Disclaimer: I own no one except Andy! Dazed and Confused characters belong to their creators.
Author's Note: I loved writing this chapter! I hope you guys enjoy! Vote! Comment! Let me know your thoughts.
Party at Moon Tower, also what Andy liked to call the best parties in Texas. They always ended in an epic fashion from a fight to someone streaking through the woods to steal the clothing of the kids who decided to skinny dip in the river. As usual, people from all over town showed up including the ones from the rival school the next county over. What they called the Moon Tower was a tower of lights out in the middle of a clearing, used for nothing more today than getting stoned and watching the sun come up. Sometimes at night when Andy looked out over the town, she imagined herself looking out over the lights of some big city. It was a bitchin' time.
Andy piled up into the middle of Benny's truck, Melvin climbing in behind her. "You boys ready for this?" She grinned as Benny slammed the tailgate shut. The three of them had been left in charge of acquiring the keg for the night.
"Ready for what?" Benny smirked, sliding up into the driver's seat of his Chevrolet. He rested his arm up on the seat behind Andy, clearing his throat as she moved closer.
"The best night of our lives, of course." Andy pulled his arm down around her shoulders, earning a strange look from Melvin who just shrugged it off.
"I'm always up for a good time." Melvin cheered as they sped off towards the freeway.
"I love this song!" Andy announced for the fifth time since they left the Emporium, reaching for the volume dial.
"We know." The two of them said together, laughing when she began to pout.
"Oh,c'mon, babe… You know you wanna sing along. I wanna rock and roll all night! And party every day!" He sang as Wooderson sped up beside him. "Say, why didn't you come and party, fuckface?!"
Wooderson shouted something inaudible over the boom of the speakers eliciting a "Fuck you!" from Benny. He slammed his foot on the gas, keeping up easily with Wooderon's Chevy Chevelle. His truck was packing some serious power under the hood. Andy had been the one who helped him build her. They worked countless hours over the summer to get her purring like a kitten.
"Let's go, baby!" Andy placed a kiss on Benny's cheek, making sure to shoot Wooderson the bird.
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively before speeding off ahead of Benny. All the headlights on the freeway seemed to be heading in the same direction. News of the party spread like wildfire in less than an hour.
"Let me drive next time." She teased as Benny's arm took its original place around her shoulders.
"I don't think so, little girl." Benny took the open from beer from her hand.
"Oh, c'mon! I can drive and you know it." Andy placed a hand on his leg, right above his knee. Earlier than evening she had been dragged into the bathroom of the Emporium by Jodi and Shavonne, quizzing her about Benny. The two of them had obviously been put up to it by Pink, but being her friends, they knew what was going on.
"Yeah, you drive like it's the Indie 500." Benny retorted as his favorite band ZZ Top banged out of the speakers.
"And you don't?" Andy huffed, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Only to get to you." He gave her a sly wink. He was satisfied with the grin she gave him in return.
"Okay, you two gotta cut it out." Melvin rolled his eyes. "So, you guys think Vicky's still mad at me?"
OoOoOoO
"Why is it called the Moon Tower anyway?" Mitch stared up in wonder at the legendary Moon Tower. The tower's bright lights illuminated the clearing as if it were the dead middle of the day.
"Uh, I guess they just decided to put it up here whenever they were buildin' the power plant." Pink explained, pulling himself up to the next rung on the ladder.
"Actually,it's a good idea. You get a full moon out here every night of the year." Andy lounged carefully on the beam above Slater.
"Yeah, but nothin's ever been repaired." Kevin Pickford grinned at the freshman, chosing to climb up the side rather than use the ladder. "So the whole place could fall down at anytime."
"Stop trying to scare the kid, Kev." Andy flicked her cigarette butt towards his face, laughing as he tried to doge it. "Better watch your step, Kramer."
"This place used to be off limits, man, because some drunk freshman fell off." Slater warned. "He went down the middle, smackin' his head on every beam, man. I hear it doesn't hurt after first couple though. Autopsy said he had one beer,man. How many have you had?"
"Four." Mitch laughed, rolling his eyes.
"You're dead, man." Andy grinned, reaching the top. "So dead." She hung her feet off the edge, head resting on a metal bar as she stared out over the town. "Look at his place." She glanced up at Pink. "It's too quiet."
"Imagine how many people out there are fuckin'." Slater took a seat next to her.
"Jealous, Slate?" Andy shoved him playfully.
"Maybe a little." Slater laughed. "So, you and Benny, huh?"
