**NOTE: Hi there, thank you to those who've taken the time to review, but really, thank you for reading it at all. Now, this chapter is going to be a little different, because most of it will be Riggins-less. I know, it hurts me too. BUT, in order for stories to fully come to life, they need a little more than eye candy. He will be featured in the beginning, but then he's taking a vacation until the chapter 6. Pretend he's out sunbathing somewhere while you read. That's a nice mental image. Anyway, I realize after I post these that you guys are unable to see the page breaks-so I know it looks like we suddenly changed scenes and it throws you off. Hopefully this new (and quite honestly cheesy) technique will show up on the site! :-)

Chapter 5

"This isn't going to work," Hannah said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "No way this going to work."

"Sure it will."

"Why aren't you going to Landry with this? He has experience tutoring the football team. He can relate it to tackling and touchdowns and all that."

Tim grinned sheepishly and ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, uh, see we don't get along real well when he teaches me. He sorta swore he'd never tutor me again after The Scarlet Letter."

"And what makes you think we'll get along?"

The smile on Tim's face turned mischievous. "Oh, I'm sure we'll be just fine."

Hannah felt her ears burn red, so she sat up straighter and glared at him to regain some of her pride. "If you think I won't make you work twice as hard as Landry did, you've got another thing coming. So, decide now if you're willing to put as much effort in this as you would one of your football practices. If not, then this isn't going to work. I won't waste my time."

The boy said nothing, just kept his lips pressed tightly together. He clearly didn't like being bossed around.

So Hannah tried again. "Are you going to work hard for me, Tim?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but then thought otherwise. Instead, he leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table. He looked side to side, as if to make sure no one was listening. If what they said about him was true, Hannah thought, he didn't want to appear as though he'd changed his tune about school. Maybe this needed to be kept a secret. That was fine.

Tim lowered his voice and spoke slowly, "Work hard for you? Are you tryin' to seduce me, Ms. Robertson?"

Well, that was unexpected. Hannah's facade collapsed in that moment, and she felt her jaw drop. She stared at him blankly, attempting to collect her thoughts.

"What? How-I," this wasn't working. Thoughts were colliding in her head, unable to decide which one would be spoken aloud. Her brain somehow lacked the ability to send messages to her mouth. Until finally, she managed to say, "You just...Do you even know where that's from?"

"Nope," he said casually, leaning back in his chair again. He looked so smug, pleased that he caused her brain to malfunction. It was enjoyable to watch someone trip over their words.

"Well, aren't you just…" she searched for the right word, "a real comedian." What a stupid comeback, she thought. I'll probably think of a better one in the shower later. "I'll see you later, Tim. Be here after practice on Tuesday." She got up from the table.

"But that's at six o'clock," he whined.

"Don't be late," Hannah said over her shoulder as she walked away.

Tim watched her pass the rows of bookshelves and out the double doors, her dark hair bouncing with each step. Her hands were balled into fists. He smiled.

~LATER THAT NIGHT~

"You've got some nerve, Henry," Hannah's stepmother bellowed from the top of the stairs.

"Aw, come on, honey, it's not that bad."

Hannah opened her bedroom door to see Laurie leaning over the bannister. Her shoulders were hunched forward and her hair looked wild as she shaked her head back and forth. She was looking down, no doubt at her cowering husband.

"What the heck's going on?" Hannah asked, her door wide enough for just her head to peer out.

"Your father is an imbecile."

"Laurie!" Henry shouted.

"He's joined the rest of the idiotic town in a pool for the football team. Tell her how much money, Henry."

But Henry didn't answer. Hannah still couldn't see him, so she left the room and joined her stepmom at the top of the stairs.

"Dad, how much?" she asked hesitantly.

"It's not that much."

Laurie slammed her hands down on the railing. "Three hundred dollars. Your father put three hundred of our money into this."

Hannah closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath.

"Hannah, don't listen to her. You know as well as I do that the Panthers are going to make it to State. And when that happens there'll be a big payoff. Three hundred will seem like nothing. The likelihood of the Tigers taking Friday's win is slim to none. You know that, you've seen 'em play."

Laurie threw her hands in the air, exasperated. The expression she gave Hannah was one of pleading. "I can't right now. If I talk to him anymore I'll smack him. Talk some sense into him, please."

Hannah walked down the wooden stairs, the wood creaking with each step she took. When she got to the bottom, she found her father standing with his hands on his hips, head tilted upward in search for Laurie's looming figure.

"Dad," Hannah said, taking a seat on the last step. "Dad, why are you betting money at all? You're not even into football that much."

Henry waved the comment off. "It's something all the guys around town do. It's all they talk about. I've gotta be a part of it if I want to join the group. I was just trying to put my two cents in."

"You told me that taking this job meant things would be different. As in, less money coming in, less money to spend. What's the pay difference between this job and the last?"

Henry looked at the floor not wanting to answer. But he could feel his daughter's eyes burning into his head. "About half. Something like that."

