Friday Night Lights

Handful of Rejection

Chapter 1

Tim Riggins is an incompetent asshole, but a dependable person when he considered you a friend. Jessica debated with herself as she sat outside, waiting for him on her doorstep. He promised to be on time for once, especially today since it was the first game of the season; but sure enough, the morning progressed without so much as a text from him. This was a typical occurrence, seeing as how he had poor time management skills and a lack of motivation for anything that had to do with school. Despite knowing this, she still depended on him when she was out of options, and had no other favorable alternatives. When faced with the decision of either being late to school or not going at all, she preferred the latter.

It was nearing 8am; at this rate she'd be lucky if she arrived before the end of first period. Of all the days to be late…She sighed heavily, standing up and taking one last look down the street. Seeing nothing remotely close to a pickup truck in sight, she gathered her book bag and proceeded to walk herself to school. It wasn't a particularly pleasant walk, but she no longer had the patience to wait for this man. This incompetent, good for nothing, compulsively lying-

"Hey."

Apparently, his dependability was on his own time.

Jessica paused mid-step, turning slightly to see one disheveled Tim Riggins leaning idly out of his truck's window. A tired half grin was plastered on his face, and he looked at her as if nothing was astray; her annoyance didn't dawn on him.

As abruptly as he came, she left. She turned away from him without so much as a "goodbye", and continued in the direction that she was previously headed. She didn't need him now; she was already late. An extra 30 minute delay wouldn't matter much, and honestly, she didn't want to see his face. He always did this! She just never learned.

Tim followed her with the truck, pacing himself so that he was driving as fast as she was walking. He looked at her and the road in uneven intervals, unaware of the cause of her current disposition. Wearily, he asked, "Where are you going?"

Without stopping, she replied, "School. Not that you'd understand the concept."

He sighed deeply, brushing a few stray wisps of hair from his face. Again he looked to her, remorse evident with his expression. "Jess, come on…"

She ignored him, stopping briefly to cross the street.

"Jessica."

She stopped, refusing to look in his direction. Tim's actions had the desired effect. She absolutely hated her name, especially when it came from him.

"What?" she snapped.

He smirked, a mixture of relief and triumph. Calmly, he asked, "Will you get in the truck…please?"

"No," and with a hint of sarcasm she added, "I'm just fine walking."

"Get in the truck, Taylor."

Giving up, she walked briskly to the passenger side of the truck and hopped in, none too gently slamming the door shut. She didn't acknowledge him, and he said no more. She glanced at the radio and saw that the time was 8:21. She inwardly sighed. Yes, she was definitely late for school, but at least she didn't have to walk ten blocks to get there.

Dillon High was livelier than usual, the normally boisterous students even more animate, pumped up for the game that would take place later on in the day. Jessica was in her element. Being a cheerleader for the best football team in Texas set her up for a life of social abundance and unfortunately, assumed superficiality; however, it did have its perks. She was popular in her own standards, knowing a majority of people, but only acknowledging those who mattered to her. In addition, being grouped with the jocks did give her leeway; though she didn't want to admit it, the cheerleaders and the football players did receive special treatment. It was subtle, but it was there.

She glanced around the crowded lobby, looking for other members of her team. Since she was yet again late for school that morning; she missed the brief meeting between her colleagues. She was out of the loop, and honestly did not know how the evening was supposed to turn out. Given her position, that was not such a good thing. Coincidently, the very people she was looking for were nowhere in sight. This was starting to be the story of her life.

"That mother fucker…always messing shit up for me…"

"You wouldn't be talking about my dear cousin by any chance, would you?"

Jessica was met with the cheesiest smile she'd ever encountered. It was so out of place that she couldn't help but let out a few chuckles in relief.

"Amber." She said, in greeting.

"Yeah, yeah. Lyla's real pissed that you missed the meeting. Going on about how everything has to be perfect and every absence, or whatever kills our chances. You know how she gets…" She said, cutting to the chase. Amber was a blunt one, to say it simply; sarcastic as well, but not to the point that you couldn't talk to her. She is Jessica's best friend, her confidant, and she just so happened to be Tim Riggins cousin.

"So are we still on for practice right after school?"

"Of course. She wouldn't have it any other way." With a friendly pat on the arm, she walked away, probably to her next class. Jessica stood there for a minute, gathering her wits and absorbing the information. Practice was still on. She didn't miss much, after all. Deciding to make like Amber, she headed off to class.

