Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Confrontations and higher expectations

"So your parents are making you tutor Tim Riggins?"

Tyra asks, as Julie gets ready in her bathroom.

"They're not making me, they sorta guilted me into it."

Julie peaks out of the bathroom, watching Tyra make faces at Gracie.

"Same difference, if you ask me…"

Julie closes the light off in the bathroom. She has a nice blouse on; one she hoped her Father would let her out of the house wearing. She also has on a dark pair of jeans, that make her look like she has a butt. Tyra was sitting on Julie's bed holding Gracie, as she smiles nodding with approval.

"Looking good Taylor, doesn't your sister look good Gracie?"

A knock on the door let in Tami, as she smiles at Julie's outfit, before putting her arms out for Gracie.

"There's my baby girl, thanks Tyra for holding me…"

Julie rolls her eyes, as she makes sure everything is in place in the mirror.

"Now, are you sure I don't have to wait for Dad to come back, before I can go out?"

Julie asks, she was nervous. She hadn't gone to a party, in over a month and didn't want this to be the first and last time for a while.

"I'm sure Julie-baby, you girls have fun. I'll see you at the game tomorrow, just give me a call on my cell, let me know when you get to Tyra's."

Tyra smirks, as she follows Julie out the front door.

"See you tomorrow morning Mrs. T."

Tami nods, as she closes the door on the two girls, before smiling at the empty house.

"It's just you and me Gracie darling!"

The baby giggles as Tami takes her to the nursery.

--

"Just admit it Julie, your Dad is hot."

Tyra laughs, as Julie blushes looking mortified.

"That's gross… let's not even go there."

The girls smile, taking a deep breath, before walking into the house that is shaking and buzzing from the party.

"Now remember, this is girl's night out, no boys to distract us and we're not going to let these boys…"

Tyra pauses, as she spots Landry talking with a blond in the corner.

Julie follows Tyra's gaze, chuckling.

"You were saying?"

Tyra shakes her head, annoyed.

"Damn volleyball, what I wouldn't do for a drink right now. Let's get noticed."

Julie smirks, following her friend through the large groups of her classmates. She hardly recognizes some people. They bump into a hard body, balancing three plastic cups in his hands.

"Whoa, I'm sorry."

Tyra rolls her eyes, as Julie blushes at the sight of Matt.

"Hey, J-Julie I didn't see you, I'm sorry."

He shifts the cups to one side, as Tyra steals another look at Landry, whose conversation is interrupted by the scene.

"That's okay; we were just looking for something to drink."

Matt nods still struggling not to spill the contents of the cups.

"Well, there's soda in back and I think a couple kegs but…"

"I have a game tomorrow…"

Tyra replies dryly, making Matt even more nervous, than before.

"R-right volleyball's tomorrow, yeah coach mentioned we should come to the game."

He looks at Julie, who is already biting her lip.

"Well, I'll see you guys. I better get these drinks over to Landry."

Tyra smirks, nodding as Matt catches another glimpse of Julie before walking across the room.

"Don't even think about it Jules. Matt Saracen was last year, this year we're moving on."

--

Julie took a deep breath, turning towards the drink table, as Tyra continues to stare at Landry before catching up to her.

"Thanks Matt…"

Jean smiles, taking the soda from Matt's hands as he nods stealing another look at Julie's backside.

"Yeah thanks Matt…"

Landry takes his cup, holding it close to his mouth as he nods to the music.

"Well I'll see you guys around, I came here with a few friends and I'm not sure where they are right now."

Jean smirks expectantly at Landry, but his attention is still on the tall blond walking away from him.

"Yeah, see ya Jean."

She nods to herself, leaving the two boys in silence.

"Did she say anything about me, or?"

Matt furrows his brow, shaking his head as he takes a large sip of his soda.

"I mean, it's pretty obvious that she wants me. You should have seen her the other day, slamming down drinks. It was hot, Tyra, jealous, is better than porn."

Matt stares at Landry, shaking his head while mumbling. He rolls his eyes laughing to himself.

"First of all nothing, including a jealous Tyra is better than porn. And, I'm not sure you're playing this whole thing right, with the jealousy angle. Especially since Tyra, just walked away from you."

Landry leans on the wall, shrugging.

"Yeah, but I saw her look at me, what three times since she walked in the door. I'm telling you Matt, whatever I'm doing, it's working."

