Chapter 3 Chloe's P.O.V

So it was Friday night and Tim and I had fallen into a tradition of heading to the game together and then heading to whatever party was afterwards. I felt really comfortable with Tim, yes he was considered the town man-whore but he actually was a good guy. I headed over to Tim's house early to ask him some questions about our English assignment we were doing together and was very surprised at what I found.

"Hey Billy is Tim here?" I asked with a smile.

"Hey Chloe" He said before I saw their neighbour appear from behind him. " Ya, he's in his room darlin' go on in and get his ass to warm ups."

"Thanks Billy!" I said as I walked towards Tim's room. "Hey Tim!"

" Hey Chloe." He said sounding angry. He wouldn't look at her, he just rummaged through the piles of clothes, beer cans and lord only knows what else was in that room, to find his bag.

"What's got you in mood?" I asked as I plopped down on his bed. He gave me this look and a sigh, then resumed his rummaging. "Generally when I ask a question it is due to the fact that I want to know what's going on with you, so spill!"

"Did you see who is in my kitchen with Billy?" he asked, which really confused me. What the hell did his neighbour have to do with this? She was a nice enough lady, Tim seemed to think so otherwise he wouldn't babysit her son for her. Wait, was there something going on with them? Why wouldn't he tell me if he was seeing someone? I am going to get to the bottom of this. I really didn't have to get to the bottom of anything when he sat down beside me and put his head in his hands.

"TIM! YOU DIDN'T? Please tell me you did not sleep with that woman!" I yelled. I was sure she could hear me, but I didn't care. If she was going to go around sleeping with 17 year old boys and have her young son get attached to them then she deserved more than hearing what I thought of her. He still didn't answer me, so I knew it was true. He couldn't lie to me, even if he tried. It was a blessing and a curse being able to read him. "I'm going to take your silences as a resounding yes. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I wasn't thinking Chloe. It was before you came to town and I was an idiot. The woman needed help with some things around the house and someone to watch her kid after he got home from school. I guess we just got caught up in it all, and she ended things." He said lying back on the bed, his legs still over the end of the bed. I placed a hand on his knee and sighed. "Chloe, I was mad at Lyla, and she was there and it's not like I didn't care about her. It just sucks I wasn't good enough for Lyla, Tyra, or Jackie and it's just really shitty to see her with Billy."

"Tim I understand you're hurt but you have to show her that you're moving on, and that it doesn't bother you to see her in your house." I said patting his leg. "So grab your bag, and let's get going to the game or coach is going to kick your ass and Monica is going to smother me with her pom poms."

"Okay fine! Do you think she's still out there?" Tim asked almost sounding like a little kid. I peeked out of his room and saw Billy and Jackie making out all over the groceries.

"I'd say that is a definite yes to her being out there but just follow my lead and we will make it out of here without too much heartbreak." I said taking his hand and dragging him out of his room. "We're headed to the game Billy see you there! I said before stopping suddenly. "Oh shit Tim I forgot my purse in your room can you go grab it for me I'll hold that for you."

"Sure, I'll just be a second." He said before vanishing to his room.

"So how's your little guy doing Jackie? I asked with a polite smile. "He's so adorable, and Tim's just crazy about him."

"He's good, Tim has solved all of his bully problems, and he really enjoys helping Tim fix his truck and stuff. Thanks for asking." Jackie said you could cut the tension in the room with a knife, and I knew she could feel it.

"Ya, Tim's a good guy like that." I said just as Tim walked in with my purse.

"What are you guys talking about?" He asked as he handed my purse over.

"Just how great you are." I said before going up on my toes and kissing him softly on the lips. He didn't respond right away but he was quick to catch on to what I was doing. I pulled away and smiled at him. " Alright well we best be going, don't want to be late for game night."

"See you at the game Billy." Tim said before I pulled him out of the house. We got in the truck and sat silently for some time. " What was that Chloe?"

