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.”
CHAPTER THREE
Annabelle
After Homecoming, my relationship with Phoenix was different, in a good way. I think hearing the words “I love you” from him was what I needed to stop holding back. I no longer felt the need to hide the true nature of my home life from him. So, when he took me home one night in November and asked if anyone was home because the house was so dark, I answered him honestly.
“It’s dark because we don’t have any power,” I said softly.
“Annabelle—,” he started, but I cut him off.
“Phoenix, my parents aren’t like your grandparents. My mother is a drunk and my father is hardly ever home. He only comes home for a day, two at the most, before he takes off again. He doesn’t help with the bills and my mom lost her job with Macy’s parents not long after school started. When she didn’t show up for work and I couldn’t fill in for her, Macy’s parents had no choice but to fire her,” I explained.
He rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “You aren’t working for Gram to save money for college, are you?”
“No, I’m not. I’m sorry for lying to you. You come from such a good family and I was embarrassed by mine.”
“Annabelle, I don’t give a shit about what kind of parents you have or where you come from. I care about you. I love you, doll face. Now, please let me help you,” he pleaded.
“I can’t, Phoenix. I just can’t,” I said, starting to get upset.
“Okay, okay,” he relented. “But I can’t let you stay in that house without power. It’s too cold, baby. Come spend the night in one of Gram’s guest rooms and we’ll figure something out tomorrow, okay?”
“Your grandparents won’t mind?” I asked.
“No, they won’t, as long as you stay in your room and I stay in mine.”
As much as I didn’t want to accept any handouts, the thought of a warm and cozy bed was too good to pass up. “Okay. Just for tonight.”
“Just for tonight,” he agreed and squeezed my hand.
The next morning, I nervously left the guest room and tiptoed down the stairs. I found Phoenix and his grandparents in the kitchen, seemingly waiting for me.
“Good morning,” I shakily said to the room.
