The whole book will be in Awsten's POV unless I specify, enjoy 🙂 xox

Five days have passed. Five days since I visited Geoff, five days since I got his letter. Five days since I left the house.

I need to get out more and do some freaking exercise according to Patty. I can't be bothered though.

"Don't look at me like that." I try and drag my gaze away from Jet's judging eyes but her glare's so captivating. "I just don't like going outside."

"Miaow."

"I know it's a nice day and I know Geoff would've made me but it's not the same without him."

"Miaow."

"Fuck you." Begrudgingly I stand up and walk into the hallway to retrieve my shoes. Geoff would've wanted this. He wouldn'tve wanted me to sit on my ass all day.

"This is for you Gee."

-

Children emerged from old rusty gates, wide smiles due to the fact they could escape and go home. I remember those times. The tree still stands, alive and wholesome.

So many memories. Breaks, lunchtimes, prom, graduation. All things I spent with Geoff. My Geoff. My husband.

"Are you ok?" A voice startles me, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Uh yeah I'm fine. Just thinking." I smile and turn round to face the voice. "Miss Paige?"

"Awsten!" My history teacher stood leaning against the gate with a smile. "Hi! How've you been?"

"I've been good thank you. Been glad to get out of here." She laughs. "Yeah, how's Otto? Is that a wedding ring I see? Geoff, I hope." How can such an innocent question bring such pain and emotion?

"Uh yeah, Otto's fine I think. Haven't spoken to them since the wedding, he's still with Grace. I did marry Geoff but he passed away a few months ago. I needed to get out the house anyway." My nose starts tickling and I can feel the tears threatening to fall.

"I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do?" I fight back the urge to laugh. Is she dumb? My husband's dead, no there is absolutely nothing she can do. Nothing.

"Not really. I was just admiring the tree."

"You all loved that tree. Do you want to come in and see it?" Miss Paige offers. I smile and nod, maybe it can help me move on a little. I need some closure. "Yeah I would really appreciate it. Thanks."

I walk past her and try not to run over to the large plant. My hand hesitantly reaches out to touch it. As soon as I make contact with the bark, I'm home.

"ARE YOU GUYS ENGAGED? OH MY GOD OTTO GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" Grace yelled across the hall to where her boyfriend was greeting Jawn.

"No, calm down. It's a promise ring." I assured her. "It's fucking beautiful!"

"Who's engaged? What's going on?" Otto asked, appearing out of thin air.

"Jesus never do that again! We're not engaged, it's a promise ring. Grace got a bit carried away." I told him. Otto frowned and looked at Grace. "I came all the way over here for nothing."

"It's engraved. Does that make it better?" I asked. Otto nodded and smiled. "Show me, show me."

Geoff and I spent the next fifteen minutes explaining to our friends and everyone else who asked, that it was just a promise ring.

"God you show someone something shiny and everyone turns into magpies." I groaned, resting my head on Geoff's shoulder. "One day you will be able to tell them it's true, it's real and it's happening." Geoff said. I nodded. "Yeah, that day will be the best day of my life."

Stood in the middle of the dance floor we just held each other, not moving until a certain song came on.

"I love this song!" I exclaimed, looking around. "Dance with me." Geoff whispered in my ear. I nodded and put my head back on his shoulder, my arms around his neck. Geoff looped his arms around my waist, humming along in my ear.

"Yeah you and me we can light up the sky if you stay by my side, we can rule the world! Rule the world with me Aws, never leave my side and we can do it all. We can get through everything."

"I'll stand by you. I promise." I leaned up to connect our lips, the same fireworks exploded around us like they did everytime we kissed but for some reason it was different this time. More magical, more real.

To the side I heard a shutter click and a quiet "aw, cute!" Simultaneously Geoff and I pulled away and turned to see who had interrupted.

"Sorry guys, just taking some pictures and collecting some memories. Want to take a couple of selfies?" Grace asked from behind a camera. I shrugged and looked at Geoff who nodded. "Sure, why not."

His arm didn't leave my waist through the literally hundreds of photos Grace took of all of us throughout the night. It was definitely a night to remember.

"Come outside, I want to ask you something." Geoff took my hand and walked us outside. A few people were milling around and just chatting and dancing to the music that could be heard from out here.

He took us to underneath the tree and stopped, turning around and kneeling down. "Awsten Constantine Knight. I gave you that ring as a promise. A promise I will always keep. But promises can be forgotten or broken. I never want to break it so I will ask you what I should've asked you yesterday. I don't want it to be a ring anymore so, will you rule the world with me and marry me?"

"Yes." Tears fall onto the grass below. "Yes, Geoff. I would marry you a million times over if you were here. My answer will always be yes." With each second my heart is twisted and stabbed repeatedly as the realisation sinks in that he's not here. That I wake up to an empty bed everyday and the face that I thought I knew...was it ever there?

When he's gone the pieces of my heart are missing him. Miss Paige comes up to me and attempts to speak but I tear myself away and practically run back to an empty house. This place is not my home.

The door slams shut, I fall to the floor unable to hold back the sobs anymore. I fling my head back and stare up at the pictures on the wall. The top two are full of smiles and happiness, just a group of friends laughing and having fun.

The middle photo is a picture of true love. Two boys amidst dancing students, kissing each other. Just a simple kiss but one that conveys the message that love can be between anyone or anything regardless of status or gender.

"I miss you Geoff, God I miss you so much. Come back to me. Please."