Tennessee Heat

by Cami York

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Chase was furious, “if she touch one hair on your head, I’m going to prison.” He jumped off the bed and went to grab his phone. Annabelle didn’t know who he was calling until she heard him call his sister’s name.

  “Kimmy, have you seen or spoken to that Lisa person since the last time you came home for Thanksgiving? Well next time you see her tell her for me, if she comes anywhere near Annabelle I’ll beat her to within an inch of her fucking life.”

  “I’d tell her myself but I don’t have any dealings with her, you just tell her however you want to phrase it, but I’m dead serious. Why didn’t you tell me how serious this shit was? I thought she was over her shit.”

  Annabelle couldn’t hear Kimmy’s side of the conversation of course, but whatever was being said was not in the least bit pleasing to Chase. She’d never seen him this pissed. He clenched his fist and paced back and forth as he spoke.

  For the next few days Annabelle played the coward. She could not help thinking of the other girl’s threat and whether or not she was serious. If this had been a year ago she wouldn’t have minded. She wouldn’t think twice of giving Lisa a beat down if she came after her, but the baby.

  She had a ton of holiday shopping still left to do, something she’d looked forward to. She’d already broken one date with Kimmy who was finally home for winter break, claiming morning sickness when her friend pressed her. But now it was getting on her nerves, this, hiding away in her home.

  It got to the point that she was dreaming of her at night; she’d wake up in a cold sweat after a dream where the other girl had punched her in the stomach and hurt the baby. Sometimes she wondered how something she’d feared for most of her life could now mean the world to her.

  She never wanted to be a teenage mom but now, the thought of anything happening to her child puts a kind of fear in her that she never knew. “I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

  And to keep that promise she stayed inside behind closed doors, not even sharing her lingering fear with Chase for fear of him really going after Lisa like he’d promised.

  But now it was the Saturday afternoon, before Christmas, which fell on a Monday this year. A chilly December day, with the roads slick with ice because of a rare splattering of snow and hail the night before.

  The sky was grey and over casted. It was the kind of day that, had Christmas music not been blasting from every storefront, and decorations lining every street, would’ve made her spirits low.

  It was about three o'clock, and Annabelle was coming home from work. A job that she knew she was going to have to leave soon. It’s a miracle that Chase had let her stay on as long as he had, and he only did that because she told him how nice the owners had been to her and given her a chance when she needed it. But he was still not pleased.

  She was giving serious thought to heading down to the shopping area even though she’d finished most of her shopping online, when her phone rang. She answered with a smile thinking that it was Chase, and regretted it right away.

  It was her mother and she prepared herself for something else to darken the already gloomy day, but she didn’t expect what her mother had to say. “I’m sick, been sick nearly a week now. This isn’t like all those other times Annabelle, this time I don’t think I’m going to make it.”

  Annabelle felt her heart lurch and all the old guilt came rushing back. Maybe she really is an ungrateful bitch, maybe she is ashamed of her own mother and where she’d come from, and now that her station in life had changed she was glad to leave her behind.

  She fought back tears and cleared her throat. “Don’t worry mom, I’ll be right there hang on.” She hung up the phone feeling guilty and what’s more, deeply and ashamed.

  It’s true she’d hardly given the other woman a second thought since finding out about the baby. Her whole world has been consumed with Chase and their life together. At least that sounded better than the other and didn’t make her feel as bad about herself.

  31

  She pressed the first contact on her phone and he answered on the second ring. “Are you busy?”

  “Not if it’s you beautiful, what’s up?”

  “Mom called, I have to go over there.” He didn’t say anything for the longest while but she could well imagine what he wanted to say.

  “You know how I feel about that. I’d much rather you wait for me to take you.”

  “I know but she sounds horrible, she says it’s an emergency. I won’t stay long, I’ll just go take a look, maybe run to the pharmacy and get her what she needs. Maybe see about making her a doctor’s appointment.”

  “Belle!”

  “Please, I haven’t spoken to her for a few weeks and it’s Christmas…”

  “Fine, but you call me as soon as you get there and when you’re about to leave.”

  “Yes sir!” He grinned and she felt a little bit easier when they hung up.

  She drove onto her street almost half an hour later, knowing that her truck stood out but it couldn’t be helped. The block looked pretty much like she expected it to. There were broken lights in dirty windows and strings of old ratty pieces of pine garland above doorways, eking out their last vestiges of life.

  Her heart jumped in her chest when she thought she saw someone that looked very much like Lisa hanging around near the house next door to her mother’s when she pulled up. She told herself that it couldn’t be, because the other girl wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this. Not so far out of her comfort zone.

  But just to be safe she decided to drive around the block so she could get a good look as she drove by instead of just getting out of the truck.

  Whoever the person was seemed to have disappeared down the side of the house and she told herself that she was just being stupid and spooking herself.

  She even laughed out loud at her stupidity as she made her way around the block again. She ignored the guys who were standing around outside, but thankfully because it was cold out, there weren’t that many of them. Just a few diehards who wouldn’t let a little thing like cold keep them from making dirty money.

