thank you for being my friend. ° (COLD FRONT) ON HIATUS

chapter 3 - store

AUGUSTINE POV
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I was helping my mom unload when I heard someone call my name. Not Winnie's parents, but such a familiar, honey sweet voice.

"Augustine?"

I turned, widening my eyes and letting out an audible gasp. There he was. The blonde blue eyed boy I hadn't seen in so long. He had such pretty eyes I could practically drown in. Such fluffy, golden hair .. No, what am I thinking?

"Oh my god, it is you! Auggie!" Winnie exclaimed, his lips curling into the prettiest smile I'd ever seen. He rushed towards me, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in my neck.

I never was the type of person to enjoy hugs, but this one felt so warm and welcoming. I felt something wet on my skin. Tears. Winnie was crying.

I began to panick [ik this is incorrect spelling but it feels so much better than panic], moving my shoulders and lifting Winnie's head up.

"It's fine! Don't..don't cry, please don't!" I stumbled over my words. His eyes were glossy, full of tears.

"I'm sorry, but I haven't seen you in years!" He sniffled, rubbing his face and wiping the tears off his cheeks.

"I-It's fine. I just don't like seeing you cry. But you're right. It's been so fucking long, Winnie." I said, giving him an affectionate smile.

Winnie pulled me into a hug again. Like I said, I am not a hug person, but this one just felt so .. good. He buried his face in my neck once again. I felt his warm breath on my skin.

I shuddered, it was different compared to the slight breeze brushing over my body. Either that, or ..

I lifted my arm and ruffled his hair. We stayed like that for a while, and if I'm honest, I really, really enjoyed it.

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We finished putting all the boxes in the new garage, with that classic garage smell you can't really explain, but it's the same scent every house you go to.

I felt exhausted, but we weren't just done. We still had to put in mattresses for Mom and I to sleep on, get pillows and blankets from the store since those were packed away and neither of us felt like searching through the millions of boxes.

My legs hurt. Mom had convinced both Winnie and I to go to the store with her to pick up the things we needed. We sat in the back, Mom in the front. Country music was what she liked. [ew tf no offense]

It was late at night, and I assumed Winnie had to get back to his dorm but he didn't seem to care. I tried to strike up a conversation. "So .. do you have any dorm mates yet?"

Winnie turned to me. "Yeah. Some petty popular girl named Angelica. I don't really like her. She's annoying, really. Plus, you're better!" He added, smiling at me.

I felt myself flush at the thought of being called better than his dorm mate. Hadn't he made any other friends? Why hadn't he abandoned me?

"Do you have any other friends?" I ask.

"Nope! Well, just one. His names Elias! Pretty name, really. But, I'm not gay!" Winnie stuttered. The way he said 'I'm not gay!' really had me wondering, was he gay? His voice wobbled when he said it.

"Oh, cool." I said flatly. A friend, other than me? He can't have friends other than me! Right? He'll just take everything away from me again. I gritted my teeth. Part of me agreed with this, and the other part disagreed. I can't go back to this. I can't keep thinking this way.

Mom pulled up to the store. She said we could stay in the car. Both of us obliged, sitting in the car together. I hesitated, but I leaned towards Winnie and placed my head on his shoulder.

It wasn't bony like some people, it didn't hurt either [some shoulders really fucking hurt]. I felt Winnie stiffen underneath me, and I frowned. Was I really that bad? Did my head hurt him?

I pulled away, but Winnie pushed me back. "No, no, stay. You're fine. You feel nice."