They sit around her table, snacking and laughing. She throws a chip at him when he tries to explain to her why football is the best sport.

"How can you say hockey is boring compared to football? Have you ever even seen snow?" She points out, tossing her head back in laughter.

"Once or twice, but that doesn't affect my judgment!" He protests. She just shakes her head laughing. She goes to make another point, but the door slams and they both go silent instantly. Her father walks in and Rae stands immediately, glancing at Tim nervously. Unlike the first night, he notices Tim's large frame in the kitchen. Without taking his eyes off of him, he asks low and dangerously,

"Maisie Rae who the hell is this?" Rae wrings her hands, then takes a deep breath and steels herself.

"Dad, this is Tim Riggins. He's the fullback for the Dillon Panther football team." She says, hopeful the title will mean something. Her father doesn't seem to be impressed.

"Why the fuck is he in my house so late?" He demands, finally looking at Rae. She shrinks back and Tim can't help himself. He instinctively takes a protective step towards her.

"I, uh, tutor him. So we were just reviewing for his big test tomorrow." She says carefully. Her father snorts.

"Yeah, I bet you tutor lots of boys. You little slut." He hisses, hitting the chip bag and causing it to spill across the kitchen.

"Sir, I think you need to calm down." Tim says, grabbing Rae and pulling her behind him.

"Who the fuck are you, telling me to calm down?" He spits, getting in Tim's face. "You think that just cause you're sleeping with my daughter you can tell me to calm down?" Rae looks desperately at the door, wondering if she could pull Tim out and make a run for it. But she knows Carden is in his room.

"Sir, I'm just requesting you calm down. I know you've been drinking cheap scotch and beer and some vodka. So all I'm saying is it's in all of our best interests if you would calm yourself down, go to sleep, and sleep it off. I mean no disrespect being in your house and your daughter truly is an amazing tutor." Tim says, putting his hands up. Gently, he guides her father towards his bedroom. "And I promise you I am not sleeping with her."

"If that bitch gets pregnant, it'll be the end of me." He mutters, stumbling through the doorway.

"Trust me sir that is not my intention." Tim says, trying to stifle his laughter, closing the door. He turns and looks at Rae, who is wide eyed. Without saying anything, she crosses the short distance and throws her arms around his neck.

For a long time, he just holds her, kissing her head and whispering calming words in her ear. Then she leans back and kisses him, tangling her hands in his long hair, until they're both out of breath. She leans back, looking at him.

"That was amazing." She whispers, awed, hand on his cheek, scratching his stubble gently.

"You deal with that all the time." He whispers back. She laughs weakly, chin quivering. "You're amazing for dealing with that and keeping Carden out of it and watching out for me and keeping your own grades up." He lists off, pulling her into his chest, rocking her back and forth until she calms down.

They don't talk about that night, but she notices that Tim smiles at her more often, walks her to class, and even holds her hand once in the hallway. But she sees the tension in his shoulders over the race issues on the team. So when he sits down next to her at lunch with three underclassmen trailing him like ducklings, all she can do is raise her eyebrow quizzically.

"Hi." She says slowly, looking at the underclassmen curiously when Tim says nothing and starts eating.

"Where's Julie?" He grunts. Rae sighs and the other dance girls at the table roll their eyes.

"She's sitting with Tyra, because they're best friends now and she practically forgot about us." Lois says spitefully, shaking her head.

"That's no good." Tim mutters, faking interest, shoveling food into his mouth as fast as he can.

"Who are your friends?" Rae asks, elbowing him, as the boys stare open mouthed at her. None of them have food.

"JV players I gotta babysit since Smash and the rest quit." He grumbles and Rae wisely leaves the subject at that. When he's done, he gets up and the other boys are quick to follow suit. He bends down and kisses her head. She jumps slightly. "See ya after practice." He says, walking away. Lois and the rest of the girls stare at her open-mouthed.

"I don't wanna talk about it!" Rae says hastily.

When Tim walks in after practice, the same three underclassmen are still following him.

"Oh no." Rae protests, standing up and waving her hands. "No Tim, you are not going to get any work done!" She says, folding her arms. Tim stares at her balefully then sits and pulls his chemistry book out, ignoring her previous statement. The three boys shuffle awkwardly in the kitchen, obviously uncomfortable with Rae and Carden both glaring at them.

"Uh, usually people offer us lemonade or water." One, with long hair and bad acne, says.

"Well, I'm from Minnesota so I don't give a damn about Texas rules." Rae spits and Tim snickers. "Don't laugh, this isn't funny Tim! You have two tests and this game coming up and now you've got three puppies following you around." She complains. He glances at the boys.

"Yeah, they're kinda like puppies." He agrees. Rae rolls her eyes and hits his shoulder. He refuses to look at her and she sighs, rolling her eyes at him then looking at the three boys.

"Here's a football. Go outside and throw it. Your daddy can join you when he has his elements memorized." She says, tossing them Carden's ball.

"What drill should we run?" One asks Tim, who thinks about it. Rae cuts him off with a cold look.

"If I hear a single word about chop blocks or slide runs I swear I will bury you in SAT practice problems." She threatens Tim. "And you will not see the light of day, let alone a football field for the rest of your life."

"We'll figure it out." Another boy says hastily and they scurry out of the house, Rae glaring at Tim. Carden chuckles but stops cold when Rae shoots him a look and throws his calculator at him.

"Can I have a lemonade?" Tim asks with a smirk and Rae leans over, yanking his hair and making him flinch.

Friday at school, Julie meets her at her locker. Rae glances at her then keeps shoving books in her locker. Julie shuffles around awkwardly.

"Are you still riding with me to the game?" She asks quietly.

"I don't know Jules, maybe Tyra wants to go." Rae says shortly. Julie sighs. "I mean, you two are bonded since you did hard time together." She sasses and Julie flinches at the insult.

"Rae, it wasn't like that!" She protests. Rae closes her locker and looks Julie in the eyes.

"Of course I'm coming with you to the game, I wouldn't miss it for the world. But I'm not going just for Tim. I go because you are my best friend here and basically the only friend I have in this town. Remember that the next time Tyra drags you off to a strip club and you get arrested, ok?" Rae says softly. Julie nods. Rae smiles. "I'll meet you at the bus."

"You're coming to my game tonight right?" Tim asks as they walk to class. Rae looks up and raises an eyebrow.

"Of course."

"You'll be there win or lose right?" He asks lowly and she ducks her head to hide her smile.

"No matter what. Contrary to popular belief, I don't just like you because you're a football player." She comments and he raises his eyebrows, pausing in the doorway of a classroom.

"Na, you just like me cause I'm Texas dumb." He says and she blows him a kiss, giggling.

AN: Reviews? Yes, no, maybe so? I love hearing what you guys think about it!