Tennessee Heat

by Cami York

  She heard movement behind her and almost fell through the floor in total shame at Lisa’s next words as she entered the room.

  “Where do you think she got it? some second hand store no doubt.” Lisa and her friends giggled as they knew their voices had been loud enough for everyone in the kitchen to hear.

  “Or bought it off one of the crackheads on her street.” Another one of the evil trolls opined. The amount of scorn and envy in their tones was hard to miss. And just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, when the adults in the room were red faced with embarrassment, they threw down the hammer.

  “I think I saw it in the thrift shop in Salyersville.”

  “And what were you doing in the thrift shop Lori?” Kim had had enough of their bullshit at her friend’s expense. This was her house and her party. She was getting ready to kick their shady asses out when her mother stepped in.

  “Wherever you got it, it’s superb and I bet it never looked that good on anyone else. I’ve found some pretty good things in consignment shops, no shame in it at all. As a matter of fact, quite a lot of the women in my book club like to go binge shopping at least once a month. Sometimes the things aren’t even worn.”

  Annabelle knew that there was no way the sophisticated Mrs. Worthington had ever stepped foot in a thrift shop, but she appreciated the woman all the same. The adults left the room but the troll brigade stayed behind, obviously to start up their shit again.

  The others were still in the ballroom dancing and enjoying the music which thank heavens was loud enough to drum out most of what this hag was about to say. The less ears that hear whatever she has to spew the better.

  “So, three guesses as to why you’re dressed like a two bit hooker.” Lisa smirked and her friends snickered as she walked over and leaned into my ear.

  “Do you really think he’ll go for a sewer rat like you? He’ll never want you for more than a week. That’s how long it’ll take before a man like him gets tired of your poor uneducated ass. I guess all those smarts in school didn’t do much for you huh! How’re those college applications doing?”

  It was only Kim’s hand on Annabelle’s arm that held her back from slamming her fist into the other girl’s face. “Skank!” Annabelle growled in fury. She was tired of biting her tongue. She wasn’t going to see any of them after tonight anyway, so maybe it was time she stood up for herself.

  She leaned into Lisa’s face until their noses were almost touching and let all the venom she’d held in check for the past couple years pour forth.

  “I’ll smash your face in if you say one more fucking word to me. Where I buy my clothes is none of your business. As to your going off to college while I’m stuck here, you can go to ten of them and still never be as smart as I. As to the other, I don’t see him breaking down your door. Though you try so hard.”

  Now it was Annabelle’s turn to smirk as Lisa’s face filled with embarrassed rage.

  “Fuck you-you trailer park trash!” Lisa replied but her comeback was lacking heat though the words stung.

  She felt the cut deep but Annabelle didn’t show it in front of her enemies. She refused to let the bitter tears fall as she reassured herself that she may come from the worst part of town, but it wasn’t who she was. It seems she’s been doing that a lot lately, as her dreams slipped farther and farther away.

  “I think you should leave.” Kimberly had finally had enough of the hanger on. If she was the type to gossip she would’ve blown her out the water, but then her mom would get mad at her for sharing things said to her in confidence.

  It was a well-known fact, in the neighborhood at least, that Lisa’s parents were on the brink of a divorce. Her dad had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar at the firm he worked for, and the mother was the county cum dump.

  A lot of people surmised that the daughter wasn’t too far behind her in that respect as much as she liked putting on airs. Lisa’s face turned red and she wasn’t looking so fierce now that her friends literally stepped away from her.

  For a split second she looked almost human as her lips trembled, but she regrouped fast enough and squared her shoulders, and lifted her chin.

  Once Annabelle realized that it was only a handful of haters who were willing to follow Lisa’s lead, she felt less threatened and cornered. Everyone else seemed content to do what they’d come here for. Good food, music and company.

  Plus she didn’t want to make waves no matter how hateful the other girl had been. Besides, it was Kim’s last night with her friends so Annabelle decided to take the high ground once again. “No, let her stay just keep her away from me.” She turned her back dismissively on the other girl. Knowing how much it would infuriate her.

  5

  Kimberly gave Lisa one last warning before the frustrated girl turned and left the room with her entourage in tow.

  Kim might’ve believed the whole thing over and done with, but not by a long shot. As far as Lisa was concerned it had only just begun.

  She’d been waiting almost two years for this and nothing was going to stop her from getting her revenge on the little nobody who thought she could become one of them.

  It wasn’t that Annabelle had done anything to the other girl, her sin was in being too pretty, too smart and too likeable. All the things she secretly feared she wasn’t.

  Lisa had been doing everything in her power it’s true, to gain Chase’s attention. Once she’d got too close at a pool party and he’d given her the brush off, claiming that at sixteen she was too young.

  She took that to mean that her age was his only objection and all she had to do was bide her time and wait.

  In the meantime she never letup on her teasing and flirting, which he never really outwardly rebuffed, he just never gave her any encouragement.

