Hey y'all. I just want to apologize. I am still alive AND writing! lol I've been really busy ever since my second semester of school started. I just started rehearsals for the school musical everyday after school so I've been REALLY busy and I've been trying to find as much time as possible. BUT I AM BACKK! I am going to try and find as much time as possible to write for you guys (: BUT PLEASSEEE! Review? I still haven't been getting that many reviews or messages on my story lately. I'm just hoping that my readers are still out there and still love to read (: Soooo, sorry, this chapter is a little short. But there's more to come! Trust me! Review and I'll put the next chapter up!

ALSO! I am accepting messages or reviews that let me know any ideas for later in the story. I would love to hear your ideas and they would help me out! They are very much appreciated! (:

Thanks!

Madi.

Chapter Nine.

Riggins stood in front of the team. They all gawked at one of their star players, ruining his chances of even coming back to the team. Riggins started chuckling and shook his head. "You guys look like I could use another drink. I mean seriously, forty-two to thirteen? I could do better if I were by myself," he shrugged trying to walk up to Smash but he tripped over and Smash caught him.

"Yo, man, you better get outta here. You're gonna get in trouble," Williams tried to advise him. Smash grabbed him by the collar of his shirt pulling him to the front door but Tim pushed himself away walking back to the rest of the guys.

"Nope, I'm good," he spoke, almost unclearly. "Come on, I just want to hang out!"

Matt joined in, "Riggs, I'll take you home once I'm done." He offered, speeding to finish up before Coach walked in to find Tim embarrassing himself. "Just sit down and stay put," he strictly ordered. Riggins fell down onto the bench stretching out his body out.

There were whispered rumors flying around the locker room as if it were the school's cafeteria. Matt could hear they were all about Julie, Tim, and Matt. Saracen was getting frustrated and felt like punching Riggins in the gut as hard as he could. But nothing was proven, not yet.

"Aw, Seven, you're such a sweet guy!" Riggins started speaking in a high toned voice like a girl. "How could Julie ever break up with someone like you?" Saracen clenched his jaw, holding it all back and just trying to finish getting ready. More whispers started and Matt was going crazy. "Star quarterback, lucky number seven. You have got it all, my friend!"

Matt mumbled quietly shaking his head, "I don't have anything."

"What was that?" Riggins sat up cupping his ear with his hand to hear him more clearly. "I understand what you mean though. Julie is a handful. Living with her is hard enough! She's so demanding and blah, blah, blah." He touched his stomach and burped. "Ugh, I don't feel good." He shrugged it off and stood up leaning against the lockers next to Saracen. Matt didn't make eye contact, but his hand was in a fist ready to start a fight. "But I don't mind her all that much," he chuckled with a shrug. Matt could smell the heavy amount of beer that lingered off of Tim's breath. "She's so damn sexy." Riggins bit his lip and looked off into the distance as if Julie was right in front of his eyes. "Bummer you didn't get to sleep with her," he shrugged.

Saracen's eyes widened and he glared at Riggins violently. "What are you trying to say, Riggins?" He asked with his jaw clenched.

"Hey Buddy, don't worry," he patted his shoulder. Tim walked passed Matt sniffing and wiping his nose trying to hide his next few words, "I was gentle."

Saracen reached his boiling point and literally jumped onto Riggins forcing him to the ground. Loud voices started in the locker room people yelling, "What just happened? Get him Riggs! Come on Seven, you can beat that guy!" Punches were thrown and kicks were kicked. Saracen had just hoped that the conversation hadn't been heard by anyone else.

Coach Taylor heard a loud commotion coming from the boys' locker room. "What could these goddamn kids be yellin' bout?" he grunted and grabbed his whistle walking out of his office. He found a group of boys surrounding something in a large circle all yelling things. He blew his whistle loudly and everyone stopped but for a few hushed grunts. "What the hell is going on here?" he shouted and motioned everyone to get out of the way. He found his quarterback down on the floor fighting with Tim Riggins. His first thought was wondering how in the hell Riggins had gotten here. But his second thought was to stop this fight. "Get the hell up you two." Saracen stood up quickly but Riggins couldn't seem to get up. He tried but every time he tried he kept slipping onto his back. Guys from the sides were chuckling but when Coach turned glaring daggers at them they stopped and turned around quietly. "Get your ass up, Riggins."

After a couple attempts, Coach started getting impatient and picked Tim up himself getting a good whiff of the alcohol lingering on Riggins. He grimaced, disgusted by the fact that he was drunk and decided to show up in Coach Taylor's locker room. He rolled his eyes as he stepped back from Tim. "It's harder than it looks," Tim muttered under his breath.

"Are you drunk, Son?" Eric asked, glaring at Riggins.

"Maybe," he mumbled, with a slight chuckle.

"You want to tell me where you got that beer?" Coach raised his eyebrows. He knew where Tim got the beer but he just wanted to hear it for himself.

Tim chuckled, thinking of something funny to say, "You might wanna lock up your garage refrigerator from now on!"

Tim laughed hysterically. Matt Saracen, standing next him shook his head, not wanting to look at him. "May I go, sir?" Matt asked.

Coach nodded his head giving him permission to leave. Matt dashed to his locker grabbing his bag. He started walking and Tim spoke, "Hey, Matty! What about that ride?"

Matt ignored his glance and kept walking, "Forget it." There was a slam at the door.

Riggins made an 'o' shaped with his mouth. "Ouch, that hurt." He said sarcastically, holding his hand to his heart.

Coach Taylor watched Tim closely as he raised his voice, speaking to the rest of the team. "I want everybody heading on out in one minute – shows over." He grabbed Tim by the arm and forced him into his office. Tim sat in the chair in front of the desk but Coach stood at the door. "I don't know what to think right now. I don't know if I want you in my house. I don't even know if I want you on this team anymore."

Tim's mood changed slightly and he began groping his stomach. He spoke, but very unclearly, "Do whatever you want."

"I don't want you setting this kind of example for my daughter because I know you two are friends. I don't want Julie being around somebody like this," he shook his head, folding his arms across his chest.

"Coach," Tim said out loud with a quiet burp.

"What," Eric replied, not liking what he thought was about to happen.

"I'm g- gonna be s-sick," Riggins fell to floor reaching for the trash can and puked his brains out.

"Goddamn," Coach whispered to himself. He wanted to take Riggins home with him but he didn't want some drunk teenage boy living in his house – especially not with Julie in his house. It was dangerous and he wasn't sure if Riggins would commit to staying in the house all night. He would have to be supervised by the coach all night which was something Eric was not looking forward to.

Matt Saracen drove home fuming with anger. He could feel the swelling in his face and he was beginning to feel like he chose the wrong fight. He didn't want to get home to his grandmother and have to confess to her what had happened that night. All she would want to do was have a strict conversation with Coach.

Matt wasn't finished with Tim though. He wanted to hurt him more for what he did to Julie. That wasn't fair. He was supposed to be Julie's first, not Tim Riggins. She didn't deserve someone like him. All the sudden, Matt's thoughts turned to Carlotta. He had totally forgotten that even she would be awaiting Matt's arrival while she took care of his grandmother. He worried that maybe she would sense something was going on or if she would sense his jealousy for Tim and Julie. He had to calm his feelings before he reached his home or else things would get even more worse than they have already.