Matt shrugs, noticing a few girls look his way. He turns trying to get a better look at Julie, whose figure is lost in the crowd.

"Well you have Jean to thank for that, I'm sure Tyra hates competition."

Landry looks puzzled at Matt, as he finishes his soda.

--

"Hey beautiful…"

A tall blond walks up to Julie, Tyra looks over shaking her head.

"No…"

The guy is confused, as Tyra shakes her head shooing him away.

"Not interested…"

Julie smirks, avoiding eye contact with him as he walks away rejected.

"That was rude Tyra…"

Julie laughs.

"I'm just sick and tired of wasting my time, on cheap pick up lines and crappy dancers. I, no you and I, deserve better."

Tyra looks over at Landry, who pushes off the wall before walking towards the other side of the house, following Matt.

"Wow, yeah, yeah you're right. We do deserve better, than guys like the Swede, or…"

"Or guys, who get drunk on a date and end up throwing up for half the night?"

Tyra replies, taking a long sip of her drink, before shaking her head.

Julie was silent for a second, before laughing hysterically. The two girls continue to giggle in the corner of the room, completely sober, but very hyper.

--

"Mmhhm, and how was she dressed, was she dressed alright?"

Tami is pacing, trying to lull Gracie to sleep; while Eric watching game tapes, on the living room couch.

"She was very cute, very appropriate. It was so sweet honey, she didn't want to leave until you approved."

Tami laughs, kissing Gracie on her little head, as she smiles and slows down to a softer pace.

Eric grins nodding.

"See, she respects me, that's what's most important." He presses pause, looking back at his wife.

"Did she really, want to wait for me to come home, before leaving?"

Tami nods, walking towards Gracie's bedroom with the sleeping baby, as Eric smirks.

"Father of the year, I think, how about you Hun?"

"Uh, huh Baby sure."

Eric grins, sweeping his hat off, he rubs his hair messing it up, beaming.

--

"You're right I have to just walk up to him and say; 'excuse me little munchkin girl but I need to talk to Landry'!"

Julie tries to suppress a laugh, as Tyra's eyes narrow to Landry and Jean talking in the corner, while Matt jokes around with Smash.

"Look Julie, you stay here okay? No matter what happens tonight, don't leave the party without me."

Tyra hands Julie her cup, as she smiles determined, before marching over to Landry and the petite blond. When she finally stands in front of the couple, Landry is the first to smile, before swallowing hard, staring at Tyra.

"Hey Tyra…"

She smiles sarcastically at him, before turning to Jean.

"Can you excuse us for a minute? Landry, I need to talk to you."

She grabs Landry's free arm, pulling him out to the patio and then outside.

--

"Well, either I'm really drunk, or I just saw Tyra dragging Landry outside for some deep conversation."

Tim snuck up on Julie nursing a bottle of beer; she is startled for a moment, smiling wide before leaning on the corner of the couch.

"Yeah, I mean I think so, I'm not sure…"

Tim smiles taking a sip of his beer, before scanning the room.

"Relax Taylor, this is my first beer and it takes more than one to get me drunk."

"Good to know, I mean no, I meant okay good… not like you're the town drunk or anything it's just…"

He laughs, nodding at her awkwardness, as she grimaces in embarrassment.

"I get cha Jules; I'm just surprised it took Tyra this long to go talk to him."

He smiles, tipping the bottle to his lips again, before smirking at the taste of the liquid. With a nonchalant sigh, he pushes off from leaning on the couch, walking towards the other room.

"Stay out of trouble little Taylor."

Tim winks at her, as he turns around almost running over a skinny junior he instantly recognizes.

"Oh sorry Tim, uh Riggins Sir. I was just walking by; I wasn't going to talk to Julie or anything. Heck, I didn't even know she was there, you know? I'm just going to walk around this way, or I could leave maybe?"

Tim stands his ground, towering over the scared teen.

"Yeah, I can leave."

He raises his eyebrow, sending the kid outside and into the night.

--

Julie takes a deep breath, scanning the party. She hated being alone and knew if she stayed here any longer, she would be accosted by some drunk. With a shudder at the thought, she walks towards the living room, finding a cooler full of soda. With a can of soda in hand, Julie finds refuge in an indoor patio. A tap on the shoulder sends her spinning around, only to see a slightly buzzed Matt. His smile reminds her of better times last year, he laughs, staring at her lips before speaking.

