Title: Looking For Love

A/N: Okay, I was reading back over this story because to be honest, I had forgotten some little details, when I realized something. This story is so melodramatic, lol! But apparently that's okay from the lovely reviews that I have received from you ladies. Or at least I hope it's okay, because this chapter isn't much different ;D You all really are awesome! Thanks as always! Enjoy!!!

Julie was feeling almost melancholy as Friday evening rolled around. She couldn't believe that the week had flown by so quickly, or that she had enjoyed her stay in Dillon so much. Seeing all her old friends and spending time with her parents and Gracie had been wonderful.

And then of course there was Tim. Her time spent with him had been wonderful as well. Or maybe better than wonderful if there was such a thing.

It had been way too long since she had relaxed and just had fun with a guy – totally being herself without worrying about each little thing she did or said. It had been way too long since she had someone focus on her and only her – making her feel like she truly was extremely special.

When she really thought about it, she had to admit that she had never really felt the way she had felt when she was with Tim. She didn't want to think about what that meant. This time tomorrow she would be back in New York. A long, long way from Tim Riggins.

She missed him already.

"You didn't eat much of your dinner." Tim said, breaking into her thoughts.

"Uh, sorry." She mumbled, giving him a smile as she pushed the food around on her plate.

He had wanted to take her out to dinner, but she had wanted to spend their last evening how they had spent every evening – at his home. He had said okay, grilling some chicken and making a salad. Even after these past few weeks, he was still managing to surprise her.

"It's delicious, really. I'm just not as hungry as I usually am." She said, taking a small bite of chicken before laying her fork on the table.

"Yeah." Tim said softly, giving her a half smile.

Julie could tell a difference in Tim too. There was a tension in the air that wasn't usually there. Not a word had been said about her leaving the following day, but they were both fully aware of what Julie's departure meant.

No more Tim and Julie.

"You wanna go sit on the porch for a while?" Tim asked, standing and taking her plate and his to the sink.

Julie stood from her seat, giving Duke a quick pat on the head as he ran up next to her. "Sure. That sounds nice." She replied, taking his hand as he led her toward the front door and out onto the porch.

Tim settled into the corner of the porch swing, pulling Julie down beside him and pulling her close to his side. She rested her head on his shoulder as he gently kicked the porch with his foot, sending the swing back and forth slowly. Julie watched Duke chasing bugs in the yard as she listened to the steady beat of Tim's pulse beneath her head. She sighed, enjoying the feel of his fingers playing with the tips of her hair on her shoulder, closing her eyes as they rocked slowly back and forth.

It hit her all at once, that she didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay right where she was. She willed Tim to say something – to ask her to stay. Or better yet, to tell her how he felt about her. But as they sat swinging back and forth until long after the sun had set, not a word was spoken.

After what seemed like hours, Julie lifted her head and met Tim's gaze, a look of longing passing between them. Julie met him half way as his lips met hers in a tender kiss that had her blinking back tears.

"Come on." Tim murmured, taking her hand and leading her inside the house.

The two made their way back to his bedroom, where time seemed to stand still as they undressed one another slowly. Julie almost felt like each of them were memorizing one another's body, or at least she was. She knew that the image of Tim's tan, sculpted body and the feel of his strong arms around her would forever be in her memory.

She wanted to capture all the sensations and emotions as they tumbled onto the bed, their bodies rubbing together – hard against soft as he stretched out over her. She wanted to capture all of those feelings just like she would in a photograph, so that she would have something to remember on the lonely nights that she knew were in store for her once she returned to New York.

Then he was inside her, his movements gaining speed as he trailed kisses over her body, causing her to tremble as her hands snaked around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist, wanting to be as close to him as she could possibly be.

She held on tightly, riding the waves of pleasure with Tim, their cries mingling as they both found release. With the heavy weight of his body resting over hers, Julie ran her hand lovingly over his back. She knew that she had never experienced anything quite like that, and probably never would again. Tim had made love to her with a sweetness, but also an intensity like she had never known.

God, how she wished he would ask her to stay.

But he wouldn't.

And he didn't.

As they lay there, Julie pressed her lips to Tim's warm shoulder, silently mouthing the words 'I love you' before she closed her eyes, knowing that leaving was going to be one of the hardest things she would ever have to do.

Tim knew she was gone before he even opened his eyes. He didn't feel her soft, warm body wrapped around his, her head on his shoulder and her long blonde hair tickling his face.

He opened his eyes slowly, a sick feeling in his gut as he laid eyes on the empty space beside him. He glanced over at the clock, cursing as he saw that it was well after eleven o'clock in the morning.

He and Julie had made love twice, both with an intensity that had left him feeling worn out. But he had been unable to sleep, leaving him to watch her sleep and worry about what the hell he was going to do without her. He had finally fallen asleep in the early hours of morning, so tired that he had apparently slept through her leaving his side.

