Secret Shenanigans - Chapter 1 Part 2

Mondays were the worst. A shock to the system.

Tim rubbed his hair and threw his wet towel on the bench.

"Matty boy, I knew you had it in you." Smash's voice boomed with pride through the locker room.

"I... I don't know what happened."

Tim pulled his shirt over his head finding it hard to ignore Smash's laughter. What was he so happy about?

"You and Miss Amber were all over each other. Couldn't keep your hands to yourself. I ain't hatin, I get it. She's one fine sista."

Tim felt his heart race. Seven had cheated on Taylor and there was an audience. It wouldn't take long for the whole school to find out.

Last night, Tim had eaten at the Alamo Freeze before he went to Landry's concert. Seven was nowhere to be seen. Tim knew he was lying. "The little punk," he muttered to himself.

Julie Taylor wasn't a girl you let slip through your fingers. She was the kind of girl you married. Tim knew Taylor was out of his league, but it turned out she was definitely too good for Matt Saracen.

"My head hurts," Seven moaned.

"You two gonna meet up again? I know she's down for it." Tim clenched his fists listening intently.

"I'm seeing Julie." Tim almost laughed. Now he remembered he was seeing Taylor. Too late for that. There was no way she was sticking around once word spread back to her.

"Yeah playa, but you could see a lot more of Amber! Ha ha."

Tim slammed his locker closed and shoved past the two of them ignoring Matt's protests.

"He's jealous, ain't nobody touching him these days, not after Garrity. Putting moves on your best friend's girl while he's in the hospital. Nobody's that desperate."

Tim kept walking, tuning out Smash's attempt to provoke him.

He was never going to live down the second biggest mistake of his life.

The biggest was missing the block that ended Streets dreams.

Part of Tim knew he deserved everything he got.

"Two Coronas."

Tim had been waiting all week for Seven's web of lies to blow up in his face. It seemed Amber could keep her mouth shut, just not her legs. The whole team knew what happened that night. Turns out it wasn't a one-time thing. Personally, he was sick of hearing about it.

Coach T was someone Tim admired and he was finding it hard to keep this secret from him. After yesterday's game Seven had the balls to hold and kiss Taylor in front of everyone. The rest of the team looked on in bemusement. His douchebag moves were putting Tim to shame.

El Toro's was teeming with college students this Saturday night. The Mexican themed club was the furthest Tim could get from his usual hangouts without leaving Dillon. The wait staff wore sombreros and festive embroidered uniforms. Elaborate string lights draped from the ceiling rafters.

A band called 'Cage the Elephant' from Kentucky were playing tonight. They seemed to have quite the following. The body odour of a close bystander was permeating Tim's air space in the crammed quarters. Music wasn't really his thing, but he was looking to score tonight. Billy had told him chicks loved concerts and it was a sure thing.

Tim sipped on his beer, watching the stage lights turn on and the house lights turn off. The audience gathered closer to the stage, eager to glimpse the band. Cage the Elephant entered from behind the side curtains and the crowd erupted in applause and wolf whistles.

As the band played Tim found himself drawn to a blonde in the crowd. She was only visible when the crowd parted a certain way.

Her long hair draped down over her exposed tan back. Her jeans hung low on her slim hips, the dimples on her lower back prominent. He watched her hips slowly undulating to the beat coaxing him over there. Amongst the flickers of the strobe lights, he briefly saw her profile. She was stacked.

His body throbbed, knowing in a few hours he'd have her undressed in his truck, getting up close and personal. Tim made his move from the bar over to her.

He was a few metres away when he noticed two guys standing behind her making lewd gestures. "Dicks," Tim groaned to himself. He pushed his way closer to her as the shorter guy who wore a sideways baseball cap, fell into her back copping a feel of her butt.

The blonde turned to face them and just as quickly turned back to the stage moving a little further forward, away from the idiots.

Tim watched them snicker before he elbowed them aside.

"What's your problem, bro?"

Tim glared down at the pair. "Beat it!"

They didn't move so he stood a little taller, daring them to make a move. The kid standing next to him looked ridiculous. Tim knocked the cap off his head.

"Whatever, man," said the scrawny, taller guy, gesturing for his friend to back away. He picked up the cap and listened to his buddy.

"Sorry about them," Tim whispered by her ear.

She glanced up over her shoulder and their eyes met. He forgot to breathe at the sight of her.

"Taylor?"

"Oh shit... Hey, Tim."

"What are you doing here?" That was all he could come up with. Julie turned to face him, placing her back to the stage.

Don't. Look. Down... Don't. Look. Down. He repeated like a mantra.

His eyes betrayed him and he glanced down. She was even better close up. This was why Coach kept her covered up.

Stop staring at her rack!

She brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, then waved for him to come closer. "I snuck out. Don't tell my parents."

Tim tried to compose himself and let those earlier thoughts he had about devouring the hot blonde escape. He cleared his throat. "I can keep a secret."

She looked up at him and smiled gratefully. She had a really beautiful smile. His eyes darted to her exposed mid-drift, that wasn't the only thing. She was... sexy. Tim needed another beer and an escape. "I'll be right back."

"Okay," she yelled over the music.

He should leave. He could admit that he didn't have the best self-control. There she was barely dressed waiting for him to come back. This was coach's virgin daughter, he wasn't getting any action tonight. What the hell was Seven thinking cheating on her?

"Two Coronas." Tim paid the barkeep and drank one on the spot before he headed back towards her.

They stood side by side and watched the band. "You here alone?"

"Huh?" She put her hand on his lower back moving closer to him.

He leant his head by her ear. "You here alone?"