"It was you moving on, and sticking it to Jackie." I said with a smile. "Don't worry Tim, it doesn't mean anything, I just wanted to help you out."

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Tim said looking over at me and smiling. I sent a smile back at him, as we pulled into the school parking lot.

"You ready?" I asked as he grabbed his bag, and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. He just smiled and continued walking. "Have a good game Panther!" I yelled as he walked out onto the field.

They won the game and got one step closer to their state dreams. Tim ran over picked me up and spun me around. He was so proud of himself and he really should be he had an awesome game. I on the other hand had some issues with one Miss Lyla Garrity trying to knock me out of formation. She was like a little kid sometimes, she just had to get what she wanted all the time and I was really getting sick of miss perfects little act. We stood on the sidelines for a few minutes talking about the game, when I saw out of the corner of my eye that Lyla was approaching us.

"Hey Tim, great game." Lyla said with a seductive smile.

" Thanks Lyla, nice moves out there." Tim said with a smile. "okay so Chloe what is on the agenda for tonight?"

"Anything you want? I'm all yours for the night Riggins. As long as you have me home by curfew then we are good!" I said

"Okay how about we hit the party at the beach and then I want to take you somewhere." Tim said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. We headed to the party and Tim seemed bored, so I suggested that we leave. When we got back in the truck Tim drove back to his place and lead to out to the backyard.

"What are we doing back here?" I asked very confused.

" I wanted to take you up to the tree house." Tim said with a smile. " Billy built it for me when I was 7. Jason and I spent so much time up here, and sometimes I just come up here and hide out from the world."

"Tim this is amazing. I bet you and Jason were responsible for the decor." I said with a smile. " I really like it Tim. Thanks for bringing me to your quiet place."

"You're important to me Chloe, and I wanted to share something with you that is important to me." Tim said. " Chloe I wanted to talk to you about something. I have been thinking about this for a few months now, and what happened tonight just made me think about it even more."

"Okay, shoot." I said as he walked towards me. I smiled at how nervous he seemed. What could possibly have to talk to me about that has him this nervous.

"Chloe, do you maybe...would you I don't know want to..." Tim stuttered.

"Tim spit it out, you're freaking me out here." I said with a smile.

" Chloe will you go out with me tomorrow night?" Tim said hesitantly.

"Wow, Tim I don't know what to say." I said really taken aback by what he had asked me.

"Yes would be a good start Chloe." Tim said with a laugh.

"Look Tim, I like you I really do, and I care about you so much. I just don't think I can date you, not right now anyways. I mean it's not like I'm not attracted to you because believe me I am, I am just not ready to get into a relationship or fling or whatever it is you're looking for from me." I said really sadly. "I'm sorry Tim, can we still be friends?"

"Wow I never thought I'd here that, I was definitely expecting something that sounded a lot more like a yes." Tim said backing away awkwardly.

"Tim, you're being weird now, are we okay? Because I really need us to be okay." I said desperately.

"Ya we're fine...I'll see you tomorrow Sunday to work on our project okay." Tim said before climbing down quickly. I didn't move I just stood there, with the worst feeling in the world, like I had just lost my best-friend. "Chloe come on it's getting late I'll drive you home."

"Don't worry about it Tim, I think I'll run home, but thanks I had a great night." I said as I climbed down the ladder and ran out of the backyard so that he wouldn't see me break down. The weekend seemed to take forever to end, and sure enough Tim had conveniently forgotten all about our study arrangements we had made for Sunday afternoon. I was beginning to think that he was mad at me, and seeing him in English on Monday morning only confirmed that.

"Hey Tim, I missed you on Sunday, we were supposed to get together and work on our assignment but you didn't show." I said as I turned around to face him. He didn't look at me, just continued to flirt with Melinda Jones who sat in the corner of the class room. "Tim! Tim!"

"Oh sorry I didn't hear you, I guess my attention was focused on something else." Tim said with a sarcastic tone.

