Betty said she loves me. Sure we've said it maybe once or twice, but she said it on an impulse. It slipped out of her mouth which means she did it so casually she forgot she did it. Me, the one who was teased and raised on the wrong side of town. Me, who spent weeks in the janitor's closet, just scraping by in school. She loved me. She loves me so much.
And I love her. What else could someone want?
But afterwards she seemed uneasy, leaning into the hug a little too hard and tight, like she knew I was going to die the next day. We stood in the same position for several minutes before I heard light sniffling coming from behind me. "Betty? What's wrong?"
She didn't answer. I asked again and the sniffling grew until she was lightly sobbing. I pulled her from the hug and lifted up her chin to face me, showing off her shining blue eyes cover with grayness and emptiness, with little droplets formed in her eyes. "Betts, are you okay?" I asked her, staring intently at her until she answered with a shake of her head. She tried to pry away from my gaze but I gently put a hand to her face and pushed it towards me. She resisted again.
"Betty, tell me, what's wrong."
She tried to wriggle away, I held her close. She opened her mouth with shaking breaths and said, "N-Nothing Juggie, I'm just so.. happy that we love and understand each other like we always have! I'm so glad it was you Juggie. I really do!" She seemed to try hard not to convince me, but herself. The hurt in her voice stabbed me close to my heart. I pulled her closer and rubbed her head. Her sobbing got louder.
"I don't deserve you Juggie. You're kind, sensitive, and you don't judge me for what I am. I'm never going to find someone like you!" She sniffled and held my jacket tight. I tried to calm her down but I glanced over at my jacket and her fist was not only clenching it, but her other fist was balled in rage. I let go of her and rushed over to her hand. Fingernail marks on her palm. It stung my heart again that I was the cause.
I wrapped them back gently together, glancing back at her face. "Betty... what did I do wrong?" I asked. She shook her head and told me I didn't do anything, it wasn't anything that I ever did. It was her fault. She stood up and wiped away her tears. "I'm such a baby." She said, laughing weakly while sniffing every now and then. I sat down and held her hand.
"Does it involve anyone at this school?"
Betty hesitated but shook her head no.
"Does it have to do with your family?"
Betty replied half-heartedly. "Kind of. I would consider this person family."
"Do you really feel that whatever you did would affect our relationship, even though you know I've never loved another person more than you?"
Betty stopped wiping her tears and looked up at me. I grinned and offered my hand. "Come on Betty, let's go. You probably want to talk to Veronica and Archie about th-"
"NO! No no! No no no no. N- No thanks. I really don't feel like seeing Archie... or Veronica right now. It's really complicated so could I just.. stay with you?"
He smiled. "Of course. I'll stay with you as long as you need."