A/N: I realised now that I forgot the disclaimer so it will follow my introductory note. Okay so I would like to begin by saying that wow, what a shocker of an episode last night!! It has really thrown a kink in my plan but that is okay because kinks can really be a blessing in disguise. SO I am going to wing it, and I hope you all enjoy my update. Oh by the way thank you for not giving away anything XunFoRgEtTaBlEbAbEX, I don't read spoilers for shows I really like. Enjoy…
Disclaimer: I do not own Friday Night Lights or anything affiliated with it.
Episode #3: Wind Sprints Friday NightAbbey ran a hand through her hair as she watched her brother get mowed down by yet another one of the opposing team's defence men and cringed. Lyla had already told her before they came out that no matter what happened on the field they were to look happy and confident that the Panthers could work through it and win the game. That was steadily becoming harder and harder.
She looked at the scoreboard, it was currently seven to thirteen and Abbey doubted that no matter how hard the waved their pom-poms the Panthers weren't looking too good. Mind you she was never a big football fan therefore had no idea what a team was capable of coming back from.
Matt dodged another defence men barely and started to run.
"GO MATT!" Abbey found herself screaming praying that he would make it, that he could win the first game he had ever started.
He fell in a pile of bodies from which Abbey could hardly discern a Panther from the "enemy". All the other cheerleaders started to scream; obviously they thought the Panthers had won. Abbey trusted them and found herself screaming along with them and the crowd, trusting their knowledge of football.
But from the look of the ref, they had just lost…
SaturdayAbbey sat at the table when Matt came through for breakfast.
"Hey you," She said quietly hoping not to wake their grandmother up.
He made an inaudible noise and went over to the counter. Abbey focused on her Captain Crunch.
"Later on we gotta go outside and clean your bill board."
Matt turned and looked at her but she could barely look him in the eye.
"Why?" He asked.
She continued to stare at the table. "Well, ya know how the shop class made you a bigger one since you became first string well, that makes for a hell of a lot bigger surface to spray paint 'loser' across." She looked at Matt who had hung his head and wasn't saying anything.
"Damn it," He finally whispered.
"It's okay Matt, we'll get it cleaned up." Abbey shrugged standing up and walking over to stand beside him. "I mean they are just upset you lost they don't-
"Don't what Abbey?" He looked at her; he looked stressed. "Don't mean it? Because it sure as hell is true."
"No it isn't Matt!" Abbey said back. "You played a good game last night, better then anyone could have expected on such short notice."
Matt shook his head and looked around the kitchen. "Aw shit," He said looking at the fridge.
"What?" Abbey said looking at where he was looking.
"I need to refill grandma's prescription, this morning." He said leaning against the counter.
"Look, you go and clean the board and I'll get the prescription." Abbey said putting her hand on her younger brother's shoulder.
"You sure, because I could do that and then do the sign when I get home as long as you can keep grandma in the house." Matt ran a hand over his short hair.
Abbey shook her head. "No, Matt I came here to help you out not let you do everything." She gave him her million-dollar smile, "Be back before you can say third down."
Matt rolled his eyes, "There are four downs, Canadian football only has three downs."
Abbey shrugged going into her bedroom, "Hey you play with sheep skins ergo all the same."
"Pig skins!"
Abbey scrawled her signature on the receipt and handed it back to the pharmacist.
He handed her the bag. "Thanks,"
"No problem," He said smiling at her.
As she walked away she coughed, "Perv," Abbey didn't think it was a good idea to make enemies with someone she would be seeing regularly. Given she had worn a rather low cut top but in California it was positively prudent. Then she had to keep reminding herself she wasn't in Cali any more.
As she walked out of the store down the sidewalk she saw Tim's truck parked outside the super market. She looked at her watch; she had time for a quick hello.
She walked over and knocked on the door of his truck. "Hey," She said brightly smiling in the open window at him.
He looked at her and stared for a while before saying, "Hi,"
She sighed, "SO? How ya been?" He scowled at her.
"Fan-tastic," He said before going back to his breakfast.
Abbey could sense he would prefer her to walk away but for some inexplicable reason she couldn't seem to stop leaning on the side of his truck. Considering their last conversation, he had been drunk and they had been talking about feelings a word Abbey could bet that Tim couldn't even spell, and then to top that off, she had been front row centre for their so-called humiliating defeat, his unwillingness to talk made a lot of sense.
