Y'all are too nice. Thanks for supporting me with this story, even though I'm sure you're (figuratively) pulling your hair out waiting. Hang in there, people. :)

By the way, anyone else a mess now that FNL is over? I could litter this A/N with sad faces, I really could.

Chapter Nine - Suck It Up

Yule yawned, shuffling further into the car seat before flicking the page of her magazine. She'd never been a fan of football. It just wasn't in her. But, even though she despised the game, she had second thoughts about leaving Jennsen on her own like that.

Jen needs to do this. She needs to deal with this alone.

That thought was all that kept Yule from stepping out of that damn car.

But she was kidding herself if she thought she could read anything in her current state of mind. Yule tossed the magazine on the passenger's seat with a sigh before locking up her car and shutting her eyes. She doubted she'd sleep, but resting her eyes would have to do.

It was a while after that she heard a buzzing sound.

Yule pried her eyes open, scanning the area in confusion. Her eyes were drawn to a light green glow at the floor of her car, by the passenger's side. Yule leaned over, head tilting to examine the floor.

She realized it was Jennsen's phone.

Must've slipped out before she went to watch the football game.

Yule reached out, snatching up the phone in her hand.

She saw Steve's name on the screen.

"None of my damn business," Yule muttered, deciding it was best to let it ring.

The moment the phone stopped buzzing it started up again. Same name on the screen.

Yule let it ring again and once it stopped she paused, waiting for the phone to buzz once more.

All was silent.

She sighed, shut her eyes, then rested her head on the driver's side window.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Gritting her teeth, Yule answered Jennsen's phone.

"You get back here right now, Jenny," Steve warned.

Yule yawned. "Sorry. She's temporarily unavailable."

"Then make her available, Wednesday."

Yule rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, I'm totally gonna go and do that for you, even though you've always been a douche to me."

"Please, just get her." Steve's tone was touching on desperate.

"You're a fool if you think I'm gonna do that," Yule said.

Silence.

"You really hurt her," she added.

More silence, and then: "Yeah, well. She hurt me, too."

Defensive, much?

"But she's trying to move on," Yule retorted. "And she can't when you're around."

"Shut the fuck up," Steve snapped. "I don't need your opinion."

Yule flinched. "That the way you treat your sister?" she asked, eyebrow arched. "No wonder she can't stand you anymore."

Something in her tone must have gotten through to him, because he sighed before responding, "I don't mean to be a dick."

"Then why are you?"

"She just... gets to me. Everyone does." He sounded like he was restless. "And the moment I'm out of the house all I get are pity stares or weird looks. It all..." Definitely restless. "It annoys the shit outta me."

"Well, you aren't the only one," Yule reminded.

"What?"

"You think you're the first person to call me a member of the Adamm's family? I'm considered the freak of Dillon."

"Right." Pause. "How's Jennsen?"

"A little sad, but more nervous," Yule answered.

"Why? I mean, about the nervous part."

Yule found his curiosity curious. He hadn't been the nicest brother to Jennsen; she knew that from the get-go. "I don't think you realize how fucked up she's been since your accident," she began, not wanting to put it gently. "She's got it in her head that she's a bad luck charm."

"And why're you telling me this?" By Steve's tone, she knew he didn't take too well with blame dumping.

"I'm telling you 'cause you need to right your wrongs with her," Yule said impatiently.

"I– I can't..." Steve stopped and Yule waited. He started again: "I can't deal with this sort of stuff. Not with her. I can't do it."

"Yeah, well then, suck it up," Yule said. She ended the call and let her head drop against the head rest with a huff of air.

Thankfully, Steve didn't call back. Yule knew he had a lot to think about.

She had a lot to think about.

Her eyes shut and, in the darkness, all was quiet.

–

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Yule jolted. Slightly disoriented, she got her bearings, realizing she was waiting for Jennsen to watch a football game. Which may have sounded simple, but, for Jen, it was a trial built up over years of family feuds and breakdowns.

Yule rubbed her eyes, leaning over to unlock the passenger's side door. Jennsen opened the door and plonked in the seat.

"Hey..." Yule was about to tell Jennsen about the conversation she had with Steve, but the thought vanished once she saw tears in her friend's eyes. Alarm raced through her. "Oh my god. Are you okay?"

Jennsen laughed through her tears, wiping them away. "I'm good. I'm great," she said.

Yule wasn't necessarily relieved to hear it. "Jen–"

"Honestly, I'm fine. Just a little overwhelmed." Jennsen sniffed, snatching a tissue from the tissue box on the dashboard. "I'd appreciate it if you would just ignore me and drive."

"Alright." Eyebrows raised, Yule put on her seatbelt and started up the car.

Well shit, she thought. The Keller family sure have issues.

–

Jennsen sipped her chocolate milkshake as Yule watched her. "Okay, will you give it a rest?"

After being dropped off on Friday night, Yule had called Jennsen up the following day for an explanation. Since she was craving something chocolatey (Steve ate the block of chocolate in the fridge, she just knew that he did) she figured they could go to the Alamo Freeze and talk.

