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[img]https://i.imgur.com/nvEfmK9.png[/img]

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[color=#F5D0ED][b]An [@ineffable] and [@Moro] collab![/b][/color][/center]
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[indent][color=#F5D0ED]Sawyer stopped to turn and look, making sure he was being followed. Gavin noticed the look his brother was giving him, raising an eyebrow at him before answering their friend. [color=#F5794C][b]“Well it’s no big deal. You know I’ve always got your back, girl,”[/b][/color] he squeezed her arm and gave her a smile. Sawyer huffed softly to himself as he rolled his eyes and stepped up to the pair, stopping them in their tracks before starting to take off Gavin’s Hogwarts robe. Gavin started to complain before he figured out what his twin was doing, letting him take the robe without further complaints.

With their arms no longer locked, Sawyer draped Gavin’s robe over Georgie’s shoulders without looking directly at her, keeping his eyes on their feet as he tied the sinches around her neck loosely so the robe wouldn’t fall. Once it was done, Sawyer squeezed around the two and pulled on his mask, walking ahead of them through the crowded house and out the front door. Gavin rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself as he linked their arms again, muttering, [color=#F5794C][b]“Poor boy. It’ll take him a moment before he realizes he has no idea where I parked.”[/b][/color] Gavin continued his walk, guiding the girl with him through the maze of party-goers.

Georgie blushed as she watched Sawyer tie the robe around her.  He was so kind and so gracious.  Why had she even been stupid enough to leave him for a moment? Her neck heated up before she started to talk to Gavin.
[color=slateblue][b]”How’ve you been? How...How has Sawyer been?”[/b][/color] The night seemed quiet to her ears and her voice as well as her question seemed unnaturally loud in the cold and clear air.  She breathed in deep and wrinkled her nose at the smell before she squeezed Gavin’s arm tightly.

Gavin patted her arm linked with his own, rubbing it soothingly. [color=#F5794C][b]“I’ve been well, dear. It’s never me I’m worried about, though.”[/b][/color]

The boy sighed heavily as he walked through the threshold and stepped out into the night air again, beginning to walk across the lawn down the street some paces behind his brother who seemed to be having trouble walking in a straight line. [color=#F5794C][b]“As for him, however…”[/b][/color] he had to choose his next words carefully. Georgie seemed to hang on every word spoken of his brother, especially about his well-being, he knew as much. He pat her arm again before slowly continuing, [color=#F5794C][b]“He’s doing okay. He’s pretty good at keeping himself on the straight and narrow, but when he struggles, well,”[/b][/color] Gavin smiles and looks down at her, [color=#F5794C][b]“You know him. He locks himself in the garage when he’s going through a bad stint and doesn’t come out till he feels somewhat normal again.”[/b][/color]

Georgie sighed, poor Sawyer.  She wished she could be with him whenever he was struggling.  She wished she could spend time with him in the garage, calming him down and telling him that everything would be okay... but that would never happen.  Well, not so soon anyway.  Georgie shook her head in frustration as she looked up at a drunken Sawyer.
[b][color=slateblue]”He doesn’t know where he’s going, doesn’t he?”[/color][/b] She asked Gavin, and not waiting for an answer she skipped (albeit quite shakily) ahead to where Sawyer was. Oh so carefully she locked her arm around him instead, relishing the feel of his skin against hers and trying not to sigh as waves of nostalgia crashed into her mind.  And even though she was still drunk and couldn’t walk in a straight line [i]herself[/i] she tried to help them both out as she leaned against him slightly, expecting him to do the same.
[b][color=slateblue]”Sawyer? I think maybe we should follow Gavin to the car...I’m sure he knows the way better than we do.”[/color][/b] She stated softly.

Gavin smirked as Georgie let him go and wandered up to be with Sawyer, watching the not-couple couple walk together. Sawyer nearly jumped, looking over at Georgie as he felt his arm get snatched up and linked with her own. He couldn’t help but let a huge smile spread across his face, thankful for his mask over his face as he gently rubbed his hand over her linked arm. The boy couldn’t help but laugh as they nearly stumbled off to the side with her putting some weight on him, leaning back against her to balance themselves out to walk :airquote [i]straight[/i] :airquote. 