"Hey Julie, I-uh, I just wanted to apologize for what I said yesterday. I was being a real…"

"Jerk?"

Matt nods, his mouth open before closing it and smiling.

"Yeah… well we won tonight. Only one more game away from the Playoffs…"

Julie looks around the room, as a few people leave emptying the patio by the second.

"That's if you win the next game and Peytonville looses next Saturday."

Matt grins, he looks to one of the empty chairs, moving to sit down. Julie backs away as he slides down in the seat.

"Did you see tonight's game?"

Julie nods smirking, as she sits in a chair across from him. He leans to one side nodding.

"Of course you did, did you see my last pass?"

He pretends to throw a pass, laughing to himself as his hands drop.

"Yeah, well I…um…"

"Is there something wrong with me Julie?"

Matt looks at her, his eyes were threatening to tear. He always had a way of looking at her, making her feel so special. Now she felt helpless, as Matt straddles the line between sober and drunk.

"No, I don't think so."

Matt nods, glancing at the ceiling before replying.

"Do I have 'dump me', tattooed on my forehead or something?"

Julie takes a deep breath, opens her mouth, then closing it.

"You know, when you tell someone you love them, and then they just leave you…"

Julie nods, a knot in her throat welling up.

"You told Carlotta you loved her?"

He bobs his head sobering up, as Julie tries to keep from crying.

"She was like twenty five years old Matt! She could have been arrested, what were you thinking?"

Matt looks up confused, as Julie wipes away a tear that escapes.

"Julie I'm sorry, I…"

She stands up, obviously hurt.

"No, that's fine Matt, just fine. I guess, this is how it's supposed to be. I just thought…"

Matt stares at her making her stop, flashing lights outside signal the end of the party. In the confusion, people begin to scatter. Smash slips onto the patio, grabbing Matt as Julie goes the opposite way outside onto the front lawn, crossing the street.

"Taylor!"

Julie's heart was beating erratically, as she tries to hide in the shadows, when a hand grasps her shoulder.

"Jules."

She sighs with relief, upon hearing his voice. Following him to his truck, they drive off down the street, away from the flashing lights.

--

Julie pulls out her cell phone right away, checking it for messages. There was one from Tyra, telling her to meet at her house.

"Guess someone called the cops huh?"

Tim smirks, noting Julie's unusual silence. He glances at her, doing a double take as she wipes away the tears, while he takes a left hand turn.

"So, where to Jules?"

She laughs, taking a deep calming breath before answering.

"Tyra's house, I'm supposed to be sleeping over."

He nods, swallowing hard.

--

The silence permeates the air, as they ride together. It is obvious by the fourth turn, that Tim is taking the long way to Tyra's house. But, Julie doesn't mind. She is humored that he cares and smiles as he fumbles with the stereo.

"Saw you talking with Saracen…"

He nods, as if carrying a conversation with himself.

"You know, I've been there Taylor those things always end badly…"

She stares at him astonished, as he steals a glance before shrugging. His facial expressions break down her walls, as she smiles.

"What ? You're talking about you and Lyla Gerrity?"

She laughs, as Tim tries to stay serious.

"Sure, my feelings were hurt. You think you really like someone and then you realize that they're nothing like they seem."

Julie tried to control her laughter.

"But that doesn't stop you from looking like a fool."

He nods as she clams up, just as he parks outside of Tyra's house.

"Well this is how far I go, without getting my windows busted in."

He smirks at Tyra, who is throwing him death stares, from the porch.

Julie nods, as she opens the door and slides out of the truck.

"Thanks for the rescue, Tim."

He grins nodding, while pulling away.

--

"I'm sorry Julie."

Julie shrugs, as Tyra sits down next to her on the front steps.

"No I'm serious, I am so sorry; I left you to get a ride with Tim. You can hate me if you want."

Julie shrugs, shaking her head.

"He's not so bad, you know."

Tyra frowns, taken aback by Julie's answer.

"Tim, not so bad? He's the devil!"

Julie laughs, nudging Tyra.

"He's not the devil."

Tyra nods sarcastically, before laughing.

"Okay he might not be the devil. But I don't want him getting his hooks into you. He makes you think you can save him, ya know? But, really Tim Riggins needs to just save himself."

