It was a warm day in Odessa, Texas, and by warm it was only ninety-six degrees. Don Bilingsley looked left and right as his quarterback, Mike Winchell, called out the next play. As soon as he heard "hike", Don ran to the open space and looked for the pass. He saw the ball and caught it. But at the last moment, it slipped out of his hands.

"Dammit, Don!" Charles Bilingsley yelled at his son as he stormed onto the field. "Can't you hold onto the goddamn ball for once?" He threw his hands up in the air and walked away. As his own dad was yelling at him, Coach Gaines was yelling at Mike.

"Practice over, boys. Hit the showers." Coach said in frustration as the press surrounded the players.

"Winchell! Over here, Winchell!" One reporter begged for Mike, "What's it like being the star quarterback?"

Mike paused for a moment, "It's... Well it's something."

"Hey, Don Bilingsley!" a reporter went up to the sweaty football player. "Your dad played at Permian. What's it like to be the son of a local legend?"

"Next question." Don felt all eyes on him. When he noticed the reporters staring at him, he rolled his and walked over to another player to hear his interview, Boobie Miles.

"Should we believe the hype?" A reporter asked with a microphone ready for his answer.

"What hype?" Boobie raised a brow, confused.

"The hype about Boobie Miles!" The reporter nodded like it should have been obvious.

"Now... Hype is something that's not for real. I'm all real."

After getting cleaned up, Don waited outside the girl's locker room. He watched as a group of girls walked out. Sighing, he continued to wait and switched his bag from one shoulder to the other. Don grinned to himself when he saw the curly brown hair walk out of the locker room.

"Hey, Bethany!" Don called after the girl.

The girl turned around and smile at the sound of her boyfriend's voice. Bethany Jameson stood five foot six, crystal blue eyes, with brown ringlet curls that cascaded down her back. "I didn't realize your practice was over." Bethany smiled and walked over to him.

Don Bilingsley had been dating Bethany Jameson since their freshman year in high school. He met her when ran... more like crashed into her after a tackle gone wrong. He broke her ankle and the rest was history. "Yeah," Don returned the smile, "Coach Gaines let us go so we could talk to the reporters." As he sad the last few words, Bethany noticed his sudden mood drop.

"How'd that go?" She asked with sudden curiosity as Don took her hand.

"They asked me how it was to follow in my dads footsteps." Don sighed and laced their fingers, leading them out of the gym.

"I'm sorry, Don." Bethany leaned up and kissed his cheek. "At least he won't be home until late tonight." She shrugged as she walked to his car with him. "So, what are our plans for this evening?"

Don unlocked the car and threw their bags in the car. Sliding into the driver's seat. "Well, Mike wanted to go to the Diner. Thinks he wants to get away from his mom." Don looked to Bethany and started the car. "That alright with you?"

"I'm fine with it." Bethany smiled," so, your place or mine?"

The outdoor dines was filled with teens and families on that Friday night. Chappy's was like a third home to all of them. "Mike, no need to eat like you're dying." Don laughed and watched his buddy shovel his food in to his mouth.

"I was hungry..." Mike rolled his eyes. "We need to come here more." He said while eating another fry.

"We come here once a week!" Bethany grinned and took a sip of her soda. "Why so glum, anyway?"

"Yeah man! Just because you and Jennifer are fighting doesn't mean I can't get you drunk and laid tonight!" Don chuckled and took a bite of his burger.

"Bilingsley! Don Bilingsley! Party at Mara's tonight! Bilingsley, party at Mara's!" Brian Chavez ran past the group yelling.

Mike rolled his eyes at his teammate and shook his head. "I don't need to get laid, or drunk." His expression became serious. "Besides... Are we even going to Mara's tonight?" He looked to his friend for an answer.

"Yeah, man. Of course. But I don't think Bethany and I are staying late. Wanna get home before my dad does." Don's already deep voice dropped as he looked to his girlfriend who nodded.

"Speaking of parties, we should probably get going. Mara's expecting us!" Bethany stood with excitement and pulled Don up. "C'mon, Mike! Let's go!"

After the short drive to Mara's house, the party was in full swing. It seemed like the entire senior class had shown up. When they entered the house, Mike wen upstairs to find Jennifer, and Don and Bethany headed to get drinks.

"When's your dad gonna be home tonight?" Bethany asked as she sipped her drink.

