[chapter three]

Augusta returned to her senses. She quickly finished her meal and immediately invited Inez to go straight to the field in order to watch the preliminary football games.

'When they arrived, Augusta realized that Betty and James were in the same class. The lovers sat on the same bench during the preliminary football games as an audience.

"Augusta, that spot is probably not taken," Inez said to Augusta's surprise. Leaving Augusta with no choice, she just agreed and sat on the bench Inez pointed out.

Across the field, Betty and James wait to cheer on the teams that they bet. The game started, the crowd was wild as well as the beaming sun in the field. The shouts and support of the students echoed in the field. The beaming sun did not bother the competitive teams, the heads

Augusta's claps were getting heavy, and cheers were getting weaker as her gaze fell on the lovers far across the field. She saw them sharing her favorite popcorn flavor as they did before when they watched the local cinema.

Augusta tried to be subtle, but she failed when her vision got wobbled with cold fluids from her eyes.

Inez noticed Augusta's lethargy, so she asked. "What's wrong? You good?- what's with the crying?"

Augusta quickly wiped the handkerchief over her eyes and at the same time said, "some dust has entered my eyes that's why it seems watery. I'm not crying!" She lied too easily; she can't be feeling melancholic while watching sports.

She convinced Inez so the two continued to watch the game. It was quite awkward for Augusta to think that her emotions got the best of her.

Augusta lost track of her thrill on the game and endured the sight in front of her, for the last thirty minutes of the game. She finds it agonizing.

Augusta swiftly left the field after the game; leaving Inez without notice. She first went through the library to borrow the books she needed for their upcoming quiz.

She'd like to study in advance as a distraction from the soreness of summer love and somehow, it's working.

Little did she know, James was on his way to thank her for the shoes, or maybe he has other plans. Augusta couldn't tell it when their eyes met. James, pretentious as he was, grabbed a couple of books and followed her line.

He tapped his shoes and thanked her under his whispers, they are still in the library after all. She couldn't do any more talking after he left the parking lot that summer.

"Augusta." he softly and carefully calls her. And how James could forget such a name?

The man was quite pushy, he just wanted to talk to Augusta. He had no idea that her presence sparked his interest or was it the shoes that she made during the summer? Something sparked in his loins.

She was done from his persistence; he called her name too many times while tailing. Her name echoed by his voice. "What do you want?"

Augusta's narrowed eyebrows did not stop him. "Thanks for the shoes."

"You're welcome, now I must dash, " she replied with a fake smile and moved swiftly. Augusta could never hope that he will only thank her.

She was definitely wrong when her legs were about to take her to the exit and suddenly James grabbed her forearm. "Hey. What's wrong with you?"

James was taken aback by his actions. Did she just grab her to stay? The man could never explain such fascination that he was feeling. "Augusta, it's just ... I'm just sorry- what happened last summer. It wasn't good and-"

"Do you think I would be so happy to hear about today? James, you were never clear." And someone who dislikes being pushed in a corner that she did not wish to be in, Augusta was forced to pull her arguments from a subject that she was trying to forget.

The man scratched his words out of his mouth from his feelings or rush and need of something about connection towards her. "Maybe for a second, I wasn't clear. And I just want to say that it was wonderful, what we had was peaceful and promising."

"So, what's the point?'" That took her to an extreme level of confusion and a part of her was somewhat ready to be confused, she has to listen.

"And I apologize for taking you to such a mess and for hurting you." It was a cathartic moment for his airways to say it.

James spontaneously opened a conversation in which he had no idea how it would turn out. There was an itch of comfort and a sense of settlement.

Augusta remained her stare for a few good seconds to make him perplexed by her unpredictability.

"You're staring," he finally noticed.

"I know. So what's gonna be like for me?" She failed to hide her chuckle. "Would I look like a fool if I forgive you just like that, James?" And his name in the tip of her sentence was getting used to his mouth again.

Calling an old name did not have to be nostalgic like that.

"I just want us to be on good terms for at least. I hate bad blood," he admitted, putting one of his hands in the pocket.

Augusta gave him a few nods and observed the silent crowd of the library, reflecting on what she just heard. Having no idea what to expect on how the "summer thing" would resolute.

"I guess this will be casual from now on," she spoke to her verdict as she broke the silence. Remaining her brave, stoic, and casual expression: she did her best to keep her cool. James could be arrogant and likes to fool around people.

Augusta likes to take risks. Let alone the stupid ones like she did last summer. James seems harmless, for now.

"Casual, so to speak," and he planted a nice smile on his face. It was full of relief and contentment. "Thank you, Augusta." It took her a moment to process the handshake that he just offered.

She rolled her eyes and suddenly decided to be satirical. "You are not very much welcome, you're just nice because I made you a shoe."

"Quite a point, actually. It suits my liking, nonetheless," James lift his heel to complement the footwear and returned to her eyes. Giving a much sticky stare.

"Guess, I'll be seeing you around. Augusta."

"Silly."

She wants to wish that he could never pronounce her name like that again. It oddly brings her back. An unpleasant thought. She just showed a small smile while cutting from his gaze.

That small interaction from the library grew into glances from the hallways and cafeteria. There were no words and just stares.

Augusta can't ruin herself again for the second. She knows it. It was born from just one single glance.

© Leo Polaris