(Untitled)

[texas_forever]

Tim hadn't thought much about it the first night. He'd stumbled in late, exhausted from doing actual work all day and had been asleep before he'd even been horizontal. Hadn't thought much about it when he'd finally woken up either, the sunshine through the slats blinding him and rousing him reluctantly

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[hauntedbyelvis]

"Tim?" I ask when I see him, the telltale signs of his alcohol use apparent even to me. I'm not much of a drinker and perhaps I don't know Tim as well as others do, but I've seen him like this before and I know the signs. Something has gone wrong and, as a result, Tim has gotten drunk. "Tim, what is it?" I ask as I come further into the room.

[texas_forever]

Tim doesn't recognize the voice at first and, as a result, only grunts a reply, brow creased as he gives a shrug and one foot twitches.

Eventually, though, he opens his eyes and manages to turn his head to see Sarac-- Odd -- to see Odd standing a few feet away. "Hey," he drawls, but doesn't offer any explanation. "You seen Jay?"

[hauntedbyelvis]

"No, Tim, I haven't. What's the matter?" I ask again. Tim Riggins may be able to charm girls into forgetting whatever questions they may have for him, he may be able to flirt his way out of a thousand different scenarios and he may be able to play stupid with the authority figures, but I'm not quite so easily fooled.

Not in this case, anyway.

"What happened? And don't tell me nothing happened, because I may not be the brightest bulb in the room, but I'm still psychic and I can... sense your aura," I finish, knowing that sounds ridiculous as soon as I say it. I've never been able to sense auras and I'm not even psychic anymore.

[texas_forever]

"You're what?" Tim asks, still frowning deeply as he squints up at Odd. "Thought you just saw dead people."

And, yeah, he knows he's still dodging the question, but he doesn't really want to face it yet. Not until he talks to Jason and maybe not even then. Because what the hell is it about this place that doesn't let people stay? And how long before Jason's gone? Just another one to mark off the list?

[hauntedbyelvis]

"What happened?" I ask again, knowing that I will keep asking until Tim tells me and I have a feeling I may be slightly more stubborn than he is. Then again, he is drunk and perhaps the alcohol adds some kind of resilience that otherwise he may not have. "Tim, I know something is wrong."

[texas_forever]

Tim actually scowls a little at that and he shifts, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, head hanging between his shoulders.

"Nothin' I really wanna talk about, man," he says finally and then lets out a breath and shakes his head. Because it's not Odd's fault and Tim's really not trying to be a jackass. "Jus'-- kinda hate this place sometimes." Maybe more than sometimes.

[hauntedbyelvis]

"Why?" I ask, moving over to sit beside Tim on the couch, dropping into a sitting position carefully. I know Tim doesn't have the highest opinion of himself, but I also know that he isn't the type to simply drink himself into a depressed stupor or nothing. A general stupor maybe, but there's something different about the state he's in now.

[texas_forever]

He answers only with a shrug at first before running a hand through his hair, still hunched over. The strands feel greasy to the touch, but he doesn't much care. Maybe he'll shower later once everything around him stops spinning.

"People comin' and leavin' all the time. No warnin'. Gets old."

[hauntedbyelvis]

"Is Jason gone?" I ask immediately, because it's the only name he's mentioned so far and in asking me if I've seen Jason, he's made me worry that perhaps he's the one who has disappeared.

People worry about this, I know. People always worry that perhaps their loved one will be next and while I understand this worry, I feel so disconnected from it. I lost Stormy in the worst possible way and having the island take her from me after that seems impossible.

[texas_forever]

Again, a frown tugs at Tim's lips and gives a slight shake of his head that he immediately regrets before answering. "No," he says, low and firm, but then stops himself because he hasn't checked and he hasn't seen him yet. It's always possible that both Coach and Jason could go at the same time, maybe.

"Coach," he says, not sure if Odd had known him as that or not or if he'd just been Mr. Taylor to him. Or Eric. Both names sound weird to Tim, but it's always possible.

[hauntedbyelvis]

"Oh," I say softly, knowing just how much Tim looked up to his coach and I can certainly understand it. Coach Taylor reminded me very much of Chief Porter and to lose him was like losing a limb. I miss him desperately.

"How long has it been since you noticed he was gone?" I ask.

[texas_forever]

"Few days," Tim answers, quieter and with a shrug. He reaches a hand up to brush the hair away from his face before scrubbing it across his cheek. "Jus'... kinda know, you know?"

It's how he'd felt after Tyra, but a little different. Sorta. He doesn't know if Odd gets it or not, but he's not sure he could explain it anyway.

[hauntedbyelvis]

I nod, because although I've yet to lose someone on this island, I trust that there are certain things people just know. I have no place arguing Tim's knowledge, not when there have been strange things in this world that I have just known.

"You and he cared about each other very much," I say. It would be impossible for me to have missed that.

[texas_forever]

The way Odd says it makes it almost sound kinda gay and Tim's lips curve into a half smile as he lets out a quick, rough laugh that he doesn't quite feel. He's actually not too sure how Coach had ever felt about him. Back in Dillon, he'd given Coach trouble, he knows that much, probably irritated him more than most of the other players, but here... well, they'd shared a place. Maybe that'd meant something. He's not sure.

"Guess," he says, shrugging again as the smile fades once more. "Prob'ly the best coach in the state. Good guy."

[hauntedbyelvis]

"He is," I agree, because there's no sense denying that. Although he and I weren't close, I could see that he was a good man. "I'm sorry, Tim."

There isn't much I can say to make this better. There isn't anything I can do to make Tim feel better, I know that. I wish I could fix this sort of thing with pancakes, but I know I can't.

[texas_forever]

There isn't a whole lot Tim can add to that, but he nods, trying to at least seem grateful even if it's not something he's very used to. Odd's a good guy too and Tim doesn't doubt for a minute that he's being sincere even if there's nothing either of them can do to bring Coach back.

And, Tim's not even sure he would if he could. After all, he's got Mrs. Coach and Julie back home. His family. Unlike Tim, he really has something to go back to.

"Think I'm wishin' more that I coulda gone back, too," he admits, not realizing he's saying it before it's out there. A little embarrassed, he quirks a smile and shakes his head, looking down at the floor, hair dropping over his eyes again. "Stupid."