CHAPTER 12
Tim slammed the phone down onto the receiver. He bet Santiago had taken her to the lake. Tim grabbed his truck keys off the kitchen bench and marched outside his house. He flung open the driver's door and jumped inside, flying in reverse out the driveway.
On the familiar roads of Dillon, he floored the accelerator pedal. The lake was famous for high school parties, he'd spent countless nights there himself. The sooner he made it to Taylor, the better. He often regretted his actions from the previous night and didn't want the same fate for her. It had nothing at all to do with the new kid circling around her.
After twenty minutes, his truck jotted about atop the dirt road destined for the lake. A glowing bonfire came into sight paired with the sound of blaring music. Tim threw his truck into park and scrambled outside.
He scoured the horizon but couldn't see any boats out on the lake. He was pleased Santiago wasn't a total loss and had managed to get back to shore. Tyra and Landry were standing near the bonfire. Tim made a beeline for the pair. "Where's Taylor?"
Tyra lifted her hand to rest on her hip, holding a drink in the other. "How nice of you to join in on our private conversation."
"Where's Taylor?" Tim repeated.
"She was here earlier, calm down." Landry and Tyra began to look around for Julie.
A high-pitched scream followed by laughter echoed across the lake. Tim moved to the water's edge. Tyra and Landry followed him. Something was out on the horizon, but he couldn't quite make it out. The pit of his stomach fell when he noticed Mr. Richards old dinghy was missing. It was always tied to the pier.
He was unable to tear his eyes away from the object in the distance as it swayed dangerously. "SANTIAGO! GET BACK HERE!" He bellowed. If something happened to Jules, Coach would have to get in line to serve up justice. The supposed dinghy continued to rock. All he could do was helplessly watch when it tipped seconds later. Tyra gasped in horror.
Without a second thought, Tim dove into the lake. His arms and legs worked double time to propel him towards Taylor as fast as he could. With each stroke, he closed the gap between them. His mind was in a frenzy knowing she'd been drinking. It was like an Olympic race, with a dire consequence if he lost.
Each time he took a breath, he could hear splashes that weren't his own. It was most likely Landry not far behind him. He hoped Santiago was sober enough to help Taylor until he reached them.
Tim was unable to see her only a couple of meters from Mr. Richards's dinghy. "JULIE!"
"Tim?" Her voice made his spirit soar.
He swam around to the other side of the dinghy. Her mouth was dipping under the waterline as Santiago struggled to keep them both afloat. Tim wrapped his arm around her midriff and began paddling on his back. "I've got you," he said, steadily supporting her body while he swam. Landry and Santiago followed behind them.
The journey back to shore was taking its toll. Tim's arms were beginning to tire and ache.
Not far from land, Taylor began to thrash against his arm. Tim tightened his grip; there was no way she was swimming on her own. "We're nearly there." When they reached dry land, Tyra was waiting to lift her friend out of the water. Tim staggered to his feet and focused on Taylor who had her back towards him. "Are you okay?" When she didn't answer he put his hand on her hip. She pushed it away from her body and gave him a dirty look.
"What are you doing here?" She asked distracted by Santiago and Landry reaching the shore.
Confused by the level of outright hostility directed his way, Tim grabbed her wrist and swiftly yanked her closer to him. He whispered out of Tyra's earshot, "Are you really okay? How much have you had to drink tonight?"
"Like you care?" She sneered. He inhaled deeply and let it out, "Of course, I do. He doesn't. If he did, he wouldn't have taken you out there in the dark."
"I don't need you." She uttered avoiding his gaze.
"Good to know, next time I'll let you drown." She attempted unsuccessfully to pull out of his grasp.
"Let go of me." Her eyes shot sparks in his direction.
"What's going on with you? Is this about Seven?" Tim delicately moved the wet hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Talk to me."
"You're with her, I know it." Fear crossed her face and his heart clenched seeing her eyes well.
"Look, whatever's going through your head right now is wrong. Please don't cry... I came here for you and I only care about keeping you safe." Noticing her shivers Tim wrapped his arm around her waist. "Come on, I have a blanket in my truck."
Relief suffused her features and she leant into his embrace. They moved towards Tim's truck until Tyra stepped in their path, holding her arm out in protest. "Not so fast hotshot. Where do you think you're going?"
"We're going home." Taylor was huddled against his chest wiping her eyes.
"Her parents know she's with me. I brought her here, she's staying." Tyra's voice rose in confidence and Landry moved closer to be a part of the conversation.
Tim sceptically looked at the beer in Tyra's hand, his ire building. "You're drinking, I'm not leaving her with you. She nearly drowned out there while you were busy with your new boyfriend."
"Oh, since when did you become so dramatic."
"Friends help out their friends, Tyra."
"She's not your friend, Tim. I don't know what you're trying to pull with her, but she knows better than to get involved with you," Tyra spat. Tim sidestepped her, done with the conversation. She grabbed his arm. "I'm not letting you leave with her."
"Stop," Taylor moaned, "Tim-"
"It's okay, we're leaving," he said rubbing his hand up and down her back.
"Julie? Are you crying?" Tim recognised Sevens voice before he appeared and stood beside Tyra.
"Stay out of it Seven, you're no hero."
"Where are you going?" His eyes were wide in concern for his ex-girlfriend.
"I'm taking her home if you three would just get out of my way."