Practice went on as it usually did, nothing being too different since the entire session consisted of perfecting the current routine. Jessica felt a bit sore, but it was nothing out of the ordinary; in fact, it made her feel accomplished. Granted, cheerleading wasn't really her thing; she joined partly because Amber bugged her about it and partly because she wanted to support Tim. And why wouldn't she? He was practically her best guy friend. He was there for her most of the time; she wanted to return the favor.

Tim…why was he always one her mind? One way or another he would creep his way into her thoughts, make her feel some type of way…she couldn't explain it, and would rather not delve into it deeper. Because when it came down to it, he did have an affect over her, but to what extent, even she couldn't fathom. Who didn't feel something for Tim, anyway? She saw the way all the rally girls looked at him, the cheerleaders as well; with the exception of Amber, of course, because they were family.

Jessica didn't realize that she was being watched by the very person that was plaguing her thoughts; he was standing idly against the side of the school building drinking a can of cheap beer. In all her self-absorption, she strolled right past him and was headed towards the double-doors that led to the girls' locker rooms, until his husky voice stopped her. Startled by the sudden utterance, she turned around and faced the man. Tim smiled, probably from the alcohol more than anything else.

"Hey." He rasped, the can lolling from his hand, in danger of falling. Jessica shook her head at the typical scene.

"Don't you have somewhere to be Tim? You are aware that you have a game in less than five hours, right?"

He shrugged, unperturbed. "Don't I always?"

"Don't you have practice or whatever right now?" she countered, clearly not affected by his nonchalant attitude. Tim was pretty predictable in that aspect.

"It's nothing I didn't do before."

Jessica sighed. The conversation was going nowhere. "Listen, Tim, I don't have time for this. I have to go-"

"You never give anyone the time of day, Jess..." he said, stepping up to her and running his free hand up and down her right arm with a light touch. She shivered from the contact.

"I'm talking to you right now, aren't I?" she said nervously, but she didn't back away.

"Hiding yourself behind wit. Nice comeback, Taylor."

She frowned at the statement and made to walk away; however Tim had other plans, and proceeded to instead pull her closer, using her momentum against her. Jessica gasped at the pressure of his hand on her wrist, and was even more surprised to feel herself relaxing against his chest. She didn't entirely know what was going on, but she went with it. He initiated it, after all.

"Doesn't that feel better, Jess…?" He whispered, close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck. "Slowing down…" he continued, lips brushing softly against her ear, "For once..?" His breath left tickling trails down her neck, and she cringed a little at the odd sensation. After a tentative moment he placed a kiss right at the base of her jaw, and she knew she had to stop this before it went any farther. She pulled away, slightly flushed. Tim smirked, as if they just shared a dirty little secret, which in fact, they sort of did.

"What are you doing?"

"Living." He stated simply, taking a swig from his deserted can.

"Listen, Tim I don't-"

"Should'nt you be somewhere right now, Taylor?" He cut in, looking at her smugly.

Jessica walked away without a goodbye, ignoring the muffled chuckles that were coming from the asshole behind her. She inwardly berated herself for letting him get to her again. Tim just wouldn't leave her alone, in every sense of the word. Alone, she started her trek home, hoping the solitude would help give her some clarity.

The time for the game finally arrived, and the crowd couldn't be happier. They erupted into applause with every little victory the team had, whether it was a player avoiding a tackle, or someone making a touchdown. Jessica cheered on her team with as much pep as she could muster; the day wasn't in her favor in regards to the happiness scale. But she'd pull through. Though she didn't want to admit it, the "cheer spirit" was contagious, and as the night went on she found herself needing to fake it less and less.

Westerbee scored, tying with the Panthers for the moment. The Cheerleaders shouted in encouragement, giving the players the boost of confidence they needed to carry on. Jessica and Amber threw smiles to the passing football players, waving their pompoms and jumping around giving off the image that all was right in the world. And that was how they were expected to act. They were there to spread the cheer, goddammit, and by the way they were exhausting energy, they might as well be throwing it up. Jessica searched the field, spotting the particular player she was looking for: #33 AKA Tim Riggins. Honestly, that was the only person she really cheered for. That was why she always coaxed the energy out of her tired body, because when it came down to it, Tim was her inspiration. Tim was the person that made her happy despite all his little defects.

"GO PANTHERS! KICK THAT ASS!" shouted Amber, fist pumping the air with such conviction that Jessica couldn't help but laugh.

"You definitely have school spirit."

"Damn straight, gotta represent! I have to spread the love around, since you only give it up for Tim!"

"Whatever!"

