Bethany followed me over to Bud's Burger Shack in her car, and we met up out front. She was still visibly upset over what had happened, and who could blame her? I couldn't even begin to fathom what she had gone through. What Amy and her ilk had done was beyond reprehensible, and I was determined to help my dear friend exact some form of payback that was fitting for the crime, yet original and unique at the same time.
"Are you sure you want to be seen with me?" she inquired, as we entered the rustically-themed restaurant. "I'm still a fat cow with thunder thighs. People might talk if they see us in public together."
"I don't ever want to hear you speak of yourself that way again." I said quietly, yet sternly. "That's my date you're talking about."
Bethany smiled. It was beginning to dawn on her that my intentions were genuine, and not some sort of a pity party that I was throwing in her direction.
"You really DO care about me, don't you?" she inquired.
"Look Beth," I responded, pausing for a moment and turning her toward me, "I just dumped the hottest chick in school because of what she did to you. Yes I care!"
I glanced around, looking for a space to sit. It was Friday night, and being a popular place with the high school crowd, it was pretty busy. About that time, I saw Mr. Hunter and his wife, who was a senior year English teacher, over in one of those corner booths. We made eye contact, and Mr. Hunter waved us over.
"Hey Guys," he greeted us, "why don't you sit with us? We just got here too. This is my wife, Peg. I think you're both scheduled to be in her class this coming year, if I'm not mistaken."
"Sure, thanks." I responded, as we slid in from one side, while Mr. and Mrs. Hunter scooted around toward the other end. "It's nice to meet you. I've seen you in the halls before, but this is an early meet 'n' greet if we're going to be in your class this year."
Bethany smiled and nodded as well.
"Same here." she chimed in.
"So, you decided to take a break from studies and grab something to eat?" Mr. Hunter inquired. "You getting caught up, Jack?"
"I am." I replied. "Beth's been great. I'll be fully back to where I was before the accident, for the start of the year, no doubt, thanks to her. She's been a terrific help at working with me. I think we're done with studying. We just decided to go out on a date is all."
"Hey, that's awesome!" Peg exclaimed. "Congratulations. A little Florence Nightingale Syndrome, maybe?"
"I thought that you and Amy Kellenbach were tight." Mr. Hunter responded.
"We were." I said with a frown. "Until tonight. She and her friends did something very cruel to Beth, so I dumped her in front of her friends and asked Beth out instead. Amy and I are through."
"Well, I won't pry," my principal said, "but it must have been pretty bad for you to drop her like that. You're not the type to do something rash. I hope you two have a wonderful time though. I think you'll make a nice couple."
The waitress approached and took our orders. Bethany seemed a bit hesitant, however, as she continued scanning the menu.
"What's wrong?" I inquired. "You don't see anything you like?"
"It's not that." she sighed, with a frown. "I like everything. THAT'S the problem. I'm on one of those see-food diets. I see food and I want to eat it."
"Tell you what." I said with a smile, taking the menu from her. "Since you helped me to get my schoolwork back on track, why don't I help you to get your weight back on track too?"
"Okay." she responded, brightening up a bit. "But what about dinner? It all looks so good; especially the Bud's Special."
"Then get it," I replied, "and enjoy it too, because starting tomorrow, you're going on a diet and exercise regime with me. I'll help you to get that weight back off, and get you toned up as well. What do you say?"
"I say you have a new workout partner!" she exclaimed.
"Good!" I responded. "Get dessert too, 'cause it'll be the last time for a while, so make it count."
We finished dinner and parted ways with the Hunters. As we left the place, Bethany thanked me once again for everything.
"You're welcome." I replied. "The night's still young though; I wish there was something else we could do."
"Maybe you could come over to my house." she suggested. "I'd like for Mom to meet you, and we could watch some TV or something."
"Okay." I agreed. "That sounds nice."
I followed her back to her house and admired the landscaping in the front yard. The house sat on a slight hill, and a set of stone steps wound up through a maze of wild grasses and bushes. It's more common now, but back then, it was a design I hadn't seen before. Ground lighting along the path made the whole thing pop, and I was interested in seeing it in the daylight.
"Wow, this yard looks awesome!" I exclaimed. "This landscaping's pretty bad."
"Thanks." she replied. "Mom saw something like it in 'Other Homes and Garbage,' or some other magazine or something. She got a contractor to put it all together."
We entered the house, and Bethany led me to the living room, where her mother was just turning off the television.
"Hi Mom, this is my friend, Jack." she said. "He took me out for dinner."
"Hi Jack." her mother greeted me, extending her hand. "It's nice to meet you. You're the boy she's been tutoring, right?"
I could see the resemblance to Bethany, but she was much thinner, and her hair was a lot redder than her daughter's was. Her features were also a bit sharper, due to her build. She reminded me a lot of the 60s actress, Patricia Blair, who had played Luke McCain's interest on The Rifleman. I would learn later on, that she did modeling herself.
"Yes, Mrs. Easton." I said with a nod, noting her attractiveness. "It's nice to meet you as well, and I love your front yard."
"Call me Kylie," she replied, "and thank you for the compliment on the yard. It's popular out West I guess, but I thought I'd try it out. Less to mow, you know."
She paused for a moment and looked back at Bethany.
"I thought you were spending the evening with some friends from school." she added. "What happened?"
"She was," I interjected, "but they turned out to not be her friends after all. Or mine for that matter."
"What happened?" Kylie inquired again, looking back at me this time.
"Nothing that needs to be brought up right now." I replied. "I'm not trying to be impudent mind you, but it's for Beth to tell you when you're alone."
Kylie looked alarmed, but Bethany suddenly interrupted me.
