Chapter 18
After school Julie met up with Toby at the back of the school. He had parked his motorbike near the football field and training was on. It could not have been a better scenario if she had tried. She'd get the attention of both her father and Tim simultaneously.
Once Julie saw the motorbike she had a moment of alarm. Sitting atop a motorbike wasn't really her idea of a fun time. She was pathetic she knew but all the 'what if's' ran through her mind and made her stop short. Reading her expression, Toby encouraged
"It can be a bit overwhelming at first if you let it be. You'll be wearing a helmet and I promise that we won't go all that fast. Deal?" He smiled at her and she immediately felt better.
"Not too fast right. Okay? It's a deal." He swung his body onto the bike and gestured to her to follow. She grabbed the helmet he had handed her and mounted the bike, behind Toby. She tucked her legs up and was unsure what to do with her arms. Looking at his back, she slid her arms around him tightly. There was no way in Hell that she'd fall off that bike if she could help it. Her legs started knocking and Toby slid a glance over his shoulder.
"Are you really sure? " Toby did not look convinced that she would actually ride this bike with him. She gritted her teeth and committed to it. She leaned into his wiry little body, so different from Tim's, and closed her eyes. Toby started up the bike and slowly rolled to get her used to the feeling. She opened her eyes, this wasn't so bad. She could do this. She squeezed his middle in encouragement and he took off. The rode across the car park and approached the practise field.
By the time they were riding past football training, Julie loved every second of it. She felt free. Her hair was flying out behind her and she could see her father making the guys run the stairs. Her cheek pressed up against Toby's back, her eyes on the field, her hair flying and a smile on her face – the men in her life were struck immobile. She looked happy. Tim saw the flash of blonde hair in the corner of his eye, he reocgnised it immediately. He stopped short on the stairs, his team mates bumping into him. Coach Taylor turned to see what was happening to his drill and saw the strained look on his face. He sighed, why did he suddenly feel like the bad guy? His attention was diverted by his teenage daughter tearing around on a motorbike, the red wave of arnger surged and he made the team run extra staris.
Julie and Toby pulled up at the Taylor's house and entered in a whirlwind of shouts and laughter. Julie was on a high – she's conquered a fear and her men had taken notice of her. There would definitely be some fallout from her father. With Tim she was not so sure. She missed him badly. She missed the way he was able to get her to calm down, he brought peace ... when he wasn't kissing her and making her insides melt.
They set up at the kitchen table and Julie tried to catch Toby up on what they'd been learning about in English and Algebra. Toby, despite his punk roots and misleading portrayal of apathy, was a good student and she was surprised. He'd have no trouble in catching up.
"So who was the guy?" Toby asked breaking the silence. He was not one to beat around the bush.
"What guy?" she raised her eyebrows presenting a clueless expression.
"C'mon. There's definitely a guy and I am guessing it is one of those meathead footballers we passed." She looked at him, ready to deny it. He had her pegged though. She shrugged.
"It doesn't matter. It's not going to happen. My dad has some issues with it and he, the guy, wants to ..." she sighed. "I don't really want to talk about it," Toby put a hilarious pouting expression on his face, he was scrounging for information. "He wants my Dad's respect and since Dad isn't okay with it. It just isn't happening."
"Okay." He said a perplexed glance was thrown her way. "I follow most of it but why would he want your dad's approval?" Just then a ruckus sounded at the front door, followed immediately by a bellow from the hallway.
"Ju—lie! Young lady you are in serious trouble young lady. How dare you get on that death contraption with that young fre---"her father stopped short when he reached the doorway.
Calmly Julie said "Toby, meet my Dad. Dad, this is Toby. Toby – Dad's the football coach," A look of fear passed across Toby's face. Sheer, unadulterated fear. He looked at her as if to say how could you do this to me? Then a look of understanding swept across Toby's face, like a cloud shadowing the Sun. He looked at her in canny understanding, she was busted.
"Hiya Coach. I was just thanking Julie for helping me out. You've got a great girl here," he swept his arm around her shoulders, hugging her to his side. "How lucky am I to meet her on my first day at Dillon High huh?" The Coach, used to intimidating the biggest of men, was shocked by the casualness of the teen.
Coach stuttered "I th-think it is time for you to go Toady." Julie rolled her eyes, he was so predictable.
"Uh it's Toby, sure no problem. Julie, walk me out?" He nodded towards to door.
"Sure. Dad say goodbye to Toby," she requested as they were walking out.
"Goodbye Toady." They walked to his bike, the Coach watching from the front door, obviously not intending to move. He was watching everything with his arms crossed and a scrunched up look on his face. His clothing was rumpled, his face was rumpled and his hair was definitely rumpled.
"Look thanks Toby. I am sorry he was so rude. He can be, uh nice isn't the word, pleasant? You've gotta catch him at the right time," Toby looked disbelieving. "Okay he can be tolerable." He smiled at this. You could almost hear the growl resonate from the Coach, he was not happy and he wanted them both to know.
"You used me?" He looked at her hopefully; he really didn't want that to be the case. "You wanted your Dad to compare me to one of his boys, find me lacking."
Julie felt utterly ashamed "Well yeah but you know I actually like you. That wasn't in the plan." She looked incredibly apologetic.
"Plan? You had a plan?" He dissolved into laughter. The coach grimaced from his vantage point. Toby looked at her sideways "I like you too, count me in". Julie was confused, it showed. "Pissing off someone else's parents is fun. No seriously, I think we are going to be friends, it'll give me something to do."
Julie didn't push it. He was being unbelievably nice about this all. Something felt a little off, this was too easy. They she saw Toby glance toward her father and wave like Forrest Gump. Julie realised that to Toby, this really was fun. She giggled as her father's face flushed more red that she's ever seen before.
"Thanks. We aren't going to be friends though, we already are. " She smiled at him and he smiled back. She felt a rush of affection for him and decided to give him a hug. She whispered in his ear "Remind me to introduce you to my friend Lois." He drew back and winked. He hopped on his bike and rode off making a lot more noise than what was necessary. Her dad was as tightly strung as a tennis racquet. Heading back to the house, she decided that it was time to face the music.
Author's Note – Okay I freely acknowledge that this isn't my best attempt. I have hit a block. I honestly don't know if it is because I am so tired or due to problems with the story. Maybe I am just missing Tim I will attempt to post another one but considering this chapter took four times longer than normal I wouldn't hold out hope. Thanks everyone, hope I haven't disappointed you. WhoJ.