"Oh my gosh, you guys are worse than chicks, I swear. Actually, tonight it's gonna be me and this keg." She sat in silence, listening to boys talk about girls, cars, and football. She heard Pink mention something about state and possibly taking Jodi to homecoming. "It'll catch you guys later, alright?"
"Yeah, I know where you're going." Pink jested.
"Ya know, I heard a story about a drunk senior getting pushed off the top of this tower by his angry best friend." Andy laughed, heading for the ladder. "You better watch your back, Floyd."
"I've seen scarier bunny slippers, Bennett." He blew her a kiss.
She hopped down off the ladder, landing surprisingly stable on her two feet. The clearing was packed with cars from all over town. She spotted Benny's truck parked in his favorite spot, anywhere close to the keg. "So, uh.. You come here from often?" She giggled from behind Benny, lifting the Solo cup swiftly from his hand.
"There you are. I've been lookin' for you all night. Melvin was over here dancin' by himself." Benny filled up another cup with beer for himself.
She sprung herself onto his tailgate without spilling a drop of beer. Now that was his kind of woman. "That's right!" She praised herself. "Go me!"
"I always knew you were talented." Benny inched closer, resting his hand easily on her thigh.
"Well, I coulda told you that." Andy shook her head. "I'm disappointed in you, O'Donnell."
"What for?" Benny asked curiously.
"For not knowing Talented was middle name, duh. Jodi!" She beckoned the brunette over away from Julie who was paying close attention to Mitch.
"Hey!" She waved, bouncing her way over to Benny's tailgate. "So, you seen Pink?"
"Maybe I have." Andy shrugged with a grin. "What's it to ya?"
"Oh, c'mon, Andrea. Don't be like that." Jodi laughed.
"I bet he'll make his way over here in about five minutes. You know he has to make his rounds first." Pink always made sure to say hi to everyone. Well, not everyone really. Everyone who mattered. He made his way from group to group making people smile. That was his talent. He never failed to put a smile on someone's face. Andy's rounds were finished for the time being as she settled restfully in Benny's lap.
"You look good tonight." Benny's arm looped securely around her small waist.
"You think so?" Andy leaned back against his chest, picking at the frayed strings of her shirt.
OOoOoOo
The warmth of the whiskey filled the void in O'Bannion's chest as he watched Andrea and Benny flirting shamelessly from the driver's seat of his grey Plymouth. She stood at a solid five foot three inches, made of nothing but sass and a heart the size of Texas. Her jungle of untamed golden ringlets framed her delicate heart shaped face, bringing out the glimmer of her deep blue eyes. Staring into them was like getting lost at sea. The shade of her eyes happened to be one shade lighter than her favorite color. A blue that resembled the crashing waves.
He knocked back another shot of Jack Daniels straight from the bottle as envy crept its way into his troubled mind. He was parked close enough to catch the two of them whispering back and forth, not wanting to imagine the words being said. He remembered the times she used to sing softly in his ear while perched up proudly in his lap. You told me to leave you alone, My father said, "Come on home," My doctor said, "Take it easy!" Oh, but your lovin' is much too strong… Chills erupted down his spine at the thought of her lips pressed against his ear.
The idea of Benny's steady hands running their way down her subtle curves just the way his used to made his blood boil. There was a time when all he had to do was smile and she was putty in his hands. He gripped the steering wheel tightly with one hand, the bottle of Jack resting open in the other. A short knock came at his window.
"O'Bannion!" Melvin clapped his friend on the shoulder. "What'cha doin' just sittin' in here? Come drink, man, We got plenty of beer."
He caught a quick glimpse of Andy hopping down from the bed of Benny's truck, making a beeline for the keg. Her and Jodi Kramer laughed loudly, but about what he wasn't sure. This was it. This was the perfect moment. "Yeah, man. Why not?" He chuckled, steadying himself on the door as he stepped out into the grass. "Let me just grab a beer."
"Bitchin'. I'll be over with Pink and the boys." Melvin grinned. "You better not pussy out on us."
O'Bannion scoffed in response. "Yeah, we'll see." He stepped up behind Andy, looming over her shoulder as she refilled her cup. "That was some little stunt you pulled, earlier."After spending two and a half hours scrubbing paint out of his hair and out from under his fingernails, he found himself fit to join the rest of the boys at the Moon Tower knowing well that she would be up for party. She could never turn one down.
"That wasn't me, Fred," the petite blonde rolled her eyes. "I woulda done it myself and you know it. This was bound to happen. You can't get away with abusing the poor kids two years in a row. Karma's a bitch, huh baby? Now move."
"Hey, hey… I was gonna applaud you for it. Good job. Finally got your revenge." Fred O'Bannion blocked her path back to Benny's truck.