Hannah's eyes widened. "Half? It's half of what it used to be, and you're gambling away money?"

"Idiot," Laurie called from upstairs.

"It's not that bad," Henry spat, glaring into the darkness upstairs. "Hannah, honey, it's going to be fine. We know they'll win. I promise, I won't do this again. I just wanted an 'in' with the guys. They can be pretty intimidating."

Hannah shook her head. There was no point in arguing. He'd done it, and talking to him now wouldn't change his mind. She could only hope his promise was sincere. "If you say so," she said softly, and retreated back to her room.

~THE NEXT MORNING~

There was a loud clanking noise in the sink as Laurie slammed the cereal bowl down. Hannah and her father jumped slightly at the sound. Nobody had spoken this morning, and it was time for Hannah to go to school.

"Where the hell are my keys?" Laurie asked to no one in particular.

Hannah piped up. "I saw them by your phone."

"Well I have my phone, Hannah, and yet there are no keys. See the problem?" As soon as she snapped at her stepdaughter, she regretted it, a sad look on her face. "Sorry, sweetie."

"I think I'll walk to school today." Hannah got up from the table and put her plate in the sink. It would be a very long walk, and she'd probably be late, but there was nothing she wanted more in that moment than to be by herself.

Neither of the adults said anything, so she grabbed her purple backpack and headed out the door. No one said goodbye. But as soon as she shut the door behind her, Hannah could hear the yelling begin. She sighed, and pulled her hood up over her head and shoved her hands in her jacket pockets.

No more than ten minutes later, Hannah heard someone call her name. She looked up to find Matt and Julie in his beat-up car driving alongside the curb.

"Want a ride?" Matt asked.

Hannah smiled. "Yes, please."

At first, all was quiet in the car, but then Julie saw someone she recognized in the car beside them, and began yammering away about Tyra's recent spat with Lyla. Hannah tuned them out, every now and then looking at the rearview mirror to watch Matt's face. He tried his best to seem interested, but he was obviously itching to get out of the car.

"So, what's this I hear about you tutoring Tim Riggins?"

Hannah looked at the mirror again. Matt did not make eye contact, and for that, she was grateful.

She shrugged her shoulders at Julie before answering. "Your mom asked me to help her out. I didn't know she was assigning me to him."

"That's not what I heard," Julie mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard he asked for you specifically. Gave my mom your name."

Hannah looked out the window. "I don't know anything about that."

Asked for her? What was he playing at? He did know she had a good grade in the class, but there were so many other people. And since when did he offer a tutor for himself?

"All right, then." Julie said, rolling down the window. "If that's the story you're sticking with."

A blue pickup truck cut in front of Matt's car, and the passengers stuck their arms out of the car. The driver had written on the back window in big, white letters: GOING TO STATE!

"Assholes. Honk at them, Matt," Julie said.

But Matt just sighed and gave an unconvincing smile. "Aw, it's fine. It's just the guys."

Hannah was still staring at the truck, at the confidence in the white letters. Suddenly she reached out and touched Julie's shoulder.

"Hey, do you think it'd be okay if I slept over tonight?"

Julie looked at her, her big brown eyes widening with curiosity. "Um, yeah, sure. Everything...okay?"

"Yeah, of course. I just thought maybe we could hang out. And...and…" The pickup truck was blasting music, the sound of the bass caused Matt's entire car to vibrate. One of the boys stuck his head out the window to wave at a girl in jean shorts.

Hannah bit her lip, tearing away the flesh. It began to bleed, but she bit down harder. "I could really use a night away from home. That's all."

This time she did meet eyes with Matt in the mirror. He looked sympathetic. Then he put his hand over Julie's and gave her a little nudge.

"Totally. Don't worry about it, Hannah. We'll have fun. My dad's making his famous chili tonight. He'll be happy to have another victim-I mean guest." She and Matt laughed.

Hannah's smile didn't reach her eyes. But she smiled nonetheless, grateful for the break. "Thanks. Seriously."

The school day began and ended the same way it always did. The only difference was a forty minute fire drill that got Hannah and Julie out of Human Anatomy. They sat with their backs against a chain-link fence and discussed their plans for the night. Sleeping in the same house as one's school principal meant no funny business, and no staying up late. Julie made that very clear.

But Hannah didn't mind, she wasn't looking for trouble, only a distraction. And from what she had heard, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were perfect together. Like peanut butter and jelly, they were comfortable with their differences, but felt no desire to part. They complemented one another, and that gave the house a certain balance.

It was at this time that Hannah found out she had ruined some evening plans. Matt had wanted to take Julie out; he'd already rehearsed what he'd say to Coach Taylor. He was a little bummed, but both he and Julie could see Hannah's need for a break. So he relinquished Julie for the night, and invited Landry over for dinner with his grandmother.

