Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Let's talk about sex

Saturday

Julie stands close to her Mom as they huddle on the bleachers watching the game. The announcer overhead runs his commentary as the crowd cheers.

"And this has been a close game; the Dillon Panthers have been neck and neck with these Wade County Tigers. At the end of the third quarter, they are tied seventeen to seventeen. But these Dillon Panthers are known for clinching the fourth quarter so anything is possible. Number Seven, Matt Saracen has been pivotal in this game. Smash Williams has also found great momentum. The Tigers have been matching blow for blow and this is the perfect time for the Panthers to break away. Oh, Matt Saracen has turned the ball over. Ladies and Gentleman, Justice Marks intercepted the pass and he's going for the forty the thirty. But, what's this Tim Riggins number thirty-three has made the tackle. Folks the ball is loose and Smash Williams has regained the ball. It looks like he has a clear path as he goes for the fifty, the forty…. Touchdown, Dillon Panther's! Uh-oh folks. Tim Riggins isn't getting up. Justice is on his feet, but it seems number thirty-three is still down. The crowd is on their feet. This is not good for the Panthers, after losing Jason Street, they're not prepared for another tragedy."

"That's right Mark, and for those who were there for that infamous game, which took the legs of Street, this play was oddly similar. Almost identical, except of course Riggins was there for the tackle."

Julie's heart drops, as she makes her way towards the field. Tami, shocked by her daughter's urgency follows.

"The audience hasn't exhaled here at the Van Busen stadium. Of course, what's going through the Panther's minds is another Jason Street. Eric Taylor and the trainers are on the field, as you hear silent sobs in the stands. Oh, I think I saw some movement. They're bringing out the stretcher, it looks like Tim is trying to get up. The paramedics get him up as he waves to the crowd."

"This is typical Tim Riggins behavior. I'm getting word that he was knocked out, for less than a minute."

Well Mark it seemed like forever here especially for the Panthers. Have they said what's wrong with him?"

"They're thinking a mild concussion, but as you know he's out of this game."

"Well that is the epitome of taking one for the team. That tackle brought the Panthers up and gave them momentum."

"And we know that the Panthers are fantastic when they have a goal."

"Well I feel bad for the kicker, who now has to go for the extra point."

"You should feel bad for the Tigers Mark, cause the Panthers are going to be unbeatable right now."

Julie stands by the sidelines, with her Mother next to her. Billy and his father are waiting as well. She looks to him and then to her Mom. Billy walks over to Julie smiling.

"Hey, you want to come with us to the hospital?"

Julie looks to her Mother, who nods.

--

Julie holds her breath for a moment exhaling as she wills herself to remain calm.

She hates hospitals; visiting two in one week makes her feel sick.

"Hey."

She looks up as Billy, and his father stare at her.

"He asked for you."

She nods, shuffling her feet.

"He's fine, mild concussion. The doc just wants to keep him on observation for an hour or whatever."

She smiles turning towards the door. Taking a deep breath, she walks into Tim's room.

He looks uncomfortable, lying in the bed clothed only in a hospital gown. His pads and uniform are on the chair next to him.

"Jules."

She knew he was fine, but seeing him in a hospital bed, looking vulnerable made her lose control. She begins to cry as he smiles unsure.

"Hey, Julie."

He puts his hand out; all she wants to do is touch him.

"I'm fine."

His hand takes hers, as she wipes a tear away.

"I still get to see you in your lifeguard suit tonight right?"

He smirks devilishly, flirting despite his predicament. She laughs shaking her head.

"Jerk."

He grins, glad she's not crying anymore.

"So, Billy doesn't know the final score, did we win?"

She shrugs, looking into his eyes.

"Don't know."

He nods, rubbing his thumb over the soft fleshy section of her hand. He was the only guy who had ever stroked her hand like that. It was easy to see how girls threw themselves at him. Her heart raced, just from the gentlest touch. He smiles, licking his lips as he searches her face.

"So I've been thinking…"

Julie laughs rubbing the last remaining tear from her cheek.

"Yeah?"

"I was out for a minute, and when I came to, well it's been on my mind…"

"What a cold beer, or…?"

"You, I mean us. Be my girl, Taylor?"

Her jaw drops as he smirks looking to her lips, begging to kiss them.

