A/N: Here's a present guys. Christmas has come early. I hope you guys enjoy.
FRIDAY
Today was the day. The first big game of the season and the first big game daddy would be coaching during. Jesse and I walked out of the house dressed like school spirit on crack, me in my cheerleading uniform with ribbons in my hair and Jesse in his football jersey and letter jacket, ready to kick wolf butt.
In Texas, football is everything. The only night that is actually important to us is Friday. Nothing beats big, buff guys knocking heads and talking trash.
Last night, after my embarrassment of kissing Tim on the cheek, Lyla had called and said I had been 'given' football player. When I asked what the heck she was talking about, she explained that the cheerleaders and rally girls have a tradition on Fridays of baking something good for certain football players. When I asked exactly whom I got, she went into a long-winded explanation of how Jason ad convinced her to give Jesse to some girl named Beth and reassign someone new to Tim. Who was that someone new? Oh, yeah, me.
I carried the bag of cookies I had made through the hall. Lyla had told me that most of the time, the girls brought Tim beer before the game, but I refused to condone his habit and just decided to make some sweet chocolate chunk cookies. If Tim wanted to get drunk before the game, he could do it without my help.
I saw Tim leaning against his locker, surrounded by rally girls and a few cheerleaders. I pushed a little to get through the crowd and pushed the bag into Tim's hands before walking away.
"Belle," I cringed and turned to face him. He smirked as he held the bag up and sniffed inside. "These smell good." I only nodded, choosing to ignore the slight innuendo in his voice. "Lyla didn't tell me that I'd gotten reassigned. Lucky me,"
I rolled my eyes and stared at him, arms crossed over my chest. "Well, I hope you enjoy them. I'll see you at lunch." I turned away and continued towards my first class.
"See you then Belle," Tim yelled out. I frowned and tried to ignore the jealous looks I was getting. So Tim Riggins had talked to me. Big whoop.
The day had been very uneventful. Except for the random yelling in the hall, "Clear eyes! Full hearts!" to which someone would return "Can't lose!"
I went to lunch with Julie and sat with her at the football/cheerleader table (something she rolled her eyes about). The lunchroom was a buzz with excitement and every once in a while, someone would come over to tell the guys good luck and to play their hardest. Tim was still chomping on the cookies I had given him, thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Hey Belle," Tim, Jesse and I all stiffened as I turned to face Smash. "Do you think we could talk for a second?" MY brow furrowed, but Tim and Jesse just nodded at each other and then at Smash.
"Sure," I followed him over to a les crowded area and stood, waiting.
Smash cleared his throat and glanced behind me at my table, where I knew most of the table was watching us. "I just, uh, I wanted to say, um, I'm sorry for hurting you the other day and for being so rude." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It was wrong of me to do."
I stared at him for a moment before nodding and sticking out my hand. "It's fine." He smiled and shook my hand, giving me a lopsided smile before going back to his table. As I returned back to my spot next to Tim, everyone at the table was watching me. I just ate my food and ignored their stares until they started up their conversations again.
Julie and I made our way to Calculus with Matt and Landry. When she told them they had to walk ahead of us, Matt looked like a lost puppy and Landry just shrugged. "Ok," she started once they were out of earshot. "What was that with Smash in the lunchroom? And how the heck did you become Tim's cheerleader?"
"First off, I am NOT Tim Riggins's cheerleader. Second, the thing with Smash was him just apologizing for what happened the other day. I'm pretty sure Tim and my brother got to him yesterday at practice." Julie nodded and slowly smiled. "What?" She shook her head and walked up next to Matt. "Julie Taylor, you better tell me what you're thinking."
Julie avoided telling me what had been on her mind for the rest of the day. I continuously commanded that she tell me, but she just shook her and head and carried on smiling like a madwoman. When I questioned about when she would tell me, she answered:
"After the game. At the party."
I rolled my eyes and said goodbye, going to join Lyla in getting ready for the pep rally. The boys were all lining up and were listening to Smash.
"And we're going to go out there and kill those dumbass Wolves because we are the Dillon Panthers and there ain't nobody like us!" The guys cheered and us girls joined in, waving our pom-poms. "Clear eyes! Full hearts!"
