sassyholly

So...i saw country strong the night it came out a few weeks ago.  I was in such terrible//complete love &  lust with garrett *LIKE USUAL.* that i had to write. *i write...a lot. *  
-it started out as a love poem, but quickly my total horniness for garrett took over. SO THIS IS IT: ENJOY ;)
blog---> http://www.holly-hedlund.tumblr.com

My Forever Love [- Holly Curtis]
Silence glistening all night long
i'll sit on your lap, cowboy play me a song
lets just star at each other all night
just hold me tight and i promise we'll never fight
i breathe your air and your soft presence flares
your eyes hold mine and i dont have any cares
these hearts collide, and we glimmer & shine
i'll kiss your lips when you promise youre mine

we don't drink, no. and we dont watch t.v.
because we have our own fire that no one else can see
i know youll stay, youd never hurt me
you said you'll choose death, if it means drowning in my sea.

just hold me tight, and i promise we'll never fight
you touch my hip with a kiss that burns so light

you start to cry and your tears now slowly sigh
you whisper, "baby with you my lips never lie"
my soul wraps itself tightly around your waist
while my legs tell you that i dont want to ever forget your taste

you pull me in and my world begins to spin
the good starts to move as I feel you from within
my voice breaks so high as your voice quakes below
my blood rushes deeply as my mind begins to slow
you feel your way around me from inside
my pleasures scream and love that with you they can never hide
you keep on steady and now my words cannot describe--
the sensations felt when we're connected; side by side.

your lips tell me how you can never love again
your hand grazes softly, under my skirt, on top of my skin
your eyes hold your tears, and i know this is more than desire
this is a forever yearning God won't let expire
your hand sits patiently and youre about to pull away
when i hold your face and tell you , "dont talk tonight. right now i need to feel you stay."

you kiss my neck and your breath begins to sway
i beg you to enter me and i kiss your hurt away
you smile down on me, and i see your angels' wings
now i pray to God, that when he's with me I can hear that heaven sings
his soul moves inside me, i scream in ecstasy
i beg my love to never retreat from inside me
he pulls me in so tight and his moans ricochet around
i start to cry; when i hear his beautiful sound
my words beg him to never un-chain from me
i explain that he has my heart; and i threw away the key
we whisper our love and i taste his perfect sweat
he holds me and says that his heart will never forget.

we cry together and thank our Lord our souls to keep
our bodies and futures stay connected even as we sleep
he dreams of me and when i wake up i se
my dream is reality; and we know we're finally free.

1. love to say 'trololol', 'TRON-O-LOLZZ' , and 'DESE TINGS DESE TINGS'[these things these things]
2. will marry garrett hedlund someday...my name will be Holly Hedlund. check out my life-obsession-in love-with garrett- blog:
--->http://www.holly-hedlund.tumblr.com
3.

OMG. THIS IS THE BEST QUESTION IVE EVER EVER EVER IN THE PAST 3 YEARS READ ON MY LJ HOMEPAGE.
1. my dad --> a turtle. on a daily basis, i call him a cute little turtle, because...his face just totally reminds me of adorable-cartoon-turtles.
2. my mother...the lockness monster(have no idea how to spell that.)

Sunset Rubdown -- "Silver Moons"
Confetti floats away
like dead leaves in the wagon's wake.
There were parties here in my honor
until you sent me away.
Now silver moons belong to you.

Passing the baton
from the old mare to the fawn
it was out of line but it was fun
and didn't you love the part
right before the dawn?
But now silver moons belong to you.

I'm off to the ballet
and to practice all these ancient ways.
Tell the new kids where I hid the wine,
tell their fathers that I'm on my way, and say
"Hey, maybe these days are over now..."
And I loved it better than anyone else, you know.

I believe in growing old with grace.
I believe she only loved my face.
I believe I acted like a child
making faces at acquired tastes.
And now silver moons belong to you...

Gone are the days bonfires make me think of you. Looks like the prophecy came true:
You are a fallen tree. He is a fallen tree.
"How old are you?" "No, how old are you?"

Under all the folds of the dresses that you wear
there's an ocean and a tide and a riot in the square.
Over are the days that the congas made your hair
sway around to the cadence of your 'hey-oh-hey-oh' cheer...

Under all the folds of the dresses that you wear
you sway around to the cadence of your voice when you sang there.

"Maybe Not" -- Cat Power
There’s a dream that I see, I pray it can be
Look cross the land, shake this land
A wish or a command
I Dream that I see, don’t kill it, it’s free
You’re just a man, you get what you can

We all do what we can
So we can do just one more thing
We can all be free
Maybe not in words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind

Listen to me, don’t walk that street
There’s always an end to it
Come and be free, you know who I am
We’re just living people

We won’t have a thing
So we’ve got nothing to lose
We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind

You’ve got to choose a wish or command
At the turn of the tide, is withering thee
Remember one thing, the dream you can see
Pray to be, shake this land

We all do what we can
So we can do just one more thing
We won’t have a thing
So we’ve got nothing to lose
We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind

But with your mind

Chapter 8--"New Beginnings"

Friday ended up being a very good day.  School went by quickly, and consisted of Donnie meeting up with Chloe every break between classes at her locker.  He was wearing his jersey because they had a game that night, and all day Chloe could only tell him how adorable he looked.  She said goodbye to him afterschool with a peck on the lips, and ended up walking home because it was such a nice day outside.  Donnie had to go straight to the locker room to get ready for the big game.  It would be their first of the season.  He had been in a brilliant mood all day at school, and she was so glad to see that he had clearly forgiven her for her ridiculous actions the night before.  She still couldnt believe how she had acted at that stranger's party, and acted dancing with the other stranger.  She started feeling sick to her stomach when she even began to think about it. 

Chloe was halfway  home when a car next to her started honking, making her jump off into someone's yard and almost fall down.  "What the..."  "CHLOE! What's up girl?"  Chloe immediately recognized the face hanging out of the driver's side window as Jeremy.  She had a photography class with him, and he had volunteered on the first day of school to show her around the dark room and teach her how to properly develop film. 

"Jeremy!! You scared the crap out of me, whatre you doing?" Chloe yelled while laughing.  "I'm driving home, what do you think i'd be doing?" Jeremy smiled and hopped out of his car, walking over to Chloe on the sidewalk.  "Do you not have a car?" Jeremy asked, "No I do but Donnie has been giving me rides to and from school the past couple of days.  I'm walking home becau--"  "Because he has a game tonight, I gotcha."  "Do you know Donnie?" Chloe asked.  Jeremy stifled an agitated laugh and looked away, saying "I think everybody at Permian High knows Billingsley, for one reason or another."  "Oh...right."  Chloe awkwardly said, looking away as well.  Jeremy seemed to be giving her a suspicious look, as if he was wondering why on earth she would be dating someone like Donnie.  This made Chloe a little annoyed, and she started walking away.  "Well I guess i'll see you on Monday in photo class, later Jeremy."  "Wait," Jeremy said walking back up to her, "Are you going to be at the game tonight?  Oh, stupid question."  "..yeah, ha.  I will be."  "Okay well i guess i'll see you there then," Jeremy said with a big grin on his face.  "Later, Chloe."  And Jeremy hopped back into his car and sped off, giving Chloe a wave out the window.  

