Second Chapter: Betty

She heard someone calling her name and opened her eyes. Everything was blurry and she could barely distinguish dim shadows and colors around her room. She quickly found, due to many years of practice, her inseparable glasses resting in her night table and then placed them over her eyes. In front of her was the most beautiful man she has ever met in her life, kneeled close to the border of her bed, smiling just for her and nobody else. She smiled back at him, charmed, but in spite of this, unable to contain a yawn.

"Henry, what are you doing here so early?"

"I… have something important to tell you", he started in a shaky voice as she kept her head in the pillow contemplating those shining eyes that hypnotized her. "You know that soon I'll be gone to take care of my child. But you know I want to spend as much time as I can with you, by my side. Because, I love you".

"I love you too, Henry".

"Then", he said adjusting his glasses over his nose signaling to some point behind her, "why there's another man lying in your bed?"

She felt the presence of a body getting closer to her moving in her bed. She felt someone hold her warm and tighter by her waist from behind. The arm was strong and firm to the touch, two silver bracelets shining around his wrist.

"Oh! No!" she said turning back and recognizing the angelic face of he who slept by her side.

Wake up.

"Oh, my God!" she woke up with a start seconds before her alarm clock went off screaming its typical melody. She noticed her heart galloping inside her chest and the dryness of her lips. The worse part is that it wasn't the first time that it happened to her: she had been having similar dreams for quite some time then. She blamed the 'tamales' she had for dinner. But she knew it was useless to even try to convince her that she would stop being a hopeless glutton. Especially since food was one of her lifetime favorite passions. She rubbed her eyes with her fingers, put on her bright red plastic rimmed glasses and, having a better picture of the world surrounding her, she told herself: "Time to wake up!"

She freshened up and returned to her room entertaining herself at her own contemplation in front her dresser mirror. She cracked a smile, looked right and left and decided that she was not pleased at all of what she was looking at: big unkempt eyebrows; bushy dark chestnut hair framing both sides of her rounded face; plain features, slightly pug nose, covered with cute freckles of all sizes, everything painted in a burned skin tone due to her Mexican heritage. Her smile was ruined by that awful metallic look that she hated and she wondered how long she would have to keep wearing those cursed bracers. But it was her, nonetheless, she considered while she tried to fix the bangs that covered her forehead without getting the result she wanted. She kindly smacked both cheeks at the same time, cheering herself up.

"Well, Betty", she told herself, "you might not be Salma or Jennifer but this is what you are. And this is as good as it gets".

He grabbed all her notes that were spread over her bed as a second ´colcha´ and started organizing them and later placing them inside her purse. She hadn't slept all night working hard on her project. Professor Barrett has given her one last chance to submit her story for final revision at the creative writing workshop, and she was very aware that he was no man to give second chances to anybody. It all started when Gio pushed her to follow her dreams and to exploit her potential as a writer almost a year ago. But at one of those spontaneously attacks that only someone like her could ever experience, she ended up signing for an additional short story project coordinated by no one else than Professor Barrett, a hateful and extremely demanding man who almost had her failed last semester. She had never written fiction before; she was always focused in journalism. Yet, Professor Barrett insisted in torturing her and, once again, she was on the spotlight. Her story would be one of the first ones to be evaluated. She believed that failure was not an option.

Betty took a deep breath, dismissing all her fears, this time she was satisfied with her work. Moreover, she was very excited to witness Henry's impression when he read it for the first time. But she would not show her story to him until Gio had revised it completely. She quickly read one of the paragraphs and compared it with a rough draft that sported several red colored markings and various side notes. She couldn't help but smile as she noticed a cute little doodle of her that Gio scribbled in a corner of the page. She was pretty sure that this time Gio would be pleased when he found out she could insert his ideas perfectly in the new version of the story. She placed the last bundle of paper sheets in her purse and descended the stairs in a hurry, skipping every two steps, slightly hopping along to the kitchen.

After the a few good mornings and the sound of bites of buttered toasts, a voice was heard breaking the silence:

"Are you going to tell us why you are so happy or not?" The sentence came from the woman that was in front of her and who made her fork dance at every word she pronounced. She wore a lively printed purple blouse that barely covered her exuberant femininities; her long straight shoulder length hair was held tight in a ponytail; her face covered in make up even at such early hours in the morning. Totally different, like water and oil, the Suarez sisters complemented themselves like 'yin' and 'yang'.

