Chapter Text
Mattholomule was annoyed. Ever since he spent time with Augustus in the graveyard, it was like he had been infected with the gross friendship is magic thing Augustus’s group of friends had going on. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt drawn to Augustus and wanted to become closer with him. They said they would meet up at the graveyard next weekend, but that was an entire week away and Mattholomule wanted to hangout with him at school. The problem was the last time they had really talked at school, he had kind of usurped the Human Appreciation Society from the younger boy.
Agh. Why had had he been so stupid and said he liked drama and power? Seriously, where had he even gotten that dialogue from? It was truly a miracle Augustus still wanted to be friends with him after that fiasco.
Mattholoumule ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. Taking notes in class was a lost cause for him at this point- he was too busy brooding. It was tempting to blame this whole situation on Bria, but he knew she didn’t make him act like a complete idiot when he first transferred to Hexside. That was all his decision alone.
He tugged his hood down further, when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Augustus was taking notes a few desks apart from him? That made no sense. He was pretty sure he had never even seen Augustus in this class before today. His confused staring didn’t go unnoticed because Augustus held up the notes he was taking to show him. In big letters he had written, “I’m not the real Gus (◠‿◕)*.✧."
It was easy to forget that he was an illusion prodigy sometimes, because besides the pranks he played with his illusions; he was very humble about his skills and acted like a regular witch. His train of thought was quickly broken by a terrible great idea. He could practice not looking like an idiot in front of Augustus by talking to his illusions! It’s not like he constantly monitored any of them anyway. They were always running all around the school, doing all the tasks Augustus didn’t want to do himself. Maybe he had a chance of looking cool or not like a super dork at least when he approached the real Augustus.
Mattholomule quickly glanced up at his teacher. They were too busy lecturing to pay attention to him, so he took the opportunity to slide over a few desks to be next to Augustus’s illusion.
“Hello, Augustus’s illusion.”
“Hey Mattie~”
“I already told you only Bria can call me that!” Mattholomule exclaimed loudly. The whole class, including the teacher, turned and glared at him as he promptly turned red.
“You did that on purpose didn’t you!” He whisper-yelled in the illusion’s direction, his face still bright red.
“Maybe~” he teased, tilting his head closer to Mattholomule’s.
He pulled his hood closer to his face to hide the blush that was creeping down his neck. “Ugh, you’re such a jerk!”
“Better a jerk than a shortie,” Augustus replied with ease. “I guess you could say the tables have turned!” He posed dramatically, giving Mattholomule a stupid smirk while raising his eyebrows.
Without thinking, Mattholomule went to shove him for all his teasing comments, but his hands just phased right through the illusion, causing it to collapse. Dang it! He was so stupid and now he had just killed the illusion. What if Augustus noticed and confronted him? Or thought he was trying to bully him again? He put his head down on his desk to have his mental breakdown in peace. He just started getting so flustered he couldn’t think straight.
Flustered? Wait… Since when had talking to Augustus caused him to be flustered instead of annoyed? Maybe he was in a worse predicament than he thought, and he hadn’t even done a good job of practicing conversing with the illusion before he messed it up. Why was everything with Augustus so difficult?
Leaving class, he had more questions than answers, and now a fear that he would see the real Augustus today when now he was really not ready to talk to him. Carefully, he speed-walked to his next class, trying to avoid a certain witch and getting in more trouble. He always seemed to have the worst luck, even managing to get on Boscha’s bad side. Plus, he always put in detention over the dumbest things ever since Augustus had set off the fire alarm that day.
Augustus… He had really surprised him that day, rescuing him from detention like his knight in shining armor. Knight in shining armor? Whatever disease that had possessed him, he really had it bad. Maybe Bria laced his food. He was tempted to walk up to the closest wall and bang his head on it to stop his thoughts from being so mushy. Luckily, his next class was Basic Illusions for students not on the Illusion track, so he knew Augustus, illusions or otherwise, wouldn’t be there.
Mattholomule decided his best bet was to hide in the library during lunch to keep away from what Boscha dubbed “the freak squad.” As he entered, he saw Augustus sitting next to a stack of books taking notes. He knew for sure there was no way that’s the real one, because wreaking havoc in the lunchroom was an everyday squad event for them.
He could practice talking to him part two! But this time resist the urge to poke or shove at Augustus when he inevitably teased him. The butterflies already began to churn in his stomach. Deep breath . It’s just Augustus, he told himself. Augustus was the same dork that cried when his flags were broken during grudgeby practice. After psyching himself up enough, he went in for the kill.
“Heyyyy Augustus’s illusion. Why are you taking notes in the library?” He leaned against the pile of books Augustus had set out and almost fell over when the books moved under his weight. Already off to a poor start.
The illusion giggled at his blunder before responding. “Oh, hey Mattie! Just taking notes for the book report that’s due soon. I want it to be perfect!”
This time he was going to go the safe routine and not correct Augustus about his name. This time he would be better.
“Wow, you really are a dweebus then. That book report isn’t due for a month.” He immediately wanted to smack himself in the face. Could he not say anything nice?
The illusion seemed unbothered by his jab regardless and easily responded. “I prefer the term overachiever. Being this much of a perfectionist is a gift and curse!” The illusion sighed dramatically, putting his hand over his head.
“Well, I will have you know the reason I got accepted into Hexside so quickly was because I had such great grades, but I am not a total nerd like some people.” Mattholomule declared proudly.
“Ok, whatever you say, nerd.” Augustus teased. “At least I am a nerd and proud.”
“Whatever, jerk.” Mattholomule scoffed. He decided he had embarrassed himself enough for one interaction and turned to walk deeper into the library.
Illusion Augustus stuck out his tongue. “Ok shortie,” he called after Mattholomule.
Even though this wasn’t the real Augustus, he immediately tugged at his hood to hide his reddening ears. He might spontaneously combust if Augustus actually called him that.