❝betty, i won't make assumptions
about why you switched your homeroom
but i think it's 'cause of me.❞

it was only the second day of school once james began to realize something was wrong between him and betty. he noticed her sitting in the back of their homeroom class just the day before, where he waved and all she did was nod and stare down at the book in her lap. at the time, he didn't think much of it; betty always had a book with her and would read in any moment of free time, but he didn't know that she was avoiding him.

he didn't realize that she knew what happened.

he wanted to go over and talk to her, greet her for the first time since he hadn't seen her all summer. she was away at a college's high school summer program the entire time and he missed her, but once he was about to walk over to her, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. he shrugged it off, figuring he could catch up with her after class, and sat down at his desk at the front of the room.

little did james know that the moment the dismissal bell rang, betty dashed out of the classroom without even a glance in his direction. he quickly grabbed his bag and ran after her, calling her name, but she was faster, disappearing into the girl's restroom.

little did he know that the next day when he showed up to homeroom, she was nowhere to be seen. her desk was empty.

james tried to find her after class and throughout the day, but he never saw her. was she avoiding him? did she find out?

finally at lunch, he saw her sitting at a table, a small smile forming on his face. only a second later did his smile disappear when he realized who she was next to; the school gossip, inez.

and that was the moment james knew that something was very wrong.