Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own FNL.
Beta Read by: JohnGreenGirl
The horizontal line in my stories will signify a change in scene or point of view.
Secret Shenanigans - Chapter 1 Part 1
Sports towns, they were something else.
From birth, a war cry filled the hearts of the townspeople. Their blood didn't run red, it matched their team colours.
Texas had the Dallas Cowboys. Those players came from Dillon and the neighbouring towns.
As for Dillon, it was the town Julie currently found herself struggling to find her place in.
"Broken Spoke." Julie remarked. The neon sign ahead shone brightly in contrast to the night sky. She imagined there was bound to be one old man inside waiting to tell the tale of how this bar got its name. Personally, she had no desire to find out.
A water droplet hit her arm. Julie looked up at the sky and several more drops of rain fell on her face. She sprinted towards the entrance to escape the drizzle.
She flinched as she touched the greasy handle on the door. Her mother had warned her too many times about the poor hygiene of males. God knows what else was on that handle. She wiped her sticky hand on her jeans and folded her arms.
The barkeep, who was in his fifties, gave her a once over and seemingly approved of her presence in the establishment. Dating the quarterback came in handy sometimes. Julie tried not to stare at the large scar that ran from his eyebrow to his chin.
She crossed the threshold of the foyer, hoping to find Matt. They were meant to meet up and she was late. Julie coughed, trying to expel the smoky air, which was invading her lungs. A group of road workers nearby roared with laughter.
"Hand, it over fellas," the chipper, lanky one said. He leant across the table, dragging the money in the centre back towards him. He caught her watching.
"Hey sweetheart, wanna sit on a winner's lap?"
The big burly one placed a hand on his smaller friend's shoulder and squeezed tightly. Julie watched him cringe in pain. "Can it, she's a Taylor."
He piped down, seemingly afraid of his co-worker or her father. When the Dillon Panthers won, everyone was her dad's friend. Julie moved away from them and stood by the stage. Landry's band was going to perform in an hour. They must have been backstage getting ready.
Matt had convinced her to go and arrive early. Now he was AWOL, life wasn't fair. She hated waiting alone in public places.
Julie surveyed the room for the third time tonight. Where was he? She checked her phone. No messages and she didn't have a chance to speak to Matt before the game. She regretted coming already.
Feeling uncomfortable, she stomped over to the bar and ordered a juice. To pass the time she watched videos online using her phone.
It might have been paranoia, but she could sense someone watching her. Discretely glancing across the bar, she caught an older man in his twenties, staring unapologetically. He winked at her when their eyes met. Julie quickly looked back at her phone, silently praying for Matt to hurry up.
"Alright everybody you ready to rock?" Julie laughed at Landry's efforts to get the crowd excited and turned to face the stage. The crowd, if you could call it that. All of his flyers were for nothing. Around ten people had shown up.
The drums started the song, followed by the electric guitar and bass. They didn't sound too bad. Julie put away her phone and moved closer, to be supportive.
Landry gripped the microphone and screamed into it.
"Woah!"
Now she knew why no one was there. Crucifictorious's style of music was definitely polarizing. Speed metal, she imagined, was not what Dillon locals were used to. Julie sipped her drink and swayed slightly with the beat.
During intermission 20 minutes into their set, she sat down at the bar while Landry and the band re-hydrated. Julie pulled out her phone and texted Matt, who was yet to arrive.
Wat happd r u coming 2night
It was out of character for him to be late.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Julie looked up, shocked to find 'the winker' standing next to her.
"Me?"
He smiled at her. "Yeah you," then gestured for the bartender to bring over a cocktail.
"I'm ... I can't, drink that... I'm underage."
"No sweat, I know the owner." He wore a smug smile and handed her the drink.
Julie brushed her hair behind her ear, warily. She wasn't used to attention from older men. She hoped he would leave her alone if she just took the drink. "Thanks."
"You need it after listening to this guy."
Julie let out a small laugh and he mistook that for an invitation to sit down. Once the band came back on, she would make her escape from his company.
Tim looked down at the paper which sat beside him on the trucks bench seat.
"B-. All that time and work for one little red, B-."
He didn't think he could get a grade like that. Though he couldn't remember the last time he'd actually put any effort into studying or school in general. The last few years he'd grown to rely on the rally girls' talents so he could enjoy the finer things in life.
