Austin, Texas
"…and then Lucy, bless her heart, asked whether I slept over and likened it to a slumber party and JR did not help by basically telling everyone that I'd stayed over and we'd had fun, I was so embarrassed", Paula laughed at the mental image of the events unfolding. "You may laugh, but it was not funny at the time" Sue Ellen continued to tell her friend the story, she had to tell someone, she certainly wasn't going to tell her mother or sister, so she made Paula promise that she would keep everything a secret; she didn't want the details spread around. "So, how was the shopping trip with Miss Ellie and Lucy? Not that you needed to do any more shopping, it looks like JR bought you the whole mall", she was a little jealous of the attention JR paid to Sue Ellen, he was proving Paula wrong, she had assumed that he was a philanderer but everything she witnessed said the opposite. Though she was a little envious, she was glad that her friend had found a man who treated her well and she could tell that they were quickly falling in love. "Oh, that went very well actually, Miss Ellie is lovely and I have a suspicion that she may have had a word with Lucy, because she didn't mention anything about the weekend. We tried on a number of dresses, I didn't buy anything though, you know how my mother is. But Lucy wanted my help and she's so much more agreeable than Kristin is, she actually listens to my opinions, we had fun picking out and trying on the dresses. I wouldn't mind the Ewings being my family one day, they're very kind" Sue Ellen finished speaking and Paula smiled, she was happy that Sue Ellen was happy. "So, I've talked all about my weekend, how was yours?" she realised that she had probably neglected her friend a little bit. Paula laughed, "well, it was nowhere as exciting as yours was but…"
Dallas, Texas
JR sat in his office with Andy Bradley, Jordan Lee, Wade Luce and his father; they were discussing the particulars of the deal they had arranged at the barbecue. JR was pleased that his father was completely on-board with the way he had arranged everything, usually Jock was a little more fastidious about letting JR take control, but lately he'd eased up on him, JR had begun to live his life 'the right way' and he credited his relationship with Sue Ellen for the change in his sons behaviour. As the meeting ended, Jock suggested that they celebrate at the Cattlemen's Club; they left the office early and made their way over to the club to celebrate in true Texan style.
The afternoon turned into evening and the men continued to drink and talk, moving from oil to football to women. "JR is the luckiest of us all, young and unmarried, but Sue Ellen, she's a looker, those legs and that beautiful face, no wonder she's Miss Texas. Very lucky man you are JR", Andy complimented JR and the other men agreed, there was no harm in their conversation, just a bit of fun between the men. "Thank you gentlemen, she is, she definitely is. I'm not sure I like the idea of you all thinking about my girlfriend though" JR took another drink and Jock spoke, "oh come on JR, you gotta let us old men have something, we're not all as lucky as you are". JR grimaced at the way his father said it, he'd almost implied that Sue Ellen was on their minds more than their own wives, and Jock was his father, he didn't like the idea of his father thinking about his girlfriend like that, especially when JR wasn't even getting all of the real thing. The men laughed at JR's reaction, "don't worry JR, we'll look, but we'd never touch; only you get to do that. Say, is she as good as she looks? Just between us of course" Wade asked and the other men looked at JR intently, the men were drunk and probably wouldn't have been so blunt in their language if they were sober. JR began to get angry, Sue Ellen wasn't a tramp and he didn't like to hear her spoken about like that, "gentlemen, I don't think that's an appropriate question, Sue Ellen is a lady, not some cheap hussy. I will not speak about her in that way and I'd appreciate if you would stop thinking about her in that way too". They looked shocked, "it was only a bit of fun JR, lighten up", JR got up from the table, he was no longer in the mood to celebrate, "I don't think you'd like it if I asked you those questions about any of your wives, so please do not speak of Sue Ellen that way". He paused, "one day she will be my wife" he turned and left the table, angry that they had even thought of Sue Ellen that way and frustrated that he couldn't even do anything about it. Jock smiled, he knew that JR loved Sue Ellen and although it had come out at an inopportune time, he was still pleased that JR had serious intentions.
JR walked out of the club and hailed a taxi, he was drunk, angry and sexually frustrated, he needed satisfaction and going back to Southfork wouldn't do anyone any good. He gave the driver directions and soon arrived, he loudly banged on the front door, "It's JR! Open the door". She was surprised to hear his voice, lately he'd been neglecting what they had shared for so long. She hated that he seemed so committed to his relationship with Sue Ellen; she had always thought that she would make a good Ewing wife, but JR saw it differently. For now, she would settle for whatever she could get, opening the door, she wasn't surprised, he was drunk and dishevelled, she didn't even get a chance to speak before he pushed his way inside her apartment and began to kiss her roughly.