"I will, Hilda. You see, I have finally finished a great part of my story. Thanks, 'Papi' " she told the middle aged man of white hair and kind features that brought her a glass of orange juice and later kissed her forehead.

"You had me worried, ´Mija´ ", he said as he returned to the stove, "I saw the light on in your room really late last night".

"The truth is that it's very unfair that you have to spend the whole night doing homework for your writing class". Hilda put on her older sister face. "You should take a rest from that job. They are exploiting you, Betty. How's that you have to sneak away from work at lunch time so you can go to classes! Let me go and talk to Daniel to make things clear".

"You are not going to speak with anybody, Hilda", Betty spoke joyfully but firmly as she noticed the service of ´huevos rancheros´ that her father had placed in front of her. "As things are right now at Mode the best thing you will get from that is to get me fired".

"You can always come and help me at the salon", she said chewing her own portion of 'huevos rancheros'.

"In your dreams, Hilda".

A toasted skinned young lad, joyful eyes, black wavy hair and wide ivory smile, lifted the purse of his aunt and placed it carefully in the back of the seat. Then, he sat by her side at the kitchen table.

"Hello, Mom, Grandpa… Aunt Betty", he said pointing at the purse that he had just placed in the chair. "That purse does not suit your shoes at all. It would be a crime to let you walk in the streets like that".

"Thank you, Justin, but I really need to to carry all my documents. Besides, Henry gave it to me for my birthday". She said that in a tone that pretended to make it clear to everyone the universal premise that if her lover gave her a present in such lovely manner the most natural thing in the world was to wear it every day, even if she didn't like it one bit.

The familiar sound of a car horn was heard from the streets.

"Time to leave", Betty said as she quickly seized her purse and stood up from her chair.

"Can I go with you?", Justin inquired ready to follow his Aunt without even touching his breakfast.

Hilda was faster than him and grabbed one of his ears with her fingers dragging him back to the breakfast table. "Don't play funny. You are coming with me straight to school. Not funny escapades today. Come on, eat now!"

"Give my regards to Gio". Ignacio waved her goodbye from the kitchen as he took out his apron and sat on the place she had just left empty. "Tell him I am still waiting for that rematch at dominoes from last week".

"I'll tell him", Betty shouted as she ran through the door. She descended the stairs and opened the door of the white van that was parked in front of her house.

"Good morning, Gio", she greeted the driver of the van quickly leaning at him and placing her cheek on his and giving a sounding kiss in the air.

"Somebody is in a good mood today", he joked as he started the engine. He slid his hand to the gearshift and as he did so, the metal tinkling sound of his silver bracelets was heard. He took a few seconds to contemplate her: Betty dressed like he never saw woman dress herself before. It looked as if every day she invented new ways to combine the impossible, in spite of what others thought about it. Caring so little of other's opinion that she was able to wake up every day for work to a place where they despise the very thing she represented, especially those sensual and sinuous curves that she could not hide even with all those clothes on. Truly that girl was unique, he thought. She was really pretty, with that eternally rosy smile that those bracers could not take away not even one bit of charm; that long hair that fell free and wavy like a waterfall over her shoulders and those beautiful coffee eyes that were looking at him that very moment.

"Oh, shut up, Gio. If possible, I need to arrive early. Maybe you could quickly check my assignment before you open the deli? I have to deliver it today".

"So, you finished it?", he said tuning the radio from where it sprang a moving 80s song.

"Just half of it", she really wanted to hear Gio's opinion on the job that took her the whole night to finish. "But I have already reached the climax so… No!" she pointed her index finger at him warning him against any of his smutty remarks.

"Fine", he said swallowing a joke. "Okay, arrive early. Count on that. This time we'll take a shortcut".