"Uh, you seemed to play well last night," She said wanting to say anything to break the uncomfortable silence. Tim looked at her and immediately she wished they were still in the silence.
"Oh? Did I? Well I guess you are a regular John Madden," He looked out his windshield at the storefront.
"Who?" Abbey asked before she could stop herself. Tim looked at her, "Point taken." Abbey looked at her feet. "Well, see you at practise."
"Practise?" Tim asked as Abbey turned away.
Abbey looked at him. "Yeah, tomorrow after church, practise, I am a cheerleader remember?"
He nodded, "Oh right,"
That made Abbey feel a heap better about herself. "You're really not into the whole 'Pep' thing are you?"
Tim looked at her and shook his head with a sardonic smile.
"Sorry I find that kinda ironic for someone who has supposedly slept with the whole rally squad." Abbey turned not sure why she wanted to end the conversation on such a sour note.
"Hey, I have my limits," He yelled at her as she walked back to her old Dodge Pick up.
"Judging from Tyra I am guessing not." She said to herself.
Abbey got out of her truck and walked down the driveway to see Matt scrubbing the sign will Landry talked about black magic or something.
"Ya know you could actually think about helping him," Abbey said glaring at Landry who turned to look at her. "Just a thought,"
"Why don't you?" He asked.
"I was out jackass, and now I am going to change to help."
"Matt?" The three of them turned to face their grandma who had come out onto the porch. Abbey moved across the lawn to stand in front of the board. "What are you doing?" She asked looking at them with suspicion.
"Uh, just cleaning up out here grandma." Matt said still kneeling beside the sign.
"Oh, well when you are done, could you go out back and water the children?" Abbey looked at her grandma. It just hit her how sick their grandma actually was.
"Ya mean the flowers grandma?" Matt asked patiently. Abbey looked at her little brother.
"Of course, like I said," Their grandma turned back into the house.
Abbey let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding in. Matt looked at Landry, "Yeah our grandmother is really putting a spell on the Dillon Panthers." Landry shrugged, obviously still believing there was some truth to his words.
A car screeched past the house. They turned to look at them. They were honking the horn and screamed 'losers' out the window. Abbey flipped them the bird. She looked at her brother who had turned back to the sign.
"Don't listen to 'em Matt, I am going to change and I'll come out and help you." Matt nodded.
Abbey had changed out of her top into a big old white t-shirt of Matt's. She looked at her hand; she had broken her fifth nail in the process of cleaning the sign. She looked at Landry who was sitting on the front steps going on about his so-called 'band'.
"Ya know this is man's work, haven't you ever heard of being chivalrous?" Abbey asked snidely.
"If I can't spell it, it means nothing to me." Landry said not stopping long in his speech. Abbey rolled her eyes and went back to the sign. From her and Matt's effort is now read 'OSE'. She sighed and dipped the sponge back into the bucket.
"Oh god, we have more company," Landry said getting off the steps to stand beside Matt.
Matt and Abbey looked at the truck that had just pulled to a halt in front of their house. Abbey pushed the hair out of her face that had come free from her bun; she instantly recognized the truck.
Tim leaned over the empty passenger seat and rolled down the window. "Hey Saracen," He yelled. Abbey and Matt looked at each other.
"Which one?" Abbey yelled back. Matt looked doubtful that Tim was referring to him.
"Oh uh, sorry. Abbey!" Tim yelled again not bothering to get out of his truck. Abbey shook her head getting up reluctantly and walking over to the truck.
"You could just get out and come over ya know," Abbey said resting her arms on the windowsill of the trucks passenger door.
"Yeah, but why when I know you are gonna come over eventually," Tim said smiling. Abbey shook her head.
"What is it Tim?" She looked back at him. He shrugged.
"Wondered if you wanted to hang out." He asked looking out his windshield.
Abbey stared at him. "And…" He looked back at her obviously not getting what she was implying. "Do what?" She added.
He shrugged, "I dunno, lets see what happens." He smiled at her again. She just stared back coldly hoping that her face didn't let on that a shiver had just shot down her back.
"I have a lot to do Tim," She said staring at him. He shrugged.
"Do it later."
