Chapter 23
Tim rolled around at 6.55pm. Julie watched as he exited the truck and walked up the path. She looked behind her at her mother sitting nervously on the couch. He was dressed nice for Tim and had even brushed his hair. It wasn't like the combing job of a few weeks ago but he looked nice...and nervous. She could see him waiting on the door step, his leg tapping, his hand raised to knock on the door. She looked back at her mother, who was ripping a tissue to pieces in her hand and repeatedly looking at her husband with distaste. Julie didn't know who was more nervous, her boyfriend (wow that sounded nice) or her mom. That being said, her mom had spent more time getting ready than she had, repeatedly asking Julie what she should wear. It was kind of embarrassing.
Julie rushed to the door and ripped it open "Hey you," she greeted him, stepping on her tippy toes and giving him a peck on the cheek. Tim looked wildly around, obviously waiting for her father to pounce from behind one of the walls. "It's okay, my mom's coming with us." He sighed with relief and she touched his arm in support. She couldn't believe he could do this for her, good girl Julie Taylor. Tim smiled at her and grabbed her hand, they walked into the living room not knowing what to expect.
"Hey Tim, how are you this evening?" Tami used the voice she used around the Women's Group of hers. Lots of drawl and all sugar and sunshine. Julie darted a look at her mom, silently pleading for her to cool it with the Carol Brady crap. Her father stood with his back against the breakfast bar, his arms crossed, eyebrows lowered, ignoring the looks from his wife.
Tim took it all in his stride "Quite well thanks Mrs Taylor. I spent the day with Street. Are we okay to go?" he asked anxious to leave the house and away from the Coach. Julie tugged on his hand, dragging him to the door. They paused once there, turning around to her mom.
"Coming Mom?" Julie snarked. This night was going to be unbearable but at least she was able to be with Tim. If could make her mom's life miserable too then that was just gravy. Tami threw a look of hatred towards her husband and followed them out.
All three of them got to Tim's truck and paused. They simultaneously thought of the same problem. One truck and three people. Who would sit where? Tami took a step back and raised her arms up to shoulder height indicating that this was beyond her. Julie rushed forward, opened the passenger door and slid to the centre of the seat. She looked back at her frozen boyfriend and mom and gestured to them to hurry up. And that was how it was. The three of them were squashed together like sardines. Julie didn't actually mind all that much. Her thigh was pressed up against his and if it weren't for her mom and the irritatingly placed gear shift it would have been a very enjoyable drive. She kept looking at him and smiling. He kept his eyes on the road but he could tell her glance was on him, his mouth snaked up into a soft smile. Tami on the other hand had her elbow resting on the window, sighing repeatedly and trying not to look in her daughter's direction.
They arrived at the cinema car park, Tim rushing out of the driver's seat to open the door for Tami and Julie. They entered the establishment, three astride, Julie's arm hooked around his. She could tell he wasn't so keen for the PDA even if it was unbelievably low key. She couldn't work out whether or not it was because of her mom's presence or that he simply was uncomfortable with being seen with her. Their entrance garnered significant attention in the lobby too. It was a Saturday night and the place was packed. She immediately let go of Tim's arm, she was not ready for this type of public scrutiny. She looked at toward her mom and saw Tami's look of understanding and sympathy. All credit to her mom, she was trying to stay back, away from the public gaze but that was near impossible. The audience began whispering to one another, looking back and forth between Tim, Julie and Tami and then whispering again. It was torture.
Julie closed her eyes wanting to escape from the public examination for a moment. Maybe this was too much too soon. Maybe they had rushed into this in their eagerness to be together. She felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned towards it. It was her mom and in that moment she was glad that Tami was there.
Tami whispered "It'll be okay. Tell me what movie we're seeing and I'll go and find a seat by myself. I meet up with you after, okay." Tami nodded at her making sure Julie understood.
