Chapter 28:

Several more weeks have gone by and Julie is finally out of the brace and her wrist is healed nicely. It is almost Christmas break and Tim has a question for Julie's parents.

Tim swallows and knocks on the Taylor's door. He knows Julie is at dance practice for another 30 minutes and then getting a ride from Lois so her parents should be home.

"Hey Tim. Jules isn't home yet." Tami says when she opens the door.

"Oh I know." He smiles. "I wondered if I could talk to you and coach… uh… Is that okay?"

"Sure Hun, come on in…"

Tim follows her back to the kitchen where Eric is sitting with Gracie Belle.

"Hey son. Everything alright?"

"Yeah I just wanted to talk about Jules."

Both Tami and Eric looked at him.

"Is she alright?"

"Oh um… yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not doing well with this conversation. I'll just spit it out. I'd like your permission to date Julie. Like… go on dates."

Eric looked at Tami. Truthfully, they had been discussing this for the last 3 months. Tim was constantly at their house, Tami picked out meals with him in mind, and he had even fallen asleep on the couch more than a few times. Julie was never happier than when Tim was around.

Tami spoke while Eric went through his thoughts.

"Of course you can Tim. Why the change now though?"

"Well I'd like to take her with me to visit San Antonio State this weekend and I thought maybe we could go to the river walk Friday night as our first date." He said nervously.

Eric's eyes snapped to Tami's. The college visit was an overnight trip and Billy Riggins was the chaperone.

Tami smiled. That would be a cute date.

"Tim…" Eric started.

"I know its overnight but I've slept here before and I swear nothing would happen and Billy will be there too."

"Tim, we trust you." Tami said.

Eric nodded. "We do. Just…"

"Eric…"

"Fine. But I want to talk to Billy about it."

"Okay!" Tim said excitedly.

"And… I expect you to ask her if she wants to go. She may not… she hasn't even left the house overnight since…" Eric didn't need to finish that sentence, they all knew. Jules hadn't even been to a sleepover outside of her home.

Tim nods. "I plan to ask her tonight if that is okay."

"Yes." They both say.

"Are you staying for dinner? I'm making lasagna." Tami questions.

"Sure! Thanks Mrs. T."

Later that night after dinner Tim and Julie are sitting on his tailgate watching Mr. Henderson put up his Christmas lights.

Julie scoots closer and Tim wraps his arm over her shoulder.

"Jules?"

She looks up at him and smiles.

"Yeah Tim?"

"Do you want to go with me to San Antonio this weekend?"

She sits up.

"What?"

"I have my college visit and Billy is taking me. Would you like to come with us?"

She tilts her head in confusion.

"Tim… isn't that supposed to be a time for you and Billy?"

Tim frowns a little.

"I guess… I just wanted you to come."

"Tim you know my parents will not agree."

"I asked. They said it is up to you."

"Overnight?" She asked slightly panicking.

"Yes, we are planning to leave Friday after lunch and we would be back Saturday night. The football coach got us a nice hotel." With conjoining rooms so Billy can leave us alone. He added in his head.

"Tim… I…"

He sucked in a big breath.

"It's okay if you don't want to go. I just thought it would give us an idea of the school and some time alone might not hurt and I honestly thought we might go out on an official date." He said kind of shyly.

She smiled and kissed him.

"I would love to go on a date with you. And alone time does sound nice."

He smiled.

"Tim, I'm more just nervous than anything."

"Julie I won't let anything happen to you." He leaned in and kissed her. He wanted to add I love you. But couldn't bring the words out.

"I know, I trust you Tim. I …. Uh… Let's do it! I can see if I can set up a tour of the English department while we are there too."

He grinned. "Yeah, why would you do that Miss Taylor?"

She blushed. She hadn't actually told him that she might follow him after she graduated.

He kissed each of her blushing cheeks.

"I just… well… maybe I would like it too?" She said more like a question.

"Maybe you will…" He said into the night air as he pulled her closer.

Note: Just a little fluff. Seriously only one or two more chapters to go. It will be their trip and then an ending. I'm not sure if that will be just one more chapter or I will break it into two, it depends on how long they are.

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Also, check out my other stories.

Once this one is complete, I plan to finish up my other FNL story. I noticed I was getting a little confused and less creative if I work on them together.