  She could’ve lived with that for the next two years, but then Annabelle had moved to their school and that bleeding heart Kim had to go and befriend her.

  That’s where the trouble started. She’d been more than happy to accept the new girl even though she’d already grown tired of hearing how beautiful she was or how smart.

  But when they’d all been over for a sleepover and Chase had dropped by to see his dad about something, she hadn’t missed his reaction to the other girl.

  Where he’d told her she was too young, he didn’t seem to have an issue with talking to Annabelle, mostly off in a corner somewhere alone.

  It was obvious to everyone that the two of them practically forgot there were others in the room when they got together.

  Her animosity had fast become hate and she’d promised herself for two years that one day she was going to get even with her nemesis.

  Annabelle had no idea any of this was going on in the other girl’s head. She knew there was jealousy on her part, which she didn’t quite understand.

  Lisa had the kind of life she wished she had. A home with both parents, living in the best neighborhood, wore the best clothes and drove the latest model luxury cars.

  What could she possibly have to envy? It’s not like she wasn’t beautiful as well, and the truth is, Annabelle was sure Chase would more go for someone like that.

  He might want to take her to his bed, but the woman he would eventually marry and have children with would no doubt be someone like the more acceptable girl who’d won belle of the year this year.

  Annabelle had been so distracted by all the fuss over her dress and the ensuing showdown that she hadn’t had time to worry about whether or not he was here.

  A quick look around the room didn’t show him hiding in a corner watching her, so she relaxed a bit and ignored the slight pang of disappointment.

  Kim grabbed her arm and pulled her into the middle of the floor when a new song started. “Come on, let’s dance and have some fun.” She said loudly, but Annabelle was a bit reluctant.

  “Ohhh, I love this song. Come on, Annabelle, let’s get our groove on.” She added, “You and I will dance together, just pretend they’re not
here.”

  The DJ had changed up from the fast paced beat of rock to something more instrumental. Not one for dancing either way, Annabelle allowed herself to be swayed by the music, even laughing when Kim put her hand on her hips in a bid to get her to move.

  “Fine-fine I’ll dance with you.” Other couples quickly joined in, and soon, the more friendly members of their little group surrounded her.

  Not everyone was as resentful towards her as Lisa, but it was mostly the guys who were willing to overlook her background more so than the females.

  There were still a few stares and even those who refused to join in because she was there, but Annabelle ignored them all; in fact she did one better. Since she knew they were watching her even though they pretended not to, she decided to ham it up.

  She’d never had classical training but she had the natural grace of any who had. She wouldn’t spoil Kim’s party by having it out with Lisa and her crew, but she knew of other ways to get under the silly girl’s skin.

  She set her face the way she’d seen the women she used to watch as a child on TV when they broadcasted those dance shows do. Her eyes went to languorous slits, as her lips firmed in a contemptuous curl.

  Anyone watching saw beauty and grace not usually found in one so young. Especially one who’d had no training.

  Annabelle knew exactly what she was doing. She knew more than anything that the attention she drew to herself was like a dagger in the hearts of her haters. It was her last chance to show them once and for all that she was just as good as any of them.

  When one song ended and another began she went with the moment. “This is more like it.” She said as the DJ once again changed to something a bit more lively. It was one of those line dance songs. Someone yelled out ‘wobble time’ and a whole group got in formation in the middle of the room.

  Some of the guys had fallen out, but several girls had put themselves in position, in three lines, standing one behind the other. Hands started clapping to the beat as they kept time and went through the difficult steps and motions of the dance.

  They could not have done it better had they practiced it together. But the best dancer of them all was Annabelle; she threw her whole soul into it. Forgetting the earlier drama for the time being, she gave herself up entirely to the music and the renewed feeling of gaiety in the air.

  “I’ll be right back.” Kim whispered in her ear before heading off to the DJ. Annabelle should’ve known something was up from the sly look her friend gave her but thought nothing of it when another nondescript song came on.

  That song too soon ended and she knew she had been right when the next one begun. “You’re such a sneak.” The song was an old reggae beat by Movado, Never believe ya.

  They’d watched the dance off to this song a million times on YouTube when it was all the rage her and Kim, and had even perfected the dance they’d been so fascinated by.

  It had been a while since they’d done it but once again she gave herself over to the music. She didn’t even realize that the other girls stood aside, so that only she and Kim were left alone.

  They paced it carefully, watching each other's steps, and as if by instinct performed corresponding movements, so as to make the whole thing look effortlessly symmetrical .

  “Go Belle, go Kim!” The room erupted in cries of appreciation as the two girls gyrated in sync. She gave no sign of having heard them other than to calmly continue her dance. She was in her element now, the music coursing through her blood like a drum as she let herself go and enjoyed.

  She glided through the steps, and swayed about, after kicking off her shoes, all with the most charming grace imaginable. Then, the song reached the bridge which was a little more up tempo and she changed the style of her dancing, her feet and ass moving more quickly.

