I don't own the show or the characters, NOTHING!

The only sound was some country song playing on the radio. The silence between the two in the old truck was comfortable, but they both felt an odd pressure. The weight of something that was growing between the two pushing down on them to the point where it was almost painful.

Julie shifted her eyes to the left, sneaking a quick look at the tall, tanned god next to her. Tim was driving along at a surprisingly steady pace, although even with him driving slowly they were almost at the Taylors' house, tapping his fingers to the song absentmindedly.

"So, um, sorry that Dad asked you to drop me home. I told him I could've just caught the bus or something, but you know him..." Julie trailed off.

Tim quirked his mouth into a smirk, turning his head quickly to give her a look that would make most girls fall to their knees, "We've been over this, Jules. It's fine. Besides, I feel honoured. I thought Coach would rather quit than let some good for nothing kid like me drive his precious daughter home."

He grinned at her, knowing she would take offence at the words. He got what he wanted, Julie rolling her eyes and giving him a weak punch on the arm.

They both sat back in the silence once again. Julie's mind was replaying last night's events in her head, which had been going on since the confrontation between mother and daughter.

"Tim Riggins, Julie. I'd really, really like to know what you were doing strutting around the school underneath his arm?" Tami Taylor shouted as Julie had left the bathroom from taking her shower.

She opened her mouth, ready for a reply but was cut off once again.

"You know what, no. Nothing you say is going to be a good reason for that. Do you think I want my daughter being seen in a position with a boy like that? I know he has a good heart Julie, I do. But that does not help with the reputation he already has. I've had so many girls coming into my office to cry their eyes out about one boy. One boy, Julie, do you want to take a guess at who that is?"

Julie raised an eyebrow and fought the smile that was pulling at her lips, "Umm, Tim?"

"Yes, Julie. Tim Riggins has been the number one reason for the long list of crying girls in my office. Not 'I'm being bullied, my grades aren't good enough, my boyfriend wants me to have sex.' No, it's all about Tim and his great reputation of loving and leaving girls."

Julie stood up a little straighter and cut her mother off from her rant, feeling slightly defensive over the attack on the footballer.

"Mom, Tim was being a friend. Really. Matt came up to me in the halls and said some things that got me upset. Tim saw it all happen and was trying to cheer me up. He's a good guy. I mean, he was staying with us for long enough I thought you would've figured that out when he was here. You've seen him with Gracie, and he was always helping out. He's a good guy."

Julie gave her mother a pleading look and got an unimpressed one in return. She knew very well just how believable she would have to be before her mother would stop interrogating her.

"And nothing is happening between us," Julie knew she was lying to both her mother and herself. "What would he see in me anyway? And he knows Dad would murder him if he even glanced the wrong way in my direction. Stop stressing."

Tami sighed and nodded her head, giving in to her eldest daughter. "Okay Honey, I believe you. I just don't want to see you hurt again. You're a teenager, you're going through lots of different emotions and it'd be perfectly natural if you had a crush on Tim, but I just know you would regret it in the long run. You're right, he is a good kid at heart but he doesn't know what he's doing when it comes to girls."

Julie nodded her head encouragingly at her mother, praying that she wouldn't see through her lies.

Tim was watching Julie from the corner of his eye as her face blanked out, her mind obviously on other matters.

He really was surprised when Coach had asked him to take Julie home when even he knew he couldn't trust himself around her. He hated the thought of having a stupid crush on a girl he shouldn't even be paying attention to. He had tried flirting with the other girls in school, letting them rub up against him as they used to but nothing would get the thought of the curvy little blonde with the wide eyes out of his mind.

They were technically friends now, so the stares in the hallways had begun to ease a little when they would see each other and walk together for a little bit of the way to their next class. Tim knew he had it easy – if any person questioned what he was doing with the little Taylor he could send them running with one look, but he knew Julie hadn't had it that easy.

He'd heard the whispers and nasty gossip floating around the school. It didn't take long for rumours to start in a small town and Tim felt bad that Julie had gotten dragged into the latest stories of him and his long line of conquests, but she stood firm in school and walked with her head high, even if the rally girls would throw something insulting her way.

Tim was just leaving the changing rooms when he was confronted by Coach Taylor.

"Riggins, I got a favour to ask." Coach has stated, leaning against the doorway and giving the fullback his usual penetrating glare.

Tim nodded, "Sure, coach." Tim was still trying to get back in his good books and was willing to do just about anything to make sure he stayed in them.

"They've just sprung a meeting on me with the Principal, and the wife has some appointments for Gracie that she left early for. I don't want Julie hanging around the school when even the library is closed. You mind givin' her a lift home for me, son?"

Tim stood for a moment, slightly shocked at the request, "Uh yeah, sure that's no problem Coach. I'll go find her now."

Coach had given him a brief, passing smile and Tim had set off to find Julie. She'd been leaning against her father's car, reading a book when Tim had found her. The brief show of excitement in her eyes when he told her to get in his car in a playful tone hadn't gone past him and he felt a small sense of pride, liking that she felt that way about spending even a small amount of time with him.

When Julie had situated herself in his car, he looked over and saw her sitting nervously, pulling at the seatbelt and shifting in her seat. He nudged her knee with his hand, grinning at her with a raised brow. She was mostly quiet, only sometimes humming along to the songs on the radio or making small talk.

"Your mom sure has been giving me the third degree about my intentions with you, Jules" Tim smirked, turning his head to look at her.

Julie blanched, a horrified look coming over her features, "Are you serious, Tim? Oh my god, she is so embarrassing! I told her nothing was going on..." She trailed off, hands to her face.

Tim stifled a laugh, "Yeah? What exactly isn't going on, Julie?"

"Um well, Mom may have seen us together..." She trailed off, her cheeks turning bright red. "She saw us walking down the hall together with your arm around me and she wanted to talk the other night about all the reasons why I shouldn't be starting anything with you."

Tim pulled up into the Taylors' driveway and parked the car. He sent a heated smirk her way and shifted closer, sliding his large body to her side and leant over her.

"Jules..." He breathed, leaning closer to her face and nudging his nose against hers.

"Y-yeah..." Julie stammered, fighting back her shaky breaths as he ran his hand through her hair and searched her eyes.

Tim brushed his cheek against hers and watched her blush as he slid his large hand over her waist, pulling her up against his chest.

His warm breath against her ear and she shivered, arching up against him.

"Your mom just pulled up."

Tim grinned, opening her door with his left hand and gesturing her out of the car.

Julie glared, flustered from his touches.

"Don't forget to tell your mom that we're not starting anything...yet." He smiled, smacking her on her butt as she crawled out of the car.

"Well no Tim, no one will suspect a thing now!" Julie rolled her eyes and slammed the door on his laughing face.

I'm sorry it took forever for an update! My laptop decided to commit suicide and I had to get a new one, dammit =(

But I hope you all like this chapter. I'm working on an actual one-shot as well which should hopefully be up soon.

Let me know what you think!

xx