  She turned off the tuck and got down, being careful not to slip on the icy road. She had her head down putting her keys away in her bag and nearly ran smack dab into Lisa, who was standing between her and the front door.

  Annabelle gave a little cry of surprise, as Lisa approached her with a sneer: “I bet you didn't expect to see me here did you bitch?” Annabelle did not answer, but tried to walk around her. This was her worst nightmare, but if she just made it to the door and inside she might be able to avoid disaster.

  Lisa stepped forward and blocked her way. “What’s your hurry bitch, you don’t have a few minutes to spare for the person whose life you destroyed?” The girl all but yelled in her face.

  “Yes, my mother is sick I need to get to her,” Annabelle said, trying to get around her again. “What if I don’t let you?” Lisa poked her in the shoulder and Annabelle reached into her still open bag for her phone.

  She didn’t remove it, just pressed the number one for Chase and hoped like hell he could hear and that Lisa wouldn’t hear him on the other end when he picked up.

  “Why don't you leave me alone? Why are you here?” Annabelle asked. “I’m not bothering you! I don’t even think about you.”

  “Not bothering me? You’ve been bothering me since the day you showed up at my school and infiltrated my life!'

  “I don’t have time for this, get out of my way.” Annabelle once again tried getting around her, but Lisa refused to move out of the way. “Look, I don't have anything to say to you. I don’t know why you came all the way over here, but you’re wasting your time. We have nothing to say to each other.”

  “But I’ve got plenty to say to you-you low class trailer trash bitch and you’re not going anywhere until I’ve said what I came here to say. How dare you?” Annabelle looked round for help, surely her mother had heard them out here by now.

&nb
sp; She could already see the guys that were loitering across the street paying attention and inching closer. Just what I need she thought.

  They gradually gathered around in a little circle at the end of the little cracked path that led to the front door. Doors were beginning to open and people were stepping out on their stoops to see what all the commotion was about and still Ms. Scacci had yet to make an appearance.

  Pretty soon there was a good size crowd gathered and Annabelle wished that she’d listened to Chase. She hated being a spectacle for all these people, something she’d never been when she lived here, and from the whispers that reached her ears she was pretty sure there would be no help from that quarter.

  Most of the women and some of the men were loud in their assessment of the situation. They all seemed to think that she thought she was better than them and she deserved whatever she was about to get.

  So though Annabelle wanted to ask for help, from among the many people gathered there, they all seemed to be against her. There was nowhere to turn. All she could think about was her child and what was going to happen if she couldn’t protect her or him.

  She looked back at Lisa who stood in front of her, trembling with rage with a mad look in her eyes. Why hadn’t I ever noticed that she’s crazy? Annabelle thought; had I known she was legit-nuts I would’ve maybe handled things a little differently. Now it’s too late.

  She looked around again for anyone to help her but Lisa caught the move. “Who you looking for bitch? Nobody’s going to help you,” said Lisa, sneeringly, “so you could stop dreaming of your knight in shining armor coming to the rescue. Chase isn’t here to protect your slutty ass.”

  “I don’t know what you want, but you need to step off and leave me the hell alone.” Lisa knew that Annabelle was only acting this way because of the brat in her belly. And if she were being honest with herself she would never have had the nerve to confront the bitch if she wasn’t pregnant.

  But that was the whole point wasn’t it? She was going to kick the brat out of her belly if it’s the last thing she do. She knew now that it was too late for her and Chase, but that didn’t mean that this undeserving bitch had a right to him and the life that should’ve been hers.

  “I haven't done anything to you. I haven’t even seen you in weeks and before that we had no dealings with each other.” Annabelle was trying to buy time in the off chance that her call had gone through and Chase was even now on his way.

  “Not done nothing to me?” Lisa repeated furiously. “I'll tell you what you've done to me; you've used your trailer trash sluttish ways to steal the man I love. Things would’ve gone fine between Chase and I if you hadn’t come along shaking your ass in front of him. Don’t think I didn’t see you all those times, pretending to be smart and smiling in his face all the time like the bitch you are.”

  Okay, she really is nuts, thought Annabelle. “Lisa, get real if Chase wanted you, you two would be together. How is it my fault that he…”

  “He was interested until you took him from me. And now he’s going to marry you?” Her eyes fell to the rock on Annabelle’s finger and she saw red. That should be my ring dammit, she thought in her mad haze.

  “Ever since you came into the picture he has no time for anyone else, it's all about you. All his money that car that you’re driving, it should all be mine.” Lisa started crying in fury, because as the words fell from her lips she realized how hopeless her situation was.

  “My life is ruined and it’s all because of you!” She shook her fist at Annabelle in an old fashioned fighting stance and the crowd started egging her on.

  “I never took anything from you. I repeat, if Chase was interested in you there’s no way I could’ve taken him away from you.” Annabelle hated the fact that she had to try reasoning with this loon instead of knocking her on her ass, but always her thoughts went to Chase’s child.

  If she could only get out of this unscathed she would never disobey him again. But Lisa wasn’t done with her yet, no she seemed to have a lot to get off her chest.

