Betty

An Unexpected Meeting

"Hey, James, you're off."

James looked up to Anna who approached her. Then she looked over to the clock, and saw the time.

"Oh, uh there's a..." James gestured to the table she was just serving.

"I got it," Anna said as she took the plates from James.

"Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow," James said.

"Mmhmm, go on get outta here," Anna shooed her away.

James smiled, she was very grateful for Anna. She was like a big sister who always looked out for her and helped as much as she could without asking for anything in return.

James went off the other way to the back to grab her stuff from her locker. She grabbed her backpack and skateboard, then re-tied her long black hair into a bun. She clocked out and waved goodbye to her coworkers. Once she was outside Lucy's Diner, she got on her skateboard and headed home.

It was a calm April afternoon, normally James worked right after school. This Saturday she picked up an extra shift so now, the young girl was enjoying the crisp spring air.

James lived in a small quiet town. Not much seemed to happen around here, besides the fall festival where a carnival would be set up and events happened.

Life here was simple and boring. James couldn't wait to graduate.

It was around when James was trying to add up the tips she got today in her head, when she saw her.

James slowed down on her skateboard as she looked across the street. It was Betty. She was in front of her large house with a white picket fence. Honey blonde hair cascaded down her fair skin, soft hazel eyes sparkled as she laughed at something her sister said.

For some reason, James' breath caught. Okay, so maybe this town wasn't entirely boring. Not while Betty Lewis was in this town.

Then, for a split second, hazel eyes met blue. Immediately James averted her eyes and continued her way home.

The last thing she needed right now was for this teeny tiny crush on Betty to be fuelled. A girl like her could never be with someone like Betty. James didn't even understand this crush. She hated the kinds of people that Betty hung out with. Popular kids who showed off their wealth every moment they could, had nerdy kids do their work, and most of all they bullied people like her.

James wondered if Betty was just like them or if this gut feeling James had was right and maybe she was different.

It didn't really matter did it? It wasn't like she would ever find out.

In a few minutes, James was home. A small rundown duplex that had terrible piping and door handles that were beginning to rust. James had to shove the door open due to the old hinges. James found her dad knocked out on the couch, bottles splayed on the floor. The stench of beer lingered in the air. She sighed and went to clean up.

Once that was finished, James grabbed some snacks and bounded up the staircase to her room. It was small, a single bed to the left and a desk was at the foot of it. To the right was a small bookshelf and closet. Posters decorated the walls adorned with Victorian wallpaper left by the previous owners.

James knelt next to the bed and took out a locked tin box, she put in her tips and pay with the rest of her saved up money. Then hid the box once more, this money was her ticket out of here when she graduated. The last thing she needed was her dad to find it and waste it all on alcohol.

With this and a scholarship, James could go anywhere she wanted. In all honesty, James wanted to go absolutely anywhere but here. She just needed to survive one more year.