Chapter 6
Tim eventually made it to school late, he had a lot to think about especially after listening to Tyra. He walked the halls in a slump when rally girls approached him he didn't even interact. He seemed to be out of it and quite quiet. As a rally girl came up grabbing his waist and saying "I'm so sad you never called I waited up all night in my jammies for you", Tim looks down at her and removes her hands backing away saying "yeah! Maybe another time." As he was walking in the hallway he saw Lyla walking with some other girls talking and he quickly tried to make his way over to her, but when he saw her moving away he started to yell her name "Lyla! Lyla!" She looked back at him and kept walking she knew that talking to him was gonna lead to an argument. As the day went on Lyla spent most of her day hiding from Tim, until the day was almost over and she ran into Tim in the parking lot. He was leaning on her car when Lyla walked up:
Lyla: (brushed the hair from her face) what do you want Tim?
Tim: I wanna talk to you Garriety!
Lyla: It's not much to talk about, I've made the decision and I'm not changing my mind.
Tim: Have you thought about what people will think? What God will think
Lyla: Don't you dare bring God into this? And what people, the only people who know are you and Tyra, and the last time I checked you weren't going around telling anyone (trying to open her car door).
Tim: Lyla, listen can you look at me and tell me you don't want this kid. I mean don't you already feel like that maternal bond.
Lyla: What maternal bond? You mean the moment I found out, if by that you will be relieved to know that at the clinic while Smash's mom read to me that I was very pregnant was yes the exact maternal moment I felt everything. (Opening her car door).
Tim: Wait Smash's mom knows about this.
Lyla: (looking him in his face) don't worry Tim she's sworn to secrecy by that doctor's oath.
Tim: I don't give damn about who knows (gets quiet) I just didn't think we were telling people yet.
Lyla: Tim, no we're not telling people! (Slamming her car door) You know Tim before you found about this baby you walked around this school and ignored me, you'd see me and stare but you keep on with your rally girls. But what are you gonna do when I'm chasing you down with your kid on my hip yelling "Tim, Tim Riggins." What we all gonna do move into the Riggins house with oh yea Billy your drunken guardian. Not to mention we're both in high school so college for us… oops me is basically gone down the toilet since I will probably use up my college fund buying all the baby supplies, and paying for daycare. Unless after one of your hung over nights you can keep the kid while I'm at school trying to get some kind of education. Oh Yea and you can kiss football goodbye because that babies gonna require all the attention it can get. (Tim stood speechless, he was not prepared for all that Lyla had threw at him). Yea just like I thought Tim, so how about you just let me do what I have to do. (Getting in the car).
Tim was left standing in the parking lot, he felt ashamed that with all that Lyla had said to him he had no words to comfort her back. All he could do was look awkwardly which led to her driving off mad. Tim did the only things he could do was go ahead to practice so he could work off some steam. Lyla was so angry at Tim she drove right over to the radio station to see Chris. She couldn't believe that Tim had the never to try to use God to guilt her into keep this baby. She was convinced that Tim was exactly out of his mind and Chris was exactly what she needed now. She walked into the radio station to see Chris wrapping up the radio show and stood watch as he answered questions. The last question really hit home for Lyla:
Chris: You're on the air, what can I do for you.
Caller: Hi, I'm Melissa and recently I found out I'm pregnant.
Chris: Well Melissa congratulations
Caller: It would be if it were with my boyfriend and not with a guy that doesn't respect me.
Chris: Wow, well all you can do is respect yourself and continue to love God and hope he guides you in the right direction.
Caller: Yea but I'm contemplating abortion and I wanted to know what God thinks about that?
Chris: I think that God would describe that killing any thing is wrong, but God also would forgive us for our sins. So It think that the best thing to do is look at your life and self and decide if having a baby is what you really want. That seems to be all the time we have for tonight, I would like to thank all of our callers and remember to keep on praying.
Lyla looks on a little worried at the answer that Chris just gave and wonders if his answer is just the textbook or is it an answer he really believed in. As Chris entered the room and walked toward her hugging her tightly she held on to him and smiled happily, pulling her face close and kissing her all over:
Lyla: Great show
Chris: Thanks (kissing her more)
Lyla: I almost feel like you don't need me
Chris: (kissing her more) I always need you
Lyla: so that last caller, what did you think of her problem.
Chris: I think that's she is only turning to God wishing she wasn't pregnant.
Lyla: If she couldn't turn to god then who should she turn to (pulling away)
Chris: did I say something to upset you.
Lyla: (crossing her arms) No, I just think that you're being a little judgmental, and I honestly think that she might feel she has no one to turn to.
Chris: (hugs her close) Hey, hey, hey I'm sorry and your right Jesus would not judge her. So now can we get back to us, I haven't seen you in a couple of days. I missed you!
Lyla: (nodding her head) your right I missed you too
Although Lyla had let it go in her mind she really was upset at the thought of how Chris judged the poor girl. What was to keep him from judging her once he found out the truth about her and that worried her. They stood hugging each other in radio station for a while.
