Friday Night Lights Fic: Wrong When It's Right
Title: Wrong When It's Right
Fandom: Friday Night Lights
Rating: PG-13
Category: Slash (AU, obviously, after the end of S1)
Characters: Lyla Garrity/Tyra Collette
Disclaimer: I wish I owned.
Notes: (1) I meant to post this in time for International Day of Femslash (7/19). RL and all that. (2) I had it in my head to write about two other characters in another fandom but couldn’t quite make it work. Then these two popped into my head. I don’t slash these characters like if I’m watching the show but I read did read some good fics about this pairing and I heard this song - Katy Perry, I Kissed A Girl - and wanted to write a fic using the lyrics. (Because yes, I do like this song.) So this is the result. I don’t know if it works (not sure if I got Lyla) but I just had to write it anyway and then post. Along the way I learned I only like Lyla when she’s with Tyra. Go figure.
All relationships are complicated. Scratch that. All her relationships are complicated; at least they are lately. Doesn’t matter - familial, friendly, romantic. They are complicated, whether from the beginning, starting somewhere in the middle or in the end. So she’s not at all surprised by this development with Tyra.
She really doesn’t need this right now. Not when things are still weird with Jason and Tim. Sometimes she has to ask herself what the hell was she thinking going there. So this thing with Tyra is just another something that’s messing with her head.
She’s never been attracted to women before; never had a crush on another girl. So yes, the fact that she now has one is surprising. She’s just not surprised that it’s happening. Because it’s like this is her year to be put through the wringer. Like she had it easy up till now and that’s all over.
It’s perfectly normal this crush. All the magazines say so. So she’s not freaking out over that. Well, she was at first but now she’s over it. She is freaking out over the fact that it’s Tyra. Who in the world thought this would ever happen since it’s like Tyra’s always disliked her on principle from day one. Like she disliked her just because. Her mom always says, “Not everyone’s going to like you. That’s just how it is.” And Lyla dealt with it. It wasn’t hard; their paths hardly crossing. Then Tim and Tyra started going out and it got harder. She never did learn how to not let Tyra get to her. Some things never change.
Lyla wonders though, why now? Why at all? There’s a reason why she slept with Tim, kept sleeping with him. It was Jason, she knows that now. Knows it was inevitable in a way even though it was wrong. She never fell for Tim though. He never made her stomach drop and heart squeeze at the same time. Never made her warm all over like Jason used to do. Sure she wanted Tim, lusted after him but that was it. Nothing like with Jason. Nothing like with Tyra. Although she’s pretty sure she’s not falling for Tyra. Not like that anyway. She’s really not sure. But whatever it is, Lyla should be scared but she’s not. Been through too much already to not want to face things head on. She just didn’t figure ‘head on’ involved alcohol - because don’t these kind of things always involve alcohol - and Tyra being the first to make a move.
~~~
“I’ve always wanted to be a redhead,” Tyra announces, ending the almost silence that has settled between them once the movie had ended. She flicked off the TV when the credits started to roll, letting the low hum of the air conditioning fill the air all on its own.
“Really?” Lyla asks, changing her position so that she’s facing Tyra. Lyla’s got one leg tucked under her and leaning against the couch’s back.
“The blonde jokes. God, I’ve heard them all. Doesn’t help that I have these,” Tyra says, gesturing towards her chest. Maybe you shouldn’t wear those kind of tops. She doesn’t say it. She knows what Tyra meant. Besides she’s pretty sure Tyra would attract attention even if she covered up. It’s just the way she is.
“You’re blonde hair is nice,” Lyla tells her, reaching out to run a hand through it. She hadn’t even thought about it, just reached out, letting what turned out to be silky cornsilk colored strands slip through her fingers. Yeah, she’s definitely had a little too much drink. Crossing a line in their relationship - because who knew driving back home from State together, alone, would actually lead to hanging out regularly. Hanging out more but the building of their friendship has been slow going. It’s hard getting over old hurts, seeing someone as they really are and not how you’ve always imagined.
