Friday Night Lights - "Upward Over The Mountain", Tim/Julie, R
Title: Upward Over The Mountain - 13/15
Author: lindentree
Rating: R
Character(s): Tim/Julie
Word Count: 4,596
Summary: AU after 3x13 "Tomorrow Blues", this story takes place in the summer of 2010 when Tim returns home from his first year away at college, Julie graduates from her last year of high school, and they find themselves meeting somewhere in the middle.
Thanks to ishie for the beta and hand-holding. You are quite seriously the best, bb. ♥
Julie stared blankly at the TV, sighing and cuddling deeper into the couch. She’d had a long day at work, and was starting to feel like the unexpected stress of this summer was catching up with her. She barely noticed when her mother sat down next to her on the couch, their shoulders touching.
“Hey stranger,” Tami said. Julie smiled, muting the TV and turning to her mother.
“Hey,” Julie replied, the word coming out on a yawn.
“Tough day?”
“Yeah, a couple of the girls called in sick, so I was on my feet the whole time.”
“That’s too bad.”
“It’s okay. I think some of my customers felt bad for me, though, so I made good tips,” Julie said, stifling another yawn. She really was exhausted. Between work and babysitting and Tim, she’d barely had two minutes to herself lately.
“That’s good,” Tami replied. They fell silent, both watching the flickering screen of the mute TV as some cheesy game show got underway.
"So,” Tami continued, after a long pause, “who was that picking you up the other night, sweetie?"
"What, were you watching from the window or something? Jeez, mom."
"Yeah, actually, I was. Sometimes I still like to know what you're up to. Who was that?"
Julie sent a sideways glance at her mother. She could lie, but there wasn't much point - Dillon was populated with countless pick-up trucks, but Tim and his noisy black mid-‘80s Silverado were so synonymous with each other that they were practically a town icon. More importantly, Tami wasn't stupid.
"It was Tim," Julie said simply, turning her attention back to the TV.
"You and Tim Riggins see a lot of each other these days?"
"I guess," Julie replied, giving a purposefully careless shrug. "With babysitting and all... We're friends. We just went to see a movie."
Julie could feel Tami staring at her. It made her uncomfortable, but she tried not to show it.
"You know, I thought it was a little strange, the Rigginses having you stay the night last week," Tami said.
"Billy and Tim had some big emergency at the garage, so they couldn't come home, and Mindy was working, so I had to stick around. By the time they got home, it was so late that they just offered me the couch," Julie rambled, throwing in a disgruntled roll of her eyes in the hopes that it would distract her mother from the ridiculous nonsense she was spouting.
"Yeah," Tami replied slowly, obviously not convinced. "I would have appreciated a phone call, at least."
"I'm sorry. Next time they'd better give me some advance warning." Julie hoped she was injecting enough annoyance into her voice.
"Okay," Tami said, after a long pause. "Look, honey... I know you're all grown up and you don't need me for a single thing anymore, but I still like to know what's going on in your life."
Julie turned and saw the concerned, forlorn expression on her mother's face. She gulped, an uneasy sensation in her stomach. She wasn't sure what was bothering her the most -lying to her mother, or treating Tim like her dirty secret.
“I just need to know you’re okay,” Tami said, her hand coming up to stroke the back of Julie’s head. Julie leaned into the touch, swallowing the lump which suddenly choked her throat.
“I’m okay,” Julie replied, allowing herself to be pulled into her mother’s arms. She buried her face in Tami’s shoulder. “I’m really okay, I promise. Everything’s great.”
“All right, sweetheart,” Tami soothed, rubbing her back. “It’s all right.”
Julie wasn’t sure either one of them really believed that, but for the moment, she didn’t mind.
***
Tim squinted, trying to find a crack in the radiator of an old F-150. He was sure the thing was cracked, he just couldn’t figure out where. He leaned further under the hood of the truck, trying to tune out Billy’s purposeful, anxious hovering. His brother had been pretending to clean up nearby for about the last ten minutes, and Tim was intent on ignoring him.
"Listen,” Billy said finally, “this isn't working."
"What's not working?" Tim asked mildly, standing up straight and wiping his hands off with a rag.
"This whole us not talking thing," Billy said, gesturing at the space between them. "I know you're pissed at me, but damn it. We've been through worse. You can't just ignore me all day; you're driving me nuts, here."
Tim frowned and looked away, unsure how to respond.
"Look, I just... I just worry about you. That's all. I want you to be happy and I hate seeing you all miserable and beat up all the time. You were real happy when you were with Lyla, but whenever things weren't going good, or when you broke up... I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything, Billy. I never asked you to fix it."
"I know, but I'm your brother. Who else is gonna look out for you? I feel responsible."
Tim couldn’t help but smile at his brother, touched by his words. He nodded. “I know, Billy.”
“What’s the deal with you and Julie, anyway?” Billy asked, treading carefully. “You like her?”
“Yeah, Billy. I like her. That’s the deal,” Tim replied simply.
Billy nodded, scratching his stubble contemplatively. “What’s gonna happen when you go back to college?”
“I guess I’ll go back to San Antonio State, and she’ll go to Rice. Like I said.”
“Hm,” Billy said, nodding again. “Sorry, bro.”
Tim looked up, but didn’t reply.
“You wanna go for a beer tonight? Half-price pitchers at the Strip,” Billy offered.
Tim thought of all the time he hadn’t spent with Billy this summer, and he smiled slowly. “Sure, Billy. That’d be real good.”
***
Julie was stretched out on the couch, enjoying one of her rare days off from both babysitting and waitressing, when her phone beeped noisily. Lazily, Julie set her novel aside and got up, retrieving her phone from the kitchen counter. There was a text message from Tim. Smiling, she opened it.
jailbreak. mins & lil j are @ the collettes. r u free?
It was a little embarrassing, how quickly and enthusiastically she replied, and how fast she drove over to Tim’s, leaving a hasty note on the fridge for her parents. She could hardly be blamed, though - it had been a few days since she and Tim had spent any time together. It was a relief to get to his place and discover that he was as eager as she was; they didn’t even make it to his bedroom the first time.
