Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or plots from ABC's hit series, Ugly Betty.
A/N-Just something to pass the time I suppose. I did this with Without a Trace and had a blast so I'm going to do it with season one of Ugly Betty as well. Basically, I just go through the scenes with Henry and Betty and write in my own interpretations of what's going on in that person's mind. Depending on word count I may do an entire episode in one chapter or just one scene. Enjoy!
Chapter One: The Lyin', the Watch and the Wardrobe
Nimphalus moberti
Betty's POV:
As horrifying as the task of walking the streets of New York in a butterfly costume and visiting the apartments of Daniel's latest companions was, I was actually looking forward to getting out of the office today. Inside the Mode office is the last place I want to be when dressed up as a butterfly. Even the streets of New York can't be this bad.
Nimphalus moberti? Ha! Nimphalus moberti.
Excitement courses through my veins as I look up and see the smiling accountant looking at me. Thank goodness for Henry. Finally, someone in this place who doesn't think I'm a total idiot for dressing up today.
I smile and stand up, listening as he talks about the many different things he knows. It isn't arrogant, I notice. He isn't bragging about how smart he is, just making pleasant conversation, almost poking fun at himself for knowing the scientific name of a purple and orange butterfly.
We paid some guy 50 bucks to see how much honey he can drink before he makes himself sick.
I laugh politely, but avert my eyes the second I find myself thinking about how nice his smile is. I don't remember noticing it when he helped Daniel with his expenses a few weeks earlier. I remind myself that it's probably because he didn't smile at me because he thought I was a bagel thief.
You should come down later...if...if you can.
I studder out a polite answer, not completely sure why all of a sudden I'm feeling nervous. Amanda is grinning evilly at me, but I pretend I don't notice.
He turns and walks away but instead of just sitting back down and getting back to work like any normal person would, I find myself blurting out my own random fact.
24,901 miles...the circumference of the Earth, it's just something I know.
He turns and smiles at me again and I feel my stomach squirm. He adjusts his glasses and heads back to the elevators. I feel relief that he's gone but another part of me deeper down really wishes he could stay.
Did I say I wanted to do Daniel's dirty work to get away from the people who criticize me in here? Check that. I want to do Daniel's dirty work to get away fromt he one person who doesn't care.
-&-&-&-
Henry's POV:
Okay, okay, there's nothing on the line here. I've barely even spoken to the girl, there's nothing to be nervous about. Apart from the fact that she returns stolen bagels and has an eye for spotting missing "props and extras" I don't know a thing about her. This little crush could turn out to be nothing at all.
Nimphalus moberti? Ha! Nimphalus moberti!
Oh gosh, why scientific names? Of all of the things I could have said, I had to yell scientific names at her. What's wrong with a simple "Hello!"?
Uh...I, I dunno. The pattern just said butterfly.
She's smiling! Thank goodness I didn't get the same irritated look from Betty that I am getting from Amanda. Okay, now just say something cool.
Just something I know. One of several things, actually. Circumference of the Earth...know it!
Great, real smooth, Henry. Now you're bragging. Oh well, I'm just being myself I suppose. She's still smiling though, that's always a good sign. I just need to get out of here before I make an even bigger fool of myself.
Well, I should probably get back down to accounting. We paid a guy 50 bucks to see how much honey he can drink before he makes himself sick.
Well, there's no turning back now.
You should come down...later...if you can.
Yeah, maybe...if I have the time.
Oh well, it was worth a shot. At least I won't feel like I didn't try to make something happen. The ball is in her court now. There's nothing more I can do. But then something unexpected happens.
24,901 miles...the circumference of the Earth, it's just something I know.
I turn back around, just to make sure that my ears aren't playing tricks on me. Sure enough, she's standing there, smiling at me. There's even more to Betty than I initially thought, a realization that both thrills me and frightens me.
Secret Identity
Betty's POV:
Looking at a sushi menu is like reading a foreign language. All of the rolls have names like "Unagi" or "Maguro." Even the ones with recognizable names don't make sense to me. Does the caterpillar roll actaully have caterpillar in it? And if that's the case, what in the world is a california roll made of?
Henry seems excited to be eating here though, so I'm up for the challenge. After all, I'm supposed to be flitting.
I figure out pretty early on however that if I intend to "flit" the way Daniel does, I have chosen the wrong man to do it with. The instant Henry learns that I haven't ever had sushi, he's halfway out of his chair and ready to walk me to the deli next door. He's a really good guy.
It's good for me to try new things...spread my wings.
In my attempt to be cute and "spread my wings" I end up doing the most humiliating thing ever. I never even saw the waitress walking by but quickly realized she was there when the wine bottle she was carrying on the tray smashes on the floor and every eye in the restaurant is suddenly on me. I can't stop apologizing but feel my cheeks burn red with embarassment. At this point, I begin to wish that I were actually a butterfly so that I could wrap myself up in my wings and run as far away from here as I could get.
All evidence to the contrary, this is not my first time in public.
If he is anything like the guys I know, and especially the guys that work in the Meade building, Henry will politely finish lunch (probably wishing he were also anywhere else but here) and then make sure never to venture towards the 27th floor again.
Instead, I am pleasantly surprised.
It is mine. For parole leave these ankle bracelets are the best thing ever.
Instead of ridiculing me or pretending he doesn't know me, he makes me feel completely at ease again. Although I am still mortified, I don't feel like he's judging me. And as I talk, instead of letting his mind wander or rolling his eyes when I talk about home, he seems genuinely interested. He even grins as his brown eyes gaze into mine.
If I thought the ankle bracelet comment was nice though, I was in for a big surprise. It was all I could do to merely grin instead of start giggling as he revealed his accountant Superman shirt and pulled of his glasses.
Secret identity.
And truly, since the moment I stepped into the Meade building on my very first day of work, I feel like I have found someone who understands me.
Elevator Ride
Henry's POV:
The elevator stops on the 27th floor. And before the door opens I am torn between getting off just to see if Betty would have any interest in coming to the party and crossing my fingers and hoping that the person who is about to get on my elevator is any one of the other people that work on this floor besides Betty.
It seems that fate has other plans, however.
There she is, standing before me, antennae still on her head but crumpled wings in her hand. Obviously she is just as uncomfortable as I am as she steps onto the elevator. Silence for a moment and then we both talk at the same time. I am surprised when she thanks me for lunch because I have just spent the afternoon torturing myself about what a terrible impression I must have made.
She asks me how Julian is, and I spare her the details about him spending the rest of the day puking in the bathroom.
That's why I have to make the beer run instead of him. Hey, we're having a party up on 25 with Human Resources if you're free.
I might as well try, I suppose. She's not married, it's not a crime to invite her, but I know the answer before it even comes out of her mouth.
And I really want to give this thing with Walter and me a chance...
Ah, Walter. I guess I couldn't call him "Net Boy" forever. It's odd how knowing Betty's boyfriend's name makes him all the more real to me. Even though I had seen him earlier today, seen him arguing with Betty, knowing his name and hearing her say it put her out of reach.
He's not always like that...I'm not always like that...I should have never...
Ouch. I don't know why, but I feel bad for having put her through this today. There's no way that I could have known she had a boyfriend and it's not my fault that Net Boy walked in on us during lunch, but I still feel like it's my fault that she's had such a terrible Halloween.
Ah, no worries, it was just lunch. Trick or treat, Nimphalus moberti.
And I walk off onto the 3rd floor and head for Julian's desk for the money he collected for the beer.
A/N-The great thing about Henry is that every single emotion is so present on his face. You know exactly what he is thinking. Hope you enjoyed!
Fake Plastic Snow is next.