Phoenix
I saw Annabelle every day for the rest of the summer. During the weekdays, I had football practice and she worked at my Gram’s shop when she wasn’t helping her mother clean Macy’s parents’ house, but the evenings and weekends were ours. To me, it didn’t matter what we did or who we were with, as long as the two of us were together.
When school started, I picked Annabelle up every morning and drove us to school. In the afternoons, she drove my truck to Gram’s shop to work for a few hours while I was at practice. I hated that she worked so much, but she told me she was trying to save as much as she could so she wouldn’t have to work much when she went off to college. And I believed her, until a month before the Homecoming football game and dance, when the nominations for Homecoming King and Queen were made.
I wasn’t surprised in the least when Annabelle was nominated. Yes, she was new to the school, but she quickly became the sweetheart of our little town. Annabelle, however, was completely caught off guard by the nomination and didn’t seem too happy about it.
On the way home from school that day, I finally asked her, “Doll face, what’s wrong?”
She remained silent for several minutes before finally giving it to me. “Phoenix, I don’t have the money to be a part of the Homecoming festivities. I’ll need to buy a new dress, shoes, jewelry, pay to have my hair done. I just can’t afford it.”
I wanted to offer to buy her dress and everything else she needed, but I knew from past experience she wouldn’t like it. So, I tried a different tactic. “You know, Gram is one hell of a bargain shopper. You’d be surprised at some of the deals she’s come across. I bet she could help you find a dress for a steal.”
Annabelle turned hopeful eyes to me. “You think she can help me find what I need for less than $50?”
I smiled. “I know she can, doll face. I’ll talk to her when I get home.”
Gram was more than willing to help Annabelle. She, too, wanted to buy her a nice dress, but I explained Annabelle’s feelings about having things handed to her. Gram grinned as if she knew something I didn’t. “Well, I guess we will have to start shopping tomorrow.”
The next afternoon, Annabelle and Gram went shopping and returned home with what looked like a brand new dress, matching shoes, jewelry, and a purse. Annabelle squealed with delight when she pulled the dress from the bag to show me. “We got all of this for $30! Can you believe it Phoenix? Look, the dress still has the tags on it!”
“It’s beautiful,” I said, smiling at how happy she was. “A beautiful dress for a beautiful girl.”
I knew Gram’s friend owned the local thrift shop. I had no doubt Gram bought the dress and accessories in Cedar Valley and dropped it off with her friend to hold for Annabelle and only Annabelle.
Before Annabelle and I left to meet up with Macy and Aaron for dinner and a movie, I hugged Gram and whispered my thanks into her ear.
She winked and shrugged. “I just went shopping.” Yeah, twice, I thought.
***
Since Aaron and I had to be at the school early for the Homecoming football game, Annabelle and Macy decided to get ready at Macy’s house and ride to the game together. Macy didn’t go to school with us, but she was escorting Aaron onto the field when the players were announced. Annabelle, of course, was escorting me.
When I caught sight of her walking onto the field, my breath seized in my chest. She smiled as she neared me and all I could do was stare. I still hadn’t moved or made a sound when she reached me. “Phoenix?” she asked worriedly. “Is everything okay?”
At the sound of uncertainty in her voice, my faculties came back online. “You are undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in the world,” I breathed.
She blushed and cast her eyes to the ground. “Thank you, Phoenix.”
After they announced the team, she went back to the stands with Macy while Aaron and I took to the field. I was the starting quarterback and Aaron was the starting left tackle. Since we were both seniors and it was our last Homecoming game, the coach kept us in the game for the entire first half, which meant I was a stinky, sweaty mess by half-time.
I had less than 20 minutes to get out of my football gear, shower as fast as humanly possible, put on my Homecoming clothes, and get back to the field for the Homecoming court announcements. I pushed through the locker room doors and ran to the field, coming to a stop beside Annabelle.
“I was worried you wouldn’t make it in time,” she whispered.
“I almost didn’t,” I whispered back, right as our names sounded over the speaker. We took our place on the field and waited while the other nominees were announced.
I will openly admit I was nervous. For her, not for me. I couldn’t care less if I won Homecoming King or not. What I didn’t want to happen was for me to win and her not to. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t realize I had missed something until Annabelle jabbed me with her elbow and whisper-yelled, “Phoenix, go!”
I stepped forward, unsure of what was happening until I saw someone coming at me with an obnoxiously large, fake crown. Fuck me. I won.
I stood in front of the court, facing the packed stands, nervously glancing around and waiting for the next announcement. And draw it out, they did. The microphone was tested, as if it hadn’t been working properly the entire night. The announcer took a sip of water. The envelope was dropped. When the girl started to fumble with the envelope like she couldn’t get it open, I couldn’t take it anymore. I yanked it from her hands, ripped it open, and said into the microphone, “This year’s Homecoming Queen is my girl, Annabelle Burnett.”
I turned and extended my hand to her. She immediately stepped forward and took it. Once she was crowned, I cupped her cheek and gave her a chaste kiss. Then, against her lips, I whispered the words I had wanted to say for some time, “I love you, Annabelle.”
She grinned. “I love you, too, Phoenix.”