“Is this the part where we break into song?” she asked later as they lay in his bed. She glanced over at him, enjoying the way he exhaled, sending dust motes dancing through a shaft of bright afternoon sunlight. He didn’t get her joke at first, merely raising an eyebrow at her.
“You know,” Julie continued, “’sky rockets in flight, afternoon delight’?”
“Oh yeah,” Tim scoffed, with a roll of his eyes. “Tyra and Mindy’s mom liked that one, used to sing it all the time.” Julie smiled at the lazy way his words rolled into one another; he said it Tyranmindy.
Silence fell between them for a moment before Tim spoke again.
“Me and Billy made up,” he said, apropos of nothing.
Julie looked over at him. “Were you fighting?”
“Yeah. I mean, I guess so, kinda. He’s been a pain since I told him about me and you.”
“Oh,” Julie replied, looking down. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. He just worries, is all. But I think he’s more or less over it.” Tim wrapped an arm around her, reaching up to play with her loose hair with one hand.
“That’s good,” she murmured, not knowing what else to say. She felt her eyelids getting heavy and blinked rapidly, trying to fight sleep. “I should go, or I’m gonna fall asleep.”
“So fall asleep,” Tim replied, shrugging. He reached for her, pulling her tight against his chest and covering them both with the sheets. “Mmm, afternoon naps,” he rumbled. Julie lifted her head slightly to look at him; his eyes were closed and he had a small, content smile on his face.
“Don’t you have to get back to work at some point?”
“Billy thinks I’m getting parts in Midland,” Tim replied, his breath hot against her neck. Julie shivered.
“Shouldn’t you do that, maybe?”
“Hmph,” Tim grunted.
“Seriously - are you supposed to be getting something important?”
“Not really.”
“Tim,” Julie scolded.
“I’ll get out of bed on one condition.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. You have to come with me.”
Julie stared. “Seriously?”
“Sure. Why not? I could use the company. You got anything better to do?”
“No,” she replied, not even bothering to pretend.
“It’s only like an hour each way, and we can stop somewhere and eat. I’ll get you home before you turn into a pumpkin or whatever, I promise.”
“Okay,” Julie agreed, sitting up. She glanced around the messy room, frowning. “But you have to help me find my pants. I refuse to go anywhere without pants.”
***
Most of the drive to Midland was spent bickering about what radio station to choose. It wasn’t that Julie didn’t have a certain appreciation for classic rock and country, but she had a saturation point. Tim apparently did not, and he also did not have a sense of humour when it came to his passengers attempting to tune the radio to the local college station.
Now she was sitting alone in the truck, sweltering in the intense heat in the middle of a scrap yard while Tim talked nearby with the proprietor. She wiggled her toes uncomfortably in her flip-flops; even her feet were sweating.
Julie observed Tim from behind her sunglasses, watching how he stood with his arms crossed over his chest, haggling with the other man. He bent down to examine some of the miscellaneous parts for sale, then stood and resumed haggling. Julie couldn’t hear their words, but she could imagine the laidback, indifferent tone Tim had to be using, his hands on his hips and a shrug always present in his shoulders. She smiled, and looked away.
A few minutes later, Tim walked back to the truck and leaned on her window.
“I won,” he said, his voice low enough not to be heard by the other man.
“You got a good deal?” Julie asked carefully, hoping she didn’t sound totally dumb. She had no idea how this worked.
“Hell yeah,” Tim said, his face splitting into a grin. His eyes were hidden behind his aviators, but Julie could see he was pleased with himself. “Just need to load it all up, then we’re out of here. Should only take a couple minutes.”
“Do you need a hand?”
“What? Oh, no, I’m good. Stay put.”
“It’s fine,” Julie said, tightening her ponytail and opening her door. Tim stepped out of the way to allow her to hop down. “I feel lame just sitting here.”
Tim said nothing, merely nodding and heading back to the heap of miscellaneous auto parts. They worked in companionable silence, carrying the parts to Tim’s truck and piling them in the back.
When they were finished, Julie wiped a hand over her brow. It hadn’t been particularly hard work, but in the heat, it was exhausting. Tim wasn’t faring much better, his face flushed and his hair sweaty. He pulled his shirt over his head and threw it into the truck before climbing in. Julie got in the passenger side, moaning aloud at the incredible heat inside the truck. Tim glanced over at her.
“Hot?” he asked.
“Yes,” Julie replied emphatically, choosing to ignore his obvious innuendo. Tim smirked.
“Hold on. I got just the thing.” He cranked the engine and pulled out, leaving the scrap yard behind them. He drove out onto the highway, and the breeze blowing in through the windows relieved some of the heat. They headed back in the direction of Dillon, but after about twenty minutes, Tim took a detour and turned off onto a long dirt road.
Small stands of scrub oak and poplar peppered the wide, empty grasslands around them, and soon they approached a thick copse of trees. Julie recognized it, the east shore of the lake popular with teenagers in Dillon.
Tim parked at the end of the road, right next to a spot where the ground sloped down to the shore. He got out of the truck and Julie followed him, coming to stand next to him, looking out at the water.
“Nice,” Julie said, imagining how cool and refreshing the water must be.
“Sometimes I get good ideas,” Tim shrugged. “Wanna go for a swim?”
“Seriously? I’m pretty sure I’d kill someone just to cool down,” Julie laughed, kicking off her shoes and stripping down to her underwear. She didn’t even care that she’d be uncomfortable later, she just had to get in that water and wash off all the sweat and dust.
Julie dashed into the water, not stopping until she was deep enough to dive under the surface. She came up sputtering and grinning, feeling briefly like a little girl at play. She turned, wiping hair out of her eyes, to see Tim standing knee-deep in water and watching her with a smile. His raggedy jeans had been abandoned in the sand, and he was wearing only a pair of boxers.