Mrs. Taylor wasn't going to let him get away with it this year. She had whispered in Coach's ear. Now Tim had two Taylors on his back. Nope, this year he was going to have to buckle down if he wanted to play. Tim took his eyes off the road, glancing back to the paper riding shotgun. He thought of all the freedom he was going to lose.
"Maybe I don't need to play this year. It's only football."
Tim was never going pro. Only Street had the dedication to get there. He smiled to himself. He could always justify his actions, good or bad, without fail. It was something that infuriated his brother, Billy.
At the end of the day, Tim was just looking to get by, the easiest way he could. He didn't have big dreams for his future. He didn't like to think about it. Living in the moment was his motto. Take each day as it comes. Don't plan, wing it. Act first, worry about consequences later. When it's time to worry, then you grab a beer or eight.
In the rare moments when he would lie in bed and let his thoughts drift, he could admit the future looked bleak. It was the one thing that scared him.
He turned on the radio needing a distraction from his inner musings.
"Next Friday's game is going to bring Dillon into the playoffs. Coach Taylor's playing young Matt Sar-"
Tim turned the radio off.
"It's only football."
He laughed to himself, wishing that were true. He loved to play the game.
Tim drove into the car park and found a space. He pulled his keys from the ignition and stepped down out of his old truck, slamming the door behind him. "The things I do for football."
He slowly trudged up to the Broken Spokes entrance. It had been a last-minute decision to visit Landry. Tim figured it was the right thing to do. He should thank Landry for his help, despite his hissy fit on the bleachers. Tim could be difficult, but he was grateful Landry had persisted. He respected the guy's outburst. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind.
Broken Spoke was his home away from home for many years. Spud, as the locals knew him, was behind the bar. His scar was a constant reminder of how much damage a glass bottle wielded by a drunk could do.
Tim saw the Coaches daughter laughing with some older guy. He didn't see Seven around. Where was everyone? The empty bar made him think he had the wrong night. Instruments were on the vacant stage.
He picked up a flyer from the bar-top. It was definitely tonight. The concert should have already started.
"Look what the cat dragged in?"
"Just here to see a friend Spud, I don't want any trouble."
"I've heard that one before, the night I got this scar in fact. How is that old man of yours? Still, owes me money."
"You and everyone else. Your guess is as good as mine."
Tim glanced around seconds later to see, Landry walk out onto the stage, laden in sweat. He spotted Tim immediately. His face lighting up as he leapt off the stage, headed right for him.
"No rabble rousing in here." Tim noted his look of confusion.
"Relax, he does my school work." Spud nodded in clarity.
"You showed up. I didn't think you would," Landry declared excitedly.
"You wanna know why?" Tim teased.
"Why?"
"Cause your looking at a B-."
"You got a B-?" Landry's eyebrows rose.
"Not too shabby, huh." Tim tried to downplay his achievement. Landry probably got A's all the time.
"Well there you go, look at you, turning into a scholar on me."
"I appreciate your help man. I really do." Landry nodded accepting Tim's apology. "I'm sorry I just missed your set."
"Don't worry we got a whole nother set coming up. No worries my friend we'll put you uno... you're with me, so we'll put right up here at the front. Okay?"
Up the front. That wouldn't be hard nobody was there.
"That's great." Tim wasn't looking to become Landry's buddy, but it would be rude to leave.
"You can't just stand there though." Landry gestured that he should be head banging to the music. Tim chuckled to himself, with the hint of a smirk on his face.
Out the corner of his eye, he watched Taylor walk over to the stage area with a cocktail in hand. The band launched into a song. She kept her eyes on Landry, finding a spot front and centre of the stage. The guy who she'd left at the bar was leering at her rear, practically salivating. Tim shot him a menacing glare until he took the hint and turned around towards the barkeep.
Tim walked toward Taylor and stood behind her. "Does Coach know you're here drinking?"
She looked up at him over her shoulder. "Tim? What are you doing here?" Her eyes searched the room.
He wondered, who she was looking for. She seemed to visibly relax when she found he was alone.
"The drink, how'd you get it?"
"Oh… Brett got it for me. I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't interested."
Tim looked back at the guy by the bar who now wisely kept his gaze off her.
"I've never tasted something so sweet. It's sickly sweet." Taylor's hands trembled slightly as she held it up for him to taste.
The liquid itself was pink and the glass held a purple umbrella. Tim didn't want to be seen with a girl's drink. She smiled at him.