[color=#40733d][b]“Georgie?”[/b][/color] he said in a playfully mimicking and teasing tone, resting his head tenderly on top of hers as they continued to waltz down the sidewalk, mumbling the next bit under his breath.[color=#40733d][b] “Yeah, [i]I know.[/i]”[/b][/color] He slowly had them come to a stop as he turned to look back at his brother. [color=#40733d][b]“Care to take up the lead, brother?”[/b][/color] Gavin chewed on his inner cheek, trying to hold back certain comments, horribly failing at attempting to hide the smirk on his face. He picked up his pace and walked around the two, giving Sawyer a [i]look[/i] before putting a few paces between himself and the pair before taking up a more leisurely pace to allow the drunken [i]not-couple couple[/i] to keep up.

[color=slateblue][b]”It’s been such a long time since I’ve talked to you, Sawyer.  I’ve...I’ve missed you.”[/b][/color] Her cheeks colored instantly as she said the words and she drew up Gavin’s cloak about her a bit more.
[color=slateblue][b]”How have you been?”[/b][/color]

Sawyer smiled, his hand running over hers before realizing what he was doing and pulled away nervously, rubbing his hand across her forearm as he spoke. [color=#40733d][b]“I-I’ve been…”[/b][/color] the boy grit his teeth, finding it a bit difficult to find the words. He was never good at expressing his emotions. [color=#40733d][b]“I’ve just been trying to keep myself busy, you know? Things have been… [i]difficult[/i].”[/b][/color] Sawyer sighed heavily, squeezing her arm gently as he whispered somewhat brokenly, [color=#40733d][b]“[i]‘Difficult’[/i] would be putting it [i]lightly[/i], honestly.”[/b][/color]

Georgie jumped slightly at his touch before she took in what he said, squeezing his arm comfortingly.
[color=slateblue][b]”I just wanted to say...I just…I’m sorry...for everything.  I think I should’ve stuck with you back then and I’m really really [i]sorry[/i] I wasn’t there.  I just couldn’t take it you know? I tried, I tried, I really did. And I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.  I didn’t try harder.”[/b][/color] Georgie sighed at her words, knowing how maybe false this all sounded. She hadn’t known that he would ever get better.  She didn’t think that he would.  And she was guilty for all of the thoughts that had consumed her before.  Georgie wasn’t a good friend.  She knew that.  

Sawyer’s pace slowed as her apology kept going, and going, [i]and going.[/i] The boy stopped her and stepped in front of her, lifting her head by her chin with his finger tenderly. [color=#40733d][b]“Hey, hey hey hey! Georgie, don’t. [sub]Please.[/sub]”[/b][/color] he then pulled his mask off, looking her in the eyes. [color=#40733d][b]“I left. You understand that? [i]I left [u]you.[/u][/i] You don’t get to do that to yourself.”[/b][/color] His hand dropped to his side, a slight frown cast across his face.

[color=#40733d][b]“I know you couldn’t take it. I know that.”[/b][/color] Sawyer gently wrapped his arms around the girl, hugging her tightly as he whispered in her ear, [color=#40733d][b]“I don’t blame you. Please don’t blame yourself. No matter what happens after tonight, you can’t allow the blame to fall on you. It was me. It was [i]all[/i] me.”[/b][/color]

Georgie practically melted into his hug.  She’d missed it.  Damn it.  She’s missed so many opportunities to be with him again but she was so selfish.  So into herself and so confident in how she won’t be able to be friends with him if he took drugs.  Facing the problem again right now, she still wasn’t sure that she wouldn’t make the same mistake again.  Georgie had a lot of faith in her relationships and she understood that sometimes they couldn’t be perfect but...with Sawyer she really thought she had the chance.  

[color=slateblue][b]”I should’ve stuck around though.  That much I know.  And I’ll try to be better, I [i]promise[/i] that to you, Sawy. It's just a bit hard, sometimes.  And I want you to know that I’m not entirely okay with everything.”[/b][/color] She stopped here to take a breath.  Man was her apology long and rambly as fuck. [color=slateblue][b]”But I’m working on it.”[/b][/color]

By the time her ramble had come to a close, he slowly pulled himself away, taking up her arm again to keep themselves moving. They’d fallen significantly behind Gavin, looking back and forth down the road before turning her to cross it with her. Sawyer sighed softly, [color=#40733d][b]"You're not the one who has to be [i]better[/i]. I'm the recovering addict, here."[/b][/color]

The boy had meant it as somewhat of a joke, but it didn't seem to take very well with Georgie. They walked in silence for a few moments before she spoke up again. She seemed to want to change the subject A.S.A.P.

