"Rae!" He yells in the hallway. She turns, looking up at him. "I uh… Can you uh… Come with me." He finally spits out. Rae gives him a wary look, but follows without questioning it. He leads her to Mrs. Taylor's office. "Uh, Mrs. Taylor?" He says, knocking on the side of the doorframe.
"Come in Tim." She says. Tim glances back at Rae then pulls her into the small guidance office.
"This is Rae Brooks. She's gonna, uh…" He looks at her unsurely. She sighs and rolls her eyes.
"I'm pretty sure Mrs. Taylor knows who I am." She informs him. Mrs. Taylor smiles warmly at Rae.
"What can I do for you two?" She asks, looking between them.
"I want her to tutor me." Tim blurts out. Rae turns to look at him and Mrs. Taylor's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
"Is this because she's a pretty girl that will do your homework and have sex with you?" Mrs. Taylor asks bluntly. Rae bursts into laughter and Tim gapes at both of them, speechless.
"Fat chance in hell." Rae says cheerfully. "Mrs. Taylor, Riggins here lives about two doors down from me. I'm flexible and can work around football because I'm not a cheerleader or rally girl. Which also means I don't constantly strive to please him just because of his jersey number. Plus, I've already passed the classes he's taking with flying colors back in Minnesota, so that makes me the perfect candidate. And I don't want to have sex with him!" She says cheerfully. Tim is shell-shocked, not quite sure what just happened.
"If his grades don't pick up in two weeks with his own school work, I'm stepping in." Mrs. Taylor says and Rae gives her the thumbs up. Then she grabs Tim's chin and twists it so he can't avoid her eyes.
"My house. Don't bother showering from practice. We're studying and doing yard work." She orders then is off. Mrs. Taylor looks at Tim amused.
"Sure you don't want who I had in mind?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. Tim shakes his head.
"I think I'm gonna take my chances with her." He says, walking out of the office. Mrs. Taylor chuckles.
"Lord help that boy."
"Of mice and men?" Rae asks, making a face. "I hated this book."
"Then I don't gotta read it, right?" Tim asks, almost hopeful.
"No. You have to read because I read it last year and was miserable. So I'm dragging you down with me." She orders, tossing him the book. Carden, leaning on his stick, snickers.
"No." Tim says, tossing it back. Rae sets the book down and tosses him a pair of gloves.
"Start pulling." She orders, pointing to the weeds along the fence. "Or I'll go to Mrs. Taylor and tell her you don't wanna learn. And then you don't have to play." She threatens, smiling innocently. Sighing, Tim pulls on the gloves and gets on his knees in the dirt.
Fifteen minutes later, the book hits the back of his head. He picks it up and glares at her. She smiles brightly. He throws it back and she gestures for him to continue pulling. Fifteen minutes later, the book hits him again. He picks it up and glares at her even harder. She's doing math homework, blissfully unaware.
"I'm getting sick of this shit!" He yells. She doesn't even look. "Rae! I'm not reading this damn book!"
"That's fine." She calls. "There's the whole fence and my dad sure as hell isn't going to weed it. Carden, you have until Tim decides to read to keep practicing your slap shot. And start aiming for the corners, not a single goalie north of Minneapolis is going to be blown away by your speedy puck." She orders.
"Quit chirping on me." Carden bickers back, making a face and lifting the puck into the left corner.
"Chirping?" Tim asks, curious. Carden opens his mouth but Rae cuts him off with a glare.
"Oi, no talking till Tim decides to read. Keep pulling." Sighing, he throws the book back and starts pulling again. When the book flies at his head for a third time, he's expecting it. He picks it up and pulls his gloves off.
"Dude, c'mon!" Carden moans. Rae gives a small cheer.
"Stick down little man, time for fractions!" She says cheerfully. Defeated, both boys climb onto the porch. She hands them both lemonade and Carden gets down to work. Tim hovers awkwardly, not sure where to start.
"Should I uh… Read it out loud or…?" He asks, unsure.
"Ooh, read out loud to me Tim Riggins. Your voice is so deep and manly." She teases, grinning. Carden snorts. Tim gives him a dirty look then slowly starts. Rae listens, nodding in satisfaction, leaving the door open and making them supper; occasionally sticking her head out to correct Tim's pronunciation or to make sure Carden is still doing his homework. She's surprised that it doesn't actually take him that long to read through the book. They're both out on the porch, the night sky shining when he closes the book and look at her.
"He shot him." He says, surprised.
"Terrible ending to a terrible book." Rae says thoughtfully. "So what's your oral report gonna be on?" He looks at her blankly.
"Well, you tell me." He says.
"No, that's what Mrs. Taylor is trying to prevent dumbass." She chides. "But it's a book about two men with a dream that lose that dream and betray each other. Who does that sound like?" She points out. His shoulders tense. Before he can reply angrily, a door slams. Rae bolts straight up in her chair and Carden comes flying out of the back door.
"Dad's home." He informs her, eyes wild. Rae swears and darts inside the house, trying to hide the dirty dishes. Tim stands behind her, watching as a tall man lumbers into the kitchen. Instantly, Rae grabs Carden and puts him behind her, trying to provide some cover.
"Dad." She says warily. Her father is tall and has her and Carden's blonde hair and blue eyes. Except his are as bloodshot as Tim has ever seen.
"Maisie Rae, did you make me supper?" He demands, stumbling into one of the chairs.
"Dad, it's 9:30 at night. I thought you might have eaten at the bar." She says slowly, watching his every move nervously.
"So I buy the groceries and you two eat them all and save none of it for me? Fucking typical." He mutters.
"I can make you a sandwich quick." She offers and he chuckles darkly.
"I don't want shit now. And you're not the same cook as your mother." He gets up and stumbles out of the room, slamming a door to another bedroom shut. Rae relaxes and lets Carden leave the safety of her back.
"Fucking drunk." She mutters, as Carden carefully inserts a chair under the handle of the door.
"At least he'll sleep through the night." He says, shaking his head.
"Get some sleep." Rae orders, kissing his head. He nods and closes his own door. Rae turns and looks up at Tim, rubbing her arm uncomfortably. "I'm sorry you had to see that." She says. He grabs her arm to make her stop.
"Ain't anything I haven't seen before." He says softly and she shakes her head, a single tear slipping out as she bites her lip. Carefully, Tim pulls her into a hug. She clings to his shirt, crying into the sweat, shaking as sobs run through her. Tim just holds her tight, thinking about what he just saw. He realizes with a jolt just how similar he and she are.
"Think about that oral report tonight, ok?" She asks, leaning back, whipping her tears.
"Yeah, I will." He promises.
"And if you need help, come to me, not the rally girls." She orders, getting herself more composed.
"I will." He promises, grinning. She nods and pats her cheek. "If you need anything, bring him to my place." He offers, jerking his head at Carden's door. She gives a shaky laugh and nods. He pats her shoulder and leaves.