DO YOU GAMBLE?

CHAPTER ONE

It was a blistering summers day in Odessa, the sun glared down on the three girls as they walked around the town, sweat had started to bead on Heather's skin.

Melissa sighed, fanning herself. "We should head to the mall. That A/C would feel amazing right about now."

They entered the mall and grabbed a table in the food court. The place was pretty empty; most of the town had gone on vacation or were still in bed at ten in the morning. Heather usually was, too. But last night had a significant lack of parties and the three girls had turned in early out of boredom.

"You guys want anything?" Heather eyed her two friends who shook their heads.

Heather pushed out of her seat and headed towards the opposite side of the mall's food court, towards Dairy Queen.

"Hey, can I have," Heather looked up at the cashier and paused. "Don? Since when does Don Billingsley have a job?"

Don chuckled. "A guy's gotta do something before football season. And you're lucky as it's my last day."

Heather shook her head in awe. "I know. But for you, that usually means partying until dawn and sleeping until dusk."

Don shrugged, a small smile still on his features. "Yeah, whatever. What can I get you, H?"

"Just a chocolate milkshake for me, thanks."

Heather handed Don some change and waited patiently as Don made her order. She was still confused at the sight of him holding a job.

"You still dating that guy from Midland?" Don asked once he reappeared. "You know it ain't right to date the enemy."

Heather glanced up at Don, her features pulling down into a frown. "You mean Gary? Nah, he dumped me for one of his cheerleaders."

"What a dumbass." Don shook his head. "You're one of the hottest girls around. Don't see how he could do any better."

Heather rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Don. Now can I have my milkshake?"

Don reached over the counter and handed her the frozen drink. Heather gave him a nod in thanks and turned back around with the intention of heading back to her table.

"Go out with me." Don hollered after her. "Tonight. We'll go for a drive. Get some food."

Heather spun back around. Don was grinning at her with endless confidence and Heather wondered where he got all of it.

She raised a brow. "You think I'd go out with you, Billingsley? Not a chance. I know how you are."

His smirk just got wider. "I can be different. I can treat you real good, show you a real good time."

Heather scoffed. "I know you can show me a good time. That's what I'm afraid of."

"C'mon," he pleaded with her. "It's just a date. What could go wrong? If you hate it you can tell me to fuck off."

"Sorry," she shrugged her shoulders. "I'm sworn off jocks after Gary. Especially those with your rep."

She turned around again, this time with finality.

"See you around, Don." She called over her shoulder.

"You'll change your mind, H. You'll see."

Heather sat back down at her table. Maria and Melissa watched her, their eyes lit up with excitement.

"Now, don't tell me Don Billingsley just asked you out and you said no?" Maria said, her gaze flickering to the Dairy Queen where Don was leaning lazily over the counter. "H, he's a dime. Have you gone blind?"

Heather slurped at her milkshake. "No, I'm just not an idiot. Don only thinks with one thing and it's not his brain."

"So, what?" Maria replied instantly. "Why not just have some damn fun? You take everything so serious."

"Sorry, Maria but I'm not you," Heather said, looking at Don who was already looking at her, a grin on his face. He knew they were talking about him. "I like serious."

The other girl let out a heavy breath, her green eyes rolling behind her lids. "I know you do. Sometimes I don't even know how we became friends. You're a bore."

"Now, Maria," Melissa cut in. "Leave Heather alone. Better to be a bore than a whore like you."

"Watch your mouth!" Maria yelled back in response but her features were laced with humour.

Heather leaned back in the cold metal of her seat, zoning out of the activity between her two friends and instead focused solely on chugging back her milkshake. She started thinking about how this was her last real summer, that next summer would be filled with obsessing over college. Maybe Maria had said something right after all, Heather deserved a little fun - especially after a bad breakup. But she wasn't sure she wanted Don Billingsley to be apart of that fun. She wasn't that careless.

"So, H, you going to Chavez's party tonight?" Melissa asked, bringing Heather back into reality.

"Oh, he's having one?" Heather said and Melissa nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'll be there. Wanna get ready at my place? My parents are headed out to Dallas for the weekend."

"You know I'll be there," Maria replied smugly. "And I'll have plenty of beer to share."

"Sounds like a plan then."

Around eight o'clock, Melissa and Maria showed up on Heather's porch. Maria stayed true to her word - a half case firmly in her clutch.

"Come in!"

Heather stood in front of her floor length mirror, holding up two different tops up, unsure of which to wear.