She stared at him. "Sorry," 'I know you wanna go, you know you wanna go so why the hell are you saying no!?' Abbey thought turning away from the truck.
"Oh come on, loosen up Saracen," Abbey turned on her heel to looked at Tim.
'Loosen up? Loosen up? Some of the parties I went to in San Francisco would make your toenails curl little boy,' Well now she had to prove that she wasn't a wimp, 'After all it is a matter of pride!'
"I'll go change," She said running into the house.
When she came out she stopped at Matt who had got the sign to now read 'SE'. "You gonna be okay for a couple of hours?" She asked.
"Yeah I'll be fine," He said looking at the sign and not her. Abbey started to feel guilty. She looked at Landry who was standing beside her and then the restless figure of Tim who was still in the front of his truck.
"Look you," She said grabbing Landry's collar. "You get down there and you finish cleaning that sign or else you'll be a eunuch, whether you can spell it or not," She shoved him down on his knee and walked out of the garden, with Matt laughing quietly behind her. She got in the passenger door.
"Okay lets go," She said smiling brightly at Tim.
Abbey and Tim sat on the hood of Tim's truck leaning against the windshield. They had driven to the outskirts of Dillon and parked. After practising his drive shot for a while Tim finally joined Abbey on the hood.
"So, if you don't like Timothy, what would you like to be called?" She asked turning her head to face Tim. Tim looked at her.
"Only a girl would come out with something that stupid." He said watching her.
Abbey shrugged, "Only a boy would skirt a simple question."
Tim looked at her and shrugged, "No matter how much I hate it, it's my name." He looked out over the desert.
"You could change it,"
"You gonna change your name?" Tim asked, it was a good question.
"Thought about it," Abbey said shrugging, "But I suppose in the end I am already Abbey and won't be anybody else…although if I had to change it I think I would change it to Bethany,"
"Bethany?" Tim snorted.
"What? It's a good name."
"Yeah, if you're a princess."
Abbey shrugged, "Hey ya know what? I am a princess, just the world is taking their sweet old time to realise it."
Tim shook his head, "Gotta say never met a girl like you before."
"Is that good or bad?" Abbey asked looking at the sky.
"Haven't decided yet." Tim said sliding off the truck. "You want a beer?" Abbey sat up.
"What kind?"
Tim shrugged, "Most likely Budweiser, why?"
Abbey shrugged, "Yeah sure," Tim stood still watching her, "What?" Abbey finally asked.
"You drink?" He asked riding an eyebrow.
"Hey, there is a lot you don't know about me Tim Riggins." He shrugged and went to the bed of his truck. He came back holding two bottles. He handed one to Abbey, she stared at him expectantly.
"What?" He finally asked.
"Need a bottle opener genius," She said.
"Oh," He dug around in one of his back pockets, leaning ridiculously close to her before handing her his key chain. She took it and proceeded to open her bottle. "Ya know if Lyla finds out your off the squad," He said watching her.
She looked at him, "And you care?"
"No, just…"
"Hey ya know what, cheerleading ain't exactly my first love." She leaned back on the windshield again.
"Oh and what is?" Tim asked leaning back beside her.
She looked at him and was rather surprised to see he looked slightly interested in her response, "Gymnastics," She said sipping her beer.
"Really? So you can do all that double jointed stuff?" Abbey looked at him.
"Not exactly,"
"Oh," He said sounding slightly disappointed. Abbey looked at him slightly amused.
"But I can put my feet behind my head." He looked at her as she said it in a slightly bragging voice.
"Huh," Tim said looking out over the landscape. "So why become a cheerleader?"
"I dunno, something to do I guess, I don't think I am going stay on the squad,"
"Yeah, why not?"
Abbey looked at him, "You seem awfully interested in my life." She said sitting up, partly wanting to put him on the hot seat for a while and partly not wanting to answer the question.
Tim shrugged his shoulders, continuing to stare out at the skyline. Abbey looked out at it too and they fell into silence.
"Can I ask you something?" Tim asked. Abbey looked at him shrugging.
"Depends," She responded.
"Did you know about Tyra and Smash?" Abbey choked on her beer.
"Pardon?" She spluttered, coughing.
"Yeah, figured." Tim said getting off the front of the truck. Abbey crossed her legs and watched him pace. "Seems the whole damn town found out before I did."
