Rainy Days ▸ BUGHEAD

chapter seven

"Did you just say you're not scared of me?" the man growls at me.

I start to back away slowly, as my fear is now sky rocketing. I was hoping this would not result in a fight. I'd never been in a physical fight, and just by the way he looked, you could tell he had.

"No," I forced out of my mouth.

I instantly regretted it. I should have just fessed up, maybe it would have stopped later regrets.

The man gave me a smirk. "Good then you won't mind if I do this!"

He begins to move his bony, strong fist towards my face. I quickly move my hand to defend myself. I blocked his punch, holding it in He was pushing hard, almost to the point I wanted to give out.

Everyone at this point was looking at us, including Betty. I looked over at her, she looked extremely worried.

She mouthed to me, "You don't have to do this. Just give up Juggie."

"I can't." I mouthed back to her "I have to go through with this."

By the time I looked back at the man, my hand was nearly about to give out. I let it go, and then...

POW

His fist met my left eye, resulting in luxurious pain. I wanted to fight him back right the and there, but I was too weak. I'm not a fighter whatsoever.

Suddenly I felt the man grab my wobbly knees. He lifted me up and swung me over his strong shoulders. I suddenly felt a him drop me.

SMACK

My skinny body hit the floor. At this point I couldn't get up. I was weaker than I'd ever been. There's was no way I could continue on with this.

But I didn't have to because Betty rushed to my aid. "Juggie, is everything okay?"

"No..." I weakly answer. "I just-just..."

"I'll take care of this." She told me. She stood up and walked over to the man. And the look are her face was not pretty.

"Control your boyfriend." the man told her. "And tell him not to mess with a south side serpent."

Betty rolled her eyes at his comment. "Look Juggie is just my friend, and he wanted to protect me. Just hand over the bag for you know who and no more harm will be done."

I sat up as the man handed her a black plastic bag. Betty took it and shoved it into her purse. The man began to walk away, no questions asked.

As much as I was glad Betty wasn't on a date with that guy, I was still hurt. I mean, already I'd been through all this trouble to protect her, just to find out she only thinks of me as a friend.

"Juggie is just my friend"

I should have known that would be the outcome. I mean I'm not what you would call "boyfriend material". I'm just not good enough for her.

Never was, never will be.

Betty came back up to me. I looked eyes, that had a happier tone to them. But still I wanted to cry, because she still hurt me. She's a beauty, but a real heartbreaker.

"Hey can I talk to you outside for a minute?" she asked.

I nodded. She reached out her small tender hands to lift me up. I have to say for a girl with small hands, she had good grip. She led me outside of Pops, straight over to the bike rack.

There was a slight moment of silence, before...

SMACK

Betty's slap left a lingering pain on my left cheek. It didn't help that I'd just gotten beat up but someone apart of the south side serpents.

"Ow," I say rubbing my cheek. "What was that for?"

"What were you thinking?" Betty yelled at me. "You could have gotten seriously hurt."

"I want to protect you!" I yelled back. "He is not trustworthy."

"It wasn't like I was on a date with him!" She continued. "And even if I was, why would you care? Juggie you've always seen me as a friend. Besides aren't you on a date with Ethel anyways?"

I gave her a disgusted look. "Not by choice. Why would you think I would date her?"

"It looked like it." Betty snapped at me.

"Why would you even care? You know I don't like her, I like-" I stop myself. I wasn't going to confess to Betty, I couldn't bear any more heartbreak.

Betty's eyes widen. "You like who now?"

"No one."

"Look," Betty said. "You've been acting really weird lately. Look I know I'm not acting that normal either, but I'm fine."

"Then what's in the bag?"

Betty's already pale face became more pale. I knew she was hiding something. I had a feeling what was in that bag, and it was not good. No wonder she won't admit what's in it.

"Nothing." she answered.

I suddenly started to get madder. "Look Betty, I'm sick of your little secrets. This is not the Betty I know."

"Well that Betty is gone." she yelled back at me. "And you know what else is gone? Our friendship."

I watched her has she walked away. I wanted to cry, or break something or possibly even both. My heart had been ripped from my chest. Not only had I lost Betty, but my pride.

That night I went home alone. I didn't even go back for Ethel. But she wasn't important in this moment, I could care less. I just needed to be alone.

Alone for as long as I could be.