Brian Chavez tapped his fingers gently on his locker to the sound of the beat in his head

Brian Chavez tapped his fingers gently on his locker to the sound of the beat in his head. As he bobbed his head to the tune he had formed, he looked up and down the hall and there was still no sign of her. 'Late as usual.' He thought to himself. The last of the Permian High School students were headed out the doors of school for the day. Most heading home to do their homework, some heading to the mall and a selected few would be getting ready for Patricia Landers party. His patience was wearing thin and he decided that waiting was useless. Brian turned to his locker, opening it quickly. He grabbed his books and slammed the locker door shut. She did this to him all the time. Either being late or not showing up at all. He didn't know why he bothered anymore. Stephanie Richardson was a family friend and probably the only person he ever truly trusted, but she always knew how to get his temper rising. He was headed to his car when he heard her yelling.

"Brian, you ass! I knew you were goin' to leave me here." Stephanie was a half an inch taller than him, with long dark brown hair and almond shaped brown eyes. She was an athlete, running for Permian High for three years. She had decided to quit her senior year do to a knee injury. Stephanie was beautiful in every way, and there wasn't a boy or man alive that wouldn't want her for his own. But Brian saw her as the girl he grew up with. She was like a sister to him.

"And I should still leave your ass here." Brian said opening his car door. "I'm late now because like an idiot I waited for you." He was clearly annoyed.

"I'm sorry Brian but what do you want from me?" She stood in front of the passenger side door. Brian got in the car and started the engine. Stephanie tried to open the door but it was locked.

"Are you serious?" Stephanie knelt down to see Brian through the window. "Brian?" She knocked on the window and waved her hand. "Brian?" He looked over at her and sighed. He leaned over and opened the lock. Stephanie got in the car without saying a word.

"One of these days I'm really gonna leave you here." Brian said pulling out of the school's parking lot. The ride home was silent. Stephanie looked over at Brian a few times, trying to read his thoughts. As they pulled into his driveway, Brian broke the silence.

"I'm not mad ok?"

"Brian, you're always mad at me." Stephanie said, giving me a faint smile.

"Not always." He said smiling back at her. They both got out of the car and Stephanie headed to the sidewalk.

"Thanks for the ride Chavo. I'll call you later." Stephanie said walking backwards.

"You're not comin' tonight?" Brian said with his hands up.

"Chavo, we've been through this a thousand times already. You're jock friends and this friend," she pointed to herself. "Well, we just don't mix."

"You would think being who your brother is; you'd be the biggest football fan here." Brian said walking over to her.

"That's why I'm not the biggest football fan. We ate, slept and would breathe football. He's been out of Odessa for three years now; it's just me and Ma. No reason for football to be my life anymore." Stephanie thought about her brother Bobby. The infamous Robert "Bobbo" Richardson, #13-Quarter Back. The reason Permian won the 1984 State Championship. This town worshiped the ground he walked on. If only her father could have seen his victory. He would have been proud.

"Listen, after you quit track, which makes you a jock too by the way, you've done nothing. You haven't even been on a date." Brian laughed.

"And how the hell would you know if I've been on dates or not?" Stephanie's face grew red with embarrassment.

"Your kiddin' right? You know how small this town is." Brian put his arm around her shoulder. "C'mon Steph. Come out with me tonight." They walked up the block to her house. Stephanie laughed and poked him in the ribs.

"Since you're so persistent, I'll think about it." They stopped in front of Stephanie's house. She looked up and sighed. Brian followed her gaze.

"How've things been with her?" Stephanie looked down at her feet.

"Same."

"I'm four houses away Steph. That's it. Only four houses." He grabbed his friend and kissed her forehead. "Meet me at my car at eight." Brian walked back to his house and Stephanie slowly walked up the walkway. She climbed up the porch steps with hesitation. 'How was she going to be today?' She opened the front door and looked around. The house was quiet, but that was normal since Bobby left for college. She walked into the kitchen and threw her book bag on the countertop. The curiosity of her mother's well being took over her mind and she headed quickly up the stairs. Her mother's room was at the end of the long hall. She took a deep breath then headed down the hall listening for any sign of her. Her bedroom door was slightly opened and Stephanie could see her mother's figure in the reflection of her full length mirror. She crept in the room and walked over to her mother's bed, sitting at the edge.

"Mom." She whispered. Her mother moved slightly and turned onto her back. Her groggy eyes looked up at her daughter and she smiled.

"Oh sweetheart. Your home." Her mother yawned and reached her hand up to her daughters face.

"Hey mom. You ok?"

"I'm fine. I just," Mrs. Richardson pulled herself into sitting position. "I just didn't feel too well this morning so I took a nap." She smiled again at her daughter. Stephanie was a spitting image of her mother.

"Alright. Do you need anything?"

"No, well maybe just some aspirin. My head is starting to hurt a little." She rubbed her forehead. Stephanie got up and walked into her mother's bathroom. She came back out with two aspirin and a cup of water. She handed it to her mother who took them without the water.

"Brian invited me to a party tonight."

