Julie's POV:

Julie stretched out on her bed, chin resting on the book in front of her. She tried to engage herself in Thoreau's Civil Disobedience to the best of her ability. Her bedroom door was ajar and she could hear the cries of her baby sister, Gracie. Her cell phone was repeatedly going off because of an unread text, and her television was flipped onto MTV at a fairly high volume. All of this was going on so Julie would be too distracted to be thinking about her former counterpart. It was not working.

Homework was always more entertaining with Matt Saracen around. There was the comfort of having someone with you, helping you get through a book or essay. It didn't hurt that she could always take a study break or two to indulge in some hot and heavy foreplay either.

"Hey Jules, would you mind picking up some dinner from Alamo Freeze? I'm swamped with Gracie and your dad is busy working on plays."

Julie turned off her TV and stared at her mom in disbelief.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Oh baby, I know it's a bit of a walk but it's actually cooled off some. Don't you want a study break anyhow?"

Julie continued to stare blankly.

Her mom smiled, gave her a "thank you so much" that was usually saved for booster members or faculty that she didn't particularly care for, and retreated back to the living room to attend to her papers and the newest arrival of the Taylor family.

Julie looked in the mirror. She couldn't believe that her own mom didn't consider how horrible it was for her to have to walk into a restaurant and speak to Matt. But of course, how could anyone focus on anything other than cute little Gracie? But still, being a guidance counselor should give you some kind of insight to what it's like for teenagers after a break-up, right? Apparently that scrutiny didn't apply to your own kids.

Getting up from her bed, she analyzed her reflection. Her hair was a little tousled from her pillow, her eye make-up had faded, and she was wearing simple jeans and a tee-shirt. Going to a closet in search of a cute blouse, she stopped midway.

"Enough"

Julie needed to stop focusing so much on her appearance in front of Matt. When he had told her he didn't think it was a good idea to pick up where they left off, he had made it clear they were over. Matt dating a rally girl had only solidified his decision. So Julie walked out of her house in her plain outfit and plain make-up, feeling slightly confident that she was not going to let him have such an effect on her when she walked into the Alamo Freeze. As her legs led the way, her hands subconsciously made sure the necklace was in full view.

~~~***~~*~~

Tim's POV:

"Alright, catch ya later seven"

Tim walked out into the cool Texan air. His head was down as he bumped into a petite blonde standing directly in front of the door way.

"Whoa, sorry Taylor. What's the hold up?"

Julie Taylor broke eye contact with whatever was holding her attention inside the Freeze.

"Oh, sorry. Nothing. Nothing. Sorry."

He felt a little bit curious as to why she was so nervous, but then he remembered the recent break up between the quarterback and the coach's daughter.

"Don't worry about it" Tim said with a smirk, but Julie was already walking inside.

He hopped in his truck, pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards a familiar cul-de-sac. Though him and Tyra had been over for a while now, he could still recall all the times he would come over in the middle of the night after Billy and him had had one of their blowouts.

It was never over anything serious; sometimes just a drunken brawl or Tim finally getting sick of Billy breathing down his neck about his school work and his lack of responsibility. Nevertheless, he could always count on Tyra for a place to sleep and an outlet for some of his anger. No matter how drunk he was or what time the clock read, Tyra wouldn't hesitate to wrap her legs around him and let herself become his physical release.

As he parked his truck in the gravel driveway, he thought about the nights that had made him drive over here. The night his father had refused to show up to Tim's first varsity football game; the night Billy had called him a worthless piece of shit after he failed two classes; the night when he was near black-out drunk after all the beer he had consumed trying to forget about the perfect couple his best friend and girlfriend made. Anytime he felt useless, Tyra's kisses and moans made him feel on top of the world.

Tim grabbed his bag from his truck and knocked on the Collette door. Tyra answered and looked at Tim with disdain.

"Yes?"

He hesitated, nervously shifted from foot to foot, and looked at her face pleadingly.

"Hey, I really need a place to stay. Please"

She took in his messy hair and duffel.

"Forty-eight hours, Tim. That's all you got."

He nodded and followed her inside. For the first time ever, he felt uneasy being in the living room. She hadn't answered the door in a welcoming kind of way, and they weren't rushing for a bed. Or a shower. Or a counter.

"You can crash on the couch. Don't even dream about stepping foot in my bedroom."

Ouch. Tim told her he wouldn't dream of it, set his bag down, and headed to the fridge for a much needed beer. He thanked God above that it was heavily stocked with some cold Bud Light. At least that hadn't changed. Tyra just stood there, watching Tim help himself to her beer, and started to head for her room. Tim didn't know how to busy himself, and he was too sober to be left alone with his thoughts.

"Want to join me?"

He knew she probably did not want to join him. He knew she most likely was not the slightest bit happy that he was there, and there was a good chance his presence annoyed her, if not infuriated her. He refused to fully accept all this, however, because it hurt more than he expected. She begrudgingly turned around and headed for the kitchen as well, returning with a six pack. She flipped on the television and turned to Tim.

"Well, what do you feel like watching?"

~~**~*~*~**~~~~

Julie's POV:

She walked in just as Matt was leaning on the counter laughing with Lauren the rally girl. He lazily looked up as the bell rang, notifying him he had a customer. Julie watched as his posture changed when he noticed it was her.

She nervously met his eyes, and quietly told him she would take two "number 4's" and one large Alamo burger with extra ketchup and onions. He gave a hint of a smile, and told her she could have just said the usual. She nodded, but didn't say anything back. Her head was reeling with memories of all the times she'd come in and get discount meals for her family because of Matt. He'd laugh and pretend to ring it up while she'd sit on the counter as he flipped the burgers and filled up the soda.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Lauren, with her heavily made up face and her intrinsic hair style, sit down in a booth in the back. At least she had the decency to not parade her new relationship with the QB1 in front of the QB1's ex.

As he packaged up the food, he told her it was on the house. Julie just shook her head and handed him the money her mom had given her. He awkwardly took it, returned the change, and said "See you later, okay?"

Julie started to turn around, but stopped herself.

"Matt, I'm sorry. You were right. I was treating you horribly, and I don't know why. I was upset with my parents and I was acting out, and for some reason, I took it out on the one person I could count on. I guess I never really apologized, and I'm so sorry for that, too."

He looked at her. He seemed astonished, but he managed to find some words, and told her it was fine. That he understood.

Julie looked down, then up again, seeing that he too had traces of pain on his face. She cursed her tear ducts as she felt her eyes cloud up.

"Well, maybe we can be friends or something? Right?"

"Yeah, I'd like that."

She gave him one more smile, and walked out the door. Turning around one last time, she saw Lauren get up from her booth and go back to her position on the counter. Matt didn't look like he was smiling, but after only a few seconds, his face perked up and began laughing again.

Julie's walk back home was a lot less confident. And her necklace was left on the cracked gravel of the Alamo Freeze parking lot.

