Title: Someone Like You
AN: Thanks to those of you that read the first chapter. I had a lot of hits, and a handful of reviews and story alerts (hopefully that doesn't mean lots of people read it and didn't enjoy it!). Thanks to amandahearts33, drealynnz, RoxyRyan055, Fleur27, and cenababy for the great reviews and AmyBeckett, Sienya, and crwong for the favorites! This chapter is for you all! Enjoy!
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By the time they arrived at the doctor's office, Julie knew that Tim had been right to make her go. Her ankle was swollen and already turning blue, and it was all she could do to keep from crying from the pain.
Julie insisted that she could hobble to the building with Tim's help and that she didn't need to be carried. After a few painful steps, Tim mumbled something about her being damn stubborn and scooped her up in his arms yet again, easily carrying her into the lobby.
As they entered the building, Tim looked around for an empty seat. The lobby was very crowded, and Julie knew that she would be waiting a while to be seen. Tim walks to a couple of chairs back in the corner, and slowly places her in one of them, taking extra care not to cause her anymore pain.
"Be right back." He says quietly.
Julie watches as he makes his way to the front desk, smiling at the lady behind the desk, watching as the lady all but melts at his attention.
Julie snickers. Tim always did have a way with the ladies. Obviously that hadn't changed.
As she sits watching him, Julie takes the chance to really look at Tim, something she hadn't been able to do in all the commotion.
He was still devastatingly good-looking. With his long hair and tan skin, and those soulful eyes that looked at you like they knew all your secrets. His clothes were still typical Riggins – old jeans and a t-shirt that showed off his lean, muscled body. He seemed a little taller and more muscular than his high school days, but that only seemed to add to his appeal.
She had seen him a couple of times since he had graduated high school. The most recent time being toward the beginning of the past summer. They had run into each other at the grocery store, and had stopped to chat for a few minutes. Nothing important really, just idle chitchat and then they had gone their separate ways.
Julie didn't really know how to classify her relationship with Tim. They were more than acquaintances, but not exactly friends. They shared a history, with Tim living with her family and saving her from two disasters – the tornado and her drunken fiasco with Riley.
No, they weren't like bosom buddies or anything, but they had always gotten along well. Julie had always thought that it had to do with the fact that they both accepted one another for who they were, and never mentioned it or tried to change it.
Julie faintly remembered her dad mentioning that Tim had been transferred from San Antonio State to UT on a football scholarship. Apparently Tim had impressed a lot of folks playing football at San Antonio last season. She wasn't surprised. Tim had been in a league of his own out on the field.
She smiles at him as he finally makes his way back toward her.
"Well?" She asks.
"We might be here a while Taylor." He says. Julie watches as he grabs a nearby chair and places it in front of her, gently lifting her leg and placing it in the chair, elevating her ankle before sitting down beside her.
"No jumping in line for emergencies?" Julie asks. A bit taken back by his taking care of her, not to mention the feel of his fingers on her bare skin.
"I told her that you were in extreme pain. Tried to make it sound really bad, even tried to charm her a little, but unless you're dying it looks like we'll be here a while." Tim says with a sigh, giving her a sympathetic look.
"I might be dying. I could have internal bleeding or something." Julie says dramatically. "Look at the size of my ankle."
Tim grins at her statement, shaking his head. "I think you'll live Taylor. And yeah, the ankle looks pretty damn bad. Definitely the size of a grapefruit." He says with a smirk.
Julie laughs as she leans her head back against the wall, once again happy that he was trying to take her mind off the pain.
"So…besides trying to run over freshmen in your truck, what have you been up to? I haven't seen you in a while." Julie says. Smirking at her own comment.
"I only try to run people down on Thursdays. You just happened to pick the wrong day to cross the street." He says with a chuckle. "Not much really. Football practice mostly."
"Yeah, dad had mentioned that you transferred in from San Antonio on a football scholarship." Julie says. "He was really proud of you."
Tim smiles. "Yeah, he was pretty proud of you too the last time we spoke. His little girl was going to UT and would only be an hour away from home." He says in a teasing voice.
Julie rolls her eyes playfully. "Yep. Even though, I secretly think he's just excited about free football tickets."
"Probably." Tim says with a grin.
"How is football going so far? I heard we should have a really good team this year."
"It's going good. I'm busting my ass everyday, but I'm pretty sure I'll see some playing time. Possibly even start, who knows." He says, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his knees.
"That's good. I've already got my student tickets, so I'm set for next week's game." Julie says with a grin.
"It should be a good one." Tim says nodding his head. "What about you? How are you liking Austin so far?"
"Other than the heat it's great." Julie says quickly, Tim grinning at her comment. "Tyra's been showing me around and my classes seem pretty easy so far."