It was a couple of hours later when Chloe drove her small yellow Volkswagon to the game.  It wasnt in super great shape, but she still liked to point out to Donnie that it looked a hell of a lot better than his ride.  She found her way to the bleachers, wearing an extra one of Donnie's jerseys that he had given her that morning to wear.  It smelled like his Old Spice cologne, and she loved burying her head in the collar to get a relaxing whiff of him.

The game went by quickly, and Donnie did an awesome job.  She knew he had really been struggling at practice the past week, so it was a huge relief to see him jumping up and down with his teammates after he had scored the final touchdown passed by Winchell.  After he finished jumping on top of his fellow teammates on the field, she saw that he turned around trying to find her in the stands, and she yelled "DONNIE!!"  His eyes immediately found her in the center of the stands, and he gave her a huge grin and a big wave.  She blew him a kiss in return.  "What a cute couple of lovebirds," Jeremy said with a smile, sitting down next to Chloe and giving her a one armed hug.  "Oh hey Jeremy" Chloe said in return with a smile.  "Billingsley played a pretty good game tonight, eh?" Jeremy asked.  Chloe turned back to the field and saw Donnie still standing and staring in their direction, but this time with a scowl on his face.  He mightve even looked a little bit angry, but Chloe wasnt sure if that was just her imagination or not.  Chavez then ran up to Donnie and pulled him towards the locker room, following the herd of the rest of the team.

"Yeah, he really did.  I'm proud of him." Chloe said.  "Hey, I know youre probably going to be busy celebrating with him after the game, but a few of the guys from photo class are gonna be holding a little celebration of our own tonight, at my friend Ted's house.  He lives right off of Wicker, just a few min from the school."  "I live on Wicker!" Chloe said, excitedly.  "Oh wait, I had promised Donnie I'd get some dinner with him after the game.  And I'm not sure what his plans are for later tonight...I'd feel kind of bad ditching him after his first win and all."  "Yeah, I totally understand.  I figured.  Anyways, it was good seeing you Chloe, here's my number if you want me to introduce you to some more of my friends this weekend, we can all hangout, maybe go to the county fair thats coming here tomorrow."  "Oh, wow, thanks Jeremy," Chloe said as Jeremy slipped a post-it note with his number into her hand.  "I'll definitely hit you up."  "Ok, good seeing you Chloe." Jeremy said before turning and and walking down the bleacher stairs, before talking to some of his friends and walking to the parking lot.

After the game was over, there were only a handful of cars left in the high school's parking lot.  Chloe had only been waiting in her car for about 10 minutes when she saw Donnie trudging across the lot with his athletic bag hanging off of one shoulder and his baseball cap on, headed to his car that was just a row away from Chloe's.  Chloe opened up her door and got out leaning against her Volkswagon.  When Donnie saw her, he quickly picked up his pace and sprinted over to Chloe, yelling "My sunshineee!" and picked her up in his arms and squeezed her into a bear hug. 

"Oh my gosh Donnie, you played such a great game!" Chloe said as he set her down, and she planted a big kiss on Donnie's lips.  "Baby, it was so great.  The whole team did awesome, dont you think?  I can't believe it.  After this week, I almost knew i'd totally bomb this game..but it was fucking awesome!"  "I'm so happy for you," Chloe smiled.  Donnie grabbed her face and gave her a few more long kisses before pulling away.  "Are you hungry?  You didnt load up on too many hotdogs while watching the game, did you?  Cause you know...you really need to start watching your weight."  Donnie said as he poked her non-existent tummy.  "Oh, please Cowboy.  I'm starving.  Where do you wanna eat?  WAIT a second, Donnie, i have a great idea!"  "Oh and what is that?" Donnie said while pulling her to him.  "How about we go back to your place and have dinner with your daddy?  I'm sure he'd like to congratulate you on your game, and I can finally have the pleasure of meeting him." 

Donnie immediately flinched away from her, letting his arms cross over his chest.  He turned his body away from Chloe and kicked a pebble.  "Uh, Donnie?  Something wrong?"  "Nah, nothing wrong, sweetheart.  It's just...I dont know.  I really dont know if my dad is someone you wanna meet just yet."  "And why is that?"  "Because, he's just someone you dont wanna meet, ok?"  "Donnie, come on" Chloe said, walking back up to him and slinging her arms around his neck.  "If he's related to you, he cant be THAT bad, can he?"  "Ha.  You'd be surprised, Chloe."  Chloe was a little bit confused, and didnt understand how his father could  possibly be bad enough to not introduce her to him.  And then she realized maybe Donnie just didn't want to introduce her to him, because she didnt mean enough to him yet.  "Donnie, I understand.  I mean, we just started dating, I get that you probably dont really care about showing me off to people right now.  I get it."  "No, sunshine, thats not it ok?  Here, if you really want to meet him so bad i'll take you to my place right now, but we're only staying 5 minutes.  And we're gonna eat out after, not at my house."  "YAY, Donnie!!" Chloe said and flung herself on him.  "Ok, i'm gonna go put my stuff in my car, and then you can follow me back in your hot mustang?"  "Shut your mouth Donnie when youre talkin to me." Chloe said and hopped back into her car, as Donnie made his way back to his.

Chapter 7 -- Midnight Blues

Donnie slowly walked down the gravel driveway to his car.  He could see Chloe sitting in the passenger seat, curled up in a ball.  Donnie stood outside of his door for a moment, breathing in and out as deeply as he could to get his anger out.  He knew he wasnt angry at the girl he cared so much about.  He was angry at the pricks who continued to try to hurt her.  And he was angry at the situations she kept putting herself into.  But at the same time, he was at the same parties, in the same situations as her.  She just happened to be a drop-dead-gorgeous girl, who didnt even realize it.  Making it that much easier for the losers to prey on her.

Donnie opened his door, and slid into his seat.  He waited a moment before putting the keys in the ignition and starting the engine.  It was a bit chillier out tonight, and he noticed Chloe shivering.  He took off his jean jacket and said "Sit up for a sec" as he draped his jacket around her slender shoulders.  Chloe looked like she was passed out, but Donnie knew she wasnt.  She was staring out the window, and he could see tears sliding down her cheeks.  He didnt know what to say.  He didnt know how to comfort her right now.  And he wasnt sure where she should go for the night, even though something inside him was dying to spend the night with her again. 

"Chloe,  Chloe?  You awake, babe?"  She slowly nodded, but kept her back to him and her face towards the window.  "Do you want to go home, or do you want to stay at my place again?"  Chloe then started sobbing, and her back was heaving up and down.  She had her face in her hands, and the way she cried she almost sounded like a kitten who was lost and  in mourning, meowing for its mother.  "Chloe, come here..." he slid over to her seat and wrapped his right arm around her shoulders.  His left hand gently lifted up her face to his, and her face looked like she was in excruciating pain.  "I...I...I.." 

