Rust Buckets and Rivalries

Chapter 10

Julie knew that wherever this Kelly/Tim rivalry thing was headed, it was not a good thing. So it had turned out not to be about her but their football. She didn't know whether to be offended or glad that it really wasn't about her at all. Touching Tim's precious truck was going too far though. It was his pride and joy and the location of many of their firsts – first kiss, first declaration, first well you know. She felt sad that such a noble beast had been roped into this ridiculousness. They were from rival schools but Tim really wouldn't have cared, he was like a bear in hibernation. Sure he could be cute and sometimes cuddly but poke him with a stick enough and he'll bite your head off, rip your limbs from your body and feast on your entrails. Kelly was really a dumb ass.

Julie stood there as some guys from her dorm helped Tim manoeuvre The Truck out of the pond. She could see him reigning in his intense anger but it was only a matter of time before it exploded in some way, hopefully less self-destructive than his old methods. Julie decided she wasn't going to try and talk him down, this guy whoever he thought he was, deserved everything that was coming to him. Looking back on it she realised she had earned the dumb ass label fair and square also. The sometimes weird comments, the interest in Tim and the strange way he popped up at her room this morning. He played her, just to get the goat of Tim. Kelly might be wary of Tim at the moment but he better watch out for her too. She was in the mood to kick some ass, specifically Longhorn ass.

After the truck had been rescued and parked back in a normal, water-free parking space, Tim and Julie headed for the game. They both wanted to see whether this guy was all talk or if he actually had some game. They caught the bus, Tim's arm slung around her shoulders cradling her close to his side. She occasionally hiccupped due to the alcohol she had drunk earlier in the day but Tim would laugh every time she did, which wasn't so bad at all.

They got to the stadium, grabbed some healthy football food and found their seats. Julie experienced that thrill that rushed through her when she entered the stadium, she was a football girl born and bred. Julie had avoided the football scene at UT and the atmosphere made her realise how much she had missed it. She linked her arm around Tim's and settled in for the ride. Her lack of interest in the Longhorns meant she had no idea what position or number Kelly was but she was confident he would make himself obvious.

The stadium noise rose to a roar when the teams ran onto field and it turned out she was right. Kelly Mead, number # 24, paused before them on the field and fired duel finger guns at Tim. Julie couldn't believe she had even talked to this loser. He was seriously delusional and Tim wore his patented smirk refusing to let Kelly get the better of him. Worse still Kelly yelled out-

"How's your wheels? No need for a wash any time soon." Kelly laughed at his own stupid joke and some of the crowd turned to look at who he was addressing. Julie gave them a quick smile. She looked at Tim and rolled her eyes but Tim's face was focused on Kelly. Kelly was good, very good but not unbeatable by any means. Tim studied everything about Kelly's game, she sometimes added an observation but they sat in silence the entire game. She couldn't read Tim's mind but she knew with certainty that in three weeks time when the Longhorns play the Aggies, Kelly was going to take a beating as was his team. The Longhorns won and the celebrations in the crowd began immediately, Tim and Julie walking off hand in hand.

They got back to her room. Tim flopped onto her bed, laying rigidly. Julie crawled up beside him, resting her head on his crooked arm and twisting her legs next to his. They lay silently for quite awhile.

"So what did you notice about his game?" she asked quietly. She knew where this was going. Tim turned his head and looked at her. He refused to talk for minutes on end. Then he began talking abut every facet of Kelly's game and Julie realised that Tim was preparing for battle. She added a few things every now and then, after all she was a Coach's daughter and she hadn't watched all those game tapes for nothing! They discussed Kelly's every move, strengths and weaknesses until there was nothing left. They breathed a sigh at the same time, looked at one another and broke into laughter simultaneously. Julie crawled into his space some more, her arms weaving around his torso, her cheek against his chest and her legs manoeuvring between his own.

"You're ready. He won't know what hit him." She whispered. He drew her in closer again and kissed her on the forehead. She heard a knock on her door and she clamoured up, it was probably Candy checking on how she was. She opened the door to find the person she wanted to see least in the world – Kelly. He had obviously showered after the game and then hustled straight to her place. Julie cocked out her hips, threw her hair over her shoulder and asked

"What do you want?" she was far from welcoming but she thought the circumstances excused her this once.

"Hey baby," the male voice drew Tim up in point two of a second. "Just wanted to see if you'd want to trade your rust bucket in for a new and improved model?" He obviously meant himself and Julie realised that his confusion in Classics wasn't faked. He really wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Tim brushed past her and shoved Kelly without any warning, he was like a bulldozer on a mission. Kelly found himself hitting the door of the opposite dorm room. His face showing surprise, Tim had shown restraint so far but the muscles bulging in his arm at the moment indicated otherwise. Tim then punched him quickly in the stomach and grabbed the guy by the neck. He came up close to Kelly and spoke quietly into his ear

"You will not talk to her, look at her or think about her. You got it? And know that when we are on the field, I will make it my personal responsibility to make sure you get your ass beat and your reputation torn to shreds. You got me? " Tim let go and stepped back. Kelly slumping slightly from the removal of the force. He looked at Tim and Julie thought she read some caution in his gaze.

"Well then Timmy, Timikins, I will see you then. And Julie, I will see you around." He did that stupid finger gun action again and went on his way. Some heads poked out of dorm rooms, curious to see what the ruckus was about. Julie stepped forward and wove her hands around Tim's back, drawing his backwards into her room again. Once inside he turned around and encompassed her in his arms, kissing her hairline. She felt his heart beating at a million miles an hour and realised she had never seen him hit anyone. It was thrilling and scary all wrapped up together with a good dose of confusion, frustration and pride. No matter what was happening around her she knew they would cope and that she would never call him Timikins again.

AN – Thanks for all the new people that are reviewing and add my stories/alerts. I appreciate it enormously!