"Not until late, late tonight." Don grinned, pulling her close to him. "Which means we can do whatever we want." He smiled and pressed his lips to hers. Don set his drink down on the counter and let go of her. "I gotta go to the bathroom. I'll be right back." He kissed her cheek and vanished in the direction of the bathroom.

Bethany took a sip of her drink when only a few minutes later, she felt a hand on her waist. "That was quick." She laughed and turned to face him. But when she turned, the face she was met with was not Don Bilingsley, but none other than Boobie Miles.

"What the hell is your problem?" She yelled in disgust, trying to push him off her.

"My problem is you're looking fine tonight." A very intoxicated Boobie replied, putting one hand back on her.

"Get the hell off me, Boobie!" She tried to push him off again but with no luck this time.

"Looks like we got a feisty girl!" Boobie smirked.

"Hey, Boobie." Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Before he could react, he was on the floor and his jaw hurt. "Why don't you keep your hands off my girl?" Don wrapped an arm around Bethany's waist.

"Ay, Don." Boobie stood back up with confidence. "Why don't you keep your hands off my face!" Boobie threw a punch and soon both boys were on the ground fighting. It only took a moment before Brian Chavez and Bethany were restraining Don.

"C'mon, Don." Bethany, with the help of Chavez, was pulling Don out of the house.

"You got him, Beth?" Chavez let go of Don as they stopped in front of the car.

"Yeah. Thanks, Chavez." She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you Monday." Chavez nodded and headed back inside the house. "Let's get in, Don." Bethany opened the passenger side, and as soon as he was securely in, she went to the driver's side and got in. "You didn't have to do that," she whispered, cupping his face.

"I know." Don semi-smiled. "I just didn't appreciate was he doing. Did he get me bad?"

Bethany laughed and shook her head. "Nothing bad, just a black eye." She removed her hand and started the car. "It makes you look tough." Smiling, she started in the direction of Don's house. Once there, they got out of the car and walked to the front door. "You sure your dad won't be home until later?"

"Absolutely positive." Don smiled and picked Bethany up. "Now let's go inside." He pushed open the now unlocked door and carried her inside, with her shutting the door with her leg. As he carried her into the living room, he knocked over a lamp.

"Don!" Bethany giggled as he continued to carry her down the hall and into his bedroom.

"I'll pick it up later." He grinned and set her down on his bed. Don watched as she took of her shirt and changed into one of his extra shirts laying on his bed. "Has anyone told you you're beautiful?" He took of his own shirt and slipped on some sweatpants, laying down next to her.

"Maybe you have before." She smiled and cuddled up next to Don.

"Well you are." Don wrapped and am around Bethany and pulled her close. "The most beautiful person I've ever met." He kissed her forehead and watched her shut her eyes. "I love you, Bethany"

"I love you too, Don. Always." Bethany whispered softly. As they were falling into a peaceful sleep, Don's bedroom door flung open.

Don slowly opened his eyes as he felt Bethany squeeze his arm tightly. "Dad, what the hell are you doing?"

"Hello, Bethany." Charles Bilingsley nodded curtly towards Bethany. "I have one question, what the hell is my lamp doing on the floor?"

Don sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. "I meant to pick it up, I just forgot." He shrugged.

Charles face was bright red and grabbed the roll of duct tape off the desk and the nearest foot ball. "Can't hold onto the damn foot ball, can't hold onto a damn lamp!" He shoved the football into his sons hands and started wrapping the duct tape around them, securing them to the ball.

"Dad! Dad! What the hell is your problem?" Don widened his eyes in shock at what his father was doing. "Dad just stop and get the hell out of here!"

"Mr. Bilingsley! Stop it!" Bethany had an expression of fear on her face and tried to take the the tape away from Don's father.

"Get the hell out of here, dad!" Don yanked his hands away from his father.

"Maybe you'll learn how to hold onto a fucking football next time." Charles shook his head and stormed out the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Don grit his teeth in anger and looked down at his now duct taped hands. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Bethany."

Bethany sighed and started to slowly unravel the tape, trying to make the pain less and less. "It's okay, he doesn't scare me." She shrugged and threw away the tape.

"He's not scary... Maybe only when he's drunk." Don laughed with out humor and tossed the football to the side of the room. "Let's just... Let's just go back to sleep." He pulled Bethany back down and wrapped an arm around her protectively. "Thanks for helping me tonight, with the tape and all." Don whispered and stared up at the ceiling.

"I don't mind helping you. Especially we end up like we are now." Bethany murmured, half asleep.

"I love you, always." Don kissed her temple and slowly drifted off towards sleep.