“What are you waiting for?” Julie called, kicking her legs to push herself further out.
Tim shrugged and walked towards her, plunging himself into the water without a word once it was deep enough.
They swam in silence for several minutes, a few feet of gently lapping lake water separating them. Julie thought about the last time she’d been out here, when she and Matt camped out and had sex for the first time. It wasn’t long ago, not really, but in that moment it felt like an age had passed between then and now.
Julie felt the strange impulse to tell Tim about this. She glanced over at him, catching the faraway expression on his face as he treaded water and stared out over the empty, quiet lake. It was probably silly, but before she even had the chance to open her mouth, he spoke.
“Used to come out here with Jay and Lyla all the time. Tyra, too, sometimes, when we weren’t fighting,” he said, glancing at her once before looking back out at the far shore.
She watched him for a moment, not sure what kind of response she should give, if any.
“You guys were all really close,” she observed finally, after a long pause.
Tim nodded. “Yeah, once. Everything kinda changed after Jay got hurt, I guess.” He picked up a stone from the lake bottom under their feet, and sent it skipping across the surface.
Julie didn’t reply; she had no idea what to say. Tim opened up only very occasionally, and she didn’t want to ruin it by saying the wrong thing. What did she know about what Tim had gone through after Jason’s accident, what had happened between him and Lyla? At the time, it had mostly just been gossip to her. She bit her lip.
“It’s hard,” she said, glancing at him cautiously, “how everything around you can change without you wanting or asking it to, and you just sort of get left out, or left behind.”
“Yeah,” Tim replied, squinting against the bright afternoon sunlight. He glanced at her. “Anybody ever tell you you’re real easy to talk to?”
“No,” Julie said honestly, embarrassed.
“You are. For me, anyway.”
Julie looked away. She didn’t know what to say to that, either.
“Come on,” Tim said, standing up and wading to the shore, the movement throwing off hundreds of drops of water which glinted in the afternoon light. Julie followed him and stood on the sandy shore, pulling her jean shorts and tank top back on. She grimaced at the uncomfortable clamminess. Thankfully, it was still hot and breezy enough that she began to dry almost instantly.
Tim had gone back up to the truck, and appeared again on the small beach with a plastic grocery bag, a blanket, and a case of beer.
“What’s this?” Julie asked, trying and failing to keep the smile off her face.
“A picnic.”
“A picnic?”
“Sure. You brought me one, before. Just repaying the favour.”
“Good memory,” Julie noted.
“You kidding me?” Tim asked, giving her a look. “A hot girl brings you a burger, you don’t forget about it.”
Julie nodded and looked away, flattered.
“Come on,” Tim said, gesturing at her. He spread the striped blanket out on the scrubby grass, unpacking the food he had brought. Inside were two convenience store sandwiches (one with salami, the other vegetables,) two bags of chips, and a box of Twinkies.
Julie was delighted, and she didn’t hesitate to show it.
“What?” Tim said, off the look on her face.
“Nothing!” she replied, smiling at him. “This is just... really sweet.”
Tim smiled back, looking pleased, and passed her the vegetable sandwich.
***
They stayed out at the lake well into the evening, building a fire on the beach when the sun disappeared. It was chilly now, and dark but for the light of the moon. Leaning against an old log with Julie tucked against his side, Tim felt sleepy and relaxed. The beer they’d shared helped, too.
Tim was in the middle of telling Julie about one of the times he and Jay had gone fishing out here when Julie sighed heavily.
He looked down at her, not sure whether she was asleep or not. Her eyes were closed and her face still, her breaths slow and deep.
“Jules?” he asked softly. There was no response.
She was peaceful this way, and her stillness allowed Tim the uninterrupted opportunity to just look at her. His eyes traced her light freckles and her sooty eyelashes, and the full lips he found so distracting. It was strange to see her mouth replete with rest instead of curving into a smirk or a frown, about to make some sarcastic remark.
His brow furrowed. He knew what was happening here. He wasn’t that stupid. He was doing it again - he was taking a summer fling and letting it become something else. Instead of just having some fun, he was wondering about Julie’s plans for next year, wondering if she really wanted to go, wondering if he could get a place in Houston... No. He absolutely could not go down that road. Not again.
Not when he had no idea whether Julie felt the same way he did.
“Hmm,” Julie murmured softly, frowning in her sleep.
Tim looked out at the dark lake, and the shifting, choppy reflection of the moon’s silver light. The sky was huge and cloudless, and the bright stars looked close enough to reach out and touch. He sighed. He would have been content to stay there forever, but it was getting late. The Taylors would start to worry soon.
“Jules,” he said softly, nudging her. “Time to get goin’.”
Julie frowned, blinking sleepily up at him. “What time is it?”
“Pretty late. We gotta head back.”
Julie stretched against him and hugged him closer, her arm tightening around his waist. “I could stay here forever, you know?”
Tim hugged her back, his cheek resting against her soft hair. “Yeah, I know.”
They slowly got up and gathered their things, reluctantly climbing into the truck and heading out onto the dirt road. Soon they were on the highway, driving west to Dillon.
They drove in silence the whole way, the radio off to preserve the quiet contentment of the night. Tim hazarded a glance across the cab at Jules as they approached Dillon. Her head was resting on one hand, and she was looking out the window, the wind pulling wisps of hair free from her long ponytail.
She was smiling.
***
From: TCollette
Sent: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 7:53 AM
To: Julie Taylor
Subject: brilliant idea courtesy of yours truly
Jules,
I’ve decided that you need to come to Austin and visit me this weekend. Don’t even pretend you’re doing anything (anyone?) more interesting. You can drive out on Friday afternoon (unless you're working!) and head back on Sunday. I’ll show you the sights and we’ll have a great time. Please? Don’t make me beg. It’s beneath my dignity, but I will do it if I absolutely have to.
xoxo
Tyra
Julie threw down her toast and yelped in excitement. She jumped out of her seat and skidded out of her bedroom and into the kitchen.
Tami was standing at the coffeemaker, pouring herself a cup.
