Chapter 2

On the Line

Annie

"We're dating," I said, Auggie was by my side, and I just said it. I smiled quietly to myself. Auggie and I have been going out for a while now, but couldn't bring ourselves to bring our relationship up. We've been so busy lately. Joan and Arthur looked up at us in surprise.

"You're dating?" Joan asked.

I nodded.

"Uh, Anderson, may I speak with you?" Arthur asked, as he rose from the bench, and offered his arm to guide Auggie. Auggie shrugged but took his elbow, as Arthur guided him towards the parking lot.

"Have a seat." Joan said, motioning for the now vacant chair in front of her. "You two are really together?" She asked.

I nodded. "For two weeks now." I said.

"Two weeks?" She asked. "Annie,"

"I'm sorry, but…Auggie and I…clicked, I never meant for it to happen, it just did." I whispered.

"Annie, I just don't think that this is going to be a good idea." Joan said.

"Why not? You're with Arthur, aren't you?" I asked.

"Yeah, I am…but were not field ops, Annie, you are…and sometimes Auggie…they can find your weaknesses." Joan said.

"It takes a lot to take me down." I said. "I know that, but we don't at the same time…a lot of things can happen when it's actually happening." Joan said.

"Joan, I don't care what you or Arthur say…we're still date each other." I said, rising to my feet.

"Where are you going?" Joan asked. "To find my boyfriend, he has a flight to his family reunion to go to." I answered, walking away towards the parking lot.

###

The car ride to the airport was silent. No one spoke, which made me nervous. Did Arthur really get to Auggie?

When we got to the airport parking lot, I pulled up to the door, and stopped the car. I turned to look at him, placing a hand on his softly. "Auggie, what is it?" I asked. "You haven't said a word since we got into the car."

He smiled, softly. "Sorry, guess I was thinking too much." He whispered.

"Thinking too much?" I asked. "What were you thinking?"

He smiled. "Guess you'll find out sooner or later…" Auggie sighed. "Arthur wants us to break up…he says that our relationship isn't healthy or safe for us or the bearu." He said.

"What?" I spat. "He can't…"

"Yes he apparently can, cause he also threatened to fire both of us, no matter how good or valuable we are to them." Auggie went on.

I sighed, shocked at what Auggie had just said. Fired? But Langley was all I'd ever known. "I've gotta go." Auggie said, getting out of the car. "Do you need help?" I asked.

"No, thanks." He whispered. He leaned across the car to kiss me goodbye, then I reached into the backseat and grabbed his bag and threw it in his seat and he took it and left me.

Leaving me thoughts that made me feel upset. Fired? Over a relationship? I didn't want to break up with Auggie, but I also didn't want to give up my job. My career. I had to think some things through before this went further.