Saving Georgia (3 page)

“Rehearsal again? This takes perfectionism to a whole other level,” I mutter.

“I think OCD without the quirks is a bit more fitting, I’d say,” Shane said through a crooked smile. Tilting his cowboy hat, chewing on some straw and fumbling with his Lonestar belt buckle, could he be anymore clichéd?

“Well, ain’t you eloquent!” I said as exasperated as possible, tossing my hands on my hips for dramatic effect.

“Just your everyday Hemingway.” He winks at me with his boyish American charm. Rare form, Mr. Dalton. I love my best friend
. He knows how to make a bad situation, particularl
y
    ones that involve Mist
y
better.

Just then, Little Miss Bossy steps outside
. I can’t believe she talked to 
 
the   Hyde’
s
like that.

“Okay, you two. We only have a little more than a month to get this gig right. Let’s try this again.”

“Hi to you, too, Misty. Please, won’t you come in? Oh wait. You already did.” I said, fully knowing that would get under her skin.

“No time for your foolishness. We need to practice,” she snarked.

And with that, no one challenged her. Shane rolled his eyes and grabbed his guitar out of the truck bed. We gathered under the oak tree and practiced again, and again, and again.

It will take a lot to stay awake today. I didn’t even have enough energy to fight off Jennifer on watching her try on every outfit she has, to finally succumb to a pair of shorts and a tank top. 7 AM is too early for conflict. Luckily there was a pot of coffee, fresh in the kitchen.

Thank goodness for my free period before lunch. I made my way to the bleachers to watch Shane practice his pitches. His big game is coming up, and what type of friend would I be if I didn’t support him? He has been there for everything and anything I ever needed and I should return the favor. Besides, what else could be more relaxing now? No stress, no pressure, no Misty Swanson. I look down and I see that Jennifer and Harper Kelly are sitting at the bottom, ogling and being all doe-eyed watching the boys practice. Mindlessly I found myself praying, just talking to God, hoping that my parents found each other when suddenly and rudely, I was interrupted.

“Now I see why you’re always around that Dalton boy.” Harper Kelly pushed her way next to me on the bleachers, flinging that huge purse of hers behind us.

“Why’s that Harper?” I said as flatly as I could, keeping my head raised to the warming sun, and my eyes closed. She only gets the minimum amount of attention possible.

“Because he has bedroom eyes, a sexy smile, and one smoking hot bod.” She swoons, running her fingers up her thighs.
Gross.

“Seriously Harper? That’s disgusting.” I cackled, not caring to hide my laugh at all. “He’s my best friend. Please don’t talk about him like that to me. It’s so disrespectful.”

“Georgia, she is just crushin’.” Jennifer says, jumping in to free her friend from my wrath. Or maybe to try to calm my nerves, I don’t know.

“Whatever Jennfier. It’s not OK with me to talk about Shane like that. It’s disgusting.” I spit out acidly.

“As disgusting as you checking out my ex-boyfriend?” Harper snaps.

She has a point. Who would have ever thought that Harper Kelly would ever make a valid point?
“What’s your angle Harper?” I hate I asked that question. I am sure I will regret this later.

“Turns out my parents are going out of town this weekend…” Harper starts off.

“Harper, don’t.” Jennifer interrupts her, quickly, I’m not sure if it’s some type of protectiveness for myself or she is embarrassed to be seen with me at this colossal social event. It did sound more of a plea now that I think about it.

“No, it’s no big deal Jenn, just a small party. If little Miss Priss brings Shane, I’ll make sure that Jason’s there.” Harper said that last part with a wicked raise of an eyebrow, and a devilish grin. Boy golly, she could be the spawn of the devil himself! “You could be so pretty with a little makeup and some cute outfits.” She continues, and starts playing with my hair.
I don’t like this; I don’t like this at all!
“Plus I heard Jason tell one of the other football players he thinks you’re cute.”

Jason thinks I’m cute? What, no way!
I feel like I have been mentally run over. How is this possible? I’m so bland, and partially intentionally at that. Where’s my brains kill switch?

“OK.” I said, automatically. How my mouth has failed me. I can’t do this, I don’t think Shane will go for this, and I am kind of using him inadvertently. My big, fat mouth betrayed me. Why! B
ut, Jason Grimes thinks I am cute!
That’s what she said. But, this is Harper Kelly we are talking about, and relying on here. But, Jennifer didn’t dispute it and she wouldn’t lie to me.
So, this has to be true, but it can’t possibly be true… could it?