"To your bedroom," Tyra challenged.
"Her parents can't see her like this," Tim explained.
"I'll watch her until she sobers up," Seven offered.
"Not a chance in hell," Tim retorted. Taylor shivered and moved her hands under Tim's shirt. Seven looked away with a tight jaw. Tim hoped he was riddled with jealousy. "I'll put the heater on in the truck if we ever get there." He pressed her close to his body with his arms.
"Lois will come and get her if I call her," Tyra suggested.
"She's leaving with me, you three can do whatever you want." Tim barged past them ignoring Tyra's verbal onslaught.
Suddenly his movements were halted by the grip on his shirt. He whirled around to see who was stupid enough to lay hands on him. "You have two seconds to let go of me." Seven heeded Tim's warning and removed his hand. "Tyra, what do you think I'm gonna do to her?"
She glanced at Landry for support. Tim directed a hostile glare at the boy. Maybe it was pointless to try and reason with his ex?
"Get her home early. I'll tell her parents she's with me." Tim nodded and eagerly headed to his truck with Taylor glued to his side.
As they neared the truck, he directed them towards the tray and retrieved the blanket. Taylor moved her hands higher up on his back sending a shiver through his body. "You have to get out of this hoodie." She lifted her arms for him to pull it off over her head. Tim tossed it in the back of the truck and wrapped her in the blanket.
He opened the passenger's door, helping Taylor inside and closing it behind her. He hurried around to the driver's side checking she was okay through the windscreen, flashes of her struggling to swim entered his mind.
She was resting against the door when he swung open his truck door and climbed into the driver's seat. He started the truck and switched on the heater.
Tim sped away from the lake leaving only a cloud of dust behind them.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Are you warm?" He asked midway home, the hairs on his arms were still standing on end. Taylor unbuckled her seat-belt and slid next to him. It was irresponsible to ride with no seat-belt but it had been a long week. Tim lifted his arm to huddle her body against his, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
With Taylor warm and content by his side, it was hard not to be disappointed by the sight of his street up ahead. He pulled into the driveway relieved to find Billy's truck wasn't there. Tim killed the engine and watched her eyes flutter open sensing the motion of the truck had ceased. "We're home."
Tim couldn't help but grin as she yawned and let the blanket fall from her shoulders. He took her hand and helped her out of the driver's side of the car. They strolled to the entrance of his house and he unlocked the front door.
He led her to his bedroom letting go of her hand when they entered. She immediately sat down on his bed. He opened his closet and pulled out some clothes for them both to wear placing them on the bed. "I'll get you a drink of water while you change."
Tim walked into the kitchen and fetched a glass of water. He began opening every cupboard in the kitchen in search of a hot water bottle. He remembered his mother bringing him one when he was a small child.
"Tim!" He heard a panicked Taylor call from the bedroom.
He left the kitchen to check on her, colliding as she exited his bedroom wearing only his Panthers Jacket. She shot a hand up to her mouth while he took in her pale complexion. "I'm gonna be sick," she muffled from behind her fingers.
"The bathroom is down there on the right." She pushed past him and ran down the hallway, flinging the door closed behind her. Tim followed her, to hear the unpleasant sounds of vomiting through the door. Those sounds were far too common in the Riggins household.
He walked back into the kitchen to give her some privacy and continued the search for the hot water bottle, finding it in the second last cupboard. Tim filled up the kettle and set it to boil.
He went into his bedroom and changed out of his own wet clothes. Taylor's denim shorts, singlet, and bra were flayed out on his carpet. He picked them up and carried them into the laundry along with his clothes, hanging them on the sink edge to dry.
Back in the kitchen, he heard the kettle boil so he filled up the hot water bottle and carried it along with a glass of water into his bedroom. Tim sat on the end of his bed for a few minutes waiting for her to return. He was about to make sure she was okay when he heard her plodding up the hallway.
She entered his bedroom, with notably more colour in her face and a look of embarrassment. She was trying to make his jacket cover more than the tops of her thighs. "Sorry, I'm so gross."
He laughed appreciating how wrong she was. His eyes scoured her body, she was far from gross. She'd never looked sexier. "We've all been there, nothing to apologise for." Tim held out the glass of water. She walked closer to him and took the drink, holding it to her lips for a sip.
"Where are we?" She asked, wiping her watery red eyes.
"At my house." She froze momentarily contemplating the repercussions of staying. "Tyra's handling your parents."
"So... this is your bedroom." He looked around at the empty beer cans, food wrappers, magazines and clothes strewn across the floor.
"I didn't know you were coming or I would have tidied up." She set her glass down on his dresser and lent down to fold his quilt back. The movement caused her jacket to creep a little higher on her thighs. Tim looked away and stood up from the bed. "Get some rest. I'll be in the living room."
"You don't have to leave."
He swiftly turned to face her, surprised by the offer; she looked awfully comfortable in his bed. Her hoop earrings were resting on his side table. It was tempting, too tempting. "It's a comfy couch."
"I feel weird kicking you out of your own room," she said fighting off a yawn.
She had to sleep, if she was anything like her parents, she wasn't going to lose an argument. Tim laid down on top of the quilt. She snuggled closer resting her head on his chest.
He drew soft patterns on her back until she fell asleep. It felt right to have her with him. His eyelids grew heavy as she slept. A few more minutes, then he'd go to the couch.