"Ya your dick, never mind just forget I said anything our assignment is done and handed in a week early, oh and I put your name on it too, but don't get used to it." I said just before the bell went. He didn't even say thanks as he got up out of his desk. This is how it went for 5 more weeks, he would ignore me, and pretend like he never even knew I existed. I hated him for it, and I hated myself for saying no to him. I should have to just followed my heart and kissed him, but no I had to bring up all my emotional baggage into my reasoning, and look where it got me. Why did I have to make everything so complicated, couldn't I just trust that Tim wasn't Jonathan. He'd proven to me he wasn't what everyone thought he was so why couldn't I just trust that?

As the 5 weeks went on Julie and I got really close, I was at their place almost every weekend and nobody seemed to mind at all. I would even babysit little Gracie Bell every once in a while. So here I was at the Taylor house watching Gracie, while both Julie and her parents went out on dates. I was currently working on some calculus homework when I heard a knock at the door. I prayed that whoever it was wouldn't wake Gracie because I had just got her back to sleep and I would murder whoever it was if I had to get her again. I got to the door and was very surprised at who I found.

"Tim? What are you doing here? Coach isn't home he and Mrs. T are out on a date." I said putting my hands in my pockets and leaning against the door frame.

"I know that Buddy told me I could find you here." Tim said taking a breath. "Chloe I need to apologize to you for being a dick the last few weeks. I don't know why I did it, but it made me realize that if the only way I can have you in my life is to be my friend then I'll take it." Just as he finished I heard Gracie begin to scream.

"Come on in, I just have to go grab her." I said walking in towards Gracie's room. After I heard the door shut I could hear him following me into her room. He closed the door behind him, and I decided that this was my moment. I had just got Gracie back to sleep again when I did it. I just turned around and kissed him.

"Chloe what are you doing?" Tim asked shock spreading across his face.

"I was an idiot, and I thought that you still...I just... I never should have said no Tim, I realized almost immediately after I said no that all I wanted was to date you." I stuttered. " I guess I'm too late now."

"Chloe..." He said lifting my chin so that I was forced to look him in the eyes. "You will never be too late." And then he kissed me. " I better go, coach will kill us both if he finds us in his daughter's room making out, and I'll pick you up for practice tomorrow morning."

I just kissed Tim Riggins, and he still feels the same way. I wish I hadn't wasted the last 5 weeks being an idiot and having said no. I am just glad I had my chance to show him how I felt. The Taylors got home shortly after Tim had left and I was thankful he had left when he did or I would be out of a babysitting job. I said my goodbyes, gathered my things and headed home to bed. The team and the cheerleaders all had early morning practice so I wanted to make sure I was up and ready for when Tim picked me up. My uncle buddy left for work and it was just Lyla and I eating breakfast, she was quick to finish and asked if I was ready to go to practice.

"Actually Lyla I am going to get a ride with Tim." I said before returning to eating my cereal.

"WHAT!?" Lyla yelled. It started me and I just looked up at her with wide eyes. " Are you kidding me? Since when did you two start hanging out again?"

"Since last night when he came to the Taylor's, and kissed me." I said trying to make it out to be nothing special.

"So what you guys are dating now?" She asked as she slammed her hands to her hips.

"Look Lyla I don't know what we are, but I know that I care about him a lot. He's finally happy and so am I so can you just learn to get used to it." I said just as Tim honked his horn. I saw Tim and Lyla exchange an awkward glance as I got in the truck and I just shook it off as nothing. As soon as I was seat in the truck with the door closed Tim attacked me with a kiss, and I didn't fight him at all. We had a short make out session and then headed to practice. "So what is this exactly?" I asked as we walked hand in hand to the locker rooms.

"You're my girlfriend as far as I am concerned, as long as that is how you want it." Tim said stopping and turning us so that we were face to face.