"Riggins?"

Julie jumps as she looks to the doorway. Her father was smiling with half the team behind him. She lets go of his hand, backing away.

"I'll just, uh, wait in the hall."

He nods as she squeezes past the team. When she passes Matt he barely meets her gaze.

"Hey."

She nods scooting by the large boys.

"Two-O."

Smash shakes hands with Tim as Matt holds on to the game ball.

"Glad that hard head of yours is good for something Riggs."

Tim laughs nodding.

"You guys take this?"

Some of the players nod as Matt approaches the bed shyly.

"Y-yeah, thanks to you."

Tim smiles, taking the ball.

"So, we're going to States?"

The guys who are crammed into the room nod as Coach Taylor smirks.

"We're going to states."

Matt looks down, as Brian laughs.

"Clear eyes, full hearts can't lose baby!"

"Can't lose" The other players repeat as they pat each other on the back.

--

"Hey baby girl."

Tami smiles, worriedly as she nudges her daughter.

"You okay?"

Julie looks around; some of the players were idling in the hall.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. So can I still go to that party?"

Her Mother frowns, bouncing the baby in her arms.

"Tim's party, he even still having that thing?"

"Yeah, party!"

A few players walk by excited. Julie raises her eyebrows as Tami rolls her eyes.

"Oh, okay well…"

Eric walks out of the room, rubbing his forehead as he approaches his family.

"Hey baby."

The couple kiss, as Julie looks away towards the boys filtering out of the room. Matt locks eyes with Julie as he follows Landry. He looks down before back up again searching her face for some kind of clue.

"Uh, Matt could take me, maybe?"

Matt furrows his brow, confused as the Taylors watch on.

"Um, I c-could?"

Tami smirks as Eric raises his eyebrows.

"Well yeah, you're going to Tim's right? A-and I said I'd lifeguard for his pool, s-so."

She gives Matt her puppy dog eyes as he shrugs.

"Y-yeah I could uh, yeah, we can ride together."

"Great."

Julie smiles as she turns to her parents.

"See, everything's settled."

--

"S-so, you and Tim?"

Julie looks down, biting her lips as Matt pulls onto Tim's street.

"Uh, I don't know, y-yeah. Maybe."

Matt nods, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah so, uh…"

Julie smiles, getting out of his car.

--

As Julie sits atop of the white wooden tower overlooking her classmates who are jumping into the pool, she smiles. A crowd rushes to the door as all attention goes to the porch. Tim, still wearing his hospital gown over a pair of swim shorts saunters out. Some clap while others whistle. Tim laughs, pushing the hair from his eyes as he immediately scans the yard looking for Julie. When he spots her, high above the pool his eyes light up. Smirking he walks over towards her with a beer in hand.

"That's a great look."

He nods raising his hands in the air so she can get a good look.

"Yeah, I thought I'd try something new."

Julie licks her lip as she bites it, hiding a smile.

"S-so this tower looks kinda familiar."

He nods grinning as he tilts his head to the side staring at her exposed legs.

"Yeah, I might have borrowed it from the town pool."

"You mean steal?"

He chuckles shrugging.

"I'm going to return it so, technically…"

"Y-yeah."

He smiles scanning the crowd.

"So, have you had to rescue anyone yet?"

She shakes her head, as he rests his hand near her ankle.

"So what do I have to do to get you alone?"

Her heart skips a few beats as she looks around. Her cheeks are flushed in the hot night air. However, Tim was in full flirt mode tonight.

"I-uh…"

He motions for her to get down as he waits.

"Yeah?"

He smiles as she touches the ground. Taking her hand she flushes as Tim leads her to a corner of his lawn.

"So, about what I asked you earlier?'

Julie blushes nodding.

"Uh, y-yeah, um what about it?"

He moves closer to her, his breath against her bare skin is unbearable.

"About you, and me?"

He licks his bottom lip, smirking as he stares at her lips. Leaning down he kisses her, it is full and sweet and when he pulls away, his eyes pierce through hers.

"That's the first thing I wanted to do when, I came to tonight."

He smiles, pushing a loose strand of her hair from her face. He rests his hand on her shoulder, his smile widening as he laughs.

"You did?"

He nods cupping her face in his hands.

