It's another hot and humid summer evening in Atlanta. It's Saturday night, and all of the lovers are out and about. James and Rachel are two of those lovers. They have been together for several years and plan on getting married in the near future. It's a loving D/s relationship and they fit well together. But, tonight, Rachel seems to be mad at just about everything. James goes into his calming mode, because he knows she is just 'in a mood'.
They have been invited to an anniversary party for friends of Rachel. Rick and Jenni are good friends who live just north of Chamblee. It's not a terribly long drive from Decatur, but Rachel hates to drive any distance at all.
"These are your friends, so if you don't want to go, we won't go," says James. "I can turn around and we can go somewhere else, or we can just go home."
"No, I already told Jenni we would be there. This is their anniversary, and Jenni would be upset if we don't go."
"Well then, what is the problem? If we have to go, complaining about it isn't going to make it any easier."
"I just don't like the drive is all. I am not complaining about going, just the drive."
James wonders if he should turn around and go back home. It isn't going to be a fun time, if Rachel is going to be in such a bitchy mood. "Well, in the frame of mind you are in, you won't have fun at all, when we get there. You had better calm down. Parties are for having fun, not for sitting and sulking because you are in a pissy mood."
Rachel looks over at him with that 'I am mad at the world' look. "I'm not in a pissy mood! I just don't like driving on a hot and muggy night. I love Atlanta, but it's always so muggy. It's not like it was in California."
"But, I'm driving, not you. You're just sitting there shooting looks at me and complaining about everything. And, it was your idea to move here, because your family is here. I was perfectly happy to stay in San Pablo, but Nooooo!"
"Well, I'm not complaining about Atlanta itself, just the weather. I didn't notice it being quite so humid, when I was here as a kid."
James hates it, when Rachel gets like this. "Maybe it wouldn't seem so humid, if you weren't in such a mood. You just need to sit back and enjoy the ride. It's a wonderful evening, if you ask me."
"Well okay, I will give it a try. Could you roll your window up? It is blowing my hair."
"But, it will be even more humid, if there is no wind. What if I just roll it up a little? Will that do?"
"Okay, I guess. I just don't want to look a fright, when we get there."
Just then, they turn onto the street where Rick and Jenni live. Wanting to make a point, James brings this up. "Well, if you don't look a fright now, you will surely be okay. We're about 2 minutes from pulling into their drive. And, about that attitude of yours, leave it in the car."
"I'm fine now that we're almost there," Rachel gushes.
"Yeah, sure you are. Sure you are." James mumbles to himself.
Rick and Jenni live at the end of a tree lined street, in an upscale neighborhood. It's a large white house fashioned after the mansions of old Atlanta. The front yard is full of stately trees and there is a guesthouse in back. James pulls through the long winding drive to a spot not far from the house. He lets out a sigh and looks over at Rachel. She smiles back at him as she gets out of the car. He follows and they walk up to the front door. The door opens before they can ring the bell. It's Jenni, and she greets them with a smile. "Hey, you two! You made it. Come on in."
Jenni continues talking as they both step into the house. Other people are mingling at the party, and Rachel points to several of her friends and waves 'hello'.
"I was wondering if you were going to make it. I tried to call you, but I got your machine. Did you have any trouble?"
James starts to mention Rachel's mood, but Rachel quickly interrupts. "I love that dress. That is such a pretty color. It looks wonderful on you, too. The green matches your eyes, you know."
"I've been told that," Jenni agrees. "I wish I could get Rick to notice. He's so blind, sometimes."
"Oh, you know men. James is the same way. Unless you're wearing next to nothing, they don't notice."
The girls walk into the kitchen and James listens as their voices slowly become part of the party rumble. It seems Rachel is feeling better. He keeps his fingers crossed. Looking around, he finds Rick and walks over to say hi. "Hey, Rick. How's this shindig doing? It seems like you have a big crowd here."
When James speaks, Rick notices him and smiles. "Hey, James. Yeah, it seems to be doing okay. Nearly everybody made it. Jenni was wondering where you two were. She said Rachel told her you two were coming. Did you have some kind of trouble?"
"No, nothing really. Just Rachel and one of her 'I hate my life' moods. I hope it doesn't spill over while we are here."
"Is it her time of the month?" asks Rick, with a smile.
"No, but it does seem that way," James chuckles.
"Well, knowing you two, and your relationship, you won't have trouble changing her mood, if you want to. I envy your control. I wish I could handle Jenni. But, she's so opinionated."
"Well, Rachel is, too. You just have to let her know who's boss. Rachel and I had a long talk and she has agreed I'm in charge."
"It can't be that simple. You guys have a good relationship."
"Well, yes we do. But you and Jenni do too. You just need to sit her down and talk it out. You might be surprised how she will react. She might love the idea. Sometimes dominant women love you to take charge. It's a whole new feeling for them. Just the thought of it makes them tingle in a different way."
