Lyla was in the baking goods aisle in the supermarket when saw Billy Riggins walking past with a cart packed with groceries.

"Hello Billy. Stocking up?" she said and flashed him a smile.

"Lyla, long time no see. You're back in good ol' Texas?" He leaned on the bar of the cart. "So, how was sunny California?"

"It was great, but I'm glad to be back. How are you?"

"Great. If you mean how's Tim and where is he, he's around here somewhere. I sent him to get pistachios, I bet he doesn't even know where to start looking. He's probably roaming around in the frozen foods section, which is good 'cause it means he'll sober up quicker."

Lyla laughed a little. "I didn't mean-"

"Ah look, here he is!" Billy shouted to get Tim's attention. "And pistachios in his hand, fantastic. Tim, look who I found." He bobbed his head towards Lyla.

"Garrity, you're back." Tim threw the bag of nuts in the cart and a smile slowly spread over his face. "How've you been?"

"Good", she replied as she returned the smile. "You?"

"Good."

"Drunk, you mean", Billy cut in. "Hey bro, let's wrap this up, we've got to hurry home and clean the house."

"We? It's your freaking dinner date", Tim sneered and gave his brother a discontented glare.

Billy started pushing the cart forwards.

"Sorry Lyla, I've got to-" Tim said and pointed behind him at Billy.

"Sure."

"What are you doing tomorrow night anyway? I'm-, I mean, Billy's throwing me out of the house because of that date, so I'm going to this party at Shearer's house. You should come."

Tim looked at her pleadingly, and she smirked back at him.

"You mean spending the evening with hordes of drunk football players, cheerleaders who ignore me and rally girls who are drooling over said football players? Thanks for asking, but no."

"I figured. Had to ask though." He walked backwards away from her. "Good to have you back anyway."

It was already dark when Lyla parked the car in the street and walked towards the house. The music was loud enough to be heard outside and she soon realised the party was in the backyard. The yard was fairly crowded and a few people were in the swimming pool. No one seemed to take notice of her presence so she could scan the surroundings undisturbed. It wasn't long before she spotted Tim Riggins, jeans and a pleated shirt as usual, standing on the porch. He leaned with one hand against the wall and the other hand was holding a bottle of beer. With him was a girl wearing only a skirt and a bikini top. The girl laughed at something he said, and as he bent down and said something close to her ear she laughed even more and brushed her hand over his chest. Lyla hesitated for a moment before walking up to them.

"Hello Tim", she said, stopping on the steps to the porch.

He looked up, immediately straightening up and turning away from the girl.

"Uh, hi- hi Lyla", he mumbled, a frown on his face.

"I tried calling you, but your cell was turned off."

She had a slightly forced smile on her lips, trying to look unconcerned.

"Yeah, sorry, it's not working. I- I sort of dropped it in the pool last week, so it's dead." Tim advanced on Lyla as he spoke.

"Sort of?" she smirked. "Anyway, it's not important. Sorry I interrupted."

She walked down from the steps and onto the lawn.

"Don't go", he begged.

The girl in the bikini top sighed loudly.

"Tim? What's going on?" she asked.

Tim turned his head around and looked at her.

"Yeah, sorry, I've gotta go." He turned back to Lyla. "Something wrong?" he asked her and started walking with her across the lawn.

"No, I just wanted to get out of the house."

They rounded the corner of the house and stopped when they were out of sight from the yard.

"I can't stand to see my mom and her fiancé together", Lyla continued, leaning back against the wall. "They just sicken me. My mom asked me today if I would help her pick out a wedding dress. I don't think so."

She shook her head in disbelief at that ridiculous request. Tim took a swig from his bottle.

"I guess it'll be better when I move in with my dad", she droned on. "We're not best buds either, but at least I don't have to see him with his hands all over a new woman when I just want to have breakfast in peace."

Tim finished his beer. He held the empty bottle up to show her.

"If you're gonna go on much longer, I might need another one of these", he teased and smiled.

Lyla looked down on the ground.

"Sorry Tim, didn't mean to come here and whine."

"It's okay." He put the empty bottle on the ground and moved in on her. "You smell really good." He reached out and took a bit of her hair and sniffed it. "Like a cookie jar."

He chuckled a little.

"I had a shower before I came here, should probably washed my hair too, sorry." She smiled back at him. "I've made about a hundred cupcakes and a thousand choc chip cookies for the picnic tomorrow."

"What picnic? If you've really made that many cookies, count me in."

"We usually have a big family outing on the Fourth of July. You know, picnic while watching the parade, barbecue in the garden, the whole works."

She bit her lower lip, as if regretting something she just said.