“Mom!” Julie shouted. “I have something really, really important to ask you and you have to say yes!”
“Oh I do, do I?” Tami asked drily, turning and giving her a look.
“Yes, you really do. I just got an email from Tyra, asking me to come spend the weekend in Austin.”
“Ah,” Tami said, frowning a little. For the first time, Julie noticed that her mother was dressed in a pencil skirt and blouse, rather than her usual summer uniform of a tank top and cut-offs.
“Why are you dressed like that?” Julie asked. Catching her mother’s expression, she elaborated. “Not that you don’t look nice.”
“Thanks, honey,” Tami replied with a roll of her eyes. “Your flattery means the world to me. I’m dressed this way because I’m the principal, and I need to go into work today. Which means I’m gonna need you to watch Gracie Belle.”
“I’m already babysitting today, Mom,” Julie exclaimed. She gestured emphatically at the family calendar tacked to the kitchen wall. “I wrote it in, like you told me to!”
“Shoot,” Tami swore, looking at the calendar. “I was thinking Thursday, not Wednesday. Can’t you take her with you?”
Julie was about to complain about this terrible hardship, when she realised she could use this to her advantage. “I guess it’s not that big of a deal... If it means I can go visit Tyra in Austin this weekend.”
Tami gave her a look. “Very clever.”
“Please, please, please?” Julie begged, pouting as pitifully as she could.
“If it will get you to stop making that face, fine, you can go,” Tami said. “But Miss Gracie Belle is all yours today.”
“Yes! Fine! No problem!” Julie replied excitedly, scarcely believing her mom had given in that easily.
“Hold your horses, missy! You have to check in every day, and any spending money is coming out of your pocket, not mine. No drinking, and no boys. I am serious, Jules. You’re not gone off to college yet.”
“Yes ma’am,” Julie said solemnly, deciding not to dwell on the irony of the fact that there would have been more drinking and boys (one boy in particular) if she stayed in Dillon this weekend. “It’s just going to be a girls’ weekend, I swear.”
Tami sent her another long look before nodding firmly. “Okay. We have a deal.”
“Yay!” Julie exclaimed, throwing her arms around her mother.
“Come help me get Gracie Belle’s car seat out of my car and into yours,” Tami said, extracting herself from Julie’s embrace. “I can’t figure that thing out for the life of me.”
***
“I hope you got some rest this afternoon,” Tim nearly shouted, entering the house and dropping his keys on the nearest table, “’cause Mindy’s getting off early, so we have like an hour, tops, and I’ve been thinking about getting you nak-”
“Stop!” Julie interrupted, standing up from her seat on the couch and holding a hand up as if to halt his words in mid-air. She gestured pointedly downwards and Tim’s eyes followed.
Gracie and Jordyn were playing together on the living room floor, completely oblivious to Tim’s arrival.
“Oh,” he breathed, deflating. He smiled ruefully, his cheeks reddening.
“Sorry,” Julie said, walking over to him. “I had to take Gracie at the last minute, so it’s been the three of us all afternoon.” She lowered her voice. “Did we ruin your plans?”
Tim gave an exaggerated sigh before grinning and leaning in for a quick kiss. “Only kinda.”
“Good, because I have more bad news.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Well, it’s good news, actually, but it’s kind of a bummer for you. I mean, it’s a bummer for me, too, even though I’m excited-”
“Jules?” he interrupted.
“Yeah?”
“What is it?” he asked, fighting off a smile.
“Oh, sorry. Tyra invited me to come visit her in Austin, and my mom said I could go.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Tim shrugged. “It’s okay. You’ll have fun.”
“It’s only for a weekend,” Julie pointed out. She did not point out that in only a couple weeks they would be separated more or less permanently. Tim didn’t, either.
“It’s fine, Jules. You don’t have to babysit me, too.”
“Good thing,” Julie replied, turning to glance at the two little girls. “These two are more than enough trouble.”
Gracie tore her attention away from the plastic farm set she and Jordyn were playing with, raising her eyebrows somewhat sceptically at her older sister.
“Wiggins?” she asked, clamping her dark eyes on Tim, who grinned.
“Hey, Gracie Belle,” he greeted her, going over and crouching down next to the girls. “You doing a good job looking after Little Jay, here?”
Julie watched, enchanted, as Tim began playing with his niece and her sister, apparently forgetting all about her. She would never admit it to anyone, but the sight was adorable. She joined them on the floor and they all played “farm” together. Tim helpfully provided plenty of realistic barnyard sound effects, much to Gracie and Jordyn’s amusement.
Eventually, Julie glanced down at her watch and reluctantly had to break up the party.
“It’s getting late,” she said. “I promised my mom that I’d pick up dinner on the way home, so she and my dad are expecting us. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Tim said, studiously corralling several wayward plastic sheep.
They cleaned up and gathered their things, Tim scooping Gracie up to carry her out to the car. Julie was pleased to see that Gracie’s wariness of Tim had rapidly given way to fast friendship.
Tim leaned on the driver’s side window with his elbows as she buckled her seatbelt, making faces at Gracie over Julie’s shoulder.
“So, I'm probably going to drive out Saturday morning, 'cause I work on Friday, but I’ll see you when I get back, okay?” Julie said, settled into her seat. “I’m babysitting on Monday.”
“Sure,” Tim replied. He regarded her in silence for a moment. “Seems like I’m always saying goodbye to you.”
Julie’s heart clenched and she looked down. She couldn’t really disagree.
“Monday?” Tim repeated, leaning closer.
“Monday,” Julie replied. She closed the space between them and kissed him. He pulled away first, brushing his nose against hers.
“Have fun, but don’t go too crazy. Tell Tyra I said hey.”
“I will.”
Tim stood back and nodded, hands on his hips. Julie took that as her cue to leave and pulled out of the driveway, glancing back at him once more before heading down his street. He lifted one arm in a lazy wave, watching her drive away.
Leaving him standing there alone in his driveway left a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach, a feeling which hadn’t been there before.
