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Chapter Two: Meeting
Simon watched Jared's hand move under the table, his fingers flying as he answered the vibrating call. As soon as dinner was over he left the table, Simon following close behind. He could not bear to watch his mother try to pull his father out of the stupor he had been in for the past three months. This night was nothing special - why should it change?
Following Jared upstairs he went into his own room, directly to the right of Jared's. Falling into his computer chair, he rolled over to the wall and pressed the side of his head to it.
"Dude, when are you getting there?" Jared said. Simon could only hear his half of the conversation.
"They've got a pool? Shit. I'll pick you up at eight."
Simon heard the snap of a closed cell phone and pushed himself away from the wall. Yet another party and yet another night he'd rather stay home. Yet another night they'd want me to stay home... Simon thought angrily and pressed the power button on the computer monitor. It flickered three times before coming back and focusing. The forum page was still updating - no one had noticed he was gone.
As he heard Jared go downstairs, his phone went off. Only one person ever called Simon.
"What?"
"Simon, you hear about the party?" Brendan said.
Of course he'd heard: he lives with one of the biggest jocks in the school.
"So I'm thinking we should crash it, I heard Renee is going to be there."
Simon knew all about Renee: A Star Wars enthusiast with tits the size of basketballs.
"Can't you just go without me?" Simon finally said while sighing.
"No. It's your senior year, Simon, I think that maybe more than twice in your teenage life you should go to a party. Besides, I hear they have a pool..."
Girls in swimsuits, no wonder he wanted to go. Simon felt very apprehensive at the thought of mingling with the Enemy, but the eagerness in Brendan's voice swayed him... maybe Annabelle would be there...
"Fine."
"I'll pick you up now," he finished before hanging up.
Leaning back in his chair Simon ran his hand through his hair, the curtain falling down once more. He traced his eyebrows with his finger before rising and looking in the mirror at himself. He jeans were too long, too dark, and too worn. His shirt was too big, his hair too greasy. Yet he didn't care. Who was he trying to impress anymore? A month and a half and he'd finally be out of school, not having to face the Enemy ever again.
Picking up his camera and grabbing his phone and stuffing it in his pocket, he went downstairs. He didn't bother to tell his mother where he was going. She was still at the table, looking towards the living room as she played with what was left of her dinner on her plate. Around and around her fork went, tracing endless cycles as she didn't even blink. Simon watched her for a full forty-seven seconds - she didn't blink.
Exiting the house he slammed the door behind him and sat down on the steps, leaning forward, his chin on his hands. It was still oppressively hot, the air closing around him and making him wish he had brought an extra T-shirt with him down from his room. It was too late now; he was not going back inside to see his mother with that stare.
Brendan finally pulled up, his old, rusted car coughing in his driveway letting out puffs of emission that seemed to congeal in the humidity. Simon as having a sinking feeling - he did not want to go.
Without looking back, Simon got into the car next to Brendan and looked straight out the side window until they had pulled out of his driveway.
"I don't want to stay long," he said.
"I know," Brendan answered, a bit exasperated. "Just let me talk to Renee for a little while."
Simon stayed silent until they got to the designated house. There were people milling about the lawn, a small bit of the pool could be seen around the corner of the house.
Brendan was forced to park on the side of the street a little ways down. The house was in a pretty secluded area, nestled far back into the trees. It seemed noise would not be too much of a problem with neighbors not very close by.
"Whose house is this?" Simon asked.
"Tessa Roan's, whoever that is..." he answered, already distracted as he looked around wildly for any sign of Renee. They walked up the lawn, no one glancing their way as they made it into the house. The dull thump of a base could be heard through multiple rooms as they made their way to the drinks. Simon stared at the beer cans littering the counter and turned away - he could never stomach alcohol. Leaning against the counter, Simon looked around at the people. He could see the ties of bathing suits as girls made their rounds socializing. Simon had no use for it. Why bother with these people? It's not like he'd ever talk to them again.
