The Butterfly Effect

Betty: Are you sure it’s a good idea to do this? I mean we can get in REALLY bad trouble, you know. Like I’m talking at least 10 years in jail. 

Liza: Don’t worry, we’ll be fine. All we have to do is pick the lock, which I already know how to do, and disable the passcode so the alarm won’t go off, which I know because I saw the employee turning it off when my mom was here getting groceries earlier, and keep these masks on the entire time so the cameras can’t catch us. Why, are you chickening out?

Betty: No it’s just, uh, are you sure that we really need alcohol that bad? People will probably have it at the party this weekend. Why do we always need to bring everything? Like last month at Kyle’s party WE had to bring all the snacks because apparently his parents “don’t let him eat junk food”. At least we didn’t have to break in somewhere for that though. Now we’re committing two crimes! Underage drinking AND breaking and entering. 

Liza: Well TECHNICALLY it’s not breaking and entering since we aren’t breaking anything. It’s just entering. So one and a half crimes if you will.

Betty: Whatever the amount of crimes it is, I still feel bad. I shop here a lot with my family. The workers know my mom by name. If my family ever found out I was doing this, I would be sent away to some military school for years.

Liza: You’re 16 years old so it wouldn’t even be for that long. 

*Betty gives her an angry look*

Liza: But the thing is we won’t get caught. We just have to be the most careful we’ve ever been, and for the love of God do NOT take off your mask for any reason.

Betty: Fine. But we’re, or at least I’m never doing this again. In fact, I might even have to start shopping at the small marketplace on 5th avenue because of the guilt I’ll feel. They barely have any shoppers though, I don’t know how much longer they’ll be in business.

Liza: Okay great, can we please get back to the point?

Betty: Whatever.

Liza: Awesome. So when we get out of the car, we very carefully tiptoe over to the entrance so no one sees us from afar. Then, when we get to the entrance, I’ll whisper the code to you that’s written on my arm to type in. And finally, I’ll pick the lock on the door and we go in. Be as discreet as possible, and try not to make any noise whatsoever and don’t touch anything, and I mean ANYTHING except the alcohol. Clear?

Betty: *rolling her eyes* Crystal. 

Liza: Okay, let’s go.

Betty: *whispering* It’s so dark, I can’t even see where we’re going!

Liza: *also whispering* It’s fine just follow my voice. Okay over here, keep walking, a little more, and here.

Betty: Okay hurry what’s the passcode?

Liza: *squinting* Hold on, it’s so hard to see in the dark!

Betty: I told you! Oh God, we’re going to get caught. 

Liza: Calm down, you’re a nervous wreck. I can see it now. You ready to type it in?

Betty: Ready as I’ll ever be I guess.

Liza: Okay the code is: 281335.

Betty: Got it! Okay the alarm is off, now pick the lock, quickly!

Liza: Your anxiousness isn’t making this any easier to do!

Betty: Sorry, I’m just scared someone will see us.

Liza: We have masks it’s fi- oh I got it!!

Betty: Yes! Okay let’s go in and hurry.

Liza: Okay, the drinks are in the back, so let’s go straight down aisle 5. Remember, don’t touch anything.

Betty: Got it. This is kinda fun, breaking the law. I feel so much adrenaline. 

Liza: Yeah it’s great but don’t get used to it. Like you said, it’s a one time thing for the party. Imagine how popular we’ll be.

Betty: I didn’t even think about that but you’re so right. Wait, do you hear something?

Liza: No, that’s just your anxiety hearing things. We’re fine.

Betty. I hope so.

Liza: Okay you take two bottles and I’ll take two. We’ll go back down aisle 5 and when we get outside lock the door and turn back on the alarm and boom we’re done.

Betty: Eh okay, but what if-

*They see a bright flashlight coming from behind them*

Security guard: *shouting* Hey! Who’s there?! I know someone’s in here!

Liza: Run!

Security guard: Get back here this instant! The cops are on their way!

Betty: *panting* I still can’t see anything! It’s too dark!

Liza: Just follow my voice!! Come on!

Betty: I’m trying!

*Loud crash*

Liza: Betty! Where are you? Are you okay??

Betty: Yes I’m fine let’s just go!!

Liza: Okay follow my-

*They see a fire from the corner of their eyes*

Liza: Oh no Betty! You must have knocked over a lighter or something!

Betty: Oh God!!! GO!!

Security guard: What’s that smell?? Wha- FIRE! Help me, please!!

Betty: We have to help him!

Liza: Are you crazy?! We have to flee the scene! 

Betty: No, I have to help him, he’s stuck!

Liza: Fine do what you want, I’m leaving!

Security guard: Please help! I don’t want to die here!

Betty: I’m coming!

*Betty reaches for his hand, which is attached to a body stuck under a huge shelf*

Betty: *straining* Come on! Almost out! Here we go! Got you. We have to go before the fire spreads!

Security guard: *hyperventilating* Okay!

*They run down the aisle and out of the store*

Security guard: Thank you so much for saving me. How can I ever-

*Fire goes out through the roof*

Betty: You’re welcome, gotta go!

Liza: *screaming from the car* Betty! Over here! Run!

Betty: Did you call the fire department??

Liza: Yes they’re on their way! We’re going now!

*They hear a big explosion from behind them*

Betty: I can’t believe we just did that.