  She was getting lost in the music and the dance, and her moves grew wilder and more daring, probably spurred on by the wild applause. But then again she’d always liked this song and this dance and knew that her friend had thought of her when she asked the DJ to play it.

  Poor Kim fought to keep up, but laughed her way through the dance which ended in applause and appreciative whistles from the guys in the room. A quick look showed that she’d hit her mark once again with more casualties this time, and Annabelle gracefully walked off the dance floor in search of refreshment.

  She was already over the little rift and her mind once again went to Chase and whether or not he was going to show up. Her heart felt sick when she realized that she might not get that last chance to see him after all. Didn’t he even care? The wayward thought got under her guard.

  Kimberly’s beau showed up just then and the two of them went off somewhere together just as her parents came back downstairs. Annabelle took that opportunity to sneak out back where there was a gazebo. Maybe some fresh air would help calm her down after her little show.

  6

  The party was in full swing by the time Chase pulled up to the big house. It was his little sister's going away party and he'd been given strict orders to be there or else. At twenty-seven he wasn't too excited about partying with a bunch of teenagers but he always made it a point not to disappoint his baby sister.

  He saw his younger brother Emory hiding out around the side of the house and had to laugh. Em was the size of a barge but their little sister ordered him around like he was her personal lackey.

  He'd only escaped the same fate because as the oldest he'd always been put in a position of authority when the parents needed a breather.

  He climbed out of his silver grey Aston Martin and walked towards his brother in the shadows.

  “What're you doing little brother?" Emory almost jumped out of his skin at his approach.

  “Dude if you know what's good for you-you won't go in there, it's a madhouse and Kim is a devious little runt.”

  “Okay what did she do now college boy? Tell me what the big bad high school girl did to have you hiding out-out here like an old woman.” It was hard holding back his laughter, especially when it looked like his brother was about to cry.

  “Laugh all you want bro but don't say I didn't warn you; those girls are persistent." He actually tried to look around Chase to see if anyone was coming out the door.

  “First I had to hide out in the kitchen with mom and dad because a couple of them got all grabby feely, and then there was some kinda dust up between some of the girls in there, that’s when I made my escape.”

  Chase was sure that there might be some truth to his claims but he was also doubly sure that he was going a bit overboard. Em tends to exaggerate a lot.

  He clapped him on the shoulder as he turned to head inside where this bevy of frightening vixens, were supposedly hanging out. More likely than not one of them had come on too strong for his little brother who because of his size was always rather awkward around members of the opposite sex.

  He had a sudden thought of that Lisa girl. He wouldn’t put it past her to go after his brother since he hadn’t fallen prey to her wiles. She was bold enough to do it too and if the local gossip was true, she might be desperate. Her he could do without running into.

  "Let me go see what has you so shook brother." He shook his head as he walked away. Em was a big ox. At twenty-two he was well on his way to the NFL and could've been there already if not for their parents, no scratch that, their mom putting her foot down and insisting he got an education first.

  There's a pattern in this family, the women tend to rule the nest. The brothers pretty much took direction from their dad Camden who taught them from an early age to go with the flow.

  According to him, as an OBGYN he's seen the strength of women and there isn't shit men can do to keep up, so they might as well just let them have their way.

  Of course he also taught his boys to be men and protect those same women because at the end of the day it was their place as men to do just that. It made for a strange balance but it worked for them.

  The women on the other hand enjoyed the
benefit of having such men in their corner but they also knew where to draw the line, and that was usually anything that had to do with their safety. Everything else, they had free reign and used it too.

  The place was a mob; the noise level was off the charts with the walls thumping from the bass of the techno crap that was blaring. Geez, he thought. Was I this bad when I was her age? I don’t think so, but who knows, my folks might have a different claim.

  He did a quick scan looking for a head of dark locks and those beautiful exotic eyes but didn’t see her. He’d been battling his feelings for little Annabelle for the past few months. He’d steered clear of her for the past few years, doing nothing more than sharing some very interesting conversations about world politics and such.

  When they first met she was too young, and though he found her to be one of the most beautiful women of his acquaintance, he wasn’t the kind of man to go after a girl that young. It was only when her eighteenth birthday came around that he allowed himself to even contemplate his feelings for her.

  There was no doubt in his mind that his feelings for her were real. They’d kept him up many a night in the last few weeks and he was still no closer to a solution.

  What he did know, was that he wanted her. In the beginning he’d restrained himself from finding out too much about her for fear that he might step over the line.

  But when he’d finally caved and pumped his sister for information it was obvious that if he’d fooled anyone else he hadn’t fooled her. She’d laughed and told him she was wondering how long it would take him.

  She was sure he was only waiting until her friend was old enough, she’d said. Apparently she hadn’t missed all those looks he thought had been well hidden.

  Now tonight seemed to spell some kind of turning point. He had a feeling that if he was going to do anything it would have to be now, or he may never get another chance. He had some idea that Annabelle might be interested in him too, she was always so skittish when he came around.