folklore: the novel

12. betty

When Betty confided in Inez that she thought a roaring 20's themed party sounded cool, she thought her closest friend would laugh it off, maybe agree to make the topic disappear. She should've known better, should've known that her mom and Inez would do everything in their power to make it happen. She should've known that Inez would be able to convince what seems like all of their high school class to show up in their best impressions of flappers and gangsters and dapper gentlemen. Feather decor, fake string pearls, a champagne (fruit punch) glass pyramid. It's the Gatbsy party of her dreams... only on a significantly smaller budget. 

Betty doesn't know that she's ever had a more splendid birthday and the best part is... the night is still young. Who knows what's yet to happen? The possibilities seem—

"...etty. Betty!"

Betty spots Inez across their sea of classmates, waving her over. It takes a moment to reach her—multiple thanks for birthday wishes and compliments on the party, plus the music being loud enough to drown out her requests to pass through—but Inez's smile is still wide by the time Betty's at her side. She has her hands hidden behind her back, but she's practically bouncing in place with barely-restrained excitement.

"What is it?"

"Happy birthday!" Inez yells, lunging forward to tightly wrap her arms around Betty.

"Thank you... again," Betty giggles, her face covered in Inez's braids. "I think you've said it a million times now and we haven't even gotten to the song yet."

Inez pulls back enough to deliver her incredibly cute faux-glare, but she's distracted by righting Betty's headband. "And maybe I'll say it a million more before the night is gone. But," she fully pulls back now, her palms splayed out between them with a box balanced in the middle, "this is for you. I wanted to make sure you got it before..." She waves her hand to encapsulate the chaotic state of Betty's house.

Betty nods. It's only likely to get crazier from here-on-out. No doubt someone has already spiked the punch.

Carefully cracking open the box's lid, Betty immediately gasps. She's not sure what she expected but... The golden necklace with a locket in the shape of a crescent moon wasn't it. Inez holds up wrist to show a golden bracelet with a Saturn charm dangling from it.

"Hope we haven't already outgrown our matching jewelry phase because that would be a little awk—"

Betty is the one to lunge forward for a hug this time, the necklace pressed firm against her chest.

"Thank you," Betty says. "This is... wonderful. You didn't need to get me anything but this... I love this. Thank you." She delivers the final thanks with a kiss to Inez's cheek, and her light brown skin flushes a few shades darker.

"Let me... I can put it on for you," Inez offers and Betty hands over the necklace as she turns.

Right as the clasp is fastened, the moon hanging just below her collarbones, the doorbell rings. Betty frowns over her shoulder at Inez, who shrugs. The rest of the partygoers pay the two little mind as they push to the front of the house, the doorbell chiming twice more before Betty finally pulls it open and—

"Hi, Betty... Happy birthday."

Inez rolls her eyes, certainly no more excited to see James than he is to see her. If only she knew half the courage it took to convince himself to drive to Betty's house, to approach her doorstep, to not run back to his car once he'd pressed the doorbell since it was obvious he'd missed the memo: Betty's in the middle of a party. A party he wasn't invited to. It feels like he can't even breathe, his stomach is in such knots.

But... here he is. And she's not slammed the door in his face yet. He can work with that. He can definitely work with that.

"Thank you," Betty finally says after a brief, tension-filled pause. She doesn't move to invite him in but, again, his face has not yet become acquainted with what Betty's front door might taste like so...

It's the little things.

"I didn't mean to crash your party."

"Well, you are," responds Inez and Betty... doesn't reprimand her. In fact, she seems content to let the other girl speak for her.

But... then something about Betty shifts. Her shoulders pull back, her chin raises—a move that reminds him of Augustine, a person he once considered the complete opposite of Betty—and he's certain that this is it, that this is where she'll tell him to go to hell in front of all her stupid friends. He braces for it, but Betty instead murmurs something too low for him to hear to Inez. Inez considers Betty's words and with a final dirty look shot his way, she backs in the house and shuts the door behind Betty.

Betty... who remains with him on the front porch.

Even in the harsh light of the setting sun, even with her hair fixed in finger waves and a giant feather and pearl headband, even with her vintage fringe dress, Betty is beautiful. The most beautiful girl James has ever laid eyes on. It's... surreal, that she's here, in front of him, after all this time.

And... it may be the last time he'll get to be this close to her. Right now is the last time he can dream about what might happen next. Patch his broken wings or crush his heart.

Well... no time like the present.

"I'm not... I'm not sure how I ended up here, to be honest. I think I've been planning this out for weeks now without... truly realizing it."

James doesn't want to waste any chance to see Betty in case this is the last glimpse he'll get of her, but he can't stand to watch her reaction for what's coming next. His gaze strays to the soft yellow of Betty's house behind her.

"I wish I had a better excuse. I wish I didn't need to have an excuse at all. If you'll give me the chance, I can explain... what was really going on with me but if you'd rather not, I understand. I understand. But I do want you to know, no matter what, that the worst thing I ever did was what I did to you, Betty. I'm... I'm only seventeen. I don't know anything, it feels like. But I know that I miss you."

He forces himself to look back at her, to meet her baby blues. "I miss you, Betty. The only thing I want to do is make it up to you, if you'll let me. It won't be like before. I promise."

Betty considers this, considers him. She's no doubt remembering the fun times they had together, coupled with the not so fun times that followed. She's no doubt weighing her life now to what it was before with him in it. She no doubt sees that his heart is in her hand, and it's her choice whether to shatter or mend it.

Time seems to slow when her shoulders finally slump with her decision, the small smile that graces her mouth so familiar it makes James' chest ache but... Not in a bad way. Not the same ache as before. His heart stops altogether when she pulls him in for a gentle hug before beating double-time at her whispered words.

"It would've been fun, James, if you could've been the one. But I think you and I both know the greatest loves of all time are over now." When she eases back off of her tiptoes to look him in the eye, he feels her words sink into him, into his bones, into his soul. "Take care of yourself, James. For me. But, more importantly, for you."

Her smile is still small, still familiar though it's framed with a sad type of nostalgia, when she slowly slips back into the house. Back to her party. Back to Inez, who waits just inside the doorway with open arms. Back to where she belongs.