Julie stared at her dresses laid out on the bed. She was an idiot for agreeing to this but when Tim called (not texted but called!) to ask her to attend a charity ball with him, she agreed all too quickly. The day of she was having second thoughts but she was a Taylor, so she'd fight through it.
Deciding to go for simple elegance she chose a floor length black evening dress, the square neckline added a modern flare to it. Though it was the curve hugging bodice and extremely low back that put it above the rest, she paired it with simple black strappy heels. Her makeup was soft with a slightly smoky eye and she decided on a gold bracelet to complete the ensemble. She was just about finished with her hair when she heard him knock, he was early which surprised her. She shouted for him to come in and make himself at home, letting him know she'd be a few more minutes. She heard the door click shut and the telltale signs of her liquor cabinet being opened. Soon after she was done, she checked her hair to ensure no stray hairs were escaping.
She found Tim on her sofa reading her latest copy of TEACH magazine, with a highball in his hand. Hearing her come in he looked up his face was priceless. If someone told her 6 years ago that she would make Tim Riggins look like that she would have laughed in their face, even while wishing for it.
"You look stunning Jules" he reverted back to her nickname about 3 months after they reconnected and she loved the way it rolled off his tongue. She loved a lot of things he did with his tongue which caused her to blush profusely. He smirked thinking it was his compliment and not her dirty mind, she let him believe it. "Thanks cowboy, you don't look too bad yourself" she winked at him knowing she was playing right into his hands. She hadn't been out with him in public in over 6 months, just after her second declaration of feelings.
"Well lets get going" he stood and offered her his arm, she accepted graciously before they headed out the door. Her hand was resting in the crook of his elbow and his hand was placed over it. They walked out of the building to the waiting limo in front and set off to the charity dinner. She felt like Cinderella on her way to the ball, complete with her own version of a pumpkin at the end of the night. She knew this was not going to last, as much as she wanted this to be the beginning of a relationship with Tim. It was going to come to an end and she would have to face the facts again. She pushed her feelings aside and decided to just enjoy her time with him.
The charity event was being held at the Georgia Dome, Tim's home away from home. The lights and music pouring through the entrance rivaled any Falcon home game. There were paparazzi and reporters lining the entrance, they all had questions for Georgia's favorite fullback. Tim answered with poise and grace and was the epitome of a southern gentleman. Julie hung back not wanting to be in the spotlight but was shoved into it when a reporter asked who his date was. Tim took Julie's hand and introduced her "This is Julie Taylor, she's a high school teacher here in Atlanta. We grew up together, her father was my coach and mentor on the Panthers, she's a great friend. It's nice to have a bit of home when you're so far away from it" He smiled at her then, pulling her inside the building. She did her best not to vomit.
She hurried off to the bathroom once inside, willing herself not to cry. She knew he didn't want a relationship with her, she was a plaything. Something to be played with and then shelved whenever it suited him, she knew all of this so why was she so upset. His comment about her being a great friend and a reminder of home struck a nerve. She understood now, he missed home and she reminded him of that. He loved his new life, the fame and money and probably the women. He didn't want to give that up for a serious relationship with her, he just wanted to be reminded of home every so often. She was just a friend but really she wasn't even that, just a bedmate. She looked in the mirror making sure her hair and makeup weren't ruined by her almost breakdown, she was done with it all. Finally.
She straightened herself and took one final glance in the mirror "I'm not anyone's toy, I'm a Taylor damnit!" her mamma and daddy raised her to have the confidence to know she was better than this. She was not a casual fling, or worse a bedmate. She knew what she deserved and she was done being a "reminder of home" and nothing more. Tim would rue the day he decided that's all she was.
Julie walked out of the bathroom to find Tim, he was chatting with a group who she guessed by their size and statures were all part of his team. He saw her approach and reached for her hand, she pulled it back choosing to grab her clutch with both hands. She could tell this did not go unnoticed by Tim, though he said nothing. "Guys, this is Julie Taylor. She's the friend from back home I've told you about" Tim smiled warmly at her, she smiled back and shook their hands. She was curious to know what he'd said about her to them but decided for the success of her new outlook she would have to not care. They made small talk about the upcoming camp and next season, they seemed surprised that Julie knew so much about the game and it's players. She was a football girl born and bred, it gave her doubts as to how much Tim really did talk about her. She excused herself from the conversation to get a drink, she found the bar with little effort since there were 3 of them in one room.
"I'll have a martini please, extra dirty" Julie ordered, she surveyed the room while she waited. There were quite a few celebrities in the crowd so it must have been a big charity. "I don't suppose you know where the restrooms are?" Julie looked up to the gentleman asking, she pointed to where she had come from earlier. "The ladies room is down that way so I'm sure the men's room is around there as well" she smiled. "Harvey Specter" he extended his hand, "Julie Taylor" she accepted. "I really don't need to use the restroom, I just wanted to talk to you" he confessed looking like one of her students after forgetting their homework. She laughed, he seemed to like that. He was extremely handsome, not like her fullback but then who is. He was as tall as Tim but not as built, his short brown hair was styled into a faux hawk of sorts. The more she studied him the more she liked. "Well it was a rousing conversation starter" Julie smiled at him. "Yeah, I'm known for that" he flashed a grin at her.