"Thanks Mom. We're seeing Alien versus Predator Requiem," Julie told her in an apologetic tone. Julie had planned this knowing that her mother hated these kinds of movies and that traditionally they were quite dark. Perfect for some mom-free movie nookie. Tami made a face, cursed her husband under her breath and disappeared into the crowd. The crowd were still buzzing with the appearance of the most unlikely pairing in Dillon history, they obviously hadn't caught on to Landry and Tyra yet. She could hear people ask how the Coach was letting this happen. People questioning if Tim had ever been on a date before. Teens laughing at her mom escorting her and it was all too much.
Tim wrapped his arm around her, pulled her into his body and murmured reassuringly into her ear
"Don't worry about them. It's you and me against the world or Dillon anyway. They'll get used to it soon enough," She looked at his face and saw his strong belief in what he was saying. She also realised that his lack of enthusiasm for her touch earlier was definitely linked to her mom's presence. She lifted her arm and wrapped it around his waist, smiling at him. They approached the ticket counter and hit up the candy bar without any incident and they found some seats at the back of the darkened cinema. Julie perused the audience for her mom and saw her near the front of the cinema. Thank goodness her mom was the chaperone and not her father. If her dad had been there he would be sitting between them right now asking Tim to pass the milk duds. Her mom on the other hand had surprised her. She had obviously sat at the front as she knew that they would choose to be at the back. Julie had confidence that her mom wouldn't be turning back constantly keeping tabs on their date.
The lights went down and the movie started up. Julie knew she would not remember any moment of the movie, this was her first official date with Tim, if you didn't count the lick date. She felt his arm move around her shoulders, his hand resting on her upper arm, his finger trailing up and down her arm. His magic fingers causing delicious sensations to move throughout her body. She glanced at him and found him already looking at her. He smiled at her, brought his other hand up under her chin raising it and moved in for a kiss. It was freeing being able to do this without worrying about being caught. Julie even forgot her mother was in the room. All that mattered was that Julie and Tim, Tim and Julie were finally able to work out what they were and how they would be.
Julie slipped her arm over the arm rest and onto his thigh. They sat through the entire movie trading kisses in continual physical contact. They revelled in the chance just to be, rather than stealing moments of togetherness. Julie knew that people would be shocked that Tim would have another setting other than rampaging man-whore but she wasn't. The kisses were long, sweet and reverential. They fed each other popcorn and tittered at the ridiculousness of the movie. Every time she jumped at a scary moment she would press her head into the crook on his neck and he would chuckle into her hair. They were still kissing when the lights came back on. They broke the kiss off and Tim pressed her forehead against hers and whispered
"That was fun, do you want to invite your mom to come again next week?" he dissolved into laughter and Julie hit him in the arm. She looked for her mom in the departing crowd and saw her standing watching them with a warm look on her face. Tami nodded and Julie realised she finally had an ally other than Gracie. She breathed a sigh of relief, looked back at Tim and kissed him again. They walked out hand in hand, Tami trying to keep a low profile. The chatter was minimal on the way out and she was glad, they were just a passing subject of interest.
On the way home, they were all silent. Tim and Julie unable to withhold their smiles at one another. Pulling up in the driveway, Tim helped them each out of the truck again. Before they reached the door Tami turned around
"That was the last time you'll have a chaperone, you can bet on that. Stay here and say goodnight. I had an interesting night Tim, thank you," she entered the house and they heard her holler "Eric, we need to have a little talk."
Tim looked at her and kissed her. Wrapping his arms around her lower back and drawing her into his warmth. Julie reached up and placed her arms around his neck, playing with the hair on his nape like he enjoyed. He moaned into the kiss and then broke it off.
"Jules, you tempt me," he whispered "I gotta go before your dad wangles himself away from your mom," He kissed her quick on the mouth and walked to his car. "That was the best second date I have ever been on." He called out.
Author's Note – Two chapters to go. I hope I didn't put you into a coma with all that sweetness.