"Well, I mean I wouldn't really say I found out so much…" Abbey said trying her best to sound comforting, but failing miserably.
Tim looked at her and gave her a fake smile, "Yeah well, Tyra wasn't exactly trying her hardest to hide it was she?"
Abbey continued to watch him pace, "Well, I mean from what I have heard you guys don't have the most trusting of relationships,"
Tim glared at her, Abbey just shrugged, "I am just saying." He continued to glare but resumed his pacing. "So?" Abbey asked. Tim looked back at her.
"So what?"
"So what are you planning on doing about it?" Tim stopped and stared at her like he had never heard a more ridiculous question in his life.
"I know what I am gonna do," He said walking back over to the truck.
"Oh? And that would be?" Abbey asked as he came to stand beside the side of the truck she was sitting on.
"I am gonna drive you home." Abbey scowled and slide off the hood of the truck.
"Well, Tim Riggins this has been a hell of an experience."
Tim tore off down the street without saying goodbye. Abbey wasn't sure she knew why she seemed to like him so much or why he had this control over her, he certainly wasn't the nicest guy she had ever met, but then maybe that was a part of it.
She walked up the front path to see Matt sitting on the porch steps. "I see you got the billboard clean," She said brightly.
Matt shrugged, "Yeah, well after Landry looked up eunuch, he pretty much finished the work." Abbey smiled.
"How's grandma doing?" Abbey asked sitting beside Matt, it was a nice night.
"She's fine, watching a cooking show on PBS." Abbey nodded resting her head on her brother's shoulder. "Abbey, what are you doing with Tim Riggins?"
"Oh well, it was real exciting, we drove to the outskirts of town where he worked on his golf swing, asked a lot of questions about gymnastics and my cheerleading abilities. Then he asked if I knew about Tyra and Smash which then lead to a conversation which ended the very enjoyable night we were having." Abbey said sarcastically.
Matt shook his head, "No I mean in general not literally. He's…not the best…"
"Overall person?" Abbey suggested.
Matt shrugged, Abbey knew he didn't like talking about the other football players behind their backs, not that he talked to Tim's front all that much. "I just don't want you getting into something… something you weren't bargaining for."
Abbey looked at Matt, "Thanks Matt, I appreciate that you look out for me, but I know what I am doing," 'No I don't! I have absolutely no idea what I am doing or how I feel about Tim Riggins!'
Matt looked as sceptical as Abbey felt. "Yeah well, whatever, I gotta go to work."
Matt stood up. "You want a ride?" Abbey asked.
Matt shook his head. "N'ah Landry is gonna pick me up." Abbey nodded and Matt went inside.
Sunday"Uh I think I am gonna skip out of Church today Grandma," Abbey said to her grandmother who was standing in her bedroom door.
"Now, Abigail Marie Saracen, what would your father say if he found out you weren't going to church?"
Abbey looked at her grandmother. She wanted to scream that they would never know because he wasn't there, she wanted to scream she would way rather he be here yelling at her to put on her best Sunday dress and smile and respect their lord, but he wasn't. He was half way around the world fighting for something that wasn't theirs to fight for, or at least that was all Abbey could tell, she didn't care about politics and what was happening to those people was awful but she just wanted her dad back.
"I am not feeling so good grandma, I'll go and talk to the preacher later on in the week but I gotta feel better for practise."
Her grandmother nodded with pursed lips. "Alright I suppose I can forgive you this time Abbey, but you have to go and talk to the preacher later this week aright?"
"Alright grandma," Abbey assured her, "Come on Landry's here to pick you and Matt up."
The two women walked through to the living room. Matt looked at Abbey who was still in her pyjamas.
"You not going?" He mouthed at her. She shook her head. He shrugged, and she mouthed back to him, "Thank you," He nodded and they left.
Abbey went back through to her room and picked up her cell phone. She dialled a number and waited for the answer.
"Yo," Was the sudden answer.
"Hey you," She whispered.
"Abb's? Oh my god Abbey! HA!"
"Nice to here from you too Dave," Abbey said smiling to herself.
"Oh my god, it feels like you have been gone forever."
"Yeah I know doesn't it? So how has everyone been?" She asked lying down on her bed.
