folklore

Betty

We were Betty & James. The power couple. None of that mattered to me. The moments in his car we stole together mattered.

I hate dwelling on the past, or even thinking about it. But there was the cardigan. The cardigan I found— he found in my room, the first time he was over. He put it on me, he told me I was absolutely beautiful in it. He jokingly made me swear to always wear it. Now I can't take it off.

After James found it, I embroidered little stars on it. It was a symbol of out relationship. He made my scars pretty, but I guess they unhealed and now I was bleeding all over again.

But now I'm healing again. I was becoming a better version of my old self. I was even in a better mood to host a party at the beginning of the year.

My friends were more understanding, and I noticed that I was smiling again. Everything was going pretty fine. Until I saw her.

She was younger than us, pretty, had a slight naïveté was apparent on her face. She was bright and smiley with her friends, but turned ghostly moments later. She saw me.

A look of guilt filled her eyes as she tried to approach me. I knew what she was about to tell me, ever since Inez told me about her and James' affair over the summer.

"Betty. I'm Augustine." She says timidly.

"I know," I said harshly. She seemed really scared, so I softened. "Look, we don't need to talk about it, water under the bridge. I swear."

Her lip trembled. "I'm really sorry. I swear I didn't know!" She cries. I wasn't about to comfort this crying girl, but I needed her to stop.

One of my friends walked up, thank god.

"Who's this?" She asked me, leaning on my shoulder.

"No one—" I began.

"Ohmigod! You should totally come to Betty's party on Saturday!" My friend said. Before she could answer, I was whisked away.

The last thing I wanted was for her to go, and try to apologize. I didn't care. I hadn't seen James since May and I didn't need any of their drama.

I would play nice though. She deserved at least that much.