“Great! Come by early with Jenn. We will do a makeover for you.”

A makeover? What?
All I can do now is sit and blink; sensation overload.

“I’ll bring her.” Jennifer spoke for me.

“Perfect! Ciao!” Harper Kelly stood up and motioned for Jenn to follow suit, as a good little lackey should.

Now I am back alone with my thoughts. Jason Grimes think’s I’m cute. I can’t wrap my head around this.

“Why you so chirper stranger?” Shane calls out, leaping into the bleachers.

“Huh?” I look up at him, with my most confused expression I could give.

“You are straight up cheesing.” He smiles, sitting down next to me.

“Am I?” I honestly didn’t realize.

“It’s because you saw that awesome curveball right? I know, super impressive. Coach is thinking of starting me against West Smithfield.” Shane rambles on. “I know what you need. Some man stench.” He says and rubs his stinky sweat all over me.

“You are one class act, kind sir. Remind me, why are you single again?” I smirk. “Seriously, that is repulsive. I need a shower now. So stinking gross!”

Shane erupts in laughter, and doubles over grabbing his sides. “Ok. Let’s get some lunch.” He offers.

“Alright, somehow I am still in control of my appetite. Let’s do it.”

And just like that, he jumps up and pulls me to my feet, to follow suit.

He didn’t bother to change out of his baseball gear and was still covered in his gross, boy sport sweat. We hopped into his truck, and for once I didn’t complain
because Jason Grimes thinks I am cute!
We went to this little country hole-in-the-wall place that boasts about its local fare in a bunch of print ads and on TV. In all honesty, its fried squash is awesome. I am not sure if my arteries appreciate it, however. I think Shane just devoured a pound and a half of them!

“So what did that wretched woman want?” Shane asked me between mouthfuls.

“Who Harper?” I raise an eyebrow in question.

“Yeah, of course. What did she want, Georgia?” He pushes.

“There’s this shindig she invited us to this weekend.”

“Pass.” Shane blurts out as quickly as I finish my statement.

“Actually, I am thinking about going.” I said, against better judgment. To be honest, I am not sure who was more surprised about that statement coming out of my mouth.

“Really, Georgia?” Shane pushes me, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, really. It’s our senior year. We should go to at least one party in our high school careers. It’s an american rite of passage.”

“An american rite of passage.” Shane repeats, I think just to see how it feels, rolling around in that big country mouth of his. “Alright, but I am driving.”

“Actually, Jenn and I are going early. But, I can count on you to be there, right?” I ask as sweetly as I can, knowing I can count on him.

“Of course, what else do I have going on?” He shrugs, sounding almost disappointed.
What is eating him?
I laugh at the thought thinking how funny that something is eating him and not the other way around for a change.

The rest of the school day was thankfully downright dull and uneventful. I ran into Harper Kelly later on and told her that I will be there as well as Shane. She couldn’t be more elated. Silently I started to wonder if I have inadvertently entered the twilight zone. Harper Kelly being almost nice to me, even though I know it has something to do with her liking Shane. Even so, she is willing to introduce me to Jason Grimes! Jennifer even seems to be OK with everything.
How bad could this possibly play out?
Besides, Jason thinks I am cute. Maybe he will try to kiss me! Jason Grimes kissing me? What am I thinking; I have to stop putting the horse before the cart.

After band rehearsal I finished my chores and picked up Annalise and started working on my own little side project. Monday nights are perfect for alone time with my guitar and cat. Something made me suddenly look up, and there’s a figure in the doorway that startled me.

“That’s really pretty Georgy.” Jennifer smiles.

“Thanks.” I responded, wondering if there was a direction to this conversation.

“So you and Shane are definitely a go for the party?” She asked with a hint of hesitation in her breath.

“Yeah, why? Do you not want me to go, Jenn?” I asked, almost upset about the idea of her not wanting to be seen with me, if that was in-fact the case.

“No, no! That is not it at all. It’s just that sometimes things can get a little crazy, and out of hand you know? And not everyone's intentions are as honorable as yours Georgy. I just don’t want to see you hurt is all.” She sulked into my door frame, like she was holding it up and vice versa.

“I see. Thank you for telling me. I’m a big girl and besides you’ll be there as well as Shane and I even think Misty will be there too.” I winked. Jenn turned her nose up when she heard Misty’s name. She’s not her biggest fan by any stretch of the means.

