😭

[Decline] []

Gooood morning, baby!

Hey, lover! How are you?

Oh, I'm doing great, thank you. You?

Pretty great actually—

Wait, why am I staring at a ceiling fan? What're you doing?

Getting dressed, just a second!

Huh, where are you going? It's like, ten in the morning.

Breakfast, then something called Centennial park, I think. I don't know. It's up to Taylor.

Oh, cute! Have fun, then!

Thanks, babes . What do you think?

[August picked up her phone and leaned it against the wall so Niko could see her whole outfit]

Oh! I love the pants, when did you get those?

I stole 'em from Zoë, obviously

She's never getting those back, is she?

Nope!

[August laughed, popping the P at the end]

You look good, Auggie. You sound cheery today.

I'm a whole year older today, baby! I have... matured.

[She pronounced the word matured as 'mah—tour-ed". Niko chuckled, shaking his head]

Sure, you've been 26 for over 24 hours officially. But I don't buy it. What's got you in such a good mood?

[August grinned excitedly and flopped on the still unmade bed]

I forgive you, by the way.

What? What did I do?

You told Taylor my deepest darkest secret.

The day you were born on?

Yes!

Well, darn! I'm sorry! Thank you for forgiving me!

Yeah, you're welcome!

Right... what did she get you?

[Niko caught on, slowly smirking and raising his eyebrows questioningly]

Hold on a second, I'll play it for you.

Huh?

[Niko waited as August pulled her laptop out and opened the saved mp3 file Taylor had given her last night]

Listen to this...

Oh my fucking gosh, August, is that you singing? That's you— oh my shit, this is fucking insane! It's so well produced too— I'm losing my mind. Wait, are you releasing this? OH MY GOD YOU LITTLE SHIT, ARE YOU RELEASING YOUR FIRST SINGLE?

No, I don't think so. But, yeah, I am thinking of writing an album. I already have the whole, big idea. I just need to find someone to work w—

SHUT UP, THAT'S TAYLOR SINGING, ISN'T IT? BITCH, YOU RECORDED A WHOLE ASS DUET WITH TAYLOR AND DIDN'T TELL ME?

... I'm sorry?

NO, APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED. AUGUST! THIS IS INSANE! I'M SO FUCKING PROUD OF YOU!

Thank you!

[August laughed hard in joy as Niko bopped his head excitedly to the beat of the song]

This is amazing. You need to release this, I swear it's gonna be such a banger.

Taylor seems to think so too. I want to, just not yet. You know?

Sure, but as long as I get a signed copy of the CD.

I'll even sign your ass, if you shave it

Deal!

Do you really like it?

I love it, August. It's a fricken masterpiece. What's it about?

Uh, friendship. Falling in love platonically with your friends. With you, my bestie!

[Niko smiled brightly, his gaze softening intensely]

I love you too, Auggie. But, was it also maybe inspired by a certain, uh, blonde, blue-eyed girl?

I don't know. Maybe. It just kinda wrote itself, but I know that I was definitely thinking of you when I did. You, and Zoë, and Taylor. And Tom and Maia and Conan. God, I miss them so much.

Yeah, same. I haven't seen them since March!

Right... we need to have a big ass karaoke night when this whole thing's over.

Absolutely! Let me revive that group chat tonight. Anyway. How are things in Nashville?

It's pretty great. Honestly, being out of... there. It's been helpful. I've been pretty calm and well-rested all week. And I think, I slept pretty great last night. Not a single dream.

The Taylor effect?

What the hell's that?

Nothing, I'm just teasing you!

I don't get how...?

I'm saying it's cuz of her, you idiot!

Oh! Eh, I don't know. Maybe! She is pretty awesome, I won't deny it.

Yeah, but you're totally in love with her! And she's obviously in love with you! I saw those pics that a bunch of fans took when you two went hiking!

They were just pictures of us walking in a park, dude.

Yeah, but you looked in love.

How?!

You just did. So, when are you gonna fucking make-out with her already?

[When August hesitated to respond, Niko's eyes widened and his face was suddenly right in front of the camera]

It's not what—

YOU KISSED HER?

NO! Well, I— well, she kinda— she kissed me... last night.

OH MY GOSH, SPILL! RIGHT NOW. SPARE NO DETAILS.

God, Niko...

RIGHT NOW.

Look, it's not that hot or anything. I'd just told her everything that happened with Justin and — and Ryne and it was nice to get it all out. And then she asked to hear a few of the ideas I had for the album. And I played her one of the songs— no, before you ask, you don't get to hear it until it's out! And, well it's in French—

Wait, you wrote a song in French? When?

Like, a few weeks ago! I was talking to grandma back in Quebec and for the rest of the day my brain was just working in Quebecois and the song just kinda came out.

I always forget you're French-Canadian.

Right, because I'm also such a Valley Girl!

[August attempted a very obnoxious Valley Girl accent which made Niko laugh]

Exactly, with your collection of oversized sweatshirts and vans. So, continue the story!

That's it. I just sang the song and she kissed me. It wasn't that big of a deal!

Wait, so you guys didn't fuck after that?

Dude! No! What the fuck? I'm pretty sure she's not like, really into that—

Fucking hell, she stuck her tongue down your throat, August. She's into you. Can you just stop overthinking things for once?

She did kiss me after I sang 'embrasse moi'

Which translates to kiss me! I'm pretty sure she understood that, took her chance, and did something she's obviously wanted to do for months now.

Niko...

Dude, she'd be crazy not to have been into you this whole time! I mean, now that we know she's not completely straight, she's obviously been flirting with you for months! And not so innocently!

How do you know?

I just do. So what happened after you kissed?

Nothing, we just went to bed. I woke up like an hour ago, took Phoebe for a walk and then she said she wanted to show me this park and that's about it.

Ugh, you're useless! Ask her out.

No.

WHY NOT?

I— what if she says no?

AUGUST

WHAT?

Nothing. Go back to your girlfriend! And remember! I wanna see HD pap pics of you two making out over breakfast!

I hate you!

You love me!

Not right now!

[August hung up the phone]