CHAPTER TEN

Tonight's plans had Maddie distracted for the rest of the afternoon, bothering her so much that she zoned out in her last class of the day, earning her a half and hour lecture from her teacher. So she was running late as she bounded through the front door of her house, almost knocking her father out in the process.

"Whoa, baby!" he exclaimed, his hand flying up to catch the door as it was about to slam into his face. "Where's the fire??"

"Sorry, daddy!" she cried, streaking down the hall towards her bedroom, "Sophie's picking me up soon and I have to get changed!"

She heard her mother chuckle as her father grumbled something about warped priorities. "We're goin', sweetie," she called, pulling the door behind her, "we'll see you at the game."

Maddie's reply was muffled as she stripped off the clothes she had worn that day and threw them in the corner. She heard Sophie's truck pull up and the slam of a door, and rushed to grab her jeans from the closet. Her cousin chuckled as she entered the room, watching Maddie flit back and forward from closet to drawer, trying to decide what top to wear.

"Why don't you wear that red halter I got you for your last birthday and your denim skirt," she suggested with a wiggle of her eyebrows, her smile turning into a frown as her cousin's bark of laughter.

"Riiiight... A perfectly acceptable outfit for sitting in the stands on a cold night at a football game. Give me a break, Soph!" she laughed, pulling on a beaded tank and her wool jacket. "Ok, let's go!" she said, grabbing her bag and panthers scarf from her desk.

The girls argued the entire way to the field, with Sophie trying to convince her cousin to take advantage of Tim's attraction. Maddie could feel her resistance waning, and she was dangerously close to giving in. The new Tim was great. Smart, funny and charming as hell, but she couldn't help the niggling concern she had about his past. What if he hadn't really changed at all? What if it was all a part of his new game plan? What if she was the new game?

They climbed the bleachers, calling 'hello' to Julie and Mrs. Taylor, before taking their seats beside Landry. He was bursting with the news that try-outs would begin next week, and Maddie couldn't help but get caught up in his excitement. She cheered as the players took the field, and she realised that she had never really seen Tim before, she had always been paying more attention to Ryan and Matt. He took her breath away. 6"1 of solid, hard-packed muscle beneath a pile of padding, he towered over the majority of the team. His face was pure concentration, his focus completely on the game. He looked terrifying.

It was a close game tonight, and Maddie's voice was raw, as per usual, from all the yelling and cheering. Smash's final touchdown had the crowd on their feet, clapping and hugging each other. Maddie loved the atmosphere at the games. It didn't matter if you didn't even know the person sitting beside you; if your team won, you hugged them with all your might.

Landry planned to hang back at the field, and wait for Matt and Julie, so Sophie and Maddie joined the procession of cars leaving the school, to grab some dinner before the party. Like usual, they grabbed some burgers and fries, and made their way up to The Point to eat. As they sat on the back of the truck, looking out over the town, a dark truck rumbled around the corner and made it's way slowly past the front of their car, the tinted windows making it impossible to see the occupants.

Both girls turned to watch as the truck rumbled out of sight, before looking at each other with a frown. Maddie had an uneasy feeling, but they continued to eat their food, each of them straining to hear the approach of the truck again. After a few minutes they heard the low rumble return, and jumped down from the tailgate, grabbed their empty food containers and hurried to the cab of the truck. They had just slammed their doors as the dark truck appeared again, going even slower than before.

Sophie hit the central locking as she started the car, their eyes never leaving the truck that had pulled to a stop and was now idling in front of them. Maddie's heart was beating a mile a minute and their erratic breathing was the only sound in the truck. After a minute or so, the truck before them revved and sped off, leaving a trail of dusk in its wake. Maddie released the breath she had been unconsciously holding, and Sophie gave a nervous laugh.

"Well, that was weird, huh?" she asked, pulling out of the clearing and onto the dirt road.

"Yeah," Maddie agreed, her eyes scanning the horizon, making sure the car hadn't pulled off somewhere. "Any idea who's it was?"

Sophie shook her head, her forehead furrowed in concentration. "I'll ask Ryan about it tonight, but I don't think it's anyone at school..."

They were silent as they made their way to the party, both of them a little shaken up. Sophie breathed an audible sigh of relief as they pulled up in front of the house, and they chuckled as they climbed out of the truck, the dull thud of music pumping from inside. Maddie heard her name being called as they wandered up the path, and turned to see Landry exiting his car, Matt, Ryan and Julie behind him. She grinned as her brother practically bounced up the path towards, pulling her into a tight hug.

"What are you so happy about?" she laughed as he set her back on the ground.

"Julie has agreed to be designated driver tonight, so I get to have a beverage or two. Or three. Make sure I don't do anything stupid tonight, huh?" he pleaded, and she was lost on his puppy-dog eyes.

"Fine," she replied rolling her eyes, "but if you pass out in the car, I'm not throwing my back out trying to haul your ass into the house again!"

Sophie laughed, having witnessed the last time Landry passed out drunk, and they made their way up the stairs towards the house.

****

"She'll be here soon, Riggins, jeez!" Jason exclaimed, as Tim craned his neck over the crowd for the hundredth time. "What's gotten into you??"

Tim sighed, dragging his hand through his hair, and leaned back against the kitchen counter. "I dunno, Street. I like this girl. She's different. She's funny, sweet, gorgeous. And smart. Really smart..." he trailed off with a frown, realising for the first time that Maddie was probably out of his league.

Jason gaped up at his best friend, having never witnessed Tim so unsure of himself. Tim always had any girl he wanted. Even Lyla, he thought wryly. This girl must really be something to have Tim so worked up! "So go for it, Timmy. Work your magic and have her swoonin'!" he laughed.

Tim chuckled and rolled his eyes as he folded his arms across his chest. "Not that easy, Jay. She doesn't go for it. I tried to be charming as hell when I first met her, and she hardly even gave me the time of day!"

Jason burst out laughing at his shocked tone, almost losing his hold on his beer. He watched with amusement as Tim's eyes scanned the crowd yet again, his frown breaking into a wide smile as the front door opened.

"She came..."

.