"Oh you should go. You never do anything anymore." Her mother pulled herself back down and turned to her side. "I'm going to go back to sleep hunny. Just let me know when you leave." Stephanie looked at her mother one last time then headed to her room. The woman was unrecognizable to her. After her father's death, she had never been the same.

Stephanie sat in her bed looking at the ceiling with her hands behind her head. The debate in her mind was starting to irritate her. She really hated going to school parties. Drinking, sex and drugs along with constant talk about football, that wasn't the sound of a great night. But her mother was right. She really wasn't doing anything anymore. Her life was all about track and school and now that track was no longer a priority, she should be enjoying her senior year. She looked over at the clock. Seven thirty. She only had a half hour to get ready. Brian would definitely not wait for her if she was late. She jumped up out of bed and looked through her closet. She grabbed a dark blue denim mini skirt and a white tank top. Simple was always her way. The shower lasted about five minutes, but she knew she had to put makeup on and do something with her hair. She dressed quickly and applied some makeup. She let her hair fall past her shoulders down the middle of her back, which was opposite from her normal ponytail she sported everyday at school. She took one last look at herself in the mirror, smiling at her reflection. She knew she was pretty but never made a spectacle of it. After she put her flip flops on and grabbed her black Permian hoodie she walked into her mothers room letting her know of her departure. Her clock on the wall over her front door read 8:00. "Shit!" She said out loud. She ran out the front door and headed to Brian's house. Brian was walking to his car when he noticed his friend. He stopped and smiled.

"Well look at you!" He said eyeing his friend.

"Shut up or I'll go home." She walked to his car. Brian walked around the car to the passenger's side and opened the door for her.

"You look really good. Man if you weren't like my sister," Brian licked his lips which made Stephanie smack his arm. They both started laughing. Brian pulled out of the driveway still smiling at his friend.

"I'm really happy you came out." Brian said as they got out of Brian's car. They were headed up Patricia's driveway. Loud rap music was being played and people could be seen all over the place.

"Yo Chavo!" A husky voice yelled from behind them. Brian and Stephanie turned to see Mike Winchell and the owner of the voice, Don Billingsley.

"Hey guys." Don grabbed Brian into a headlock. "What a way to start off senior year. Let's get wasted."

"That's what I'm talkin' about!" Brian pulled from his headlock and smacked Don on the back. Mike walked up to Stephanie.

"Hey Steph." Mike said looking at the ground as they walked.

"Hey Mike." She never knew how to talk to him. "Looking forward to football?" She couldn't believe she started a conversation about football. But she wasn't sure of what else they could talk about.

"Yeah I guess I'm looking forward to it." He said. He gave her a weak smile and then looked back at the floor.

"Ow, wait a minute!" Don jumped in front of Stephanie, grabbing her by her shoulders making her stop short. His grip was tight but not painful. She looked up into his eyes. Not really sure of his intensions. "Stephanie Richardson is here, at a school party where there will be drinking and drugs and even sex?" He whispered the word sex. Stephanie squinted her eyes at him. Typical Don trying to get under her skin. She tilted her head to the side and smiled.

"Did I ever tell you what an asshole you are?" Her smiling growing bigger. "Sorry if I'm not into screwing everything in sight like you Don." Stephanie said. Don smiled at her, letting go of her shoulders.

"You're such a prude." Don turned around laughing. He walked in long strides ahead of them. It was obvious he couldn't wait to get to the party. Don loved to drink just as much as his old man. Don would drink himself into a stupor as often as he could. He was the life of the party and the reason half the female student body would even show up.

"Great come back Billingsley." Brian hollered to Don, laughing. Mike let out a huff of a laugh and continued walking. Stephanie laughed with them but inside she was hurt. Not devastated hurt, but hurt enough to have his words linger in her head the rest of the night. They walked into the front door and headed to the living room. Brian went and got Mike and Stephanie a beer. She sat on the oversized couch watching some of the football players talk and argue about future games. Ivory Christian was standing with a girl at the other end of the room. The girl was talking a mile a minute asking him questions while he just stared back at her. Stephanie laughed to herself. Ivory was known for not speaking. Not because he didn't know how to or couldn't muster the courage, he just found no reason to speak if there was nothing worth talking about. She looked over to Mike and noticed his emotionless stare. She followed his gaze to Melissa. She was the get-around girl of Permian. She got around alright, especially with the football team. Stephanie rolled her eyes knowing what Mike must have been thinking.

"You're too good for her." Stephanie said, making Mike jump. He looked over at her and then down to his hands. He was embarrassed, but he knew he could always talk to Stephanie if he needed to. "Why would you even waste your time looking at her?"

"Don't know actually." Mike said looking back at Melissa. "She's real pretty."

"Yeah, but not all pretty girls are nice girls. Mike, not to pry but, you should be with a nice girl." Stephanie took a sip of her beer. Mike gave her a faint smile then looked back down at his hands. He was never good at conversation. Stephanie looked around for Brian. He hadn't been at the party more than twenty minutes and there he was, lip locked with Sandra Wyler. Stephanie couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Hey Mike. I'm Melissa." Stephanie's head shot to her right. Melissa stood over Mike with a smirk on her face.