"Shhhh.  Its ok. Its ok.  Let it out.  I'm right here.  I'm not going anywhere."  He bent his face over her head and kissed the top of her head, still slowly repeating "Its ok.  Its ok.  Its ok."  After a few minutes, he felt her breathe in a big breath of air, and he heard the sobs stop.  He gently lifted her face to his once again to check how she was, and she was wiping the tears from her face, but didnt have the pained expression anymore.  She almost just, looked, numb.  "Do you want to come back to my place?  Or do you want to go home, Chloe?  Either one is fine with me.  I'll sleep on the couch again.  I promise.  I'll let you rest." 

Chloe started gently crying again , and mumbled out "I'm s-s-s-sooo s-s-s-s-sorry D-d-d-donn-iee" and then she broke down again with her little rasps of breath and kitten whines.  Donnie just held her closer than before, as tight as he could, and rubbed her back with his hand, up and down, over and over.  "Do you want to go home Chloe?  I can take you right now."  "Yes, please.  I do."  "Ok then, lets get out of here."  Donnie slid back into the driver's side and put the car in gear, and this time very slowly drove the dark Texas streets back to Wicker Lane.  When they arrived, Chloe had stopped crying, and was sitting very still, straight up, with her head looking straight out the windshield.  She didnt move. A few minutes passed by of complete silence.  Then Chloe turned to Donnie, and said, "Goodnight Donnie."  "Goodnight, Chloe."

  She started out of the car, and was slowly walking up her front porch steps as Donnie put the key in the ignition and turned the engine on, all of a sudden the passenger side door swung open and Chloe jumped through and landed on his lap, her legs straddling him.  She started kissing him passionately, hard.  And Donnie let her sweep him in to their late night memories of bliss.  Being together.  Alone.  They kissed, and kissed, and Donnie made sure to leave a couple of hickeys on her neck to make her remember this moment. "Donnie..." she almost screamed, "Chloe, whoa there. yes? what is it?" "I have to tell you something...she started heaving like she was completely out of breath..."oh my god, ok, uh, get some air, breathe in , breathe out, there you go..."  "Donnie, I need to tell you something.  I am completely and utterlly, wholly and unconditionally...."

and her breath started heaving again, like she was choking for air.  "Jesus Christ Chloe! Stop scaring me! ok just calm the hell down ok? just breathe, just breathe hon please just breathe, jesus christ what the fuck is happening right now!"  Chloe finally gasped out, "let me repeat it again and finish what i was going to say.."  "Fuck no. you need sleep, and rest, you cant even talk in normal sentences because your body is so exhausted.  You need to get your little ass upstairs to bed ok?  And you can call me in the morning.  I can drive you to school if you want but you need to--" Chloe put both hands up to his lips and whispered "Shhhhhhhhhhh"  'Just let me finish, ok?'  Donnie heaved a deep sigh, and this time Chloe took her hands off of his lips and put her hands on each side of his face as close to hers as she could possibly get him. 

"I am completely, utterly, wholly, and unconditionally....in love with you. with my whole heart, and my whole body, and my whole soul.  And I hate what ive done to you, I hate it Donnie.  I'll do anything to change. But if you want to stay with me, i think we need to be girlfriend and boyfriend and grow together you know? I just...I need you Donnie.  I love you so much.  I have never in my entire life told a boy I loved him, because i never did mean it.  But I love you, Don Billingsley.  I love you.  Please, please choose me too."  He could see tears in her eyes starting to make their way off the ledges of her eyelids.  He was sort of in a state of shock.  But he loved her too.  He just didnt know what to say.  So he figured he should say the only thing on his mind.  "I love you, Chloe Sun.  I love you more than anyone or anything ive ever loved in my entire shithole filled life.  But I can't do this.  I can't keep rescuing you from parties and getting in stupid prissy fights with you ok?  I cant do that anymore.  Because thats just a bunch of outside bullshit with other people.  And today at school, you let go of me to go be with those people.  Those arent the people that passionately love you, Chloe.  That's me." 

Chloe gazed at Donnie with her watery blue eyes, and slowly kissed him on the lips again.  "I'm so sorry Donnnie.  I'm so sorry about everything today and tonight.  I'm so so very sorry."  "I know you are," he said,"and i am too. but we can get through this, but its not going to happen if it ever turns back the way it was yesterday, ok?  I cant deal with drama.  And you and I are in love with eachother, there should be no drama between us.  The only drama happens from other people around us.  Block them out.  You're so insecure...you have no idea how perfect you are. So you think you have to get to know/suck up to all these strangers just for them to notice you.  They dont give a shit about you, or anyone else, besides themselves.  And theyre just going to hurt you, babe.  They're just going to hurt you .  So you can either pick them, or you can pick me." 

"I pick you, Donnie. I pick you...' and she started crying again, Donnie kissed her hard and deeply and tried to show her how much he loved her. They kissed like this for a few minutes, before they realized it was very late.  "I gotta go babe. But. I love you so much and im so scared that im the only one feeling this way, Donnie."  "Promise me, sunshine, promise me that you'll make yourself realize i love you as much as you love me.  Probably more than you love me.  But thats ok with me, because that means we're still together.  And i still have you as my own. I love you. I love you forever, sunshine.  Go get some sleeps, and have beautiful vibrant sweet dreams."  "I'm going to dream about you, Donnie.  I love you.  Goodnight." and she shut her door and walked up her steps to her house, and through the door this time.  And as Donnie was driving away, he looked up and saw her standing in her bedroom window, crying.

Chapter 6 -- History Repeating Itself
Donnie woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs, looked at the clock and saw that it was 745 a.m.  He couldnt remember the last time his Dad made him breakfast; wait, yes he could.  He was six years old.  So he knew that it couldnt be him...besides, his dad went to the bar every night, meaning his hangovers were so bad in the morning all he could do was stumble out of bed and go to work.

"Who's in there?" Donnie called out, "OH, you know.  One of your 'usuals' that spent the night last night," he heard a familiar chipper voice answer in return.  Donnie immediately had a huge smile widen on his face, and he realized he had totally forgotten about his night with Chloe until he heard her voice.  He jumped off the couch, stretched, and walked over to the stovetop where Chloe was standing in her underwear and his tshirt, humming an Aerosmith song.  Donnie instinctively walked up behind her and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, putting his neck on her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek.  "Oh good morning, dumplin'.  You hungry?  Mama cooked up some country lovin' for her baby," Chloe turned around with her adorable smile.  "You sure look sexy in my tshirt, and those black panties match it perfectly.  But what happened to my sweatpants?  Were those not Vogue enough for you?"  "Oh, i got a little too hot when I was sleeping in your bed, had to take 'em off."  "I can't imagine why..." Donnie gazed down at Chloe with a mischevious smile on his face.  They slowly kissed eachother, and Donnie pulled away with an even bigger smile on his face.  "You are the cutest boy I have ever seen." Chloe stated, and almost had a look of sadness on her face for a moment.  Before Donnie could ask her what was wrong, she turned back to the stove and kept humming her song. 

