Annette and Melody: A Vignette

Melody's face flushed rapidly, as Annette dragged her behind the tent. The calliope wheezed in the background, and the shouts of barkers echoed strangely around this town of canvas and lights. Melody found the sound of her skirts rustling to be distracting, filling her consciousness as she tried to think of anything but Annette's hand, grasping hers.

"What are you doing? We'll be seen! People will talk." Melody's words came out in a stage whisper, desperate to be heard, but also to not be heard. Annette's Cheshire smile flashed and her low voice drawled back, "Let them talk." Melody tripped a bit as Annette pulled her in, and found herself enveloped in the other girl's warm embrace.

Suddenly, everything was rather warm. The day was cool, but all she could feel was the animal heat of Annette's body pressed against hers. "Unless you'd rather they didn't..." her voice trailed off as Annette lightly brushed her lips against Melody's. There was a long, intense pause, and Annette finally completed her sentence, whispering, "...talk."

It took Melody a moment to register the words that had been addressed to her. She opened her eyes to see Annette's dusky face closer than she'd ever seen it before; the world suddently consisted only of Annette's brown eyes, her long lashes, the flush on her cheeks, the soft, anise-scented heat of her lips. "No," she murmured, not entirely she what sense she was trying to convey, if indeed sense were possible in this moment. Annette was so close. Melody found her fingers trailing lightly over the other girl's stiff lace, and dimly registered pressure on her corset.

"You should come calling tomorrow," said Annette, her voice just audible above the sound of a party of rowdy boys who were briefly visible in the alley between the tents. "Mama will be so pleased." Annette's smile flashed again, and Melody felt an unaccustomed flutter in her belly.

"Yes, tomorrow," said Melody, her face falling as Annette pulled back. "Mind you send a calling card, she's a stickler for proper form," said Annette. "Cousin Herbert will be wondering where I've disappeared off to. Tomorrow. Mama will be so very pleased." And with that, Melody was standing by herself, a feeling like fire coursing down her torso, the pressure on her corset suddenly released. She reached up and felt her cheeks -- burning hot -- and resolved to stand perfectly still until they'd cooled. But she didn't know how long until that might come to pass.