  “Don’t give me that shit; I know you did it on purpose. You filthy bitch! You should’ve stayed where you belong instead of trying to climb up the social ladder on my back.”

  “She's right about that!” said one of the women in the crowd. “I knew this bitch was gonna get hers sooner or later.” Said yet another.

  “See, not even your own kind likes you.” Sneered Lisa, getting more hot and excited, now that the crowd was getting involved and were staunchly behind her.

  Even her voice had gone up a few octaves and her hands were now flying every which way as she got herself in a rage.

  “I’ve been looking for you all this time but you’ve been too scared to even step outside your house.” Lisa’s words got Annabelle to thinking. Just how did she know that she was going to be here and when?

  32

  The nasty thought that her mother might be the one behind this filled her with fear and disgust.

  “You're a bed hopping bitch and we both know it! You threw over that Tim guy as soon as you saw dollar signs when you met Chase and the Worthington family. That’s the only reason you pretended to be friends with Kimmy.”

  “That’s a damn lie.” Annabelle answered indignantly. She needed to protect her child but she’d be damned if she was going to give this fool or these other blood suckers the satisfaction of stomping all over her reputation.

  “Yes you are,” screamed Lisa, as she advanced menacingly, so that Annabelle had to take a step back.

  “He’s only marrying you because of the brat in your belly you know. Did you really think he would seriously want to marry someone like you, over me?” Lisa stood closer now her breath showing in the cold evening air as she huffed and puffed in her anger.

  She had to stop for a moment to catch her breath, but she never took her eyes off of Annabelle, and didn’t move out of her way, while the spectators egged her on in bloodthirsty anticipation.

  “Lisa, move the hell out of my way. I’m sure Kimmy gave you the message from Chase. If you touch me or his child he’ll have your ass.” Annabelle had had about enough of this mess. It was cold and her feet were beginning to hurt. She wanted out of there yesterday and this fool didn’t seem in any hurry to get over her shit.

  “You dirty little bitch!” Lisa screamed, and with her open hand she slapped Annabelle across the cheek. Annabelle who until now didn’t think she would seriously hit her, stepped back in shock and put her hand up to her face.

  “Aren’t you going to fight me back you bitch?” Lisa said just before hitting her again, this time on the other cheek. Then, as a final insult, gathering up all the spit in her mouth, she spat in Annabelle's face. That was about all Annabelle was gonna take.

  Annabelle sprang on her, and with her hands spread out like claws buried her nails in the girl's face and drew them down her cheeks. Lisa shrieked with rage and caught hold of her hair with both hands and tugged at it as hard as she could, while Annabelle dug her fingers into her eyes, hard enough to dig them from her head.

  Someone finally separated them, but when Annabelle realized it was Dirk she knew the worst was yet to come. “Who’s taking bets? Let’s make this shit worthwhile.” He grinned at Annabelle like he’d been waiting for this day all his life.

  “And none of that hair pulling shit, either. Fight it out with your fists, haven’t you two ever seen a YouTube fight?”

  “I'll fight this bitch anyway you want! Shouted Lisa, whose blood was up now that she had the crowd behind her cheering her on even more.

  If Annabelle had any doubts about what the people of her old neighborhood thought about her she had none now. She didn’t even bother looking around for help and if Chase had even got her call, she couldn’t wait for him now. She had to handle this shit on her own.

  Lisa meanwhile was posing up like a prizefighter hopping from one leg to the other with her hands up in a boxing stance. All the while savagely glaring at her opponent.

&nbs
p; Annabelle stood in front of her, pale and trembling in fear for her baby; as she looked at Lisa’s face, and saw the long red marks left by her nails, she knew there was no going back. But for the sake of her child she had to try again.

  “I don't want to fight with you,” she said hoarsely. Hating that she had to beg this thing, but for the sake of her child she didn’t have a choice.

  “I don't care what you want bitch, you came into my backyard and started this shit, now I’m here to end it.” Lisa hissed as she got closer, close enough to whisper her last threat.

  “I know you’re trying to protect that brat but it’s not going to live out the night.” Lisa hissed with glee before stepping back again. “Now let’s go, get your hands up so I can give you this ass whipping.”

  “Lisa you really are twisted, you know damn good and well I can’t fight you.”

  “That sounds like a you problem ain’t got shit to do with me, now let’s go bitch. Come on!” And with those words Lisa rushed her.

  Annabelle twisted her body in such a way that would protect her stomach as Lisa came at her. She hit her with both fists around the head one after the other. Poor Annabelle could only try to guard her tummy as blows rained down on her head.

  But when it felt like she would blackout she decided she’d better fight back because she knew if Lisa got her down it would be all over.

  So she started swinging and hoping that the other girl didn’t get in any blows to her middle, which she knew was her aim. She lashed out with her own fists; and for a minute or so they exchanged blows tit for tat raining blows on one another with their arms moving like windmills.

  But Annabelle was too conscious of her pregnant tummy and the blows came down heavy and rapid all over her face and head. She put up one hand to cover her face while protecting the baby with the other and turned her head away, while Lisa kept on hitting mercilessly.