What Happened In August?: Inspired By The Taylor Swift Love Triangle

I sat in my bed, aimlessly scrolling on my phone. Every post, every video, everyone has someone. But me? I have no one. I’m not sure if I should be upset though. I often distance myself from others. I’m a homeschooled girl, Augustine. I don’t have many friends. I noticed that online everyone is getting ready for prom. The girls showing off the sequin dress. The guys wanting to flex their suits. It's almost as if they all wanted to bother me. Sitting alone in my bed during Prom isn’t what teens should do. Right?

So to be like one of the ‘normal’ teens I went out to my favorite ice cream spot, ‘’’’Enzo’s. I’ve been going there ever since I was a little girl. I ordered what I usually order, chocolate ice cream with hot fudge. The flavors of it together always hits the spot. I paid for the ice cream, thanked the cashier then sat outside while eating my ice cream.

“Watch out!” Someone behind me vehemently yelled. His skateboard crashed into me, making me and my ice cream fall. I laid there lopsided, unsure of what happened. 

“Hey,” I shouted, finally realizing what had occurred. “You knocked over my -” Before I could finish, I saw he was quite cute. His curly golden locks, and honey brown eyes. His face was covered in a constellation of freckles. He wore a suit, with his tie loosely around his neck.

“Oh, sorry.” He said glumly. I noticed he avoided eye contact, clearly something was bothering him. “Were you just at prom?” I said curiously.

“Um, yeah.” He replied. The irritating lack of eye contact continued. “So if it’s prom, why are you here?” I asked, wanting not to push on the matter.

“Well, I hate crowds, and after a special someone had me come, I ended up seeing her dance with someone else. I just had to leave, you know?”

“To be honest, I can’t relate. I’m actually homeschooled.” I replied, expecting judgement, or eye rolls. To my surprise, he actually seemed interested. 

As the evening passed I finally learned that the cute and mysterious boy was actually quite deep. His name was James, and after giving me compensation for my spilled ice cream I gave him my number. I offered that if he ever needed to talk about his situation, or well high school in general we could meet each other for ice cream again.

As we walked to the trash cans, still laughing I felt my hand graze his. My heart fluttered as I made an embarrassing grimace. James looked at me confused. 

“Uh, gotta go.” I ran as my face began to appear redder than a  tomato. 

“Bye,” he said uncomfortably.  I never expected this to happen, for me to easily obsess over someone like this. It's unlike me, but I can’t help but have hope for something great this summer.

It was just a week later when he texted me. It was just, ‘hi’, but it still amazed me. I cancelled my plans, just in case he called. We spent an entire hour texting each other. But, I couldn’t help actually wanting to see each other again. I wasn’t sure if I should conceive a plan to see him, or simply ask. Before I could make my decision he finally called me.

“Hey, do you want to meet up?” He asked.

“Yea, of course.” I said immediately. “The ice cream place?” I asked.

“Sure,” he answered.

We both ordered ice cream, (my usual). The entire day felt like a blur, we laughed; I smiled (a lot); he chuckled awkwardly. It all felt perfect.

But, what finally stood out to me was his confession. 

“So I have something to admit,” he began. I stared at him vehemently, waiting for the ball to drop. Anything, something major. The suspense grew in my head, as I waited for him to continue.

“So the reason why I texted you was because my girlfriend broke up with me,” James explained. Yes, I thought to myself. 

“Oh, why.” I asked, wanting to at least seem somewhat curious. 

“There was some lame rumor, she ended up believing it.”

“James, are you alright?”

“Honestly Augestine, I’m fine. That stupid rumor wasn’t even true. Well, I guess not anymore” He said reluctantly. But, I couldn’t help but be confused by his last few words. That was, until he leaned forward putting his lips against mine. My heart was pounding, as we both pulled away. 

“Um, I-uh-” I stuttered, hesitant of what to say. “Are you sure,” I whispered. No one ever wanted to kiss the homeschooled girl. So why now? What’s different? “Do you really want to kiss the homeschooled girl?” I asked. He chuckled at my weird expression.

“I’ll see you later, Augustine." James said, leaving.

The moment replayed in my head at least a hundred times. It was amazing, I felt every nerve in my body begin to spiral at the thought of him. I’ve never seen myself as a hypocrite, but maybe there is someone for me?

School ended, and the months passed like a bottle of wine. Before I knew it, it was August. Me and James stayed together, consistently by each other’s sides. I wouldn’t want to be presumptuous, but I believe I’m in love. 

It was a typical summer day. Ice cream, pool, James. Except, when I went to my favorite ice cream place, waiting for James; an unknown face turned. She sat next to me, wearing a hateful expression. It was stifling, I never met her, but she carried an untold anger. 

“Hello?” I said, not sure if I wanted to actually know her. 

“You’re Augustine." She said, less as a question but more as confirmation.

“Yes, and you?”

“Oh, so you don’t know?” She scoffed ignorantly, carrying lots of apathy with her.

“I’m Betty, James’s ex.”

“Oh, Miss. Believes every rumor? ” I said, nearly feeling threatened by her. I’ll admit she was pretty.

“It wasn’t a rumor if it was actually true, was it Augestine. Listen, do you know what even happened?”  She said, for once sounding genuine.

“Yes.”

“But do you? Me and James were together until two weeks ago. Did you know that?” Betty said, the perils of her own broken heart carrying through her voice. I wanted to say something, my lips parting but immediately closing. My throat felt heavy, like a bullet laid there. My eyes felt like a dam was about to burst. I swayed there, miserable waiting for her to finish, wanting her to say something like, he’s always loved you. That he was mine. He was mine, right? I snapped out of my delusions. 

“What?” I finally spoke. 

“We were together for a while. There was a rumor that he was cheating on me, during prom actually. A week later, I asked him about it. He swore to me that nothing happened. But, later that day my friend, Inez, told me that she saw the two of you kissing. I decided to ignore the matter, thinking it would simply go away. But, I saw you guys. He looked so happy.” Betty said, tears filling her eyes. 

“I didn’t know.” I explained, vaguely but also with my sorrows. I looked away from her. I fell for the boy that simply used the two of us. Just for what, summer love?

“Augestine, I-” Betty spoke, before I ran away. I kept running until I got to his house. I rapidly knocked on the door, waiting furiously for him to answer. 

“Betty?” James asked. 

“Is it true?” I begged, tears filling my eyes. “Is it true about you and Betty? I saw her, she told me about everything!” 

“Yes.” He responded, on the verge to justify himself. “Augest-”

“No, you know maybe in some parallel universe I would’ve said it’s ok. Right? The homeschooled weirdo, I would’ve called it honestly. But it's not right, it wasn’t right. This love was never mine, never mind that, and I feel horrible, terrible for Betty.” I shouted at him, completely and utterly heartbroken.

“Augestine I’m sorry I,” he began wanting to expound himself. 

“Me and Betty were going through something rough. You showed up, I kept thinking we were over, that she didn’t want me… Except you were still there. You liked me, it’s nice to be like that. But, I don’t know. It was never actually about you.”

His words hurt, it felt like a stab in the gut again, and again. Like I was just some object to lie to. 

It doesn’t matter who I was to him. I did love, James. But this summer was all wrong, and no one deserves it. I lived for the hope for it all, wishing that he was the love of my life. Maybe he was, but I was never his.