I spent my summer in Italy at the request of my parents. Each summer my parents insisted I travel abroad to learn new artistic techniques. It was their one condition if I was going to continue down the path of art. It was the first summer I didn't want to leave Dillon behind.

It was sweltering when I got back to Texas. I thought Italy was warm, but at least there was a sea breeze. Texas was like stepping into the fictionalized version of Hell.

As soon as I got back to Dillon, I called my friends. Julie didn't answer her phone. Billy didn't know where Tim was. Tyra was the only one who picked up. She barely let me speak, telling me to go to the pool to see her. Then she hung up on me. I smiled and got into my swimsuit.

Everyone I knew was at the pool. What else was there to do in Dillon during summer break? It was almost too crowded.

I spotted Tyra hanging out with Landry, her hair shorter than mine was after State. It looked good on her.

I started toward them, but a familiar voice came from the pool.

"Catherine Barton, back from wine country!"

I crossed my arms and stared at Tim Riggins floating in the pool. Two girls flanked him on the float, his arms draped over their shoulders. He wore sunglasses and a white summer hat.

"Ciao. I see you've enjoyed your summer, Riggins." I smirked at the two girls. "Do you even sleep?"

"Only to dream of you, Barton."

"Are you gonna get off your assand come give me a hug?"

He laughed. "I'm a little busy."

"Fine," I said, tossing my pool bag on the grass. My swimsuit cover followed before I jumped in the pool with the biggest splash I could muster. I grinned gleefully when the girls whined over getting wet.

Tim got off the float, causing the girls to fall into the pool. He completely ignored them as he pulled me into a tight hug. His hat almost fell off when he put his face in my hair. I patted his back when he told me how much he missed me.

I looked up at him, my hands at his sides. My reflection on his glasses threw me off, so I put them on top of my head. He had the mischievous look in his eyes that I missed in Italy. He looked happy to see me. Really happy.

"You're hair's longer," he said. "Looks good."

"You smell like booze."

"There's no other way to enjoy summer in Dillon."

I used my fingers to tick off ideas. "There's bowling, riding bikes, going to a ranch, and twenty other things to do before drinking the days away."

Tim tightened his hold again, forcing my face into his chest. He smelled like summer and chlorine. My palms pressed against his back feeling where the sun was warming his skin.

"Wanna get somethin' to eat?" His voice was a lot quieter than before.

"Sure, Tim."

Alamo Freeze was empty since everyone wanted to be in the water. It was great for us because we could sit wherever we wanted.

I scooted into a booth expecting Tim to sit on the opposite side, but he slid in beside me. I was trapped between him and the window. I raised my eyebrow.

"What? Give me a break, Barton. I haven't seen you all summer."

"You can see me better from that side." I rested my head on my hand while staring at him.

"But I like this better." He draped his arm on the back of the seat. "I missed you a lot, Cat." Tim brushed his fingers through my hair. "I didn't think I'd ever miss a friend that much."

I smiled and patted his leg. "I missed you, too. I didn't know how to deal with the classy drinkers over there. I can only handle Texas ones."

He laughed.

Our number was called, so he got up to get our order. He set the tray down, snatching a fry from my food as he sat.

While I was teaching him a few bad words in Italian, a couple of girls walked by. They waved and winked at Tim who responded in the same manner.

"Have you slept with the rest of the ladies in Dillon this summer?" I bit my straw.

"Not quite."

"I'm surprised you're not riddled with STDs."

He chuckled. "I use protection. I don't want kids trying to find me down the road."

I rolled my eyes and tossed a fry at him telling him to get himself checked. It hit his cheek and fell onto his lap. He picked it up and ate it, reassuring me that he does every year.

"If you didn't try to have sex with every girl you see you wouldn't have to worry about it. Nothing else is 100 percent, Tim."

"Have you been talkin' to Lyla since you've been home?" I shook my head. "Well, you're soundin' an awful lot like her and her teen Christian shit."

I grabbed his chin and made him look me in the eyes. "I'm not tellin' you this to save your soul. I'm tellin' you because I wanna see Tim Riggins at his best, doing something he loves. Sleepin' with a lot of girls and drinking your days away isn't what I see for you, all right? I'm tellin' you this because you're my friend."

A grin grew on his face and he leaned over to kiss my head. "Where have you been all my life, Catherine Barton?"

"Up the road a bit."

Both of us chuckled and Tim wiped some of his shake on my nose when I turned to look at him again.

I was so damn happy to be back in Dillon.

A week later, we were back in school. I got back into classes like we never had a summer break and I even got Tim to show up on time that whole week. He made me walk him to his locker because of it. I blushed crimson seeing the photo he took of me beside the one I took of him. He smirked at my reaction but didn't say a word.

During the second week, I was walking to the art building when I saw an ambulance pull in by the football field. I changed my course, worried about who was hurt. I didn't feel any better when the paramedics removed a jersey with a big 33 on it from the person on the ground.

I didn't think. I dropped my bag and ran onto the field calling out Tim's name. Matt stopped me from getting any closer.

"You can't do anything, Cat," he told me. "Let them take care of him and go see him at the hospital."

"What happened?"

"The new coach was having him doing a drill and he collapsed. We don't know anything else." Matt let me go when he felt I wasn't going to bother the paramedics.

I bit my lip hard when they put Tim in the ambulance. That's when the new coach yelled at me to get off the field. I didn't hesitate. I waved to Matt and grabbed my bag. I never made it to my next class.

The nurses wouldn't let me see Tim the first time I got there. I paced the waiting room for several minutes until Lyla walked in. She saw me and smiled knowingly.