Transforming into action the words he had just spoken, he turned on the left turn light and, taking a detour, he advanced into a narrow street at high speed. Betty adjusted her seat belt and smiled pleased to the man that was by her side. Gio was barely twenty six years old and was already the owner of a small business placed in the very lobby of the Meade Building, the famous publication group where Betty worked as the Assistant to the Editor in Chief of Mode Magazine. He was a close friend of hers and it was just about a year that they met each other. If you could call friend to someone who was constantly bashing her with unrequested friendly advices, who didn't ask for a dime when she, caught in a fit of rage, threw a trash can at his deli's expensive front window. But that was not before he totally forgave her for getting him fired at his previous job. Moreover, there was a certain mysterious attraction that kept them together, and made them unconsciously yearn for every second they spent quarreling and enjoying each other's company. They both insisted in calling it 'friendship'.

That day, as many others before, he was driving her to work from home all the way from Queens to Manhattan.

"Hey, Betty, could I have a digital copy of the short story when you're done?" He didn't wait for her answer and thought that it would be better to give her at least an explanation. "You know, as a memento of our joint effort".

"Yeah, sure, why not? " She had to admit she was surprised and a little bit fascinated by Gio´s sudden request. "It's not as if you were going to run to the next editorial house and publish it under your name".

Gio laughed, a little bit too loud, Betty thought.

"What are you thinking? I am a devoted reader, not a writer".

"I know. You read almost anything that comes into your hands".

"Actually, I have little spare time, so I try to read only good stuff..." As he spoke he noticed pleased that Betty couldn't hide her delighted face. So he smiled to her when he realized she took that as a compliment.

They arrived to their final destination without further complications, the lobby was almost deserted and it wouldn´t be until an hour that the crowd of workers would start invading the alleys. Gio opened the door of his business, turned off the alarm allowing Betty to enter the premises of 'Gio's Deli'. Betty crossed the lintel and entered that place so heavily decorated with Italian flags and colorful boards that made it feel kind of cozy to everyone who stepped their feet on it. It was, truly, a small business; but size didn't matter at all to the young entrepreneur who would never have thought of a better place to start his dreams.

Betty couldn't avoid but notice that hideous poster of Juventus with its big black and white stripes hanging insolently from the back wall. She remembered the last time she kindly suggested Gio to take down that macabre colored poster that contrasted with all the colorful decoration of the place. The only thing she gained from her efforts was to hear him grumbling for half an hour like a crazy sect devote. More over, he ended up placing it in the most visible place of the room and, the next day, he appeared right in the offices of Mode modeling the Juventus uniform shirt in front of her desk. Since that day she avoided talking about the subject with that hardcore fanatic. She looked for a table that, preferably, was far away from that poster. She chose a corner away from the door and noticed a small chess board in a corner of the ledge on top of her head.

"I always meant to ask you why you keep that chess over there".

Gio turned on the air conditioner and approached a machine to prepare some hot chocolate. He shouted over the counter.

"I am playing with one of the customers".

"Do you play chess? " Betty was surprised.

"I always have".

"I would have never guessed it", she said putting her purse on the nearest chair, took out the documents that were inside it and started organizing them over the little table. Gio came to her a few minutes later carrying two cups of hot chocolate that released a delectable aroma, placing one of them in front of Betty. She took it by the hands, thankful, feeling the warmth indulge her fingers with delight. Memorial day had already passed, and that late spring morning has been cooler that expected.

"This game is about a month old. The guy comes three times a week. We take our time", he reached the board and showed it to her. "This is me", he said pointing at the black king.

She stared at the game. He continued.

"You see? Check Mate in four moves. My guess, that's the reason why he hasn't come for days. No way he can get out of this one".

"Good for you. You must be proud of yourself, Gio" she said with a hint of irony in her voice and pressed him to start revising her story. Gio made a face and placed the chess back to it's usual place. He positioned his chair near hers, sat on it and put his arm in the back of Betty´s chair undeliberatly brushing her shoulders. He got closer to her and started revising her notes while she observed everything with curious and expecting eyes.

One hour passed between revisions and sweet sips of chocolate. Gio made a few petty remarks, mainly regarding style and typographic mistakes. He waited for the last minute to tell her his final verdict.

"The story is quite interesting and really entertaining. It's just that I feel a certain lack of realism in the characters. That´s all".

"But", complained Betty taking the pages that Gio had in front of him "they are supposed to be fictitious. That´s why it´s called fiction".

"What I mean", he said placing both hands in the back of his neck and shifting the weight of his body to the back of the chair, "is that they are too flat. Makes them look kind of phony. There are writers who inspire their characters from the essence of real people they've met. You should try that".

