folklore love triangle

part two

California can wait, he thought to himself. It's always going to be there. But in painful reality, California couldn't wait. His father couldn't wait.
   In California, the majority of his family's there. That's just a cover up. his family is actually there, he's just not going to see them. James is going to California for football. football is the only thing on his father's mind, and it's most likely going to stay that way until college.
   James wants to tell Betty about all this.
   He wants to cut all strings attached to football. but football is an invisible string.
   if you can't see the string you're cutting, you can't cut it at all.

The rest of calculus was a blur. There was so much James wanted to talk to Betty about, but she was in deep with her homework. He didn't want to bother her.
   The bell finally rang, and now that the most painful part of his day was over, James partially looked forward to this whole milkshake hang out. Gavin was usually the life of the party. He kept everything going. when things would become tense because inez said some sort of mean rumour, he'd change the subject faster than a racecar. speaking of gavin...
   "Hey guys!" Gavin waved to James and Betty as he passed them in the hall.
   Betty smiled and waved back. "Hey gavin! see you after school!" she said, splitting away from James. James watched as Betty entered a completely different classroom. He also spied gavin giving Betty a particular look.
   The remainder of the day was blurry. James couldn't even remember what classes he had. After the hard part was over, James didn't feel the need to focus on the rest of his day. All that was on his mind now was the awful after school plans he made.

   The walk to the diner was silent. not completely silent, james had just blocked everyone else's voices except betty's. "Hey," Betty turned to him. They were walking on a large street road with huge houses. It didn't feel real to James. He lived in a small house with an ugly tall grass lawn. His house was tiny with just the right amount of rooms for a family of three. james' family wanted to be generous by giving James the master bedroom. it was the least they could do.
   "About California," Betty continued.
    James was eager to see where this was going. "Yeah, what about it?"
   "I want you to go and have fun. forget about me for a summer. just be a teenager obsessed with football for a summer. not even a full summer, a month. promise me you'll forget about just for august?"
This was a big ask. It would be impossible for James to forget about betty. She was his girlfriend. What else would he look forward to all summer? football? Betty presidents over football 100%.
   "Betty, I don't wanna do that,"
   "James, I want you to have sunshine swims at the beach. i want you to listen to that cassette, I want you to look at all the fantastic cardigans they have on the boulevard. I just want you to have fun." Betty smiled softly. "Not too much fun though," she winked. James laughed. When things got slightly serious, Betty would always try to lighten the mood, which she always did successfully. "Of course," James went to lean in for a kiss, but before he could even lean in, they were at the diner.
   "Who's ready for the best milkshakes of their life?" Gavin asked cheerfully. Dorothea smiled and put her arm out, ready to link it with Gavin's. Gavin did the same and it looked like something straight out of the wizard of oz.
   Everybody entered the diner. Gavin found a nice booth to sit at. James was still full of dread.
   "You excited for summer, james?" Inez had certain intentions. She must've thought he hadn't told Betty yet.
   "I am, Inez," James mumbled, fiddling with the straw in his milkshake.
   "California's a dream." she continued.
James was annoyed. Not visibly annoyed, just annoyed enough to roll his eyes.
   "It is. Not going to be as exciting as June and July though," James turned to Betty and gave her a peck on the cheek. He watched Inez's face turn from smug to glib.
   "That's cute!" Dorothea smiled, leaning further into gavin. Inez was the single friend; the fifth wheel.
   "Did you hear about taylor?" Inez interrupted. Betty slurped her milkshake and then said
   "No? What are you talking about?" no one genuinely liked talking bad about the people at school. They actually never talked bad about anyone when Inez wasn't there. But there's something about the way she tells the rumours. Something about the way she describes these specific people with these rumours.
   "What about taylor?" James asked, grabbing a singular chip and dipping it into the ketchup. Inez smirked. Hell yes! It was a juicy rumour.
   "I saw her come out of the counselling room." Inez paused. "What the hell's Taylor doing in the counsellor's office? It was weird as hell." Inez raised an eyebrow.
   "I overheard her talking to Brad about her parents divorce. Rough week for Taylor." Gavin and Dorothea ate the rumour up. they're one of those few people who gobble up every rumour they hear, that's what they did with this rumour. "Divorce?!" Dorothea's eyes widened. Dorothea wasn't close with Taylor, they were in the same maths class.
   "People with divorced parents always turn out ruthless," Gavin budded in.
   "They're always unhinged." Inez slurped up the rest of her milkshake. Betty and James stayed silent, stuck in their own world.
   "Wait, James," Inez pushed her milkshake to the side, indicating she was done "Weren't your parents going to get divorced?" God, who knows where she heard that bullshit from.
   "No. My parents are happy." James said, remaining calm. James knew Inez could be a nice person to people, just not to him.
   "I've met James' parents, they're cute." Betty said, stirring her milkshake with her straw. "I always love seeing married parents, they're so heartwarming because they've been in love for so long."
   The way Betty phrased it was perfect. James often wondered if that would be him and Betty some day. It was fun to think about sometimes. "That's adorable, Betts." Inez pouted.
   Soon everyone finished up and began to head home. They said their goodbyes and were excited the following day was Friday.
   The next few weeks were simple, and then summer finally rolled around. Betty and James spent as many days as they could together. They got ice cream, went on picnics, hung out with their friends, and even went on a few dates.
   July 12 came,  James said farewell to betty. "I'll see you in a month."