Last year flashback chapter.
Who knew the time could fly impossibly faster when you have something to get ready for?
Rushing home, I quickly grab a handful of crunchy green grapes to snack on while I get ready.
No one was home, except for our maids.
Per usual.
Once I reach my bedroom upstairs, I decide the best option I have for someone helping me decide what to wear would be Collie.
As if I had other options.
I snort to myself.
After she fled the 'tense' scene with August and I, she sent me another thread of messages along the lines of:
"My little Ivy is all grown up now or what?"
"You're not getting away from me without an explanation."
"Currently sitting in bed, watching The Notebook. Not like I'm expecting a call from my best friend or anything."
Giggling to Collie's texts, I make sure to send her a message letting her know I would be calling her in a few.
I run a hand through my hair and let out an exasperated groan.
It's not like I'm going on a date or anything, so why am I so nervous?
That's an easy answer; because I'm meeting up with THE August.
The one I've been drooling over for five years!
Unlocking my phone, I click on Collie's contact as the phone rings for a singular second.
Before I can even get out a word Collie's voice comes through, " TELL ME EVERYTHING," She squeals.
So, I do. I explain to her the normalcy of my day before English Class until August sits behind me. His sudden tap on my shoulder to ask me about being his tutor, and the conversation after school.
By the time I finish explaining, Collie's jaw has dropped entirely.
"Oh my gosh. Just say it, Collie. I know you're dying to say something," I laugh.
"I just can't believe it. I think I definitely spoke this into reality. Just this morning we were talking about how you needed to talk to him and all of sudden he ends up being your student?" She pushes, "I mean think about it, there's no way that's just a coincidence!"
"I know, I can't even process that all of those things happened just a few hours ago. Even more so, the fact that in 1 hour, I have to meet up with him," I whine.
"We got sidetracked, bad. Ivy we need to find you an outfit ASAP," Collie gasps.
After 30 minutes of deciphering between 'too fancy', 'too casual', 'basic', and 'boring', we finally find a simple cute outfit.
Since it's July, the weather never mellows out.
Even in the evening, it's still eighty degrees.
Which is why we concluded a basic pair of mom shorts with a baby pink tank would suit me best.
I figure in case the weather got a little chilly, bringing a cardigan would be a smart decision.
Wrapping my hair in a simple half up half down, I end the call with Collie as she wishes me luck.
......
In a flash, it's six o'clock and time to tutor August.
Upon reaching the empty library, I notice August already occupying a vacant table.
He's wearing the same grey sleeve, loose jeans, and black converse he wore at school. He flips through another page in the book he's reading, seeming to have taken much interest in it.
His messy dirty blonde hair sits atop his head, swaying each time he tilts it.
How is he wearing a long sleeve and jeans in this weather?
I'm beyond surprised he hasn't gotten heatstroke yet.
"Hi," I shyly whisper as I take a seat on the chair across from him.
Taking notice of my presence, he snaps out of his book daze and lazily smiles up at me.
"You know you don't have to whisper in here, the librarian could care less. I've been here many times before," he chuckles.
"Right sorry. This is my first time in an actual library outside of school. Ms. May would have a heart attack if she heard anyone talking louder than a whisper," I grimace, thinking about the extremely grumpy school librarian.
"Besides that, I never knew you read! I love reading too, but I never took you as the type of guy to be into that." I inquire, more as a question than a statement.
I am talking way more than I should be right now.
He thinks I'm an annoying weird-
"Actually yeah, I read a lot. It's sort of a distraction from the shitty stuff in life." He replies, his once smile, now vanished.
"Yeah, that's usually how it goes," I nod in understanding.
"So what are you struggling with in English?" I ask in an attempt to steer away from him shutting down.
"Honestly I'm not even sure. English is kind of a blur to me right now and I don't even know why. It used to be easier for me." He sighs.
"I understand, sometimes life gets in the way," I smile lightly, "but I am confident that you will pass this exam. You've always been smart."
"You seem to think you know a lot about me Ivy, especially for just meeting me today," He states while boring into my eyes.
I know that I know more about you than you give me credit for, I ponder to myself.
Beneath his cautious exterior, August is ridiculously intelligent and plays with his fingers when he's nervous.
There's something else in his eyes too, something that I can't quite figure out just yet.
Maybe we have more in common than we thought.
"There's nothing wrong with having a little faith in someone August. You should try having some for yourself too," I respond with a genuine tone.
He laughs, more to himself.
I for one, don't find anything about what I just said amusing.
"Let's get started before we get kicked out for staying too late," August quickly speaks.
Not surprisingly, August was much smarter than he claimed to be.
Instead of me needing to explain everything to him, he actually explained certain topics to me.
We studied for around 2 hours, helping each other out by memorizing certain quotes and asking questions until we got the right response.
A ding from August's phone draws both of us out from studying, as he pulls it out from his pocket.
His eyebrows scrunch together, as he reads the notification.
He seems upset.
Sighing, August puts his phone away and turns to face me again, "I think it's time we get going Ivy, we've been at it for hours now."
I nod my head in agreement as we both stand up to leave the library.
"Thank you for this Ivy, I'm sorry for being a jerk back there," He sorrowfully mutters.
I offer a light smile, "There's no need to be sorry, we both got some studying in today. I told you, you were smarter than you thought huh?" I wiggle my eyebrows.
August laughs, "Yeah, you're still smarter though," He replies cooly.
A warm sensation erupts onto my cheeks and I'm suddenly glad the sun has begun to go down.
Ignoring the skip my heart does when he says those words, I roll my eyes, "Yeah right."
"Now look who's lying," August chuckles.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. See you tomorrow," I playfully groan.
It might've just been the leeriness of the night feeding into my delusions, but I swear I see a glimmer of warmth in his brown eyes.
"Hopefully not!" He teases back, before walking away to his car.
"Your insufferable August Pierce. I hope you know that," I shout, while opening my car door.
We lock eyes for a second before he rolls his eyes and gets in his car.
Take that, August.
YOU ARE READING
Blooming for August
RomanceIvy; heiress to a world of luxury, craved something money couldn't buy, the courage to talk to August. The secretive boy who always kept to himself. He thinks she could care less about a guy like him, but little does he know; she notices every deta...