"So, how about it?"

Julie takes a deep breath shrugging.

"I'm not going to sleep with you."

He laughs a full belly laugh, as he throws his head back shaking his head.

"I'm not asking you to sleep with me; I'm asking you to be my girl. Ya know, I'm asking for, I don't know for you to give me a chance."

She bites her lip as he grabs her hand.

--

Monday

"You didn't say yes?"

Julie shrugs as she closes her locker; she looks to Lyla before taking off after the Junior.

"No, I mean you didn't say yes, you can't make it that easy for him."

Julie laughs.

"Tell her she shouldn't have said yes…"

Tyra looks to Lyla who shrugs, away in thought.

"I broke up with Chris."

Julie and Tyra stop, staring at their friend.

"Wait you broke up with Chris?"

Julie stares at Lyla as Tyra frowns.

"Don't you change the subject."

Julie rolls her eyes.

"I told him I had to think about it. Wait, what happened with Chris?"

Lyla sighs, as Tyra looks to the brunette.

"I don't know, I just…"

"Got sick and tired of the Jesus crap?"

Lyla rolls her eyes as Tyra makes a face.

"N-no, we ran into Jason and…"

"And he saw the look on your face and realized you weren't over him?"

Lyla bit her lip as she turns away leading the girls down the hall.

"I'm a mess…."

Tyra wrinkles her nose tilting her head from side to side.

"That's not how I'd put it but…"

Julie looks to Tyra laughing as she shakes her head.

--

"Jewel, Paula Cole? You have half the Lilith fair over there."

Jason smirks as Lyla laughs nodding. He's holding a cd in his lap, as he wheels closer to her.

"So what's the occasion?"

Lyla shrugs, as Jason nods smiling.

"So, uh, h-how's um… Chris?"

Lyla licks her bottom lip nodding as she looks towards the window before answering.

"Yeah, I-I'm uh not sure, good I guess."

Jason smiles tilting his head.

"What do you mean?"

Lyla chuckles as she walks forward, Jason wheels closer. Lyla turns to him impatient.

"We broke up."

She throws her hands in the air.

"Is that what you wanted me to say, we broke up Jason. He's not you, he could never be you. And after he finally met you, he saw right through me."

Jason frowns, trying to hide a smile that threatens to erupt upon his face.

"Don't smile!"

Jason couldn't help it. He continues to smile, as she turns from him annoyed and walks to the checkout counter.

"Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to smile it's just."

He laughs as she looks down to him before back at the cashier taking her change.

"It's just what Jason? You are enjoying this way too much…"

Jason waves at the cashier as he follows Lyla out of the store.

"Have dinner with me!"

Lyla stops, looking down as she shakes her head upset.

"What?"

He laughs pushing his wheelchair closer to her, as he sees her resolve weakening.

"Have dinner with me, tonight, or tomorrow night…just…"

She laughs wiping the tears from her eyes.

"We tried that before remember, you and I just don't work."

He nods biting his lip as he reaches out taking her hand.

"We don't work with other people either. With you, you're the only one for me Lyla."

Lyla looks at him, taking a deep breath before answering.

--

Tuesday

"We should be doing our work; you have that essay to write by Friday."

Tim was playing with Julie's fingers, as she blushes, trying to concentrate on her book.

"I'm multitasking."

Julie laughs, as he smirks meeting her eyes.

"Texas A&M is considering me, for a football and academic scholarship."

Julie stops smiling looking up at Tim who searches her face.

"A&M?"

He nods, biting his lip before licking it. His thumb continues to circle around the softness of her hand as she reddens.

"Wh-why are you telling me this now?"

Tim shrugs, as he meets her eyes again.

"I like you Julie, I mean, I really like you. And I don't, I guess, I just want you to trust me."

Julie nods, closing her book as she takes a deep breath.

"Yes."

Tim tilts his head, grinning.

"Yes, what?"

She laughs nervously, as he prods her with his flirtatious smile.

"Ya-know, yes, I'll um…"

He chuckles jumping from his seat, reaching over the table and grabbing her face to his. He kisses her passionately. When they separate he smiles, leaning closer and kissing her again. She is fully blushing, and laughs as he leans his forehead on hers.

