Chapter Seven

"Hey!" Abbey looked up from her text book and saw Tim walking towards her bronco. She looked at Jacks.

"Yeah, can we talk later?" She asked. Jacks looked at her sceptically but eventually nodded.

"Yeah, well give it some thought; band has a practise on Friday."

Abbey nodded and smiled at him, "I'll think about it."

"Cool, see you at work." With that Jacks wondered off just in time for Tim to walk up to the side of Abbey's car.

It had been a few weeks since she had been in his house and for a good two weeks she hadn't been able to look him in the eye, which seemed fine with him.

"Hey," He said again.

Abbey was lying on the roof of her truck and she smiled down at him, unable to keep from blushing slightly. "Hey,"

"You're here late. What cha doing?" He was right, she was there late. He was the last football player to come out of the school after the after school practise.

"Homework," She said simply.

He nodded, "Well, ya know, people usually do that at home." He dropped his bag full off gear and pulled him self on the roof next to her.

"I didn't realise we were on speaking terms again," She said looking at him. He lay down next to her, but on his back instead of on his stomach like she was.

"I think it is time we put the past behind us." He said putting his hands behind his head.

"Oh, how very mature of you," She looked back at her textbook.

"Yeah well in Dillon your still new and I know you don't have a lot of friends so I thought you might wanna talk."

Abbey sat up indignantly. "I can't believe you, you are by far the most conceited person I have ever met!" She said staring at him. He just stared back at her.

"At least you can look me in the eye again; anyway I didn't see anything…too much steam." Abbey swallowed and stared at him, wondering if it was just her or did he sound disappointed? "Look, you wanna talk or not?" She continued to stare, "Well, I mean we are supposed to be friends," Like she needed reminding again, "And it seems all we do is talk about me instead of you…isn't it supposed to be 50-50…or something."

Abbey stared at Tim before lying down again, "You been watching Dr. Phil or something?" He snorted. "To be honest, I don't want to go home."

"Oh yeah, well that fits the description of about every teenager in the state." Abbey glared at him, "Sorry," He added in a rush.

"Well, I mean since my dad came home,"

"Yeah I heard he came home,"

"Could you please not interrupt me?"

He smiled, "Sorry,"

Abbey shook her head, "Anyway, since he has been home, it's been like…I dunno; yesterday he said he wanted to stay home and I was so happy." Abbey shrugged, "My worst fear was getting a phone call telling me dad wasn't gonna come home and now he is here and Matt got him a job working for Mr. Garrity and…" Abbey sat up and looked at Tim. "It took him two days before he asked me why I wasn't in California."

Tim looked at her not speaking; it was nice to have a sounding board for once. Abbey always felt guilty unloading her problems on Matt; he was the younger sibling after all.

"And he is home and it's great but it's like I keep expecting him to sit me down and ask me who I am, because he really doesn't have a clue and he won't know…and I think he…no I don't really know what he thinks and I am not making any sense and I just sound spoiled so I am gonna go home now." Abbey slide herself off the roof of her truck. Tim followed suite. "Sorry, I mean, I shouldn't be telling…I mean you probably think I am ungrateful to have him home safe and sound-

"I don't think that…" Abbey looked at Tim; he was staring over the hood of her car. "Look Abbey, I don't know what it's like to get a parent back but you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, your seventeen."

Abbey shook her head, "I sure as hell don't feel seventeen…do you feel seventeen?" Tim shook his head, "A week ago I was trying to help my little brother with my ill grandmother, go to work, go to school all the while Mrs. Taylor breathing down my throat about what I am gonna do after graduation and now daddy's home and… I dunno, it's just a lot but I am gonna get over this, thanks for the chat." Abbey got in her truck and drove off.

The phone rang and Abbey was on the couch beside it and grabbed it, "Saracen residence."

"That you Abb's?"

"David!?" Abbey said sitting up suddenly.

"You bet your ass!" Was the bright response.

"Oh my god," Abbey said tears welling in her eyes. She had never been so happy to hear his voice in all the time she had known him.

"Hey, babe, I know I am great but it ain't the pope calling." His Detroit accent came through his words.

"Just a sec." Abbey got up and grabbed the phone base. "I am on the phone!" She yelled through the house. She pulled the cord until it reached, just barely, to her room. She closed the door but had to sit right beside it. "I'm back."

"You alright, you sound kinda choked up."

"I have been better…just good to hear from you."

