Train Tracks // Beronica One-Shots

A Dream in Hypotheticals

When Betty had dreamed about being a journalist, she was mostly envisioning pursuing exposé pieces and discussing the socioeconomic implications of political decisions. Life changing stuff. She grew up idolizing the writer of the Pentagon Papers, and the men and women behind exposing Wall Street in 2010.

But it's 2024, and the people that care about politics don't really want to hire a fresh-out-of-college 23 year old girl to work in their newspapers. Even with the journalism degree that hung above her desk, the only decent job she could score was as a reporter for Young Hollywood, an enterntainment site mainly aimed towards teenagers.

And, okay, it's fine. Lots of people would kill to have the opportunity to be here, and Betty knows that, so she doesn't dare complain. It's a good job, but it's not really where she thought she would be by now.

Betty waltzed into her office, a tiny closet-like space decorated with tiny knicknacks and a computer, and sat down to drink her coffee before the daily briefing. Unknown to her, Kevin, the head of the video department, was right behind her. When he opened the door with a bang, Betty jumped and spilled a little bit of her coffee on her light pink shirt.

Oh well, she thought, I guess I'll have to wear my work jacket today. It was a shame, too, because she hated that thing. It was an itchy dark blue thing that made her look even paler than she already did. But she wasn't one to dwell on that kind of thing.

"Ready for work, Betty-Boop?" Kevin made himself at home and sat in one of the two tiny chairs facing her desk.

"Am I ever not?" Betty rolled her eyes, "I'm just finishing up on writing some of the articles from last week's interviews. I feel kind of weird speculating on stranger's private lives like this."

"Yeah, it can be kind of uncomfortable. But we have to get our paychecks, Bets, and I'm sure when you're chief editor of the New York Times it'll all be worth it."

"It's a long shot," Betty grunted, "It's two minutes to eight, we should probably get in the conference room before Mr. Bossman fires us."

"For a man who wears so many tight and bright-colored pants, Jamie is really so tightly strung."

"Maybe, Kevin, he would hate you less if you hadn't slept with him. Just a thought."

Once in the conference room, Betty tried to look awake as Jamie lectured on about the new assignments that everyone would get in the coming week. It rarely concerned her, as her job was mostly writing up fluff-pieces on whatever the interview team forwarded to her. She was really just waiting to get back to her cube to work on some rough drafts. And then look up videos of tiny hamsters eating tiny burritos.

She felt an elbow jab into her side.

"Sorry, what?"

Jamie slammed his hand on the table, "As I was saying, we have a very important interview today and, since Tina isn't here to give it, Betty will take over."

"What? No, I don't do interviews, I just write the articles. Why can't Jon do it?"

"This is why you need to pay attention, Elizabeth. We will be interviewing Veronica Lodge, and her team very specifically asked for a female interviewer. As a reporter, you are the most qualified."

"I-I can't."

Jamie laughed, "Sure you can, sweetheart, and you will. Look, it's just you two and the cameras, there will be no audience. And we are not passing up the chance to interview Veronica Lodge, not with the way her album has been taking off."

"Okay," Betty swallowed, "Should I start drafting questions or?"

"The questions will be taken care of, all you need to do is show up at the studio in an hour and we'll give them to you. All you have to do is read them. Oh, and stop by Kira's so she can fix up your makeup and change your outfit. The camera does not do any favors for your skin tone."