"I know who you are. Everyone knows who you are Melissa." Mike smiled.

"Everyone knows who you are too Mike." Melissa looked around the room then back down at Mike. "You wanna go talk some where more private?"

"Yeah, ok." Mike looked over at Stephanie and smiled then rose to his feet. Stephanie watched as Mike and Melissa headed up the stairs. She couldn't help but shake her head. Now she was alone. Mike was going to get laid and Brian was making out and eventually going to get laid. She sighed deeply and sunk further into the couch. She wanted to go home already, but didn't want to ruin anyone's night so she sucked it up and finished her beer.

She jumped slightly as she heard hollering and laughing coming from the hall. She looked out of the living room to see Don making out with Maria. They were falling onto each other and laughing. Two hours had gone by since they arrived at the party and Stephanie had talked with some of her old teammates and some of the football players. She had five beers in her system and was beginning to feel tired. She was just starting to relax on the oversized couch when Don and his blonde bimbo interrupted. She looked over at them, her eyebrows narrowed. She couldn't understand what Don saw in her. She was typical bleach blonde who worshiped the ground of anyone with any popularity. Maria pushed him against the wall and was obviously trying to leave her mark on his neck when his eyes connected with Stephanie's. He was laughing and clearly drunk. His smile faded and he stopped Maria. He looked down at her telling her something. She flew her arms around yelling about him being an asshole, which made Stephanie laugh. Don walked over to Stephanie like he owned the room giving her a smirk in the process. Stephanie looked away smiling. One thing Don always did was make her laugh.

"What's that?" Don said pointing at the beer in her hand.

"Beer." Stephanie whispered. "Sshh." She placed her index finger over her mouth.

"So, you drink now?" Don plopped himself on the couch next to Stephanie so hard he made her jump.

"Whoa! I know you're a big guy but really, you could be more gentile when you sit, especially next to a lady." She looked over at Don who was now practically in her face.

"You don't drink."

"Ah, sometimes." She placed the bottle on the end table.

"So, first Stephanie Richardson comes out to a high school party, finally!" He waved his hands in the air. "Now, Miss Stephanie is drinking." He laughed.

"I guess I'm not as much of a prude as you thought huh Don?"

"Oh no you're still a prude." He scanned the room. "I bet you haven't kissed one guy in this room. Better yet, in this entire house." He looked back over at her, his eyebrows raised.

"Of course I have." She gave him a smirk.

"Oh really?" He leaned himself closer to her showing his interest. "Who?" Stephanie looked away and laughed. Her eyes met his again.

"You." She touched his nose.

"Oh no you don't. You can't honestly count that. We were thirteen." Don shook his head smiling.

"You asked if there was any guy in this room that I kissed and I did. I kissed you."

"Did you ever tell Brian about that?" He said leaning back on the couch.

"Are you nuts? And get the lecture. Nah, that's ok." Stephanie looked around the room and into the hall.

"Speaking of Brian, where the hell is he?" She hadn't seen him for some time now. He left with Sandra earlier for awhile, but he had returned without her to talk to Stephanie. He said he would be back but never showed.

"I know he was driving Sandra home so maybe he got caught up." Don laughed.

"What? That jerkoff left and didn't tell me?" Stephanie jumped off the couch and headed to the front door. Don slowly pulled himself off the couch, following her.

"Son-of-a-bitch!" Stephanie yelled as she headed to the sidewalk. Brian's car was no longer parked across the street. "I can't believe him. What was he thinking?" She threw her hands to her side.

"He was thinking about getting laid." Don said behind her. She didn't know he had followed her. She turned around quickly.

"You're all assholes." She crossed her arms over her chest. The air was chilly and she was now regretting leaving her hoodie in Brian's car.

"Stop calling me an asshole." He laughed. "I've always been nice to you." He said taking off his favorite denim vest and placing it over Stephanie's shoulders. She looked down at the vest and back at Don.

"Thanks. But now what? I shouldn't have come out tonight." Stephanie was clearly annoyed.

"I'll take you home." Don was already headed towards his truck. He opened the passengers side then turned to Stephanie.

"You ok to drive?" Don nodded his head. "Won't Maria get mad that her boyfriend is leavin' with another girl?" She said as she entered the truck. Don jumped in the driver's side and started the engine.

"That girl is not my girlfriend." Don pulled onto the street. "Besides, I'm comin' back." He smiled. The ride home was amusing. Don was singing along to every song on the radio. Stephanie laughed so hard she started to cry. Don's laughter made him stop his truck in the middle of a block. Don pulled up in front of Stephanie's house and stopped short.

"And this is why I call you an asshole." She smacked his arm. She started to take his vest off when he stopped her.

"I'll get it tomorrow." He smiled. She said ok and then kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks for the ride Billingsley. Don't do anything stupid ok?" Don smiled and watched his friend run up her walkway and go into her house. He smiled widened as he pulled away from her house.