Chapter 14
Author: lindentree
Rating: R
Character(s): Tim/Julie
Word Count: 4,596
Summary: AU after 3x13 "Tomorrow Blues", this story takes place in the summer of 2010 when Tim returns home from his first year away at college, Julie graduates from her last year of high school, and they find themselves meeting somewhere in the middle.
Thanks to ishie for the beta and hand-holding. You are quite seriously the best, bb. ♥
Julie stared blankly at the TV, sighing and cuddling deeper into the couch. She’d had a long day at work, and was starting to feel like the unexpected stress of this summer was catching up with her. She barely noticed when her mother sat down next to her on the couch, their shoulders touching.
“Hey stranger,” Tami said. Julie smiled, muting the TV and turning to her mother.
“Hey,” Julie replied, the word coming out on a yawn.
“Tough day?”
“Yeah, a couple of the girls called in sick, so I was on my feet the whole time.”
“That’s too bad.”
“It’s okay. I think some of my customers felt bad for me, though, so I made good tips,” Julie said, stifling another yawn. She really was exhausted. Between work and babysitting and Tim, she’d barely had two minutes to herself lately.
“That’s good,” Tami replied. They fell silent, both watching the flickering screen of the mute TV as some cheesy game show got underway.
"So,” Tami continued, after a long pause, “who was that picking you up the other night, sweetie?"
"What, were you watching from the window or something? Jeez, mom."
"Yeah, actually, I was. Sometimes I still like to know what you're up to. Who was that?"
Julie sent a sideways glance at her mother. She could lie, but there wasn't much point - Dillon was populated with countless pick-up trucks, but Tim and his noisy black mid-‘80s Silverado were so synonymous with each other that they were practically a town icon. More importantly, Tami wasn't stupid.
"It was Tim," Julie said simply, turning her attention back to the TV.
"You and Tim Riggins see a lot of each other these days?"
"I guess," Julie replied, giving a purposefully careless shrug. "With babysitting and all... We're friends. We just went to see a movie."
Julie could feel Tami staring at her. It made her uncomfortable, but she tried not to show it.
"You know, I thought it was a little strange, the Rigginses having you stay the night last week," Tami said.
"Billy and Tim had some big emergency at the garage, so they couldn't come home, and Mindy was working, so I had to stick around. By the time they got home, it was so late that they just offered me the couch," Julie rambled, throwing in a disgruntled roll of her eyes in the hopes that it would distract her mother from the ridiculous nonsense she was spouting.
"Yeah," Tami replied slowly, obviously not convinced. "I would have appreciated a phone call, at least."
"I'm sorry. Next time they'd better give me some advance warning." Julie hoped she was injecting enough annoyance into her voice.
"Okay," Tami said, after a long pause. "Look, honey... I know you're all grown up and you don't need me for a single thing anymore, but I still like to know what's going on in your life."
Julie turned and saw the concerned, forlorn expression on her mother's face. She gulped, an uneasy sensation in her stomach. She wasn't sure what was bothering her the most -lying to her mother, or treating Tim like her dirty secret.
“I just need to know you’re okay,” Tami said, her hand coming up to stroke the back of Julie’s head. Julie leaned into the touch, swallowing the lump which suddenly choked her throat.
“I’m okay,” Julie replied, allowing herself to be pulled into her mother’s arms. She buried her face in Tami’s shoulder. “I’m really okay, I promise. Everything’s great.”
“All right, sweetheart,” Tami soothed, rubbing her back. “It’s all right.”
Julie wasn’t sure either one of them really believed that, but for the moment, she didn’t mind.
***
Tim squinted, trying to find a crack in the radiator of an old F-150. He was sure the thing was cracked, he just couldn’t figure out where. He leaned further under the hood of the truck, trying to tune out Billy’s purposeful, anxious hovering. His brother had been pretending to clean up nearby for about the last ten minutes, and Tim was intent on ignoring him.
"Listen,” Billy said finally, “this isn't working."
"What's not working?" Tim asked mildly, standing up straight and wiping his hands off with a rag.
"This whole us not talking thing," Billy said, gesturing at the space between them. "I know you're pissed at me, but damn it. We've been through worse. You can't just ignore me all day; you're driving me nuts, here."
Tim frowned and looked away, unsure how to respond.
"Look, I just... I just worry about you. That's all. I want you to be happy and I hate seeing you all miserable and beat up all the time. You were real happy when you were with Lyla, but whenever things weren't going good, or when you broke up... I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything, Billy. I never asked you to fix it."
"I know, but I'm your brother. Who else is gonna look out for you? I feel responsible."
Tim couldn’t help but smile at his brother, touched by his words. He nodded. “I know, Billy.”
“What’s the deal with you and Julie, anyway?” Billy asked, treading carefully. “You like her?”
“Yeah, Billy. I like her. That’s the deal,” Tim replied simply.
Billy nodded, scratching his stubble contemplatively. “What’s gonna happen when you go back to college?”
“I guess I’ll go back to San Antonio State, and she’ll go to Rice. Like I said.”
“Hm,” Billy said, nodding again. “Sorry, bro.”
Tim looked up, but didn’t reply.
“You wanna go for a beer tonight? Half-price pitchers at the Strip,” Billy offered.
Tim thought of all the time he hadn’t spent with Billy this summer, and he smiled slowly. “Sure, Billy. That’d be real good.”
***
Julie was stretched out on the couch, enjoying one of her rare days off from both babysitting and waitressing, when her phone beeped noisily. Lazily, Julie set her novel aside and got up, retrieving her phone from the kitchen counter. There was a text message from Tim. Smiling, she opened it.
jailbreak. mins & lil j are @ the collettes. r u free?
It was a little embarrassing, how quickly and enthusiastically she replied, and how fast she drove over to Tim’s, leaving a hasty note on the fridge for her parents. She could hardly be blamed, though - it had been a few days since she and Tim had spent any time together. It was a relief to get to his place and discover that he was as eager as she was; they didn’t even make it to his bedroom the first time.