"Can't lose."
Lyla led us girls out onto the field, where we performed a few cheers and one dance routine. Finally, Coach Taylor and the guys were welcomed out with thunderous applause and Coach Taylor got to say a few words.
"We're ready to go out there tonight and lead this great town to another victory over the Wolves. These boys have been working hard and I know they're going to make us all proud." The team cheered and hooted while Smash took the mic and got us all pumped up.
"CLEAR EYES! FULL HEARTS!"
The entire field answered back.
"CAN"T LOSE."
When the boys ran out onto the field, I could tell they were all pumped. The guys on the Wolves team were huge and clearly out-weighed some of our biggest players. It was going to be a long and grueling game for the Dillon Panthers.
"There's only one thing that could keep the Panthers from taking this game and that is size." The announcer said. "The biggest guy on the team can't weigh more than 240. The Wolves have guys on their team that weigh more than three of the Panther quarterback, Matt Saracen."
I looked over at the guys from where the team was sitting and could tell that Matt was kind of freaking out. The guys from the other team could put him out of this game if they wanted to and he could do nothing to stop them. But Matt obviously wasn't thinking about Tim, Jesse and Smash. They would never let any of those players touch Matt if they could. Despite Jason's injury, you could tell that this team was still a family, even with a new leader there.
I closed my eyes and sent out a prayer for Matt Saracen to have courage and strength during this game.
In the third quarter, we were down by one touchdown. Every time Matt had the ball, it became harder and harder for him to throw it. One of the Wolves was always there to tackle him. Poor Matt was taking a bruising. We finally had the ball back after another score by the other team and you could feel the tension in the stadium.
"Red, 22, hut," Matt called out. The next ten seconds were a lot of tackling and grunting until Matt threw the ball. Down the field, Tim caught it and went running. Just as he made the touchdown, a big guy came out of no one and plowed him into the ground. Tim held onto the ball, but went down hard. The Panther side cheered and went crazy, happy to finally see another score for Dillon.
"Big Timmy Riggins scores for the Panthers!" We were all still cheering. The big guy, number 4, finally got up and off Tim. We all waited for Tim to get up, but he remained still, not even looking like he was breathing. The stadium went quiet as Smash and the other players made their way to him. On the sidelines, Coach Taylor, Daddy and Jason were all looking concerned, watching the scene closely. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Tim Riggins is down and he doesn't look like he's getting up." I closed my eyes tightly and starting praying. I felt Lyla grab my hand and we just stood there. "Oh, wait," My eyes flew open. "Riggins is being helped up by teammates Jesse Jackson and Matt Saracen." Tim was walking on both feet, but was holding tightly to Jesse and Matt.
As they brought him over to the benches on the sideline, I couldn't help but start moving that way. Coach Taylor was watching over as Tim was helped out of his jersey and pads by a medic.
"Alright, now try to lift your arms up for me son," the medic said, pressing on Tim's chest. Tim attempted to lift them, but about ¾ of the way up, they dropped uselessly at his sides. He seemed winded and was really red in the face. "Ok, I think we've got ourselves a couple of cracked and bruised ribs, Coach." The medic said to Coach Taylor, who rubbed his face and nodded. "He's going to have to get them wrapped and sit out for the rest of the game. It'd really be best if he could get to a doctor tonight."
Tim shook his head and leaned down, holding his mid-section tightly. "No. I gotta play." We all just stared at Tim. He looked pleadingly at Coach, who looked down.
"Tim, you can't play." Coach Taylor said sadly. "I'm sorry, son." Tim's head hung low and he just watched the ground. "Mercer. Get in the game." Some guy a little smaller than Tim got up and put on his helmet. Jesse and Matt both headed back over the huddle, but not without glancing at Tim and then each other.
I walked over to Tim and stood behind him. Coach Taylor nodded at me before going back to the game. Tim hadn't moved, so I tentatively reached out and laid my hand on his shoulder. His head turned, as best as it could considering he couldn't move his torso and he looked at me. He reached up, grabbed my hand with his and helped maneuver me to sit beside him. Once I was there, he grabbed me and buried his face in my neck. I saw my father glance over and do a double take raise his eyebrows at my current position.