~~~~~***~~*~~

Tim's POV:

Two six packs later, Tim and Tyra were laughing on the Collette couch, all awkwardness forgotten. Die Hard was playing in the background as Tim got up to retrieve some more beer.

"Tim", Tyra wheezed, "You were so obsessed with this movie. I remember before every game you used to say "Yippie Kye Yay, Motherfucker" like it was no big thing. Like no one knew that you didn't make it up."

Tim shook his head at the memory that was years ago. Other memories surrounding that time frame started to resurface, like Jason Street still being the star quarterback and Lyla Garrity still being the perfect doting girlfriend, but he shut that can of worms immediately. He didn't need the bitter hole in his chest to burn at those thoughts.

Instead he cracked open two more beers, handed one to his blonde friend, and drank nearly half of his in one gulp. A commercial had interrupted the movie and quietness dawned on them. Tension started to creep up and Tim tried to shake it off like a pesky fly.

"So when is your mom coming home?"

Tyra looked out the window and shook her head. She looked at Tim and told him she didn't know. Mindy would be working late, too.

Tim nodded and took another gulp of beer. He realized it was still pretty early, only eight pm, and he was feeling a sort of energy in his legs. He was always content sitting around and drinking beer, but it was usually after or before a strenuous practice. Having the pent up energy in his body only reminded him of the fact that he was no longer part of the Panther football team.

"Did you know I got kicked off the team?"

Tyra turned away from him and nodded.

"Landry told me. I'm sorry, Tim. Why did you skip town though?"

"Jason"

Tyra nodded.

"So you and Landry are pretty close now, huh? Anything I should know about?"

She looked at him puzzled, then shook her head.

"No, not at all. We're just friends."

Tim nodded. He knew there was something more there, especially because of the way Landry was constantly raving about Tyra. Instead of pushing it further, he finished his beer and leaned into the couch a little bit more. He heard the sound of aluminum crinkling as Tyra finished her beer as well. She set it down and cleared her throat. Tim cleared his as well. He licked his lips and stole a side glance at Tyra. She leaned into Tim a little bit more.

Without thinking Tim turned his face into hers and kissed her. Hard. Before he knew what was happening, Tyra was on top of him and was unbuttoning his shirt. His brain was fuzzy but his body was working on memory, for this was familiar territory. As he lifted one hand up the back of her shirt while the other worked at the hem of her jeans, he pushed all thoughts of Lyla Garrity, Billy, Jackie, and Coach Taylor out of his head. He needed to feel on top of the world, and Tyra was willing to let him.