I spoke. "You lost your dad when you were younger didn't you?" He nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, how?"

"Car accident. It was icy and there was a drunk driver involved too. Three people died. My dad, the other driver and a pedestrian who was hit by my dad's car when he tried to swerve. All dead on arrival." Tears formed in his eyes and I grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry for asking. I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's fine, I feel like you should know. What did you want to tell me?" I paused until I knew he wasn't going to cry before telling him. "I lost my dad too. Suicide. I found him in the kitchen three years ago. Gracie, my sister, was screaming at me to do something and I didn't. I couldn't move." My hand started shaking and my nose started tingling. I didn't want to cry in front of Geoff but there was more to say.

"Ever since then my Mom has had multiple jobs instead of just one so she's always busy and I never see her. Gracie needs her. Finally they went to the hospital and...Oh my God." My whole body was racked with sobs as a tidal wave of emotion washed over me. Geoff held me tightly as I sobbed into his shirt, soaking it with my tears. Three weeks of bottled up stress, anxiety and worry ooze out of me onto his green shirt.

Once I'd calmed down Geoff still held me, making sure I was properly calm before relaxing his grip but I still kept hold of his hand. "I'm sorry for ruining this weekend. It's meant to be fun and I've made it shitty and depressing."

"Hey, hey it's not your fault. Life is shitty and depressing. Thank you for telling me I feel honoured that you told me." He smiled and laid his head on my shoulder. "I don't know what it is but I feel like I can tell you anything."

"I feel the same." We sat in silence until the pizza arrived. Halfway through eating it Geoff paused the movie we had on and looked at me. "Is Gracie gonna be Ok?" I swallowed and put my pizza down, shaking my head.

"She has cancer, Geoff."

smol_bean_childx for youuuu