They had a fun, easygoing breakfast together, before Donnie said he'd drive her back to her house to pick up some clothes for school.  "You don't think it wouldnt be weird if i just wore your clothes to school?  I mean, no one would notice, right?" Chloe giggled in the car.  "Oh yeah, baby, that would be a perfect reputation to get during your first week of school.  The girl who spent her first night sleeping over at Billingsley's.  You dont wanna jump into that group quite yet, hon."

Chloe quickly dressed and got ready inside of her house while Donnie waited outside in the car.  Luckily her parents had already left for work, so he wouldnt have to explain to them why he was driving her home early in the morning.  About 10 minutes later, Chloe pranced down her front steps and skipped to his car, wearing a pretty white dress with spaghetti straps, and black converse shoes.  "You definitely arent from Texas now are you?"  Donnie laughed.  "You know you love my style, Donovan.  Now drive on, we gotta get to Spanish.  I have to do my homework before class, since i didnt....get a chance to last night."  Donnie bolted them to school in 5 minutes flat, and they entered Espanol together, about to walk in hand in hand when Chloe pulled away at the last second.  Donnie looked down at his empty hand, and back up at her.  "Oh please dont give me the sad puppy eyes, Donnie.  It's just that, I want to establish myself as an individual first at this school, you know?  I dont want people to just think of me as that football star's girlfriend."  "So, you're saying you're my girlfriend?"  "Well, no i didnt mean it like th-"  The bell rang, and Senora Tia waved them into class and shut the door behind them.  They went to their seperate seats, and Donnie couldnt help be a little hurt that Chloe was so eager to have distance from him.  But at the same time, she had called herself his girlfriend, so maybe that meant something.

Donnie was hungover from his heavy drinking the night before, and slept almost all the way through class.  When the bell rang, Lynn and Cassidy once again hopped on over to Chloe to try to pull her away, but this time Donnie walked right up to them, grabbing chloe by the waist, and gave her a peck on the lips.  "Oh...Hi Donnie." Lynn and Cassidy morbidly said in unison.  Chloe looked spooked after he pulled away from her, and he grabbed her hand, saying "You ready for me to walk you to your next class, babe?"  Cassidy had already walked away, and Lynn waved to Chloe with a less perky than usual tone and said, "See you later, Chlo."  "Chlo?  Really?  She can't even pronounce the E at the end of your name?  Is that really too hard for her to do?"  "Donnie, chill out!" Chloe said, "What's up with you?  First, you try to make a big lovey-dovey-scene in front of them, now youre making fun of my name..."  "I'm not making fun of your name!  I'm making fun of the fact that Lynn cant even correctly say your name."  "Ok, whatever.  I have to go to English, Donnie.  Try to keep the Alpha-male personality down to a minimum today, okay?"  Chloe walked out of the classroom and out of view.

Donnie's day seemed to stretch by slowly.  He ran into friends in the halls, who gave him high-fives and the usual fist pounds, talking about what a good night last night was.  He had no interest in anyone today though.  The only person he wanted to be with was currently annoyed with him.  He was amazed that after only one day, he had already started to screw things up with the only girl he cared about.

Donnie had practice again afterschool, and had to drag his legs around the field while Coach Gaines yelled at him every 2 minutes for being so slow and sloth-y.  Winchell was perfectly on task though, like usual.  Maybe, Donnie thought to himself, Mike was actually the smart one, not going out to parties.  Not exhausting himself with stupid things when they had to practice the next day. 

Donnie drove home to his house, just in time to run into his father.  As he passed the couch where his dad was drinking a Budweiser, he said "hey dad" and proceeded to his room.  "HEY Donnie - how was practice?  You hold onto the ball today?  Or am I gonna have to tape it to your hands again til you get the idea?"  "Youre fuckin hilarious, Dad." Donnie responded, and shut his door.  He walked over and sat on his bed, and realized his phone mustve fallen out of his pocket when he was walking through the house.  He jumped up and ran into the living room to see that his father was reading through his text messages.  "Lose somethin', son?" His dad asked.  "Give me my goddamn phone back, Dad"  "Not so fast, buddy boy.  I see youve got some explainin' to do to your old man.  You didnt tell me that you had a new lil lady in your life.  How long this been goin on?"  "Just give me my phone dad, its none of your business."  "Now THAT'S a nice way to talk to your father..." Mr Billingsley said as he stood up face to face with Donnie.  "Now tell me, whos this little bitch who youre sleeping with now?"  "GODDAMNIT DAD--" and Donnie grabbed the phone out of his dad's hand and turned around to walk out of the house, "No, GODDAMN YOU,Donnie, come back here! I got somethin to say to ya."  "Yeah, why dont you just get another Budweiser out of the fridge and talk to yourself.  After you have a few more, you wont even know the difference.  Later."  "DONN-" and Donnie shut the door behind him. 

"Jesus Christ," he muttered to himself, and trotted over to his car.  Once he was in, he looked at his text messages and saw that Chloe had sent him atleast 5 or 6 of them.  And he saw that his dad had clearly read through all of them.  They started off by saying 'Where are you?'  'Hello? Donnie?' and then turned into 'I'm sorry.  I messed up today.  I miss you.  Will you call me back?' and then 'Last night meant so much to me.  And I know it meant a lot to you too..well maybe it didnt.  I dont know anymore.  Just call me back.' then it turned into 'ok, fine Donnie.  You win.  Later.' and then finally, 'I'm going out tonight.  Hopefully I wont have to run into you."  "Jesus CHRIST" Donnie shouted this time and punched his steering wheel. "UGHHHH."  He hadnt checked his phone all day, and had totally not realized that she might try to contact to him.  So now that she thought he was ignoring her, this just made everything more complicated.  And he hated 'complicated.' 

Right then, Chavez's name popped up on Donnie's screen, and he answered.  "Yo Chavez."  "Hey man...uh, you ok?"  "Yeah. I'm fine.  I wanna get fucked up tonight.  Whatre you doing?"  "Just leaving practice, I had to stay  around and practice with Winchell because hes so uptight about bringing home states this year.  You hear that Boobie's injury is pretty serious, right?"  "Yeah, man.  I heard.  It's bad."  "Yeah, its pretty bad.  Anyways, whatre you doing tonight?"  "I heard that there was some party happening about 20 min away, another school's party."  "Uhh, you think itd be ok if we crashed it?  I dont want to have to pull your white ass out of any fights tonight, Donnie." Chavez started laughing.  This made Donnie chuckle.  "No, brah. I wont be fighting.  I just want to have a good time, alright?  I'll come pick u up from school.  I'll be there in 5."  "Aiight man.  See you soon."  Donnie hightailed it to Permian High where Chavez was waiting for him on the side of the road, with a 24 pack of Bud Light.  "Where the hell did you score that you dirty Mexican?"  "Oh hey, Pamela, just got this dropped off by my cousin, Rico, you sassy bitch."  "Haha, get in the car man.  We're gonna have fun tonight."