Austin, Texas
Sue Ellen left cheerleading practice with a few other girls, "are you sure you don't want to go bowling with us? Some of the guys from the football team will be there" Martha giggled as she spoke and the other girls followed; Sue Ellen actually liked bowling, she and Clint used to go bowling when they were first dating. "I don't think I should, it sounds like everyone has already paired off, I already have a boyfriend" she wished it were more of a casual activity, but what had been described sounded like a group date and she didn't want to hurt JR like that. "Sue Ellen, no one is looking for anything serious, it's just a fun night of bowling. Come on, I know you like it" Diane, another one of her teammates, tried to persuade her. "Are you sure? I don't want to feel out of place" she was hesitant, "yes, I promise, now come on", Sue Ellen decided that it would be fine, she wasn't planning on doing anything and knew that JR was just as committed to their relationship as she was.
Sue Ellen was having fun, there were a few girls who had coupled, but most of the girls were just having fun and enjoying the company of the football players. There was no harm in flirting, that's what cheerleaders and football players did, but Sue Ellen was being strictly friendly. Sue Ellen's game wasn't going well, she'd only managed to hit 3 or 4 pins her last 3 tries, "need some help?" she turned and looked up at Michael, a tall, muscular, football player. She laughed "I suppose I do, usually I'm quite good, but tonight…", he took the ball from her hand and demonstrated, "so your leg goes back like this and then you release the ball, ok?" he handed the ball back to her and she did as he had showed her, hitting a few more pins, but not all of them. "Good, but try moving your hand this way as you release the ball" he moved behind her and placed one hand on her waist and leaned down, moving his hand to her arm he took her hand and showed her how to swing the ball. Sue Ellen was conscious of how close their bodies were, she wasn't sure if he were being friendly or if it was something more, "ok, thank you, I think I've got it" she moved forward to throw the ball again and this time hit the remaining pins. "Fantastic, I knew you could do it" Michael congratulated her, truthfully he'd approached her because she was beautiful and he wanted to know whether she was interested, he'd never had much of an opportunity to speak with her before but giving her bowling advice seemed like a good opportunity. "Thank you" she smiled warmly at him, she was sure that he was just being friendly and there was no harm in being friendly toward him. "Can I buy you a soda?" he offered and they spent the rest of the game talking, she thought he was pleasant and sociable and he took her enthusiasm as a sign that she was interested in taking it further.
As they left the bowling alley, Michael took the opportunity, "Sue Ellen? It's still early; maybe we could go and get a drink or something?" she was a little confused, she'd enjoyed their talk, but she wasn't interested in spending any more time together. "Oh, I'm sorry, I can't, I've got an early class tomorrow" she did have an early class, but mostly she just didn't want to go anywhere with him alone. "Just one drink, an hour maximum, I promise" he pushed, "no, I'm sorry, I really shouldn't" she started to walk toward the rest of the girls; she was beginning to get uncomfortable being alone with him. As she turned, he pulled her back to him and kissed her, she was shocked and then angry, she'd never been like anything less than a lady, at least the disgusting John Thurman had taken her to dinner before he made any moves; she pulled away from him and slapped him. "Ouch, what was that for!" he yelled angrily at her as he rubbed his face, they now had the attention of everyone else in the group, "I have never felt so disrespected, I was being friendly and you take it as an opportunity to shove your tongue down my throat. Just leave me alone, please, just stay away from me" she quickly walked back to the rest of her friends, "you little tease! You led me on all night and then when I made a move you slap me. Maybe you should think about what you want before you act like a harlot!" he was yelling across the room at her now and everyone was looking at the two in disbelief. She was stunned and enraged by his words, "excuse me? Harlot? I was being friendly, like any normal person would. You approached me, you showed me how to throw the ball and then you stuck to me all night. I politely responded to you in a friendly manner, I did not lead you on and I did not act like a harlot. I have a boyfriend who is a hundred times more of a man than you are and he knows exactly how to treat a lady, there was zero chance of me leaving here with you tonight. I would look closely at your own actions before accusing other people" she was surprised by her outburst, usually she wouldn't act in such a bold manner but this had angered her. Exiting the building, the rest of the cheerleaders were supportive of Sue Ellen, "I can't believe it", "he's usually so nice", "I can't believe he would assume things like that", she heard the comments but she wasn't really listening. She was just shaken about the way she had been treated and hoped that the news never got back to JR, he was protective of her and she didn't want him to act irrationally, but she was also afraid that he wouldn't believe that she didn't lead Michael on, maybe he would think that she had betrayed their relationship. She began to feel guilty about something that wasn't even her fault.
Dallas, Texas
JR awoke feeling groggy and hungover but also aroused; he felt her placing light kisses down his chest, moving further south with each kiss. Not opening his eyes, he whispered Sue Ellen's name and imagined her beautiful body; realising that she was right there with him and he didn't need to imagine anything, he opened his eyes. It all came flooding back, it wasn't Sue Ellen at all, it was Julie. He tried to push her off him and stop her from going any further, but it was too late, she was good at what she was doing and he couldn't help but admit that he was enjoying it. It had been too long and Sue Ellen's insistence that they stay celibate until they were married had finally had unintended consequences. He felt guilty as the wonderful feeling washed over him and he screamed her name, it wasn't his girlfriend and he wasn't alone, he'd cheated on the woman he loved and there was nothing he could do to take it back.
To be continued…
