Austin, Texas

11 March 1967

Relaxed, she felt completely and totally relaxed.

Eyes closed, the warmth of the fire, dancing waves of light from the flames and soft crackling and popping of burning wood created an atmosphere of cosiness.

"Sue Ellen?"

Opening her eyes at the sound of her name and the feel of a hand on hers, the relaxed feeling went nowhere.

"Yes. I'm sorry, I've been rude."

Face-to-face with Bobby, an acquaintance more than anything else, she noticed James and Christine sitting across from them looking equally as cosy as she felt, Christine's earlier unease apparently no longer a concern.

"No. You were minding your own business."

Shaking his head, Bobby didn't appear to notice her distracted gaze.

"Has Alex just left or did I lose track of time?"

Alex had said something about going to the bathroom but her perception of everything was a little off and she truly couldn't figure out whether she'd been sitting alone by the fire for a couple of minutes or half an hour. The sky was just as dark as before and the crowd had changed only slightly since she'd last taken notice, but the world disappeared when she closed her eyes, so the timeline of what had happened when wasn't clear.

"Not long, maybe five or ten minutes."

"I can't tell."

Raising her empty cup, she giggled. She didn't know how many drinks she'd had, but it was a lot, the slight disassociation with her surroundings and the soft edge on every thought she had evidence of that.

"We should make the most of the time we have."

"What?"

Slow to react, she didn't realise what was happening until it did, and even then, somehow it felt like it wasn't real.

Seeming to notice that she had barely responded to his advance, her lips moving against his only as she pulled away from him, Bobby's response also felt unreal, his comments completely baffling her.

"Unless you want Alex to return?"

Thinking, the question did have relevance, they'd been talking about Alex before he'd suddenly kissed her, that much she knew, but to try and figure out what fit where and how everything was connected all felt like too much effort.

Shaking her head, she didn't verbally answer his question.

She knew she didn't like Alex and had been asking about his whereabouts mostly out of curiosity regarding the time, but did she like Bobby enough to tell him that and let him slide into Alex's place? She didn't think so, although she couldn't be sure.

"Does he know that?"

Tired of the conversation and of him, she closed her eyes again, the feeling of warm relaxation washing over her once more, just how she liked it.

"Thanks for keeping her company. I'll take it from here."

Showing up out of the darkness, Alex's smug expression was the last thing Bobby expected or wanted to see.

Sue Ellen had shown no interest in his own advances but it wasn't because she preferred Alex, he was sure of that.

His arms around her, supporting her, keeping her from falling completely into her own little world, or the fire, he shook her gently.

"Sue Ellen?"

"Mm?"

Opening her eyes, clearly half asleep, she smiled at him, taking no notice of their surroundings or company.

"Sue Ellen, honey? Alex is back."

Hoping she'd verbalise the disinterest she'd indicated earlier, Alex didn't leave much time for that to happen.

"Shall we go up to the cabin now?"

Reaching out to help her stand up, he didn't wait for an answer, although he clearly hadn't anticipated her stubbornness when she pushed his arm away from her.

"I want to sit here. I'm warm and relaxed."

"It's warmer and more relaxing inside."

Coaxing her with promises of what she wanted, Alex didn't let up, wrapping an arm around her and helping her stand from the log they'd been sitting on.

"Ok."

"Sue Ellen, are you sure you want to go to bed with Alex?"

Not in any position to stop her from doing as she wished, their relationship acquaintances at best, intoxicated himself, and motivated by jealousy as much as disgust, he prompted her, hoping she'd take the hint.

"Bed sounds good."

"You heard the lady."

Glaring at him, Alex made his opinion clear. Sue Ellen was his and he wasn't interested in discussing why or sharing.

Clumsy, she felt clumsy, like her hands and brain had never met, however Alex didn't seem to notice.

Alex.

Why on earth was Alex back? Hadn't she left him earlier?

She thought she had, but now that she tried to recall, she couldn't remember.

"Alex…"

"Just relax honey."

Relax. Relaxation was nice. She'd been relaxed earlier.

"Relax…"

Repeating the word aloud, that was about all she could do, her thoughts confused, attempting to piece together why relaxation had felt different before.

"Exactly."

His lips on hers, her thoughts shifted again. She didn't like the way he touched her. She was tired, all she wanted to do was go to sleep, but he persisted in pawing her.

Staring at the fresh log he'd thrown on the fire, his stomach full from the beer he'd just gulped, Bobby was disappointed when his uncomfortable reality didn't move from the forefront of his mind.

Wanting something and then not getting it wasn't something he was used to and embarrassed he wished to forget but he couldn't.

"You look miserable."

Sitting down beside him, back from the cabin, Martha commented on his mood.

"Thanks."

"You sound miserable too."

Chuckling, he didn't feel any joy, so his laugh wasn't one of humour but surprise at how transparent he apparently was.

"Yeah."

"Can I help?"

Initially thinking that what she had to offer was nice but of no help when he had another on his mind, it only took looking at her face to realise she was proposing her support as a friend rather than a lover.

"Actually, yes."

Standing, he took her by the hand and led her away from the campfire, up towards the cabin.

"You know Sue Ellen, don't you?"

He didn't really have a plan. Sue Ellen didn't want him and had made the decision to leave with Alex, but he couldn't let go just yet.