Cruel Summer

            Summer has always been Betty’s favorite season. Maybe it was the ice cold drinks she got to drink at her dad’s beach house. Maybe it was the way that the cold waves felt against her hot skin while she would be surfing. Maybe, just maybe, it was the boy with dark hair and the kindest light brown eyes she had ever seen. Even though he had been on her mind for the past two years when she’d visit her dad, she did not have the courage to talk to him, let alone tell him about the strong infatuation she had with him. But that’s all it was, an infatuation.

            The second that Betty stepped into her dad’s house, she noticed that he was not alone. There was a woman with him, laughing at something dumb her dad probably said to her. The laughing, however, halted as soon as the woman made eye contact with her, a shy smile spreading across the woman’s face. Her dad noticed the subtle change and followed the woman’s gaze until it landed on his only daughter.

“When did you get here, Betty? I thought you weren’t due for another hour?” her dad asked. For some reason the question alone irked her. Yes, her parents had been divorced for about four years already, something that messed with her teenage years. And yes, he had a right to move on from her mom, hell, she wanted to move on from her mom, but it felt as if he did not want her to meet whoever this woman was.

“Erm, mom and I got into another fight because she didn’t want me coming here this summer. Something about you always being my favorite parent,” she mumbled. Her dad couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Even though both her parents could never come into agreement about things, they both agreed that the best thing for Beatrice was to stay with her mother in the city. The solution itself was something that was good for them, but not for Betty especially since her mom was never really around due to her job as a neonatal surgeon.

“Hi, I’m Meredith,” the woman smiled at her, basically cutting off her dad from speaking, and stretching her hand for Betty to shake. Her dad looked down at the woman who was a few inches shorter than him and almost as tall as Betty. She gave the woman, Meredith, a tight smile and shook her hand. “Betty.” There was an awkward silence before Betty excused herself, taking her suitcase to her room that was upstairs.

Betty quickly changed into some ripped shorts and threw on a tank top, making sure to wear her swimsuit underneath. She knew she had to get out of the house if she didn’t want for her father to make her get to know who Meredith was because even if it was early on, she knew he would eventually marry her.

“I’ll be back later!” Betty shouted as she made her way outside the door. Instead of waiting for her dad’s response, she closed the door and made her way to the ocean she loved and had grown so accustomed to every summer. The sky was painted in various orange and pinks while the breeze blew through Betty’s light brown hair, something she missed while she lived in the city.

Betty let out a small content sigh as she picked a random spot to lay her light blue towel down. She plopped herself down on the towel and took out her worn out copy of Wuthering Heights. Just as Heathcliff was confessing his love for Catherine, Betty heard a piercing scream, causing her to drop the book on her lap. “Betty!!” the person shrieked, bouncing in front of her and instantly grabbing her hand to pull her up. Betty’s eyes went wide at the suddenness in everything, but still hugged her friend nonetheless.

“I miss you so much Augustine!”  Betty beamed once the blonde finally let her go. “I’ll say. You didn’t even tell me you were coming again; I had to hear it from your dad instead,” she pouted, causing Betty to roll her eyes. “I wasn’t sure I was coming this summer since school has been hectic and I was thinking of taking summer courses to finish school faster,” she replied nonchalantly, except Augustine was not having it.

Augustine began telling Betty everything that had happened to her throughout the year that Betty had been absent from her life. She told her about how boring the little beach town was year round because they would constantly see the same people over and over, but that summer was different because people from all over came to the small town. She told her about how she intended to go to the city once she was done taking classes at her community college and asked Betty if she could live with her when that would happen, something Betty thought was a good excuse to get her own place and get out away from her mother’s reign. “Oh, and I started seeing this boy,” she ended her rantings.

Betty’s eyes went wide because although her friend was absolutely gorgeous, she always believed that the boys in the beach town were not good enough for her. “Who?” Betty squealed, which surprised Augustine. “I don’t think you know him. His name is James and he is the hottest man I have ever laid eyes on,” she gushed. “Maybe you’ll be able to meet him today. He’s usually surfing here and—oh! There’s my baby!” she smiled pointing at the same man that Betty had been infatuated with. The same man with the dark hair and kind eyes she had been so afraid to talk to. Not to mention, the reason why she decided to come to her dad’s last minute.

“James, this is my best friend Betty. She’s Mr. Salvatore’s daughter and she only comes and visits during the summer,” she introduced her to him. Betty noticed the loving smile he gave her friend before his gaze landed on her. “I think I’ve seen you here a few times before right? You surf too, don’t you?” he asked, genuinely interested in her answer. She opened her mouth to answer, except Augustine beat her to it. “That’s literally all she does and neglects me just as much as you do.”

He playfully rolled his eyes at the comment before turning to Betty again, “You should be my surf partner this summer then. Maybe we could teach this one a thing or two,” he joked, looking at his much shorter girlfriend. “No, thank you. That involves getting my hair wet and I would not like that very much. I’d rather just watch you two while I tan,” she scoffed a little.

The rest of the summer was spent being Augustine and James’ third wheel, which Betty didn’t mind, you know, if her infatuation hadn’t turned into a full on crush by the end of it. However, Betty knew she could not be the reason that both of her friends broke up because they would both end up hating her, so she kept every feeling inside. That is, until one fateful night that Augustine wanted to go clubbing to the only nightclub in town that had opened a few days ago.

Clubs were never Betty’s scene, but she wanted to keep her friend happy for her remaining time at her dad’s. It also didn’t help that the second they stepped foot into the club, Augustine decided to abandon both Betty and James in order to meet her other friends. “Guess it’s you and me Betty,” James smiled over at the brunette. Although being with her friend’s boyfriend should have felt wrong, Betty was a little bit happy to be left alone with James.

Betty could feel the bass booming all over body as she danced next to James, the alcohol surging through her body and causing her to act more bold than she’d like to. James, on the other hand, tried to be the sober one out of the three because he knew that both girls were lightweights. Betty looked away from James for a little bit, admiring how so many people could be in one place and feel an immense amount of joy. Then again, that could be the alcohol talking and not Betty. When she looked back at him, though, she noticed he had a prominent frown on his face.

“Augustine went home with Rebecca. Do you just want to leave?” he yelled over the music. Betty nodded, feeling relieved that the night could finally end and she could go under her covers. The second they stepped out, the ocean breeze immediately hit her hot sweaty body, causing her to shiver. James noticed this and immediately took off his jacket. What came next was a surprise for both of them, especially since they both knew the meaning behind it.

“I love you. Isn’t that the worst thing you’ve ever heard?”