“OK” she sighs with a bit of relief. “Do you think you would want to go shopping” She asked all excitedly. I guess my statement elevated any concerns she had.

“OK. Let’s go to Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh. We’ll make a day of it on Thursday. We can get our hair done. You can invite Harper. Thank goodness for teacher work days right?” I offer. How could I turn down spending time with my bestie?

“Right! Yes! Oh gosh, that is a great idea. I’ll go call Harper now!” And as soon as she appeared, she is gone.

Confused, I put my guitar away and laid on my bed listening to Kenny Chesney and then Lady Antebellum. Country music calms me down. I rolled over and stared at the picture of my mother on my nightstand admiring her gorgeous blonde curls, her pearly white smile. Sometimes I wish she was here to teach me things, like cooking, or the right way to hem a dress. I also wish I had a date that my father could scare off, but I know that would never happen. For one it’s not like I have many gentlemen callers and my father has long since been gone.

Sometimes it just gets me mad as fire seeing Jennifer fight with her parents, taking their unconditional love for granted, and fully believing that there is always a tomorrow to make up. She has a daddy to snuggle up to, and let her know that everything is going to be alright. She has a mom to teach her how to make granny’s peach cobbler, how to be a lady and make a proper place setting. I have folktales of my parents, a foggy memory and faded pictures worn from my fingers tracing outlines of jaws and crow’s feet. I never knew what my daddy’s voice sounded like or how he smelled. I don’t know if he was right handed or left handed, or how he took his coffee. I can’t tell you how he laughed, or what made him angry. I never got a chance to discover any of these important idiosyncrasies. Most importantly I never got a chance to tell him ‘I love you.’

Though I had more ample time with my mother – still the chance for memories was short lived. I remember her smile, her scent and her laugh; that I will always treasure. However, I didn’t have enough time to make her proud of me; though I am sure she was already proud of me, I am talking about honest and earned pride. I don’t have her to share boy talk with, to show me how to make a cake or the correct way to debone a fish. She won’t be around to help me plan a wedding, if there ever will be one, or to help me prepare for a baby. She can’t help me mend a broken heart, or see me cross that stage at graduation.

I don’t even get to have nice dreams at night; I just think what it would be like to be a grown family. Taking vacations together, playing games on family game night. I am robbed of all of that. If I have any dreams at all, and trust me I love the nights when I don’t, they belong to the only person I have ever come to hate. The pure, unadulterated hell that man put me through is too painful to remember consciously, or so my therapist says.

Hesitatingly, I glance at the clock and I know it’s late enough to regret glancing and seeing how much sleep I just wasted being awake and depressed. I closed my eyes and softly drift into a thankfully empty slumber.

The next morning I slip easily into my standard routine. Jenn rode into school with me, and as we pull into the parking lot we ran into Jason Grimes.

“Morning ladies.” Jason said, carrying his baseball gear and backpack across the parking lot.

“Hey Jason” Jenn answered for us, linking her arm gracefully into mine. I can’t believe he is talking to us. OK, sure I get that he would talk to Jenn, I mean she is a walking, talking, more than life real brunette Barbie doll.

“Nice wheels, Georgia.” Jason said, then turning to Jenn, “You look great, both of you, ladies.”

Holy cow! Two compliments from Jason- freaking-Grimes! My head is swimming. Jenn leans into me, instinctively to hold me up.

“Thanks” I mutter as a natural reflex, and frankly that is all I have to offer.

He nods in recognition and moves along in his beautiful, masculine and brute way. How can anything so simple render me with limp legs and a spastic heartbeat, painting my cheeks with a faint crimson? This can’t be normal.

“Easy Georgia, it’s just a stupid, silly boy.” Jenn sounds in my ear her worldly wisdom.

“But he said I look nice” I whispered.

“As you do, but he is still a stupid boy.” Jennifer pushes.

Somehow I made it to my lit class, and was an active participant at that. It dawned on me that I had to go to work today for a few hours, and it was payday!

All my classes ran together like a blur. Concentration wasn’t an art well practiced today at all, except the way Jason looked in those jeans, or his short, spiky blonde hair. O
h! And those dreamy big blue eyes, and insanely long eyelashes.
His perfect golden tan, and big taut muscles.
Now, that was a subject I could concentrate on.