Chapter Three

Abbey leaned against a wall looking out over the different people making out, dancing, and stumbling around in a drunken haze. She rolled her eyes. She couldn't have been more bored watching paint dry.

Matt had dragged her to one of the football team's parties. It was at Smash's house and she regretted coming the instant they pulled up in Landry's car. The only attendee's were football players, their girlfriends, cheerleaders, rally girls, and their boyfriends and the occasional clinger on.

At this point Abbey was looking pretty clinger-on-ee. She hated herself for coming. Two guys had already hit on her and three hadn't even hit on her so much as making a sick drunken slurred comment in her general direction. Each had been received with sarcasm. Unfortunately sarcasm wasn't a drunks best subject. Matt was inside trying his best to get Julie Taylor's attention and he was failing miserably.

Abbey stood up and went outside to get away from the stale stink of beer. Once outside she looked out over the back yard. The Tiger's mascot was in flames on the lawn and a few guys were sitting around it. Tim was sitting drinking a beer, Abbey considered going over to talk to him but then figured what did she possibly have to say? Anyway he was obviously gawking at Lyla.

Abbey felt her heart constrict, she took a deep breath and walked along the side of the house. She had to get away from the crowd. On the way there she over heard Lyla talking with three of her friends about Tim. Abbey rolled her eyes and kept walking. She wasn't exactly sure why it bugged her so much, after all she had no claim to Tim what so ever, but she wished more then anything she did. She wished it was her place to tell Lyla to back the fuck off. But she couldn't.

Abbey rounded the corned and leaned against the brick siding of the house glad to be away from the drunken horde. She stood there quietly for a while just trying to get her thoughts away from Tim and Lyla. They were both big kids and could make their own choices, no matter how dumb or ill-advised they were.

Abbey looked at the corner as if hoping to see Lyla come unknowingly around it, 'And she has the cheek to call herself a good Christian!' Abbey thought with contempt. Abbey looked at her feet at her tired old converse runners.

She looked at her outfit. She was wearing a pleated jean skirt and white racer back tank top. Her hair was in a ponytail and some pieces framed her face. She looked across from her at the chain link fence and at the neighbours lawn.

She wasn't sure, but a lot of people had told her she was hot, and tonight she had really tried to look good but it seemed that Tim saw her as nothing more then a sounding bored. She had gone over their last conversation about how he wanted the to be 'friends'. She had nearly died of embarrassment.

'I don't want to be friends with you, you idiot!' She screamed in her head. She looked at the sky hoping to find an escape but not getting anywhere.

"Oh, sorry, didn't know someone else was hiding over here." Abbey jumped and looked at the corner of the house. Someone else had come around it.

He was tall, 6'4" at least, and gangly, no way in hell was he a football player. He had chin length black hair that fell in his face covering most of his features. She could tell he had blue eyes though…bright blue. His nose was big too but it suited his face amazingly. He was wearing jeans, but they weren't so baggy and they weren't nearly around his knees. On the contrary they were tight in the leg. He had on a black tee shirt and was also wearing converse runners.

"What?" Abbey said, "I'm not hiding!" She said indignantly standing up from leaning on the wall.

He smiled, 'Damn, his teeth are white,' "Yeah right, and I am not here to hide as well," He said sarcastically, coming over and leaning beside were Abbey had been.

She looked at him, "So what if I am hiding? Why are you hiding?" She asked.

He laughed, "Well, watching football players stumble around drunk isn't exactly my idea of a good time," He watched her.

"So why come then?"

"My little sister is second string rally girl, the folks pride and joy, she dragged me here not wanting to come on her own." He crossed his arms.

Abbey looked at him, "Oh, were is she?"

He shrugged, "I dunno, locked in a room with a running back I think," Abbey stared at him.

"And you aren't going to barge in there and defend her honour?"

He looked at her, "Well, I left my suit of shining armour at home, and she seemed pretty willing to go in and in the first place, we are only step brother and sister to begin with." Abbey nodded, not able to keep from smiling, he smiled back, "Jacks," He held out a hand.

Abbey took it and shook his hand, "Abbey, Jacks…that short for something?"

"Jackson," He said watching her. She nodded.

"Don't sound like you hail from the great state of Texas Jacks, where ya from?"

"Seattle," Abbey raised her eyebrows, "So Abbey, why are you hiding? Drunk boyfriend getting a little to frisky?"

Abbey burst out laughing, "Ha, me date one of those apes? I think not, no my brother dragged me here, I am regretting it more and more."

Abbey knew she should have stayed home with their grandmother but she had fallen asleep before they had left and Matt said that Abbey needed a night out to get to know 'everyone'.

Jacks nodded, "Who's your little brother? A cheerleader?"

Abbey laughed again, "Uh no, Matt," Jacks looked at her with a blank look. Abbey looked at him expectantly, "Saracen," She added. He continued to stare blankly. "Matt Saracen."

He shrugged, "Doesn't ring a bell," He said simply. Abbey's mouth fell open.