Brendan walked away a few minutes later, muttering something about Renee and left Simon to laze against the counter alone. He wished he hadn't come, and was really not looking forward to meeting his brother here, though knowing him he was already upstairs in a locked room. Looking around once more his eyes finally rested on Annabelle. She looked like she felt a little awkward in her bathing suit. Her hand kept reaching up and fiddling with the strap around her neck. She was talking to some boy who towered over her, and Simon felt a creeping feeling of unpleasantness as he watched him take her waist in his meaty hand.
Turning away, Simon picked up a drink, desperate to do something.
"I thought you didn't drink, Simon," a voice said. Simon recognized it.
"I can do what I want, Jared," he said, turning. Jared was still in his football jersey from dinner, his pupils dilated and his eyes bloodshot. Apparently, he hadn't wasted any time upon his arrival.
"I can't believe you came here," he said, picking up a drink. "I thought you were too good for this type of thing."
"Isn't there some chick you should be fucking?" Simon said angrily. His brother was not someone he wanted to deal with right now.
Jared was unfazed by his response, "Just wanted to check up on my brother." He pushed Simon in the arm, causing his to stumble slightly.
"Just go away," Simon snapped.
"Whatever you say, bro." he answered, staggering slightly as he made his way over to another room. Inside bodies crushed together as the base pounded around them. Turning away, Simon once again looked for Annabelle. Sadly, he saw that she was no longer in his eyesight. His hand went up to the camera around his neck. Maybe he could just ditch Brendan and go down the street to take pictures.
Pushing himself off the counter he maneuvered his way to the back door which was closer. He had no want to put himself close to the Enemy in an attempt to squeeze through the crowds and out the front door.
The deck was less crowded as night was falling and it was becoming too cool to be outside. Simon once again saw Annabelle. She was walking right toward him. Backing up, Simon tried to go the other was, only to find that the only steps down from the deck were the ones Annabelle was coming up. Cornered, he turned his back to her so he wouldn't have to watch her pass.
"Simon?" he heard her voice say. Freezing, Simon rotated as slow as he could to see if it was really she. It was. Her modest skirt, her tank top, her bathing suit, and her hair pulled back into high ponytail that waved when she moved even the slightest one way or the other. She reached up and smoothed it.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
Simon could only shrug. She came a little closer and his heart sped up.
"Nice camera," she said, motioning with her hand. Simon noticed how long her fingers were. "My dad and I had just went to the mall last weekend to get me a new one. I remember seeing that model, I heard it performs great."
Simon mind whirled for a moment. She liked photography too? He felt as though he had risen ten feet from the ground.
"Yeah -" Simon had to cough and clear his throat. "Yeah, it's pretty nice."
"Do you mind if I see it?" she asked, reaching out tentatively.
He pulled it from around his neck quickly and handed it to her. "You can try it out if you like," he said.
"Really?" her eyes grew wide, and Simon realized just how blue they were. "That's be so cool!" Quickly, she raced down the deck steps, clutching the camera tightly to her bosom.
"Do you want to get in the picture?" she asked him, smiling.
"Um..." Simon didn't know quite how to respond.
"Yeah come here! This is the perfect back drop!" She ran forward and pulled him by the arm and positioned him in front of the pool. Behind him the woods stretched out and an old shed stood to the right. "I think the pool and the shed add and industrialized twist to the natural backdrop. What do you think?"
Simon could only nod dumbly.
"Okay ready?" she asked.
"What do I..."
"One," she counted, "two, three - "
Simon felt it before he could wrap his mind around it. A hard shove in the shoulder and he was falling into the pool, the water coming around him like a vacuum as he sunk to the bottom. Underneath the water he could hear laughter up above. Maybe he should just never come out, muffle the laughter for eternity. But then he thought of Annabelle. Had she planned this? Anger coursed through him and he made his way to the surface, sputtering as he tried to expel the water that had take residence in his lungs.
It took a few moments for his sight to clear, above him all he could see was the Enemy, spinning around him as he struggle to get himself out of the pool. His T-shirt clung to his skinny form. He saw Annabelle, but she was not laughing. Instead she seemed yelling at Todd Cleaver, the ass that had been talking to her earlier. Simon felt his heart rise once more even as the laughter around him continued. Annabelle walked over to him.
"I'm sorry, Simon. I can get you a towel..."