"Eh, ya know same old same old, Joe broke up with Laurie."
"What?" Abbey sat up at the surprising news.
"Yeah I know, I thought they were gonna last longer then us." He said laughing but the laughing stopped. "Sorry," He added quickly.
"Yeah no worries, it's my fault I should have known I had to come home eventually, I shouldn't have gotten involved with anyone."
"Don't be so hard on yourself kiddo."
"Thanks, Dave but I am in the end still in Dillon."
"Suppose that's right," He added.
"I gotta go," Abbey said looking at the calendar.
"What? You just called."
"Yeah I know but I have to shower before practise and I wanna run laps so I wanna get there early…"
"Practise? Don't tell me they have gymnastics in Dillon,"
"Oh no, you won't believe this but picture it me a cheer leader."
There was silence on the other end of the phone then hysterical laughing, "Ah go Abb's that's funny you shouldn't do that to a guy."
"Do what? I am not kidding," There was silence again.
"You're kidding, you have to be, because there is no way in hell that my Abbey is down there in hell's kitchen turning into another conformist Barbie doll with pom-pom's most likely made by child slave labour."
Abbey giggled, "Yeah now that sounds like my good liberal ex."
"Yeah well, what do you expect?"
"I dunno, a little understanding, I mean that is the closest I am gonna get to gymnastics' down here so I could do with a little empathy. Anyway it seems that you are either a rally girl, a cheer leader, a geek or a slut in this town so of all those a cheerleader isn't sounding so bad."
"Hey, we both know that geeks are drop dead sexy,"
"I really gotta go," She whispered.
"Yeah, you take care of yourself kid,"
"I will,"
"Love ya, even if you are in the hell on earth."
"Texas ain't so bad Dave,"
"Yeah well, we can talk about that when you come and visit."
"It's a date,"
"Okay, bye,"
"Bye," Abbey hung up the phone and looked at it before getting up and going through to have a long bath. She missed Dave.
Dave had been her boyfriend before she decided to move back home.
Abbey sat down beside Lyla. "If I hear one more god damn mention of 'Voodoo' Tatum I think I may burst a blood vessel, pardon my language."
Lyla laughed, "Yeah it is always like that, my dad trying to get the team to be the best it can be."
Abbey shook her head, "I didn't mean it as anything personal but …" She trailed off at the entrance of Tyra.
"What's she doing here?" Abbey asked watching Tyra with critical eyes.
"I don't know, probably looking for Tim, or Smash or something to 'do'," Abbey looked at Lyla.
"You are way to good a girl to use language like that Lyla Garrity." Lyla giggled.
"I know she just gets under my skin, Tim deserves way better. Speaking of which I wonder where he is, he said he would be here." Lyla looked over the crowd.
"He isn't here," Abbey said automatically.
"What? How do you know?" Lyla asked sitting back down and taking someone's donation for Jason's rehab.
Abbey looked at Lyla and shrugged, "I dunno, just didn't see him when I got here and since then I have been at this door." Lyla nodded and went back to counting a total.
MondayAbbey walked down the hall and entered her math class and sat down beside Lyla who looked offended and pissed in general.
"Hey who spat in your bean curd?" Abbey asked. Lyla just glared at her. "Point taken," Abbey nodded and took out her notebook.
She looked in the back of the class. Tyra was sitting in the back corner looking like shit. Abbey was shocked she actually made it to class. There had been reports that she had ditched a lot.
Abbey had heard that Tyra and Tim had broken up early probably fifteen minutes after they did the whole town knew. It was the talk of the town, after all Tim Riggins, who was used to having a full time girlfriend was now single.
Abbey wasn't exactly sure why she had been happy when she had heard the news but it had defiantly put a smile on her face. What didn't was seeing almost every girl in the whole school falling over themselves to get his attention.
"I gotta go," Lyla stood up suddenly and ran out of the classroom.
"Lyla?" Abbey leaned over her desk to look after Lyla but she was already down the hall.
Tim walked by Abbey's desk and sat down on her other side. Abbey looked at him. He looked back at her and shrugged.
"What?" He asked coldly.
Abbey shrugged, "Uh nothing. Hey do you know what's wrong with Lyla?" She asked getting a thought.
"Why the hell would I know?" Tim asked looking at Abbey.
