Austin, Texas

Sue Ellen returned from cheerleading practice and was welcomed by a bouquet of yellow roses on her desk, she read the note and smiled, 'I'm sorry about my behaviour, I hope I didn't cause too much upset. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night. Love JR'. She had tearfully explained everything to him over the phone and he'd received his own cool reception from Patricia when he'd picked Sue Ellen up for dinner earlier in the week. He hadn't realised how intense the woman was, she had a set path for Sue Ellen and nothing was going to ruin that. JR felt bad for Sue Ellen, she was caught between two very determined people. Placing the flowers in a vase on her desk, she thought about the ball tomorrow night. Patricia had insisted on flying to Dallas with Sue Ellen and spending the night in a hotel, just to make sure that her daughter and her boyfriend behaved themselves. Sue Ellen hated the way people constantly treated her as if she were a child, Clint had done it when she'd had problems or gotten upset, he'd often switch into a speaking manner appropriate for explaining complex information to a much younger person, especially when he thought she was acting petulantly. Her mother did it with everything, always holding the 'parental wisdom' card; her mother always knew best, even when she didn't. Even JR did it sometimes, he'd assert his power and wisdom because of his age and social status, most of the time it wouldn't bother her, she liked seeing him act so powerfully, but when he would tell her that they shouldn't do something and give her no reason why, she'd get annoyed. Like when she was at Southfork for one of her regular weekend visits, she'd asked him to take her riding and he'd make a fuss, convincing her that she didn't really want to do that. She'd eventually ended up going with Bobby who was visiting, but JR had been upset that they hadn't included him, it was as if she couldn't win. Most of the time she was ok with having other people advise her, but when it turned into complete control, she didn't like it so much.

Dallas, Texas

Sue Ellen had help from both Patricia and Kristin as she prepared for the Oil Baron's Ball; this was her first formal introduction to Dallas society, the barbecue had been more of an informal introduction, this was an official occasion. She wore a pale pink, V-neck, empire waist dress with the diamond jewellery JR had sent her and her hair was styled up in a chignon. There was a knock at the door to their hotel room and Kristin ushered JR into the small living area, Sue Ellen wasn't quite ready yet. "Kristin, please go and help your sister, I need to speak to JR alone" Patricia directed her youngest daughter away from the room and smiled at JR, he got chills as she gave him an overly friendly smile with dead, cold eyes. Sue Ellen could hear the conversation from the bedroom; she rushed checking her appearance before appearing at the door to save him from the hostile exchange with her mother.

As they entered the ballroom, Sue Ellen was awed by the size and extravagance of the event. Even as Miss Texas, she didn't often experience glamour and wealth like this. JR showed her to the Ewing table and she thought about what Paula had told her; the tickets alone cost thousands of dollars, this was much different to anything Sue Ellen had ever experienced. JR went to get drinks for them while Sue Ellen spoke with Miss Ellie and Mavis Anderson; Jock and Punk were somewhere talking business, and Bobby had gone to dance with his date. Returning with their drinks, JR talked to his mother for a minute and then asked Sue Ellen to dance. "Thank you for inviting me JR, this whole event is bigger than anything I could have imagined" she was genuinely excited for tonight, despite the trouble in their relationship. They continued to dance before dinner was served and the Oil Baron of the Year award was announced, JR was disappointed for his father but didn't say anything. Sue Ellen just watched the whole thing from an outside perspective, the Texan oil industry was a lot bigger than she had imagined, she'd dated a few men in the oil industry, but she'd never even heard of many of the people here tonight. JR asked Bobby to dance with Sue Ellen while he settled some business with a few of the cartel members. "It's a lot different to a college party right?" Bobby made her laugh as they danced, he was only a few years younger than she was and he understood her age a little more than JR did sometimes. "May I cut in here?" a voice sounded behind Bobby and they stopped dancing, "Billy, how nice to see you" Sue Ellen smiled, they'd parted on good terms and she had enjoyed their friendship. Bobby took her reaction as his cue to hand her over and allow Billy Frampton to dance with her.