[color=slateblue][b]”Enough of my worthless apologies, though.  Please tell me how you’ve been doing.”[/b][/color]


He chuckled to himself, raising an eyebrow. [color=#40733d][b]“Uhm, Georgie…”[/b][/color] the laughter was hard to contain, chuckling a little more before continuing. [color=#40733d][b]“You already asked me that, luv.”[/b][/color] The boy’s smile faded slightly, looking ahead of them as they continued walking. He could see Gavin unlocking the doors ahead of them, standing at the side of the passenger door. Probably waiting for Georgie to catch up to help her up into the truck. [color=#40733d][b]“Your apologies aren’t worthless,”[/b][/color] he mumbled to her as he pressed his forehead against the top of her head in a sort of endearing gesture before letting her go so she could get up into the truck.

Georgie giggled when she realized just how drunk she was before she climbed up onto the truck.
[color=slateblue][b]”Thanks Gavin.”[/b][/color] She smiled at him, hoping he knew that she was also thanking him for letting Sawyer and her have some time to each other.  She’d been wanting to clear up things for so long and now he’d given her the chance to.

Gavin helped the girl up into her seat, winking at her as he shut the door before turning to his brother. [color=#F5794C][b]“Don’t tell me you need help too, bruv.”[/b][/color] Sawyer shook his head and rolled his eyes as he pulled the door open. [color=#40733d][b]“No, I don’t. [i]Bruv[/i].”[/b][/color] Sawyer gave his brother a knowing look, to which Gavin provided an equally knowing and mocking [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/97/24/0d/97240d239bac47a3518f8e42df5a4350.jpg]grin[/url] back at his brother. Once he was in his seat with his belt on, Gavin closed the door and came around the back to hop up into the driver’s side, bringing the car to life. [color=#F5794C][b]“Alright kiddies, hold onto your butts.”[/b][/color] Gavin chuckled at the Jurassic Park reference, pulling out onto the street as they headed home. Sawyer leaned forward, resting his head on the back of Georgie’s seat with a heavy sigh. In all honesty, he did [i]not[/i] feel good.

Georgie turned around once she felt the weight on her seat and almost knocked her head onto Sawyer’s forehead.
[color=slateblue][b]”Sawyer? Are you alright?”[/b][/color] She cast a concerned look to Gavin, who she hoped would have the answer to her question.  Was he just drunk, or was something else afoot?


Saywer swallowed hard, suddenly starting to salivate profusely. [color=#40733d][b]“Y-yeah, I’m… I’m fine, Georgie.”[/b][/color] Gavin could hear the underlying lie in his tone, moving the rearview mirror so he could better see his brother without having to turn around. [color=#F5794C][b]“Bruv.”[/b][/color] Sawyer picked up his head and gave Gavin the same grin he’d been given before getting into the truck. [color=#40733d][b]“I’m good. Just--”[/b][/color] Sawyer forced himself to swallow again, [color=#40733d][b]“--just drive, Gav.”[/b][/color] Gavin pressed his lips into a thin line, sighing heavily before he gave Georgie a look that said ‘hold on’ as he stepped on the gas a little more.

As they took a turn, Sawyer groaned softly into the back of the seat. [color=#40733d][b]“Guess I really should have cut myself off after beer pong with Yess and the boys.”[/b][/color]

Georgie had heard of the drama inducing beer pong...and the following fight.  But even though the punches that had been thrown [i]had[/i] taken up a considerable part of her drunken thinking that night...the idea that Yessi and Sawyer were close and that he [i]had[/i] been hanging out with her so much lately irked Georgie more.
[color=slateblue][b]”Hey...umm...What happened at that anyway? I think I saw you and Aiden [i]fighting[/i]? And um...Yessi...”[/b][/color] Georgie could barely finish her sentence so she let it trail out awkwardly, trying not to really hint at what she was thinking.

Sawyer could hear the obvious distaste in the tone of Georgie’s voice as she spoke his best friend’s name. A sudden wave of irritation washing over him, speaking his own friend’s name with a bit of venom behind his tone. [color=#40733d][b]“Didn’t think you’d have noticed with your beloved [i]Max[/i] standing beside her and I at the table.”[/b][/color] Clearly a bit irked at Georgie’s words, Sawyer took a sobering breath as he sat back in his seat and rolled down his window for some fresh air, trying to keep himself together.

