Authors note: for the purposes of this story, Vanderbilt and San Antonio State are both in the same city! Gotta love fiction that you write yourself!
Also, please review! I will continue to update regularly if I feel like there's interest and an audience!
"Why exactly do we need this many avocados?" Tim asked, leaning on the grocery cart and holding up a bag of at least 10 of the funny looking things.
"Because all Billy and you eat is cereal and I'm pretty sure you have scurvy," Lyla replied, picking through a giant stack of apples as Tim manoeuvred the cart after her. "Besides now that football is over and there's no more two-a-days you won't be able to keep this up." She coyly ran her hands down the sides of his sleeveless t-shirt, admiring the muscles he managed to keep up despite subsiding mostly on beer and bread.
"I don't even know what part of this you eat…" Tim mumbled to himself as he tossed the fruit back into the cart. After Tim had offered to make Lyla his favourite lunch meal of Apple Jacks and ketchup on crackers she'd insisted they hit the local grocery store. He didn't really see a problem with his eating habits but Lyla was a force to be reckoned with and it was usually just easier to go along with her ideas.
"So have you given your mom anymore thought?" she asked delicately as she directed him to the frozen foods section. Lyla had remained quiet about it all week, which was fairly impressive for her since she usually pounced on him about things like this. He shrugged running his hands through his hair as he always did when he was nervous.
"I've got a lot on my mind lately. Been busy." This was partially true. This college thing wasn't as straightforward as he'd thought it would be; San Antonio State kept sending him letters in a never ending stream. Did he want to take Roman History or Greek History? Did he want his mandatory English class twice a week at 8 am or once a week for 3 whole hours? Lyla got excited every time one of those fancy thick Vanderbilt envelopes arrived for her but for Tim it was all just making his head hurt; college was good and all but why did he have to think about it the now when it was still months away? On top of that, they now had to find an apartment that would be suitable for Ms. Garrity's bourgeois taste yet also affordable and somewhat close to both their campuses.
"You should call her. I mean, there's no harm in a phone call, right? If you don't like what you hear you just hang up, right?" Lyla said tentatively. Moments like this reminded her of when they were just kids and she'd ask him about all the bruises on his arm or his split lip, cautiously trying to help while hoping she wouldn't unleash the fury of emotions that lay underneath. It was like frog catching, she thought as she remembered all the times she'd head out to the lake with Jason and Tim to catch the little critters. You had to sneak up on them and grab them at just the right moment; not too hard since you didn't want to squish them but not too soft either if you wanted a shot at actually catching one. She had always been the best frog catcher of them all.
"Billy called the number last night. Apparently the line was dead. Figures she'd be just as unreliable as usual." Tim replied, looking through his hair. The disappointment in Billy's voice after that phone call had been palpable. For someone who hated their father so thoroughly, Tim was surprised at the level of redemption his brother felt for their equally shitty mother.
"Well maybe she moved or something?" she said, more to herself than to Tim who had already started manoeuvring them towards the cash register. He shrugged, clearly done with the conversation. She sighed as she started unloading the food out on to the conveyer belt. Like most things he didn't want to deal with, Tim was clearly planning on ignoring this until it no longer became an issue. She could see it gnawing on him and despite his amazing powers of ignorance, she didn't think this one was going away. She would think of something eventually to get through that stubborn head.
"Pass me the bananas." She gestured to Tim who was absentmindedly flipping through a football magazine. She didn't think she'd ever even seen bananas at the Riggins house. As she moved to place them on the belt, the edge of the bag got caught up in the display case above the register, knocking down a road map of North America onto the pile of fruits and vegetables. Lyla stared at the map and after a quick glance at Tim, who was still engrossed in his magazine, she impulsively tucked it under the bananas and hoped this was a good idea.
"What do you mean you're not coming up to California to visit?" Her mother wailed at her, probably sitting outside by the luxurious pool they'd just built in the new house. Lyla inhaled deeply, trying to keep calm. When did her mother become this foreign to her? She used to be able to tell her everything; as much as it was cliché she used to call her mom her 'best friend'. Now, this woman who had just spent the last 20 minutes telling her about her new hair extensions made from genuine human hair, was completely unrecognizable to her. Kevin was not only a hippie, but a rich hippie who made enough money to provide Pam with a pool boy, a live-in maid and a driver. Pam Garrity had thought she had it pretty nice as the wife of the well-off Buddy Garrity but being rich in small town Dillon was nothing like being rich in LA, where opulence was the norm. She couldn't even imagine going back there, since everything now seemed so simply inadequate as she'd seen how the other half truly live.
"I told you mom, plans have changed. I have some things I need to do here in Dillon." Well, I'll be in Dillon for a little while longer so that's not completely untrue, she thought as she stretched out the road map in front of her. It would take them about 4 days to drive from Dillon to Vancouver, but she figured they could make some stops along the way. She'd always wanted to see the deserts of New Mexico and the mountains of Utah. That is, if she could get Tim to agree to this crazy idea.