"I don't want revenge, I just want you to leave me the hell alone." She let out an irritated sigh. She was naïve to think he wouldn't show his face again for the rest of the night. Anger boiled low in her veins.
"And I just wanna talk." He grabbed her gently by the arm. "In private."
Andy contemplated his words, finger tracing the rim of her plastic cup. "You 've got two minutes." She led him over away from the crowd, making sure she was close enough to Benny's truck to make a run for it if needed. "Start talkin'."
"Listen, I'm sorry… I never meant to hurt you." He pleaded, pushing a stray curl behind her ear.
Andy slapped his hand away. "You're sorry?!" She snapped. "You're sorry for hitting me? This is a sick joke, right?"
The sound of Andy raise her voice caught Benny's attention. "Hey,man. I'll be right back." He told Melvin, hopping down from the bed of his truck with a beer still in hand. Jealously hung in the air upon seeing Andy talking close to O'Bannion.
"I made a mistake! I got angry! You know how I am when I'm angry… Especially if it involves my dad." He towered over her.
"I don't care how damn sorry you are. Stay away from me, okay? I don't want you anymore and I haven't for a long time. I don't even think I really did in the first place." She chewed on her bottom lip.
"It's Benny, isn't it?" He raised an eyebrow. "You want Benny."
"So what if it is?" Her brows furrowed angrily.
"You're goin' after my friend to get back at me." She cringed inwardly at the sound of his obnoxious laugh.
"Do you really think that much of yourself?" She truly couldn't believe how conceited he was. How selfish and egotistical.
"Yeah, who doesn't?" He crooned. "C'mon, give me another chance. I said I'm sorry."
"Aw, of course!" Andrea mocked with a high pitch squeal. "Take this beer as a token of my love." She narrowed her eyes, standing on the tips of her toes to dump the red plastic cup full of his beer over his head. "Oops! It must've slipped! Now I said stay away from me and I mean it. You should be lucky I agreed to date you in the first place, but you're right. I am going after your friend, O'Bannion." She spat. "I love him. I've loved him for a long time, I think. It took you and your ego to make me realize it. Go find someone else to kiss your booboo's." Feeling satisfied with herself and her actions, she smashed the red cup with her black sneakers.
"There a problem here, man?" Benny approached the pair silently, placing a hand on Andy's shoulder. "Hey, uhh… You got some beer on your shirt." He chuckled.
"Yeah, fuck you, man." O'Bannion quipped angrily, stomping his way back to his car.
"I need another beer." She grumbled. She knew exactly what he was going to do. Find some girl, complain to her about how mean Andy was to him, and guilt her into pity sex. That's the way he rolled. Or he'd sit alone and wait for one his regulars to approach,
"Here, take mine. I've been lookin' for ya." A blush rose into her cheeks. "So, umm… You heard that?"
"Some of it." Benny's free hand rested on her slim waist.
She prayed he wasn't listening to the last part. Her saying she loved him. Her heart thundered against her chest, the heat in her cheeks rising to her ears. "H-How much?" She stammered, the words barely leaving her lips. Her thick jungle of curls shielded her from his piercing baby blues.
"Only the good parts." Benny teased. "Andy, look at me. Please."
"You're drunk, Benny." The smell of alcohol was heavy on his breath.
"Okay? You're one to talk, you know that? Maybe he was right about that attitude." He lifted her with ease onto the tailgate of his truck. The two of them were now alone. Melvin was standing across the half empty clearing talking with Pink and Don. The herd thinned throughout the night, the weak weeding themselves out. "But I always liked 'em feisty."
"Yeah, you sure did." She giggled out loud, her arms sliding up around his neck. "What the hell are we doin'?"
"I dunno." His rested his forehead against hers. One hand tangled itself in her thick locks, the other sitting once again on her waist. For the first time, he had to admit he was nervous. Girls had never been an issue with Benny. He could charm the pants of a nun if given the chance, but there was something about the way she felt in his arms.
Her smiled gleamed as Bad Company pulsed through the speakers of his truck. "I.." Music brought her to life. The squeal of the guitars ignited a fire deep down in her bones causing her to sway her hips to rhythm.
Baby, when I think about you I think about love. Darlin', don't live without you and your love. If I had those golden dreams of my yesterdays, I would wrap you in the heaven 'til I'm dyin' on the way...
He pressed a finger to her lips, laughing. "Let me guess, you love this song?" His finger was slyly replaced with his lips, a large cheer erupting from the partygoers.
Andy's eyes widened in surprised and she stiffened, but the moment he pulled her back onto her feet she melted in his arms. "Benny…" She murmured against his lips. The kiss was electric, sparks spreading from her fingers to the tips of her toes. Her lips tingled from the contact.
