Rainy Days ▸ BUGHEAD

chapter two

For some reason I convinced myself I would only see Betty act this way once. But things like this aren't a one time thing. Even if it was someone like the girl next door.

A couple days later after the lunch incident, I took a walk down to Pops diner. I wasn't going there just for the food, but I found it was the perfect place to write my novel about Jason's death.

But on my way to Pops, there's a little liquor store on the edge of one of the streets. It's a small little store, that doesn't get many customers but it still stays in business.

It's not something I care the slightest about. I mean I would walk right past it, no questions asked. But I got a quick glance of what was going on inside. And what I saw I almost couldn't comprehend.

There was only one girl in the store. I don't know what it was, but something about her caught my attention. Maybe it was the short black hair, that looked so fake it could be a wig. Or her very tight clothes.

But it was only her hair and clothes, I looked at her face, very carefully. It looked like someone I had seen before. But I couldn't put my thumb on it.

At first I thought it may be Veronica. I mean she does have a "bad girl" reputation. Drinking is definitely not too far fetched for her, though she never has.

But it couldn't have been her. Unless she had gotten a haircut that day. Or if she had gotten a new sense of fashion taste. But it was unlikely that was the case.

But if it wasn't Veronica who was it?

I had to know. And when I have to know something I will go to the extreme if needed. Even if it kills me, inside or out. So I needed a plan.

In the end, I hid on the left side of the building, behind bush. I would stay there until their girl walked out and I could catch her.

But plans never seem to work out the way we expect them to. It is way that's too cliche for a reality. Plans are very unpredictable.

I hid in the bush for about 5 minutes before the girl walked out. Unfortunately, all I could see was her backside. Not useful for the plan at all. But I still had some hope left within.

Just when I expected her to turn around, the phone in her purse began to ring. I sighed in frustration as she dropped her bags lightly, and answer the phone.

This could take awhile.

"Hey." the girl said. "Hold on lemme put you on speaker." The girl pressed down on her phone, which I assumed was a speaker button.

"Did you get it?" the voice thru the phone asked.

"Well I have what you asked for." the girl said. "But I really want to take off this wig."

The voice on the phone sighed. "Fine but if you get caught it's not my problem."

The girl took off the wig, showing her beautiful blonde locks. My eyes widen, as I've seen that hair before. It opened several doors, leading to suspects.

"Look," the girl said. "I'll be home soon. Love you." The girl quickly hung up the phone and put it back in her purse. And right then in there is when I saw the girls face.

My jaw dropped onto the floor. Words could not describe the way I felt in this moment. It was like watching one of your most prized processions burn to ashes. Like hearing your puppy died on your birthday. Like watching everything you love disappear in the drop of hat.

But at the same time it wasn't like that, it was much worse. It was the girl I knew, the girl
next door.

I stood up from the bush. "Betty?" I said loudly. Quickly after, I covered my mouth hoping she didn't hear that.

But with the loudness of my voice, I knew I was toast. If China could hear it, so could Betty.

Her pale face turned a lighter white shade. "Juggie?"

I walked out of the bush and over to her. "What who's juggie? I don't know a juggie."

"C'mon." Betty said, frowning. "I'm not stupid."

I sighed. "Fine it's me."

"What are you doing here?" she asked me. "Spying ok me I assume."

I chuckled at her sarcastic comment. "No, just got... suspicious."

"Over what?" Betty said in a confused tone, that sounded to good to be true. "There nothing to be suspicious about."

I lifted up an eyebrow. Betty suddenly sifted her eyes away for a few spilt seconds, looking at the bag of alcohol.

"Fine." Betty blurred out. "I was getting a few things, but they aren't for me."

"The if they aren't for you, who are they for?" I ask, suspiciously.

"A friend." she replied with hesitation.

"Which friend?" I asked, making our eye contact stronger.

Betty looked deeper into my eyes. Her plain expression turned into a slight frown. "I said they were for a friend, and that's all you need to know." she growled at me.

I backed up a little. I couldn't help but smile at her cuteness. Even when she was angry she was adorable. But also this concerned me. The thunderstorm within in was starting to pour.

"Okay." I said back to her.

"Promise you won't tell anyone at school about this?" Betty asked, returning to her normal state.

"Promise." I said. And I meant it.

But just because you promise something doesn't mean it will stay a promise. Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead. And if both are alive, someone will find out. It's just the unwritten rules of promises.

But that wasn't the point. The point was the suspicious behavior wasn't normal. Something was seriously up with Betty.

That night, I spent a lot of time replaying those moments. I needed answers. I needed a conclusion.

So I came up with a scheme. A brilliant scheme.