The knock on the front door was loud enough to wake the dead. Stephanie slowly opened her heavy eyes as the pounding became louder. She groaned and pulled herself out of bed. Rubbing her eyes she slowly crawled down her steps. She grabbed the door knob and yanked the front door open. Brian was on the other side of her screen door, staring at her with wide eyes.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Stephanie said yawning.
"Maybe because I thought you were dead." Brian pulled open the screen door making Stephanie step back.
"What are you talking about?"
"How do you just leave like that?" Brian crossed his arms over his chest.
"How do you just leave like that?" Stephanie asked, poking his chest.
"I drove Sandra home and came right back. I told Billingsley to tell you."
"He did tell me. Then he drove me home." Stephanie walked down the hall to the kitchen. Brian followed pounding his feet as he walked. Stephanie rolled her eyes knowing what was going to happen next.
"Seriously Steph you had me really pissed last night. I almost came in your house when I got home." He sat at the kitchen table tapping his fingers on the table looking at her with his stern eyes. She sat across from him, smirk on her face.
"You are so damn cute when you're mad."
"Stephanie!" He slammed his hand on the table which made her jump but also start to laugh.
"You're a trip; you leave with some random girl, without even the slightest decency to tell me you were leaving, then when I leave to go home your pissed."
"It's not the same, you're a girl." Brian shook his head and put his hand up. "You know what, I'm not arguing over this. Tonight you don't leave until I leave!" He got up and took a water from the frig. Stephanie got up and put her hands in the air.
"Whoa! Tonight I'm not going anywhere! You have to be crazy if you think I'm going to anymore parties with you!"
"Don't be a jerk. You have to come."
"Why, to drink by myself?"
"You know everyone I know. No reason for you to be by yourself. You just choose not to talk to anyone."
"Well I'm not going. End of discussion." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Fine!" Brian walked down the hall to the front door. He opened it and stopped before exiting, turning to face her. "I'll call you when I get home."
"Just call me tomorrow. I'm sure Sandra will be at the party and you'll leave with her again." Stephanie raised her eyebrows at Brian. He smiled at her.
"Yeah, maybe." He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll call you." He kissed her on her forehead. Stephanie closed the door behind Brian. She really didn't want another night of sitting by herself in a room full of people. She could do that in the comfort of her own bed. Now that she was awake she figured she would eat breakfast and then take a shower. First she wanted to check on her mother. Stephanie walked back up the stairs to her mother's room. She opened the door and her mother wasn't there.
"Ma?" She walked into her mother's room and heard her shower on. Stephanie walked to the bathroom door and knocked.
"Yes?" Her mother yelled.
"Just wanted to see if you were ok and if you wanted something to eat." She could hear the water being turned off. A few seconds later her mother opened the door and smiled. She looked better today.
"Actually I'm going out for breakfast. Well, brunch." She walked past her daughter and fumbled through her walk in closet. Stephanie sat on her bed.
"With who?"
"Troy." Stephanie couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You're kidding right Mom?"
"He was away on business for a few weeks and now he's back home and he wants to see me. I don't see the harm in that."
"The man broke your nose and got you hooked on those pills you still can't get off of. You don't see the harm in that?" Stephanie stood up and walked to the bedroom door. She turned back to her mother. "You know what? Do what you want to do. I'll be out of this God forsaken town in a year and then it won't matter what you do anymore, because I won't be here to see you slowly kill yourself." Stephanie stormed down the hall into her room. She slammed the door making her mother jump. She knew her daughter was right, but she cared for Troy and needed him in her life. Why? She wasn't sure yet. She stepped into her dress and applied her light makeup. She dried her hair and headed down the stairs. She gathered her keys and pocket book then headed to her car.
"Hey Mrs. Richardson." Brian called from his front yard. Mrs. Richardson smiled and walked over to Brian.
"Hello Brian." She smiled. "So, are you ready for state?" The woman was just as bad as the rest of the town.