~SOME HOURS LATER~

"Julie, sweetheart, set the table, please," called Mrs. Taylor. "Honey, turn off the game. You can finish it after dinner. Come on, now."

Coach Taylor begrudgingly shut off the TV and hurled the remote off to the side. He was still wearing his Panthers jacket, his whistle dangling around his neck.

"Julie, did you hear your mother?"

"I'm coming!" Julie rolled her eyes as she left her room, Hannah trailing behind.

Hannah volunteered to help set the table, placing down the napkins and utensils beside each plate. She watched out the corner of her eye as the Taylors went through their evening motions. It was nice, seeing them all work together. No one looked too bothered to set things up; even Julie regained her happy demeanor as she made her way around the table placing ice-filled glasses and bowls in front of each chair.

"You'll wanna put out some extra napkins, there, Hannah. It's gon' be a bit messy." Coach Taylor nodded toward the single napkins that lay on the tablecloth.

"Oh, okay," Hannah replied.

"You like spicy?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah. I love me some wasabi."

Coach Taylor pretended to be disgusted. "Wasabi? Ain't nobody talkin' about wasabi. I mean real spice. The kind with peppers and chilis and all that good stuff."

"Well, I guess I'll find out soon enough. I hear your chili recipe is hard to beat."

"You heard right," he said with a proud smile.

"Oh, Eric, please. Hannah, don't say anymore about it. His head's already growin' too big." Mrs. Taylor shared a look with her husband, and despite their teasing, both looked at each other with adoration.

It made Hannah's stomach churn.

"Hannah, sweet tea, lemonade?"

"Lemonade for me, please. Thanks."

"I'll take a Bud Light," Julie interjected. Everyone looked at her. Even the baby went quiet. "Just kidding. I'll take lemonade too, Mom."

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't rattle off a beer brand like you have it with Sunday dinner, Julie Taylor." Mrs. Taylor shook her head disapprovingly.

"That's right," Coach Taylor nodded. "Besides, you know we're a Coors family."

"Eric!" Mrs. Taylor lightly hit him on the arm.

The two girls laughed along with the coach, and before long, Mrs. Taylor cracked a smile.

"Well, guess what mister? You can have some delicious, ice-cold water with your famous chili."

"But-" the coach began.

"-You need to start watchin' what you put in that gut of yours. You're no spring chicken."

"What gut?" he asked, patting his belly.

"The one that's making you sit farther away from the table," Julie chimed in.

Another laugh around the table. Hannah was enjoying herself. Most dinners at home consisted of her father in his faux-leather recliner in front of the TV, Hannah in the kitchen, standing by the counter, and her stepmother in the office, typing away on her laptop. Not exactly family time.

"Okay, okay, that's enough out of you two. Now, everyone get ready for the best meal you've ever had the pleasure of consumin'."

"Here we go," Julie whispered to Hannah.

And the great thing was, Coach Taylor was right.

~AFTER PIE WAS SERVED AND FOOD COMAS BEGAN~

LAURIE: Hope ur having a good time.

LAURIE: Did u eat?

LAURIE: Have a toothbrush with you?

LAURIE: You better have done ur hw..

ME: Yes, yes, yes, and….yes.

LAURIE: K good. Sorry.

ME: How's it going there

LAURIE: Great. Haven't said two words to him.

ME: Laurie…

LAURIE: Don't worry about it. I'll see you tomorrow night hun.

"Jeez, who're you texting? Tim? That thing's beeping like crazy."

Hannah exited the text conversation and locked her phone. She scowled at Julie.

"Um no, it was not Tim. It was my stepmom."

Understanding filled the blonde's eyes. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really," Hannah said solemnly. She fiddled with a loose thread on her pajama bottoms. They were Julie's, and they were a bit snug. She didn't have the same tiny frame as her friend.

"Okay, I can't take it anymore. Do you have a thing for Tim?"

"Jesus."

"Thanks, but you can just call me Julie."

"Why are you even asking me that? What makes you think…?"

"I have eyes." Julie tucked her feet beneath her and sat on them. "So?"

Hannah faked a yawn. "Look, it's been a long day. I'm pretty tired."

"Oh, no you don't. Don't pull that crap with me. Talk, woman."

They sat in silence for a moment, but Julie was persistent, and she began poking Hannah in the side until she spoke.

"I just...I don't know. Maybe. But it doesn't matter. I mean, he's attractive and all, but what's the point? We are so different."

"Hmm."

Hannah raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing. It just means hmm."

They both sighed, keeping their thoughts to themselves. Nothing really needed to be said out loud anymore. They seemed to be on the same page.

"I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning." Hannah lay down on the bed of blankets Julie piled on the floor. She closed her eyes, and heard Julie pull the sheets up on her own bed.

When she heard Julie's breathing change, Hannah turned on her back and looked up at the ceiling. Light from the streetlamps was cast through the blinds onto the white walls.

And ever so quietly, almost to herself, Hannah gave a soft "hmm."