folklore love triangle

part one

before summer
tupelo, 1998
james

"I can't believe there's only a few weeks left until summer break!" Inez yelled in excitement. James rolled his eyes. Of course he was excited for summer break, he was going to california. that's not what he's rolling his eyes about. inez. he never liked inez. she always had something against him, and that's vice versa. Inez was Betty's best friend. James wanted to like her for Betty. He loved seeing her happy. "right? feels like it's still forever away," gavin laughed, leaning against the lockers, behind inez. Betty and Dorothea did cheer on thursdays. explains their absence. James was in hell without Betty. He needed her to function.

   "So glad this year will be over," James laughed, hiding his agony.

   "Got any plans this summer, james?" Gavin asked, entering the code to his locker.

James looked around. He hadn't told Betty he was going away for the summer yet. He didn't want her to find out this way.

   "Yeah.." James looked around again. "I'm going to California to see some relatives. haven't told Betty yet though. Gavin nodded, whilst Inez raised an eyebrow.

   "why haven't you told her yet?" Inez asked, looking in Gavin's locker for gum. James got nervous.

   "Haven't gotten 'round to it, I guess." Inez's eyebrow was still raised, but she dropped it, supposedly giving it no further thought. of course james wanted to tell her. as soon as possible, preferably. "Cheer was cancelled!" a familiar voice yelled from behind james. dorothea. And when there's dorothea, there's- "Hey, stranger!" Betty kissed James on the cheek. James' nightmare was over. Betty saved the day yet again. "Hey," James leaned in for a kiss. James had been wrestling with the idea of giving Betty his jacket. His over the top, yellow and blue varsity jacket.

   "You guys wanna hang out after school?" Gavin suggested, shutting his locker. Betty looked at James to see if he was up for it. James had second thoughts. He had his big game coming up. His old man always said football comes first, and James still hadn't memorised his plays.

   "Sure," he said reluctantly. "Why not?" Betty's face lit up.

   "awesome, dude! the place with the banging milkshakes?" Like James, Gavin looked to Dorothea for some sort of approval. Dorothea rolled her eyes, and looked at inez. "Of course," a smirk grew on their faces. Gavin became ecstatic. "Great!" a large smile crept up on Betty's face. James looked away from Gavin, and laid his eyes on betty. his girl.

   "I love you." he whispered, loud enough for her to hear, but quiet enough only she could hear.

   "I love you." Betty leaned up to kiss james. James was smitten, and so was betty. "What flavour are you getting, Thea?" gavin nudged dorothea. "Strawberry, obviously. Otherwise known as the best flavour," this caught james' attention. "what? strawberry? the best flavour? I call bullshit." Betty laughed. Dorothea raised her eyebrows in disbelief. Gavin and Inez were laughing their asses off. "What's your favourite flavour then, James?" Dorothea said, sarcasm in her tone. "Chocolate. Otherwise known as the best flavour." James mocks Dorothea's words. Inez rolls her eyes. Everyone seems to find James funny except her. Why? James was genuinely funny, and he was dating her best friend, so why all the hate? Did he do something to her back in middle school, or does she just hate him for no reason? James wanted to ask. Put her on the spot! A voice in his head yelled. But Betty would be mad, wouldn't she? Before Dorothea could add anymore, the bell rang. Thank god. Even with Betty, everything was a nightmare. With football, his dad, and the stress of inez, everything was piling up on James, and he didn't understand why.

   Everything was perfect. He had betty. the perfect raven haired girl who smelled of lavender and vanilla. who's smile puts a smile on anyone. a sight for sore eyes. a breath of fresh air. He was head quarterback. His perfect girlfriend was a cheerleader. He had his best mate, gavin. His life was great. He was loyal, smart, caring, so why the sudden change? It's not all Inez. she's part of it, no doubt. and this weird bickering- or weird flirting between James and Dorothea drove James crazy. He didn't want it to seem like he's after Gavin's girl. or worse, cheating on betty. "This isn't over!" Dorothea said, before heading to class. James didn't want to laugh, but he did anyway. He'd be an outcast if he didn't.