Note: I do not own Friday Night Lights or Set Fire to the Rain by Adele

Chapter One

I let if fall, my heart
And as it fell, you rose to claim it.

I had been over to Don's house several times before. Since we started seeing each other I had never met his father before. I had heard that he was a drunk and Don would show up at my house with a black eye or go missing for a couple days because his dad grounded him. He was already stressed about football and the pressure his dad put on him to be as good as he once was, and I was worried that it would become too much for him. I would never bother him with a text or phone call unless he asked to see me, because I didn't want to put more stress on him than he needed.

I pulled up to his house and walked up to the door. I took a deep breath before knocking and waited for him to answer. A couple seconds later he opened the door with a big smile on his face. "Hey baby," he said hugging me tight and pulling me inside, shutting the door.

"Hi there," I said smiling big and hugging him back. We hadn't seen each other in a couple days because he was busy, I finally got a call today and was excited to spend time with him.

"I've missed you like crazy," he stated pulling away and taking my hand. He paused and looked around for a second.

"I missed you too," I said smiling, watching him look around. I wondered what was wrong and gave him a curious look.

"Go up to my room, I'll be there in a second." He said looking upstairs then back to me with a smile.

I raised an eyebrow. "Okay," I hestitated, not sure whether to obey or ask him what was wrong. I walked up to his room like he told me to and sat on his bed, kicking off my shoes and taking off my sweater, leaving it hanging on the chair in front of the desk he had on the opposite side of the room.

I suddenly heard noise downstairs. It wasn't quiet but loud. It sounded like his dad, deep and southern. A couple minutes later Don walked upstairs and into his bedroom. I watched him walk in and shut the door.

"Are you okay?" I asked earnestly seeing him rubbing his jaw like he had gotten a punch in the face.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." He offered a faint smile and sat down next to me on the bed. I put my hand on his leg and looked at him, shifting the way I was sitting so I was facing him.

"Your dad?" I asked watching his eyes as they shifted to my hand, then to me.

He nodded again and put his hand over mine. "He's just drunk."

"….Can I meet him?"

"What?" he asked surprised. "You… wanna meet him?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay… I guess." He stood up and took my hand. "—Just, try not to say anything stupid."

I smiled up at him. "Say something stupid to a drunk, angry man?"

He smiled back at me before leading me down the stairs. We stood in the middle of the living room, looking through the door that led into the kitchen and other side of the house. I stood in silence and waited as he called his dad into the room. "Dad," he called, "There's someone I want you to meet."

I got nervous all of a sudden. I saw his dad walk in, he was wearing a wife beater and jeans with a beer bottle in his hand. "Who's this?" he asked studying me from head to toe.

I gave a polite smile. "I'm Aubrey, nice to meet you." I stepped a little closer and put my hand out for a handshake.

"This is my dad, Charlie," Don muttered.

His dad looked at me again and gestured his beer bottle toward me, ignoring my hand. "She's hot. Did you fuck her yet?"

I put my hand back at my side when he didn't return my handshake. I crinkled my eyebrows and stayed quiet, wondering if he was actually asking the question or if I had heard him wrong. Don rolled his eyes and sighed. "Dad, really?….No."

"Surprise, surprise," Charlie scoffed, "Can't hang on to the damn football, and now can't get a girl in bed."

I glanced at Don from Charlie and saw his jaw clench. "Let's go," Don said quietly, taking my hand again then turning to the stairs.

"That's right, go fuck your little piece of ass!" he said loudly.

Don took a deep breath before turning to me. "Go to my room," he ordered. He pushed me gently in the direction of the stairs then turned to face Charlie who stood in the same place. "You don't talk about her like that." He sounded angry and his voice was firm.

"What're you gonna do about it? You can't tackle for shit, that's for sure," he said with a low chuckle.

"Shut up," Don demanded. I stood close to the stairs and watched as they went back and forth.

Charlie finished off his beer before crumbling it in his hand and throwing it to the side. "You can't tell me what to do, boy."

"Shut the fuck up about her. She's beautiful, and smart, and she's worth more than you know. "

Charlie laughed then looked at me, past Don. "You wanna know a good time, sweetheart? I'll show you how a real man does it."

"That is it!" Don yelled, taking a swing at Charlie and punching him in the jaw.

Charlie grunted when he was hit and crouched to the side. He took a deep breath and checked his mouth for blood before standing up straight again. Without a moment of hesitation Charlie punched back, hitting Don straight in the face, sending him back a few feet and landing by the stairs where I was standing. I kneeled next to him quickly and put my shirt up to his nose. Charlie watched me for a moment then wiped his nose as he turned to walk into the next room. "Are you alright?" I asked with worry in my voice.

He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Its fine, Don. Are you alright?"

He scooted back to lean against one of the stairs. "I'll be fine."

I wiped the blood from his nose again with my shirt then sat next to him.

"You ruined your shirt." He glanced down to look at it then leaned his head back again.

I shrugged. "I don't care."

"I'm sorry," he repeated.

"So that was…nice." I laughed softly to make light of the situation.

Don scoffed. "Sure it was. That drunk ass hole doesn't care." He sighed. "I wish he did."

"I wish he didn't put so much pressure on you."

"I don't understand why he has to be so messed up."

"He's still your dad."

"He's still an asshole," Don stated.

"It'll get better in time."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked looking up at me for an answer.

"I'm not."