"You are the weirdest person," Yule said, looking at Jennsen as though she had two heads. "I don't get how someone can have happy tears. Not unless there laughing so hard that they cry."

"I know, but it just happened. It was..." She tried to find the right word, then thought about the Shakespearian in-class essay she was studying for next week. "It was cathartic." Jennsen leaned back on the seat. "I've spent so much time putting myself in a hole, because of what happened with Steve. There was nothing I could've done, but he still made me feel guilty." After finishing her milkshake: "I think I'm mad at him. Actually, yeah. Yeah, I am mad at him."

"Good for you." Yule ate a spoonful of her sundae. "It's about time you did. He's being a real bitch to you."

Jennsen glanced at the sundae.

Yule noticed her, then rolled her eyes. "Fatty." She handed Jennsen her plastic spoon. "Go for it."

"Thanking you kindly." Jennsen scooped up some ice cream and fudge with a grin.

"Your stomach's like a black hole or something," the goth muttered.

Jennsen held back a laugh as she ate and after handing the spoon back to Yule, she backtracked to their original conversation, "But I do feel bad that I don't sympathize for him as much–"

"Jen. You can't just say you're mad and take it back," Yule said, pointing at her with the spoon. "Either you're pissed off at him or you're not. But I hope you know that you deserve to be the former."

"Okay."

"Okay." Yule ate some more of her sundae. "He giving you the silent treatment?" she said, looking down at her sundae. Jennsen watched as she mixed it; the choc fudge and ice cream swirled together.

"Yeah."

Yule looked up. "And you were feeling bad," she admonished.

Jennsen shrugged sheepishly. "He's my brother. I can't help it."

"Well start helping it, missy."

"I'll try to," Jennsen muttered. A thought occurred to her. "Hmm."

"What?" Yule asked, mouth full of ice cream. She winced. "Ah, brain freeze."

"I think I might just work here," Jennsen said.

"What?" Yule was too distracted by her ice cream induced headache to let Jennsen's words sink in.

Jennsen stood from her chair. "I'm gonna go talk to Matt."

...

"Jen!" Tim called out.

Jennsen turned and saw him walk towards her. "Great game."

"Yeah, I know..." Tim's head bent down as he searched her eyes, his own narrowed slightly with that half smile. "But I don't know if you really mean that."

"I do." She looked him right in the eye and she knew that he knew something had changed.

When the game ended it left her with a different feeling.

There were several reasons why Steve got his injury. It didn't mean it was the end of the world. But it was her brother that lead her to believe that it was all over; that it was the end of everything; that the outcome of a jocks life would inevitably end in pain and shattered dreams.

And the 'town screw-up' was the one that showed her otherwise.

That it wasn't over.

It never was.

She felt what she thought was safe to label as 'light-hearted'.

The smile spread on Tim's face and he opened his mouth to speak before being interrupted.

"Hey Riggs!" one of the jocks called out. "C'mon man, let's go celebrate. 'Make some memories', as you say."

"Just gimme a sec here, Bradley," Tim called out, glancing at his teammate from over Jennsen's shoulder. Then he looked back at her. "Hey, you wanna join me?"

"Can't. Still grounded, remember?" He chuckled at the irony in her words. "Now go." She waved the back of her hand in a shooing motion. "Celebrate."

"Alright."

"And Tim?" He raised his eyebrows, gaze questioning. "Thanks for inviting me." She gave him a tight lipped smile, her eyes bright.

He nodded, grinned, and jogged over to his teammates.

Jennsen walked towards Yule's car. She felt the release, the relief, the joy. The heavy burden was gone in an instant and she found it an unfamiliar, but welcome, sensation. There was no searching for that bad feeling hidden in the back of her mind; the one that she always needed to remember to bring her back down from happiness.

She was finally weightless and she breathed in deep with the knowledge of it.

Jennsen got into Yule's car, slammed the door, and put on her seat belt with tears filling her eyes.

...

"What did you say to Steve?" Jennsen's mother asked.

It was Sunday afternoon and they were driving to the supermarket for groceries. Mrs. Keller insisted that her daughter come with her; a 'girl's day out', as it were.

Jennsen knew it was an interrogation.

"Mom–"

"He didn't say a word once I got home from work," Erica cut in. "I have a right to be worried."

"I went to see the football game on Friday. I was with a friend," Jennsen answered.

"'Friend'?" her mother queried.

"Zoey," Jennsen lied. "She wanted to hang with me at the game." She paused for effect before adding, "But I'm sorry, I didn't think I needed Steven's permission."

"No, but you needed mine," her mother countered.

"And you'd've said 'no' because of Steve."

"No. Of course not." Jennsen looked skeptical. "You're still grounded, remember?" her mother reminded.

"Mom..." She paused and collected her thoughts. "I did everything you asked me. I did extra chores. I took care of Tom. I even changed his dirty diapers." Jennsen sighed. "I didn't go out to drink or party; I just wanted to see a friend. That's all."

