They sit through dinner with some of his teammates. Rae mostly listens to them talk about the team and playing Voodoo at state. Tim's hand rests of her knee, gently drawing circles with his thumb to keep reminding her that he's there. She waves slightly to Julie when she looks her way, but the young girl looks so miserable Rae's heart breaks a little for her. Matt looks just as upset.
Coach Taylor begins the roast and Rae bits her lip when Smash goes up to talk about Tim. She catches his hand and hopes she can hold him back if it hits too close to home. When he makes the Maury joke, Tim doesn't get mad, just gives her a concerned look. After the attention is drawn away to another player, he whispers in her ear.
"You still ok?" He asks worriedly. She nods and smiles at him easily.
"The past doesn't bother me." She whispers and he grins at her, his hand on her cheek.
"Rae." A soft voice says. Rae turns, seeing Lyla. She glances up at Tim, who is busy talking to Smash. After a moment of hesitation, she leaves his side and walks over to Lyla, wary.
"Hey Lyla." She says quietly, folding her arms.
"You look real nice." Lyla says sweetly and Rae tenses up, unsure if this is going to go the way of the rally girls.
"You do too." She says and Lyla gives a halfhearted smile.
"I just… I see you with Tim." She says quietly, looking at him. "And I see how good he is, with you. I haven't seen him this happy since… Before Jason's accident. And I just wanted to say… Thanks." She says.
"Look, I don't know if this is one of those Texas fake nice things-" Rae starts. Lyla opens her mouth but Rae shakes her head, cutting her off. "But thank you. It's nice to hear someone say something like that." She says. Tim ends his conversation with Smash and turns, searching out for Rae. When he spots her with Lyla, his brow furrows and he hurries over.
"Lyla." He says shortly, putting a protective arm around Rae.
"Hey Tim." She says, looking up at him in surprise. "I was just telling Rae here how nice she looks." Tim looks skeptical, but nods. "And that I see how you look at her. You two have a lovely night." She waves, disappearing.
"Did I just befriend Lyla?" Rae asks, cocking an eyebrow.
"Who cares, let's go see if the house is still standing from Carden." He says dismissively, guiding her away.
Tim walks in and tosses an envelope onto the table.
"If this is your report card, I don't think my heart can handle the pride." Rae mutters sarcastically, helping Carden with his homework.
"VIP tickets. You and him. 50 yard line." Tim says. Rae looks up at him in astonishment while Carden whoops in glee. "When we kick Voodoo's ass, you gotta be there." He says quietly, while Carden celebrates. "I want you there. I need my girl there. You can't miss the biggest game of the season. Of my life." She covers her face with her hands, grinning like an idiot.
"Tim…" She says softly, giggling.
"No, not done." He informs her, reaching into his bag and pulling out his jersey. She looks at him with wide eyes. "I mean it. Wear it." He requests and she nods, hand over her mouth. He picks her up and swings her around. "My girl." He whispers into her hair.
When she climbs into the Taylor's car, Mrs. Taylor takes one look at her concerned face for Julie and sighs.
"Julie told you about TMU." She states. Rae jumps, startled. Julie rolls her eyes and folds her arms.
"Sorry." Rae says guiltily.
"I'm not. She's my best friend, she had a right to know." Julie says shortly. Mrs. Taylor just puts the car in drive and heads for Dallas. The entire way there she and Julie fight about moving to Austin. Rae and Carden sit in the backseat, unsure of what to do but watch as countryside shifts to city. At the hotel, after supper, Tim finds her in the lobby.
"Nervous?" She comments, noticing the way his eyes are darting around the room, never settling on anything for too long.
"Trying not to be." He mutters. Rae smiles and takes his hand.
"Sweetie, this is the biggest thing you've ever done." She says quietly, pulling him to the side and sitting down with him. "It's bigger than anything Billy or your dad has ever done, that's for sure. And you should be so, so proud of yourself right now. Tomorrow, come what may, but you're going to be walking off that field a winner, Tim Riggins." She whispers fiercely.
"What if we lose?" He demands, not looking at her, staring at his hands in worry. She grabs his face.
"You still walk off that field with your head held high because goddamnit, you've done something amazing in your life. You got here. And that is something no one, not even your dad can take away from you." She says confidently. He looks down at her, then smiles slowly and pulls her into a tight hug, kissing her head. When he releases her she smiles back up at him.
"Tomorrow, I want to walk off that field with you right next to me." He says quietly. She grins. "Win or lose, hell or high water."
AN: Homecoming is over, which means I have time to post again! Tell me what you like, what you like, what you hate? I like to hear it all.