betty
not everyone believes in soulmates. but i do. especially when there has only ever been one boy for me, James Hewitt.
in the third grade i think i knew it when i told him i loved him. i knew it again when we were fifteen and he took my first kiss. i've always known: James Hewitt is my soulmate. my other half. mine. and i am his forever and ever.
we have lived on the same street our whole lives. right on the coast of connecticut in a small town called old greenwich. we practically lived together from the age of 6 to now. he spent most days at my house or in my backyard.
when we were in first grade my mom found out his parents worked a lot so my mom basically forced him to our house and took him in. and ever since, he's been my best friend. it's always been betty and james. we are always together.
just last night i was with James in the car. driving down the coast admiring his messy blonde hair flowing in the wind.
we spend most nights like that. hanging out at the beach, kissing in cars and skateboarding down the street.
but now it's monday and it's the last week of my junior year of high school. the anticipation for summer has long begun. i've been waiting for summer since christmas break. i've always loved summer and the freedom that comes with it. driving to the beach whenever i feel like it. hanging out with all my friends until the sun comes up the next day.
this summer will be a little different because i signed up for a humanitarian project 2 weeks into summer with inez. we've been planning it for months. we'll fly to georgia for 2 months to work on saving sea turtles and then get back a week before school starts.
there are seven sea turtle species and all are endangered so basically we will be beach patrols and watch how the turtles nest and hatch.
"only one more week to power through." i tell myself as i get in my car and drive over to pick up Inez.
Inez has been my best friend since 5th grade when we became really close. ever since we've always had the same classes and we have just become the best of friends.
"i cannot wait for this week to be over." Inez says as she throws open the passenger door and hops in while simultaneously holding two bagels in her hands and her backpack hanging from her elbow. she hands one to me and i happily take it.
"i know! i just want to be tanning at the beach already." i respond as i take a bite of the bagel and switch the car into reverse as i pull out of the driveway. she grabs the aux chord and starts playing our shared playlist.
"girl don't even get me started. i just hope there is something that can help us get through this week." she responds and i agree.
we both start singing along to the music until we get to school. i park in a spot close to the cafeteria doors. we both get out and start walking side by side.
i look for james car and spot it a few rows back now knowing he's here. we walk through the doors and i scan the crowd for James. i spot his dirty blonde hair as he stands with a couple friends. i grab inez and start walking towards him. i stop when someone calls our names. we both turn and see dylan walking towards us.
"hey guys are you ready for the dance on thursday?" he says as we stop and form a small circle.
"dance?" Inez and I say in unison. i had no idea there was gonna be a dance. i guess i'll talk to james about going. i know he's pretty shy but i think if we go together he'll be ok.
"yeah they wanted to give us something to look forward to this week before the end of school. how did you guys not hear already?" he says as he takes his backpack off and swings it around to grab something.
"i haven't heard anything about it. crap who am i gonna go with? people already have dates this is so last minute" inez rambles. dylan hands both of us a piece of gum and swings his bag back over his shoulders.
"we can go together inez don't worry. plus i'm pretty sure betty already knows who she is going with." dylan points out
"yeah i'll definitely ask james but we could go as a group. it would be fun!" i respond. i know dylan likes inez and inez likes him but they won't tell each other. i also want to secure a group in case james doesn't want to go.
"yeah let's do that." inez says. the bell rings and dylan says his goodbyes and walks towards his class.
inez and i have first period together so we start walking together. i look for james again and see him a few feet away. i guess i'll just talk to him in homeroom.
we walk through to door to our class right as the bell rings. we hurry to our seats. unfortunately this class has assigned seats and the teacher placed us on opposite sides of the room. luckily she is placed by one of our friends but i'm just in the corner.
an agonizingly slow hour and twenty minutes later the bell rings. i practically jump out of my seat and walk towards inez.
"that was not boring at all. oh my gosh who cares about any of that stuff?" inez says and i quickly agree.
"i was talking to vanessa and she told me that she was going with jason to the dance so we could maybe meet at the dance. not as a group but just to take a couple pics." she continues
"ok that would be fun. we should text the group and try to get a pic with everyone." i say as we start walking down the hall towards our home room classes.
"ok yeah i'll do that right now. see you at lunch." inez says as she turns into her class.
"see you!" i quickly respond
i head into my class and find james. i walk towards him and sit down next to him. he looks up and his face lights up.
"hey. how was first period." he says with a smile.
"it was boring as usual buuut i wanted to ask you something." i respond with a smile
"go ahead. i'm all ears." he responds
"ok so this morning dylan told me that there's a dance on thursday and i really really want to go with you." i say and flash my best puppy dog eyes trying to convince him.
"uh, i don't know betty..." he says and i pout and he quickly says "of course i'll go with you."
"yay! i honestly thought you were gonna say no."
he laughs and places is hand over his heart acting as if it's been broken "wow can't believe you would think your own boyfriend wouldn't take you to a dance."
i laugh at his antics and push his arm. "oh my gosh i knew you would do this."
•
•
•
•
•
thanks for reading <3
YOU ARE READING
follow through
Romancewhen betty runs into her high school ex boyfriend, now NHL player james hewitt, she finds out that he never got over her. she was the love of his life. and she's starting to think he's the love of her life too. they loved each other their whole chi...