"Yes ma'am, I'm ready." Brian shook his head and smiled. Poor Stephanie. "Well, I better get going. I have some errands to run for my dad. Bye Mrs. Richardson." He waved at her then got into his car. Mrs. Richardson walked back to her car and got in. She smiled as she pulled away heading to meet Troy.
Stephanie couldn't believe her mother's stupidity. After her fathers death she seemed to have lost her common sense. She paced her bedroom floor, biting what little was left of her thumb nail. She couldn't do this to herself. She needed to eat and take a shower. She grabbed a pair of jean shorts and a black AC/DC fitted T-shirt that Brian bought her for her birthday. She put the clothes in the bathroom then headed downstairs. She ate a bowl of cereal while she watched television. One thing her mother always taught her was to clean up after herself. After she finished her dishes she headed upstairs and took a shower. Twenty minutes later she was getting dressed when the phone rang.
"Hello."
"How's my beautiful sister doing?"
"Bobbo!"
"Hey hun."
"Hey big bro." Stephanie was always happy when her brother called.
"What are you up to today?" Her brother asked.
"Nothing much. Just finished taking a shower. I'm thinking of going to the library to finish a paper that's due."
"Let me guess, the paper isn't due for like another month?'
"You know me so well." She laughed.
"God, tell that boyfriend of yours to take you out. Take you to a Permian party."
"He's not my boyfriend. And besides, we tried that last night."
"My sister, miss proper actually went to a party?"
"Ok. Wow, now your sounding like Billingsley."
"You hung out with Billingsley? Whoo-eeh! You must have loved every minute of that?"
"Don't be an asshole Robert! The Billingsley faze ended a long time ago. And you were never supposed to speak of it. So shut up!" They both laughed.
"Where's mom?"
"Ah, well I'm thinking maybe you should sit down for this one." Stephanie sat down on her bed. "She's out with Troy."
"Fucking figures. She'll never change."
"Yeah, I guess not."
"Alright, listen I gotta go. I'll call tomorrow. I love you."
"I love you too." Stephanie hung up the phone and sighed. She missed her brother so much. He was her protector, the only normalcy in that house. She couldn't wait until college. She would be away from Odessa and away from her mother. She'd move in with her brother and start her new life.
"Why didn't she come?" Mike asked Brian as they walked up Tyler's front steps.
"She hates this shit, you know that. I'm surprised she came out last night." Brian and Mike said their rounds of hellos as they entered the house. The party was already in full effect and Brian wanted to catch up. He walked into the kitchen to see Don funneling a beer. When he was finished he almost slipped on the floor. He was hollering and jumping to his victory. Brian laughed. Mike shook his head letting a small smirk form across his lips.
"Billingsley, you gonna slow down so the rest of us can have some?" Brian said pointing to the beer Don was pouring in the funnel.
"This isn't for me dude," Don smiled his toothy smile. "This is for you." He moved aside letting Brian get under the funnel. Don released the tube he had creased and watched as Brian downed the entire can. Brian jumped up laughing and hollering the same as Don did. Mike opened a beer and took a sip. "Crazy." He said out loud. The three boys walked outside onto the back deck. Don had grabbed two more beers on the way out and handed one to Brian.
"Where's Stephanie?" Don asked.
"You're kidding? You actually thought she would come out again?" Brian laughed as he sat down on a beach chair. Don leaned against the railing looking down at his friend.
"It was cool seeing her, ya'know? Been along time since we were all out together." Don looked down at his beer.
"Yeah, she was always so wrapped up in track; she never had time for us like that." Mike said.
"Guys, she's got a good head on her shoulders. Drinking and partying just isn't her thing. She's always been better then us in that sense." Brian took another swig of his beer.
"You think she'll come back after college?" Mike asked putting his hand deep into his pocket.
"No. When she leaves that's it." Brian's eyes fell to the floor. He didn't like to think about this being the last year his best friend would be living in Odessa. But the truth was, once she left she never wanted to see the town again.