The party was about 20 min outside of Odessa, in a part of town that neither Donnie or Chavez had ever heard of.  They parked their car, and were walking inside when Donnie got a strange feeling in his chest.  Something wasnt right.  Something felt wrong.  He stood for a second on the porch when Chavez said, "Hey man, come on.  Whatre you doing?"  "Uh, nothing, man.  Lets just go in."  They walked inside the typical rural home, and saw that the house was packed.  Mostly strangers, mostly kids completely wasted off their asses.  They made their way over to the fridge and ran into a few friends from school.  Surprisingly, Winchell was there.  "HEY MIKEEE!" Donnie screamed and jumped on his back, continuing to rub a noogie into his head.  "What the hell, Donnie?"  "Hay playboy, didnt think youd make it tonight, since you pussied out last night.  Too bad.  It was a hell of a party."  "yeah, i heard you almost beat up the host of the party.  Good one, Donnie."  "Yeah well little Mikey, sometimes things just gotta be done.  Come on, grab a beer. Lets chug."  Donnie had had a good 7 or 8 beers by the time he started glancing at the crowd of people in the tv room, jamming out to different pop-country songs.  Weirdly enough, people were getting down and dirty.  Donnie smiled to himself, he never got tired of watching pure drunken bliss.  And then he saw long black hair, pulled back in a couple of braids, and familiar converse shoes, underneath a tight black mini-skirt dress, with a cleavage showing neck-line, and dark red lipstick.  "Oh god, youve got to be fucking kidding me right now" Donnie said to no one in particular.  "What's up baby, see somethin ya like?" Chavez smiled and winked at him.  "Yeah.  I mightve lied earlier when i said i wasnt gonna fight tonight." Donnie said as he turned around and bolted out of the kitchen and pounded his way through the dance crowd.  "GODDAMNIT, Donnie!" Chavez shouted, but Donnie couldnt hear him.  The music was blasting.

Donnie made his way up to Chloe while she had a red cup in her hand, chugging it as she danced, and a guy groping her from behind.  Every couple of beats she would move away from him to get some distance, but he kept following her and grabbing her hips again to dance.  Donnie quickly realized she had no interest in being with this dude, because if she was obviously enjoying herself, he wouldve just left her alone.  Forever.  But he could see her getting frazzled, and he knew she really didnt want to be there at all.  She was just lonely, and was trying to make new friends.  Once again, Donnie got the sad feeling in his heart for her, and he quickly maneuvered to the crowd and pushed the unknown dude off of Chloe. 

"Hey, bro, what the fuck?"  "First of all, i'm not your BRO, dog.  Second of all, this girl obviously doesnt want your hands all over her ass.  So why dont you just go take a load off and get the fuck outta here."  "Donnnnie, whhhat the hellll---" Chloe was obviously shitfaced.  And she couldnt even stand up straight without wobbling from side to side in her highheeled boots.  Her head was bobbing back and forth like she was a turkey.  "Chloe, take my keys, and go get in my car." She tried shoving him with her little delicate fist but he caught it in midair and grabbed her, whispering in her ear, "Please baby.  Do this for me.  I'm sorry about today.  I missed you too.  Just please go get in the car so we can talk."  She stared at him with familiar bloodshot eyes that he had to see on his dad on a daily basis.  She was about to reject his offer, when she finally stomped her foot and walked out of the house.  "You fucking tool!" Donnie heard the stranger say right before Donnie got shoved from his back head first onto the floor.  Donnie thought to himself, oh fuck.  I'm going to have to kill this kid now.  Bad move, biatch.  He immediately threw himself off the floor and grabbed an empty vodka bottle off the side table, and cracked it hard on the side of the table, holding up the broken bottle to the stranger's face and holding him by the shoulder, he said "Wanna fuck with me dude?  I dont fucking think so.  YOu know that girl you were just groping?  That obviously intoxicated fucking girl out there?  Shes my fucking GIRLFRIEND you scumbag.  So before you start sexually molesting a young girl at one of your gay ass parties, make sure they dont have a boyfriend like me first who will personally cut you to pieces of shit."  This guy's eyes popped wide open, and he almost let out a scream, but Donnie let him go, and the kid ran into the kitchen.  Donnie turned around and saw that everyone at the party was staring at him, like he was a monster.  "Sorry guys, go back to having fun.  Just had to take care of something.  No biggie.  Later." and he threw the broken bottle into the trashcan, and walked out of the house.

Chapter 5 -- Home Sweet Home

Donnie and Chloe arrived at his house around 230 am, and Donnie walked her inside to his bedroom.  "Lots of trophies in here..." Chloe remarked.  "Yeah, I've played football for a pretty damn long time."  "You love it?"  Chloe asked, while leaning against his dresser.  Donnie opened up his drawers, searching until he found a pair of grey sweatpants and an AC/DC black tshirt that Chloe could wear without drowning in a ton of fabric.  "Uhhh, I guess.   It's the only thing thats really been there for me.  It's the only thing I've known like the back of my hand."  "Cool."  Donnie handed Chloe the clothes, and folded his arms for a moment.  "Are you gonna let me change?" Chloe smirked.  "Oh, ye-yeah.  Here, the bathroom is right across the hall.  There's an extra toothbrush in the cabinet if you want to  brush your teeth.  I'm gonna change the sheets real quick."  "Oke doke," Chloe said as she strutted to the bathroom.  Donnie sighed, not knowing what he got himself into, and quickly and meticulously changed his bed linens, making sure they were perfectly smooth and ready for her slumber.  He sat on his bed, and checked his phone, seeing that Sherlynn and a couple of other girls from school had called him several times to meet up with him at the party.  He could care less as he flicked through his missed calls list, and then saw Chloe in the doorway and immediately tossed the phone onto his night stand.  "Anyone important?" Chloe winked at him, and crawled into the bed and beneath the sheets.  "Do you want me to tuck you in tonight, sing you a lullaby?  Or do you think you can fall asleep on your own?" Donnie remarked.  Chloe burst into giggles again and dropped her head back in laughter.  Donnie smiled at her genuine happiness. "Let's just see if i think youre so funny in the A.M. when i'm totally sober."  Donnie stood up and said, "That's what they allllll say."  "Ok, cowboy.  Will you wake me up in the morning for school?  Or should I go grab a rooster and program him for 8 a.m.?"  "I'll wake you up.  But don't expect a breakfast-in-bed special, those are only on Sundays."  Donnie was walking through the doorway into the hall when he heard her voice whisper softly, "Goodnight, Donnie."  "Goodnight, Chloe," and he walked into his living room and threw himself onto the couch.