Bobby returned to his date and JR soon finished his business conversation, "Bobby? Where is Sue Ellen?" he questioned his brother, he'd left Bobby with her on purpose, he didn't want her to have to deal with meeting everyone by herself. "Oh, she met someone she knew and they're dancing" Bobby replied casually and JR began to panic, she didn't know anyone here, did she? He walked over to the dance floor and soon realised who she was dancing with, Billy Frampton had been her escort in the Miss Texas pageant, she'd told him about their previous relationship, not much more than a friendship though. He relaxed as he saw that she was ok and continued walking toward the couple, "thank you Mr Frampton, I'll take over now" JR interrupted their dance but Billy didn't mind. He had seen how JR looked at Sue Ellen the minute he'd laid eyes on her, he was happy for Sue Ellen that they they'd managed to make a relationship out of one look, the chemistry was definitely there. "Having fun?" JR wanted to make sure she was comfortable; they danced and mingled, enjoying the evening together.

"Give up now, that girl is no fun, totally frigid" JR heard the insult but wasn't sure that it was directed at them, it couldn't be. "JR, let's go back to the table" Sue Ellen looked nervous and JR realised that it was directed at them, "oh yea, back to the table, but never back to my apartment" the sleazy man slurred, clearly drunk. Bobby had been dancing close to JR and Sue Ellen and had quickly come to their side; "JR" his tone told JR that he would back him up. "Excuse me. That girl happens to be my girlfriend and you are being extremely rude. I suggest you leave now; before I have you thrown out" JR tried to keep his anger in-check, Sue Ellen was clearly uncomfortable and he felt the need to defend her. "Throw me out? Who do you think you are? Besides, I only speak the truth. You won't get anywhere with her, she's a total prude, not even an interesting one, pretty, but not pretty enough to hold that kind of power" the man's comments were enough for JR to get very angry, Bobby stepped in before he could do anything though. The man fell to the floor as Bobby punched him, "stay away from her, she's a wonderful girl, much too good for a vile man like you" Bobby spoke low and slow as JR escorted Sue Ellen off the dancefloor, a small crowd gathered to see what had happened but Bobby walked away from the scene too. "Darlin' are you ok? I'm sorry you had to hear those disgusting comments" he tried to comfort her, but deep down he was angry and confused, she definitely knew the man. "I'm fine, just keep that awful man away from me, forever" she was ok, his words had just reminded her of their awful dinner, another disastrous date Patricia had set up. "JR? Who was that man?" Miss Ellie had witnessed the end of the fight, not hearing the beginning or understanding the context. JR looked at Sue Ellen, he was just as in the dark as his mother; Sue Ellen realised that JR didn't know the man, "his name is John Thurman, his father owns an oil refinery company, I had dinner with him once, it ended early at my request. He is awful, please don't make me explain the whole thing", JR squeezed her hand as a sign of encouragement; she'd be ok with him.

The rest of the night was dampened by the little incident earlier, Sue Ellen had never wanted to think about that man again and he'd reappeared at the most inconvenient time. JR could tell that it bothered her more than she was letting on; he tried to show her a good time though, despite the unfortunate fight earlier. Leaving the ball, JR and Sue Ellen sat silently in the limo before he finally spoke, "are you really ok?" She really didn't want to talk about it, "yes, I told you, I'm fine now, it just made me remember something, but that's all in the past. Thank you for inviting me" she moved a little closer and kissed him, it was sweet and soft, perfect for the moment. JR wouldn't push her on the subject, it wasn't worth her getting upset, nor the two of them getting in a fight over it; as she ended the kiss, he held her close, he felt protective of her. Arriving back at the hotel, JR said goodnight and kissed her in the hallway outside her hotel room. Patricia heard voices, she was waiting up for Sue Ellen, wanting to make sure she arrived safely. "I thought I heard voices. Come on Sue Ellen, it's late enough already" Patricia opened the door and interrupted their final moments alone; JR silently cursed her, she really did everything to control and manipulate, it made no difference whether Sue Ellen entered the room now or in five minutes, Patricia just liked having the upper hand. Sue Ellen sighed and listened to her mother, giving JR a small peck on the cheek she walked into the room, leaving him to go back to Southfork alone. The night had been so wonderful and then horrible and then wonderful again, just being with JR made her happy; she politely told her mother about the ball and then said that she was tired and prepared for bed. JR returned home and talked for a little while with his family, before excusing himself and going upstairs.

To be continued…