"It's all right," he said, moving past her to walk home. She ran to catch up with him.
"I didn't think he would do that, I couldn't believe that he would..."
"Don't worry about it," he said, shoulders slumped as he tried to hid his face and skinny form from her. By now they were on the front lawn.
"I never go my picture," she said brightly after a few moments.
Simon stopped and turned to her. "After all that you still..."
"Why wouldn't I?" she said, backing up and pointing the camera at him. "You may be soaking wet, but it's still a great shot!" For the first time that night, Simon smiled as she took his picture.
"Wow, the quality is great!" she said as she looked at the small screen on the back. "I'm so jealous!" Simon walked over looking at the screen while keeping his distance so he wouldn't get her wet.
Simon mustered his courage, "Mind if I take yours?" he asked.
Annabelle looked at him for a moment. "Sure, but I'm not very photogenic..."
"I doubt that," Simon said quietly as he directed her to sit on the front porch. "Perfect," he said as she positioned herself. Lifting the camera, Simon watched her through the lens. She was outlined in gold by the setting sun; loose strands of hair had come loose from her ponytail, playing around the edges of her face. He held that for a long as he could before snapping the picture.
"How do I look?" she asked, coming over to his side and looking around him. "Oh, no," she said closing her eyes. "Delete it!"
Simon could see nothing wrong with it; she looked like an angel.
"You look perfect," he said, turning it off before she could delete it herself. Annabelle looked a bit uncomfortable - he could almost hit himself for making her feel that way. He didn't want to see her anything less than happy.
"So, anyway," she said rather quickly, "thanks for letting me try out your camera - it's fantastic. I'll see you Monday!" She was off again, still framed by the angelic glow of the sun. Turning away only after she was out of sight, he walked home. Brendan would know that he had walked.
When out of sight from the house, he turned on the camera once more. He watched Annabelle's face appear on the screen, a vision of beauty as she always was. He shoulders were hunched a bit as though she was not used to people taking pictures of her, her hand on her knee looked ready to reach up and once more smooth her hair.
Simon traced his finger along the tiny screen, outlining her legs, face, the curve of her lower back. Smiling, Simon tucked the camera away. He was very glad now that Brendan had forced him to go. As he neared his house, his cell phone rang.
"Hello?" he said happily.
"Simon, dude, you'll never guess what happened tonight!"
"You lost you virginity?" Simon asked, he was in an exceptionally good mood.
"Not yet," Brendan said, "but I was very close. Renee seemed to warm up to me.
"I wonder if it was your obsession with Star Wars?"
"No, it was my manly charm," Brendan laughed. "What's up with you, you haven't been this responsive since last February when you got that camera.
"Nothing," Simon said. Annabelle was his secret - she was too precious to he shared with someone like Brendan. "Look, I've walked home, I'm almost there now, so you don't have to worry about driving me."
"Sweet, Renee hasn't left yet anyway, I wanted to stay a bit longer."
"Bye," Simon said before hanging up the phone.
He reached the front door of his house and pushed it open quietly. It was ten-thirty and it was likely that his parents were already in bed. Before stepping completely into his house, he turned around. He clutched his camera and strode out the door. He done it before and this time he had something he desperately wanted to see.
Walking quickly down the sidewalk, he made his way to school. It was only a ten minute walk, but Simon felt he would have run a marathon if it meant seeing the developed photo that night. The moon was almost full and it lighted his way clearly. No cars passed - it was just he and his camera, he and Annabelle.
Vaulting the gates easily with his long legs, Simon took of across the schoolyard to the outside of the photography classroom. The window was left open due to the heat they had had that day. Putting his camera inside first, he slid his skinny body through the window and onto the counter. Setting his feet on the floor, he took his camera and began developing the film. He watched in the red light as the pictures he had taken throughout the last few days emerged on the paper. They always looked so much better when they were developed this way - he had not quite gotten used to the digital aspect of his camera.
Hers was the last to develop; he watched her whole body come into focus, her hair, her eyes, and her body. He wanted to look at it forever.
"It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me."
Results please.
Poem is Annabelle Lee by Edgar Allen Poe
Expect to see more of it in later chapters.
Thanks for reading!
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