Abbey shrugged at the suddenly overly aggressive answer, "Just wondering, I mean you and Jason are best friends just figured you would be close with her, that's all."
Tim went back to his backpack. Abbey rolled her eyes, what the hell was wrong with everybody today?
Abbey was out on the field stretching after performing a hard jump.
"You okay?" Lyla asked coming to stand beside her.
"Yeah, just stretched my shoulder." Abbey said quickly forcing on a smile.
"Little different from gymnastics' huh?"
Abbey stood up, "Lyla, I have already eaten my words about ten times are you really gonna make me say it?"
Lyla smiled, "N'ah, I'll let you get away with it this once."
Lyla went over to help another girl.
Abbey looked out over the football field. The team was practising. Everyone looked pretty stream lined except…
33…. 33…who was 33. Then it hit Abbey, 33 was Tim. He was standing talking to the coach apparently. She knew she should be warming her shoulder back up but for some reason she was frozen just staring out over the field.
What he did next confused her. He took off his helmet and proceeded to walk off the field. Abbey followed him with her eyes and then scanned back to the coach. He was standing in field talking to his assistant coach.
Abbey looked back at the quickly disappearing Tim. She turned and found Lyla on the other side of the squad. "Hey, Lyla?"
Lyla looked over, "Yeah?" She said.
"Uh, I think I pulled my shoulder, I am gonna go ice it and then see if I can get the trainer to have a look okay?"
Lyla nodded, "Yeah sure no problem."
Abbey took off around the field to the changing rooms. Once at the school she entered the cool hallway. Tim was already half way down and about to turn into the boys locker room.
"Hey Tim!" She yelled he turned and looked down the hallway at her as she jogged towards him. His hair was wet from sweat and he looked rather pale. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked looking at him.
"I'm fine." He said shortly before turning into the boy's locker room. Abbey followed him in.
"You don't seem fine." He turned and looked at her with a surprised expression.
"Uh, maybe you didn't see the sign but this is the boys locker room." He said pointing at the door.
"Yeah I got that from the stick figure on the door...it wasn't wearing a skirt." Abbey said shrugging and crossing her arms.
"So why are you in here?"
"Well, I mean lets face it every boy is on the field so I don't think anyone will mind all that much and practise is another hour." Abbey shrugged again and felt a stab in her shoulder. She uncrossed her arms trying to not look to uncomfortable.
"I am gonna go shower." Tim continued to walk through the changing room.
"So why did you walk out on practise?" Abbey asked as Tim came to his stall and pulled the jersey over his head revealing his padding.
"Because I don't need this right now,"
"Oh," Abbey said putting all her weight on one foot. "I suppose there are a ton of things you need to get done," She said nodding while she spoke in a sarcastic voice.
This seemed to piss Tim off even more. He wrenched of his shoulder pads and pointed a finger at her. "Look, I don't need this from you and I don't need it from the coach." He pulled his undershirt over his head.
If Abbey wasn't so indignant at his tone of voice, she could have stood there oggiling his exceedingly muscular chest for hours on end.
"Fine, sorry I was just trying to help." With that she stormed out of the room.
The rest of the day had been quiet and filled mostly with people sulking. Lyla was angry until she left, Tim was moodier then ever, Matt looked nauseous when everyone made any mention of 'Voodoo' Tatum and Abbey was just generally pissed.
She had never been happier to go to bed in her life. Until just after she fell asleep the phone rang waking her up. She could instantly hear their grandma asking who was calling so late.
Abbey sat up and looked at the digital clock on her bedside table. It was just about half past twelve. Abbey got up and stumbled through in her P.J.'s, which consisted of an XXL Panthers t-shirt.
Matt had already got the phone. She leaned on the doorframe trying her best not to think about what Matt was being told on the other end of the line. From the looked of surprise and out and out shock it wasn't anything bad about their dad.
Matt hung up the phone not saying anything. "What is it?" Abbey finally asked. Matt looked at her.
"I have to be at the field house in half an hour," Abbey's mouth fell open.
"Well, I'll drive ya." She went back into her room and grabbed some sweat pants.
As soon as they arrived they realise that the whole team had been called out. Matt sat in the car looking a little pale as Abbey parked beside another car. Abbey looked at him.