Georgie literally jumped in her seat before she turned to Gavin.  She was hella annoyed but she didn’t want to say much in front of Sawyer, settling instead for mouthing [color=slateblue][i]’Fuck you’[/i][/color] in his direction.  Hadn’t he known that she was making progress on Sawyer? And then he spilled about Max.  Oh god. She took a deep breath and tried to sort things out in her head in order to respond.  Okay, so, she did like Max but she [i]loved[/i] Sawyer.  And well, she didn’t exactly think that she and Sawyer would ever have a chance in hell in being friends again, no matter if they were, god forbid, more than that. 
[color=slateblue][b]”He’s with…Max is back with his ex now. And I didn’t...I just thought you were with Yessi and…”[/b][/color] God this was awkward.  Her words were all jumbled up and considering she didn’t know exactly where they both stood in terms of each other...well, she liked Sawyer enough, she just wasn’t sure that he liked her the way she did him.

Gavin stiffened in his seat, his face scrunching up as he side glanced Georgie and gave her an apologetic half-smile with a mouthed apology, [color=#F5794C][i]‘Sorry, Geeg.’[/i][/color] Sawyer shook his head, knowing the gossip was probably true that Max had hooked back up with Kellie. Still. Then Yessie was brought back up again, Sawyer’s face twisted with pure confusion. [color=#40733d][b]“W-What?! Yess has been back for like, a couple weeks? What the hell makes you think we’re together?! I thought I wasn’t even on your radar, anymore!”[/b][/color] The boy’s stubbornness had taken over completely, pushing out a final grumbled, [color=#40733d][b]“Why do you even care if she and I were together, [i]Georgia[/i]?”[/b][/color]

Gavin pulled the truck over to the side of the street then, coming to a semi-hard stop that sent Sawyer slamming into the back of Georgie’s seat, Gavin throwing his hand out over Georgie’s upper chest to stop her from doing the same into the dash. He threw a sharp glance back at his brother as he groaned and sat back in his seat holding his forehead as he exchanged a look with him. [color=#F5794C][b]“Sawyer, [i]stop.[/i].”[/b][/color] Sawyer grit his teeth and brought both hands to the back of his head, staring up at the roof of the car with a glare that could kill. He was mad, but mostly at himself. He forced his eyes shut, taking in deep breaths to calm himself down.

[color=slateblue][b]“Why do I even care?”[/b][/color] Georgie was also starting to become angry, even though she knew she definitely shouldn’t.  She wasn’t even looking at Sawyer as the car came to a stop.  
[color=slateblue][b]“You really want to ask me why? Because obviously, Sawyer... [u]I love you![/u] And I just want to [i]be[/i] with you!”[/b][/color] Georgie’s voice had started to rise and as she finally let go of what she was holding in her mind, a stray tear leaked down her face.  She was fucking exhausted of all of this back and forth.  She was tired of how one sided it must’ve seemed to Sawyer, how she never managed to tell him that she felt so strongly about him from the start.  She needed him to know that she hurt as much as he did when they had been apart.
[color=slateblue][b]“There.  I said it.”[/b][/color] She shouted angrily.  And now he knew.

Both the boys eyes widened, Sawyer slowly looking down to stare at the back of the headrest while Gavin let out a heavy breath and ran a hand through his hair. [color=#F5794C][b]“Wow,”[/b][/color] Gavin muttered under his breath, slowly stepping out of the truck to give the two some space they so clearly needed. Sawyer watched his brother go, returning his gaze back to the headrest. [color=#40733d][b]“You… what?”[/b][/color]

[color=slateblue][b]“I...I meant what I said.  I love you.” [/b][/color] This time Georgie spoke with a resigned sigh.  She tried not to look at Sawyer but she couldn’t make herself resist.  Georgie cast a quick glance back to register his face before she wiped another tear from her cheek.

Sawyer noticed the tear that fell down her face before she swiped it away, quickly unbuckling his seatbelt to position himself between the seats to get a better look at her. He made her cry, and it made him feel like such a piece of shit. He gently reached over, turning her face tenderly with his hand on her cheek to make her look up at him, brushing her cheek soothingly with his thumb. [color=#40733d][b]"Hey, hey hey hey. Wh-why are you.."[/b][/color] [i]Enough questions, Sawyer,[/i] he told himself angrily. He sighed softly, looking into her eyes as he mumbled, [color=#40733d][b]"After all this time..."[/b][/color] [i]Another question[/i]. Sawyer sighed softly, cupping her face in his hands. [color=#40733d][b]"Georgie.."[/b][/color]

Georgie flinched at his touch and tried not to turn away.  She didn’t like for people to see her cry.  But with Sawyer she knew that she could tell the truth. [color=slateblue][b]“Just say something....anything”[/b][/color] she sighed and reached a hand up to cradle his.

