It was a funny, familiar feeling, standing outside the field house and waiting for her boyfriend to emerge from the field after a long, hard practice under the instruction of her father.

Except this time, her boyfriend wasn't Matt, her boyfriend was Tim and instead of waiting on a Panther, she was waiting on a boy who was getting a second shot at what every boy in Texas dreamed of—playing football beyond the lights of Friday night.

Grinning to herself, she watched the pair conclude their practice, Tim hiding his exhaustion as Eric patted him across the back and shared with him what Julie hoped were encouraging words. As she watched them stride towards her, she found herself sending up silent prayers that this would be a success.

It had to be…otherwise, she would find herself once again saying goodbye to a boy she cared deeply for as the summer days dwindled away and she wasn't sure if she could handle it again.

The idea for Tim to attempt college and football again had come to her during their chat on New Year's Day after Tim complained about school taking her away from him. Though she was sure the idea of her leaving for college in the fall wasn't what he was referring to, it was immediately where her mind had traveled.

The solution, she realized, was to take him with her. Probably, the reason he had failed in San Antonio was that he had no one there to cheer him on, encourage him to go to class and achieve his dreams. She could be that support system for him, she realized.

Julie had witnessed her father do this before—take a player and mold him into the success story he knew they would be. He had done it with Jason Street in high school and then with Smash before sending him off to Texas A&M.

She wasn't surprised when Eric had eagerly agreed to help Tim out. Though he had pretended to be supportive of Tim's return to Dillon in the fall, she knew that he had had high hopes for his former fullback. As a coach, he wanted to see him succeed.

For Eric, his motivations were the same as they had been with Jason and Smash. For Julie, however, it was different. She had an invested interested—her heart.

She wanted Tim's success for herself just as much as she wanted it for him. That, and she knew that this huge undertaking would be impossible if Tim wasn't behind it as well.

Because, really, as much as she wanted him with her at whatever college she chose, she didn't want him to do anything he didn't want.

"You waitin' on me, Taylor?" Tim drawled, breaking her away from her thoughts, as he approached after separating with Eric at the gate to the field.

Julie looked up at him and shrugged, a small grin spreading across her face. "Nah, I just like to hang out at the field house," she teased.

Shaking his head back and forth, Tim spread his stance and pulled her to him, his hands on her hips. "Is that so?"

She nodded, her lower lip becoming trapped beneath her teeth.

Damn, if he didn't look good in his athletic gear. Not that she didn't appreciate his everyday low slung jeans and soft, worn out plaid shirts, but she was quickly realizing a fondness for the football pants he wore to practice with her father. And the old t-shirts with the cut-off sleeves.

"Only because you're here," she finally said.

It was corny, she knew, but it was the truth.

Tim narrowed her eyes as if questioning her statement before surprising her with a peck on the lips.

"Thank you," he said after pulling away.

"For what?"

"This," he said, glancing around to signify that he was referring to football.

Julie grinned. "So today went okay?" she asked, hope oozing through her words.

The smile that lit up Tim's features, stretching all the way to his eyes, told her that it had.

Initially, she had worried that this was too much—hoping that Tim would want to play football again and return to college. But now, she realized, not only did he want this, he needed it.

"Being on the field again, even though I wasn't with a team and I might never play with a team again, it felt good," he said.

"Good," Julie said, matching his smile with one of her own.

Tim nodded his head, his lips forming a quick pout before he spoke again. "Your dad still knows how to kick my ass, though," he added.

Julie giggled. "Do I need to talk to him?" she joked, gently poking him in the chest with her index finger.

"Nah," Tim said with a smirk, "I'm pretty sure some of it was a hint of a future threat if I were to, you know, hurt you."

"Ah," Julie said nodding slowly. "Guess you better not hurt me then."

"I guess I better not," he agreed, his gaze traveling to her lips.

Watching his eyes travel to her mouth, Julie made a point of licking her lips before speaking again.

"What are you doing tonight?" Tim asked when his eyes returned to meet hers.

She shrugged. "Well, its Tuesday, meaning Taylor Tuesday."

Tim quirked an eyebrow towards her.

"We order pizza and my mom insists we play Scrabble or Monopoly or something else that she can beat my dad in," she explained.

"Ah," Tim nodded, understanding filling his features. "I bet that doesn't go over well."

"He does hate to lose," Julie admitted. "What are your plans for the evening?"

