Augie watched Alice blunder and fluster,  saying nothing, giving her time to get her bearings. She was a little odd, what with the art supplies and slight tonal change, but everyone's prone to suchlike when nervous. Not that he knew why she was nervous, just that she was.

When she was done, he said [color=A43333]"I don't know how he is. He fucked off with Ara somewhere,"[/color] he pauses briefly to regret his choice of words, [color=A43333]"and Bernie rushed off in a huff."[/color]

He folds his arms. That his best friend kept that from him didn't bother him, everyone has secrets. That his best friend didn't talk to him after the secret was outed also didn't bother him. It all made sense. But [i]something[/i] didn't sit right. Not knowing what that was did bother him. He scratched his head and looked around the room.

[color=A43333]"That fucking website..."[/color] he said. He didn't say it loudly, but something outlined those words. A sense of panic, maybe. Maybe impatience. [color=A43333]"Some of us will fragment, but I really think that the group will be mostly okay. I don't see many more people pulling a Ron, or Claire."[/color]

He kicked at the ground. There was a silence now. It was like honey, pleasant and thick, but sticky. Or, at least, that's how Augie perceived it. Silence didn't have to be awkward, it could be comfortable, and even speak volumes by way of mutual understanding.

[Color=A43333]"You seem really nervous. Is something up?"[/color]