Donnie felt something on his legs, and was startled awake.  He glanced at the clock on the coffee table, and saw it was 430 am.  "Damn..." he yawned, and then felt the pressure on his feet.  "What the..." and he saw that Chloe was curled up at the end of the couch.  "Chloe?  Chloe..." he gently prodded her arm.  "Mmmhmmm?" she sleepily mumbled back to him.  "Was the bed not comfortable enough for you?"  "I...oh, crap.  I forgot that i came in here..."  "Sleepwalk, much?"  "No, I just...I think I had a bad dream."  Donnie sat for a moment, and asked, "Uhhh...well...are you gonna tell me what happened in your dream?"  "I dont really wanna talk about it, cowboy."  "Well okay, but if youre gonna share this couch with me you better explain in the morning when my body is sore from being crunched up all night."  Chloe sighed, and then sat up.  "I had a nightmare, ok?  It was about...my ex."  "Hmmm, did this ex resemble Nick the douchebag?"  "Sort of.  His name was Danny.  He wasnt exactly a nice guy.  It's a long story, Donnie.  It's really personal."  Donnie stared at her for a long moment, and then felt bad.  He completely understood not wanting to talk about personal problems.  He scooted himself down the couch and put his hand through her hair.  He had been dying to do this ever since he first saw her in class.  "Are you okay?"  Donnie could feel that he was slightly drunk still, which was the only reason he had any courage to touch her.  Chloe flinched back at first, and then took his hand in her own and put it up to her face.  She kissed his hand just as he had done to hers earlier in the night.  "Donnie, why are you so nice to me?"  Donnie couldnt believe her words.  That was when it hit him that this perfect girl had a rough past.  This hurt Donnie to think about and caused him to feel very defensive of her.  He couldnt remember the last time he actually felt defensive about a girl.  "Chloe...look at me."  Chloe kept staring down at the couch.  And rubbed his hand on the side of her face.  "Chloe, come on.  Look at me."  Chloe looked up just as Donnie bent his head towards hers and softly kissed her on the forehead.  She closed her eyes, realizing how amazing this felt.  He then worked his way down the side of her face, kissing every inch.  Then when he got to her lips, he hesitated.  He was breathing very heavily, and she could feel his hot breath on her face.  Chloe's heart was racing, and her body started burning all over.  That's when Chloe threw her arms around his neck and plunged onto his lips.  She couldnt restrain herself, her body went right into fight-or-flight mode.  It took Donnie a second to realize what was happening, he couldnt believe she was letting him in.  He kissed her softly at first, but her kisses got gradually more intense, and he started getting rougher, feeling like if he didnt taste her completely he would lose her. 

Chloe shoved him against the couch, making his head hit the arm-rest.  "SHIT!" he howled.  "OH MY GOD, DONNIE, IM SO SORRY!!"  They both started laughing, and Chloe put her hands up to her face.  "Well...this is awkward."  After she spoke, she laid her body down on top of his and propped her head up on her elbow, leaning against his chest.  Donnie took in a deep breath and sighed, a sly smile on his face.  They gazed at eachother before Donnie started laughing.  Chloe raised an eyebrow and said, "Got a problem over there?  Something I can help you with?"  "Chloe, you never cease to entertain me, y'know that?  You're probably the most interesting girl i've ever met."  Chloe raised her index finger and gently traced the outline of his lips.  "I dont want to go to school tomorrow, Donnie."  "Yeah, well..." he said as he laid his head on top of her head, "..who does?  Oh wait, people like Lynn and Cassidy.  That's right."  Chloe immediately raised her head and got defensive.  "They're nice.  They're the first people who introduced themselves to me today at school...if they hadnt, i wouldnt have even come to the party.  And then I wouldnt have met you."  Chloe rested her head on Donnie's shoulder and kissed the side of his neck.  Then she kissed his ear, and Donnie shivered.  "Oooh, somebody's got a hot-spot" Chloe giggled.  "Oh, please, Cali girl.  You dont know me."  " I beg to differ," Chloe whispered and gently kissed his ear again.  This time Donnie's whole body twitched, and she immediately started getting tingly all over again.  She was so attracted to him, but didnt even really know why.  She had never exactly run around with the bad boys before.  She had always stuck to the "safe" guys, the jocks, the prepsters.  But they always ended up being anything but safe.

"Donnie..." Chloe whispered and reached her lips up to his.  He pulled her in and started heavily breathing again.  His hands grabbed at her back, and pulled Chloe in so tight that she almost couldnt breathe.  They continued kissing passionately and then Chloe pulled up his shirt, tracing his abs with her hand.  Donnie immediately pulled his shirt off over his head, and pulled Chloe back into him.  "God," Donnie whispered, "I really dont want to go to school tomorrow, either."  Chloe giggled and kissed his chest.  His hands ran up and down her ribcage, but never up above that.  He stayed respectful, and even though he might not have realized that she noticed, Chloe took this gentle gesture to heart.

Chloe looked at the clock and realized it was almost 6 a.m.  They would have to get up in about two hours.  "Well, it looks like I should let you get some sleep, you southern-belle."  Chloe was sitting up and about to stand up when Donnie whispered, "Wait."  He jumped up off the couch and picked her up into his arms, lifting her off of the floor and kissing her deeply.  After he set her back down, he smiled his sly grin again.  "Goodnight, sunshine."  "Goodnight, cowboy."

Chapter 3 - It's My Party, I Can Cry If I Want To

"Donnie muttered, "You're new."  "No, actually, i'm Chloe.  But it's nice to meet you, too."  Chloe grabbed an unopened beer off of the counter and glanced up at Donnie with a crooked smile while turning and slowly walking across the living room to Lynn and her minions.  After Chloe was gone, Donnie realized he had been holding his breath the entire time she had stood with him, and gulped in a deep breath.  Don's buddy Reese from phys. ed called to him, "Hey Bills, stop imagining the new girl naked and take this shot."  Donnie quickly snapped back to his surroundings and replied, "yeah, man.  Pass that little baby on over to papa."  Donnie continued his binge drinking for a couple more hours, then realized he needed a cigarette to stay awake. 

Outside on the front stoop, Nick had Chloe cornered on the far side of the porch.  She looked uneasy and said "Nick, you have a girlfriend.  I want to go back inside and pretend this never happened.  Just let me go."  From growing up in a wreck of a household, Don had trained himself to be very emotionally and physically attentive.  It was a survival tactic.  A defense mechanism. 