Tyra’s smile is shy, a faint pink across her cheeks, and Lyla knows she’s seen that smile before. Once or twice when they were alone. The first time Lyla swallowed hard, filing the smile down in her memory, another thing about Tyra to like, definitely more than she should. Made Lyla think she would never use the word shy to describe Tyra or anything about her. Didn’t think anything could make Tyra blush because of the way she walked the walk and talked the talk.
“Know what else?” Tyra sits up like she’s telling a secret, completely ignoring what Lyla just did. And yeah, Lyla’s kinda glad and annoyed at the same time.
“What?” Lyla answers, her tone careful.
“Sometimes I wanted to be a cheerleader.” Her voice is almost whisper soft, eyes serious, face slightly flushed again.
Lyla can’t help the laugh that bubbles up and out. She falls back against the armrest, hands on her stomach just going with the feeling. If she wasn’t tipsy, a beer away from being drunk, she’d still be laughing this hard.
“Shut up Garrity,” she hears Tyra say, her tone all too familiar to Lyla’s ears. Lyla doesn’t stop though. She can’t help it. She tries. She takes a deep breath, opens her eyes to look at Tyra and the look on Tyra’s face just sends her into another fit.
She’s not aware Tyra’s moved until Tyra’s straddling her, thighs on either side of her hips and arms planted on either side of Lyla’s head. Her eyes are open again but she still can’t stop the laughter. Another burst of laughter escapes, yet it’s not like before. It’s a nervous giggle.
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
“I said ‘Shut up Garrity.’” Familiar tone but unfamiliar look in her eyes. There’s annoyance that slides into something altogether different. Lyla can see it like a lightbulb going off behind Tyra’s eyes. The air shifts at the same time becoming tense, static.
Lyla opens her mouth to say something and Tyra takes advantage, slipping her tongue inside. Tyra’s mouth is warm, tasting of the waxy sweetness of her lipgloss and sour tang of beer. The kiss is over fairly quickly, just a quick sweep of Tyra’s tongue inside her mouth. Then she’s looking at Lyla, the expression on Tyra’s face one of confusion and fear. Lyla licks her lips, without even thinking about it, eliciting a smile from Tyra that reeks of satisfaction. Normally when Tyra gets the better of her, she’d be annoyed.
I got so brave, drink in hand
Lost my discretion
It's not what, I'm used to
Just wanna try you on
I'm curious for you
Not this time. Stretching her legs out, at the same time she grabs Tyra’s neck to bring her closer. Lyla smiles. She’s challenging Tyra to finish what she started. She knows Tyra, knows she never backs down. And the fact that Lyla is who she is means a ‘fight’ for sure, budding friendship or not.
It's not what good girls do
Not how they should behave
My head gets so confused
Hard to obey
“You sure Garrity?” Tyra asks.
Lyla uses both hands to push Tyra’s hair behind her ears, letting her fingers skim along each jaw. Lyla only nods, swallowing the knot of nervousness even though she’s as sure as she’s ever going to be. Tyra still doesn’t immediately lean in for another kiss, seemingly waiting for Lyla to change her mind. Sure, Lyla’s not who she used to be - not Jason’s girlfriend, not a cheerleader, not one of the girls Tim would never have. But this, this is something all together different. She expects Lyla to be uncertain. Lyla should be more uncertain.
She’s not. Not when running through her head are the things she likes, really likes about Tyra, things she’s come to learn over the past few weeks. Not when Tyra challenges her, doesn’t let her get off easy. Not when Tyra actually said she was sorry for being mean to her. Not when Tyra keeps looking at her like that, unsure but wanting. She’s didn’t know. How could she have? Not the way Tyra has a mask for the world and one for herself that she only lets people see sometimes.
It felt so wrong
It felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
“Good,” Tyra says, smiling before leaning in to kiss Lyla again.
The press of Lyla’s lips on hers stops any particular train of thought. Her mind jumps to soft and wet and so good.
I kissed a girl and I liked it