"Why am I not surprised?" Tim said and smiled kindly.

There was a moment of silence before Lyla spoke.

"Anyway, I won't hold you up any longer. You probably want to get back to that rally girl and her tiny bikini top."

"Not really." He reached out and let his fingers touch hers. "Unless you want me to go?"

Lyla was staring down on the grass.

"Not really", she replied eventually.

Tim entwined his fingers in hers. Slowly he moved in on her, her back pressed against the wall and his body pressed against hers. He was looking down on her face and at last she dared to look back up at him. It took another thirty seconds of steady breathing before he covered her lips with his own.

Their lips only parted when they heard voices coming closer.

"Riggs? You so drunk you're making out with the wall or do you actually have a girl there?" someone shouted.

Tim smiled apologetically at Lyla, making sure he covered her from their view.

"Girl, make sure you don't get your panties on inside out when he's finished!" another guy yelled and the guys laughed out loud.

"Get lost", Tim said to them. He turned back to Lyla as the group moved on. "Let's get outta here."

Tim's truck was parked by the lake, the lights still turned on. Lyla watched as Tim opened the hatches for the tailgate and pulled it down.

"It's a bit dirty. I'll see if I can find something to sit on", Tim said while brushing his hands off on his jeans.

"Never mind", Lyla replied and hopped up.

Tim sat beside her, their thighs almost touching but not quite.

"So Billy's not letting you in the house tonight?" Lyla began, her legs dangling.

"Nah. Better to stay away, he was pretty freaked out." Tim paused. "He's been breathing down my neck all summer anyway, so I try to stay clear of him a lot of the time."

"What's he bugging you about?" Lyla asked.

Tim sighed.

"About not getting a job for the summer. I mean, I see his point, but I figured this is like my last summer holiday ever." He took a breath and looked at Lyla with a grin on his face. "And let's face it, who in this town would hire the infamous Tim Riggins anyway?"

"So prove them wrong", Lyla said simply. "And besides, you actually have summer holidays in college too, you know."

Tim chuckled and lightly kicked her foot with his.

"Lyla, come on, who are you kidding? I'm not going to college."

"Again – prove them wrong, Tim." She kicked him back.

They remained silent for a while.

"So, you're going to move in with your dad?" Tim said, his eyes to the ground.

Lyla twitched her mouth.

"Yeah, since my mom's moving out to California I really don't have a choice."

"Guess that means you'll be living under the same roof as that Santiago kid. Should I be worried?"

Lyla raised her eyebrows, looking amused.

"About what?"

"You know – you're hot, he's a guy and he obviously likes you."

"He moved out, Tim. Same day school ended for the summer he was gone. My dad misses him though."

"Ah, well then. Okay."

Tim reached for her hand and enclosed it in his.

"So say you had to move back in with Coach Taylor for some reason, should I be worried about you and Julie then?" Lyla mocked him.

"What?" He chuckled at that.

"Well, she's hot, you're a guy and you obviously like her."

"Julie's not hot." Tim looked up at Lyla.

"She isn't? She's got, you now…" Lyla smiled, slightly embarrassed, "…a nice chest."

"She does?" Tim flashed her a mischievous grin. "I never noticed."

"Liar."

Lyla kicked his foot lightly, just as he'd done with hers earlier. He kicked back, and they sat in silence. Lyla cleared her throat.

"We didn't just come here to talk, did we?" she finally said, her eyes locked with Tim's.

"No."

He shook his head slightly before leaning over to kiss her. He got his hand in her hair, pulling her towards him. Careful not to let their lips part, Tim slid down from the truck and placed himself between her knees. He ran his hands down to the small of her back, then gently pulled her towards himself as she encircled him with her legs. He put his hand on her thigh, running it upwards and slowly pushing her skirt up. Their breathing got heavier, Lyla's hand holding a firm grip of Tim's hair while he let his lips travel down her neck.

"I've missed this", he whispered, barely audible.

She had to catch her breath before he answered, mumbling into his ear.

"And I've missed you."

They drove on the dark road back to town, Lyla resting her head on Tim's shoulder and his arm slung across the back of the seat. He parked the car in the street a few houses down from where the party was. Lyla got her car keys from her bag.

"Thanks Tim", she said.

"My pleasure", he smirked. "Wish I could ask you to come back to my house, but Billy would kick my ass if I did, so…"

"It's okay." She smiled back.

Tim leaned over and kissed her lightly.

"Sure you don't want me to drive you home?" he asked as he pulled out of the kiss.

"No, I've got to get my car home anyway."

Tim stroked her hair and sat back in the driver's seat.

"Okay. See you around, then."

Lyla just nodded and climbed out of the truck.