"Well, when I decide to write the story of an arrogant know—it—all buffoon I promise I'll think of you".

"Ouch! The punishment was uncalled for. There, I told you. Besides that, the story is awesome".

"Honestly?" asked Betty contemplating the bundle of paper scattered over the table.

"Honestly". Gio rose from his chair and clapped enthusiastically signaling her in front of an inexistent audience. "Ladies and Gentlemen: Betty the writer!"

Betty smiled quite pleased. In other circumstances she would have been deeply ashamed of the impulsive behavior of Gio, but she had to admit that she had got used to him; besides, this time, at least they were completely alone. She thought that if she survived him calling her "The Eater" every time she entered the Deli, she could very well tolerate anything. Of course, she couldn't deny that she was really proud of this work. So, she made a small courtesy and followed his game. When they got tired of it, she started packing the sheets of paper and, after she had them all ready, she wrapped them with a ribbon.

Gio approached her from behind and delighted himself gazing at her for a moment.

"Betty, I think I can't pick you up in the mornings anymore".

"What? Why?! " she turned in her chair looking up to him and meeting his gaze.

"I'll have to make a detour south to bring my sister to summer school from tomorrow onwards. I´m sorry", and he really felt it that way.

"Well, it's okay. It's not big deal" she said smiling, too cheery for Gio´s own liking. "I'll take the E train as I always do".

She took one last sip of her chocolate and, checking her watch, she hastily said goodbye to Gio. She ran to her office before her boss came for work. Not that Daniel Meade, editor in chief of Mode, arrived early, but all that tension with his sister Alexis had him all moody and he was ever more demanding to his young assistant. Besides, that day they had scheduled a meeting with all the editors of the Mead Publication divisions so there was plenty of work to do. When she reached her desk, located at the core area of Mode headquarters, she grabbed a post—it and scribbled: 'Rounded characters—real life' and stamped it on the bundle. She stepped back putting her hands on her hips and took a deep breath. Up until that moment she hadn't realized how much Gio´s words had affected her. Betty felt a little bit disillusioned. She really enjoyed discussing matters with Gio in the mornings. It was even better than caffeine and, being a coffeholic, that was a lot to be said. But as much as she liked Gio, she couldn't allow herself to share her heart with nobody else but the man she loved above everything. No matter if it was friend or family, or if he had that candid smile on his face that lightened any room even in cloudy sad days.

What are you thinking?

To divert her thoughts back to the one she must think about, she started fantasizing about the words of praise that Henry would say when he read her story. Henry, the man for whom her heart beat. The one who had to return to Tucson, his hometown, to become the father that he never had. Honestly, she thought, she had fallen in love with an honorable man. Her heart darkened for a moment. Sometimes she wished that he wasn't. That could be the only chance she had to love and be loved. Probably she would never feel again to be loved in that way. Never again in her life, she repeated to remind her the gravity of the whole matter. It was incredible how destiny had given them a second chance to be together. A second chance that had a due date: a few weeks ago his ex—girlfriend had bore his first child and they were to return as soon as he got the company bonus check. Then life will split them up again and forever.

"Hello, princess", she heard at her back.

"Henry!" she answered recognizing the man that approached her. Henry Grubstick. He worked at the accounting department of Mode. He was tall, of ivory smooth skin, timid eyes, shining through his glasses. That was her Henry, her boyfriend. He for whom her hands sweated and, for the first time, she felt love.

"Here's your paycheck", he told her placing an envelope over her desk. "Now that we got paid. How about we go out tonight?"

"Perfect", said Betty swallowing her worries for the future and determined to live the present. "Want to do anything especial?"

"I was thinking about renting some italian movies but" he tried to find any trace of interest in Betty's face, "this time it's your call".

"It's okay, let's stay at your place. Just, let me call 'Papi' to tell him that I won't be back home tonight. Besides, perhaps you can tell me what you think about this story", she told him showing him the bundle of papers she had in front of her.

Henry kissed her in the cheek before whispering at her ear.

"Of course I will. You know everything you write is perfect. I am sure I will love it".

Betty blushed. Henry rarely found fault in her writings. She was very sure this one will please him, like always.

———

Next Chapter: The Milky Way