Austin, Texas
10 March 1967
Friday afternoons had a specific feeling to them, she couldn't describe it but she loved it and this Friday was no different.
Watching the suburban streets become highway and highway become rural roads, it didn't take long for the lake to come into view, Sam pulling off the main road, heading down a driveway, passing a wooden cabin and parking down by the water where a campfire had already been started.
Her first and only class of the day over at midday, Sue Ellen Shepard had spent the afternoon with Clint Ogden, the handsome senior who had caught her eye in the library last December.
Clint was set to graduate at the end of the semester and would be in the perfect position to take a wife in the months following but she didn't anticipate the gift of a ring any time soon as they'd yet to put any label on their relationship, neither one ready for the commitment of going steady let alone marriage.
No official label meant she was free to see whomever she wished to and Clint was free to do the same, which led her to where she was now.
Squashed between the car door and Martha's left arm, although they were just over a half hour from campus she was more than ready to get out when they came to a stop.
Seeing David stand up to walk over from the campfire she accepted his hand when he opened the car door to greet them, grateful the other girls eagerness to get outside meant she wasn't required to linger very long.
Spotting several of her sorority sisters, she slipped away from the arriving group, crossing the few yards of soft ground to where they sat beside the campfire.
"Price of admission is a personal item."
Stopped before she could sit down she looked at Greg, puzzled. A kiss, a hug, or a promise of a dance were the usual door tax, a silly little thing the fraternity boys liked to demand of them for attending their functions despite the fact that they'd get all three if they held any interest to a girl at all.
"I'm serious. We're going to play a game later."
Explaining, he slid his hand over her wrist, pulling at the chunky yellow bracelet without hesitation.
"You'll get it back."
Responding to a question she hadn't asked she didn't get a chance to enquire further as Joanne, Martha, Nancy and Julia approached, David and Sam close behind.
"I love games."
Giggling at Julia's excitability, she pulled the bracelet off her wrist and dropped it into a hat someone had sat on a log beside the fire.
"Don't we all."
Conversing with Julia, Greg's attention was no longer on her so she didn't feel bad addressing Russ instead when he handed her a cup.
"What does a drink cost?"
Joking, wondering whether she was going to have to part with her earrings too, the answer she received was a lot more like what she'd expected.
"The first drink is free. Subsequent drinks are at the discretion of whoever is playing bartender."
Much like a party in the house, drinks were free flowing, they'd never not be, that she was used to.
Sitting beside the campfire, a drink in one hand, a stick in the other, occasionally poking at the flames, Bobby Ewing watched as more people arrived at the lakeside.
Unattached and happy to be that way his Friday was looking and feeling good, the setting sun a reminder of the ranch he loved so much, the chattering group's good spirits contagious, and the drink he'd consumed earlier prompting the ability view the world through a soft, comforting filter.
"You know Bobby, sometimes when we're out there you catch my eye and I pretend I'm cheering just for you."
Only half involved in the conversation before, now he was interested, Eve's personal compliment probably one she used on everyone but specifically targeted at him he gladly accepted it, her hand on his leg making her attention difficult to ignore.
"Oh yeah?"
"Mhm."
Leaning in closer he whispered so only she could hear him, "perhaps you could show me some time."
"Perhaps…"
Turning her head so they were face-to-face, she started a sentence with a word and ended it with a kiss.
Watching the flames of the campfire dancing, Sue Ellen sipped the sweet drink she'd been given earlier as she engaged in a light, friendly discussion with Russ.
"…so that's my spring break plan; not very exciting."
"Oh I don't know a pageant's pretty exciting."
"Not when you've done it a hundred times before."
A pageant was exciting, the first time, but subsequently it was just another extracurricular and she already had plenty of those to keep her busy.
"That many?"
Laughing, she shook her head.
"Not quite, that was an exaggeration, but it feels like it."
Finishing her drink she ran her finger around the edge of the cup absentmindedly, something that was more apparent to her companion than to her.
"Another?"
"Sure."
Experience had taught her to pace herself where the mixture of sugar and alcohol was concerned but as she'd eaten some of the corn one of the guys had grilled earlier as well as more than a couple of s'mores she felt fine about having another drink.
"There's a price."
Knowing there would be she smiled and encouraged him to continue.
"Go on."
"A question. That dull boyfriend of yours won't be showing up anytime soon will he?"
Sighing, she should have known the question was coming. Her friends understood why she liked Clint but men were rarely so complimentary about those they perceived to be their competition.
"Clint? No."
Thinking about it the last interaction she'd had with him came to mind.
"Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"I wasn't invited."
"That doesn't matter, I'm sure it's an open invitation."
"Open to sorority girls, not guys who aren't in any fraternity let alone the one organising it."
"It's not an official event, it just happens to be some guys from that house and some girls from my house spending the weekend at a cabin."
"I think I'll pass."
"If you're sure."
"I am."
"Should I still go?"
"I'd prefer if you didn't, but I'm not your husband, I can't tell you not to."
"You could ask me not to go."
"I could, but I won't. You want to go, don't you?"
"Well, yes."
"Then go."
Single wasn't entirely how she would have described herself, Clint meant something to her, but he wasn't the only one who did, and he hadn't laid any claim on her even when she'd given him the opportunity to so she didn't feel at all bad when Russ made his interest in her abundantly clear.
"Good. I have a chance then."
Matching his flirtatious smile with one of her own she didn't commit to anything, keeping her options open.
"Maybe you do."
Waiting his turn behind David as he filled two cups, Bobby took note of the surroundings. The sun now just a memory, the sky having clouded over, blocking the moon, the only light came from the campfire, the few yards around the burning pile of wood illuminated in an orange glow.
Seated mostly in pairs, but a few larger groups too, the four logs set around the campfire were full of people having a good time. They didn't need much to enjoy themselves, men and women always eventually found something of mutual interest.
For now, everyone was exactly where they'd chosen to be, but later things would be left up to chance, everyone getting opportunity to potentially make acquaintance with someone they might not have before, not for lack of interest but simply lack of action.
Eve had dropped a gold pin in the hat, Martha a red hair ribbon, Christine a silver ring, and Susan a pair of sunglasses but the offerings of the remaining six girls were a mystery.
It was supposed to be random but he was certain some had a preference, paying attention earlier so when the time came they might be able to manipulate their chances, however no one said it, so asking around to compare notes felt like cheating.
Acquainted with several of the ladies present he had a shortlist of candidates he'd be happy to match with but no wish so strong that he intended to deliberately pull one item or another out of the hat when the time came. He'd leave it up to chance and see what happened, there was surely no disappointing outcome.