--

"We have to focus"

He smiles licking his lips as Julie blushes while he continues to
stroke her hand.

"I am focusing."

"Yeah, not on that."

He laughs nodding.

"You're beautiful, you know that?"

She looks up slightly intrigued and annoyed.

"Does that usually work?"

He sits back, not taking his hand from hers.

"Does what work?"

"That line? Do you feed it to the Rally girls or?"

Tim shakes his head as he leans forward again, sweeping the hair from
his face as he lays his gaze intently on Julie.

"I've never said that to a Rally girl before."

He chuckles as she reddens, shaking her head.

"You just save it for what, special occasions?"

He grins staring into her eyes.

"Wanna go for a swim? Put these books away and just head to my house?
It's got to be almost one hundred degrees out there."

Julie nods tilting her head.

"It's a heat wave."

He smiles gently stroking her hand, seductively as his eyes trace her
neck and collar bone.

"Nothing a little swim couldn't help."

Julie smiles, turning back to her book.

"I don't think you have swimming on your mind, so..."

Tim shrugs.

"So...?"

"I can't, I promised I'd be home for dinner."

He laughs sitting back gently releasing her hand.

"You know, states are next week, and the roast."

Julie's heart flutters as she tries not to show she cares, tucking a
loose strand of hair behind her ears.

"Y-yeah, so?"

He grins, leaning in close to her waiting for her to meet his gaze.

"So, will you come with me?"

Julie shrugs and smirks as he wrinkles his nose.

--

Wednesday

"Sex."

"Mom!"

Tami sits on her daughter's bed, as Julie hides under the covers trying
to hide from her Mother's gaze.

"We've had this discussion before, I'm not having sex. I didn't sleep
with Matt, and I'm not sleeping with Tim."

Tami laughs, as she lays across her daughter's feet.

"You're not having sex with him now, but you're thinking about it..."

Julie peaks from outside of the blankets; she neither confirms no
denies her Mother's statement.

"And I know you have feelings for Tim, and you're going to be
seventeen. This is different than with Matt, you were younger then.
But Tim Riggins is no Matt Sarcen. I know boys like Tim, I dated boys
like Tim, and honey you can get carried away and the next thing you
know..."

Julie sits up causing Tami to look at her, as her feet pull away from
under the blanket.

"No offense Mom, but I know. I've heard the speech, and it's not even
like that with Tim."

Tami makes a face as Julie rolls her eyes.

"It's not?"

Julie shrugs smiling.

"No, there's no pressure. It's actually nice, there's not this sex
thing looming. I mean, yeah with Matt it was different because he'd
never done it and I'd never done it. But with Tim, it's like; I don't
know he's going at my pace ya know?"

Tami's eyes are wide as she listens to her daughter carefully.

"Uh, huh."

--

"They're definitely doing it."

Matt looks over at Landry giving him a dirty look, Landry shrugs as he
goes on.

"Look, don't blame me. You two with your friends, not friends and
sleeping with Nurses saga is all on you. I'm just stating the obvious,
Tim Riggins and Julie if not physically, are emotionally having sex."

Matt rubs his eyes as he stares at his best friend.

"Can y-you just stop saying that please?"

Landry puts down his soda shrugging.

"What, that they're having sex?"

Matt slams his fist on the table, gaining a little attention from
others around them in the cafeteria.

"Yes, about them having sex, look we're not even sure they're dating."

"Well didn't she like basically tell you they were, I mean...?"

Matt shrugs as he looks up, Tim is carrying a tray talking with Julie
as they sit together at a table laughing and flirting.

"Yeah, you might have a point; they don't seem to be a couple or
anything."

Matt shakes his head as he gets up from his seat, leaving Landry
alone.

"Where are you going?"

Matt just shakes his head at Landry, as he empties his tray walking the
opposite way from Julie and Tim's table.

--

"Hey."

Matt looks up at Julie who's beaming, he smiles closing his locker.

"H-hey, how's it going?"

He begins to walk down the hall as she follows.

"It's okay actually; I finally uploaded the pictures from the
concert."

Matt laughs nodding.

"Oh, yeah?"

Julie smiles, shifting her bag on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I put them up on myspace and sent them to you too. There's
a picture of that girl that gave you her number."

Matt reddens as she smiles laughing at her own words.