When Donnie saw Chloe try to step around Nick, Nick shoved her against the railing, and Donnie quickly pushed his way through a group of jocks and towered over Nick.  Donnie grabbed the cigarette out of his mouth and with his other hand held Nick by the neck.  Donnie had his cigarette positioned an inch from Nick's eyeball and in his deep voice, threatened, "Touch her one more time and you'll be too blind to ever dribble a basketball for the rest of your pathetic life."  Donnie released his grip after glowering at Nick for a couple of moments, and Nick started choking for air.  "Fuck you, Donnie.  You don't know shit about me.  And i'm glad to see you turned out to be just as much of a piece of white trash as your daddy."  Nick turned around to walk away, and just before Donnie catapulted himself onto him, Chloe stepped in front of Donnie.  Placing one of her hands on his chest, she looked him straight in the eye.  Donnie had never been this close to her, and couldnt believe how beautiful she was.  She made his thoughts completely wash away anything having to do with Nick. 

"Donnie, right?  That's your name?  Donnie Billingsley?"  "Ye-yeah, thats me."  Chloe stepped back, and almost looked embarrassed.  She was silent for a moment before whispering, "I don't think I want to be here anymore."  "Did you drive here?  You got a car?" Donnie asked her, but she shook her head and said "Lynn drove me.  But i'm pretty sure she's going to sleep over at Nick's tonight.  And I dont think I could even look her in the face right now."  "I'll drive you home...it's no problem, where do you live?"  "Just around the corner, off of Wicker.  But even though I dont know you that well, I can tell when a boy is completely shitfaced."  Donnie realized she was right.  Trying to make his wasted mind think, he remembered all of the extra rooms upstairs.  "Do you want to go upstairs?  It's quiet up there, and i'll stay with you so youre safe.  Just give me an hour or so and i'll be good to drive you home."  Chloe stared out at the front yard for a moment, mulling over his question.  Finally, she answered,  "Yes.  yes please.  Donnie...can I trust you?"  Donnie replied, "I'm the only guy here that you can trust."

Chapter 4 - Ms Sunshine


Donnie led Chloe up the narrow staircase onto the second level, and into a room with a queensize bed that was totally vacant.  Chloe walked in after Donnie, and closed the door and locked it.  "Afraid that monsters are going to get in?" Donnie mused, and Chloe shrugged, waving her hand in the air as if she was too tired to talk.  Chloe laid on top of the bed, and Donnie sat at the end of it, with his legs sprawled out in front of him.  He took out his lighter and started playing with the flame, not really sure how to break the silence.  "So...Donnie, I've heard a lot about you."  "You've only been at school one day, how is that possible?" Donnie grinned.  "Well apparently youre someone that EVERYBODY knows.  Like it or not." Chloe smiled back.  "So...what have you heard?" Donnie asked.  "Well...you're a party animal, for starters.  All of your bros like to call you Billingsley.  You're a star football player, who's on and off lately...but when you're on, you dont disappoint.  Oh , and you get around with the ladies...a lot."  Donnie grunted, and stared towards the window.  "So do you approve of these rumors?"  Donnie thought for a moment, putting his lighter back into his back pocket.  "Well what about you, ms sunshine?  Where are you from and what are you doing here?"  Chloe shrugged again and said, "My dad is in the military.  We got stationed here, and were supposed to live on base, but I refused.  I didn't want to go to school with a bunch of army brats."  "Well, where are you from?" Donnie asked.  "I'm from southern California.  A place called Forest Hollow."  "Do you miss it?"  "I dont know..." she responded, "I havent really had much time to think about it yet."

"Look Donnie..." Chloe got on all fours and  crawled across the bed and sat directly in front of Donnie, but she didnt do this in a sexual way, that Donnie had seen plenty of times before.  She did it in a sweet, endearing way.  Chloe rested her hand on his knee, and said "I havent thanked you yet."  "For what?" Donnie asked.  "You know what.  For sticking up for me.  For defending me when Nick was trying to push me around.  I figured moving to the midwest would be nice, you know, southern gentlemen for a change.  But that hope was smashed when Nick was yelling at me.  But then I saw you.  And...well you changed my mind."  Donnie sat silently for a moment, and stared down at his jeans.  Then, he felt something cool brush the side of his head.  He looked up, and saw that Chloe had her hand weaving gently through his hair, and was smiling to herself, like she was daydreaming about something funny.  Donnie could no longer control his impulses, and reached up and grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it twice before letting it go.  "It was a pleasure sticking up for you, ms. sunshine.  And besides, if I hadnt, I wouldve never gotten this opportunity to get to know you better.  Away from all the douchebags and the shitty music."  This made Chloe blush, and start giggling.  "You ready to go home?  And get some rest?" Donnie asked her.  "I guess so...yeah."  "Uh, that dont sound real convincing."  "Well..." Chloe started to say, "...I told my parents I'd be spending the night at Lynn's.  And I think they might hate me if they see me walk in the door at 2 am with the smell of Jack Daniels and cigarettes all over my clothes.  Maybe I can stay at Cassidy's...crap I dont have her number.  I'm going to have to ask Lynn."  Chloe started to get up to go downstairs and talk to Lynn, when Donnie grabbed her by the arm.  "You can stay at my place.  I live only about 5 minutes away, pretty close to Permian High.  My dad will be passed the hell out by the time we get there.  And I have a couch i'll sleep on.  You can sleep in my bed." 

Chloe thought to herself for a second, and said "Well I've never spent the night at a boy's house before."  "Well, it's the first time I've spent time with a girl who hasn't."  Chloe laughed her hearty high pitched laugh, and play punched Donnie on the chest.  "You're gonna have to let me borrow some clothes to sleep in, cowboy.  There's no way i'm going to be able to dream about unicorns and rainbows with this skin tight tank top and skirt on."  Donnie opened the door for her, and they made their way outside and to Donnie's beat up car.

"Nice ride!  Do I get to drive?" Chloe beamed.  "No way, princess.  I'm sober now, and you get to feel the wrath of my Nascar skills."  "Oh dear Lord," Chloe sighed.  "Just get me to your place in one piece.  I escaped getting a black eye once tonight, I don't need a chance to get another one."  Donnie laughed, and opened the door for her.  On the drive home, Donnie put on an alternative rock station, the only one they had in Odessa.  He blared the music, and lit a cigarette.  "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers streamed out of his speakers, and as he listened to the lyrics, he glanced over at Chloe and saw her hair blowing wildly in the warm Texas air.

"It always seemed such a waste,
she always had a pretty face,
and i wondered why she hung around this place..."

[mature content. vulgar language.]All Donnie could do was stare at his father, as he finally let go of his son, and with hunched shoulders and his head bent down, Mr Billingsley walked down the hall slowly to his bedroom and closed the door behind him. 

Donnie felt like he was still pinned up against the wall, but by his father's words.  Part of him hated his father for all the pain and suffering he had raised him through all his life, but now a growing suspicion was growing in his heart, hoping, that maybe his father did care enough about him to warn him about this choice. 