"Matt Saracen, QB1…none of this ringing a bell?"

He shrugged, "I moved here a month ago,"

"A month and you don't know who the quarter back is?" Abbey said still unable to believe him.

"Oh the quarter back, he plays on the football team right…"

"Okay, now you are just joshing me," She said smiling.

He smiled, "Nope," Abbey stared at him.

"You mean, you live in Dillon and aren't completely and utterly obsessed with football?" She asked staring at him.

"Nope, never watched a game,"

"I think I am in love," Abbey said, they both laughed.

"Rare thing?" He asked watching her.

"Just a little," Abbey said smiling at him.

"Oh Abbey, thank god!" Abbey and Jacks turned to see Julie standing around the corner form them. Julie came over and threw her arms around Abbey; obviously not worried she was interrupting something.

"Uh, Jools, you okay?" Abbey asked, patting the girl gingerly on the back.

Abbey had come to know Julie Taylor from being a student teacher in her home economics class. Grade twelves usually did it to the grade ten classes. Abbey was ready to sign up for it. Julie had been really nice and wanted to show Abbey everywhere in town. Abbey liked her, she was a sweet girl.

"This is defiantly the worst night of my life, can you take me home?" Julie asked pleadingly tearing herself off of Abbey. Abbey stared at the girl.

"Sorry hun, Landry drove me here, my trucks in the shop." Abbey said shrugged.

Jacks stood up from leaning on the wall, "I'll drive you guys home if you want," He said. Abbey looked at him suddenly.

"Great, thanks," Julie said instantly. Abbey shot Julie a look.

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Abbey asked Jacks. He smiled not taking his eyes from Abbey.

"I am positive." Abbey nodded.

"Okay, let me just go tell my brother," Abbey left Julie and Jacks to go back a weave her way through the party. "Matt!" She yelled over the music.

Matt looked at her, he looked depressed, "Yeah?" He said trying his damnedest to put on a happy face.

"I am going home, I got a ride." Abbey said leaning in so he could hear her.

He nodded, "I'll be home soon," He added. Abbey smiled and left.

"Well, this is it," Abbey said as Jacks pulled his restored El Camino to a stop in front of her house.

"Yeah, the billboard with your name on it kinda gave it away," He said smiling.

"Yeah, right," Abbey said not taking her eyes off him. Abbey put her hand on the door handle but seemed unable to open the door. "Well, um," She added trying to boost herself into action, "I guess I will be seeing you in school tomorrow, then,"

He gave her a really sexy half smile and nodded, "I guess you will,"

Abbey nodded and pushed open the door and got out of the car unwillingly. She closed it and walked up the path but she could still hear the Camino idling. She turned to see Jacks watching her.

"Night," She waved prompting him into more action.

"Night," He pulled away from the house with a screech. At the end of the road he pulled a hand brake turn and honked the horn waving to her. Abbey waved good bye laughing.

Abbey leaned on the wall outside the library waiting to have her turn talking to her dad. Matt was in there right now.

It was early morning and most of the students of Dillon High School hadn't arrived yet, which Abbey was fine with, she didn't feel like putting on a brave face, she agreed with Matt the less people knew about their father being in Iraq the better.

She closed her eyes. "Hey Saracen," They opened to see Tim walking down the hall towards her.

"Hi Tim," She said queitly not really wanting to talk to him all that much. She had nothing to say for the first time in her life.

"I saw you at the party last night then when I went to find you, you were gone," He said leaning a shoulder on the wall beside her. Abbey wanted nothing more then to yell at him but restrained herself.

"Yeah well I am kinda surprised you could tear your eyes away from Lyla to even glance at anyone else." Abbey said snidly not looking at Tim.

He stared at her his mouth open, "What? I wasn't,"

Abbey stared at him waiting for the brilliant excuse he was about to pull out of his ass. For once he looked like he had nothing to say either. "I don't stare at Lyla," He said coldly.

It was as if something broke inside Abbey, she couldn't take it anymore, she had no right to let this upset her half as much as it did but she couldn't help it. She liked him and he was wasting his time with a girl who looked at him like he was scum under her shoe yet good enough to man handle.

"Ya know what Tim? Save it, save the half assed excuses for someone who is willing to buy them, like Coash Taylor because I have had enough," That was it Abbey had offically lost her mind, her she was yelling at Tim Riggins, one of the most popular guys in school, in the middle of the school hallway for no apparent reaosn, "I saw you making out with her and you know what, I don't really care, you wanna fuck up your own life fine, but don't pretend like we are friends and then shovel me the shit!" She said angrily.

He was staring at her with his mouth slightly open. He had stood up from leaning against the wall and looked like he was ready to bolt. Abbey sighed and crossed her arms and looked at him. "Sorry," She said quietly. "I am a little on edge,"

He nodded and looked up and down the hallway as if still contemplating running away. "Uh, so are you gonna...um tell anyone?" He asked looking really uncomfortable.