"Yeah, well thought I would drop my best girl a call, see how things are hanging down south."

"My dad's home," She said quietly into the phone wishing with every ounce of her being Dave was in front of her and not a country away from her.

"No shit," Was his shocked reply.

"Y'up,"

"From your tone, I think Daddy still wishes he was a soldier." Was his calm response.

"Well, pretty much." She said choking back her tears, Abbey had no idea why she was getting so emotional but she couldn't help herself. It was the way Dave always knew exactly what was wrong and she doubted she would every see him again and even if she did by that time they would probably be so different….

"Hey, you know it ain't because of you right?" Abbey opened her mouth to say something but couldn't seem to find anything to say, "Hey, you know how you became a cheerleader?"

"Yeah well I quit,"

"See what I mean?"

"No…" Abbey said truly not knowing where he was going with this.

"You are a gymnast girl, born and bred; you cann't dress someone up and say they are someone else no matter how hard you try."

"How come you make everything sound so easy?" She asked giving a watery laugh.

"It's a gift,"

Abbey nodded, "I miss you…" She whispered.

"Yeah I know."

"Dave!" She said laughing.

"Well I am god's gift to women," he said jokingly.

"You're a dork."

"I miss you too kiddo."

"Don't call me that.

"Okay kiddo."

Abbey sat on the porch steps of their small house. She heard the screen door slam and knew her dad was standing beside her. "Matt talked to me today on the car lot." He sank down beside her.

"Yeah I know," She smiled at him.

"You were in on it?" Abbey nodded.

"Pretty much, I had to work."

Her dad nodded and looked out over the street. He looked at her, "You have really grown up Abigail." Abbey scoffed, "No I mean it, and not many kids would drop all their school work and move back home to help their family out."

"Yeah, well I was taught not to abandon my family."

"Do you think that is what I am doing?" He asked. Abbey's head snapped around to stare at him.

"Of course not Daddy!" She said, shocked that he would even suggest it.

"Yeah, well I feel like it sometimes,"

Abbey looked at her dad, "Daddy, Matt and I were brought up right, we can handle this, you kinda get in the way to be honest, and anyway Julie Taylor is nice, I am sure I can ask her to help out if need be." He looked at her.

"You shouldn't have too."

"But dad, I don't mind, you love what you do and Matt and I are proud of you because you do it."

He nodded, "Guess I am gonna be leaving soon."

"Just promise to come back safe and sound," He smiled at her.

"'Course Princess," He wrapped his arm around her.

"You're too good a person to work for Buddy Garrity anyway." Her Dad snickered.

Tim's truck came up the street and pulled into their driveway. Tim got out and then looked really uncomfortable at the sight of her dad.

"Daddy, can you go in for a little while?" He dad was looking at Tim.

"Is that one of the Riggins?" He asked suspiciously.

"Daddy, just go inside." Her dad looked at her and then back at Tim.

"Well I will go inside but if you need me call,"

"Will do dad." She smiled as he went back inside. She walked over to Tim, "Hey you."

"Hey, uh is it okay if we talk?" She looked at him.

"Course."

"Good, uh there is this Rodeo thing on Friday night…for some charity and I have to be there and I was wondering if you wanted to ya know come." Abbey stared at him. "As friends," Her heart fell a little.

She slammed a false smile on her face and nodded, "Yeah sure."

Abbey and Tim walked around the fair ground together. Abbey could tell Tim was distracted from like the first five minutes after they arrived.

Abbey was wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a long black and grey striped sweater that ended at her hips. Her hair was out and she doubted Tim could have told her what colour her hair was. She knew she shouldn't feel disappointed, it wasn't supposed to be a date but she still was.

After getting a bag of cotton candy they walked over towards the Ferris wheel and Abbey spotted what was catching his undivided attention. It was Tyra, who was looking very devastated.

Abbey sighed and looked at Tim. It was against everything in her being to say what she was about to but she didn't seem able to stop herself. "You should go and talk to her."

Tim's head snapped around to face her. "What? Who?"

Abbey raised an eyebrow. "Tyra…D'uh."

"I shouldn't-

Abbey shook her head, "Don't worry, I won't feel abandoned or anything, you have been distracted all night." Tim looked at his feet when she said that, "Look, its fine, you guys are like…like the prince and princess of dysfunction. Who am I to keep you guys apart?"

"You sure?" He asked looking at her from underneath his lashes.