During the beginning of the fourth quarter, Tim finally let me go and sat there, watching the game play out. We were tied with the other team and you could tell Coach Taylor was impatient to get some good plays in before the game ended.
With one minute left, Coach Taylor called Matt over and told him a new play. Matt looked confused, but nodded anyway. As the guys lined up, Jesse and Smash took both ends of the line.
"And Saracen has the ball. He passes off to Jackson, who passes to Williams…no wait, Saracen still has the ball. He's running, 30 yards, 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN! Matt Saracen has essentially won this game for the Dillon Panthers!" The announcer was going on. The game still had 25 seconds left, enough time for the Wolves to score if they really wanted to. Tim and I watched as the guys lined up once again. This time, the Wolves had the ball and they were ready to do anything to make sure we didn't win this game.
Once the quarterback had thrown the ball, Smash and Jesse were off, trying to catch the guy running. Smash jumped and caught him, 10 yards before the in-zone. The Panther side went crazy as the clock reached zero. I smiled happily and glanced at Tim, who was looking at me in a way I couldn't describe.
Later that night, we were celebrating our win at Smash's house. Rap music was pumping inside and I could see my brother threw the crowd flirting with some rally girl. Lyla, Jason, Matt, Julie, Landry and I were all hanging out in corner of the yard, just enjoying ourselves.
Tim had been taken to the hospital (more like forced) by Coach and Mrs. Taylor. He was still upset about not being able to be a part of the last few minute of the game, but it was defiantly something he would get over. I had asked Jason if Tim was going to be at the party, something that he and Lyla shared a look about, but he shrugged and gave no real reply.
I had never been a big drinker and I kind of hated parties, so the night was turning on the be boring for the most part. Julie and I were both rolling our eyes at Smash and his friends, who were all already horribly drunk and would probably have massive hangovers in the morning.
"Riggs!" I heard someone shout out. I turned and saw Tim making his way through the yard, a rally girl under eat arm. I glared and turned away, refusing to acknowledge that I had seen him.
"What's up Tim?" Jason questioned his friend once he had made it to us. "How're the ribs?"
Tim shrugged, looking all badass and annoying the crap out of me. "Fine. It definitely wasn't as bad as they made it out to be." The rally girls by his sides rubbed his arms soothingly, and I had to hold back a snort. Tim was slowly nursing a bottle of beer and I knew it was going to be a long night.
I stood up and looked down at Julie. "I'll see you later, ok?" She gave me a confused nod and I walked away, heading inside to find something strong to drink.
I was about to chug down my sixth tequila shot when another hand reached out and took it from me.
"Hey, that's mine," I whined, glaring up at Tim, who looked surprisingly sober. "Give it back." He shook his head and threw the tequila into the sink. "You're a jerk," I slurred, increasing my glare.
"Yeah, well I can live with that, darling," He reached for my hand and pulled me up from my stool, causing me to bump right into him. "Let's get you out of here and sober as fast as possible."
He started leading me out of the house, but I didn't want to go, so I fought. A lot. Finally, he just swung me into his arms, something that made him wince, and walked out to his truck.
"Tim Riggins, you pull this truck over right now," I demanded drunkenly. He shook his head again. "Tim! Pull over," Nothing this time. Suddenly, I felt bile rise in my throat and I grabbed Tim's arm. "Pull over, Tim." He saw the look on my face and swung the truck over to the side of the road. I pushed the door open quickly and spewed all the tequila I had had right there on the main road out of Dillon.
Tim rubbed my back soothingly and helped me sit back up in the car. He started driving again, this time with a bit of slow music in the background and I couldn't help but fall asleep.
One thing went through my mind as I passed out:
Was I falling for Tim Riggins?
A/N: Well I left you with a cliffy, but I will be doing Saturday and Sunday, so be ready. I hope it was enjoyable and I didn't mess up any of the football stuff up to bad. That was my first football scene ever. Reviews make Tim Riggins want to make out right then and there.
