Dear Augustus | Before I Let Go ✓

The Beginning

What does being someone's forever really implies? Does it mean sharing a lifetime or having an emotional attachment till the end, or just an idea of holding on to the feelings that are beyond time and space?

When we first met, you were just a stranger to me. So, I knew it wasn't wise to be anywhere isolated. That's why I chose the Book Beans coffee house two blocks from my house. I sat at the far end of the café, taking occasional peeks from 'All the Bright Places' - the book I was reading. My hands were sweaty, and my lips were dry even though I had applied the peach lip tint like five times within ten minutes. You were not late. I came early to settle my fidgety mind and calm my nerves a little before sailing on my first date.

The idea of meeting a total stranger and calling it a date was bizarre. And getting dressed up for it was even crazier. My friends were excited though especially, Adrian. He even decided to show up at my house while I was getting ready for the date. Maybe he wanted to confirm I was, at last, going out on a date.

"So, who is this guy again?" Adrian asked, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. His eyes scanned my side as I tied my brown curls up in a ponytail.

"It's a blind date, Adri. I guess you have to wait till the end of the date to know who he is." I grinned at him before running the lint roller on my off-shoulder purple dress, befitting the occasion. It was a dress my mom gifted me on my sixteenth birthday, complaining that I had bagged enough blacks and whites for a lifetime of color blindness.

He crossed his arm across his chest and scoffed lightly. "What if he turns out to be a pedophile? Ever thought of that possibility?"

My hands stopped mid-way, and I shot him a warning glare. That's when I looked at his face, which was as gloomy as the midnight hue. Adrian never brooded. That wasn't one of his traits. He always had that cheerful aura around him, and his lips never looped downwards.

"What's with the big face? Did Lisa stand you up or something?" I narrowed my eyes towards him.

He ran a hand through his blond hair and exhaled sharply before giving me a tight-lipped smile. "Whatever it is, it can wait till you return from your obnoxious date."

"Excuse me," he had the nerve to comment on my date when he was the one who made fun of me not dating anyone. I gritted my teeth and crossed my arms while Adrian relaxed from whatever tension was surrounding him. "The only obnoxious one here is you. Didn't you always make fun of my singlehood? So, what if I'm trying something exciting. I'm not like you, who's left with not a single girl in school who hasn't been with you at least once. It's boring if you ask me."

I could see the twitch of his jaw as he sat on my bed and shot me a fiery gaze.

"He is not a pedophile because he sounded quite young to me," I said, turning my attention back to the mirror. I gave him a glance in the mirror before applying a peach tint on my lips. I didn't put any makeup on since my white tone looked overly made up with even a light shade, and I decided to avoid it altogether. "And don't tell mom about this blind date when we head downstairs," I warned him.

I noticed how the corner of his lips mouth twitched in amusement as he stood from my bed and walked towards me. "I can't promise you that. After all, Sarah trusted me with your responsibilities. I do have to warn her about you going out with strangers. Besides, if you go down dressed up like that, do you think she won't notice you are heading for a date?"

My date was at 6, and I had only a few minutes to spare on Adrian's unreasonable behavior.

"And that's what you are here for, remember. Tell mom you are taking me out. You should convince her that I'm in safe hands." I rolled my eyes and tapped on his chest.