crossing paths | noah beck

1

August's POV:

**the middle of nowhere North Carolina, mid-July

As the breeze hits my face walking out of my office building I wonder how some places can be so draining yet so fulfilling all at the same time. They say if you do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life, but I beg to differ. I say if you do what you love for long enough and eventually you'll start to hate it...or get bored...or get fired. It's the circle of corporate life.

I don't know what possessed me to walk to work this morning, probably the part of me that forgot I'd now have to walk home afterwards as well. 70 degrees wasn't too bad this morning but 95 with post-rain humidity has me wishing I had enough funds for an Uber.

Before I can start kicking myself for not saving up my phone rings, right on time. 5:05pm every night Anna Grace gives me a call. I swear she has an alarm set to ensure she doesn't forget.

"Hello sunshine" her chipper voice says through the phone. All I can do is chuckle in response because I'm not feeling so sunshine-y.

"That bad, huh? At least it's Friday. Where we going tonight? I was thinking.." as much as I would love to let her think, I don't let her get too far out there.

"I don't know about you but I'm going straight to my bed and not leaving until Monday morning. Sorry to burst your bubble...no I'm not actually. Wasn't it you who suggested I started walking to work?" I add the question at the end because I'm sure she can tell by my huffs and puffs, I'm very quickly walking to get out of this heat.

"Ugh Augs you're no fun! Buuut I'm sure those extra steps feel great when it's not in the mid 90's outside. How about I make it up to you with our favorite wine and hmmm, cute pizza boy delivery?" she knows I can't turn down a chance to see the cute pizza boy.

"Ugh, fine. I'll be home in 5. But give me an extra 15 to shower and consider moving to Alaska to escape this summer heat." she laughs at my rebuttal and hangs up after we say our quick goodbyes, I know it'll take her the full 20 minutes to arrive but it's still fun to mess with her.

Once I've arrived home, showered, considered Alaska, made a mental pros and cons list, decided to stay in North Carolina for now, and finally put on my pajamas it was right on queue when I heard my apartment door open.

"Okay Augs I know you always say no but I really need your help. This brand deal just came through and some of the biggest influencers are sponsored by them. I need this filmed ASAP and nobody can do it as good as you. Please, please, please. This is so big you don't even.."

Before I can even say hello AG is asking me to film a TikTok for her. Again.

"Sooo what happened to hello, nice to see you. How are you? How was work? Oh, cool. Can you help me?" I shoot back at her, probably a little bit meaner than I anticipated it coming off.

She sighs and apologizes before sealing my forgiveness with a glass of wine and saying she already ordered dinner.

"Is this influencing thing really supporting you enough not to get a job? You know I fully support you not going to college, but the security of a job and work experience is priceless."

Anna Grace looks at me and sighs. I was a marketing major, I graduated in May and I've been working at a marketing agency since then. I understand that social media is the future, I really do, but in the past her dedication to things hasn't been the best. My fear is one day she decides shes bored of it and wants to do something else, but has no education and no work experience. We've had this talk before but when I see her get so excited I just don't want her to be let down.

"Look August, I supported you through college even though I didn't understand it. And now at your 9-5, I support you even though you're miserable. Just make some videos with me and see, it's really fun." I can't help but burst out laughing at the last thing she says. I expected her to start laughing with me but when she gave me a puzzled look I grew even more concerned.

"You're the one for the spotlight AG, not me. Plus, I haven't danced since my middle school days. I'm not hip, or whatever the kids say." Now it's her turn to laugh, but I'm being serious.

"August, who even says 'hip' anymore. You don't have to dance. Here, I'll help you." Reluctantly, I let her convince me.

After a couple of hours (and more than a few glasses of wine) I successfully, with Anna Grace's help, filmed and uploaded a nighttime routine to TikTok. I only had the app to follow her and support her, so it felt foreign to me.

I've had instagram and other social medias forever, but with working in marketing things move so fast and it can take the fun out of it. Everything is so calculated and having to understand the algorithms at work is enough, I don't want to have to manage that for myself.

I finally upload my video and AG sends off her brand deal for approval. A couple more slices of pizza and we both knock out for the night.

A/N : hello! I have lots of ideas for this book, the beginning seems cliches but I swear it will get better. I feel like the start of books are always a little cliche until you really dive into the story. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated :) Love always <3