Thanks for all the reviews. They make me smile :) Here's another update, hope it was quick enough for everyone.

Consequences

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On Friday morning I pulled up outside the high school already in my cheerleading outfit. I would stay in it all day, as per the traditional rules. Beside me on the seat was a brown paper bag, inside was a bottle of whisky and a few bottles of the beer I knew Tim liked to drink. Sighing I picked it up and got down from my truck. I pushed back a few strands of loose hair and locked my truck. Inside the corridors of Dillon high footballers were stood eating treats and cakes brought by their cheerleaders. I scanned the halls looking for Tim. He was leant into his locker, hair covering his face.

Slowly I walked over to him. "Tim?" I said quietly.

He turned to look at me, his eyes flicking up and down my body and resting on the brown paper bag I had in one hand. "Is that for me?" he asked.

I nodded "You know it is, I am your cheerleader after all"

Tim suddenly looked nervous "Yeah but I didn't know if you'd still be doing stuff for me. After everything"

"I'm doing this because Jason asked me to" I said. Making Tim jerk once again.

"Jay asked you to bring me alcohol"

"Jason asked me to guilt trip you into only drinking what I brought you. But I somehow don't think it will work. Do you?" Tim remained silent. "What I think is after this game you'll go back to yours drink yourself into a coma and stay their all weekend. Not once even contemplating going to see Jason"

Tim scowled. "Your not even close Lexie" he muttered, reaching out and grabbing the bag holding the alcohol. I held on though meaning he dragged me forward into his body. I scrunched my nose up "Jesus Tim, how much have you drank already?"

Tim leant down so his face was close to mine. We hadn't been this close since the accident. "Obviously not enough Lexie" he drawled "because I'm still hearing your voice. When all I want is to be numb"

"Well I wish we all had that option Tim" I said quietly. I let go of the bag and stepped away from Tim, who with surprising speed grabbed my wrist and dragged me back into his body and pressed me against his locker. I simply stared up at him waiting for him to speak. "I'm not going to drink this Lexie"

I leant forward even more so our noses were almost touching and I could feel his breath on my skin. "Then prove it" I whispered, yanking myself away from Tim and storming off down the corridor. Only realising then that we had had an audience for our entire conversation. Well it would give the rumour mill something to talk about at least.

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I went into the cheerleader practise room still thinking about Tim. I had about 1% hope that he wouldn't drink that beer. Lyla signalled me over and I walked over to where she was sat in front of her mirror flicking mascara on. When I got over she quickly stood and pushed me down onto the chair. "Your turn" she demanded. As she pulled my long hair out of the scruffy ponytail I had put it in, and retied it with a ribbon. This was a ritual we went through before every game. Lyla would sigh when I came in looking like a wreck then she would proceed to make me look like a pod person cheerleader. "So I went and gave Jason his cookie this morning" she said softly while smoothing foundation onto my clear skin.

"Is he ok?"

"He seemed alright this morning. I think he was going to watch the match on TV"

"Lyla do you talk to Tim much?" I asked, Lyla shook her head.

"No more than I used to. I did try but.." Lyla shrugged "Well you know what Tim's like, probably better than I do"

I sighed "Yeah I know" For the rest of the time I sat in silence while Lyla finished putting make up on me and tugging on bits of uniform straightening it out. We spent the rest of the afternoon putting the final touches to our routines, making sure they were perfect. All to soon game time rolled round and taking hold of Lyla's hand I walked out onto the pitch. The Dillon fan's were already here waving flags and scarves. Many had signs with well wishes directed towards Jason. I noticed Landry in the crowd and smiled as he waved at me. Lyla frowned at this but refrained from saying anything. After a few more minutes under the blaring lights the Panthers emerged onto the field. I watched as the boys ran onto the field. Most I had known since childhood. The benefits of being QB1's sister. Or the former QB1's sister I reminded myself as I watched Matt Saracen come out onto the field. Helmet hanging from his hand. He saw me and I smiled. He hesitantly smiled back.

"Good luck" I mouthed at him.

"Thanks" I saw him mouth back then he pushed his helmet on. Looking round I saw #33, Tim watching me, I smiled slightly at him to as he nodded his head to me and yanked his helmet on.

"Do you think we can do this?" I heard Lyla whisper close to me ear.

