"I went to Lyla's cheer thing." Tim says, bursting into their house on Sunday, mid-morning.
"Hey Tim." Rae says slowly, sitting at the table with Carden, who looks delighted that the interruption might mean a break from his math homework. "Why are you uh, you know, in my house?"
"I went, I went with the team but I had to see her and I had to make sure she's ok and I can't stop thinking about it cause she didn't even look at me, but she only went cause I told her too because she loves to cheer and none of those stupid girls should stop her from it." He vents, ignoring her question. Rae stares at him open mouthed. She's never heard him say so much in one go before. "FUCK!" He yells, hands on his head.
"You get to handle this, I'm gonna go shoot." Carden says, grabbing his stick and disappearing out the back door.
"What the hell?" Rae demands, forcing him to sit down. Tim just puts his head on the table. "Why are you in my kitchen?" She repeats.
"Because you made it better last time!" He roars, standing up and pacing. Rae takes a step back. "Do it again!" He orders.
"What last time?" Rae asks, folding her arms and nodding towards the chair. With a pained expression, he sits again.
"At… At the hotel. You made me forget it for a bit. And… The other night. With the… the bottles." He stutters, agitated. Rae sits down across from him.
"What happened?" She asks quietly. He explains his feelings for Lyla, his visit to her, and how during the cheer competition she had looked to Jason, not him. Rae listens carefully then sighs and shakes her head.
"So when are you going to forget her?" She asks pointedly, when he finishes and stops to take a breath.
"What?" He asks dumbly, staring at her.
"Lyla. She doesn't love you. She probably never will, even if her and Jason end it for good. She was stupid and came to you in a hard moment. But don't you deserve better?" She asks and he blinks, not understanding. She gives a long-suffering sigh. "Remember when I was drunk and I told you that you deserved a girl who loves you? You're not ever going to find that in her, not in this shit hole of a town." Tim stands, furious. "Sit down! I'm not done!" Rae yells, annoyed. He doesn't sit but he doesn't walk away. "Find a girl who isn't looking for a pretty little boy to give her a pretty little life. You're rough and tumble. She's never going to tumble with you. That sucks. Move on!" She yells.
"You're a bitch." He spits. Rae grins, her scary smile that is no humor and all malicious intent.
"Yeah, but you came to me to yell at you, so don't think that I don't know that you actually like me, Tim Riggins." She says, not scared of him in the slightest. Tim is silent, mulling it over. Carden crashes back in, glaring at Tim.
"You yelling at my sister?" He demands, wielding the stick. Tim looks at him with a raised eyebrow then shakes his head.
"Na, she was yelling at me." He says quietly. Carden looks at Rae for confirmation and her amused look gives it to him.
"Yeah, she does that." Carden reassures him, relaxing.
"Yeah, I do, and if you don't sit and start doing your math, I'll start yelling at you." She informs him. With a groan, Carden sits, whining. Quietly, Tim makes for the door. Rae looks up and catches his eye. She smiles slightly and waves. He waves back and sneaks out.
Rae opens her locker, noticing Tim and Mrs. Taylor at his locker, talking. Frowning, she pauses from putting her books in so she can hear.
"It's bad for the world." Mrs. Taylor says, and Tim ducks his head, chuckling. "That's not funny Tim! That is not funny." She says sternly. "So you know what? I'm making it my personal responsibility to make sure that you don't get any more free passes from your teachers. From here on in, you go sink or you swim, based on you. Based on your work. You get me?" She demands. Tim looks shocked.
"We are two wins away from playoffs Mrs. Taylor." He says lowly, his face suddenly serious.
"I appreciate that." She says, clearly refusing to budge.
"But the timing of this couldn't be worse." He protests, as she repeats herself.
"Well, I'm sorry." She says softly.
"I don't pass, I don't play." Tim says flatly.
"Well then I think we better get you to pass." Mrs. Taylor says, unyielding. Tim looks at her then looks away. She pats his shoulder and walks away. Tim shakes his head, hands clenched into fists. Carefully Rae closes her locker and hoists her backup onto her shoulder. With a plan in her head, she squirms between him and the lockers. He looks down at her, unblinking.
"My house. After practice. If you show up drunk I'll kick your ass from here to Minnesota and back. Bring your school books." She orders, patting his cheek. She walks off to class and he sighs, resigning himself to that fact that he'll be joining Carden at the homework table.