Tim frowns as he leans back in his seat. "I'm worried about my classes. I can already tell that it's going to be a hell of a lot harder than my classes at San Antonio State. And UT's a lot stricter on grades and athletics."
"I'm sure you'll do fine." She says reassuringly. "But if you ever need help with something, just let me know."
Tim grins. "Tutoring…like old times huh?"
"Well, despite the fact that you almost killed me, you have gone above and beyond helping me out this afternoon. So, I owe you." Julie says, shrugging her shoulders.
"If I remember correctly I've saved you several times Taylor." He says with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
"Twice Tim. A tornado and a drunk, horny teenager." Julie says quickly.
"Still, that makes me a hero or something, right?" He asks, a huge grin on his face.
Julie lets out a half laugh, half snort. "Sure Tim. You're a regular white knight."
"Just doin' what I can Taylor. Doin' what I can." He says slowly. The sexy smirk on his face causing her to smile back at him.
"Julie Taylor." They hear someone call out, looking up to see a nurse standing at the entrance to the doctor's area.
"Come on Grapefruit." Tim says as he stands to help Julie up.
"Shut up Tim." Julie says as she pinches him in the side for the grapefruit comment.
Tim laughs as the two slowly hobble back into the doctor's office.
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"Thank God for elevators." Julie mumbles as the two step foot on the elevator in her dorm. Her room was on the third floor, and she didn't think she could do three flights of stairs with crutches.
After x-rays and having her foot poked and prodded, luckily the doctor had said that it was just a bad sprain. And the cuts and scrapes on her hands and knees were mostly superficial. No broken bones, for which Julie was highly grateful.
She had an ace bandage and a set of crutches to use for the next couple of days, and was told to take it easy and only put weight on the foot when she felt it was starting to feel better.
Tim had been great. He had stayed with her the whole time at the doctor's office and had really helped her maneuver around. Julie was pretty awkward with the crutches, and he had been quick to make fun of her about it. And now here he was trying to help her back to her dorm room.
"I really appreciate this Tim." She says as the two of them come to a stop on her floor.
"No problem." He says simply, walking slowly beside her down the hallway.
"This is me." Julie says as she comes to stop in front of her room, reaching out to open the door.
Tim quickly steps forward, opening the door for her and helping her into the room.
"Oh my God! Julie, what happened?" Liza says as she jumps up from her spot at her desk.
"Hey Liza. Some crazy person tried to run over me with their truck and I sprained my ankle. But I'm okay." Julie says as Tim helps her sit down on her bed.
"What? Did you call the cops? Damn stupid Austin drivers." Liza says shaking her head as she looks down at Julie.
Julie starts to laugh at Liza's words, quickly looking at Tim to find him smiling as well.
"What?" Liza says.
"Tim Riggins." Tim says, holding out his hand toward Liza. "The damn stupid driver who almost hit Taylor here. Even though it wasn't my fault." He says, throwing Julie a look.
"Huh?" Liza says confused as she shakes his hand.
Julie watches as Liza really looks at Tim, noticing just how good-looking he is. A blush quickly spreading on her cheeks. Happens every time, Julie thinks with a smirk.
"It's a long story." Julie says with a short laugh. "Thanks again Tim for helping me out."
"Like I said, no problem." He says. He smiles down at her, sliding his hands in his pockets. "Do you have classes tomorrow?"
"Nope. I don't have any classes on Fridays."
"Me neither. I was just wondering if you were going to need help maneuvering across campus tomorrow with those crutches." He explains.
"No. I'll probably stay in here all day and take it easy." Julie says. "But thanks for the offer."
"No problem. Well, I gotta run or I'm goin' to be late for practice."
"You better go then. I don't want to get you in trouble. Besides, I've gotta call my dad and tell him about you nearly running me over." Julie says with a smirk.
Tim laughs quietly, shaking his head. "I might have to call Coach myself and tell him the true version of the story."
Julie laughs as he walks toward the door. "Thanks again."
"No problem Taylor. Nice to meet you Liza. Take it easy Grapefruit." Tim says with a laugh as he shuts the door behind him.
"Holy Mary and Joseph." Liza mutters as the door shuts. "Who was that?"
Julie laughs at Liza's reaction to Tim. "Tim Riggins. #33. Smooth talker and breaker of hearts everywhere."
Liza sits down on her own bed across from Julie. "He can break my heart any day." She says as she fans herself dramatically.
Julie smiles to herself as she leans back on her bed and closes her eyes. She laughs quietly as she thinks of the day's events and how her life had gotten turned upside down in the past few hours.
Julie didn't know why, but she had a feeling that her quiet freshman year was about to get a little more interesting.