'No you big stupid dolt, I could treat you so much better!!!' "Course, I'll be on the Ferris wheel should you need me."

"Thanks Abbey," With that he took off at a slight jog towards the direction Tyra had been headed.

Abbey stood there feeling completely alone and abandoned. She sighed and headed to the Ferris wheel. She was by far the stupidest girl known to man. She gave the guy a ticket and she got on.

She had just sent the guy she had liked for nearly two months into the arms of his ex, an ex who happens to be the easiest girl in town. Abbey notice a taxi pull up in front of the fair from the top of the wheel.

"Careful, you come to Dillon and it's like being pulled into a teen soap opera." She said to herself.

No, things in soap opera's were easy. All she would have had to do would be to fall into a coma and wake up and everything would be peachy. Her dad wouldn't be leaving for a war zone again, her brother and she wouldn't have to take care of their grandmother, she wouldn't have had to give up her gymnastics' career for her family and the guy she liked wouldn't be trying to hook back up with his infamous ex.

As the Ferris wheel started to go slowly back up she noticed the guy coming out of the taxi. She knew him. He was wearing a pair of low slung (but not too low) jeans, a white t-shirt and a black and red hoody sweater that zipped up the front. He had a big black back puck over his shoulder, the kind hiker's used. He had shaved his head, white skin, he was tall around six one, and even from that distance Abbey could tell he had blue eyes.

"David!" She yelled standing up in her seat making it swing precariously.

"Sit down up there!" Was the yell from below but she couldn't. The ride came to a jerky halt.

"David!" She yelled again. David looked up and saw her and simply smiled.

She swung her legs over the restraint bar and grabbed the foot rest with her hands and swung down.

"MY GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!" The operator yelled. Abbey ignored him and once hanging steadily she let go and dropped to the next couple's seat. The girl screamed as Abbey grabbed the foot rest making the seat swing. On the back swing Abbey let go and did a mid air back flip before landing on the ground evenly.

Before she could even think about what she had just done she turned and ran across the lot at full break neck speed.

David dropped his back pack and opened his arms as Abbey threw herself into them. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck and her legs around his waist. She could feel his strong arms wrap around her as he spun her around.

"Hey you," He whispered into her neck. She pulled back only slightly, not releasing him, to stare at him.

"How did you…when did you…what are you doing here?" She asked looking at him.

"Though you could use a friendly face and besides, I missed you." He took one arm from under her and placed it on her cheek and pushed her messed up hair out of her face.

"Aw David," And without even thinking about it or the group of people who had stopped to watch the two of them, she kissed him.

He stumbled backwards but held her even closer. Eventually she pulled back and smiled at him letting her legs relax and hang beneath her not touching the ground until he put her down.

"I don't think I have ever been happier to see you in my life," She said her arms still around his neck.

Suddenly something came over the loud speaker but Abbey wasn't listening, all she cared about was David, and the fact that he was actually standing front of her again. Then the crowd seemed to explode with yells and excitement.

"Holy shit," David said jumping tearing his eyes away from Abbey for the first time. "What's up?"

Abbey shrugged and looked to see Matt and Julie come running towards her.

"We're in Abbey!" Matt yelled.

"No way!" Abbey screamed. She ran over and hugged her little brother, "You guys are gonna kick some serious butt in the playoffs," She told him pulling away.

"Who's this?" Julie asked running an appraising eye over David.

"Julie, Matt with is David, my friend and…" David looked at her with an inquisitive look, she smiled back at him, "And my..." Abbey shrugged, "My soul mate," She said for lack of a better word. Matt and Julie both looked at Abbey. "Dave, this is my little brother Matt and his girlfriend Julie Taylor."

As David and Matt shook hands someone caught Abbey's eye. It was Tim. He was standing on his own beside a stall. Abbey wondered where Tyra was. Suddenly David put his arm around her Abbey looked up at him and smiled.

"So, I need a place to crash,"

"Oh really?" Abbey said teasingly.

"Yeah really,"

"I think I can find you somewhere under the garage." Dave laughed as they headed towards her truck.

Abbey couldn't help but glance over her shoulder at Tim he was staring at her in an unreadable way. Abbey smiled at him and waved.

'You have Tyra and I finally have Dave back, we are for once equals.' With that she put Tim Riggins out of her mind so she could enjoy the fact Dave was there beside her.

A/N: So the thought plickens, a twist from Abbey's past, whatever will happen, you are just going to have to read and find out!