In Taylor Swift's “august” storyline, James returns to Betty after the summer romance.
The song follows an unnamed girl who falls for James during an undefined summer relationship. James is already connected to Betty, and when the summer ends, he reconciles with his former lover rather than staying with the narrator.
This resolution links “august” to “Cardigan” and “Betty,” the other two Folklore tracks built around the same love triangle. “Cardigan” presents Betty's perspective, while “Betty” gives James a chance to narrate his own actions and attempt reconciliation.
The narrator of “august” experiences the relationship differently from James and Betty. To her, the summer feels like love; to James, it is temporary, and Betty remains the person he returns to. The song's emotional force comes from that mismatch rather than from a conventional happy ending.