"Afraid someone will see you?"
Tim removed the drink from her hands, ignoring her question and took a mouthful. "Urgh," he moaned screwing up his face.
She burst into laughter. "I told you."
"It tastes like cough medicine. I need something to wash it away." She took her drink back and faced the band.
Tim hesitated before he left watching her nod her head and tap her feet to the beat of the music. "You want anything?"
"No, I'm okay. I only had a tiny sip."
"Wanna come with?" The words were out of his mouth before he could really think them through.
She stopped her movements and looked up at him with a frown on her face. "Why?"
Tim softly smiled at her. He wanted to celebrate tonight. "I don't bite. Give those ears a break." Taylor nodded and followed him to the bar.
"One Corona... and... one water," he said to Spud. The barkeep ogled Taylor.
"I'll find a table," she said uncomfortable in Spud's presence.
"No manners. Wait for me and your drink."
Spud handed her a water and Tim cracked open his beer.
She shook her head, the hint of a smile present on her face. "Fake ID or because you're on the team?"
"I like to think it's my charm."
Taylor laughed as she led the way to a nearby table. "I'm sure it is." Tim watched her remove her jacket and hang it over the back of the chair.
His eyes roamed her form fitting outfit. She didn't dress like most of the girls at school. Taylor was always covered up. She was a classy girl. All of those clothes couldn't hide the fact that she had curves in all the right places.
They watched Crucifictorious perform. Julie wasn't sure why Tim was offering her drinks and sitting with her. Was this some sort of dare? Where was the crowd to watch her get humiliated? She fiddled with the menu holder, accidentally knocking it over.
"You alright?" Oh great! Now Tim had noticed she was acting weird. Julie threw him a reassuring smile after she straightened the centre piece.
He looked unconvinced, but let it slide.
Landry's screams grew louder and his enthusiasm peaked. He was head banging and jumping around the stage. Julie peeked over at Tim and they both burst into laughter.
"He's real into it," Tim drawled.
"Yeah, he is." Tim had a really beautiful smile. It had never been directed at her before. She felt her cheeks getting hot and hoped he couldn't see her blush. "I didn't know you two were friends."
"We're not, he helped me with a paper your Mum made me write."
Julie hated having parents who worked at her school. It was embarrassing. "Sorry, she can be a pain. Trust me, I'd know. She's always breathing down my neck."
Tim chugged a large mouthful of beer. "You're lucky... to have someone like that."
"I guess."
"You are. Trust me, I'd know." Who knew Tim Riggins had a sense of humour?
"What paper was it?" Julie tried to forget about her swirling stomach.
He reached into his pocket hesitating before handing it to her. "It's only a B-."
"A B-, that's awesome and you did it yourself."
"With Landry's help, he read the book. I wanted to... but it's so... boring."
Julie laughed at his honesty. "Yeah, it can be."
Her bag was resting against her leg when she felt her phone buzz. She pulled it out. It was Matt, finally.
Had 2 wrk sorry
Julie slunk against the back of her chair.
Tim put his beer down. "That Seven?"
She put her phone away and looked over at Tim. His green eyes sparkled amongst the stage lights. "He was called into work."
Tim pressed his lips together at her words. She focused on the band and he did the same. Julie wasn't in the mood for more small talk.
Matt had bailed on her again.
She was beginning to wonder if she should be worried. Girls in this town threw themselves at the Panthers players like they were Gods. It was offensive to females everywhere.
Matt wasn't your typical football player. The way he took care of his grandmother showed her he was a good person. She could trust him. Julie just wished he wouldn't ditch her at the last minute, for work.
Ringing cymbals and a drum solo brought the night to a close.
Landry announced to his sparse audience, "Thanks, y'all for coming and we'll rock out again my friends."
Tim and Julie were the only two clapping as Crucifictorious left the stage.
She stood up and stretched.
"You need a ride home, Taylor?"
She had planned on Matt taking her home. "I can call... actually, yeah I could."
Tim held up her jacket so she could put it on. "Let's go before he comes over."
She grinned and they both waved bye to Landry, ducking outside.
Julie didn't say much on the drive home, worried she might put her foot in her mouth. Tim kept his gaze on the road while the radio played in the background.
He parked in front of her house. "I'll see you around... probably at the game... or I could see you at school. Sorry, I'm all over the place tonight… Bye, Tim."
He grinned back at her. She was glad he didn't joke about her flustered state.