“Is this the part where we break into song?” she asked later as they lay in his bed. She glanced over at him, enjoying the way he exhaled, sending dust motes dancing through a shaft of bright afternoon sunlight. He didn’t get her joke at first, merely raising an eyebrow at her.
“You know,” Julie continued, “’sky rockets in flight, afternoon delight’?”
“Oh yeah,” Tim scoffed, with a roll of his eyes. “Tyra and Mindy’s mom liked that one, used to sing it all the time.” Julie smiled at the lazy way his words rolled into one another; he said it Tyranmindy.
Silence fell between them for a moment before Tim spoke again.
“Me and Billy made up,” he said, apropos of nothing.
Julie looked over at him. “Were you fighting?”
“Yeah. I mean, I guess so, kinda. He’s been a pain since I told him about me and you.”
“Oh,” Julie replied, looking down. “I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. He just worries, is all. But I think he’s more or less over it.” Tim wrapped an arm around her, reaching up to play with her loose hair with one hand.
“That’s good,” she murmured, not knowing what else to say. She felt her eyelids getting heavy and blinked rapidly, trying to fight sleep. “I should go, or I’m gonna fall asleep.”
“So fall asleep,” Tim replied, shrugging. He reached for her, pulling her tight against his chest and covering them both with the sheets. “Mmm, afternoon naps,” he rumbled. Julie lifted her head slightly to look at him; his eyes were closed and he had a small, content smile on his face.
“Don’t you have to get back to work at some point?”
“Billy thinks I’m getting parts in Midland,” Tim replied, his breath hot against her neck. Julie shivered.
“Shouldn’t you do that, maybe?”
“Hmph,” Tim grunted.
“Seriously - are you supposed to be getting something important?”
“Not really.”
“Tim,” Julie scolded.
“I’ll get out of bed on one condition.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. You have to come with me.”
Julie stared. “Seriously?”
“Sure. Why not? I could use the company. You got anything better to do?”
“No,” she replied, not even bothering to pretend.
“It’s only like an hour each way, and we can stop somewhere and eat. I’ll get you home before you turn into a pumpkin or whatever, I promise.”
“Okay,” Julie agreed, sitting up. She glanced around the messy room, frowning. “But you have to help me find my pants. I refuse to go anywhere without pants.”
***
Most of the drive to Midland was spent bickering about what radio station to choose. It wasn’t that Julie didn’t have a certain appreciation for classic rock and country, but she had a saturation point. Tim apparently did not, and he also did not have a sense of humour when it came to his passengers attempting to tune the radio to the local college station.
Now she was sitting alone in the truck, sweltering in the intense heat in the middle of a scrap yard while Tim talked nearby with the proprietor. She wiggled her toes uncomfortably in her flip-flops; even her feet were sweating.
Julie observed Tim from behind her sunglasses, watching how he stood with his arms crossed over his chest, haggling with the other man. He bent down to examine some of the miscellaneous parts for sale, then stood and resumed haggling. Julie couldn’t hear their words, but she could imagine the laidback, indifferent tone Tim had to be using, his hands on his hips and a shrug always present in his shoulders. She smiled, and looked away.
A few minutes later, Tim walked back to the truck and leaned on her window.
“I won,” he said, his voice low enough not to be heard by the other man.
“You got a good deal?” Julie asked carefully, hoping she didn’t sound totally dumb. She had no idea how this worked.
“Hell yeah,” Tim said, his face splitting into a grin. His eyes were hidden behind his aviators, but Julie could see he was pleased with himself. “Just need to load it all up, then we’re out of here. Should only take a couple minutes.”
“Do you need a hand?”
“What? Oh, no, I’m good. Stay put.”
“It’s fine,” Julie said, tightening her ponytail and opening her door. Tim stepped out of the way to allow her to hop down. “I feel lame just sitting here.”
Tim said nothing, merely nodding and heading back to the heap of miscellaneous auto parts. They worked in companionable silence, carrying the parts to Tim’s truck and piling them in the back.
When they were finished, Julie wiped a hand over her brow. It hadn’t been particularly hard work, but in the heat, it was exhausting. Tim wasn’t faring much better, his face flushed and his hair sweaty. He pulled his shirt over his head and threw it into the truck before climbing in. Julie got in the passenger side, moaning aloud at the incredible heat inside the truck. Tim glanced over at her.
“Hot?” he asked.
“Yes,” Julie replied emphatically, choosing to ignore his obvious innuendo. Tim smirked.
“Hold on. I got just the thing.” He cranked the engine and pulled out, leaving the scrap yard behind them. He drove out onto the highway, and the breeze blowing in through the windows relieved some of the heat. They headed back in the direction of Dillon, but after about twenty minutes, Tim took a detour and turned off onto a long dirt road.
Small stands of scrub oak and poplar peppered the wide, empty grasslands around them, and soon they approached a thick copse of trees. Julie recognized it, the east shore of the lake popular with teenagers in Dillon.
Tim parked at the end of the road, right next to a spot where the ground sloped down to the shore. He got out of the truck and Julie followed him, coming to stand next to him, looking out at the water.
“Nice,” Julie said, imagining how cool and refreshing the water must be.
“Sometimes I get good ideas,” Tim shrugged. “Wanna go for a swim?”
“Seriously? I’m pretty sure I’d kill someone just to cool down,” Julie laughed, kicking off her shoes and stripping down to her underwear. She didn’t even care that she’d be uncomfortable later, she just had to get in that water and wash off all the sweat and dust.
Julie dashed into the water, not stopping until she was deep enough to dive under the surface. She came up sputtering and grinning, feeling briefly like a little girl at play. She turned, wiping hair out of her eyes, to see Tim standing knee-deep in water and watching her with a smile. His raggedy jeans had been abandoned in the sand, and he was wearing only a pair of boxers.
“What are you waiting for?” Julie called, kicking her legs to push herself further out.
