I owe everyone a HUMONGOUS apology. It has been almost a year since I last updated this story. To be honest, I lost interest. But recently earlier today I read my email and saw that someone had put my story on their favorites/alerts list. And so have a few others. I thank those people so much. I went back and read the whole story and got on my computer and wrote more! I'm really sorry to all my fans. I know I have lost many. But I really hope to gain new ones and get more reviews. I really am hoping for everyone to enjoy this chapter 3 It's short, I know but there is more to come! And I can PROMISE you that!

Secret Kisses is BACCCKKKKK!

Please review! And let me know of your thoughts please. Reading over my reviews made me so happy. Yes, it really does encourage to write more.

Thank you guys for understanding!

-Madi :)

Chapter Ten.

Julie stood in the bleachers as the last touchdown was made by the opposing team, ending the game. She looked at her mother's face as she held baby Gracie in her arms with that apologetic look she always gives her father after losing a game. "Great," Julie thought out loud. "More for sale signs in our yard tonight, huh?"

"Well, it happens, sweetheart." Tami patted Gracie's back and shook her softly in her arms. They both looked down at Eric Taylor's face. He was shaking his head as he walked away from shaking hands with the coach of the winning team. He looked at his players with an emotionless face then back at the ground. Tami couldn't stand the way Eric felt after losing a game and she wished that there would be an easier way to help him out. But he always refuses the helpful offers she gives him.

"Hey, Jules," a familiar voice came from behind both Tami and her daughter. Julie turned around to find Tyra in front of them both. "Hi, Mrs. Taylor," she flashed a reassuring smile. "I was wondering if Julie could keep me company. I was gonna go out to eat at Applebees. I'll drive her back home right after. I just haven't eaten much today and I'm absolutely starving." She chuckled and looked at Tami for a response.

Tami looked at Tyra for a moment thinking of her daughter going out in public after such a terrible loss. But then she remembers the fact that her little baby is growing up – whether she liked it or not. Julie is going to have to face bumps in the road every once in a while. And besides, Julie would throw a fit if Tami had said no. Lately, Julie seems to always be getting her way. "Sure, why not. Y'all girls have fun."

Tami sat back down in her spot on the bleachers watching as Julie and Tyra walked off together. She cradled Gracie in her arms trying to keep her warm. She looked down at the field and caught eyes with her husband. She shrugged her shoulders with an apologetic smile – the smile that said "Don't worry; we'll get em next time."

Julie and Tyra sat in Applebees together eating food. There were a lot of fans eating there that night of the game. There were lots of awkward stares and whispers towards Julie. But what Julie noticed was that not all of them were about losing the game. Some of the whispers she heard were about Julie herself. Whispers about her and Tim Riggins 'hooking up' and about him living in their home. Even Tyra was beginning to feel suspicious about it all.

Tyra debated whether or not to say anything. "Julie," she took in a big deep breath. "I didn't just bring you here to hang out. I think you and I both know that."

Julie paused from playing with the food on her plate. She set her fork down and sighed looking at Tyra. "I know."

"This is a small town, Julie. People talk. People talk a lot. I am just trying to look after you. You are like my little sister, you know? I don't want to see you getting hurt." Tyra leaned into the table as if getting ready to whisper. "Can you just tell me if the rumors are true? Are you and Tim – you know – hooking up?" Julie was almost afraid of what she just said and how fast the rumors have already started to spread after one week. "You can tell me, Jules. I can handle it."

"We are not hooking up." She emphasized that they weren't to get her point across. When she did, Tyra let out a sigh of relief. "But, um, we did."

Tyra's eyes widened feeling almost angry. Not at Julie, but at Tim for taking advantage of such a young girl. "You have to be kidding me. What? Why did you do that? You know what Riggins is like Julie. You know him! It's only a matter of time before he's going to use you again just for his pleasure!" Tyra was speaking almost too loud in the restaurant. Even a few heads turned to see what the fuss was all about.

"Tyra, for God's sake, lower your voice!" Julie rolled her eyes, annoyed. "I know what Tim is like. Just allow me to take the time to explain. Please."

Tyra leaned back on her side of the booth folding her arms across her chest. She still kept the same glare on her face. "I'm listening."

"Remember last Saturday, the night of the dance?" Tyra nodded and Julie continued. "Well, that night I went to a party instead – with Tim. I met up with Rylie there, the boy from my English literature class. I guess he gave me way too many beers, but I remember we had a good time talking. That was all I remember from that night," Julie paused to swallow her spit and put on her guilty face, "Until the next morning. I woke up in my bed naked with the worst hangover. I felt so confused and nervous and scared and mad and just – so many mixed emotions."

"Oh no," Tyra even looked sad for what she would say next.

"Then I saw the shirt Tim was wearing from the night before on the edge of my bed. I was raging mad and upset. So later that day, the minute I saw him, I yelled at him. I yelled at him so much that I started to cry," Julie's breaths were shortening and tears were forming in my eyes. "I know I forgave him but I still hate him."

Tyra smiled apologetically, "It's okay to hate him still. He took away something very special from you." Tyra reached over and grabbed her hand.

"No, no, it's not that. Well… maybe it is. But there is more to it. We made up today. Things are better. When I am around him… I am happy. But once I am not around him, I feel like I hate him. I dread seeing him because I don't know what he is going to do. He took advantage of me once. It's not like it can't happen again!" Julie took a moment of silence thinking to herself. "You remember the tornado the week before the dance? It hit us while we were at the market getting groceries and he protected me. For some reason, I feel like he is there to keep me safe."

"Julie, you're scarin' me a bit," Tyra bluntly said raising her eyebrows. "I know what Tim is like, believe me when I say that. That right there, what you are explaining to me, is not Tim Riggins. That boy is a whole other person he wants you to believe. He's not going to sweep you off your feet, Jules. He's just not that guy. My opinion is that you stick with Matt. What is that boy doing anyway?"

Julie was hurt after hearing the truth. She knew it was the cold hard truth and there wasn't anything she could do about it. Julie just had to face it: Tim was not Matt.

That night of the game, Tyra drove Julie home from Applebees. Even though Tyra tried to hide it, Julie could still tell the tension she had about Julie's situation with Tim. Tyra had known what Tim was like. She knew his ways and exactly how he treated girls. The year before, Tyra had actually dated Riggins. Believe it or not, she actually had feelings for the guy even if it was just sex all the time. She'll admit, the sex was good, but she had come to the realization that it was all Tim had wanted. That is exactly the reason why she didn't want Julie seeing him.

When Julie and Tyra pulled up to the Taylor household there was a boy with a black hoodie sticking a sign on their front lawn. Julie assumed that it was a 'For Sale' sign which usually happened on nights that the Panthers lose. "Oh no, not again," Julie rolled her eyes and quickly got out of the car. "Hey you!" She yelled angrily surprising the guy and scaring him away. Julie looked at the sign stuck in the ground. When she saw the words on the sign she wanted to break into tears. The knot in her stomach was growing and she could feel Tyra's sorry eyes on her. Julie read the sign out loud to herself:

"Julie Taylor is a slut."