A/N: Hello everyone! So this is my first ever story for Friday Night Lights (Grey's Anatomy has been my normal stomping grounds for writing), since I only really got into the show a couple of weeks ago. Basically, I have found like my 37th spirit animal in Tami Taylor, and her relationship with Julie, specifically in seasons 1 and 2, is really intriguing to me for some reason. So I came up with this fic. It'll be pretty short - most likely 5 chapters or less - but I just couldn't get the idea out of my head. It takes place between seasons 1 and 2 when Tami is pregnant with Gracie. I hope you enjoy! And if you have any other ideas for FNL fics I could write please let me know! Thanks for reading! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter 1

"I had a doctor's appointment, Julie, I'm sorry if I can't make it to every single one of your dance recitals!"

"You know what, Mom, just forget it. It's not like it was that important anyway." Julie stomps down the hall toward her room.

Tami sighs exasperatedly before placing a hand on her six month (and growing) pregnant belly. She had neglected to tell Julie she wouldn't be able to make it to her dance recital today because of her six month check-up. Then again, Julie hasn't exactly been open about her life to Tami lately either; it's like she expects everything but communicates nothing. So there you go.

Tami flinches at the slam of Julie's bedroom door before following her down the hall.

"Now just hang on a minute, honey, do not shut me out here," Tami opens the door without knocking.

"Knock much?" Julie snaps.

"Julie," Tami gives her a look, placing her hands on her hips. "What is the matter with you?"

"Me? What's the matter with me?"

"I don't see anyone else in the room."

"Nothing. Nothing is the matter with me. Don't worry about it. Now, if you don't mind I have a term paper due on Friday, so…" Julie gestures toward the door.

"Oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easily young lady. I don't like this new attitude of yours and I wanna know what's gotten into you. I know your dad's away in Austin…"

"Okay seriously Mom this has nothing to do with Dad – "

"Oh really? So the fact that you started acting all mean and nasty to me right after he left is just coincidence is it?"

"Guess it is," Julie shrugs.

"Well if you don't want to tell me what's going on with you I would very much appreciate it if you would stop takin' it out on me."

"Taking what out on you?" Julie asks innocently.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talkin' about, Julie," Tami gives her a look.

Julie stares back at her in silence.

"Fine," Tami drops her hands in defeat. "I give up. I can't make you talk to me. But I am sorry; I couldn't reschedule the appointment because my doctor goes on vacation next week."

"Well you should have tried anyway," Julie mutters.

"I know, and I'm sorry. And I'm sorry your dad couldn't be here either. I'm just really sorry, Julie."

"Whatever. Dad's too busy coaching in Austin to think about me," Julie's voice drops. "Can you just leave me alone now, please?"

"Alright," Tami sighs. "Don't stay up too late, you got school in the morning. Goodnight, sweetheart."

Julie doesn't respond, and as soon as her mother shuts the door she drops her head in her hands. She has great parents – she knows it and everyone else knows it. They do the best they can, and have always provided her with what she needed. And a new baby, that's supposed to be a good thing, right? If everything were normal now, the answer would be yes.

But Julie Taylor's family is far from normal.

Her father, Eric Taylor, was for the past year the head coach for the Dillon High School varsity football team. Until of course he took the job offered to him by TMU to coach their quarterback a few months ago; coaching college football has always been her father's dream, Julie knows that, but she never expected it to be the thing that forced him to move 200 miles away from his family, and make Julie miss him more than she ever thought possible.

Her mother, Tami, is the guidance counselor at Dillon, which just so happens to be Julie's high school as well. Basically, she goes to school with her parents. Never mind her dad moving 200 miles away to coach, seeing her parents at school all the time in and of itself makes the Taylor family not normal.

Now imagine bringing a baby into the picture. A baby who's not only about 15 years younger than Julie, but also has both of her parents wrapped around her little finger already. Even when her father's home, everything's about the baby; they never do anything just the two of them anymore, and Julie missed that.

So where does this leave her?

Taking out her school books, Julie leans back on her bed against the headboard and sighs, trying to read in the hopes that it'll take her mind off of her mother and how much her missing the recital actually hurt her. She knows she should just tell her mom that instead of turning into a brat about it, but for some reason shutting her out is just easier. After all, her mom has enough on her plate with her husband living in Austin and being pregnant and all.

Before long, Julie finds herself waking up. It's still dark outside and her books lay sprawled across her chest. She must have fallen asleep by accident. Looking over at the nightstand, Julie notices the time: 1:36am.

"Shoot," she groans, sitting up.

Walking toward the door, she opens it slowly. The rest of the house is dark; naturally, her mother would be in bed by now. Julie hears the rustling of sheets from across the hall. Peering through cracked door, her suspicions were correct. Tami lay fast asleep on her side, one arm cradling her stomach.

Right away Julie notices the empty right side of the bed; it's moments like these, as she watches her mother sleep, that make it seem as though she will never get used to her father being gone.

Before she even realizes she's crying, Julie wipes a couple stray tears from her cheeks. Really, she wants nothing more than to crawl into bed next to her mother and cry, letting Tami hold her and tell everything's going to be okay. But Julie is far more stubborn than that. She doesn't need her mother. She can get through this on her own.

Well, kind of.

Tip-toeing back to her room, Julie pulls out a bag, throwing on a sweater and packing some extra clothes and bus money. Tying her long hair back into a bun, she picks up her bag and heads for the front door.

She misses her dad. She misses the connection they had. And she's tired of feeling like a thorn in her mother's side, having things like dance recitals get in the way of doctor's appointments for the baby.

She has to get out of Dillon.

Let me know if you want me to continue! I have chapter 2 and half of 3 written already so it shouldn't be too long before an update. Thanks again for reading and reviews are always welcome :)