""We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air""
My parents retired the year before my thirty fifth birthday. To mark the occasion, they decided they would move to the place that they felt most at home. Dillon, Texas. It had been 10 years since I stepped foot in this town. Matt and I got married and moved to Chicago, and came back only to twice to visit old friends. Once our careers began to take off we could never really carve out that time. There was always a reason, always an excuse as to why we couldn't go. So we ended up losing touch with most of our old friends, which was a sad thing, really.
Maybe that's why I was so nervous about being here. I knew I'd run into a few familiar faces, and I wasn't looking forward to answering all the questions that accompany a run-in. How ya been? What have you been up to? How's Matt? I read about his gallery opening. What was it you do? A lawyer? No kids, huh? Why not? Just the idea of going through all that numerous times made my insides grumble.
At least for now, I was safe helping my parents unload their last few boxes.
"Damn shame Mattie couldn't join you on your visit," Mom said as we gathered in the box cluttered kitchen for a sip of lemonade. Her hand shook slightly as she poured me a glass and handed it to me. Her arthritis had been acting up lately. Killed me to see her like that, but there wasn't much I could do.
"Well, you know how busy he is with the gallery and all," I said, used to making excuses for him. Seemed that's all I did these days.
"Yeah, yeah. I know, hon. Just a shame is all." I smiled at her, anxious to change the subject.
"Gracie Belle's supposed to coming in for the weekend, too," I said quickly.
"Yeah, she told me that," Mom said softly, probably still a little weirded out by the fact that Gracie just admitted to having a girlfriend. Not that she wasn't supportive of the fact that she was a lesbian. Just hurt to think she'd never have those grandbabies she always wanted.
"What a beautiful sight this is," Dad said as he walked into the room. "Two of my beautiful girls sharing lemonade in our new kitchen," he said as he wrapped an arm over each of our shoulders and pulled us up to him, exchanging kisses on the sides of our heads. "Ya'll know what day it is?," he said grinning from ear to ear. We sighed and rolled our eyes. Of course we knew what day it was. We also knew why he had the goofy grin plastered on his face.
"Friday," we said in unison. Daddy smiled at us.
"Damn right it's Friday. Don't suppose ya'll know if there's anything to do around here on a Friday night?," he said, excited. I laughed.
"Gee, Dad," I said sarcastically. "Maybe we can go to the East Dillon Lions Game?."
"Well I suppose we could do that," he said grinning from ear to ear. "If that's what you want to do, Sweet Pea." Mom laughed as she turned back to the counter and poured Dad a small glass of lemonade.
"I'll just run and change," I said as I set my glass in the sink. Friday nights in Dillon Texas only meant one thing. Football. And everyone would be at the game. I'd be damned if I was going to show up looking like a hot mess.
The game was just getting ready to start. We'd been stopped at every turn, familiar faces just popping up everywhere. Buddy Garrity got to us last, being sure to pull every Tom, Dick and Harry that he could think of to his side so that he could introduce them to the legendary Eric Taylor.
"You know we could use you on the coaching team, Eric," Buddy said to my Dad as the last of stragglers dispersed. Mom and I tapped our feet impatiently and just wanted to get to our seats before the game started. "I'm sure they would gladly have you on board."
My Dad laughed and patted Buddy on the shoulder.
"I'm retired, Buddy. Gonna spend all my time fishin', lovin' my wife and watching football." .
"I hear that." Buddy laughed.
"Well I gotta get these girls to their seats or I'ma get an earful. Enjoy the game." Dad said as he walked up to us and urged us along.
"Will do. Gimme a call and we'll get together sometime," he said.
"You got it," he said calling over his shoulder. "I see some things never change," Dad said softly, referring to Buddys overwhelming ability to talk your ear off.
We finally reached some seats and got settled. The announcer introduced the teams and the coaches, and I couldn't help but smile when I heard him call his name. Tim Riggins. Assistant Coach for the East Dillon Lions.
From what we'd heard over the years, Riggins had done good by himself. He built himself a little house and owned half of Riggins Riggs with Billy. And then he coached high school football, too. Man must be doing alright if he kept himself so busy.
My eyes followed Tim as he walked onto the field. From the place I was sitting on the bleachers, he looked just as good as ever. The essential bad boy turned into a good man, but he was still able to take my breath away.
I had a crazy crush on Tim in high school, even though I never would've admitted it out loud. He had a bit of a reputation, and I tried my best to avoid all the drama that floated around the high school, even if I wasn't always so successful.
I tried to kiss him once during a drunken haze, and he turned me down, and that's about as far as a romantic relationship ever could've gone between us. I knew that. I knew I wasn't his type by any means. But I was still a girl. I still had eyes. I had thought about it. Boy, had I thought about it a whole lot.
But I had Matt, and he had a whole lot of women to fill his bed, so we just stayed almost, kind of friends until we all moved away and lost touch. But it was nice to know he was doing well. And damned if it wasn't amazing to see him again.
I watched him on the field as one of the other coaches whisper something in his ear. Tim raises his head to search the stands. He finds us. (Rather, he finds me gawking at him like some love struck school girl.) And our eyes meet.
That look brings me back to the first time we locked eyes. He probably wouldn't even remember it, but it was something I thought back on a lot, especially in high school. We had just come to Dillon, and as per usual, there was a house party. This one took place at Lyla Garrity's house. I don't remember what had prompted me to actually attend, but I had, and at that moment, I was regretting it. I was walking around, trying to find someone to talk to. Anyone would've sufficed. I felt the hair raise on the back of my neck as I felt someone was watching me. I raised my eyes to the small balcony above my head, and standing above me was Tim Riggins. Our eyes met and he smiled at me, the same sexy half smile that I was getting right now, 20 years later.
I feel the blush creep into my cheeks and I raise my hand in a sort of wave. His smile expands as he raises his own hand in greeting. Then the whistle blows and the game begins, and I'm left sitting back and kicking myself for my impure thoughts about an almost old friend, while my husband is halfway across the country. Then again, he's probably screwing his mistress right now, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I just let myself think some things. Better then what he was doing. Right?
A/N: So I picked a Taylor Swift song. Yup. That was me. But the damn thing was stuck in my head, and I've been trying to come up with Tulie storyline that made sense…and this song just seemed like as good a song as any to give me some motivation. So the song and the story won't exactly mash up, But whatever...lol It'll be close enough. And the characters are old(er), so I hope that doesn't put ya'll off too much.
So tell me, ya'll, what do you think so far? Please, review! I got this story mapped out in 11 chapters, and whether or not I get interest will determine whether or not I continue with it, or move on to something else that people are enjoying. So, let me know if Dillon, Texas is still in your heart after all these years, as it's in mine. ;)