I looked over at the boy's lining up and the coach on the side lines, then the panther fan's behind us. "I really hope so Lyla, I really do"

I was cringing by the time half time happened and the panthers trudged off the field. I had cheered my heart out but nothing seemed to help. Every time we got the ball we were taken down. Matt, Smash even Riggins all of them had been brought down. Riggins I was most surprised by supposedly one of the toughest fullbacks in the country and he had played like the weakest. It wasn't in Tim to fail, so what was happening. Each and every time one of the boys had gone down I had flinched, waiting for them to not get back up, just like Jason. I had heard every crack of their pads meeting the floor, saw every wince on their faces as they got back to their feet. Felt it each time their bodies had collided with a defender. I didn't know how much more I could take, never mind what they must be feeling.

I could only imagine the grilling the boys were getting by coach at this point. I just hoped he didn't hurt them, as they still had two quarters to play. Soon enough they were back, I jumped with the rest of the cheerleaders. Shouting out 'GO PANTHERS' hoping it would be enough.

We had 15 seconds left and 9 yards to go. The boys could do this. I had faith in them, faith that they could draw this game out of the hat. This town needed the win, the coach needed the win, the boys needed the win. Hell I needed the win. I had stopped cheering as the ball was played, along with the others all riveted on Matt Saracen, as he jumped backwards, avoided the hand off and then pull off a thrilling spin to miss a defender. My heart was literally in my throat as I saw him run towards the end zone. He was going to make it we were going to win. In almost slow motion I watched him jump, diving towards the line. As defenders went for him. The whistle blew and Matt landed. No one could see if he had made it but they were screaming anyway. I simply stood waiting as the referee walked forward. My heart was thudding as he stood staring down at Matt on the floor, then looked up. He shook his head and my world caved again. We hadn't made it. We had lost.

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I wound my windows down a bit further and turned up the volume on the car stereo, blasting out some old rock tapes I had found in one of my drawers. I was singing along when I passed Matt Saracen's house. I saw him and Landry sat outside his house in front of his Dillon Panther sign. Someone had written LOSER across it. Sighing I pulled my truck up and jumped out walking over. "Hey Matt, Landry" I said, both boys turned to look at me as I pushed my sunglasses up onto the top of my head. "That doesn't look pleasant"

Landry smiled at me and Matt just stared blankly. I was beginning to think he had a real problem talking to girls. "Who did that?" I asked pointing to the writing.

Matt shrugged "I, uh I don't know"

I watched him scrub at it without any real luck for a few more minutes "Do you want some help?"

Matt looked up shocked "From you"

I laughed "Well yeah, unless I offend you"

Matt blushed once again, "Yo..o..ou don't offend me L..Lexie"

"Good I'll help then" I pulled Landry's rag from his hands, and dropped down onto the grass next to Matt. Scrubbing at the R on the other side of the board. "You realise that whoever did this was just being jerks right?" I asked looking over at Matt "You played really well on Friday. Even Jason said you did well"

"Jason said something about me?"

I nodded, "Yep, I went to see him this morning and he said you had the makings of a brilliant quarter back. So don't listen to these idiots"

"See Matt, didn't I tell you not to worry" came Landry's voice above my head. From the look on Matt's face I could tell this was probably the last thing that he had been saying.

"Hey Landry, you're a maths genius right?" I asked, suddenly having an inspired idea.

"I am. Why?"

"Well I'm having a problem with my calculus. Do you reckon you could give me a hand" I visibly noticed Landry's chest puffing out with pride as he nodded.

"Of course. I'm always willing to lend a hand to the less academically gifted students. When are you free?"

"Pretty much whenever I want to be" Landry frowned in confusion "I'm Lexie Street. If I don't show up to lesson's no one bothers. One of the few advantages to being a football players sister. So whenever your free is fine"

Landry nodded "Alright, I'll come find you on Monday"

"And you Matt, do you still want to go over the rest of the plays?" I asked.

"Uh sure, if you don't mind. Or if uh… Riggs wouldn't mind"

I scowled at the mention of Tim "Tim's got nothing to do with this" I stated. "If you want my help you can have it"

"Oh, uh thanks Lexie"

"No problem" I said, continuing to scrub at the R.

It took us a good few hours to get rid of the writing on the sign, mainly due to the fact that we kept stopping to talk, and then me and Landry got caught up in a game of throwing Matt's football through the hoop he had made. In which I won spectacularly. Then I met Mrs Saracen. Who was over the moon that Matt had a female friend and insisted I come inside and have cake. By the time I finally left Matt's it was dark, and he walked me over to my truck. "I'm sorry bout my grandma" he muttered.