She nodded sombrely, then added, "Not anymore." He was unable to keep a smirk from appearing on his face. He could faintly hear her singing along to the songs. It was cute.

From the corner of his eye, Tim caught another group of guys gawking her. He decided it was best to let it go. They seemed harmless.

Moments later she turned away from the stage to look to her right and he did the same. A steroid fuelled gym junkie with a buzz cut now stood beside her. Tim saw his mouth moving, but couldn't make out what was being said over the music.

Taylor turned to him with a distressed look. She wanted soldier boy gone. He moved from her side.

"Tim!" she called pleadingly, grabbing his wrist. He shook off her grip and stood in close behind her.

Tim wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him. He felt her tense. "Relax and he'll leave," he whispered. He placed a soft kiss on her shoulder that sent visible goose bumps down her arm.

Her soft fingers intertwined with his as she placed her hand over his and leant back into his chest. Tim didn't care that this guy was denser than most, it meant he could keep her in his arms. He liked the feel of Julie Taylor close to him.

She looked up at him and placed her hand on his neck. He bent forward. "Finally, he takes the hint! Do me a favour? Don't leave me alone tonight... please."

He gazed into her eyes and nodded as her hand dropped away. No way was he leaving her alone tonight dressed like this. What was she wearing? Her green sarong left little to the imagination.

"Can I have some?" Tim felt her hand on his beer.

He gave her the bottle momentarily unsure of what to do with his free hand. He let both of his hands rest on the top of her hips, hoping she wouldn't pull away from him.

She didn't seem to mind, happily sipping on his beer.

After a few more songs Tim bent down and let his head rest on her shoulder. "Leave me some."

She laughed and her body shook in his arms. She held the beer up for him. Her lips were shining in the lights. Tim watched her lick them dry, wanting to kiss her.

"Tim?"

His name on her lips brought him back to reality. He was staring again.

Tim quickly grabbed the beer and took a mouthful. This had to be some kind of karma for all his past indiscretions.

The crowd cheered for the encore. This signalled the night was coming to an end. Tim didn't want it to be over.

The house lights came on and he saw the approving glances from males all around. He removed his hoodie and handed it to her. She took it understanding what he was trying to do and put it on.

He led them out of the crowd taking her hand in his. Tim kept hold of her hand as they cleared the establishment and she didn't protest. They walked over to his truck.

"Do you want a ride or is... ah, Seven coming?" He hoped Seven wouldn't be showing his face.

She averted her eyes to her feet at the mention of her boyfriend. "No, he couldn't make it tonight... had to work again."

Tim looked away feeling guilty. Seven was probably with Amber. "I'll take you home."

She laughed. He wasn't sure if he should be offended by her response. "What?"

"Deja vu."

"Don't make it a habit Taylor," Tim said giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

She met his eyes. "I promise." He let go of her hand to open the door for her.

The cool night air was refreshing as it flooded the truck cabin.

Tim watched as she shuffled to lean on the door and yawned. He wanted her to know about Seven. To know what kind of guy she was dating. "Seven been working a lot lately?"

"Yeah, he has," she said keeping her gaze outside.

"Has he got a second job? Cause he wasn't at the Alamo Freeze last weekend."

She sat up a little straighter. She wasn't stupid, he figured she could connect the dots. "No, he only works there."

"Was there a party last weekend?" Tim kept quiet at first. He didn't want to hurt her. He figured deflection was his best move to get her thinking but still keep the Amber detail to himself.

"There's a party every weekend, it's Dillon."

"Is there one tonight?" Her eyes were pleading for him to be honest. He knew what she was asking. Tim looked in his rear-view mirror unwilling to watch her face when he broke it to her.

"Some girls party every night." His words were met with silence.

Curiosity got the better of him and he cast a sidelong glance at her, spotting a tear as it slipped from her eye. She leant her arm on the window frame. He didn't say anything when she pulled the hood over her head to cover her face.

Minutes later, Tim pulled over to the curb, a few houses down from hers. She started removing her arms from the hoodie he lent her.

"Keep it. I want your Dad alive if he catches you."

Taylor paused considering his words and then slid her arms back in. "Thanks for tonight... and for... everything."

"You better go before your parents realise your gone."

She nodded and softly closed the truck door. Tim watched her wave bye as she passed.

He waited for her to get home safely before he left.

Julie scurried across her front lawn and down beside her house. She lifted her bedroom window, softly sliding the pane upwards and climbed inside, careful not to wake her parents. She closed the window and walked over to her bed.

Matt was cheating on her. She was being cheated on. Tim had confirmed her fears in so many words.

She fell forward onto her mattress, defeated. She had been trying to keep her doubts at bay but it was pointless. Her instincts were right.

Julie wondered how Tim found out? Did he know who the girl was? She didn't even think to ask at the time.

Julie looked at the necklace resting on her nightstand. Matt had given it to her. She felt sick. How could he do this?

She pulled out her phone and texted Lois.

You were right. Matts cheatn on me

He didn't show?

No but Tim did & we're over

Riggins? I was gonna wait til 2morrow 2 tell u. I heard from Tina, he's seeing Amber.

Yes that Tim & Trainwreck Amber really?

The one & only, soz. Do you want a ride to school Monday?

Thanks I'll b ready at 8. I'm gonna cry myself 2 sleep then deal wit him at school

I've got ur back

I know u do

Julie wiped her eyes with the sleeve of Tim's hoodie. The scent of his aftershave reminded her Lois wasn't the only person she could count on. Tim Riggins had her back when it mattered. He was being sweet. She couldn't process that at the moment, feeling her eyes well with fresh tears.

She picked up Matt's necklace and tossed it in the bin.