betty's cardigan

i was riding on my skateboard

❝betty, one time i was riding on my skateboard when i passed your house
it's like i couldn't breathe.❞

the dismissal bell rang at exactly 3 p.m. that friday afternoon, signaling the end of the first week of school. students raced out of the classrooms, congregating at every exit, specifically those towards the senior parking lot. everyone knew that was the high schoolers' unofficial hangout spot, especially the skaters. typically, the senior lot is where james would go after school, but ever since he saw betty talking to inez a couple days ago, he hadn't been in much of a socializing mood.

instead, when james exited the school building, he got on his board and let it go with the wind. he had no destination set in mind, but somehow, he ended up on the street where betty's house resided. he even skated past her house, his heart skipping a beat once he recognized her small garden of sunflowers. memories of him and her in that very garden began to flood his mind, causing him to lose his focus and almost crash into her neighbor's fence. perhaps this was his subconscious mind wanting to torture him, punish him.

he remembered the first night they met in that very yard. betty threw a halloween party, which she was apparently well-known for in the community, and because james was new to town at the time, he was intrigued by her reputation.

and she did not disappoint.

james parked his car behind a long string of others down the street that halloween night, following the sound of music and laughter. a majority of the attendees were either in the house or swimming in her backyard pool, which is most likely where he would have migrated to if she hadn't caught his eye.

he knew right away who she was just by the fact that everyone who passed by said hello to her, or paused to have a conversation with her. she had her blonde hair tied up in a ponytail with perfectly cascading waves. she wore a black catsuit with a matching mask, her right hand gripping a red solo cup. she opened her mouth to reveal the most enchanting laugh and smile james had ever heard or seen. oh, how that laugh would haunt him.

she was magnetic; she didn't even need to look in his direction to have him gravitating towards her. before he knew it, he marched up to her and flashed her a smile, her mirroring his action.

"i don't believe i've seen you around before," were her first words to him. "do i know you?"

"no, i'm new."

"well, hello new. the name's betty," she extended her free hand.

he laughed in response, gripping her hand and immediately feeling sparks. "james."

from that moment on, it was like no one else existed. james and betty were in their own world, despite the fact that there was a whole party going on behind them. but they didn't care; they just wanted to get to know the other person with the dashing smile.

eventually, they grew tired of standing on her porch and relocated to her grassy, front yard garden. she gushed over her hobby, explaining how she spent summers with her grandmother in london learning how to tend to a garden. she looked forward to it every year, but once her grandmother passed, she decided to continue her legacy by starting her own garden. james felt moved by how passionate betty was about something so small like gardening. he found it admirable, and adorable. he loved seeing her eyes sparkle as she explained why sunflowers are her favorite flower.

they continued to share stories from their lives as they laid in her garden stargazing. they took turns pointing out constellations, every so often zoning back into the reality that there was a party occurring and would sing along to whatever song was playing. occasionally, they'd look over at each other and naturally, a small smile would tug at their lips. it felt so natural, so enchanting, so right, and that was only the very first night.

oh, how he wishes he could go back to that very first night.