Frustrated, Donnie stomped back into his small room, and took his 7th grade team picture off of his dresser and watched it break into shattered glass against his wall.  "Goddamnit!" he screamed, and threw himself onto his bed.  "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" and pounded his fists into his pillows.  The only thing that could calm his mind was to think of Chloe.  He closed his eyes, and sighed heavily as he thought of her beautiful smile the day they laid in the school's football field and watched the sunset up above.  He watched her dark hair blow in the gentle Texas breeze, and heard her light laughter like chimes in the wind.  But as he reached out to touch her, she was gone.  And he looked down at himself and saw a 45 year old man's body with a beer belly and cowboy boots on.  He had a Budweiser in his hand and he was completely alone.  He looked down at both hands, and saw no ring.  Then he gazed across the now dead and brown grass field, and saw a tombstone...with his father's name on it.


Chapter 2 - Seeing the Sun

Donnie had never been one who knew much about love.  All his life, his father had emotionally and sometimes physically abused him.  With no mother around to cherish him, Donnie turned towards Football as a means to dull the pain.

As he walked through his highschool's doors, his teammate Chavez, greeted him with a punch on the arm.  "Hey gringo," Chavez smiled.  "Hey you dirty Mexican" Donnie remarked back at his close friend and took stride with him as they walked to class.  "You ready for States this year?  That is, if your Daddy doesnt put you in a woodchipper by then."  Chavez laughed.  Donnie smiled and nodded, pretending that the usual remarks about his Pa didnt bother him.  It was the only way his teammates knew how to comfort him about his fucked up bloodline, but unfortunately it just made an empty hole grow deeper inside his heart.  "Gotta go to Spanish class.  Hasta luego, Taco Bell."  "Fuck you, man" Chavez laughed and saluted to Donnie, "see you at practice, Goldilocks."

Donnie slowly stalked into his Spanish class with one strap of his backpack slung over his shoulder.  "Senor Billingsley, please remove your cap upon entering la clase."  "Si Senora" Donnie said as he took off his hat and winked at his teacher.  Senora Tia turned away from him and he heard the usual giggles of Lynn and Cassidy sitting at their desks.  Two Permian cheerleaders who had the exact same flirty personalities as all the females in his graduating class.  "Hola chicas" Donnie un-enthusiastically remarked to the way-too-peppy girls.  "Hi Donnie!" they both squealed in delight.  As Don tried to walk past them to get to his seat, Lynn stood up and blocked his path.  "You have a big game coming up this Friday, don't you?"  She smiled.  "You would know, Lynn, since your team cheers at every single one of our games."  Lynn smiled and shrugged as if she must have forgotten, adding "I made you something for good luck."  She took a plate off of her desk with a mound of rice krispies that had been molded into the shape of a man.  "It's you!" Lynn proudly beamed at Donnie.  "Oh, wow.  I guess it is.  Thanks, Lynn."  Don said as he gave her an awkward one-armed hug.  "See you on the field!" Lynn squealed before bouncing back to her chair beside her now jealous teammate.

Donnie sat down in the back room, and casually slipped his food (which reaked with fake-blonde-preppy girl-attitude) into the trashcan behind him.  As class moved by slowly, Donnie just scribbled his ideas for new team plays in his notebook, occasionally raising his head to answer a question his professor asked him in Spanish.  There were about 30 minutes left in class when a girl he didn't recognize walked through the door.  "I'm so sorry," her soft voice sang across the room.  "Is this Senora Tia's class?"  "Si, senorita," Prof Tia responded with a smile, "how may i help you? are you lost?"  "I was, but I think i'm in the right place now" she happily beamed back.  "Me llamo Chloe, Chloe Sun."  "Ms. Sun!  Our new student!" the senora proclaimed.  "Please, come with me, you will be sitting next to Flora," and Chloe sat down in the middle of the classroom, diagonal from Donnie's desk in the back corner, but a few rows up.  "Please, everyone, make sure to give Chloe your warm welcomes after class, but for now we must finish this lesson."

Donnie studied this stranger's face.  He had never seen anyone like her before.  Her almost black, long, straight hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her lower back, and she was wearing peacock feather earrings.  She had a plain dark green tee on, with a shiny black leather skirt and knee high black boots.  But she wasn't scary.  She had very soft features, with nervous but warm blue eyes.  All of a sudden, Don had an urge to know everything about her.  But at the same time, he was a little intimidated.  This was the first time he had felt that way about the opposite sex in years.

Donnie thought only a minute had gone by when the bell rang and everytone stood up to pack up their backpacks.  Donnie thought to himself, "OK.  Don't be a pussy.  Just walk up and introduce yourself.  That's it.  Not hard at all."  But as he took a step toward her desk, Lynn and her sidekick Cassidy galloped up to Chloe, introducing themselves in the type of fake generosity you could only witness in a southern cheerleader.  After not one minute, the prepsters each had an arm through one of their captive's arms, and were quickly striding out of class while bobbing their blonde pony tails through the air.

Donnie hadn't seen the new girl all day long, and assumed he didnt have any more classes with her.  He struggled throughout practice, feeling as lackluster as he had the past few hot weeks.  He seemed to miss the ball every time Winchell passed it to him.  During showers, Donnie noticed Mike not joking around with the other guys, per usual.  "Hey serious Sally, you coming out tonight?" Donnie called out to Mike.  "Out where?" Mike asked. "Oh, please Winchell.  Don't try to pussyfoot around the subject.  You know what I'm talking about.  Nick Callor, you know , Lynn's stupid basketball player boyfriend, he's throwing a huge party.  And you're gonna get smashed."  "I thought you hated Nick," Mike remarked.  "I do, smartass.  Nick is a fucking first rate tool, but his parents are loaded which means his fridge is gonna be loaded with brewskies.  Just relax for one night.  Get laid, pass out.  Our game is two days away.  Start partying like a senior."  Donnie smiled at Mike and then wrapped his towel around his waist and started getting dressed.

Donnie drove around with Chavez for a few hours, hanging out at 7/11 and smoking cigarettes in his beat up car.  When the time had finally come to go to Nick's, Donnie was ready to stay out all night long so he didn't have to deal with his father's liquor fueled rants.  The house was packed with Permian High students.  The kids he'd known since they were babies and had all grown up in Odessa together. 

Donnie immediately hightailed it to the fridge, and was greeted by a handful of "BILLINGSLEY!!!" shouts from around the room.  Donnie immediately chugged two beers while some of his buddies poured them all shots of Jack Daniel's finest.  Donnie took four shots, and was about to have his turn with the beer bong when he felt a small hand tap on his back.  "Hi stranger," Lynn drunkenly slurred into his ear.  Donnie didn't even bother looking behind him, but instead stepped closer to the beer bong and shouted over the blaring music, "I'm BUSY LYNN."  Don had just started chugging from his beer bong when he heard Lynn shout something about how rude Billingsley was, and that Chloe shouldnt waste her time meeting him anyways.  Donnie's throat immediately closed up and he gagged up beer all over the kitchen sink.  "EEEEEEWWW!" all the girls squeaked, while there was one high pitched voice that was giggling over the shrikes of disgust.  Donnie wiped his chin off with the sleeve of his tshirt, and turned to see Lynn walking away.  Behind her, was a radiant, laughing, Sun.