"But honey, everyone was looking forward to seeing you! Tabby and Buddy Jr. have really missed you out here!" This was such a load of crap, but Lyla kept her mouth clamped shut. Her mother was already distressed, having planned to show off her beautiful daughter to all the other neighborhood moms. Tabby had taken teenage rebellion to a new stage and had sunk deep into goth culture. Every time Lyla tried to talk to her, she replied with a series of grunts and groans if she even bothered to answer the phone. Lyla could bet that Pam was absolutely mortified considering all the other moms pranced their blonde, Barbie-like protégés in front of her at every dinner party and evening soiree. Meanwhile Buddy Jr. had really taken on the hippie lifestyle and was usually so blazed out of his mind that Lyla had trouble keeping him awake during their rare phone sessions.
"I know mom, but I've got to get ready for school. I've got so much stuff to buy and Tim and I need to go look for a place that works for us…" she could almost hear her mother bristle at the mention of Tim.
"Well dear, you do what you need to do, but I do hope you can make some time for me?" her mother pleaded, using that tone that clearly said 'you choose your father over me so you owe me this'. Lyla sighed, ending the conversation with some non-committal mmhmms that she hoped would get her mother off her back for at least another little while.
"One down, one to go…" she said to herself as she gathered up her map and hoped her father was in a good mood. Her mother was easy enough, with hundreds of miles separating them, but she knew she had to come up with something good for her father. However, her mother insistence for a visit had planted an idea in her head, an idea she hoped enough would be convincing enough for her dear old dad to let her go on a cross country road trip with Tim Riggins.
"Hi Daddy!" she said as sweetly as she could. Lyla was almost tempted to dig out her old Panthers cheerleading uniform for this conversation, since anything Panthers related always put her father into a good mood.
"Hello sweetheart! Haven't seen you around for a little while now! Spending all your time with that Riggins boy?" Buddy turned his attention away from the TV and to his daughter. As much as he'd initially hated the idea of his sweet Lyla with that man whore Tim Riggins, he had to admit the boy had proven himself. He was always polite and courteous, had yet to make his little girl cry or fuss and as much as Buddy could see, he really loved his daughter. Plus, he was a damn good football player and that was something Buddy could always get behind. Did he still threaten to beat his head in every time he thought Riggins was getting too comfortable? Well of course! Got to keep him on his toes; that's what fathers do!
"I've just been really busy getting ready for college, daddy," Lyla said as she slid down next to him. "I'm really going to miss you next year." She laid her head down on her dads shoulder, feeling him relax and wrap his arm around her.
"Oh sweetheart I'll miss you too! But don't you worry I'll be down to visit! Gotta go watch Riggins rip it up on the San Antonio Skyhawks out there!" She smiled, counting her blessings that Tim played football. She wouldn't imagine her daddy even considering this crazy idea if he'd been the start soccer player or God forbid not on any sports teams at all.
"It's just been really hard with mom not around this year," The sad look on her face made her feel sick inside; she hated using this guilt trip but it was necessary. "I've really missed her."
"I know darling, it's been hard for you. But I'm so proud of you and how you've handled it all! And now look at you! Off to Vanderbilt, your dream school!" Buddy beamed at his daughter, "Why don't you go and pay your mom a visit before school starts?"
"Well actually daddy, that's what I wanted to talk to you about?" She said, her head snapping up off his shoulder as she pulled out the map she'd stuffed in the back of her jeans. It was time to make her pitch, so she plastered on her best smile, the one she'd always resorted to during her Panther cheerleading days, and took a deep breath hoping this would work.
This day has been utter shit, Tim thought to himself. First, Lyla had made him re-hash all this stuff with his mom at the grocery store. Then, he'd decided to go out for a run, feeling all self-conscious about her comments in the store and suddenly worried that his pants did seem tighter then they'd been earlier in the season. Halfway through, it had started to pour so he'd come back soaked and walked in on Billy and Mindy going at it on the couch. She was riding her brother like he was the prize pony at the Kentucky Derby, his bare ass pressed firmly onto Tim's favourite spot on the couch. Mindy wasn't even apologetic and actually yelled at him for leaving muddy tracks all over her shoes, which he'd tripped over on his way in.
"At least I've got you." He said to the six pack he was cradling in his arms. He cracked open a can, enjoying the refreshing and familiar taste. Back in the day, he'd down at least a six pack a day. Hell, he remembered some morning when they were out of milk and he'd eat his cereal soaked in beer. But ever since this Lyla thing, he didn't find that he needed the beer. Alcohol was an escape; when your vision is all hazy and your body is pleasantly tingly, you're not thinking about how much your life sucks. Nowadays his life didn't suck at all though and it wasn't just Lyla. He felt like he had some sort of a future; a new start away from Dillon where everyone had a preconceived opinion on who Tim Riggins was and he wanted to be living it with his head clear. Beer was now an occasional pleasantry whereas before it had been a necessity.
"Beer down!" Tim had just started feeling the buzz when Lyla stormed in. Where was the Lyla of old, who would politely knock and wait to be let in? He missed that Lyla sometimes.
"Lyla, come sit down with me." He said, patting the couch in what he hoped was an inviting way. Billy had soiled the other couch, so it was only fair he get back at him by leaving his mark on this one.
"Nuh uh, Tim. Get your stuff. We're going on a roadtrip." Lyla said, as she threw him his duffle bag. Tim was a little bit drunk, but this seemed to strange to be true.
"W…what?" He threw his girlfriend a questioning glance, but she only smiled and gave him a look that he knew could only mean trouble.