"What, no Matt don't be sorry. She's sweet" I insisted. "Never be sorry for your family Matt. No matter how screwed up they seem to be. Trust me it can always get worse" I could see that Matt had blushed again, even in the darkness. The poor boy was adorable though. Even if he was a year younger than me. I squeezed his shoulder. "Thanks for a wonderful afternoon Matt. I had fun"

Matt nodded. "Yeah, uh thanks for your help with the sign. So uh maybe I could do with some more help on the.. the play book"

I smiled at him "Sure, just come find me. I'm normally with Lyla, or sometimes Tyra, you know Tim's on/off girlfriend"

"I know who T…Tyra is" he stuttered.

"Good, alright then Matt. I'll see you around"

He nodded again as I got in my truck and flicked the lights on, pulling away as Matt went back inside.

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I sat in the front seat of the car next to my mom as we drove to the store. Apparently I didn't have anything decent enough for the 'pancake supper' that Lyla was planning to raise money for Jason. I had insisted I could just wear my cheerleading uniform like all the others but that hadn't been good enough.

"Now I want you to get something really nice darling" my mom said as we pulled up "Something really lady like, so you'll be doing your brother and us proud"

"Yeah mom. Ok" I muttered slamming the door to the car. I hadn't noticed Tim's truck when we pulled in but I saw it now, with Tim in the cab eating chicken. My mom noticed him to

"Is that Tim?" she asked me. I nodded and folded my arms across my stomach.

"Yeah I think so, come on mom can we just get this done"

"No hold on a minute honey, I want to talk to him"

Sighing I watched her walk over to Tim, and then the quiet mumble of voices. Not that I could hear their conversation. I saw Tim nod, and my mom smile and push the hair off his face. Then his eyes flicked over her and settled on me. I was still scowling with my arms crossed and Tim smirked at me. Hell why did he have to do that every time I saw him. I pushed my sunglasses back up my nose and flicked my hair over my shoulder "Come on mom" I shouted.

My mom nodded, and said one more thing to Tim before she walked over. "The poor boy" she said softly to me.

"Tim?" I questioned. "What's he done know?"

My mom looked down at me as we went into the store. "Why do you sound so bitter honey. I thought you and Tim were friends as well"

"Yeah before he abandoned my brother" I muttered making my mother sigh.

"Honey he's just busy you know with football and everything. We can't blame him. Anyway he's going to come to the pancake supper"

"Oh and that makes everything so much better doesn't it" I snapped. "Because him coming to the pancake supper makes it alright that he hasn't been to see Jason once since his accident"

My moms lips thinned at the mention of the accident. She still didn't like talking about it. "Lexie honey I don't think I like your tone"

I snapped, I had had enough. "You know what mom I don't care. I ain't doing this. I am not being dressed up like a doll and paraded round a supper for your happiness. I just ain't. So stuff your shopping trip and everything else. I'm just not interested" I turned and stormed out of the shop, leaving my mom opened mouthed. Tim's truck was still in the lot and with a lack of options to escaping my mom I went round the other side and opened the door jumping in. Tim rose one eyebrow at me. "Just drive Tim" I demanded. Luckily for Tim he just did, pulling out just as my mother regained her movement. "Was that the best idea?" Tim asked me softly.

"I don't care" I snapped. "I simply don't care anymore"

Tim gave me a quick glance but wisely shut up. Driving me back to the house in silence. When he pulled up I sat there a bit longer. "My mom says your coming tonight. Will you actually turn up" Tim turned to look at me, his hair hanging in his eyes and his face blank. For just a minute I got a look at the guilt that he was hiding behind that face. The pain he felt about my brothers accident. Moving over the seat I placed my hand on his cheek. "Look Tim, it wasn't your fault ok. Now I know you won't believe me but I really think you should come tonight. It might be good for you"

Tim nodded and I turned to leave. "Hey Lexie" he said suddenly. I turned back to him as he handed me a brown paper bag, smiling I took it off him opening it to find the full alcohol bottles that I had given him on Friday. "Tell jay thanks ok"

Leaning over I pulled him into my chest hugging him. Then kissing his cheek. "I'll see you around Tim"

He nodded. "Yeah see you Lexie"

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I was stood in the corner of the room, avoiding the well wishers when I saw Tyra come in. She looked round the room like she was looking for someone, most likely Tim. Who hadn't showed up. What a big surprise there. She noticed me and walked over, followed closely by smash. "Hey Lexie you seen Tim?"

I shook my head "No, not since this morning"

"damn he said he was gonna be here" Tyra complained, just as Smash reached us.