Julie nods, smirking at Tyra, who is trying to read her mind.

"Don't tell me, you have a thing for Tim?'

Julie blushes, shaking her head.

"No…"

Tyra frowns, shaking her head.

"I've been there before Julie and believe me; he may be all pretty on the outside. But Tim Riggins is trouble with a capital T. Sure, he's fun and all, but after a while you have to get off the roller-coaster ala Tim and come down to earth."

She looks at Julie, who smirks to herself shrugging.

Laughing, Tyra nudges Julie back as they continue to sit on the porch.

"You want to find out for yourself, don't cha?"

Julie shrugs, as Tyra nods smiling.

"So, how did it go with Landry?"

Julie looks at her friend, who blushes tilting her head.

"Let's just say; a certain short blond won't be giving him mix tapes anymore."

Julie laughs looking at Tyra, who nods before bursting out laughing herself.

"Come on, we got to call your parents and then get to bed."

Tyra gets up as Julie puts her arm out, too lazy to stand up. Her friend grabs her arm, hoisting her up as they walk into the house laughing.

--

"No, the entire point is that this is how society could end up. Fahrenheit 451 could very well be us in the distant future. Think about it, huge plasma screen TV's are already being mounted on the wall. Books, to this very day are still being banned and more women are choosing C-section to natural birth."

Tim nods, writing Julie's words down on his outline. He smirks with a dirty thought, unwilling to filter it out.

"Did your Mom give birth naturally?"

Julie makes a face, cringing before laughing to herself. She can't believe she is spending her Sunday afternoon, in her dinning room, helping Tim Riggins write his English paper. Her parents were trying to busy themselves with Gracie and clean their room.

"Yeah, both times. She's into the whole natural birth thing. How about your Mom?'

Tim shrugs, as he continues to fill in the outline Julie made for him.

"I'm pretty sure she was drunk when my Mom had me, or at least right after she had me."

He laughs at his own joke, but it was lost on Julie. She frowns, feeling sorry for him.

"I'm kidding, okay? So, you think I could fill five pages all on how close this book's society is to ours?"

Julie nods, as she gets excited with an idea.

"Oh you have to talk about the Patriot act! It's so parallel with the government in 451. Yeah, I could write twenty pages on this. You should have no problem."

Tim shakes the hair from his eyes as he sighs, pushing it behind his ears and nodding.

--

"Maybe we should peak in should we peak in?"

Eric was helping Tami make the bed in their room. He was also trying to listen in on the conversation in the dinning room, while tucking in the corners of the sheets.

"Eric, they'll be fine he has this report due. They're just studying."

Eric nods, as he fluffs a pillow.

"I just have this feeling; I mean Riggins isn't Saracen ya know."

He tilts his head at the thought, licking his bottom lip he grits his teeth.

"Yeah, but he's changed. And it's not like Tim is Julie's type anyway."

Eric laughs, as he pulls the covers up over the bed, while Tami tucks the skirt in trying get the bumps out.

"Well we thought Matt was Julie's type; until she went and broke up with him. And, that whole debacle with the Swede."

Tami shakes her head putting her finger to her lips, trying to calm her husband down.

"Look either way Eric we have to show her some leeway. I did ask her to tutor Tim Riggins and she tried to get out of it."

Eric nods, as he watches Tami smooth out the bed.

--

"So are you going to type this out for me or?"

Julie grins shaking her head as she opens her laptop.

"No, but you can borrow my laptop if you need to type your paper up."

He laughs nodding.

"I have a computer at my house; Billy got one a few years back after he realized he could watch free porn."

Julie blushes, trying to laugh the joke off.

"All right, well then, do you need anymore help or...?"

Tim shrugs, reading over his notes.

"Yeah, I may need some help..."

She returns his flirtatious smile, as Eric and Tami enter the living room.

"Hey guys, how's it coming along?"

Tim stands up, gathering his notebook and books, putting them away into his bag.

"Pretty good Mrs. Taylor, I think I'm ready to start on this paper."

Tami nods smiling at Julie, who fakes a smile rolling her eyes as her Mother looks away.

"Well okay, Julie are you done with your work?

Julie nods getting up from the table, as Tim starts to walk out of the house.

"Well I'll call if I need any help, is that okay?"

