Just a summer thing - A Folklore Love Triangle

POV: James

The party started at 6pm and I showed up a few minutes late so nobody would see me pull up. I took a few deep breaths, and walked up to the porch right as the light came on. I turned to run off, but the door opened and it was Betty. Well, shit.

"You heard the rumors from Inez, right? You can't-" She cut me off.

"Believe a word she says, right. Go fuck yourself James." She went to close the door, and I put my hand in the frame. She stared at it like she was debating slamming the door on it.

"Most times." I said. "But this time it was true."

"Excuse me?" She asked, stepping out onto the porch and closing the door.

"Listen, Betty. The worst thing that I ever did was what I did to you. It was just a summer thing, I swear. I'm only 17, I don't know anything about how this relationship stuff works. All I know is that I miss you. I know where it all went wrong, your favorite song was playing from the far side of the gym and I was nowhere to be found. I was there, I showed up late like I told you before. I hate the crowds, you know that. Plus, I saw you dance with him so I just ran out and decided to walk home. I was walking and, and, just thinking of you when she pulled up like a figment of my worst intentions. She said "James, get in, let's drive" so I did, and she took me to her place. 

Those days turned into nights and...I slept next to her, but I dreamt of you all summer long. I swear. So, I'm here on your doorstep and I planned it out for weeks now and the only thing I wanna do is make it up to you. So I showed up at your party. I showed up at your party because I miss you. You know I miss you. So, will you have me? Will you love me?"

The door opened before I could finish talking, and it was all her stupid friends that were probably listening from the other side of the door. But Betty wasn't saying anything, just crying a lot and staring at me.

"Please Betty, I'll beg. I'll beg in front of everyone. I know we're all sorry when it's too late and that it doesn't fix anything but I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry I was too stupid to realize Steven is just a friend, which I'm sure he is. I'm sorry I chose to betray you for some momentary excitement. It was easy with her, but I don't want easy. I want screaming and fighting. I want complicated. I want the passion. I want the love we share. I still love you, I do. I swear.

No matter what I did and who I did it with, the love in my heart is still all for you. No one could ever hold my heart the way you do. I may have given her my time, energy, and affection, but not my love. I didn't love her, I swear I didn't. I want to go with you and then next year I'll be at New York University with you and everything will be okay. Right?" I reach over and wipe her tears, and she pulls my hand from her face. I thought she'd push it away, but she holds it. She kisses me right there on the porch, and then pulls away.

"And I knew you'd come back to me. I did. You'd come back to me, and you'd come back to me, and you'd come back. I knew it." She said, her voice still shaking.

"So, cute little apartment by the highline?" I ask jokingly, hoping I get to keep her forever.

She gives a half-hearted laugh. "Yeah, we'll have a love that only happens once in twenty lifetimes." She says, pulling me into a hug. You could tell she didn't mean it, she was just quoting what she'd said when we first said we loved each other.