"See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say hello
Little did I know"

Julie fucking Taylor. Right there in the stands. The object of all my teenage fantasies brought back to life and standing almost in touching distance. Her hair was different. Gone was the long blonde strands that used to sneak its way into my dreams, replaced by dark tresses that I knew would occupy them now.

I used to have the biggest crush on that girl. But I never would've dared act on it. Not only because she was Coach's daughter, but because I knew I didn't deserve someone as pure as Julie Taylor. I guess it's Julie Saracen now. The thought made my stomach turn a little, and I couldn't help but wonder what the hell that meant. Shit was almost 20 years ago now. I hadn't thought about Julie in years. But here she was. And damned if my pants didn't get a little tighter with the vision of her.

The whistle blew and the game began and I had to get my head where it belonged, in the game.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Lions had won! And of course that meant that there would be a huge after party at the local Applebees. I rode with Mom and Dad, of course, sitting in the back seat, letting the winds of nostalgia blow through my hair through the cracked window. Didn't take us any time at all to get there.

"Why don't you go see if you can catch up with some old friends, hon," Mom said as we walked into the crowded restaurant. I shrugged my shoulders, knowing now was as good a time as any to just get it over with.

"I'll find you guys in a bit," I said, waving toward them as I walked off into the crowd. I looked into a sea of unfamiliar faces, searching for one I knew, feeling awfully familiar to the way I felt walking into Lylas all those years ago. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to the bar and ordered an amaretto stone sour. If I was going to get through this night in one piece, I was definitely going to need some liquid courage.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Coach Taylor, as I live and breathe," I said as I spotted the old man in the crowd. Coach and Mrs. Coach turned around and gave me their brightest smile.

"Good to see you, Son," he said as he reached out to shake my hand. I smiled and at him and quickly hugged him instead.

"I heard ya'll were moving back, but I didn't believe it til' tonight. We sure missed you guys around here."

"Well that's so sweet, Tim, ain't it Eric?," Tammy said as she gave me a brief hug. I really did miss these people. They had done a lot for me during my high school days, especially Coach. I owed a lot of the man I became to the influence of Eric Taylor.

"You going to come over for bbq Sunday night, Tim?," she asked.

"If that's an invite, Ma'am, I gladly accept. It's been too long since I had a nice home cooked meal." Tammy scrunched up her nose at me.

"Why is that? If you don't mind me askin'. Nice, handsome, successful man like you should have no problem finding a wife." I couldn't help the blush that crept into my cheeks at the comment. One thing Tammy Taylor never was, was subtle.

"Tammy, leave the boy alone," Eric said, rescuing me from having to answer. She threw her hands up.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." But I guess while we were on the subject of women…

"Julie come with you guys?," I tried to ask casually. "I wanted to say hello."

"Pretty sure I seen her head toward the bar," Tammy said, and I could've been wrong, but I thought I heard a bit of worry in her voice. I couldn't help but wonder what that was about.

I turned my head toward the bar, and watched Julie through the crowd as she downed her drink and then waved the bartender over for another.

"I'm going to go say hello. I'll see you guys on Sunday then."

"Yup. Good game today, by the way," Coach made sure to sneak in before I walked off.

"Thank you, Sir," I said, smiling back at him before I went to talk to his daughter.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"If you keep drinking like that I might have to carry you home again," Tim Riggins said, almost whispering into my ear. I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck and on my arms as I turned to him and smiled.

"How ya doin', Taylor?," he said to me with a sexy smirk as I tried to formulate words that didn't insist of gagagagagagaga….

"I'm…I'm good, Tim. How have you been?" He slid into the bar stool next to mine, his knees and mine knocking together, and signaled for a beer.

"I've been really good," he said easily as he caught the beer that was slid down the bar toward him. I smiled softly and twirled my glass in my fingers, unsure of what to say next, and still embarrassed as to where my earlier thoughts on Tim Riggins had taken me.

"So where's Mattie?," he said as he took a swig of his beer. I rolled my eyes automatically, and I think he might've seen me, cause I'm pretty sure his smile got bigger.

"In Chicago," I said simply, hoping he would drop the subject. He didn't.

"Couldn't make the trip?" I shook my head.

"Better things to do," I replied, probably sounding a little angrier then I had intended.

"What could be better then this?," he said holding his arms out, as the house band struck their first chord, as if on cue. I couldn't help but laugh a little, which seemed to amuse him even more.

The music was beginning, and it was insanely loud. He tried to say something, but I couldn't hear him. He tried talking a little louder, but it was still no use. He stood up and grabbed my hand, leading me through the crowd and outside to the parking lot.

A/N: Next chapters going to be a little longer, and probably a lot more entertaining. Things are going to happen pretty fast. I already have ideas for a follow up story (or two) if I get enough interest in this one, so please please review! Thanks guys! ;)