Avoiding August (ONGOING)

Chapter 11

Here is another photo of Taylor Momsen that I think suits how I imagined Quinn.

"You want it, you buy it." Said Gabriel as he reached toward a large block of mint-flavoured chocolate.

They were all gathered in the chocolate and lolly aisle, pacing up and down with eager faces. Thandiwe leaned against the trolley, Louis squinted through his glasses to read the small print on a package's ingredients. Quinn was waiting for them to move on to decide what ice cream they were going to buy, and Gabriel seemed to be contributing the most to their collection of unhealthy foods.

"Put that back, Gabe, we want to go in the 15 items or less line." Thandiwe scolded as the smaller boy pouted up at him.

Gabriel blinked, forlorn. "But - they're red clouds."

"There aren't even that many in the packet. Put it back."

"Fine." Gabriel huffed, snatching the bag full of sweet red from the trolley and spinning on his heel to put it back on the shelf. However, he collided with someone's chest. That someone was almost as tall as Thandiwe, so he had to crane his head up to see who it was.

Recognition set in, and he leapt away, repulsed. "Do you mind?" He growled up at August Right. "I see you enough when you happen to be home."

August didn't answer his question. Instead, he scowled and said, "I would pummel you right now for touching me, but I owe your friend Quinn. Consider yourself lucky."

Quinn, Louis and Thandiwe had realised what was happening, and we're spectating inquisitively. At the mention of Quinn, Louis stepped forward and asked venomously, "What do you mean? You're the last dirty bastard she'd do anything for."

August cocked his head, his expression calculating, then gave Quinn a puzzled look. "... Oh. It seems that she didn't tell you about what we got up to last night."

Louis' face twisted, eyes confused and alight with rage. "Pardon?"

"Quinn and I went out on a date. Some guy was there. She stopped him from killing me." August shrugged nonchalantly.

Louis was all riled up, bewildered and disbelieving. "A date?" August didn't fail to pick up on how upset he seemed.

He bent down to look straight into his victim's eyes, his tone turning condescending. "Yes, a date. You ever heard if those, geek?"

The word 'geek' didn't seem to sit well with Louis, and he looked taken aback, not to mention genuinely hurt. Quinn was the first to swoop in and berate the intimidating bully. "Don't call him that. And, for the record, don't call any on my friends that. Do you hear me?" She stepped between him and Louis. Disgust aimed at August grew in her gut.

"Anything for my little lifesaver." August grinned.

Gabriel piped up from next to Thandiwe, "Fuck off, August."

"Whatever happened to love thy neighbour, Gabriel?" August all but purred, before fixing his gaze on Quinn. "Do you grant me my leave, kitten?" His pinned attention on her sent needles crawling up her arms.

Quinn felt pink stain her cheeks at the pet name, and quickly looked down to hide her face from him. Hastily, she ordered the irritatingly handsome boy, "Just go, and don't talk to me again."

As he sauntered away, the boys all turned to her. Thandiwe spoke, his tone unwavering. "You went on a date with him."

"Yes. Last night." Before they could question her, she added, "He said that he wouldn't touch you guys if I did it, okay? Anyway, it's done now. It's nothing, really."