He rolled out of bed, quickly pulling on a pair of worn jeans before heading out of the bedroom, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she was still there, even though he knew in his heart that she was already gone. He strode through the living room, opening the front door, his heart dropping as he saw that her small rental car was gone, not in its usual spot beside his truck.

He slammed the door in frustration, running his hands through his hair as he walked aimlessly to the kitchen, not knowing what to do. Duke whined, drawing his gaze to the floor.

Damn it, even the dog looked sad this morning. "She's gone, buddy." Tim said quietly, squatting down and scratching the beagle behind the ears for several seconds.

He slowly stood back up, his eyes falling on a folded piece of paper sitting on his kitchen table. He quickly grabbed it up, a photo falling to the table. Tim disregarded the photo for the moment, his eyes eagerly scanning the piece of paper as he read the letter.

Tim,

Sorry to leave this way, but you looked so peaceful sleeping that I just couldn't bring myself to wake you. Well, that and the fact that I've never been good at goodbyes. Thanks for making my visit home a memorable one. I'm leaving you a copy of the photograph of you and the gang at Tyra's wedding. I know its your favorite. Take care of yourself and I guess I'll see you around.

xoxo

Julie

Tim read over the letter three times before picking up the photo from the table. It was the picture of him, Landry, Tyra, Billy, and Mindy all standing together. Julie was right, he had liked the picture, but it hadn't been his favorite.

How could it be his favorite? Julie wasn't in it. And damn it, unless he did something she wasn't going to be in his life either.

With that thought in his mind, he quickly got dressed before hopping in his truck and heading to Tyra and Landry's home, driving fast without a worry over whether or not he was speeding.

"Shit." He muttered, pulling into their small drive and not seeing Julie's rental car. He quickly brought the truck to a stop, trotting to the door and banging loudly, waiting a few seconds before banging again.

"Okay, okay already." Tyra yelled. "Hold your horses." She said, finally opening the door.

"Where's Julie?" Tim asked, not taking the time to even say hello.

"Well hello to you too, Tim. Our honeymoon was great. Thanks for asking." Tyra said sarcastically, stepping back as Tim walked into the house.

"Tyra, I don't have time to argue. I'm sorry but I really need to know where Julie is right now." He said, trying to keep his voice calm as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Hey man." Landry said walking into the room, his smile disappearing as he noticed the worried look on Tim's face.

"Hey Clarke, has Julie been by here this mornin'?"

"Uh, yeah. She was here when we got in around eight o'clock this morning. Why? Something wrong?"

Eight o'clock. Damn it, that was almost four hours ago. "What time'd she leave?"

"About nine." Tyra answered slowly, giving Tim a confused look. "What the hell's going on, Tim? You show up, barging into our house and looking like a wild man, while Julie looked like she'd lost her best friend or something, on the verge of tears."

"She was crying?" Tim asked.

He didn't want to think of his gal crying, but if she was crying that meant that maybe she didn't want to leave. Didn't it?

"No, she looked like she was about to cry." Tyra explained, crossing her arms over her chest. "Do you have something to do with that?"

"I don't know." Tim muttered, passing Tyra as he made his way back to the front door.

"Tim, where are you goin'?" Landry called as he and Tyra both followed along behind Tim as he opened the door and headed back to his truck.

"I've gotta go find Julie. And stop her from goin' back home."

"Tim, she's already gone." Tyra said, watching Tim closely.

Tim shook his head, placing his hand on his hip. "No. She's probably at Coach's. She wouldn't leave without tellin' them bye."

"Tim, I really don't think she'll still be there. She left here a few hours ago." Landry answered quietly, scratching his head in a confused manner.

"Well, I'll find her at the airport then." Tim muttered, a sense of dread beginning to descend on him as Tyra and Landry continued giving him bad news.

"Tim, her plane leaves in about thirty minutes. There's no way you can make it to Houston in that amount of time." Tyra replied, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him. "She's gone, Tim."

Tim closed his eyes, sighing as he lowered his head. Tyra and Landry shared a look, both wondering what exactly was going on as neither had ever seen Tim look so defeated or heartbroken.

"I've at least gotta try." Tim said solemnly, raising his head and looking at his friends.

"You love her." Tyra said softly, looking at him closely.

Tim felt the air leave his lungs as he slowly nodded his head. Yeah, he loved her. Hell, he had always loved her.

"I've gotta go." He muttered, climbing into his truck, giving them a quick wave before backing out and speeding down the highway.

Tyra was right, there was no way he could make it to Houston before her flight left. He made a turn back toward town, taking the back streets toward Coach's home. He held onto the faint hope that maybe she had decided to stay.

He brought his truck to a stop in front of the Taylor's home, spotting their SUV in the driveway, but no Julie. Damn it, he thought as he hit his steering wheel with the palm of his hand.

He should have told her how he felt, that he didn't want her to go, that he loved her. There were so many things that he should have said, should have done.

And now it seemed that he was too late.

She was gone.