"Well…uh, be careful okay?" Abbey said not sure what else to say. Matt looked at her and nodded not saying anything before getting out of the truck.
Abby watched them all file into the bus and then drive away. Abbey got out of the car and went over to the nearest parent.
"Uh excuse me," The father looked at Abbey, "Sorry, but do you have any idea when they are coming back sir?"
The man shrugged, "Coach said he would call when they were done."
Abbey nodded before getting in the truck and driving home.
Abbey didn't go back to bed instead she made a thermos of coffee and got a blanket in the car as well as a sweater for when she had to go and pick up Matt. Eventually nearly three hours later a call did come.
She got in the car and drove out to the field house. Matt wandered over to the car, soaked to the bone looking dead tired.
"My god, Matt, what happened?" Abbey asked as he got in the car pulling the sweater over his head.
"Wind sprints," He said before putting the seat back a little and closing his eyes.
The drive home was quiet, Matt sat in the passenger seat drinking the coffee and looking out the window. Abbey wasn't sure if it was some football secret what they had done or what but Matt sure as hell wasn't speaking.
He did however make her pull over for doughnuts. It slowed the drive home down considerable considering Abbey had turn around and go back about seventeen blocks.
"Now you got your damn sprinkle doughnuts, ya happy?" Abbey said turning back onto the highway.
"Ya actually I am," Matt said his mouth full.
Abbey looked at him a few times, until he eventually asked, "What?"
"Well aren't you going to offer your darling big sister one?"
"Why, you weren't running wind sprints in the rain," Matt said staring at her with his mouth open.
"Hey, ya know what if you wanna walk the rest of the way home…" She flicked on her indicator.
"No, no, no here's your precious doughnut." He handed her the smallest one. "Ya happy now?"
Abbey scowled at him, "No but it'll do." She bit into it and watched the road.
"Hey," Matt said suddenly, "Hey isn't that Lyla and Rig!?" He was pointing out the window down the road from them. Abbey scanned the roadside and low and behold, Lyla's Chevy was on the side of the road and Tim was with her.
The fact that they were making out made Abbey's heart fall through her stomach. That was when she finally found out that yes she actually did like Tim Riggins and not in an entirely friendly way.
Her eyes were glued on the pair as they drove past.
"Abbey,….Abbey! ABBEY THE ROAD!" Matt yelled. Abbey looked back at the road and realised she was about to hit the concrete divider. She swerved missing it by inches.
Matt let out a sigh of relief. Abbey however didn't seem able to breath. Of all the times she has to realise she likes Tim Riggins is when she see's him kissing her first friend in Dillon.
"Hey isn't Lyla still dating Jason?" Matt asked. Abbey shrugged unable to speak.
When they got home Abbey sat on the front porch step before going inside. Matt stopped and looked at her before sitting beside her.
"You okay?" Abbey looked at him swallowed hard and put on a smile.
"Yeah, uh I have been thinking Matt." He looked wary of where she was going. "I didn't know you had to do so much for grandma, if I did I would have come home way sooner."
Matt shrugged, "You did what you needed to do,"
"Yeah, but now I am here…finally, and it isn't fair of me to have signed up as a cheerleader because I was bored."
Matt shook his head, "Well, don't quit because of me…"
"I'm not Matt so don't blame yourself. I don't even want to be a cheerleader, it is causing havoc on my muscles…and before you even suggest that gymnastics and cheerleading are even remotely alike, you use your muscles completely differently."
Matt nodded, "Well, I mean don't feel like you have too…"
Abbey shook her head, "I don't," She smiled at Matt and he gave her and hug.
"Thanks, Abbey."
TuesdayAbbey walked out on to the football field in her jeans and a tight black t-shirt. Lyla turned when another cheerleader pointed to Abbey.
Abbey stopped when Lyla came running over to her. "Hey, what's up, why aren't you dressed for practise?"
Abbey looked at her feet, trying her best to resist the urge to tackle Lyla and scratch her eyes out. 'Oh my god girl get a hold of yourself, firstly it isn't as if you are dating him, secondly she was nice enough to be nice to you on your first day and offer you a position on the cheerleading squad and what goes on between her and Jason is between them.'
Abbey sighed and looked back at Lyla. "Look Lyla, I really appreciate you doing everything for me, like getting me on the squad and everything but I have a lot to do and a lot going on right now and I just don't think I have time to come to all the practises."