"The blue one!" Maria called from where she was sprawled lazily on Heather's twin sized bed. "No question."

Melissa turned to face her friends, twirling on the vanity stool to eye Heather's choices.

"Your thoughts, Melissa?" She asked. "You don't think it's too hoe-y?"

"Nah, girl," Melissa shook her head. "Definitely the blue - you'll look hot as hell, who cares about looking a little slutty, anyway? We're in our prime!"

"Finally something Mel and I can agree on!" Maria chimed in.

Heather chuckled, tossing the yellow halter top to the floor. She pulled her baseball tee over her head and put on the blue top, tipping her head down so she could tie it. Then turning around in the mirror to inspect herself.

"You look gooood!" Maria stood up, shaking Heather by the shoulders and smiling wide. "Now, can we go, losers? You two take forever."

The two other girls rolled their eyes.

"Lead the way, Maria."

Chavez's was all ready alive when they showed up. The music was blasting, luckily he had next to no neighbors, and people were stumbling across his lawn.

"Looks like a good time." Heather mused.

She pushed open the door and was greeted by a fog of cigarette smoke and the stench of bodies and booze.

"You think Mike's gonna be here?" Melissa whispered into Heather's ear, almost drowned out by the music. "I wanna get with that."

Heather shook her head. "Mike don't even leave his house, you know his momma's sick, Mel."

"He might -"

Melissa never finished. Arms wrapped around Heather's waist and a head nuzzled into her neck. "I knew you'd come. You lookin' for me, H?"

Without even glancing behind her, Heather unpried the hands around her and pushed the boy's body away.

"You hear of personal space?" Heather smirked, turning to face Don, who was still too close. "I ain't come here for you, Donnyboy. I came here to get drunk and have fun."

"I know how to have fun."

"I know you do," she wrapped an arm around his neck, leaning in closer. Her voice dropped a few decibels. "But I ain't looking for that kind of fun.

She took a step back. "But I'm sure Maria -"

Don groaned. "Maria? Been there, H. I'm looking at you."

"Too bad."

She left him and pushed her way through the crowd, attempting to find at least one of her bubbly blonde friends.

"Heather, my girl," Chavez wrapped her into a warm embrace. "You came! Though, I did just see Melissa and remembering thinkin' you couldn't be far behind."

"You know I wouldn't miss one of your parties, love," she smiled, squeezing her friend before slipping out of the hug. "I was right behind Melissa but then one of your buddy's got me tied up."

"Don?"

She sighed, giving him a nod. "Yup. Guy thinks I'm gonna be his next conquest."

"'Guess he's dumber than he looks." Chavez quipped. "You want a beer?"

"Yes, please!"

Chavez leaned over the counter and grabbed her a beer, cracking it off the counter until the cap went flying.

"Thank you, sweetheart." She raised her beer in thanks and bid her goodbye, searching for Melissa - worried the girl might all ready be mixed up in some trouble.

The blonde sat outside, her legs dipped in the cool water of the Chavez's pool. Heather took a seat next to her, dangling her legs into the water too. "No luck in finding Mike?"

Melissa frowned. "Nope. You were right - I don't think he's here."

"'Figured you'd be on to the next by now," Heather teased lightheartedly, leaning her head on her friend's shoulder. "Something got you down?"

"Nah, not really - just something about Mike, you know?" Melissa shrugged, staring blankly into the aquamarine water. "I think he's different. What about you, Don didn't manage to charm you into some dark closet somewhere?"

"You think so low of me?" Heather faked disbelief. "I left him in the wind, girl. Not worth my time."

"Mhmm," Melissa hummed. "At least one of us has their head on their shoulders. Looks like Don wasn't all that fazed, either."

Heather glanced in the direction Melissa pointed; Don was stumbling out the backdoor, Karen held lazily under his right arm, as he sloppily tried to kiss her and walk. She quickly looked away, a frown tugging on her features. Maybe she didn't want to be his conquest, his one night stand. But she hadn't expected him to give up so easy.

"I'm offended," Heather forced out a chuckle. "He hardly even tried to get in my pants - then he moves on with Karen? She's as ditzy as a blue-ass fly."

"Don't worry, baby," Melissa drunkenly patted Heather's hair. "You're too good for him - he must know that, thats why he gave up."

She watched as Don and Karen moved across Chavez's yard, until they disappeared behind the darkness of the garage. She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, you're right."