DO YOU GAMBLE?

CHAPTER TWO

'Hey, baby. It's Gary. I didn't mean everything I said - Daisy, she means nothing to me. I made a mistake.' Heather breathed into the receiver. 'You there, darling? C'mon talk to me.'

The line went dead as she hit end. She sucked in a breath, trying to hold back her burning tears. Gary, Midland's QB, had dumped her for a fiery red cheerleader for his team. Three weeks later he calls her telling her it was a mistake? It didn't add up, Gary had too much of an ego to realize how good he had it with Heather. She knew why he was calling. The redhead, Daisy, didn't put out.

"You alright, H?" Melissa asked. She had slept over after Chavez's party and they had spent the day cuddled in a wool blanket watching TV movies. "Who was on the phone?"

Heather wrapped herself back inside the blanket. "It was Gary. 'Says he wants me back or something."

Melissa's eyes widened. "And what'd you say?"

"Nothing," Heather's face heated up in embarrassment."I didn't know what to say! I hung up!"

"You're terrible," Melissa laughed, shoving Heather lightly. "You gonna call him back?"

"Maybe, probably not," she sighed. "You met Gary. You think he means a damn word he says?"

"You're right. Probably not."

"It just sucks, I really liked him," she said quietly. "Then he dumps me for some freshman cheerleader? Now he wants me back? I don't think so."

"You know what they say - plenty of fish in the sea," Melissa grinned. "You wanna head down to the diner? Grab a bite and eat our feelings?"

"Sounds perfect."

Since it was the last Saturday of summer vacation, the diner was blocked with people. David was behind the counter, seeming flustered by the amount of orders coming in. Heather sat at one of the bar stools, giving the older man a bright smile.

"David, how are you tonight?"

The balding man looked up at the two girls, his frustration morphing into a smile for the most fleeting of moments. "Melissa, Heather, I'm good. How are you girls tonight?"

"Oh, just fine," Melissa replied cheerfully. "I'm just taking Heather here out for a bite to eat, take her mind off things."

"Well, I gotta hand these bags off to Mike for his mom," David said, lifting up two plastic bags filled with food. "then I can get your orders."

Immediately, Melissa perked up. "Oh, don't worry about that, Dave - me and H will bring it to him and you can grab us a couple burgers," she paused to scan the crowd. "Where's he sitting?"

"Outside, near the front," he handed the girl's a bag each. "You tell him its on the house, too! Don't let him slip you any money."

"You got it, Dave." Heather saluted and slipped off her stool, following Melissa outdoors.

"Sly," Heather mused. "You really got a thing for Mike, don't you?"

"Shhh!" Melissa hushed her as they walked into earshot of the boys.

"Hey, Mike," Melissa greeted the boy, cutting off whatever conversation the other boy's were having without any qualms. "David asked us to bring out your momma's food."

Melissa laid her bag and Heather's on the table.

"How much do I -"

"Don't worry about it," Heather cut him off. "'Said it was on the house."

Heather's voice caught the attention of Don, who brought his styrofoam cup from his mouth to grin up at her. His breath reeked of alcohol.

"Well if ain't Odessa's brightest and finest." He asked her, shamelessly raking his eyes up and down her figure.

Heather checked behind her. "Oh, you're talking to me? I was looking for Karen."

"Is somebody feelin' jealous?" Don lifted a brow. "No need, darling. There's enough of me to go around."

"As if." Heather gagged, "Now, move over, would you? Let me sit."

Don moved down, pushing Chavez further down the bench to let her sit. She swung her legs over the side and sat down, stealing Don's cup in the process and downing the mixed drink. She winced at the strong taste but kept sipping.

"That was mine, you know," he smirked as he said it, never moving to steal back the drink. "You coming to Taylor's tonight?"

"Another party?" She scrunched up her face. "I don't know - I already went out last night."

"So what?" Don rolled his shoulders in nonchalance. "We're seventeen, baby! 'Might as well party while we can."

"Yeah," Melissa agreed, using her eyes to point to Mike, pleading with Heather silently. "We should. You're the one that wanted to get your mind off things, right?"

Heather rolled her eyes, clearly outnumbered. "Fine."

Don stood under the funnel she grasped and she poured a beer bottle down the tube, laughing as he was unable to chug it back. He made a choking noise before spitting up into the sink.

"I thought you were a pro at this, Billingsley?" She teased him, tossing the funnel onto the already messy counter. "Pros finish the bottle without choking."

"Shut up, Heather," he groaned, his face flushed from lack of breathing. "It's been awhile, all right? I'd like to see you try -"

"Fine," she coyly raised a brow, grabbing back the funnel. "Hit me, baby."

He was surprised for a moment but his expression quickly turned to smug as he took the funnel from her. "Let's see if you can put your money where your mouth is."

She kneeled below him, taking the tube her in hand, and giving him a thumbs up when she was ready. He poured the beer in all at once, not giving her time to get used to the flow - but she expected that, he didn't want her to show him up, so she was ready to chug as soon as they copper liquid hit her throat. She managed to suck back the entire bottle with only a few drops of beer dripping down her face as evidence she had even done it at all.

She stood up and wiped her face into the sleeve of her sweater, her turn to be smug. "Told you I could do it. You think Odessa is crazy but you ain't ever been to a Midland party. Rich kids know no limits."

"I think I'm in love with you, H." Don grinned widely, brushing back the hair that was stuck to her face and more than likely doused in beer.

She flicked her long brunette hair over her shoulder dramatically. "Haven't you heard? Everybody is."

"Now, don't get cocky -"

"That's my girl!" Heather stiffened at the familiar voice. "You've still got it!"

Gary, in all his muscled glory, had appeared at an Odessa party. Something that hadn't ever happened - not even when they were dating. She finally glanced at him, meekly and hesitantly. He was looking right past her, at Don, who's hands were still cupping her face. She knew Don was too bold to let some Midland guy frighten him so she stepped backward, letting Don's arms fall to their sides.

"Gary?" She said confused. "What are you doing in Odessa? Or rather, an Odessa house party?"

"You seemed mad earlier, on the phone," he shrugged. "I thought it might be best to talk to you in person."

"Gary," her voice was just above a whisper. "I don't think that's a good idea. People here aren't as welcoming as me to those from Midland."

"No, we ain't." Don stared Gary down. "What're you and your goons doin' here?"

"We don't want no trouble." Gary said but his face said the opposite. "I just wanted to see my girl."

"Well, from what I hear she ain't your girl anymore," he draped an arm around her shoulder and surprisingly, Heather didn't shake it off. "Heard you two broke up. And you were dating some slutty cheerleader."

Gary narrowed his gaze in on Don. "That's all in the past."

From behind Don, gathered other Panthers, outnumbering the three Midland Rebels, each standing tall and staring intimidatingly. Heather felt uncomfortable stuck in the middle.

Gary's gaze flickered between Heather and the strong boys behind her and shook his head. "Alright, I get your message - get out. I'll talk to you later, Heather."

Heather looked away, not meeting her ex boyfriend's eyes. Instead, she looked up at Don.

"You didn't have to do that." She said shyly.

"Did you want him here?" Heather shook her head. "Then I had to do it."