"Well," Tim began, "I was hopin' to spend some time with my girlfriend, but seein' as how its family night, I guess I'll have to hang out with Billy or somethin'."

Julie scrunched up her face. "You can come, if you want," she said reluctantly.

Her parents didn't take to interrupting of Taylor Tuesday's very well, but surely they would make an exception.

Tim shook his head firmly. "I don't want to endure the effects of interrupting Taylor Tuesday tomorrow when I workout with Coach," he said with a small smile.

"Are you sure?"

Tim nodded. "I'm sure. But Friday night, you're mine," he said.

Julie raised her eyebrows. "I am?" she asked.

"You are," Tim said, silencing any further protests on her part by attaching his lips to hers.

"Jules!" Eric called, loudly swinging open the field house door and interrupting their moment.

Julie and Tim both groaned in frustration. "You ready?" he added, a proud grin at having interrupted their kiss on his face.

"Go," Tim said, squeezing her hips lightly and pushing her forward.

Julie sighed. "Fine," she said reluctantly after one last quick kiss. "I'll see you later."

"See ya, Taylor," Tim called to her retreating figure.

--

Taylor Tuesday was in full swing later that evening when Julie breached the subject of Tim and football with her father. Though Tim had told her their workout had gone well, she wanted to hear it from the expert's mouth.

"So, dad, how did today go with Tim?" she asked casually.

Eric grinned. "As strange as it sounds, he was in better condition than he was the last time I coached him. Guess he's taking better care of himself," he explained. "I think I can get him ready to try out as a walk on somewhere in time for summer workouts."

"Really?" Julie asked a little too eagerly.

He nodded, oblivious to her giddiness. "Yeah."

"That's great, hon," Tami added. "How are his grades going to go over at somewhere like UT or A&M, though?"

Julie's hopes fell. Tim hadn't exactly been a star student at Dillon High and from what she knew about walking on to a college football team, regular admittance to the school was required as opposed to highly recruited players that went through slightly different channels.

Eric shrugged. "We'll have to play that by ear. I guess if need be, I can call in a favor."

"But you think he can do it, right?" Julie asked.

"I think if he works hard and keeps behavin' himself, then he's got a shot. I'm not making any promises, though, sweetheart" Eric said. "Now, who's ready to lose at Scrabble?" he asked, rubbing his hands together and changing the topic quickly.

As Tami prepared the game board and divided up lettered tiles, Eric stood and crossed to the kitchen for a beer.

"You okay, hon?" Tami asked.

Julie had been frowning since the mention of Tim's grades. Prior to Tami's question, she hadn't even considered the issue. She just figured football was the key.

Now, she wasn't so sure.

She quickly nodded, attempting to keep the tears threatening to form in her eyes at bay as she avoided her mother's inquisitive gaze.

"No, you're not," Tami argued.

Julie nodded. "It's just, I had this plan and thought everything was going to work out, but then you mentioned Tim's grades and now I just don't think it's going to work out," she said, her gaze focused on her lap.

"Hon," Tami said, reaching across to place her index finger under Julie's chin and lift her gaze. "Look at me."

Julie obliged.

"Do you remember what I told you when we were at the airport after dropping Matt off?"

Julie nodded weakly. "You told me that if we were meant to be, it would work out."

"It's the same with Tim, hon, you just need to have a little faith," Tami said with a smile, reaching across the table to wrap her daughter in her arms.

"I know," Julie murmured into Tami's shoulder.

Pulling away, she grinned weakly and wiped away a stray tear as Eric reentered the room.

"Ready?" he asked, oblivious to the scene before him.

Both Taylor ladies nodded, sitting up straighter in their seats and preparing for a battle with Eric Taylor.

"Let's play," Julie said, glancing down at the Scrabble letters she had to play with.

Grinning to herself, her spirits were lifted when she realized the letters before her spelled out exactly what she needed at that moment: B-E-L-I-E-V-E.

Author's Note: I'm terrible at updating now, I know. Forgive me?

Just a little FYI: Walking on to a team means that you are on the team, but you aren't on scholarship, therefore you have to apply to the college and be accepted, then actually try out for the team. So, if Tim were to walk on somewhere, he would have to somehow get in. Have a little faith, though, it'll all work out for Tulie :)

Even if you're angry at me for not updating, leave me reviews and I might be persuaded to being quicker next time!