into a moment in time

sixth chapter

James Everett POV

 Last Year (June 2009)

Augustine's phone number.

I actually found Augustine Jareau's phone number.

It wasn't difficult to say the least. To be honest, it's one of the easiest things I've ever done. Not in the context of getting a girl's number, because I could do that in my sleep. But this felt more like a mission, and it was accomplished successfully and easily.

Our school recently decided to construct a website. Evermore High has been behind in most things, including education, compared to other schools which are more into the city. In our small town in Bloomsburg, Evermore High is as good as it gets.

Anyways, when i got home from school last night - Friday night - i rushed to my mom's computer to check out said website. It took less than two minutes, all I had to search was and it came up. Lucky for me, Augustine is - was - president of the poetry club, which is now no longer a club because of budget cuts i think. Nonetheless, the club still existed online, and as president of the club, her name and phone number were right there on display in case anyone was thinking of joining.

I quickly wrote down the number of a napkin I found in my pocket and went to my room. I placed the napkin under my pillow so no one would find it, and question me about it.

Not like there really was anyone to question me, but I hid it anyways.

Now as to why I wanted her phone number so badly? I couldn't know because I don't even understand what's going on. I know she's Bowie's little sister and I know that there probably is something going on between him and Betty. I tried to be oblivious to it at first, but anyone with eyes could see that there was something there. That infuriates me in so many ways and I can't help but overflow with jealousy at the thought of him having his arm around her. Yet, at the same time, the thought of anyone having their arm around Augustine gives me that exact same feeling.

But I like to remind myself that Betty is a pretty honest person, at least to me and the people she's close with. So I believe she'd be honest with me if anything serious happened between her and Bowie.

In terms of Augustine, I did want to mess with her a bit, maybe in the beginning. But I don't really feel like it anymore. What I did at the game though, with her lighter and her cigarette, was completely unnecessary and all my fault.

I toyed with her a bit and called her a hypocrite. I know it didn't hurt her because I saw her blush. I also told her about the nickname I came up with. I've been thinking about it for a bit, ever since the first time I talked to her under the bleachers, to be honest.

She's very pretty, gorgeous even. With her long brown hair, which is always combed and styled, silky and smooth as it cascades down her back. Her beautiful navy blue eyes, which usually have a sort of sparkle in them I can't seem to get enough of. And a new part of her I now seem to admire are her lips.

Her perfectly shaped lips which are a wonderful shade of pink, wrapped around a cigarette. I dont think ive ever been as mesmerized by someone smoking as I was of her.

James, what are you doing? Stop. You're with Betty.

Betty.

I haven't talked to her since Wednesday at the game. I passed her a few times in the hall, but we never met up after school or during lunch. I've completely forgotten to walk her home these few days, and she hasn't reminded me or gotten upset, which could only mean one thing. Someone else was taking her home.

It's now Saturday so it's been almost three days. I should really text her.

I shuffle through the mess of my room in attempt to find my phone. Sooner or later I'm throwing pillows around and shoving blankets left and right. I open every drawer and it's not in any. I figured I might have left it in the bathroom and I'm way too lazy to go and get it right now.