Suddenly Abbey's anger tripled with that one simple question. She tried to control it shrugging, "It isn't my life and it ain't like I am best buds with Jason," It looked like Tim had swallowed something sour when Abbey said Jason's name. "But you are Tim, I don't care if you go and see him or what, but damn you are digigng your self a big hole," Abbey shrugged, "I hope you have a ladder big enough to climb out on."

As if sent from God Matt chose that precise moment to come out from the computer lab. "Uh Abbey," Matt looked from Tim to Abbey a little nervously. "Dad wants to talk to you," Abbey nodded and looked at Tim.

"Bye Tim," With that she went back inside.

Abbey sat down in front of the computer screen and looked at her dad. "Hey Daddy,"

Abbey sat on the end of her bed and tied up her shoe laces of her new work uniform. She was now working in the grocery store in town. There was a knock on the door and Abbey got up to answer it trying to assure her grandmother everything was okay.

She opened it to see a tired looking Tim Riggins standing on her doorstep. His hair was wet and you could see sweat soaking through his shirt already. Abbey rasied and eyebrow.

"Did you come straight from practise?" She asked coming out to stand on the porch.

"Yeah, I heard Matt say you had a new job and wanted to talk." He sat on the front porch following Abbey suit.

"You heard him?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well, yeah he was talking to that pale kid,"

"You mean Landry," Tim shrugged.

"Ya know it wouldn't kill ya to be a little nicer to my little brother, I mean he had been on the same team as you for like two years now." Tim shrugged and Abbey rolled her eyes fully aware that he probably wasn't listening to her. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, I mean..." Tim trailed off. Abbey was well aware of the fact that Tim didn't have many friends. Well that was an over statement, he didn't have any. His only friend was Jason and now they were talking. He wasn't dating Tyra anymore and Lyla didn't seem to even acknowledge his excistence. Sure he was respected in school but not liked.

"Look Tim, if we are going to be friends it will involve talk not just yelling, and the content of this talk must include something other then football all the time." Abbey said looking at him. Tim nodded looking at her.

"I talked to Lyla today," He said looking at the lawn in front of them.

"Oh?" Asked Abbey. Tim looked at her as if afraid she was going to start yelling again. She smiled and looked at her hands.

"Yeah, she said she had these feelings and that they were about Jason..." Tim trailed off looking up the street and turning his head away from Abbey, He scoffed in a self depricating way, "She said she hated herself for what she did and hope she wouldn't go straight to hell," He looked at Abbey smiling sardonically.

Abbey's mouth fell open. "She said that, to you...to...to your face?" She stammered.

Tim looked at her, "Yeah,"

Abbey rolled her eyes, "Well thats harsh."

Tim nodded looking at the Saracen yard. Abbey wished she could do something for him, be there for him more, help him work it out. But she didn't know how to do that. Where would she even begin. She was kind of shocked that he was willing to discuss his ...thing with Lyla to her. Abbey did not want to wander down the friend path with Tim but at this point it seemed inevitable, and obviously he need more of a person to listen to.

SHe looked at Tim, "I gotta go to work Tim," She said quietly. He looked at her and nodded.

"Yeah, I suppose I should go home...shower and stuff." He stood up and Abbey followed suit. She smiled at him, "Like the smock, by the way," He said smiling at her.

"Oh shut up and go home Tim," She snapped teasingly. He nodded and left. Abbey stared after him for a few minutes before leaving for work.

Abbey walked striaght into the math class. Had she taken the time to look around she would have been thankful to see there was only Lyla, Smash and Jacks in the room aside from Tim and her. SHe stormed over to his desk and smacked him on the back of his head.

"Oww! What the hell are you doing?!" He yelled running a hand through his hair.

"You idoit I told you to talk to my brother not take him on some vigilate run!" Abbey screamed seething.

The night before Matt had arrived home late from the Coach's party, Abbey had lost track half way through it. He had told her excitedly that Tim had invited him to go with Smash and three other guys to get revenge.

Tim looked at her and raised his shoulders in defense. "What? You told me to be nice to him!" He snapped. Abbey hit him again.

"I asked you to talk to him not break the law with him!" Tim and Smash both started to snigger, Lyla rolled her eyes and Jacks went back to him text book. Abbey glared at him. "Your stupidity is unba-freaking-levable!" With that Abbey walked directly to the back off the class and sank down in the desk next to Jacks instead of her normal seat beside Tim. Tim was watchign her shock apparent on his face. Jacks looked at her and she wrenched open her book back throwing her texts on the desk. "Don't say a word!" She threatened.

" 'nough said," He said going back to his book. Things were not going as Abbey had planned.

A/N: Okay so that is the end of the chapter but not the end of the story. I am sorry it took so long for an update but life is complicated and finding time to sit down and write just seems impossible right now, that is why i cut the chappie short and trying to keep up with the new episodes is way harder then I thought, so I am going to take a break from this story but don't worry I will finish it, the next update will most likely come after next tuesday when the show is going on a break. So in short, won't be updating weekly but will update every now and then, sorry for stopping short! -touchnotthecat