DISCLAIMER is on the Introduction page.
Once inside her office, Betty stormed over to the file cabinet. She yanked open one of the drawers and pulled out Scott's contract. She walked over to her desk and slammed the contract down on it then plopped down in her chair with her back stiff and her arms folded. She was able to hold this defiant pose for maybe 10 seconds. Then, like ice cream in the summer sun, she began to melt. Her expression fell into that of a hurt and lost little girl. Her shoulders sagged and she slumped in the chair. She stared into space for a few seconds, then with a sigh laid her head back and closed her eyes.
The door to Betty's office opened and Scott popped his head in. "Can I talk to you Betty?"
She did her best to perk up and motioned him in. "Come in Scott, but I already know what you came here to talk about."
"You do?"
Betty busied herself with straightening some papers. She couldn't bring herself to look at him but managed to say with barely a quiver in her voice, "Yes, it's all over the station. You're going to Hollywood with Veronica."
Scott picked up a magazine from the end table and, while thumbing through it, replied nonchalantly, "Oh, that. I'm not going."
It took two heartbeats for his words to penetrate Betty's quickly thrown-up defenses. She looked up with hope shining in her eyes. Afraid that Scott would read her face, she quickly stood up and walked to the front of her desk and shakily leaned on it with her back to him. She pretended to straighten the already neat desk. She successfully wiped the revealing expression off her face and somehow managed to regain her composure. She turned around just as Scott looked up from the magazine. "But why wouldn't you go? It's such a wonderful opportunity."
Scott carefully put the magazine down and looked directly into her eyes. Betty's heart felt like it was going to come out of her chest, but she couldn't turn away from his gaze. After what seemed an eternity, Scott almost whispered, "Don't you know?"
"Well, no. I..."
Scott tossed the magazine aside and began to purposefully walk toward her. "I guess I'll have to show you." When he got to her, he slowly put his hands on her waist. Without hesitation Betty ran her hands up his chest and around his neck. She eagerly met his descending lips and they shared a long, tender yet passionate kiss that shook Betty to the core.
She let out a soft sigh, "Oh, Scott."
Scott whispered as he gently touched her face, "Betty." His voice suddenly became louder and urgent, "BETTY? BETTY!" Betty opened her eyes and replied dreamily, "Yes Scott?"
With a start, Betty realized she had been dreaming. She was still sitting in her chair behind her desk. Scott was down on one knee next to her, gently patting her face and calling her name. She saw concern on his face. "Betty, are you alright? You look flushed and you called out my name."
Mortified with embarrassment, Betty jumped up and put some distance between her and Scott. "I'm fine."
She went to the front of her desk and leaned on it, trying to regain her composure. He followed her. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Of course." She snapped.
Scott retreated back near the door looking resigned. "Betty, I need to talk to you." Betty responded a little angrier than she intended to. "Don't bother. I already know what you came here to talk about."
"You do?"
"Yes, it's all over the station. You're going to Hollywood with Veronica."
Scott picked up a magazine and while thumbing through it replied nonchalantly, "Oh, that. I'm not going."
Betty's heart began to thump at the familiarity of Scott's words. Was it just a coincidence or was her dream coming true? She turned around just as Scott looked at her. She spoke as if reading from a script. "But why wouldn't you go? It's such a wonderful opportunity."
It got very quiet except for Betty's beating heart. It seemed as if the whole world was waiting to hear what he would say next. Finally, he whispered, "Don't you know?"
She managed a breathless, "No."
On cue, Scott tossed the magazine aside and began to purposefully walk toward her. "I guess I'll have to show you."
Scott's hands slowly wrapped around her waist. Strange how she had never noticed the gold flecks in his warm brown eyes. Betty couldn't seem to help herself. Her hands started sliding up his chest. She closed her eyes eagerly awaiting the kiss that should come next. Just as Betty felt Scott's breath on her lips, Veronica swooped in the door. "Scotty, are you ready to go? We'll be late if we don't hurry."
Betty opened her eyes and looked into Scott's. He answered with his back to Veronica and without taking his hands off Betty's waist or his eyes off her face. "I'll be out in a minute. I have some unfinished business to take care of."
Veronica, seeing the expression on Scott's face, felt a foreign emotion - jealousy. She turned to leave the room but couldn't resist saying over her shoulder as she went out, "Be sure to save some of those yummy kisses for me, Scott dear. You know how much I enjoy them." A small giggle. "Among other things."
The return to reality this time was especially painful for Betty. To hide her vulnerability, she once again lashed out angrily. She pushed against Scott's chest trying to get away but his grip on her waist tightened. She spat, "Are these the same moves you make on her and all your...legions of women?"
Betty's anger dissolved as fast as it flared up. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Scott interrupted, "Moves? You think I'm making moves on you? You may be happy to know those days are over Betty."
Scott tightened his hold on her waist, picked her up and set her aside. He reached around her for the contract on the desk.
"What is this?" she asked when he put the contract in her hand.
"The reason I'm not going to Hollywood, of course. What did you think I was doing?" He turned and left, slamming the door on his way out. All Betty seemed capable of doing at that moment was to stand there staring at his contract, her mind a blank.
Out in the hall, Scott stormed over to the front door where Veronica was smugly waiting. He was furious for what she had implied about their relationship and let her know it. She sarcastically apologized, "Oh, Scotty, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
He put his hand on her back to hurry her out the door. "Let's just get you on the train."
After staring at the contract for a moment, Betty rushed after Scott to ask him what he meant when he said his days of putting moves on were over. Did he mean all other woman or just her?
Out of the corner of her eye, Veronica spotted Betty emerging into the hall. She stopped, turned and planted a lingering kiss on Scott's lips for Betty's benefit. Then with a smug smile whispered to Scott, "Forgive me for wanting at least one kiss to remember you by."
Betty couldn't see the exasperated look on Scott's face but suddenly saw other things so clearly. Her feelings for Scott had always been so muddled and confused, but with a rush they became crystal clear. She backed around the corner and leaned against the wall. "My gosh, I love Scott Sherwood."
After her initial shock, a slow smile of wonderment broke out on her face. "I really do love Scott Sherwood."
Betty's Journey of Discovery Series
Go to Betty's Journey of Discovery#9 - Confidants!
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