Tim asks the question to Julie, but looks at her parents especially Coach; whose eyebrows are raised. However, it is Julie who answers him.

"Yeah, sure. I mean, I just can't get calls after 9pm, on School nights so..."

She looks to her parents, who smile nodding. Eric follows Tim to the front door.

"You'll call on the house phone, if you need any help."

"Yes Coach."

Eric nods, biting and licking his bottom lip.

"And only if you really need help."

Tim smirks nodding.

"You got it Coach, see you at practice tomorrow."

"Uh huh."

--

By 10pm, Julie was in her room listening to the radio and writing in her journal, when her cell phone vibrates. She sits up, looking into the living room, her parents are curled up watching TV. Closing her door slightly, she picks up the phone.

"Hello?"

"I'm on page four. Do you think Mr. Loomis would notice if I change the margins to two inches?"

Julie smiles as she hears Tim's voice on the other end.

"H-how did you get this number?"

Tim smirks on the other end of the line.

"I asked around, not a big deal."

Julie reddens at the thought of Tim calling random people, asking if they knew her cell phone number.

"I did it all the time Tim. Just ask her if we can change the font, or something?"

Billy was in the background looking over Tim's shoulder, as he types his essay. Tim gives him a look that says 'shut up', as he turns back to the screen.

Billy was becoming even more like a parental figure, to an annoying extreme. Ever since Mrs. Taylor had helped Tim fill out college applications this summer, some letters had come in from prospective colleges. Tim was no Smash, but some of the offers were pretty good, all he had to do was impress the coaches and keep his grades up.

"I don't think you should change the font or margins. Have you proof read the paper yet, fluffed up some parts?"

Tim laughs reading over a corrected copy of his essay. Billy had tried helping, but his chicken scratch did not help much, even with a red pen.

"Maybe I could count a Bibliography, or add some footnotes?"

Julie laughs sitting in the corner of her room. She debates on going in her closet, but instead opts to stay in the corner; furthest away from the door. She tucks her feet under her thighs, as she lies back on the cushioned chair. She cannot believe she is carrying on a phone conversation with Tim Riggins.

"Yeah that could work. I could proofread it if you email it to me, tonight."

Tim grins on the other end as he types a bibliography. It was one of his trademarked smiles, the one that usually got him laid. He shakes his head at the thought, clearing his throat as it took a turn he was not prepared to go.

"Can I count Google and CNN as references?"

Julies laughs, shaking her head.

"Sure chalk it up to being thorough."

Tim smiles, "Okay what's your email address then?"

Julie squirms as she spells out her email before dashing to her bed to go on-line.

"I'll email it back to you as soon as I'm done. I can correct your simple grammatical errors, but I'll include my notes in italics and bold."

Tim nods, squinting at the screen.

"Italics?"

Julie laughs, as she types the address to her email server on her laptop.

"It's slanted and darker you can't miss it."

Tim nods smirking, as he continues to type.

"Okay thanks Jules I owe ya one."

She smiles biting her lip as he hangs up the phone. Tim looks cluelessly at Billy who is still leaning over his shoulder.

"Do you have email?"

Billy shrugs as Tim lets out an exasperated sigh.

End of Chapter 2

--

Preview of Chapter 3

"Friends?"

Julie rolls her eyes, Lois was already getting on her nerves and they were only five minutes into lunch.

"Yeah friends, like you and I right now."

She gives her a deadpan stare, letting her know she was aggravating her.

"Okay, but Tim Riggins isn't friends with girls. He can only be two things with them. Either sleeping with them, or ignoring them."

Lois was always the latter with Riggins, as she tilts her head rolling her eyes while the football table erupts into the laughter.

"So everyone's talking about the party getting busted Saturday night. Thank God, my parents wouldn't let me go. With my luck I would have gotten caught."

Julie smiles remembering the night, as she takes a glance at Tim. He locks eyes with her, smirking before turning away with a flirtatious laugh.

"You know, people are also talking about the possibility of you and Matt getting back together. Rumor has it; you two were looking very serious."

Julie rolls her eyes, as she tries peeking at Matt.

"People should just mind their own damn business."

She gets up tossing the remnants of her lunch away, leaving Lois alone at the table.

"I guess I struck a nerve."

She smirks, looking over at Tim who watches Julie leave the lunchroom; noting Matt's gaze fixed on the senior.

To be continued.