"O-oh y-yeah?"

She nods, biting her lip.

"So, did you call her yet?"

Matt bites the inside of his cheek as he shakes his head.

"O-oh, n-no, I don't think it'd work I mean she's from Austin
and it's far away s-so."

Julie tries to hide a smile as she raises her eyebrows nodding at
Matt.

"O-oh okay, so I guess I'll talk to you later then?"

He nods as she walks away from him backwards before tilting her head
and turning around. He shakes his head looking down.

"Idiot."

--

"I should be in Norte Dam right now, probably freaking out about some
bowl or something."

Lyla nods, licking her ice cream as she looks down at Jason, wheeling
next to her.

"Or making eyes at some cheerleaders, getting over your hangover from
the latest all night kegger."

Jason laughs, lowering his head as she shakes the ideas away.

"Yeah, well"

He looks up at her, the sun is setting and she looks beautiful. The
heat from the day is giving way to a warm breeze. Lyla, wearing a
cotton white skirt and blouse; looks like a vision and he can't help
but smile.

"I'm glad we're doing this."

She makes a face, laughing before nodding.

"Yeah, me too. I mean whatever this, is."

He nods shrugging.

"I don't know I'm not into labels."

Lyla smiles, as she takes another bite of her ice cream.

"Since when?"

Jason smirks, tilting his head as the sun illuminates her brown hair.

"Since, this since, I don't know."

She grins shaking her head.

"Alright Mr. Anti-establishment."

"I don't regret it though."

Lyla stops walking, she moves to a nearby bench, as Jason locks his
wheelchair next to her.

"What do you mean?"

She looks at him seriously, her eyes searching his. She was the same
Lyla Gerrity that he asked out in seventh grade, except she looked at him as a man and
not as she used to. Her reverie for Jason when he still had use of his
legs, sometimes made him feel invincible. But now, Lyla knew better. She
had seen him fall, watched as he struggled coming to grips with his new
disability. The look of awe was replaced by something else, something
he couldn't place.

"I mean I spent all last year hating God, and denying what happened
to me. But I've done things I would have never done if it hadn't
been for the accident."

Lyla leans closer to him, nodding.

"Like?"

He laughs looking up at her smiling.

"Like, I wouldn't have gotten a tattoo; I wouldn't have gone to
Mexico. I wouldn't have discovered life after football with Quad
Rugby. I would have never…"

He stops noticing tears are threatening to well in Lyla's eyes. She
nods wiping them away without acknowledging them. She gets up from the
bench as Jason grabs her hand not letting her go.

"You know, we both did some things, I mean we're not who we used to
be. We can't keep punishing each other, but maybe we can get to know
who we've become?"

Lyla laughs looking up at the darkening sky, before looking back down
to Jason. She nods bending down towards him.

"I'd like that."

Quickly and sweetly, she kisses his cheek, before turning away from
him. He smirks from ear to ear, as he pushes his wheelchair out of lock
heading towards her.

--

"So, I mean I think we're dating."

Eric looks up at his daughter as she pours herself a mug of milk. He
stares at her closely while she sips the cup.

"What do you mean you think?'

Julie shrugs swallowing the milk.

"Dad."

He shakes his head rubbing his forehead before looking back at his
daughter.

"You and Riggins?"

Julie nods taking another sip.

"Yup, so this isn't going to affect that letter you're supposed
to send to A&M is it?"

Eric frowns, as he tilts his head.

"What do you know about a letter to A&M?"

Julie shrugs as she rinses the cup in the sink.

"Just that you may or may not write a letter to Texas A&M for Tim and
that…"

Eric puts up his hand stopping his daughter.

"What I may or may not do about my team and about Riggins has nothing
to do with you."

Julie smiles as she places her mug in the drying rack.

"Yeah?"

Eric nods, furrowing his brow as he rethinks what he just said.

"Well okay, good, so yeah, I'm going to bed now."

She kisses Eric leaving him in the kitchen alone fuming.

--

"So, did you write the letter or not?"

Tami asks, as Eric lies next to her in bed.

"Yeah I wrote it, did you?"

Tami nods as Eric looks at her then turns away on his back.

"I can't believe he told her about that though."

"I know."

"Tim Riggins is dating our daughter."