"I'm getting depressed and I'm not ok with it. So if you'll excuse me boys, I have a party to attend." Don walked back in the house. Mike looked over at Brian and nodded towards the house. Brian got up and followed Mike back into the party.
Stephanie heard Brian's car pull up the block. She looked out her window as he pulled into his driveway. She couldn't sleep and needed to get out of the house. She grabbed Don's vest and headed down the stairs and out her front door. She jogged to Brian's house and stopped him as he was about to enter his house.
"Hey Chavo." She said making him jump. He turned to Stephanie.
"What are you doing?" Brian asked. Walking to his friend.
"I tried calling before you left for the party but the phone was busy and I didn't feel like coming out." She handed Brian Don's vest. "I wanted you to give this back to Don." Brian shook his head and put his hand up.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm shot. I need my bed. He's wide awake I'm sure. You go bring it to him." Stephanie shrugged.
"Ok. I need to get out of that house anyway." Stephanie nodded to her house.
"What happened?" He put his arms around his friend. Pulling her into a hug. His body was heavy against her and he stunk of beer.
"Troy's what happened. He's spending the night." Brian let out a huff of a laugh. He pulled away facing his friend.
"Go bring Don his vest. He'll enjoy the company. Get out for a bit." Brian looked at his watch. "It's after midnight. Don't stay out too long." He pointed his finger at her.
"Why are you home so early by the way?"
"Tyler's girlfriend was making out with some guy. He threw everybody out." Brian and Stephanie laughed.
"I gotta go to bed. I'm so sleepy." Brian kissed Stephanie on the cheek and walked to his door and went inside. Stephanie went in her house and grabbed her keys. She locked the door and walked across the street to her car. She drove to Don's house in silence.
The lights were all out at the Billingsley residence. Stephanie got out of her car, Don's vest in hand and headed towards the front door. If by chance Mr. Billingsley answered the door he would greet her. Charles Billingsley took a strong liking to Stephanie. She could ring their bell at four in the morning and he wouldn't be the least bit annoyed. As she walked up the walkway something caught her eye. She couldn't make out what it was until she got closer. Legs were sticking out of the shadows. Stephanie stopped for a second narrowing her eyes. She walked slowly over to the figure that lay lifeless on the porch floor. "Oh my God." She said out loud, covering her mouth. She knelt down over Don's body. He was only wearing jeans and a football was duct taped to his hands. She slowly placed her hand on Don's shoulder.
"Don." She whispered as she lightly pushed his shoulder. He didn't respond. Tears had formed in her eyes looking down at her friend. She knew who did this to him. He had humiliated him like this before.
"Don." Her voice was louder and her push on his shoulder was harder. He jumped and looked around confused. "Don, look at me." She grabbed his chin making him face her.
"Stephanie, go home." He said angrily.
"No, I won't. You can't stay out here all night Don." He looked down at his hands. His eyes began to water and he squeezed them shut.
"Fuck!" He yelled.
"Why did he do this to you?" Stephanie said trying to take the tape off.
"He was at yesterday's practice. Tonight was the first time I'd seen him since. So he had to let me know that I can't hold onto the ball. So this," he held up his taped hands. "This is his way of making sure I do." He shut his eyes again and threw his head back. Stephanie remembered she had her art supplies in her trunk. She ran to her car tried opening the trunk. "Shit." She said as the keys fell to the street. She picked them up with shaky hands. She opened the truck and looked through her art bag. She grabbed the scissors and ran back over to Don. She grabbed his hand and he pulled away.
"Go home Steph, please!" Don was being difficult, which wasn't anything new. She grabbed his hands and slowly cut through the duct tape. After she was done she pulled it off of his hands quickly. She put his arm around her shoulder and her left arm around his back. She tried pulling him up but was failing.
"Don, please you have to help me." Don pushed himself up with Stephanie's help. She walked him down the steps and onto the walkway.
"What are you doing?" Don asked as he walked to the sidewalk.