"Good, because all I want is you." I said with a big smile before jumping up to kiss him and then running off to the locker room. Practice was short lived since Monica was sick and none of us felt like practicing her silly routines so I sat and watched Tim's practice and then met up with Julie in the library to work on an assignment we had for home economics. By the end of the day I really couldn't stop smiling Tim had been pulling me into dark corners to kiss and make out and I was completely gaga by the end of the day. I had told Tim I had to stay and continue working on my assignment with Julie so I would come over when I was done. Julie and I had been working for about an hour when Lyla walked through the library doors and right up to me.

"Chloe we need to talk." She said as she pulled me out to an abandoned corner of the library.

"Ouch! Jesus Lyla what is with all the theatrics?" I said sarcastically.

"Chloe I need to tell you something, I feel it is my duty as your cousin to say this to you." Lyla began and I interrupted her.

"Look Lyla if this is more crap about Tim then I don't want to hear about it because I am crazy about him and nothing you say is going to change that." I said sternly.

"I slept with him!" She blurted out.

"Ya, Lyla I already know about that Tim told me all about your tumultuous relationship." I said giving her a well duh look.

"No Chloe Saturday night after you told him you wouldn't go out with him. I ran into him at a party and well one thing led to another." Lyla said with a smile. "I felt I needed to tell you, he's using you sweetie."

"So I turned him down and he ran to you. And you being the noble girl that you are felt like you needed to tell me that you're a whore and I'm dating a lying asshole." I said as tears began to stream down my face. " Well thanks Lyla that's really good of you." I was livid with her, I could barely see through all my tears and all I wanted to do was hit her. " How could you do this? You knew he liked me, and you had to know that I liked him, and still you didn't care, because nothing matters but your happiness right?"

"Chloe, you turned him down, I assumed that meant you didn't like him that way." She said coyly.

"Well then you're a lot dumber than everyone thinks because I only said no because of what happened between me and Jonathan." I had to get away from her before I lost anymore control. I had to go see Tim and find out the truth, he would tell me that she was lying.

"Wait Chloe, there is more." Lyla said grabbing my arm as I tried to walk away.

"What more could you have to say to me Lyla?" I said agitated.

"I think I might be pregnant." I didn't even think I just swung, and easily made contact with her cheek. I had just slapped Lyla Garrity, a possibly pregnant Lyla Garrity. Without a word or a second thought I ran right out of the library and straight to Tim's house. I couldn't help but cry the whole way there. When I arrived at the house I began pounding on the door. Billy answered and I sheepishly asked for Tim. He yelled for him to come out and I backed away to the lawn when he reached the door. He immediately saw that I was crying and rushed to my side. I couldn't even think of a logical opening statement so I just got right down to the issue.

"Tell me it isn't true." I said sternly.

"Tell you what isn't true?" Tim asked very confused. I stepped back and started pacing, maybe Lyla was lying he didn't already know what I was talking about so that was a good sign.

"Tell me you didn't sleep with Lyla after I said no to you." I said stopping to look him in the eye. He looked at me, and his face dropped slightly. He let out a deep breath he had seem to be holding and then spoke.

"I did" He said looking into my eyes. My whole world seemed to shatter, we weren't together then but how could he, how could he tell me he wants to date me and then go and fuck my cousin.

"Why?" I asked barely above a whisper.

"I was mad at you. So I went and did what I thought would hurt you most." He said stepping towards me causing me to take a step back. He put his hands at his side and spoke again. "I regretted it the second I did it. I even said your name while we were having sex. Chloe you all I think about and all I want. I'm in love with you." He reached out to touch me and I slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!" I yelled "I can't believe you! Lyla?! I would probably care less if it had been some random girl that you had no history with, but LYLA! What the hell Tim? Just stay the hell away from me! I am done!" I said before running home. The next few days were excruciatingly long, and what made it worse was having to see Tim in almost every class and at cheerleading practice. He kept trying to talk to me and I just walked away. I just couldn't deal with him right now, I was too angry and hurt, and I would have to take some time to get used to the fact that my own cousin and the man I was in love with could betray me like that.