Tami laughs as she turns on her side staring at Eric.

"You're freaking out aren't you?"

Eric looks at his wife smiling, she leans over kissing him.

--

Thursday

"Have you both lost your minds?"

Tyra slams her locker as Lyla and Julie exchange humored glances.

"Why?"

Lyla laughs making Tyra scoff as she leads her friends down the hall.

"Why? You're letting Jason mess with your head all over again, and you, I can't believe you're actually falling for Tim."

Julie reddens, as she raises her eyebrows in protest.

"I never said anything about falling for him…I…"

"Since when did you two become such romantics?"

Julie and Lyla laugh turning on Tyra as they stop in the hall.

"This coming from the beauty who's dating the geek?"

Tyra frowns, looking at her two friends.

"Landry's not a geek."

Julie laughs shrugging.

"He calls himself a geek, you know what I meant."

Tyra rolls her eyes as she leaves the girls alone.

"Whatever."

Her friends shrug, as they separate to their own classes.

--

"You got to stop calling yourself a geek."

Landry looks over at Tyra as she picks out a bag of chips.

"Where did that come from?"

Tyra glances at him sideways shrugging.

Landry laughs, as he grabs her bag taking it to the counter.

"Why are you so disturbed by this?"

Tyra shrugs, as she leans on the counter next to her boyfriend.

"I don't know."

Landry pays the clerk as they walk out together.

"I'm proud to be a geek; it's just what I am."

She laughs kissing him as he smiles leading her to the car.

--

"Is someone outside?"

Tim looks over at Billy as he pulls the shade away from the sliding glass door. He smirks laughing as he opens the door and heads out to the patio. Julie clad in a bikini is swimming in his pool. The sun has set, giving way to the night's sky as she swims backwards enjoying the cool water on her skin.

"I thought you didn't want to go swimming?"

She smirks looking up, as she continues to swim leisurely.

"I never said I didn't want to swim, j-just that, swimming wasn't what you had in mind."

He bites his lip laughing as she smiles at him turning in the water.

"You coming in?"

He shakes his head; she laughs splashing water on him as he backs away.

"Your parent's know you're here?"

Julie nods as she treads water spinning to and fro.

"Yep, go get your suit on."

She smiles at him almost seductively as he pushes his hair back. In an instant he's in the house as she laughs.

--

"Look."

Julie dips her head underwater as her legs pop up. She walks on her hands a bit, before Tim laughs pushing her legs down. She emerges giggling as he sweeps his wet hair back.

"Very impressive."

Julie shakes her head before going back under while Tim follows her. He nips at her ankles before cornering her. When they both come up for air, he pins her to the side of the wall. He kisses her, cupping her face in his hands as she laughs.

"What made you change your mind?"

Julie licks her lips, tilting her head to the side.

"It's a heat wave, you have a pool. Pretty simple really."

Tim laughs kissing her again as she pushes him away, before going back under water. He smirks following her across the entire length of the pool.

She allows herself to be pinned again as he kisses her holding her hand gently. Her heart races as her breath quickens.

"I mean, what made you change your mind about me?"

She looks into his eyes. There was something about the way he gazes at her. It took her breath away, made her feel helpless and empowered all at once. Her mind raced to so many thoughts. To kissing him, to doing even more with him. Even though she wasn't having sex with him, in her mind she was. Swallowing hard she turns from his smoldering gaze as he tries to recapture her glance.

"N-nothing, I just, um…"

He kisses her again, lifting her up from the bottom of the pool. She can feel electricity pulse through her. A rush of emotion, excitement and thrill, it was frightening, it was new and it made her pull away and laugh nervously.

"I should get home."

He nods, breathless as he lowers her to her feet in the water. Nodding, he kisses her neck sighing into her hair before kissing her gently on the cheek.

"You need a ride?"

She shakes her head, peeling his arms from her as she climbs the steps of the pool.

"No, I drove myself."

He doesn't get out of the pool. He's afraid he wouldn't let her go if he moved. Watching her dry off he smiles, keeping his distance.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

Julie laughs wrapping the towel around her hair, as she pulls her jean-shorts over her wet bathing suit.

"Yeah, why?"