"Yeah, babe. I know. I love you too." The words glided from his lips with ease, a wide smile breaking out across his face.
Andy buried her face in his neck to hide her growing blush. "What did we just do?"
"I think that's called a kiss." Benny pressed his lips against her soft curls and turned to face the crowd. He gave the crowd a graceful bow, scooping her up into his arms.
"Took ya long enough!" Pink howled, cruising his way across the open field. He cut through the kids standing in line for the keg. "What the hell'd you do to O'Bannion?" He snickered.
"Just gave him a beer." Andy laughed, her arms still hooked around Benny's neck.
"Hey, Pink… You hear this broad loves me?" Benny's ice blue eyes sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight.
"I think I heard a thing or two about that." Pink teased with a grin.
"There's that attitude again. You've got a serious attitude problem, young man." Don Dawson mocked as he glided up to next to Andy who was now standing on her own two feet. "You're runnin' with that bad crowd again, Randy Floyd."
"Them kids that smoke the devil's lettuce." Andy cackled, finishing off what was left of Benny's beer.
"Like I'm the only athlete at this fuckin' party." Pink chuckled and rolled his eyes. He didn't understand how he was the one who needed an attitude adjustment. "Look at you two drunks."
The glimmer in Benny's eyes shone one last time before he turned to look at Pink. "Coach's right though. They don't care if we win or lose."
"Hey, Don." Andy spoke up to change the subject, before it grew too serious. "Wanna beer?"
"Check this out." Don chugged the last of his beer, tossing cup over into the grass. "You ready?"
Andy counted to three under her breath before shouting "Oh no! It's the cops!"
"Look! Look! Look!" Don rushed up beside her, pointing off in no real direction. He grinned as the teenagers around the area scattered quickly.
"Looks like we still got it, Dawson." Andy placed her hands on her hips as Don fixed them both another beer. "You wonder what they're talkin' about?" She nudged her head in the direction of Benny and Pink who were sitting in the cab of his truck.
"Probably about football and that damn pledge." Don sighed.
OoOoOoOo
"So, I uhh… Just wanted to talk, ya know?" Benny's voice was laced with concern. Despite what everyone thought, Pink had been acting different. Not many people seemed to notice, but he could tell a huge difference in his best friend. He had always been one to follow hi heart, but this time it was leading him down the wrong direction. "About you quittin' football… Or is it just this pledge? You don't wanna sign the pledge, right?"
Pink let out a frustrated sigh. "I dunno, man. Well maybe I'm not into any of it anymore."
"Not into any of it anymore? Man, it'll be the biggest mistake of your life, Pink. No one quits senior year pal, especially if you're starting quarterback. I mean we've got a shot at state! We kicked butt this year!" He frowned. "It's what we've been working for all of our lives man. Me and you. Benny we're going to be champions together." He reminded of the words he said to him at the beginning of the year. "You remember that?"
"Look man, all I'm saying is if I do play next year, it's going to be on my terms not theirs." Pink glanced down at his boots.
"You just remember one thing Pink: It ain't just about you pal. It's about us, ya know. Me, Donny, Mel. You'd be fucking us over. Or maybe you're just fucking scared, huh? Have a nice night." Benny snapped, looking away from Pink. They'd been working their whole damn lives to go state and now Pink was going to throw it away for some stupid pledge. How could he do that them? After all they've been through?
"I'm gonna go check on them." Andy frowned, crossing back over towards the black Chevrolet just as Pink slammed the passenger door. "Hey, what's the matter?"
"Nothin', alright? I'll just see you guys later." He frowned, giving her a quick hug. "Don! Let's go, man."
The frustration on Benny's face was clear as he leaned his head against the steering wheel. "Goddamnit, Pink." He mumbled.
"Baby?" Andy's voice was soft and smooth. She slid up inside next to him. Benny never approvedof Pink or Don, or herself for that matter, making the decision to get stoned on the daily. He kept his aversions to himself, allowing them to do as they pleased, but when it came to Pink things were different. Benny had worked for the state championship since he was six years old. His entire future was riding their last season. "Why don't the two of us take off for the night? My dad's gone for the weekend."
Benny lifted his head with a sigh. "C'mon, babe. Let's get outta here. I know where we can go. Cool?"
"Cool." Andrea agreed with a grin, lacing her fingers with his. The rest of the night was far from over, but just as she suspected, the Moon Tower party had been the most bitchin' night of her life. As Benny sped off towards the highway, she studied his features from his piercing blue eyes to his chiseled jaw line and that's when she realized he was all she ever wanted.