Just then, Jenni comes up and joins the conversation. "What are you guys talking about? You are over here in a corner, like it is some serious private thing."
"Well, my dear, I haven't seen James in quite a while. We are just catching up. Nothing serious or private about that."
James winks at Rick. "Sure, sweetie. This is a party. People have fun at parties."
"Okay, then what did you do to Rachel? She seems to be in a bad mood. She isn't having a good time."
In a more serious tone, James turns to Jenni and asks, "What do you mean? She said she was fine. She was in a mood, but we had a talk, and she said she was okay, now. And last I saw of her, you two were walking away and talking just fine."
"Well, she is here, but she doesn't seem to be happy that she is. We can usually talk, but she isn't opening up to me. So, I thought I would come and ask you what the problem is."
"I don't know much, either. I think she is just in one of her moods. You know how she gets. She's mad at the world, and she tends to let everybody know it. She will be okay. If you are wondering, it doesn't have anything to do with the party or you two. She knows most everybody here. Everybody at this party is a friend of hers. This mood started earlier today. She was complaining about humidity. Shit, we live in Atlanta, Georgia. It's always humid."
"Sounds like she is looking for some release," Jenni suggests. "Isn't that your department, James?"
"Oh, she knows. I will have no problem giving her release, if it comes to that. But, she said she was okay."
Rick laughs as he pats James on the back. "I remember the beach party, when we came to visit you two, in San Pablo. That was great."
Jenni smiles and playfully smacks Rick. "Honestly! I can't believe you would bring that up. That was a personal thing between James and Rachel. It is none of your business."
Both Rick and James laugh at how red Jenni's face becomes. James looks at Rick and winks. "See, man? I told you. I think I see that tingle."
Jenni turns and walks back into the kitchen. Just as she is about to walk through the door, she turns to look at Rick. There is a sparkle in her eyes, as she vanishes behind the door and out of sight.
As the evening progresses, so does the party. But, it seems Rachel's attitude has also progressed. She has succeeded in making many of the guests mad. It has almost turned into a contagious frame of mind. Jenni has nearly given up, telling Rick she just doesn't understand why Rachel would act this way. Finally, James sees the need to confront his future wife. He walks up to her, as she stands in the doorway to the living room. She looks at him with fire in her eyes, as he returns the same look.
"What is your problem? We talked about it, and you said you were okay. This has been going on too long. You are including the whole party in your bad mood. And, you have been in this bad mood all damn day. Why do you have to take it out on others, when you don't feel your life is going the way you want? It isn't their fault you are bothered by the Atlanta humidity. It isn't their responsibility to stop the wind from blowing your hair. And, I don't know what your latest problem is, but that isn't anybody's fault, either."
Rachel squares her body up to James, as someone would be preparing for a physical conflict. "Gosh. You are always so worried about how fucking nice I am. All the time! Don't be so damn anal about it!"
"I'm being anal? I think you have your information wrong. Look around you. Everyone is talking about you being anal! I am just trying to understand your side of this, before I make a decision."
Rachel's face flushes and her voice starts to get louder with her increasing anger. The drink in her hand splashes on the floor as she gestures with her emotions. "Why do you always take sides against me? Why is it always my fault? You haven't even listened to my side of this, and you are jumping all over me."
James leans into Rachel's ear and whispers to her. "Rachel, lower your voice. This is a party. Unless you want everyone to be included in this conversation, you should calm down. All I asked was for you to be nice during this party."
Rachel fumes as James talks. She puts her free hand on her hip, and sips her drink.
James continues with this scolding, keeping his voice at a low volume. "Remember on the drive here? I asked you if you wanted to change your mind and not come. Remember what I said as we got out of the car when we got here? And remember what your answer was? You said you were okay. To me, this doesn't seem like you are okay."
Rachel takes another sip of her drink before speaking. She holds her drink up so she can use her index finger to wave back and forth while she talks. "I am fine. I don't see why you are so upset. Maybe it's you who is not okay. Where did you get your information that it's me who is at fault?"
"What do you mean? Look around you. Isn't it obvious to you? Look at Jenni. Look at Rick. These are your friends. Look at how they are avoiding you. You don't see this? You don't see the other guests pointing at you and talking?"
Rachel starts to get louder, and is using her arms to gesture more and more. "It is not my fault. The humidity must be bothering everyone as much as it is me. I don't understand why you always look to me as the cause, when it's obvious the party isn't going well. Why don't you take my side just once?"
"Lower your voice. It's rude to be yelling like this. We're making a scene. I had hoped to stop this before it developed into one. And, if you want, we'll go home. But, you won't like it, when we get there. Trust me on that. So, I think you should just calm down."
"Okay, I'll be quiet. I'll just sit and be quiet."
"You don't have to be quiet, but I do want you to be nice. If you can't be nice, I might have to make this scene into something you won't like." Pulling handcuffs out of his pocket, James adds, "I might put on a show here, at the party."
"Okay, fine. I'll be nice."
"Fine. Just don't say anything hateful."