Sawyer nearly pulled his hand away from her face until her own hand covered his own. [color=#40733d][b]"I..."[/b][/color] Sawyer pressed his lips into a thin line for a moment, [color=#40733d][b]"Please don't be mad at me,”[/b][/color] he muttered softly.

[color=slateblue][b]“Mad at you?”[/b][/color] Georgie furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. So he didn’t love her back.  Not in the way she wanted anyway.  But that was okay, she just wanted to tell him what she felt.  And if he didn’t feel it back...well, even though she would be heartbroken and probably would cry her eyes out for the rest of her days...it would be okay if Sawyer was happy as he was, with or without her.  That was the most important thing.

Sawyer half smiled, edging closer as he whispered, [color=#40733d][b]“For this,”[/b][/color] With her face still cupped in his hands, the boy closed the distance between them and pressed his lips against hers in a tender kiss.

Georgie yelped in surprise but she didn’t say anything as she leaned into the kiss.  How long had she waited for this? How long...aw fuck it.  She reached behind her to unbuckle her seatbelt and turned to face him fully, stopping the kiss for one second so that she could whisper that she loved him.

Sawyer knew he’d made the right move when she pressed back into the kiss, chuckling at the yelp she’d made. He let her pull away with ease, smiling a bit wider as she repeated what she’d said before. His heart was hammering in his chest. It all seemed to be happening a bit fast. They’d just gotten back on decent terms after spending nearly two years not talking, and now they were confessing their feelings and kissing? Part of him knew he should stop, but the other part wanted this. A [i]big[/i] part of him wanted this. He wanted her. He always wanted her. He breathed a little happy sigh, whispering shyly as if someone else but her might hear him. [color=#40733d][b]“I've always loved [i]you[/i], Georgie.”[/b][/color]

She pressed a hand to his cheek and kissed his nose, smiling so hard that she felt like her cheeks might burst.  This was it.  This was what she never knew that she was waiting for.  And it might sound cheesy, but she believed that nothing else could get in the way of them.  They’ve already had their fair share of drama, but now...She sighed blissfully.  Now, they were [i]perfect[/i]. [sub]Throwin some shade here...don’t mind me.[/sub]

Sawyer smirked and turned bright red when she kissed his nose, shying away from it a little with a small grin. The boy reached forward with both arms, wrapping her up in a gentle hug before letting out an equally blissful sigh.

[center][h3]♥ ♡ ♥[/h3][/center]

After their [i]moment[/i] wedged between the front and back seats of the truck, Georgie moved herself so she was sitting in the back with Sawyer.  Gavin had already walked back to the truck a few moments ago and now that they were on their way to her house, she could just spot the smile that Gavin held on his face through the rear-view mirror.  She interlaced her own fingers with those of Sawyer and noticed that she sported an equally excited smile. As they pulled up to the front of her house Georgie pushed open the passenger seat door and carefully climbed out, while the events that had happened tonight were enough to sober her up considerably, she was still a bit unstable on her feet.  She paused on the walkway and looked to Sawyer, half hoping and half [i]wanting[/i] him to walk her to the door.

Sawyer couldn’t wipe the smile from his face as they rode in the back together the rest of the way to her house. When they arrived, Sawyer let Georgie get out first and was in the process of scooting across the seats when Gavin reached back and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Sawyer looked back to meet his brother’s equally firm gaze.

[color=#40733d][b]“Yes?”[/b][/color] Sawyer asked, a bit of confusion and slight brotherly irritation in his tone.

[color=#F5794C][b]“You two need to take this slow. I don’t want her to get hurt.”[/b][/color]

[color=#40733d][b]“And you think I do? You know how I’ve always felt for her. Before, it was… [i]out of my control[/i]. I would never do anything to hurt her.”[/b][/color]

Gavin raised his eyebrow, his tone a bit flat. [color=#F5794C][b]“[i]Intentionally.[/i]”[/b][/color]

Sawyer narrowed his eyebrows at his brother but didn’t have much to say in response, shrugging off his brother’s grip as he slid the rest of the way out of the truck. His expression softened as he rejoined Georgie, smiling his usual smile for her as he gently took her hand in his and kissed the side of her head.

[color=#40733d][b]“Come on, luv. Let’s get you home,”[/b][/color] Sawyer whispered, gently tugging her forward as they walked up to her front door.[/color][/indent]

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