Dallas, Texas
"Thank you for coming, please enjoy the party" Marilee and her new husband Seth Stone greeted their guests at the wedding reception, JR was next in the receiving line, just ahead of his parents and Bobby was somewhere further down the line, "JR. Going stag today are we?" Marilee observed the unusual lack of companion. "Yes, my girlfriend is very busy, you know, being our state representative" he responded; state representative was probably a little bit strong, Miss Texas was hardly necessary for diplomatic relations, but he wouldn't let Marilee best him. "Really? Well, I heard that your little beauty queen is awfully busy a lot of the time now, there's even been some speculation that maybe you two weren't together anymore" she pushed him for answers, though she didn't much care whether he and Sue Ellen were together or not. "I don't know where you got that information, but it's incorrect. You may want to check your sources again before coming to a conclusion like that in the future" he tried to make light of their current situation, though Marilee wasn't entirely incorrect, he and Sue Ellen weren't really together at the moment, she hadn't responded to any of his apology gifts. He'd spoken to her mother, but didn't think that Sue Ellen would appreciate him teaming up with Patricia against her, he knew how she felt about her mother's interference. "Hm, well you may want to inform Miss Ellie of those details, because she seems to think that you two aren't an item anymore. Those DOA meetings can be quite interesting at times" she grinned at him, she enjoyed beating JR at his own game, "now, if you'll excuse us, we have more guests to greet" she smiled sweetly and JR shook Seth Stone's hand before walking toward the bar. Although he didn't appreciate his own mother spreading the details of his personal life, he knew that she hadn't done it with malicious intent, Marilee probably twisted and manipulated the situation for her own benefit rather than Miss Ellie starting rumours by herself. They weren't completely untrue though, he had told his mother that Sue Ellen was busy and she had probably come to the natural conclusion, they weren't making time for each other because they weren't a couple right now.
Austin, Texas
Sue Ellen opened the door and tipped the deliveryman again, receiving gifts was expensive; she read the small card, another note asking her to please just speak to him. It had been over a week and she had gotten over the initial shock, there was no harm in just calling him and talking, though she wasn't sure that she could still be with him, no matter how much she loved him, she felt betrayed by his actions and she didn't fully trust him right now. She was on spring break now, though she'd skipped the normal parties and getaway trips, she hadn't felt very festive lately. Her presence in Austin gave her two weeks free from college work and now was the best time to talk out their problems. Slowly walking to the phone, she made sure that neither her mother or sister were close, she didn't need them interfering in her decision, she twirled the cord around her finger as she waited for someone to answer her call. "Southfork Ranch" she heard the female voice, it was Teresa, she was pleased that she didn't have to have an awkward conversation with a Ewing, "hello Teresa, may I please speak to JR, it's Sue Ellen". Teresa smiled to herself, she liked Miss Sue Ellen, and Mr JR had been awfully grumpy without her around, maybe they were finally going to fix their problems; just because she was the maid, didn't mean she didn't hear everything that went on in that house, she knew more about the Ewings collectively than they probably knew about each other.
