The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

Chapter 1

Susie let out a content sigh. Her eyes took in the summer’s night beauty that surrounded her. There was a sprinkling of stars over the horizon, and the greenness that surrounded her was magical. The sounds of summer wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. The crickets were chirping softly, and the bon fire Susie had lit was crackling softly. She closed her eyes and smiled. It didn’t get much better than this.

Susie took another gulp from her beer, and couldn’t help but think of one way it could be better. Rob could be here, with her now, kissing her softly and whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Susie didn’t need to start thinking about him, though. If she started thinking about him, she would start thinking about how he had chosen Lindsay, and married her when Susie had told Rob she loved him. Susie felt a sharp pain in her heart just thinking about that day. Not a day passed, that she didn’t think about him. Not a day passed where she didn’t long for him to be with her.

Not a day passed, Susie thought sadly, that she didn’t wish that he loved her. Susie couldn’t stand the rejection, so she let him slip away. Was she a fool not to persist? Was she a fool to cling to her pride and not chase after the man that she loved? She did write him some letters a while after she told him, but she didn’t ever again mention her feelings, nor did she persist on meeting with him face to face. Recently though, Susie had stopped writing the letters.

She sighed, this time with frustration, and ran a hand through her thick auburn red curls. Maybe he chose Lindsay because she was tall and curvaceous, where Susie was short and petite. Susie wondered what was wrong with her…why didn’t Robb choose her? Maybe it was because Susie was so softhearted and sometimes temperamental. Whatever it was that made Robb choose Lindsay over her, Susie wished that she didn’t have it.

Flashback

Susie looked around, a little dizzy. She had downed quite some alcohol this evening. Who was she kidding? She’d been downing quite some alcohol every evening recently. Holding back everything from Robb, while he’s been falling in love with Lindsay, has been extremely difficult. Susie shouldn’t even care, she should just tell him? What does she have to worry about, sure, Lindsay’s got a pretty face, but her personality is nothing compared to hers, right?

She snapped out of her thoughts instantaneously, when she saw Robb enter the bar. Susie so did not need this. If he were around when she was this drunk, she would not be able to keep her mouth shut. She realized that seeing Robb, well, made her very lusty. He was looking so sexy right now. He had a polo shirt, and form fitting blue jeans. His dark hair was damp from his shower, and accentuated his soft blue eyes. Susie’s eyes had always appreciated his body.

Susie tried to turn around as quick as possible, so that he wouldn’t notice her. Like she was thinking before, if he came over to her and started a conversation with her, she wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut. ‘Oh damn!’ Susie thought when he came and sat down next to her on the bar. Susie realized how hard and pointless it would be to try to hide herself, especially with her hair. All of the sudden Robb started saying something about Lindsay. Woah, Susie was way too drunk to understand what he was talking about.

She looked over at him, silenced him with a finger to his lips and said, “You are SO dumb!” Then she started giggling. After she was done giggling she put on her deadly serious look and continued. “You are SO dumb!” she repeated again, this time pointing a finger at him.

Robb just kind of looked at her like she was crazy and said, “How many drinks have you had, Suz?” She just looked up at him droopily, trying to understand what he said and then she looked down at her hands and tried to put 15 fingers up. For a reason beyond Susie it wasn’t working. Then she said proudly, “I am not drunk, buster.” She poked him in the chest and then continued, “You are DUMB!” He started to chuckle softly, and then asked, “Okay, why am I dumb?”

When she heard his question she smiled goofily, “I am so glad you asked that. You are dumb because you are falling in love with Lindsay!” She said and laughed, “LINDSAY!” She thought for a second and then said, “I mean I’m so bloody drunk right now, and I would NEVER fall in love with someone like Lindsay.”

“You don’t mean that, you’re just drunk.” Robb stated easily. Susie looked at him and frowned. “Oh yeah? Then ask me why I came here to drink.” She said. Robb looked confused, and said, “Why did you come here to drink?” He asked like he was genuinely confused. After a thought or two Susie said, “Because you are falling in love with Lindsay and-“ Susie downed another shot and slammed it back down, “I’m in love with you.” Susie couldn’t read the look on his face. Bewildered? Scared? All she know is that the next thing he said was, “Suz, Lindsay and I are getting married.”

Susie’s eyes widened like saucers. Realization hit home and she felt so hurt and so betrayed. She felt like the world was crashing down on her. She took one last look at Robb who was looking at her with sympathy. Sympathy? The gaul of that man! Susie stood up and strode out of the bar, with hot tears raining down her face.

End of Flashback

Susie still held true to the opinions she had of Lindsay. Her personality sucked, she had the intelligence of a Barbie, and to top it all off she treated Robb horribly. Some things never change.