The Things You Never Said

She starred at the text in confusion, then hit the back button on her phone to double check who it was from. Sure enough, Tim Riggins. When she clicked on the text again she read it slowly, wanting to make sure she read it right the first time.

Can we meet? PLS Out by the quarry, 2nite? It's important

It was so out of the blue she wasn't sure how to respond. She and Tim weren't the type of friends who got together on a regular basis, hell not even on a semi-regular basis, they never had been. They would see each other when they were all going out as a group, and Tim and Matt still got together to drink beers and talk about guy stuff when Matt and Julie were in Dillon, but never Julie and Tim, not after that night and especially not since she had gotten back together with Matt. Not that what they had done was wrong, they hadn't cheated on anyone, but it still felt like a big secret, and neither one of them wanted to do anything to jeopardize their relationships with Matt. That's what made the text so strange.

Is everything OK? she texted back, hoping nothing was wrong. When she got his reply, Everythings fine. Just need 2 talk B4 the week gets 2 hectic, she wasn't sure what to do, but she did know what he meant. She was getting married at the end of the week, her and Matt were finally tying the knot. Rehearsal dinner Thursday night, because they couldn't do it on Friday, certainly not on a Friday night during football season, Wedding on Saturday, Honeymoon on Sunday. Her week was jam packed with final preparations, dress fittings, packing and nerves. She was so busy, in fact, she was starting to freak out, so finding time to run out to the quarry to meet Tim seemed impossible, not to mention trying to explain it to Matt, or trying to keep him from finding out, neither of which appealed to her. But Tim said it was important, and she believed him, besides, a small teeny tiny little part of her was curious to see what he needed to say.

10PM OK? But only if its important. She had sent the reply before she had time to second-guess herself. She felt a little guilty, but she decided there was no need to tell Matt, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, and if he did know, it would hurt him. If she didn't have a million thoughts running through her head, she probably would have put more thought into why she was willing to risk hurting Matt to meet Tim, but as his return text came back, It is important, Thnks Jules., her thoughts were distracted by her fiancé and his grandma coming through the front door.

As her headlights illuminated the darkness, she caught sight of Tim's truck silhouetted against the night sky, parked along the quarry edge. She was amazed by the fact that the old thing still ran and that Tim wouldn't give up on it, no matter how old it got. For a guy seemed to jump from one thing to another with girls and jobs and homes, the one constant with Tim Riggins was that old truck.

She pulled up next to him and cut the engine of her car, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness, she embraced the silence of the quarry. It was a silence that you couldn't find in Dillon, and in a week in which everyone was demanding her attention, the quiet was a welcomed change. She loved it out here, and had found herself driving out to the quarry many times after her night here with Tim. She found the silence comforting, and the solitude always helped when she was upset or overwhelmed. If she was being honest with herself, she'd admit a little part of her was always hoping to find Tim out here. She couldn't call him, even when she sometimes found herself wanting to talk to him, so she was always hoping to find him out here. Someday she would admit that, but she wasn't ready to be that honest, at least not tonight.

She got out slowly, still not sure this was a good idea, and nervous to be out here with Tim, especially when she was marrying Matt in just a few days. As she rounded the back of his truck, she saw him, sitting on the tailgate, swinging his legs back and forth like a little kid and looking down into the quarry. When he looked up and saw her, a smile slowly spread over his face, making him even more handsome than usual, and she ignored the little voice in the back of her head that was telling her she had missed having him smile like that at her.

"You came." There was relief in his voice, and a little bit of disbelief as well, as if he had expected her not to show.

"I came, but I'm not sure why. And I'm not sure why you asked me too. But I can't help thinking this was a bad idea. What are we doing here Tim? What do we need to talk about?" She looked out over the quarry, taking in the vast black hole in front of them, afraid to look him in the eye and even more afraid to hear what he had to say.

"Jules, look at me." When she didn't turn he jumped down off the tailgate to stand next to her. "Please." He pleaded.

The pleading in his voice scared the hell out of Julie, she shouldn't be here, this was wrong. She turned on her heel and started for her car, "Tim, I have to go. I shouldn't be here. We shouldn't be here." But as she took her first step, he grabbed her hand, causing her to stop and turning her around. Her heart was racing, but his touch held her in place, not with force, with emotion.

"Taylor, it's not what you think. You don't need to be worried." She looked up into his eyes and saw his sincerity. Her fear subsided, but her heart continued to race. "You seem happy Jules, really happy."

"I am Tim." He hadn't phrased it as a question, but something in his tone made her feel compelled to answer. He smiled at that, but there was something behind his eyes that made him look sad.

"I'm glad Jules. Matt is a great guy, one of my best friends in the world, and I'm glad you guys found your way back to each other. And on Saturday, when I'm standing next to him a Landry on the alter, watching Coach walk you down the aisle, I'm going to be grateful that you guys wanted me there." He looked down and swallowed hard, getting up the courage to say what he came to say. Seeing his hand, still holding onto Julie's, somehow gave him the fortitude to continue.

"But tonight, out here, where it's just the two of us, I need you know something. Something I've needed to tell you for a long time…"

"Don't Tim." She pulled her hand away and took a step backwards, trying to put distance between them, suddenly aware of how close they were standing to each other. She loved Matt, and she had no doubts about marrying him, but somehow Tim Riggins scared the shit out of her.

"Julie listen, Matt and Jason are my two best friends in the world, and I don't know how the hell Street forgave me for what I did with Lyla, but I thank God that he did. I would never do anything like that to a friend again. You're marrying Matt, I get it. I just wanted you to know that the night out here with you wasn't a one-night stand for me. It wasn't some random hook up. It meant something to me. It meant a lot." He paused, taking a deep breath, afraid to look up and see her reaction. "I just need you to know that." He shuffled his feet, trying desperately to remember why he thought this was a good idea.