"You went out without my permission."

"Yeah, to watch a football game." Jennsen folded her arms. "Practically all the town is there. And I'm sure more than 80% of Dillon would been outraged if they knew that you banned me from watching football."

"I'm not banning you, now stop giving me attitude, Jennsen." Her mom's tone made her bite her lip. "You're still in my house, and you still follow my rules," Erica said evenly. "Now I won't tell your father about this, but I want to make one thing clear: you talk to me before you set your mind to something. If you're going out, or seeing friends, you still need to ask me."

"Okay." After a pause, Jennsen added, "I'm sorry." And she meant it. She'd gotten into a habit of disobeying her parents, but it didn't mean that she liked it very much.

"Good." Pause. "And I'm sorry, for being hard on you."

"It's okay," Jennsen said. After a few minutes, she figured she might as well talk to her mom about her plans. "I want to get a job," she announced.

"What?" She could tell her mother was doing her best to keep her eyes on the road.

"You wanted me to tell you before I did anything, so..." Jennsen trailed off with a shrug.

"Okay..." Erica took a breath. "I appreciate you being honest, but have you taken everything into consideration?"

"Like what?" Jennsen knew from that point on that the conversation wasn't in her favor.

"Well, Cassandra babysits Tommy from morning to afternoon every weekday. It's gonna cost a lot more money if you're not there take care of him."

"With the money I get from work I can always chip in a little. And if Steve had a job it wouldn't be too costly, either. Not like he babysits Tom or anything."

"He's struggling enough as it is," her mother justified.

"He practically confines himself to the house. All he needs to do is sit by Tom and let him watch cartoons for an hour or two."

"That's not the point."

"What is it, then?" Jennsen asked bluntly.

Her mother shot her an admonishing look, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. "Jennsen–"

"I don't mean to sound rude, ma." Jennsen's eyes darted to the dashboard. "I just want to know why you don't want me to get a job."

She could hear her mother sigh. It took her a moment to answer, "Your father told me about when you snapped at him earlier this week." Jennsen straightened at the words. "We both noticed you've been stressed a lot lately," Mrs. Keller took a turn from the side street onto the highway, eyes straight on the road in front of her. "Point is: I don't think you can handle a job." Jennsen flinched. "I'm not saying you're not capable, Jenny," her mother added quickly. "But I just don't think it's a good idea with all the pressure you get from school." She looked at her daughter briefly, her eyes sincere; wanting her to understand. "Once you get into college, and finish your studies, then you can get a job." She overtook another car, then spoke again, "You can even move out if you want to. But for now, you help around the house and you have an allowance." She paused, giving Jennsen time to think. "Is that enough for now?"

"Yeah." Jennsen slumped against the seat, staring out through her open window. Although she felt slightly defeated, she knew she just had to grit her teeth and bear it.

"I'll get you some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups," she added.

Jennsen rolled her eyes. "'Cause yeah, that'll totally make up for it."

Her mother smiled. "I still know your favorites."

Traffic lights came into view and Erica slowed down to a stop at the red light. That was when a car in the right lane stopped directly opposite of them.

A truck. Riggins truck.

Tim's gaze was locked lazily on the road, arm resting on the open window casually. His eyes took in the surroundings for a moment, from the sky to the stores and cars passing ahead out of boredom.

That was when he did a double-take, spotting Jennsen in the car right next to him. A beguiling smile stole across his lips.

Jennsen looked down and fought her embarrassment at being seen by the Fullback with her mother oblivious and complaining about the potholes they'd passed along the highway.

She chanced another glance at Riggins.

He was still staring at her.

Jennsen looked away once more. A smiled pursed at her lips, pulling further and further until her dimples became more pronounced.

"Jenny, what on earth are you smiling about?"

Jennsen sighed at her mother's tone.

"Mrs. Jay!" Tim called out, head leaning over to try and peer around Jennsen in order to see her mother.

"Oh, uh... Hello there." Erica was nothing but a deer caught in the proverbial headlights.

"Hi. Tim Riggins." He was grinning.

"Yes..." Her mother trailed off. "Yes, um... Erica Keller."

Tim looked Jennsen's way again.

"I take it you..." Mrs. Keller cleared her throat. "You know Jennsen?"

"Oh yeah, she and I go way back," Tim said with a grin.

Jennsen stifled her snort.

"'Way back'," her mother echoed. Her face looked slightly pale.

"Well anyway, pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Keller." He looked at Jennsen. "Jen." He winked before turning his eyes back to the road and driving off.

"Mom," Jennsen prompted. The traffic light was green.

A car from behind them honked impatiently and her mother started, checking the rearview mirror, then the road ahead before quickly accelerating.

Jennsen knew her mom was trying to digest the possible implications that derived from her and Tim going 'way back.' It would be awkward dealing with her mother for the next couple of days, but the look on her face was worth it.

Needless to say, the rest of the drive was silent.

And Jennsen was smiling the whole way.

I have a feeling I'll be writing from Yule's POV a little more. How's that sound for everyone?