Tim shrugged and walked towards her, plunging himself into the water without a word once it was deep enough.
They swam in silence for several minutes, a few feet of gently lapping lake water separating them. Julie thought about the last time she’d been out here, when she and Matt camped out and had sex for the first time. It wasn’t long ago, not really, but in that moment it felt like an age had passed between then and now.
Julie felt the strange impulse to tell Tim about this. She glanced over at him, catching the faraway expression on his face as he treaded water and stared out over the empty, quiet lake. It was probably silly, but before she even had the chance to open her mouth, he spoke.
“Used to come out here with Jay and Lyla all the time. Tyra, too, sometimes, when we weren’t fighting,” he said, glancing at her once before looking back out at the far shore.
She watched him for a moment, not sure what kind of response she should give, if any.
“You guys were all really close,” she observed finally, after a long pause.
Tim nodded. “Yeah, once. Everything kinda changed after Jay got hurt, I guess.” He picked up a stone from the lake bottom under their feet, and sent it skipping across the surface.
Julie didn’t reply; she had no idea what to say. Tim opened up only very occasionally, and she didn’t want to ruin it by saying the wrong thing. What did she know about what Tim had gone through after Jason’s accident, what had happened between him and Lyla? At the time, it had mostly just been gossip to her. She bit her lip.
“It’s hard,” she said, glancing at him cautiously, “how everything around you can change without you wanting or asking it to, and you just sort of get left out, or left behind.”
“Yeah,” Tim replied, squinting against the bright afternoon sunlight. He glanced at her. “Anybody ever tell you you’re real easy to talk to?”
“No,” Julie said honestly, embarrassed.
“You are. For me, anyway.”
Julie looked away. She didn’t know what to say to that, either.
“Come on,” Tim said, standing up and wading to the shore, the movement throwing off hundreds of drops of water which glinted in the afternoon light. Julie followed him and stood on the sandy shore, pulling her jean shorts and tank top back on. She grimaced at the uncomfortable clamminess. Thankfully, it was still hot and breezy enough that she began to dry almost instantly.
Tim had gone back up to the truck, and appeared again on the small beach with a plastic grocery bag, a blanket, and a case of beer.
“What’s this?” Julie asked, trying and failing to keep the smile off her face.
“A picnic.”
“A picnic?”
“Sure. You brought me one, before. Just repaying the favour.”
“Good memory,” Julie noted.
“You kidding me?” Tim asked, giving her a look. “A hot girl brings you a burger, you don’t forget about it.”
Julie nodded and looked away, flattered.
“Come on,” Tim said, gesturing at her. He spread the striped blanket out on the scrubby grass, unpacking the food he had brought. Inside were two convenience store sandwiches (one with salami, the other vegetables,) two bags of chips, and a box of Twinkies.
Julie was delighted, and she didn’t hesitate to show it.
“What?” Tim said, off the look on her face.
“Nothing!” she replied, smiling at him. “This is just... really sweet.”
Tim smiled back, looking pleased, and passed her the vegetable sandwich.
***
They stayed out at the lake well into the evening, building a fire on the beach when the sun disappeared. It was chilly now, and dark but for the light of the moon. Leaning against an old log with Julie tucked against his side, Tim felt sleepy and relaxed. The beer they’d shared helped, too.
Tim was in the middle of telling Julie about one of the times he and Jay had gone fishing out here when Julie sighed heavily.
He looked down at her, not sure whether she was asleep or not. Her eyes were closed and her face still, her breaths slow and deep.
“Jules?” he asked softly. There was no response.
She was peaceful this way, and her stillness allowed Tim the uninterrupted opportunity to just look at her. His eyes traced her light freckles and her sooty eyelashes, and the full lips he found so distracting. It was strange to see her mouth replete with rest instead of curving into a smirk or a frown, about to make some sarcastic remark.
His brow furrowed. He knew what was happening here. He wasn’t that stupid. He was doing it again - he was taking a summer fling and letting it become something else. Instead of just having some fun, he was wondering about Julie’s plans for next year, wondering if she really wanted to go, wondering if he could get a place in Houston... No. He absolutely could not go down that road. Not again.
Not when he had no idea whether Julie felt the same way he did.
“Hmm,” Julie murmured softly, frowning in her sleep.
Tim looked out at the dark lake, and the shifting, choppy reflection of the moon’s silver light. The sky was huge and cloudless, and the bright stars looked close enough to reach out and touch. He sighed. He would have been content to stay there forever, but it was getting late. The Taylors would start to worry soon.
“Jules,” he said softly, nudging her. “Time to get goin’.”
Julie frowned, blinking sleepily up at him. “What time is it?”
“Pretty late. We gotta head back.”
Julie stretched against him and hugged him closer, her arm tightening around his waist. “I could stay here forever, you know?”
Tim hugged her back, his cheek resting against her soft hair. “Yeah, I know.”
They slowly got up and gathered their things, reluctantly climbing into the truck and heading out onto the dirt road. Soon they were on the highway, driving west to Dillon.
They drove in silence the whole way, the radio off to preserve the quiet contentment of the night. Tim hazarded a glance across the cab at Jules as they approached Dillon. Her head was resting on one hand, and she was looking out the window, the wind pulling wisps of hair free from her long ponytail.
She was smiling.
***
From: TCollette
Sent: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 7:53 AM
To: Julie Taylor
Subject: brilliant idea courtesy of yours truly
Jules,
I’ve decided that you need to come to Austin and visit me this weekend. Don’t even pretend you’re doing anything (anyone?) more interesting. You can drive out on Friday afternoon (unless you're working!) and head back on Sunday. I’ll show you the sights and we’ll have a great time. Please? Don’t make me beg. It’s beneath my dignity, but I will do it if I absolutely have to.
xoxo
Tyra
Julie threw down her toast and yelped in excitement. She jumped out of her seat and skidded out of her bedroom and into the kitchen.
Tami was standing at the coffeemaker, pouring herself a cup.