"So, Harvey Specter, what did you do to earn yourself an invite in?" she leaned against the bar as he came up beside her to do the same "I'm here on business" his vague response had her intrigued "Oh, business? Like 007 super spy business?" she joked "Oh sweetheart, if I were a spy it would be of the Jason Bourne variety, though my business is much more action packed. I'm actually a lawyer here to meet with a few clients." He finished his drink setting it down before asking for another. "So you're at a charity event drumming up business, seems ironic" She laughed. He leaned in close "Yeah it does make me seem like a jerk" his closeness was giving her goosebumps, in a good way.
She stopped and listened as Glen Miller's In the Mood came on and smiled. She remembered her dad dancing with her mom to this song on many occasions in their living room back home. Harvey must have seen the far away look in her eye and came to stand in front of her. "Can I have this dance?" he asked holding out his hands, she smiled and set her drink down. Following him out to the dance floor, she prepared for the worst as far as his dancing was concerned. He took her hand and began to move her around the floor in rhythm to the music, she kept up perfectly. He was surprised that she danced as well as she did, he kicked the technique up a notch and it was her turn to be surprised. Soon they were laughing and dancing like they'd been doing it for years, most of the couples around them had scooted out to watch and she didn't care. She was having a blast, Harvey was a great dancer and at the end pulled her into a dip that even she wasn't sure he could pull off.
He helped her up to the applause around them and she blushed realizing all eyes were on them. They walked off the dance floor and she glanced up into the hazel green eyes of her full back. His mouth was set in a hard line and she knew he'd witnessed the whole dance. She turned back to Harvey smiling, she kissed him on the cheek and his hands fell to her hips. She thanked him for the dance, and excused herself. He grabbed her hand causing her to stop, "Julie, I don't live in Atlanta but we have an office here so I'm out this way every so often. I'd love to take you to dinner next time I'm in the area" he handed her his business card with his cell phone written on the back. She took it and wrote hers under it and handed it back "I'm not big on making the first move, bad luck I guess. You call me if you're ever in town" she smiled and kissed his cheek again before heading toward the door where Tim was standing earlier.
She found him outside, by now the crowd had dissipated. He was sitting on a bench and she walked over and sat next to him. She didn't say anything and waited for him to go first. All part of her new plan, he had to initiate the actual conversations not just ramblings in her ear. They sat for another ten minutes before he spoke. "Didn't realize I was going to have such stiff competition for my date's attention tonight" he tried to make his voice sound light and joking but she could hear the anger just below the surface. It made her mad "I didn't realize this was an actual date, you seemed to tell the whole world we were just friends" she didn't contain the hurt in her voice and it caused him to look at her. "Jules, I asked you to go as my date didn't I?" he was getting defensive and she didn't want to argue but she was tired of being toyed with.
"I don't know what you want Tim, you asked me to come with you tonight and I'm here. I was asked to dance and I did. I didn't see you in there asking me to dance" she sounded like a 12 year old, she knew. She stood up to leave but he grabbed her hand "You're right, we're just friends and I shouldn't be getting upset. I guess I'm just not used to having to fight for your attention" he smiled trying to smooth things over. "Tim, in order for that statement to be true, you would have had to fight for it" she let go of his hand and went inside. He followed a little while later and they found their table for dinner.
Not much was said, but Julie nodded and said the right things at the right times. They smiled at one another and spoke of home as if they were best friends. To everyone else they were the perfect couple, he was attentive and refilled their drinks more than a few times. Their table mates continually made comments on how best friends make the best partners. They smiled and laughed, but Julie knew it was all for show. Despite her new resolve, it broke her heart a little more.
They got into the limo to head home, the tension from earlier in the night was almost gone. They smiled at one another and laughed, Tim leaned over and kissed her neck. She let him for a moment then shyly pulled away, he looked at her quizzically since she'd never done that before. She smiled at him but said nothing. They pulled up to her building 15 minutes later and he got out to walk her to her door. They stepped off the elevator and crossed the hall to her apartment, she put her key in the lock but before she could turn it he spun her around pressing her against the door. His mouth crushed onto hers with such force she knocked her head into the door, she returned the kiss but then she tasted it. That ever present taste of whiskey, she could've cried right then and there. She pushed him off of her and kissed his cheek, thanking him for a wonderful evening. She went inside and closed the door on a very confused Tim Riggins
I envisioned Julie and Harvey's dance like a very toned down swing dance. I searched youtube for dances to that song which is where I got my inspiration :)
