September 3
One year later...

Augustine

I hummed along to the music on my headphones, breathing in the warm fall air. Red and orange leaves dusted the ground while the walkway stayed clear. I sighed, more than content to live in the moment.

I stayed home the first semester of last year to help my mom as we moved out of her and my dad's house. She had more than enough money to support Aurora and I, so I starting taking Winter classes at the local college near us back in LA. I enjoyed the courses, but I didn't love the school in general. One of my teachers saw potential in my writing and sent a recommendation for me to the University of Toronto along with my application. I got accepted and found myself there the following September.

My phone lit up, distracting me from my thoughts. I swiped across the screen to answer a call from my mom, seeing Aurora's face appear in my phone.

"Hi, Auggie!" she exclaimed, waving at me through the screen. Her brown eyes were filled with excitement and her curly hair was pinned back with her two purple hair clips. I smiled at my sister, her excitement contagious.

"Hi, Rory," I grinned. "Ready for your first day of grade one?"

"I'm so excited!" she announced. "I can't wait to make new friends!"

"I'm sure you'll have tons of friends very soon," I smiled. Aurora was only five, but, after taking a placement test, the school suggested she go right to grade one based on her maturity and intelligence.

"Are you excited for school?" she asked me.

My smile faded. "I'm a bit nervous, to be honest," I admitted. "I don't know what Canadian school will be like."

"I hope you have so much fun!" Aurora exclaimed, smiling as widely as her face would allow.

"Thanks, Rory," I smiled softly. "I'm proud of you, kiddo."

"I love you, Auggie."

"I love you too, Rory."

Aurora gave me one last wave and her face disappeared from my screen. I shook my head and smiled, missing my baby sister already. I had flown to Toronto only three days ago, but I missed having her next to me, talking my ear off with all her ideas. I sighed, readying myself for my first class: Creative Writing.

I clicked on the photo I took of my schedule, zooming in to see where my class was. I brought my phone closer to my face, trying to read the numbers on the screen.

Suddenly I crashed into something and barely caught myself from falling backwards. Papers and books crashed to the ground.

"Shit, I'm so sorry," I apologized, bending over to pick up the books. Whoever this person was, it looked like they were really into astronomy.

"Nah, it's my fault," a masculine voice responded. "I was lost in my book and not watching where I was going."

I gathered the rest of his papers, my eyes falling to the last book on the ground. I froze, recognizing the sand-coloured journal instantly.

Could it be?

I stood, seeing his lips form a smile upon looking at me. My cheeks heated up and I met his gaze. I froze again as his hazel eyes met mine.

I know those eyes.

"Hello," he grinned knowingly, his face shifting to a smirk.

There's no way.

In my shock, I could only form one word.

"James?"