"You're not staying here tonight." She looked over at Don who was looking back at her. His face could no longer hide his emotions. His lip was quivering and his eyes were watering. She opened the passenger's side door and helped him in. She closed the door after he was in then ran back to the porch to grab his vest she had dropped. She ran back to her car and jumped in. Don looked over at her as she placed his vest on his lap.
"I was bringing back your vest." She started the car and drove off. Don put his head against the window and closed his eyes. He had put his vest on and crossed his arms over his broad chest. Stephanie knew about his father's drunken out bursts. She had witnessed plenty of them herself.
She pulled into her spot across the street from her house. She turned the car off and looked over at Don. He looked so peaceful when he slept. "Don." She said loud, touching his arm. He moved slightly and opened his eyes.
"Where are we?" He said as he sat up.
"My house." She opened the car door and got out. She crossed the street and headed up the stairs to her front door. She heard the car door slam and looked back to see Don walking slowly across the street. She opened the door and waited for Don. He stopped looking in the house.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"Don, get in." She laughed, pushing him in the house. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"Water, please." Don said as he followed Stephanie into the kitchen. She grabbed him a bottle of water and walked down the hall to the stairs. Don followed her up to her bedroom.
"We can stay in here. Troy's back and I don't want him bothering you in the morning." She looked at Don for a second then walked out of the room. A few minutes later she came back with sweat pants and a t-shirt for him.
"You're the same size as my brother. They should fit." Stephanie turned around to her dresser getting out a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt. "I'll be right back. Get dressed." He dressed quickly then sat on her bed. A minute later she came back in closing the door and locking it. Don looked up at her. She smiled down at him.
"What? It's like when we were kids. When your dad would drink." She lay down on the bed motioning for Don to join her. "My bed is big enough for your fat ass and mine." Don smiled and lay down next to her. He reached over and shut her nightstand lamp off. The room was dark except for the blue tint from the moon through her bedroom window. Stephanie laid on her side facing Don who was on his back staring at the ceiling.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Stephanie whispered.
"No."
"Ok. I'm here if you do. I'm always here Donnie." Don looked over at Stephanie. She had always been a good friend.
"You sure you're ok with me sleeping in the bed with you?"
"Of course. I'm a prude remember? I know you won't try anything with a prude." Don laughed and moved to his side facing Stephanie.
"Go to sleep Don Billingsley. Everything will be better in the morning." Stephanie could see the tears forming in Don's eyes. She placed her hand on his cheek. Don closed his eyes and started to cry.
"Why does he hate me?" Don cried out. Stephanie moved herself closer to him and put her arms around him.
"He doesn't hate you Don. He just tries to relive his past through you. He doesn't know how to handle not being a star football player anymore. But I know he doesn't hate you." Don tried to stop crying but he couldn't. He put his arms around Stephanie and held her close to him.
"Its nice to have someone care about you and not want something in return." He whispered in her ear.
"I've always told you I'm here for you. No matter how far I am. I will always be your friend."
"My number one girl."
"You haven't called me that in a long time." She smiled. He pulled his head back, looking into her eyes. She couldn't help but look back. Don's eyes were hypnotizing. Even to his friend.
"I miss how we used to be." Don said. "Seems like you and Brian stayed close, and me and you. Well, aren't."
"High school changes people sometimes. Plus you with football and me with track. And me and Brian, well it was convenient for us living four houses away." Don laughed.
"I don't mean to laugh but, anytime I'm in bed with a girl, well it's not like this." He smiled.
"Don't get any ideas Billingsley." She put her finger in his face. Don wiped away the tears from his face then kissed Stephanie's forehead.
"Thank you." He whispered. He closed his eyes and Stephanie closed hers. Stephanie's stomach had butterflies flying around aimlessly. Don's warmth was soothing. She was comfortable in his arms in a way she never thought she would be. His breathing was steady which meant he was sleeping. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He really was beautiful. Stephanie closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.