Chapter Two: Broke Into The Old Apartment

She didn't bother with dawdling around town, she headed straight for Tim's apartment using the address Jason had given her. She made a fist and knocked on the door harshly, taking her anger and aggression for Tim out on the piece of wood. He didn't answer. Fucker. She went for the door handle. It was locked. He'd never locked it when she'd gone after him. She looked under the mat. Of course it was there. Man, it was easy to break into his place. She felt the urge to steal his stereo.

She walked into his apartment. It looked like he was in college, not that he'd gone, but he had the look down pat. What a lame chair. She wasn't as design inclined as, say, Colin and Justin, or anyone else on HGTV, but she knew that the thing that was in Tim's living room was not a chair. But the living room was surprisingly clean.

She noticed that the entire room's emphasis was on the television. Typical Riggins. He probably had a porn stash under his bed. Kareene had said something about how men who had weird cravings for porn probably never got enough. Though that was when she was dating the Russian guy who wanted to film them having sex.

She went into his room. She knew that she was nosy, but she was also married to the guy... so whatever was his was hers, right? Her heart stopped when she saw the picture of her and Tim tucked into the mirror. It also stopped when she realized how messy his room was, seriously there was a lot of beer cans thrown about. She looked down and out of the corner of her eye saw a box of condoms. A box. Like he used them. Like he was having sex. Sex. Without her.

You're dating someone, she told herself. She focused her thoughts on James, the guy who was perfect for her, a guy who her father would love. James Walsh, an Australian author who was on NPR every Thursday. Her father would mostly like James because he wasn't a football player who put it out there that he wanted to get her in bed. He was more... calm. Respectable.

She didn't really see her and James going anywhere though. It was, what her naughty librarian best friend had told her, a Literary Fling. She didn't really get what it meant, but Kareene sorted her relationships into ten categories.

"Hello?" she heard from behind her. She dropped her coffee onto Tim's floor. She turned around, "Hey... honey..."

"You're breaking into my house now??"

"... You're living room is really clean."

"Why am I not surprised you're in the bedroom?"

She looked up and her eyes met with his and they sort of melted together. "You're not dating Lyla."

"I'm pretty sure I am."

"I'm pretty sure you're not being a jerk to your best friend and to me."

"How long are you in town for, Jules?"

She shrugged, "Should I clean up this?" she was referring to the split coffee.

"I'll get it later."

"Are you sure... I mean... someone could slip."

"Right into bed."

She rolled her eyes, "Is this your idea of charm?"

"It worked the first time."

"Hate to break it to you, you were never charming. Just hot."

"Thank you." Silence came over them. Finally Tim broke it with a, "You want a drink?"

She nodded and left beside him, walking at a similar pace. His kitchen was messy like the bedroom. He caught her looking around, "I heard you were coming and shoved everything out of the living room." She had to smile at that, but she didn't say anything. "How's Canada?"

"I live in Vermont."

He nodded, and laughed. Shots were poured down throats, Tim really could chug.

"I should get going," Julie said after two. She wasn't about to get wasted with her husband who had condoms at hand.

He hugged her, and she hated him for thinking after everything he had the right to squeeze her breasts up to his chest and hold her there.

"So, how long are you staying?"

"I think I'll be gone tomorrow."

"Just in time for my date with Lyla." he commented, she glared at him. He went on, changing the subject to something he deemed more important. "Have you seen your family yet?"

She looked away. He knew her answer just by looking at her. After everything that had happened he knew her well, not perfectly, but he got her quirks and quarks. "You're not really going out with Lyla, are you?"

More silence. "Are you gunna come back?"

She shrugged, "When?"

"Tomorrow? The next day?"

She nodded, "I guess." She looked so sad... like there was something missing from her.

"I missed you, Julie Taylor."

"Technically it's Julie Riggins."

"But it never was really like that, was it?" He felt bad about it, but he was through kidding himself or putting up a front.

"No, not really." she had to smile at that, because it made her think that maybe Riggins wasn't a idiot who she'd only gotten with because of a momentary lapse of judgment and stayed with because of the sex. Maybe there was hope for Tim Riggins after all.

AN: It's a bit on the short side, but I hope you all enjoy! Remember, I crucify those who don't review. And thank you to all who reviewed!