Liza: I know, right? We got the alcohol, or at least I did! We’re going to be legends!

Betty: Are you insane?? I couldn’t care less about the stupid alcohol!! We just blew up an entire grocery store! That we shop at at least once a week!

Liza: Well that part is really bad. But hey, you saved a person while doing it.

Betty: So what? That doesn’t make up for anything! I’m never going to be able to outlive this guilt!

Liza: Yes you will. You just have to realize everything happens for a reason.

Betty: So blowing up an entire grocery store happened for a reason?? That was SUPPOSED to happen??

Liza: Yes, in theory. Like maybe a food in there had expired and someone would’ve bought it tomorrow, and fed it to their entire family, and then they all died. That means you saved someone literally and hypothetically!

Betty: I mean I guess. That’s just the butterfly effect though. In that case you don’t know that for sure. 

Liza: Well wouldn’t you rather hope for the best? Anyways, if you’re really feeling terrible about this sign up for online counseling. 

Betty: Why can’t I go in person?

Liza: Online is more anonymous.We can’t have anyone knowing we were behind this.

Betty: Yeah, I guess you’re right.

Liza: Of course I am. Now let’s promise to take this to our graves. Never, EVER, speak about this to anyone unless you do that anonymous online counseling thing. Swear?

Betty: I swear.

Liza: Okay. Now let’s go decide what to wear for the party.

*10 years later*

Betty: *on the phone* Mom it’s not that big of a deal. Yeah I met him on Tinder but that’s what everyone does nowadays! If I feel unsafe, I promise I’ll remove myself from the situation.  

Betty’s mom: Okay honey, I trust you. And hey it’s the first date, you don’t have to open up about your depression yet. You can if you want, but don’t feel like you have to.

Betty: Got it, thanks mom. Love you.

Betty’s mom: Love you too. Have a great time. Talk to you later!

Betty: I will. Bye. *Betty hangs up*

Betty: *to herself* Okay, don’t tell him about your depression, and definitely don’t mention that one night. How can you still feel guilty about it?? Just forgive yourself and forget. Think about things you love.

Kyle: Hi, are you Betty?

Betty: Oh my God, Kyle? Is that you?

Kyle: Betty, wow! Hi! I didn’t even realize you were THAT Betty!

Betty: Same with you! How have you been?

Kyle: I’ve been great! How about you? How long has it been, like 8 years?

Betty: Well, actually 10. I transferred from Westfield High during sophomore year, remember!

Kyle: Oh yeah! My parties were never the same without you and Liza, you know. Are you guys still in contact?

Betty: Uh, no. We kind of lost contact after I transferred.

Kyle: Oh, that’s too bad. You guys were like partners in crime!

Betty: *sweating a little* Yeah, I guess you can say that.

Kyle: You guys were always such a big help when I needed help getting food to my brothers- I mean my house.

Betty: *trying to change the subject* Wait what do you mean “brothers”?

Kyle: I didn’t say that.

Betty: Yeah, you did. You said “brothers” but quickly corrected yourself and said “my house”. 

Kyle: Ugh. But you can’t tell anyone that we used to know. Clear?

Betty: Crystal.

Kyle: Okay. Whenever I had parties, they were at my brothers house. My brother was in a fraternity at the time, so he had a huge house I could host parties in. Plus, my parents would never find out. You see, my family was kind of in poverty so we couldn’t afford things like good snacks or a big house. My mom had to stay at home and watch my little sister during the day, so she never really found a stable job. My dad worked at a small shop with very low income. Luckily my brother got a full scholarship into college, so that wasn’t an issue. I went into high school not knowing anyone, and it was so hard to make friends. But considering the common high school stereotype, I figured throwing a big party would get me popular. And it did, but I’ve felt guilty about using my brother and lying to everyone ever since. And remember that time I told you and Liza to bring snacks because my parents wouldn’t let us have unhealthy snacks in the house?

Betty: Yeah?

Kyle: Well that was a lie. We just couldn’t afford any food, so I kind of told that to you guys so the party wouldn’t completely suck. I’m sorry about that, but it got better eventually. Somewhere around the middle of sophomore year, near when you left actually, my dad started getting more income at the store he worked at.

Betty: That’s really great. Where did he work, if you don’t mind me asking?

Kyle: It’s fine. He worked at the store on 5th avenue, I don’t know if you know it. It was called Murphy's? Anyways, it started getting more customers because that really big grocery store blew up in that fire. It was the talk of the town for so long I remember. I feel really bad about being able to gain something positive from that, but it really saved my family’s financial situation since people had nowhere else to shop. So long story short, after that my dad got promoted to manager and started earning enough for us to move out of the tiny apartment we settled in and move into a great house that I wasn’t ashamed to invite my friends over to. My mom went into the counseling field and started counseling people online and in person, and earned a lot of money from that as well. So ever since then, we’ve been able to live the life we had always wanted. 

Betty: Wait, your last name is Hadfield, right?

Kyle: Uh, yeah why?

Betty: Oh, that’s just funny because my therapist of many years is named Ms. Hadfield.

Kyle: Wow that’s cool, I wonder if it’s my mom!

Betty: Yeah.  

Kyle: I’m sorry for pouring out all of that to you. Tell me about yourself. Anything.

Betty: Well, my favorite animal is a butterfly. I also think I’m going to need a new therapist.