I honestly was oblivious to what was happening. After Betty and I talked we decided to go home but the problem was, she didn't have anywhere to stay. I didn't exactly have a place either, at least one I couldn't present to her just now, so I suggested we both slept at the school. I joked how we could never escape school, even when it ended, but she just nodded softly and started walking towards the entrance. She was obviously worried about how we would get in, but I reassured her I could find a way.
"Just watch this, I'm gonna blow down the doors with just one kick!" I stood in one of those karate stances I saw all the kids standing in, and took a deep breath as I focused my energy onto the door. I could hear a slight giggle from Betty as she shuffled away, probably to stand out of the way. I closed my eyes and gave a thumbs up that I was ready.
My feet ran towards the door. I jumped as high as I could with my foot sprawled in the air, as I felt my foot touch the sweet release of the high school's doors.
And then I fell, and I felt the hard tiles scraping against my face.
I groaned and opened my eyes to see Betty crouching down in front of me with her hands covering her mouth. She looked around my face until she reached out her hand.
"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" She gasped, lifting me from my lied-down stance. I groaned again and rubbed the probably-red and- swelling bruise that I could tell was already forming on the upper part of my cheek, where they usually formed. This was the first time I got a bruise that wasn't from a fight. Betty apologized again and she started panicking and flailing around to find something to help. She ran into the nurse's office and rummaged around until she found a tiny aid-kit that seemed to not have that much in it, just a few bandages and bandaids.
"Maybe we can find some ice, or put a cold paper towel on your face to help slow the swelling!" She suggested, dropping me to the ground as she ran across the corridors to find a towel of some sort. After a few minutes of waiting, she finally came back with nothing. When she reached me she instantly collapsed on the ground, panting.
"How fast did you run?" I asked, taking my hand off of my cheek to touch her head, which was sweaty so I took it off instantly. She panted and gasped for a few more seconds before answering. "As fast as I could! We need to somehow treat the bruise before it swells to the point that it won't go away for some time." She grabbed my arm and forced me to my feet as she dragged me towards one of the classrooms. She put me in one of the corners and left for a minute before returning with a damp paper towel in her hand with water dripping out, landing on her shoes and her jeans. She smiled and criss-crossed in front of me, raising the towel up to my face. She started rubbing my face with the towel. It didn't sting, though it shouldn't, and I just let her do her work.
"So, where are we sleeping tonight?"
It took me a second to answer without giving her a weird answer. "Well.. I guess we could sleep in the classrooms. You could sleep on one side and i'll sleep on the other." I cleared my throat and awkwardly shifted in my position. Betty raised one eyebrow and gave me a quirky questionable look. "Wow Lucas, I didn't think you were that type of guy. Are you sure you're comfortable sleeping next to me?"
I almost choked on my own saliva. "N-No no no! I meant you sleep on one side of the classroom and I'll sleep on the opposite! You're twisting my words around!" I defended, shifting away from the towel as I explained myself. She giggled and gave me a smile. "I was kidding. Of course you wouldn't mean it like that. You're not that type of person."
You're not that type of person
That left me speechless. I've heard a lot of things but "You're not that type of person" was the last thing I thought I'd ever heard. To be honest, most people think of me as "That type of guy". Nobody's ever told me I wasn't a bad person.
"Hello? Are you okay?" Betty waved her hand in front of my face. I snapped back to reality and nodded. "Let's uh, start to set up for tonight. Can you try to find something to act as our pillows and sheets?"
"Wow, I didn't know you were so resourceful Lucas!" Betty exclaimed, putting down the last blanket for her own makeshift bed at the corner. She glanced over at me as I took off my jacket and snuggle into my bed. I may have looked too comfortable, but even the closet's ancient blankets were a blessing in itself.
"I may have to get used to these blankets though, they're not as comfortable as I'm used to! "She shuffled into her blanket hesitantly while still facing me. When she put her head onto the pillow, she noticed I was a little bit down. "What's wrong Lucas? Is there something wrong with the pillows I made. Are they not comfortable enough?"
I shook my head. "It's nothing."
"It's obviously something, come on tell me! I promise I won't judge you. Do you have some family problems going on at home?" She asked, lowering her voice. I scoffed and turned around to face her. Her eyebrows were curved and her eyes focused on me for an answer.
I sighed. "I don't exactly have a family to have problems with. Haven't had one since I was young. Sorry that I seemed down." I explained, getting a sad reaction from Betty. She motioned for me to go on.
"I was.. found in an alleyway by the orphanage that raised me, so I was a bad child to start with. It took awhile for the bruises and cuts to heal up, but I eventually became as healthy as any child in the Southside could be. I was actually happy being in an orphanage, at least it was nice to have a meal or two everyday. Just the luxury brings back memories."
Betty nodded. "What about now? Don't you live there now? Aren't they your family now?" She asked me. I shook my head.
"Soon as I started high school they kicked me out. Couldn't afford to house such a terrible child like me. Gave up hope that anyone was going to adopt me, or even house me. I didn't even know if I should live anymore."
Betty's eyes started tearing up, but she wiped them with her arm, trying to hide it. I tried to get to the good part as fast as I could.
"B-But then I met the Serpents and now I couldn't be happier! Now they're like my family, especially Jughead. He housed me until I enforced the idea that I should live out by myself. Jughead's been a huge help since he came to the Southside. He eve-"
Betty slammed her fist onto the ground, which made me jump and kick my blanket in the air. I looked at her but she grimly smiled and turned around in her bed. I could see her shaking. I stared at the back of her head.
"Do you think I'd look cute as a brunette?" She whispered, flipping over to make eye contact with me. I asked her why.
"I don't know. I just think that the color black would really suit me. I've been thinking about it for a while. Maybe I could even wear a wig to preserve my locks. After all, it is the way I was born..." She trailed off, looking off into the distance in her thinking mode. She grinned and seemed content with herself.
What's this about wigs again? What's her deal with wigs, especially brunette ones?
"Well.. goodnight" I told her, shutting off the tiny table lamp that was residing next to me, which was our only source of light in the darkness.
Betty shifted and giggled.
"Goodnight."