From August to Mae | an August Alsina Fanfic

XVI. Jealous

"Shouldn't be no reason why you're actin' strange if nobody's holding' you back from me."~ Destiny's Child
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"The fuck we gotta dress up fa'?" August asked scrunching up his face.

"Because when you have to present your research in front of a review board you have to dress up," Whitley chuckled as she sifted through her closet for a simple black dress to wear for their presentation. So far, the only black dresses she owned were party dresses thanks to her friends.

"We ain't presentin' fa' a review board."

"August," Whitley sighed, "please just wear a suit. Okay?"

"I'on even own a suit... 'cept fa' the one I wo' to Mel's funeral. Thas the only time I eva wo' one," August mumbled.

Whitley frowned as she turned to look at August. She stopped searching through her closet to go take a seat beside him on her bed. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"I can see why you wouldn't wanna wear a suit, then. Maybe just wear the nicest clothes you do have and hopefully Dr. Cantrell won't grade too harshly for it. You're like her favorite student anyway so I'm sure she'd let it slide. If not, you could probably explain your situation to her if you're comfortable with that."

August shook his head.

"Nah, imma get a suit. I ain't gone bring ya grade down cause ah' somethin' like that. Na', if I was doin' it by myself I woulda' said fuck da' suit, ya heard meh?"

"Yeah, I hear you." Whitley giggled.

"Now, get back up n' find that dress. I wanna see you in it," August smirked.

Whitley shook her head.

"Nope, you'll see it when we present," she said, sassily fluttering her eyes and twisting her lips to the side.

August sucked his teeth and playfully shoved Whitley away from him, causing her to chuckle.

"I talked to Twon the other day," Whitley blurted out.

August furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Although Whitley did seem to have grown a lot in character since the beginning of their friendship, it was obvious that she was still uncomfortable whenever Twon and Rell were around.

"Since when you been cool wit' Twon? He ain't exactly ya' typa' people."

Whitley sucked her teeth.

"That was then. I was ignorant and judgmental, but I've since matured."

August nodded his head, unsure of how true that was.

"What y'all talk about?" August asked, taking off his white T-shirt and tossing it to the side.

Whitley's eyes darted toward August's bare torso as she instinctively bit down on her bottom lip. No matter how many times she'd seen his body, it was more captivating than the last.

"Uh, he said that he talked to you about your singing," Whitley said, forcibly diverting her attention back to August's face.

August let out a deep sigh already knowing the direction this conversation was about to take. He was beginning to regret even sharing his talent at Whitley's party.

"Relax. I'm not gonna pester you about it, I just wanted to know if the conversation changed your mind at all about pursuing music. Ya' know, since Twon has connections and all, it doesn't seem so impossible now, right?"

"Yeah, I considered it," August stated plainly, "but I'on wanna talk about it anymo'."

While August's answer was truthful, it was slightly deceptive. He had in fact considered Twon's words; however, he hadn't considered it in the way in which Whitley was inquiring about. Luckily for him, Whitley dropped the subject.