Before the first drink had been served, Total Breakdown agreed that the humidity was unbearable. While the concert had gone off flawlessly and only a handful of people left early, the hall got mercilessly hot. The night was already a little uncomfortable, and playing to a nearly sold out crowd full of energetic fans turned the venue into a sauna. The girls flew through enough water to drown themselves, and each wiped her brow far too often during the night. Thankfully, only the venue was hot. Once the crowd cleared, it was back to just a little uncomfortable. But the alcohol and Aimee's busted air conditioner changed that once again. Total Breakdown resumed sweating bullets, and contemplating a solution.
Jen was wishing she had the good sense of mind to wear a skirt like her bandmates, even the more modest one Aimee was sporting. Not only would her legs be able to breathe, she could fan herself with it like Crystal and Allison were doing. Instead, her jeans forced Jen to drink more often just to be only slightly warmer, and became the only one too hot to want to join their video game session. That said, even the others weren't happy with the sudden spike in temperature, but Jen got it the worst, which fueled the next decision.
The bassist was reaching for her waist, preparing to ditch her jeans and let the air in, when she coincidentally looked out the window. Beyond she saw an immaculate pool of crystal clear water, teasingly inviting her from beyond a chain link fence. The gentle waves were beckoning her to come and become enveloped by their cold touch. And that diving board! She could already feel the air rushing around her as she took flight towards the bracing water. The thought alone was refreshing.
"Oh girls!" Jen called with a thumb pointed to her prize. "I think I just figured out how to beat the heat."
At the sound of Jen's voice, each of them crossed to the window, and reacted instantly to the sight before them. First was Crystal, who relaxed her muscles and quietly released a contented sigh, her mind racing through Jen's fantasy. Following was Allison, who was fairing better than her bandmates. While less noticeable, the smirk made it clear she had felt that same chilly wave of relief. But then there was Aimee, who only scowled, as if Jen had made things worse with this show.
"Why would you show us that?" she said. "The only swimsuits on hand are mine. They won't fit you three."
Before Aimee had even finished, Crystal arched backwards in frustration, cursing the alcohol under her breath. How else could they have missed something so obvious? She would have said something about Jen as well, but she had to be dying in her jeans already. Harassing her in this state of weakness was something Crystal couldn't bring herself to do. If anything, comfort and console was what the dejected bassist needed.
Yet Jen's look remained unchanged, still firm and resolved. And the arched eyebrow and grin proved Allison hadn't lost her elation either. If anything, it had grown.
Without flinching, Jen replied, "Then when go with birthday suits."
"Skinny dipping?"
Crystal and Aimee had asked it simultaneously, yet the inflections couldn't have had greater contrast. They both felt that naughty tingle of a taboo to break crawling along their skin, but only Crystal got an adventurous glint in her eyes and an excited pitch to her voice, embracing the thrill like a lover. Aimee's cracked as her face flushed deeper, her arms moving to chase away that tickle as her eyes danced in concern. Swimming naked? In public? In another yard? In that yard?
"I-I, uh, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Oh come on!" Crystal whined. "Live a little!"
"What if they're home and bust us for trespassing?"
That's a good sign, the trio silently noted. Aimee made a logical argument against it, not a flat refusal. Total denial usually meant they'd have to scrap the idea or go without her. If she's trying to reason her way out, then it usually just takes a little coaxing. And for this, eagle-eyed Jen was just what they needed.
"There was no car in the driveway earlier. We'll hear them if they show up."
"...I dunno," Aimee whined. "I mean, it's the Bellamy's, so..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Crystal called, her hands swatting through the air. "That's the Bellamy's pool?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Now we have to," Jen said.
"After all the shit we've been through, they owe us," Allison concurred.
"Aimee and I'll grab the beer."
It took a few tugs to make Crystal's claim true, but the sudden change in the atmosphere seemed to convince Aimee by itself. Then again, her own statement already was extremely coaxing. Just thinking about it made Aimee waver even before her bandmates became adamant. Crystal's request for confirmation only affirmed her belief. She wasn't sure it would be fun, but she definitely wanted some kind of compensation from those two.
Aimee's neighbors, Ed and Jodie Bellamy, were both on the wrong side of 40, and it showed. Frequently. Anyone who met at Ed would probably guess he was around 60 instead of in his 40's - the price of hard work, he called it. That explained the wizened skin and chrome dome, but it didn't reflect his attitude. Most of the other folks in the neighborhood that complained about their practice had a legitimate case; referencing the late hour, the day of the week, and all that other humdrum nonsense. And even then, those incidents were few, far between, and usually resolved with a pop-in or a phone call. Ed, however, was a typical crank who complained to the police when Aimee tuned an acoustic guitar. In spite of the garage being an amphitheatre situated a mere block from a successful shopping center, Total Breakdown wasn't able to use this blessed accident to boost their popularity without Ed wrecking everything before they finished one song.
Of course, the objections to "that racket" didn't stop the lecherous looks. After he phoned in the noise complaint, he'd always come over and give them a strict talk about their "inappropriate attire" and "loose attitudes" without even trying to hide his elevator eyes. Once rebutting his arguments proved futile, the band learned to bite their tongues and give him one-finger salutes once he turned away.
But worse than Ed was his wife Jodie. Whereas Ed became an old man before his time, Jodie tried clinging to her youth. Her hair was a poor, home effort of a dye job, complete with a fist-sized gray patch visible during a strong wind, and she insisted on going out clubbing, wearing the latest fashion craze, and all the other activities that she saw as "dominated by the young." And her reaction to Total Breakdown made all four girls cringe. Dropping in on her "gal pals" was all too common, and her attempts at fitting in with a punk look and attitude was as refreshing and accurate as a violent blizzard in these lower latitudes. And it wasn't restricted to Aimee's neighborhood. Anywhere she happen to meet with one of them usually led to them doing some activity associated with their generation.
Between the two of them, Total Breakdown was losing valuable opportunities. It was getting to the point Aimee would have to sneak in to her own home. The end result was a tremendous debt that needed settling, and use of their pool would be a great starting point. Using it for skinny dipping - something that would make Ed's head explode - made it all the sweeter. And explode it may.
Even as the girls hopped the fence, the fallacy hadn't become apparent, and the alcohol guaranteed it never would. A car only needs one driver, one car's disappearance does not mean two people were in it. Trouble could be waiting to pounce and they would never hear it until it was too late. Of course, they could get lucky. Married couples do date.
But would that be better? If they continue drinking once they strip bare, an interruption could be the only thing that kept Total Breakdown from total embarrassment. Or would it be the cause?
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