“Mom!” Julie shouted. “I have something really, really important to ask you and you have to say yes!”
“Oh I do, do I?” Tami asked drily, turning and giving her a look.
“Yes, you really do. I just got an email from Tyra, asking me to come spend the weekend in Austin.”
“Ah,” Tami said, frowning a little. For the first time, Julie noticed that her mother was dressed in a pencil skirt and blouse, rather than her usual summer uniform of a tank top and cut-offs.
“Why are you dressed like that?” Julie asked. Catching her mother’s expression, she elaborated. “Not that you don’t look nice.”
“Thanks, honey,” Tami replied with a roll of her eyes. “Your flattery means the world to me. I’m dressed this way because I’m the principal, and I need to go into work today. Which means I’m gonna need you to watch Gracie Belle.”
“I’m already babysitting today, Mom,” Julie exclaimed. She gestured emphatically at the family calendar tacked to the kitchen wall. “I wrote it in, like you told me to!”
“Shoot,” Tami swore, looking at the calendar. “I was thinking Thursday, not Wednesday. Can’t you take her with you?”
Julie was about to complain about this terrible hardship, when she realised she could use this to her advantage. “I guess it’s not that big of a deal... If it means I can go visit Tyra in Austin this weekend.”
Tami gave her a look. “Very clever.”
“Please, please, please?” Julie begged, pouting as pitifully as she could.
“If it will get you to stop making that face, fine, you can go,” Tami said. “But Miss Gracie Belle is all yours today.”
“Yes! Fine! No problem!” Julie replied excitedly, scarcely believing her mom had given in that easily.
“Hold your horses, missy! You have to check in every day, and any spending money is coming out of your pocket, not mine. No drinking, and no boys. I am serious, Jules. You’re not gone off to college yet.”
“Yes ma’am,” Julie said solemnly, deciding not to dwell on the irony of the fact that there would have been more drinking and boys (one boy in particular) if she stayed in Dillon this weekend. “It’s just going to be a girls’ weekend, I swear.”
Tami sent her another long look before nodding firmly. “Okay. We have a deal.”
“Yay!” Julie exclaimed, throwing her arms around her mother.
“Come help me get Gracie Belle’s car seat out of my car and into yours,” Tami said, extracting herself from Julie’s embrace. “I can’t figure that thing out for the life of me.”
***
“I hope you got some rest this afternoon,” Tim nearly shouted, entering the house and dropping his keys on the nearest table, “’cause Mindy’s getting off early, so we have like an hour, tops, and I’ve been thinking about getting you nak-”
“Stop!” Julie interrupted, standing up from her seat on the couch and holding a hand up as if to halt his words in mid-air. She gestured pointedly downwards and Tim’s eyes followed.
Gracie and Jordyn were playing together on the living room floor, completely oblivious to Tim’s arrival.
“Oh,” he breathed, deflating. He smiled ruefully, his cheeks reddening.
“Sorry,” Julie said, walking over to him. “I had to take Gracie at the last minute, so it’s been the three of us all afternoon.” She lowered her voice. “Did we ruin your plans?”
Tim gave an exaggerated sigh before grinning and leaning in for a quick kiss. “Only kinda.”
“Good, because I have more bad news.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Well, it’s good news, actually, but it’s kind of a bummer for you. I mean, it’s a bummer for me, too, even though I’m excited-”
“Jules?” he interrupted.
“Yeah?”
“What is it?” he asked, fighting off a smile.
“Oh, sorry. Tyra invited me to come visit her in Austin, and my mom said I could go.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
Tim shrugged. “It’s okay. You’ll have fun.”
“It’s only for a weekend,” Julie pointed out. She did not point out that in only a couple weeks they would be separated more or less permanently. Tim didn’t, either.
“It’s fine, Jules. You don’t have to babysit me, too.”
“Good thing,” Julie replied, turning to glance at the two little girls. “These two are more than enough trouble.”
Gracie tore her attention away from the plastic farm set she and Jordyn were playing with, raising her eyebrows somewhat sceptically at her older sister.
“Wiggins?” she asked, clamping her dark eyes on Tim, who grinned.
“Hey, Gracie Belle,” he greeted her, going over and crouching down next to the girls. “You doing a good job looking after Little Jay, here?”
Julie watched, enchanted, as Tim began playing with his niece and her sister, apparently forgetting all about her. She would never admit it to anyone, but the sight was adorable. She joined them on the floor and they all played “farm” together. Tim helpfully provided plenty of realistic barnyard sound effects, much to Gracie and Jordyn’s amusement.
Eventually, Julie glanced down at her watch and reluctantly had to break up the party.
“It’s getting late,” she said. “I promised my mom that I’d pick up dinner on the way home, so she and my dad are expecting us. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Tim said, studiously corralling several wayward plastic sheep.
They cleaned up and gathered their things, Tim scooping Gracie up to carry her out to the car. Julie was pleased to see that Gracie’s wariness of Tim had rapidly given way to fast friendship.
Tim leaned on the driver’s side window with his elbows as she buckled her seatbelt, making faces at Gracie over Julie’s shoulder.
“So, I'm probably going to drive out Saturday morning, 'cause I work on Friday, but I’ll see you when I get back, okay?” Julie said, settled into her seat. “I’m babysitting on Monday.”
“Sure,” Tim replied. He regarded her in silence for a moment. “Seems like I’m always saying goodbye to you.”
Julie’s heart clenched and she looked down. She couldn’t really disagree.
“Monday?” Tim repeated, leaning closer.
“Monday,” Julie replied. She closed the space between them and kissed him. He pulled away first, brushing his nose against hers.
“Have fun, but don’t go too crazy. Tell Tyra I said hey.”
“I will.”
Tim stood back and nodded, hands on his hips. Julie took that as her cue to leave and pulled out of the driveway, glancing back at him once more before heading down his street. He lifted one arm in a lazy wave, watching her drive away.
Leaving him standing there alone in his driveway left a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach, a feeling which hadn’t been there before.
Chapter 14