Lyla looked heart broken. "What why? You are so good!"
"Look, my grandma isn't well and I just can't right now okay?" She handed Lyla a bag with her uniform in it.
Lyla looked at it then back at Abbey, "Well, you were the best Cheerleader I have had on my squad for less than a week." Abbey smiled, "We can still hang out then?" Lyla asked looking hopeful.
'No! You hussy of a cheerleader!' "Uh, yeah," Abbey smiled. Before Abbey could stop her Lyla hugged her.
Abbey looked over Lyla's shoulder and saw Lyla's father Mr. Garrity walking on to the field followed by a black kid.
"Hey, Lyla isn't that your dad?" Lyla let go of Abbey and turned around to look, letting Abbey go from the rib-breaking hug.
"Yeah it is…"
"I know who that is," A cheerleader said from the back. "That is 'Voodoo' Tatum." Abbey looked back at the kid, instantly hating him.
Abbey shook her head disgusted. "I hate football." She said before turning and walking off the field.
Abbey got out of her shower and threw on some sweats and a t-shirt. She had come home after quitting the squad. She didn't bother to straighten her hair so it went into its natural wavy curl. She couldn't really understand why she was so pissed. She had no reason to be.
'I am pissed because I witnessed the girlfriend of a guy who just became paralysed making out with his best friend!' She tried to convince herself.
'No it isn't you aren't that heroic…you're just jealous that Tim was kissing Lyla and not you!' The part of her mind said that wasn't tainted by her hopes to sound like a better person.
There was a knock on the door.
"Who's there Abbey? Who's there?" Her grandma yelled through from the living room. Abbey grabbed her glasses, since she had taken her contacts out for she shower and shoved them on.
"Don't worry, grandma, I'll get it." Abbey dashed through and opened the door to find Tim stand on the porch only this time he defiantly didn't look drunk.
"Hey," He said speaking first. Abbey was still a little shocked at his sudden appearance. They hadn't spoken since they were in the locker room together.
"Uh, hey," She said not opening the screen door. She wasn't exactly sure why she felt like someone was squeezing her heart looking at him but it sure as hell felt like that. "What are you doing here Tim?" She asked leaning against the doorframe.
"Uh, I heard you quit cheerleading," He said putting a hand behind his neck so his arm was bent.
"Oh, from who Lyla?" Abbey asked in an overly aggressive voice. Tim looked up at her tone. She shook her head, "Sorry, uh just a sec."
She went back in the house. "Grandma," Her grandma looked at her, "I am just going to be outside, so you come and get me if you need me."
Her grandma nodded and Abbey went back outside. Tim was standing on the front lawn and turned and looked at her. Abbey crossed her arms and looked at him.
"What are you doing here Tim?" She asked. He looked at her obviously confused at the question.
"Uh like I said to see…"
"Who? Me?" He looked uncomfortable by her tone of voice. "Because it seems to me that every second time we talk we end up in a fight so I don't see much point."
Now Tim really looked uncomfortable. Abbey shrugged, "I guess what I am getting at is I don't get you, I mean first we're all let's talk and hang out and then you are barking at me to leave you alone. So I guess I am a little confused. Do you wanna be my friend or not? Because if you do, you sure as hell aren't being very friendly."
Tim looked at her, "Look I am not very good with…"
"People?" Abbey interrupted.
Tim looked at her. "I was going to say words,"
Abbey blushed, "Sorry," He shrugged.
"But ya know if we could hang out it would be kinda cool." Abbey looked at him.
'I don't want to 'hang out' with you, I wanna make out with you!' Abbey looked at her feet, "Yeah, that would be cool." She smiled and him.
He nodded not giving anything away. "Look Tim, I can't really talk right now, I…" She pointed at the house.
He nodded, "Right," He turned and walked down the path. "By the way," Abbey stopped on the porch steps and turned and looked at him. He looked up and down the street as if making sure there weren't any witnesses. "I …uh…I like your hair like that."
Abbey's hand went to her head and she remembered she hadn't straightened her hair yet. "Oh…thanks."
He nodded before getting in his truck and driving away. Abbey sank on to the porch steps, wondering what had just happened.
"Abbey?"
"Coming grandma…"