Tim had gone over to Herc and Jason's he needed someone to talk to about this and besides he thought maybe Jason could be his last resorts to get Lyla to hear him out. But first he had to tell him and that was probably gonna be harder than anything else. Jason had loved Lyla and they were together for a while until he had gotten hurt and that had led to Lyla and Tim sleeping together. Lucky for him Jason was able to accept the fact that he and Lyla were no longer to be able to be together because they were on different paths. He arrived at the house where Herc opened the door and Tim walked in looking a bit down he went straight for he fridge pulled out a beer while Jason and Her watched him:
Jason: Oh come in make yourself at home.
Herc: Who peed in your cornflakes.
Tim: (gulping down the beer) Am I that bad of guy?
Herc: I think you're pretty damn sexy, you gotta sweet ass. Nicely toned a lot better looking than this son of bitch
Jason: Tim what's wrong, you and Billy get into it again, Coach riding you! You know you gotta suck it up because tomorrows the game and you gottta play hard to win.
Herc: Does everything always relate back to football.
Tim: (pulling another beer) No I got bigger problems than football. (Gulping down the beer.)
Jason: You schedule two rally girls on the same night again?
Herc: I'll take one of them rally girls.
Tim: (finishing the beer) Lyla's pregnant ( sitting in the chair)
Jason: (laughing but, smiles) Excuse me….. What did you just say?
Herc: (with a serious expression on his face) ooh I think that he just said, little Miss Sunshine is knocked up.
Jason: Herc shut up!
Jason: (upset and angry) is it yours?
Herc: (laughing) of course it's his look at him. He's the only one been parking that tail since your were hospitalized
Jason: Herc shut up!
Tim: He's right! J, it's mine!
Jason: (rolling over to Tim) so what are you gonna do about it Riggins?
Tim: There's nothing I can do. She's made up her mind.
Jason: Her mind about what? About what?
Tim: She's not keeping it. (Drinking more)
Herc: (rolls over to them) all right let's bust out the bubbly.
Jason: Herc!
Herc: What I mean it's not like you wanted to keep it. You off the hook! (Raising his arms up) (Tim looks at him awkward) Unless…. Oh she's making you go halfsie's on the abortion?
Jason: (looking at Herc) get out! Go to your room!
Herc: (wheeling away) don't get mad at me that I'm saying what everyone in this room is thinking. (Jason closes the door and wheels back to the table).
Tim: He's right maybe I should offer to go half on it.
Jason: What are you doing Tim? Why are you here and not at Lyla's talking this out.
Tim: Because every time I try to talk to her about she throws all these reasons why I would make a bad father.
Jason: Tim it's a big decision.
Tim: (drinking) Yea I know, so everyone keeps telling me. But you know what I don't get is how anyone is supposed to ever succeed if they never get a chance. I mean yea I didn't grow up so good with no parents. But maybe I would do good job with this kid.
Jason: So you wanna keep it!
Tim: I can't tell her what to do because it's her body.
Jason: Listen, I'm not gonna tell you to tell her to keep it. But all you can do Tim is be there. She's gonna need someone when it's all over and this will be an experience neither of you will ever forget. (Patting Tim's back!)
Tim: (nodding and tipping his beer to Jason) 6
Jason: Riggins a daddy, the world sure is changing! (Laughing)
Herc: (shouting from the room) I feel bad for her if she has to push that head out! (Everyone laughs)
Jason: You got a big head
Tim: No I don't, it's no that big! Why does everyone keep saying my head is big.
The next day was Panther Football and everyone in town was getting ready for the big game tonight. Tim had stayed at Herc and Jason's on the couch hugging a beer all night. He awoke to Herc leaning over him saying "I think you drank too much." Tim sat up saying "cute" as Herc looked at him saying "dude get used to it, because if she has that kid those are exactly what he's gonna say. " Tim smiles saying "funny." As Tim is trying to sober up and get dressed Herc is in the front room and he goes in his wallet and takes out two pictures passes them Tim. Tim takes the pictures and looks at them. One which was a sonogram picture and the other which was picture of woman with a baby girl:
Tim: Who are these people?
Herc: It's my daughter!
Tim: You have a daughter?
Herc: Yea, about five years ago when I was still walking and running happier. That was the love my life Marsha!
Tim: Marsha? Marsha really
Herc: Yea I know, Marsha Brady. But Marsha was my high school sweetheart. God I loved her, she was beautiful and fun. But I was too wrapped up in me. When she got pregnant, I did nothing. I hid from her and avoided her and when she told me she was gonna have an abortion. I did nothing. And I look back at it and I could have at least went with her.
Tim: Obviously she didn't what happened?
Herc: She didn't have anyone to help her, or talk to her and she decided to keep it. I found out about it and started denying that it was mine. So in the end she just told people the father was some guy she met out at the rodeo. That's the only pictures I have of her. I'm not telling you to tell to keep the kid because you might not be ready for that, but at least talk to her, and she doesn't want to listen then just sit with her and you keep trying. Because I was a coward back then and to this day I regret it . Now I'm trapped in this chair and my chances of producing another kid with someone is close to impossible. Just talk to her, go with her. You do whatever you have to do to make sure that she doesn't feel alone.
Tim: (slight smile) Thanks (as he grabs his keys going for the door) Herc, what's her name?
Herc: Hailey, baby Hailey! (Looking at the picture)