"You here for Tim, too?"

I nodded. "I saw the ambulance pull in and had a feeling. I'm waiting for the okay to see him."

"Mind if I come along?"

"As long as they are willing to let us both in, I'd be more than happy to let you tag with me. You might keep me from kickin' his ass for scarin' me."

Lyla's laugh was light. "You really care for him. Tim needs a friend like you. You know, someone who's going to be there."

"I'd do this for anyone."

"Tim is just the lucky one right now."

I knew she was stating a fact, but it made my insides twist sickly. It didn't ease up when a nurse gave us permission to see Tim.

The doctor walked out as we walked in. I was at Tim's side in an instant asking if he was okay.

"I'm doing better now." He sat up in the hospital bed and grinned at both of us. "If I knew two pretty girls were gonna visit me, I would've passed out sooner."

Lyla rolled her eyes and I squeezed his hand hard.

"Don't joke about it, Tim," I said. "What did the doctor say?"

"I need to drink more water." He proceeded to take a sip from the cup in his hand.

"Back to drinking your life away again, Tim?" Lyla sounded annoyed. I suddenly felt protective of Tim.

"It's worked so far."

I sighed and pointed at Lyla. "I don't like your tone, but I'm also concerned." I pulled up a chair and rested my chin on the edge of the hospital bed. "None of us want to see you like this. I almost lost my shit when I saw you lyin' out on the field. I don't want to gang up on you though because that's not gonna work. I just want you to know you scared me so bad I skipped the rest of my classes."

"I'm glad to know I'm more important than your grades." Tim's sarcasm cut deep.

I glanced at Lyla who had a sad shine in her eyes. I pressed my cheek to his hand that I still held. "Of course you are. You're a thousand times more important than a letter on my report card. You're a living person – my friend – who is irreplaceable."

Tim didn't meet my gaze. Instead, he let go of my hand to touch the side of my face. I smiled and kept my eyes closed a few seconds longer when I blinked.

"I want you to come with me to church, Tim. It'd be good for you," Lyla said. "We have a service going on tonight."

His eyes sought mine for advice. I sat up and blinked.

"I'll go with you if you need me," I whispered. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

Neither of us was surprised when he refused.

That evening there was a knock on my door. I ran over to see Tim with his shirt partially tucked into his jeans. His hair was a little messier than usual.

"Come with me," he said.

"Where?"

"To the church thing."

I looked down at my painting pants and t-shirt. "I need to change, Tim. I don't think I can go lookin' like this."

"If this God is all He's cracked up to be, I don't think He'll care too much."

I took in his attire again and shrugged. "All right then. Let's go."

If Tim felt uncomfortable, I felt like I was going to be struck down with the way people peered at me as I was lead down the aisle toward Lyla. It was worse than the halls at Dillon High. I should have changed.

Tim kept my hand in his during the worship, during the message, and when Lyla asked him about the service after it was all over. Of course, he was indifferent to most of it, but I could tell something struck a chord.

Lyla smiled at me. "Thanks for coming with Tim, Catherine. I know your family believes a little differently and it couldn't have been easy coming here."

I shrugged and peeked up at Tim from under my hair. "There isn't much I wouldn't do to support Riggins."

Lyla smiled when I looked at her, a warning clear in her stare. I nodded once in understanding. I knew why she was wary of our friendship and I was being cautious. It didn't mean I couldn't be there for Tim when he needed me.

Tim pulled up to the front of my house and turned the truck off. Neither of us got out. I looked over to see him burning a hole in his steering wheel.

"What's goin' on in your head?" I asked.

"I don't know," he admitted. "Somethin' happened tonight and I don't get it."

"Not to get all religious on ya, but that's probably the Holy Spirit nudging your conscious, Tim."

"I've messed up."

I took his hand. "We all have. No one's perfect. Doesn't mean God doesn't want us in the end. We're the only part of His Creation He sent Jesus to save, so that's gotta mean somethin'."

"I never thought you were religious, Barton."

"We're quiet about it. My family doesn't claim a denomination like Baptist or Methodist. We believe similar things about the Bible, but there're still differences."

"Where'd we go tonight?"

"I think the base is Baptist, but they link into some Protestant teachings, which isn't too far off from my family's beliefs."

"Is that why you're friends with me? Because a book told you?" Tim's eyes were sharp in the darkening light.

"I'm friends with you because I want to. I'm not here to preach you into salvation or fulfill my Heaven quota. I enjoy your company even when you're hungover or when you're a brooding ass. Why do you keep questioning my friendship with you? Don't you trust that I care because I want to?"

"I don't know, okay? I'm just questioning everything."

"Know this, Tim Riggins: I'm going to be your friend no matter where you go or what you do. I don't expect you to do the same because most people don't, but I love my friends fiercely. You are no different. Stop questioning my loyalty to you, all right? You wanted this friendship all the same and you're gonna get it."

I was thrown off balance when Tim got out of the truck only to come to my side and pull me into a suffocating hug. I would have told him to loosen his hold, but his sniffle sounded wetter than normal. I squeezed back just as tight.

That was a lot of text breaks and a bunch of events that I know didn't happen exactly like this so close together. I just wanted it all in one because it fit when I first started writing this story. Also, there really isn't anything on the kind of church Lyla goes to, so I used what little information I had to sort of decide which denomination it might be. If it's wrong, I apologize. I don't know what this week's posting will be like because we're getting a puppy, so it might be scattered. I hope you enjoy what I can get out anyway. :) ~S. M. Graham