"Hello darlin'" he put on his most charming voice, he wasn't sure that charm was going to help him but it was worth trying. As much as she hated her lack of self-control, she still enjoyed the effect his words had on her, it was magical, she got shivers when he spoke, especially now, she had not heard his voice in so long. She wanted to be strong and not give in too easily, but if he kept using that tone, she couldn't be sure that she would. "JR" it was short and simple and she tried to stay close to her original intent, "I wasn't ready to talk before, but I am now" she spoke and her voice was shaky, she had very mixed emotions. On one hand she was angry with him for what he'd done, but on the other, she was still very much in love with him and willing to accept anything if it would mean they could restore their relationship; she knew she shouldn't be too eager though, he had hurt her and she hadn't completely forgiven him. JR was surprised and pleased, she wasn't being irrational and she sounded emotionally affected by their conversation already, he shouldn't have too much of a hard time convincing her that he was sorry, it was true after all, he was sorry, both that she'd seen it and that he'd acted that way. Of course, he wouldn't let her know about all of his indiscretions, just the one that she was already aware of, Julie, he could probably even downplay that infidelity if he chose his words carefully enough, there was no reason to upset her further. "Are you sure you want to talk on the phone? I can be in Austin in an hour and we can talk in person if you'd like" he suggested in person because he knew he could have more control over the situation if he were physically present, he liked having the upper hand and a phone call wasn't his preferred method of conversation. "No, the phone is fine" the truth was she wasn't ready to see him in person, she was afraid, afraid that it would bring everything back into her mind and also afraid that she wouldn't be able to resist giving in to him; talking on the phone was safer. JR was disappointed, but agreed, "Sue Ellen, I don't know what to say. I am sorry, for everything, I'm sorry that it happened and I'm sorry that you witnessed it", he was surprised with himself; he wasn't usually this apologetic, to anyone. Sue Ellen's heart sank, his words were the confirmation that she hadn't wanted, everything she thought she saw was true, there was no maybe about it anymore. "Why?" she whispered and JR was confused, "why what?" he didn't quite know what she was asking. "Why did you do it? Why wasn't I enough?" tears were starting to form in her eyes, saying it aloud made everything real. JR didn't really have an answer, at least not one that would be acceptable or understandable. He loved her, but he loved his old life, the freedom and power of having any woman he wanted without any consequences, he wasn't used to the commitment or faithfulness that came with monogamy and he wasn't completely sure that he wanted to live that way. "It wasn't that you weren't enough, it was just that I'm not used to being told no. I respect you enough to abide by your wishes, but I don't have a lot of experience in stopping myself. It was temptation, pure and simple; I love you and want to be with you, Julie means nothing, she was just there in the wrong place at the wrong time" he tried his best to explain in a kind way, not admitting that he'd been unfaithful for a much longer period of time than she suspected. In some aspects he had lied but in others he told the truth, he was in love with her, but he had terrible self-control when it came to things like that. He had wants and needs far greater than she was allowing him to fulfil with her, he had been left with no other options, he just hoped that she understood. Sue Ellen listened to his words, he said that he loved her and she began to cry, cry for the love she felt toward him and cry at the hurt his betrayal had caused. "How long?" she was torturing herself by asking the question, but she needed to know; JR made a split-second decision "just a few times. Julie is complicated, we used to have a thing, but that was over long before you and I even met, it really was just bad timing this time" he lied, but she didn't have to know that he wasn't being honest. Sue Ellen sobbed, it had happened more than once and even though he hadn't blamed her, she blamed herself. "I'm sorry JR, I can't do this anymore" she was overly emotional, nothing good would come from this if they kept talking; finishing her sentence she hung up the phone and let her emotions out.
Dallas, Texas
JR sat on the edge of his bed, she'd hung up on him and he hated that he'd hurt her, there was nothing he could say to fix the pain he'd caused her. A part of him still partially blamed her for even starting a fight in the first place though, if she hadn't disagreed with how to handle the newspaper scandal, then they wouldn't have even been fighting. His empathetic human side told him that that argument was crazy and he had been cheating on her long before that, but his irrational mind still blamed her for being the catalyst to their big fight, she never would have known if they hadn't been fighting and she hadn't made a trip to Dallas to apologise. He sighed, he'd never really had to deal with anything like this before; Sue Ellen was his first properly committed relationship, not just a casual fling or open relationship, she expected a high level of faithfulness but didn't take into account his needs or expectations. Maybe he wasn't cut out for a serious relationship, maybe he should have just stuck to the way of life that he knew and enjoyed, at least in that life no one could get upset with him because there were no commitments and no expectations and everyone knew what to expect. He was torn, he had finally been thrown into a situation that he didn't know how to get out of, this was completely new to him, he'd never lacked power or control and he didn't like it one bit.
To be continued…