Halftime followed shortly after the last score, meaning that the cheerleading team was expected to give a performance that lived up to their reputation. The football players left the field and piled themselves into the locker room with Coach Taylor, probably to get a pep talk and to discuss future strategies to be used later on in the game. Jessica and Amber followed Lyla's lead as she led the team further out onto the field in a synchronized line, moving their bodies in a hypnotic pattern to the beat that the band was making. When they were in the middle of the field, the band and the team nearly merged, eliciting hollers from the excited crowd, and added energies to the members of this already popular performance. They performed their routine until the song was over, rhythmically moving themselves in the way that they memorized especially for this game. Lyla led them on, and they mirrored her advances until it was over. With much applause the cheerleaders and the band receded from the field back to their primary positions, and readied themselves for the game to once again commence.

The players returned to the field with as much energy as they left it. Westerbee seemed to have more momentum, however; their tackles more feverent and managing to score one over the Panthers. Jessica smiled nervously, her actions a little more forced then before. The game was close, 14 to 24, and she honestly didn't know which side would take the victory. It was her job to have faith in her team, and she guessed she did, considering that she did care at all.

The last score left the crowd in an uproar, and the team worked even harder to get the game on track. Jessica overheard the announcer mention that they needed two possessions to win the game. That couldn't be too hard, right? But the guy did say that "This would be a critical play for the Panthers", so she wasn't so sure…

Jason held the ball to the #1, and unfortunately it was intercepted by a player from the other team. Jessica shouted in annoyance. He ran the opposite way down the field, clearly. The members of his team formed a sort of wall around him, protecting him from a potential onslaught by some domineering Panther. The anxiety was building within Jessica, and by the looks of it, amber as well. The Panthers needed a score! They were so close!

Jason was the only one with a clear shot at player #20, being a quarterback, it wasn't his job to pursue the runner, but he went for it anyway. Running with a purpose that would rival his opponent's, he went at #20 from the right practically diving at him, rather than successfully performing a tackle. Jason fell to the ground with a resounding thud, completely still. Jessica and the other cheerleaders paused, uncertain of what happened. Coach Taylor looked out onto the field, slightly confused and obviously uncertain of what happened, himself.

After a few seconds, the crowd went silence as well. Several men ran out on the field to Jason's side, looking him over. His mother ran to his side as well, crying at the heap that was her son. An ambulance arrived soon after, and a stretcher was produced from the back to carry Street away to a hospital.

"That doesn't look too good..." Amber commented. Jessica nodded in agreement.

Tim didn't look so good.

Jessica made to go after him, but soon after Jason left, the game once again commenced. Jessica stood to the side, no longer wanting to pretend to cheer. Today just got worse, and she didn't think that was possible. The others continued to cheer, despite the bitter event.

Jessica zoned out for the rest of the game, but from the highly audible sounds coming from the audience, she figured that the Panthers made it through and won. She should've feel ecstatic, but she couldn't muster up the emotion. All she felt was an aching numbness. For Jason.

For Tim.

Jessica accompanied Tim to the hospital, but they didn't stay long. He lofted around without much purpose, not staying in one spot for more than a couple minutes. He'd look into the room every now and then, gauging his progress solely on what he could see. Jessica looked at him through the corner of her eyes, not quite brave enough to meet him full on. She never had to deal with something like this. Granted, she wasn't even as close to Jason as Tim was, so she felt as if she was intruding on something private as well.

They left the building wordlessly, hopping into the truck with detached interest. She figured that she wouldn't be going home anytime soon, so she sat back, quietly waiting for Tim to start it up. Instead he just sat there, staring out the window. Fiddling with his keys. Doing anything but moving forward. Jessica felt sorry for him; he had a close relationship with Jason, so she could only imagine how he felt…

"Tim…I…If there's anything I can do..."

"Don't." A firm request, but a weak plea. Tim looked over to her then, eyes dull and unseeing. Jessica wanted to do something for him, anything to ease his pain, but she was at a loss on how to do so.

"Tim…listen. I know that-"

"No! That's just it! You don't!" he shouted, fists slamming against the steering wheel. She looked at him, surprised and a little scared at his outburst. In his state, she couldn't hold it against him. "You don't KNOW anything!"

With a swift movement that betrayed his mood, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him; how he accomplished this with the limited space in the truck, she couldn't fathom. How his lips ended up on hers, she couldn't fathom either; whatever the case, she didn't deny him. His hands moved slowly up her back, tracing the contours of her spine with deft fingers. She shivered at the coolness of the contact. Her lips parted in response to the treatment they were getting, but as abruptly as it started it ended; Tim pulled away.

"Wha…?" Jessica managed, borderline delirious.

"We can't."

With that, he started up the engine and left the empty lot, Jessica's mind running faster than his mileage.