Betty's Cardigan

So, I showed up at your Party

"Betty, I'm here on your doorstep
And I planned it out for weeks now
But it's finally sinking in
Betty, right now is the last time
I can dream about what happens
When you see my face again
The only thing I wanna do
Is make it up to you
So, I showed up at your party"

-Betty (Taylor Swift, 2020)

James could hear the music as he neared Adam's mansion.

Adam's place might as well have been Betty's home. James didn't like the fact that her birthday party was being celebrated at another boy's place, especially with what James had in mind.

James had thought long and hard about his apology. Heck, he'd even written it down and learnt it. He'd dreamt about this day. In sweetest dreams he's seen Betty lead him to the garden, wrap her arms around him and kiss him in front of all her stupid friends. He'd promise that he'd make it up to her and she would forgive him. Walking towards the mansion, he felt calmer than when he'd left his home.

This is it, James thought as he walked up to the porch. This is the last time I can dream about what happens when she sees my face.

Just before knocking on the door, James closed his eyes and felt his heart beat to the sound of the music. He pictured Betty's hair spilling from between his fingers as he tightened his grasp on her cardigan which he held in his hands. He'd found it in his car the day before. The faint scent of Betty's sweet perfume had clung to it. 

James knuckles rapped against the polished glass frame of the door. And then, he saw her. 

Betty was as beautiful as the day he'd laid his eyes on her, even more so, since she was beaming with happiness. Her cheeks didn't look sunken, and there were stars in her eyes. Her hair had been done up in a complex crown braid and she wore the most beautiful blue dress. James stopped breathing and time slowed down. Betty was nodding at someone at the other side of the room as she reached for the doorknob, unaware of who had knocked. 

She's so happy without me. I should leave before she sees me.

Betty opened the door and her smile dropped. James couldn't back out now.

"What are you doing here?" Betty said accusingly. 

"I'm sorry." James got right to the point. "Betty, I'm so freaking sorry. Please let me explain."

"Go fuck yourself, James," she spat at him. The volume of the music had gone down and people were speaking in hushed tones. James had to finish before Adam came out to see what was going on. 

Betty tried to close the door, but James jammed his left foot in between the door and it frame.

"We're talking on the porch," Betty said and stepped out herself. She left the door open like she didn't care who overheard their conversation. 

"I love you, Betty," James confessed. "I swear I do!"

"NO! You slept with Lorraine," Betty said. "God, what did she see in you? God, what did I see in you?" She threw up her hands in anguish.

"But I dreamt of you all summer long," James countered. From somewhere inside, he heard a glass shatter. Betty was about to turn her attention away, but James grabbed her shoulders and begged, "Please, the only thing I wanna do is make it up to you!"

"You, should've said NO," Betty said. He'd never seen her angry, but this was damn near it. Her eyes glinted with the force of words she was about to say.

"I'm only seventeen, I don't know anything!"

"No, James. You should've gone home. You should've thought twice before you let it all go. You should've known that word like what you did with her would get back to me. And I should've been there in the back of your mind. I shouldn't be asking myself why." Betty shook her head. 

"Betty, please!" James could feel the sting of tears in his eyes. He knelt before Betty.

"You shouldn't be begging for forgiveness at my feet. You should've said no; baby, and you might still have me."

"But, I know I missed you!" he completed. 

"And, I knew you! Look where that left me! When you are young, they assume you know nothing, but James, I knew you. And now, I wish I didn't."

"Betty, please," he continued. He didn't care about the tears spilling over now. Love was slipping beyond his reaches. "Will you have me? Will you love me once again? I swear one kiss and it'll patch your broken wings." James held out her cardigan. "You'll stand in your cardigan and wait for me. We'll stop under the streetlight, and we'll be kissing in my car again. I really missed you!"

There was the sound of an engine revving in the driveway, but James ignored it as Betty looked at him. Her eyes were bare of any emotions.

"Was she worth this?"

James scrunched his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"Was Lorraine worth this?"

"I should have never slept with her. Betty, it was just a summer thing!"

"So, she was worthless." Betty concluded. "You never loved me, or her, or anyone, or anything. I knew you'd come back to me. I might think about forgiving you, but don't ever expect me to love you."

James was speechless as Betty grabbed her cardigan out of his hands and slammed the door on him.