Tim shrugs laughing as she tilts her head. She wanted to jump back into the pool, but that would have meant giving up a part of herself that she wasn't ready to. Tim knew it too, he was giving her space. Letting her come to him when she was ready, it was a tactic that made her feel in control.

"Well, you can use the pool any time."

Julie nods as she walks away.

"Tell Billy I said goodnight."

Tim nods biting his lip, when she closes the fence of his yard he falls back in the water, floating and smiling.

End of Chapter 9

--

Preview of Chapter 10

Friday

"Are you sure he's not brain damaged from that concussion?"

Tyra looks at Julie seriously, as Julie rolls her eyes walking down the hall.

"It's sweet."

"What's sweet?"

Lyla walks in on the conversation as the three girls enter the bathroom.

"Tim's playing gentleman, he's keeping everything above the belt with Julie."

Lyla smiles as Tyra checks herself in the mirror, turning on the facet.

"That's cute."

Tyra shrugs.

"Cute? Tim and I did it all the time. He's up to something."

Julie winces at the thought of Tyra and Tim sleeping together. Her friend catches Julie's face and smiles trying to lessen the awkwardness.

"You know what I mean?"

Julie nods trying to shake the comment from her mind.

"Y-yeah got it."

Tyra walks into a stall as Lyla shrugs.

"Why does he have to be up to something? Can't he just be changing, turning over a new leaf maybe?"

Tyra laughs as the toilet flushes and she emerges to wash her hands again.

"All guys are up to something. I'm not saying he's not sincere or anything it's just…it's Tim."

Lyla nods at her two friends, as Julie shakes her head.

"How about you and Jason?"

Lyla looks up surprised as they leave the bathroom.

"There is no me and Jason, we're just…"

Tyra looks at Julie nodding.

"Yeah right, you two are practically destined for one another. No stupid injury is going to stop that."

Lyla blushes as Julie nods, they part ways once in the hall leaving Lyla confused and lost in thought.

--

"Of course it's going to be hard. You have a prize winning bass on the line. You can't just yank her in and try reeling as hard as you can. You have to be slow, let her think she's coming to you while you gently hook her on the line."

Tim looks confused as Jason laughs. Herc raises the volume on ESPN bass fishing competition as Tim perks an eyebrow.

"He's been obsessed with fishing."

"QB one here says you guys have a boat."

Tim leans on the side of the wall as he sips his beer. Jason shakes his head laughing.

"I'm not carrying your fat asses onto a boat, not after this one went overboard last time."

Herc laughs, as Jason shrugs.

"This one over here threw his catch back and is now reeling her in again."

Tim looks over at Jason who takes a sip from his bottle.

"Lyla?"

Jason nods.

"She broke up with Chris."

Herc looks from one friend to the other.

"Blah, blah, let's hold hands while I throw up. It's Friday night ladies what are we doing tonight?"

--

"Are you even going to take your turn?"

Landry sits on the couch in front of Matt's TV as he plays Guitar Hero. Matt is absorbed with the laptop on the table, as he ignores his friend.

"What are you doing?"

Landry pauses the game, as he leans over staring at the screen.

"Is that Julie's myspace page?"

Matt looks over at Landry shrugging.

"Y-yeah, she put up some pictures from the concert, I'm just looking at them."

Landry laughs shaking his head.

"Cyber stalking, it's a new low Matty."

Matt closes the laptop as he gives his best friend a glare.

"It's not stalking. There was this girl who asked for my number, I was just trying to see her."

Landry frowns before smiling.

"You really are that guy aren't you?"

Matt rolls his eyes, as he picks up the guitar from the game.

"What guy?"

Landry opens the laptop snooping as Matt finishes his round.

"The guy that's always there for her, the friend. I've been there before Matt, it sucks."

Matt laughs re-pausing the game.

"You've dated like one girl in high school and you're giving me advice?"

Matt chuckles as he turns the game back on looking at the screen. Landry thinks for a minute before closing the laptop.

"You think I shouldn't call myself a geek?"

Matt shrugs.

"You are a geek, who cares, why?"

Landry shrugs sitting back as he watches Matt play.

"You really suck at this."

Matt smirks as he continues.

"Speaking of Tyra, how come you're here tonight and not out with her?"

Landry sighs.

"Girls night out."

To be continued…