"Why Tim? Why now?" His head snapped up at the question, and he was surprised to find tears shimmering in her eyes. There was a strange mix of anger and sadness in her voice when she continued, "Why would you tell me this now? I'm getting married in a few days and out of the blue you suddenly need me to know? And why the hell didn't you ever call me after that night? I waited for you to call. For months I hoped that you would, but you never did. If it meant something to you, why didn't you ever call?" she wasn't yelling at him, she was whispering. He would have preferred to have her yell; the softness in her voice was killing him.

"It did mean something Julie. I never called cause that was the agreement, remember? That's what you wanted…we would go back to Dillon and forget it ever happened. That's what you said." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, "Jesus Julie, I pulled your number up on my phone a hundred times, I just never hit send. I thought that was what you wanted; I thought I was being a good friend. I would have called if I had thought for a second that you wanted me too." He took a deep breath before he continued, "And I'm telling you now because you're marrying Matt in a few days and if I didn't tell you now I never could. You can't say these things to your friend's wife. It's just not right."

She laughed at the absurdity of the situation, all this time she had wondered why he never called and if their night together had meant anything to him. Now she knew, and she almost wished she didn't. Almost.

For the first time all night, she turned and faced him squarely and looked him directly in the eyes, "It meant a lot to me too, Tim…and I don't know what would have happened if we had both made different choices after that night, but we didn't. I love Matt, and I'm going to marry him in a few days and we're going to live happily ever after. You'll always have a special place in my heart Tim, and we'll always be friends, that was part of the agreement too. Remember?" She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Their first genuine smiles all night.

"I remember. And I know you love Matty. I'm happy for you Jules, I really am." He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead before he continued, his tone turning serious, "But if you ever need anything Jules, no matter what, no matter when, you find me. You call me. I'll always come. Promise me if you need me, you'll call."

"I promise, Tim. I'll call if I need you." She threw he arms around his neck and hugged him for a long time. His strong arms wrapped around her back and neither one seemed ready to let go. When they finally parted, Tim nodded at her then turned to his truck and walked away. Just before he hopped in, he heard her call is name.

"Tim, I don't regret it. I've never regretted it, not for one second. I just wanted you to know that." She smiled one last time and headed to her own car.

As she climbed in she her him respond, "No Regrets Taylor, No regrets."

The People That Know You Best

"Spill it Tim! When exactly did you sleep with Julie Taylor? Excuse me, I mean Julie Saracen?" Tyra had him cornered at the reception and he could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't messing around. She had been giving him strange looks all night, and now he knew why. But what he didn't know was how in the hell she had found out.

"What are you talking about Tyra? You're drunk, leave it alone." He was hoping she would drop it, but then again, this was Tyra, when it came to Tim Riggins, she never knew when to leave well enough alone.

"I've had two beers Tim, I'm not drunk. And I saw the way you looked at her when she walked down the aisle. I know you Tim. Maybe nobody else caught it, but I know you. When did you have sex with Julie?" She wasn't about to let this go, "If I have to, I'll ask her right now! I swear to God I will Tim."

"Leave her alone Tyra. Jesus, it's her wedding day." The look she gave him made it clear that she was not messing around. He figured he might as well tell her, one way or another she was determined to find out, and he didn't want her ruining Julie's big day. "It was a long time ago Tyra, it was one night and it didn't mean anything," he choked out the last part, hating the sound of it even as he said it. She raised her eyebrows, making it clear she did buy it and that she expected details, "Listen, Matt left for Chicago and they were broken up. Lyla was gone for good. I bumped into Julie at a panther party and we were both feeling, I don't Tyra, left behind. She was sad, I was lonely and for one night we made each other feel better. That's it, end of story. We went back to being friends. It's over. Now drop it." He tried to use his 'I mean it' tone on Tyra, but it never worked.

"But it's not over for you is it? I saw the way you looked at her. Damn it Tim, you're such a dumb ass, quit screwing your friends' girlfriends!" She popped him in the side of his head for emphasis. "For real Tim, do you love her? Does she know? Are you in love with Julie Taylor?" She sounded shocked, which Tim could understand, it was the pity in her voice that was hard to take.

"Julie Saracen, Tyra…remember, it's Julie Saracen now. And no, I'm not in love with her; Maybe I could have been. If I had done things differently I think I could have been, but I didn't. And yes, she knows exactly how I feel about her." He finished off the beer in his hand before he continued. "I'm happy for her and Seven. I'm happy for my friends and I would never mess with that. Now if you'll excuse me, I need another beer."

She threw her arm around his shoulders and smiled, "Riggins, I swear, the shit you get yourself into. And Julie frickin Taylor, who knew she had a bad girl in her? She never said a damn thing to me about it." Shaking her head, she lead Tim towards the bar. "Come on, after that little confession, I need a hell of a lot more than a beer. This calls for Tequila."

He laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist as the bartender poured their shots. "For the record Collette, I didn't sleep with my friend's girlfriend. I slept with my friend's ex-girlfriend and future wife." He jokingly nuzzled her ear, "I guess I should've stuck with you, huh Tyra? It would have been a lot less trouble."

"You wish Riggins. Besides, have you ever known me to be less trouble than anything? Cheers Tim," she raised her shot to his and clinked them together, "Here's to dumb ass moves and the people who make them." Laughing, they threw back the drinks and turned to watch Matt and Julie on the dance floor.

He was glad someone else knew, it made him feel better to have someone to confide in, especially when she leaned over and whispered in his ear. "By the way Tim, your secret is safe with me." And he knew it was.