Author's Note: So, this is set sometime in the future, at least four years. It centers around my made up character, and her relationship with Tim, Billy and the other characters we all love. Read and please reveiw, I want to know if you think I should continue this
Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, own Friday Night Lights.
Jess stood on the edge of the road looking at the house. She was sure that she was at the right place; she knew this town like the back of her palm. She played with the strap of her duffle bag, unsure of what to do now. The faint Texas breeze ruffled her hair. Finally, she took a deep breath and made the trek across the front yard. She knocked on the door and waited. Eventually, Tim answered the door flicking his long hair out of his eyes before looking at her.
"Jess? Is that you?" he questioned.
She couldn't respond. She just nodded and tried to stop the tears that pricking the back of her eyes from falling. She had missed him, and Billy. Why did it have to be these circumstances that brought her home?
He asked no more questions, just opened the door wider so that she could come in. He did throw a questioning glance at the duffle bag slung over her shoulder, but didn't comment on it. Jess saw a blonde sitting on the couch, she vaguely recognized the girl, but couldn't place her. She dropped her duffle on the floor and settled into the barstool at the counter. Tim leaned against the counter and looked at her, before breaking the silence.
"Jess, is everything ok?" he asked gently. That was all it took, and Jess broke down in tears. The sobs wrecked her body, and she tried to tell Tim what she was doing there, but she kept choking on the words. Tim looked startled for a moment, before crossing the distance between them and wrapping his strong arms around her. She leaned into him, continuing to sob into his shirt. The blonde had dropped her issue of Cosmo and was now coming towards them, a questioning look in her eyes.
Eventually Jess calmed down enough to tear her away from the flannel that had been soaking up her tears. Tim, who still had his arms around looked bewildered.
"Sorry" she mumbled. "I just...uh..." she trailed off before launching into her story.
He was there again, bottle of whiskey in his hand, gesturing to her as she came through the door.
"Where've yous been?" he slurred over the music.
She ignored him and continued to her room before he stuck his arm out, stopping her.
"I asked you a question!" he shouted. She struggled against the hand holding her left wrist before retreating into her mother's bedroom. She had a bottle of red wine in her hand, half gone.
"What is going on?" Jess demanded.
Her mother looked at her for a long time before sighing, "he's just having some fun Jess. Leave well enough alone."
"No. He has a problem. You have a problem. I can't live like this!" She screamed. She was pacing across the small room.
Her mother stood up and screamed, "This is our life. We can't change it."
"Yes you can! I can! I'm leaving!" Jess declared.
"Then leave!" her mother screamed. Jess stopped panting, and looked at her mother. "Leave", she repeated.
"I will." Jess left the room, packed her bag, and left the house. She didn't know what she would do, but she was leaving.
By the time she was done, Tim had let her go. He was pacing the room; his hands balled into tights fists at his sides. Jess sniffled, her face red. She looked up to see the blonde place her hand on Tim's shoulder as he passed. He stopped, and took two deep breaths.
"You'll stay here," he declared, not looking at her.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "You don't have to..." she trailed off. She didn't know where she would go if she didn't live with Tim, but she didn't want to pressure him into this.
"You'll stay here," he repeated, ending the conversation. He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. She heard the roar of his truck coming to life, before the tires peeled out of the driveway. The blonde sighed, grabbed her jacket off the arm of the couch and left. Jess sat alone.
Two hours later, Jess was sitting on the couch, thumbing through the abandoned Cosmo, when Billy walked through the door. He went right to the couch and gave Jess a hug, before making his way to the fridge for a beer.
"So, long time no see, cus," Billy said. Jess opened her mouth to speak, but Billy continued, "Tim told me what happened, kind of. He was crazed, I'm surprised he didn't drive up and beat them for putting you out like that. He's calmed down a bit, though. Should be home soon." He took a sip of his beer and looked at her. "You ok?" he questioned.
She looked up at him and sighed, "I will be." He nodded, and then sat down next to her on the couch. He put his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into his side. "I missed you," she whispered into his shirt.
They were silent for a while, until Billy's slow drawl cut through the quiet. "Y'know, we never wanted you to have to deal with all this. We thought you would have a better life than we did. But sometimes, things they just don't, just don't work out. I'll be ok, though. It will be."
She nodded and replied, "I know."
The next morning, Jess woke up with a crick in her neck from sleeping on the couch. She pulled the blanket off her; Tim must have thrown it over her when he came home. She sat up a rubbed the sleep from her eyes when Tim walked out of the bathroom.
"Cereal?" he questioned, opening a cabinet and pulling out a box. She nodded, walking towards him. He handed her a bowl full of Cheerios, before pouring some into his own bowl. She sat and quietly chewed on her breakfast before speaking.
"Thanks" she whispered, before the silence overtook them again.
"So, I guess we should probably get you to the school and sign you up, or whatever" Tim said, running his hands through his long hair.
"School?" she questioned, looking up from her cereal confused; they had never talked about how permanent this would be.
"Yeah, I mean if you're gonna stay here you should go to school, right?"
"Yeah, school" Jess responded before taking another spoonful of cereal.
"Good" Tim said to no one in particular. "Good."