"Well look what we have here, Two ray's of sunshine"

Tyra glared at him. "Yeah not now smash. Have you seen Tim?"

Smash looked between the two of us "Nah, I haven't seen Riggs. He's probably passed out somewhere by now"

I glared at smash. "Tim isn't drinking" I snapped.

Smash rose one eyebrow at me "just cause he ain't drinking in front of you little street, don't mean he's stopped"

"He gave me the alcohol back" I stated.

"He gave you some alcohol back. How easy would it be for him to find more"

I sighed, knowing smash was right. This was Tim and he couldn't be changed by me or anyone else. God know's we had all been trying for years. Tyra was glaring at smash now as well. "God smash can you at least try and be civil, get out of here" she snapped. Smash glared at the two of us before finally relenting and leaving us be. "Do you know where he'll be?" Tyra asked me.

I nodded "The cliffs. Come on I'll show you"

Sure enough when we got the cliffs Tim was stood on them, hitting empty beer cans off the edge with a golf club. Any remaining pity I had for him vanished when I saw the empty cans. He had been lying to me. Tyra seemed to have the same idea as me.

"Hey Dumb ass" she shouted making Tim turn, he paled slightly when he saw me but didn't answer her. "You just gonna ignore me, think I'll go away" she demanded jumping out of the truck.

"That's what I keep hoping, but you don't seem to wanna get the message" Tim slurred. God he was so drunk. I kept my butt in the seat though, not wanting to interrupt them.

"You know your such a big tough guy, you can't even go and see Jason in the hospital. I mean damn it Tim, grow a set why don't you. Cause we both know that's what this is all about" Tyra screamed storming back to the car. Tim's shout stopping her "Hey Tyra how's smash? Was he good? Did you have a nice time?"

"Nothing happened. Not really. Anyway don't pretend like you haven't slept with half the rally girls"

"We sure do have something special here Tyra" Tim drawled, whacking another beer can over the ledge.

"Yeah you know maybe your right. Maybe I am wasting my time. Cause your just another mediocre football player who's gonna grow up to drink himself to death. Maybe we should just end this right now"

"See you round then" Tim said.

"I am serious Tim" Tyra shouted "If I get into this car right now I ain't never coming back. Do you understand me?"

"I get it" Tim drawled, hitting another can and taking a swig out of the one in his hand.

"That's it? Breaking up for real and that's all you have to say? That was great" Tyra shouted jumping back into the seat. She turned to look at me

"Hold on one second" I said softly getting out of the truck and walking up to Tim, who was barely seeing me he was so drunk. I was surprised he wasn't passed out somewhere. He looked like he was barely on his feet. "You're an idiot Timmy" I said softly. "A complete idiot"

He scowled at me "I don't need another one of your lectures right now Lexie"

"I don't care. You lied to me Tim. Why did you even bother giving me that alcohol back if all you were gonna do was come up here and drink yourself stupid"

Tim shrugged and set up another can "I don't know, seemed right at the time" he muttered, sending the can flying.

"Well you know what Tim, this is me officially giving up" Tim looked up at me in surprise. "I officially don't care what you do. From this point on I can't help but think that Jason would be better off without you. You just broke Tyra's heart and you couldn't even think up a better statement than see you round. You aren't being the boy I knew, and I don't like what your becoming. So I'm through. I'll still be your cheerleader but that's all I am now. You get it" I stormed away from Tim back towards the truck.

"Lexie" Tim shouted wobbling down to me.

"What Tim?" I said wearily. As he reached me I got a full whiff of the alcohol on his breath and couldn't help but screw my nose up at the smell. He smelt worse than a brewery. How many had he drank? Tim frowned at me. "I didn't want to hurt you Lexie" he said softly.

I looked up at Tim. I had known him for as long as I could remember, I had always been on the nice side of him though. I had been gifted with special treatment from Riggins. Seeing only the soft side of him. These last few days I had seen all the worse traits that got him his reputation in Dillon, and the way he had just handled Tyra had been the final straw for me. Until he cleaned himself up I was done. "I know you didn't Tim" I said slowly. "But you still did"

"Hey Lexie you coming?" Tyra shouted from the truck. I nodded and left Tim once again. I climbed up into the seat next to Tyra. I couldn't help but look back as she pulled away. Just in time to see Tim take another swig from his can and whack another can off the cliff. I just didn't know what to do with him.

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All done, hope you enjoyed it, let me now what ya'll think. :)