Hello there readers. It seems irresponsible of me to be starting another FNL fic when 'Interlude' isn't finished, but this idea spoke to me upon reading spoilers for season 3. There might be some hints as to what may come in S3 but I am going in my own direction. Reviews are what make me smile these days so any of them are greatly appreciated. I own nothing and mean no harm!

For two blocks she had been able to walk uninterrupted.

A welcome moment of peace she wondered how the hell she had ended up rushing off to the grocery store anxious for a moment's peace. Looking back she thought she knew the exact moment everything changed, the split second that broke the then from the now. Funny, it had absolutely nothing to do with her, cringing she amended the thought, OK, it had something to do with her but only by accident. How her name had gotten dragged in the middle was still unclear. Tim Riggins and Lyla Garrity had been on the road to break-up since the moment they had gotten on said road and really her part in the tale was minute.

Again with the cringe, shaking off her thoughts and the hair sticking to her neck, she wondered again when she was going to grow a pair big enough that allowed her to lop off her hair Tyra Collette style. She could do a bob, yeah, a short snappy bob, snorting she swung up her long locks and tried to imagine such a thing in the reflection of the parked Volkswagen. Hmm, maybe next year, she could start college off with a bang. Never mind the time and energy she would save in the mornings. But if she waited that long the one reaction that would make the whole thing worth it, beside the ease of use and cooler body temperature, if she in fact waited until her great departure, as Shelley had dubbed the event her Father was loathe to hear mentioned around him, a certain Dillon Panther would miss out on the reveal.

Dropping her hair and the idea, for now, she moved back on down the street, heading determinedly for the grocery store. Armed with a list and a budget, she had assured her Mom that she could manage and she was out to prove that Taylor food shopping was a task she could manage solo.

As the doors swung open for her, the blessed cool air swept over her and she paused for a moment, letting the air slip over her. Maybe she would look again at some of those Northern schools. There was a definite appeal in the change of climate, especially today.

March was barely was half done, and really spring should have swept through, but no, not today, summer was stubbornly punishing them, giving them a preview of what was to come and Seattle was looking like a welcome address change.

"Little Taylor," startled she dropped the bag of Doritos she had absently picked up, instinctively knowing her Father's preference, really the shopping almost did itself. Thank God.

"Riggins," ignoring the dig, she pressed nonchalance into her voice, until even she was almost fooled. Too bad, he wasn't, the smirk he sent her was a punch to the gut, but she had presence of mind to roll her eyes and push the cart on a little further.

The steps that followed were not a surprise.

Tim had become a regular fixture in her life, not exactly friends, no one could ever have a purely platonic relationship with Tim Riggins, but there was more to it than just the casual head nod in the hallway. At her Mother's suggestion she had started tutoring him. English at first, a little Math, Spanish when needed. He was a decent student, could actually hold his own when he put his mind to it, and that might have been the case more often if a certain brunette wasn't constantly riding his ass, in oh so many ways.

"How's Miz Garrity," she couldn't help it, she was hanging out with Tyra was to much, and really the way she bossed Tim around was enough to drive her tolerance of the girl to less than zero.

"From what I've heard, just fine," ah, so that was how it was going to be. This was the second or third Riggins-Garrity break-up and there was no reason to think there wouldn't be an immediate reconciliation. Never mind the explosive moment had happened in school, during lunch, with all eyes on them, and Lyla looking like an absolute bitch and Tim the crushed one. She had especially loved the boos that had followed Lyla on her way out of the cafeteria. Not so much when all the eyes swung her way. She had hoped no one would have heard her name slip out of the shrieking girl's mouth, but they had, and really that was all people could focus on.

Why, why, why, had her name slipped in the middle of their fight, why hadn't Tim rushed after his girlfriend, she had been bombarded with questions since yesterday, people she barely knew were stopping her in the halls after for the info.

Stopping in the pasta section she made the appropriate shell and sauce selection, maintaining focus was hard what with Tim draped over her cart, dropping said items she finally faced her foe, arms crossed, she did her best haughty and even threw in a foot tap.

"So is there something specific you wanted or are you just practicing for your impending career as cart boy," good one, one she could be proud of.

Her attention was drawn down to his hands, the only part of him not completely at ease, the long fingers were playing idly with the bag of chips she had grabbed earlier. No, there was nothing platonic about the thoughts running through her head.

"Saw you head in thought you might need some cover," smiling, she thought back to that crazy afternoon, the skies had darkened and the wind had screamed, but Tim had been there, had thought quickly and gotten them out of harm's way. The store around them had recovered nicely, the windows shined and the new tile gleamed, and as scary as it was it was a memory special in her heart.

Shrugging, she waved the list in her hand towards him, "I'm just getting started but you're welcome to come along."

The invite was impulsive, she couldn't begin to imagine what the gossip mongers would say after they saw the two of them strolling the store, but then he would be back with Lyla soon enough and his afternoon interlude with her would soon be forgotten. She had come to the grocery store for some solitude only to run into the source of her sudden popularity. Oh, well there were worst ways to spend an afternoon.

Items made their way slowly but surely into the cart. It wasn't that they talked much, they hardly did, but they strolled along, admittedly she chattered away at times. Her mouth had a tendency to run away when he was around, but he didn't ever seem to mind the commentary or anecdotes.

"Do you need a ride?"

She was supposed to call her Mom when she was ready, had promised, her Mother was ever feeling nervous about alienating her, but this was an exception, "Sure."

While he unloaded the bags in the bed of his truck she ripped off a quick text to her Mom. -Caught a ride with Tim. Luv u.-

Knowing all would be well, she slipped the phone back into her purse without waiting for a reply, and when exactly that had become OK in her house, the whole ride with Tim being OK, she wasn't sure, but she wasn't complaining.

"Ready?" Looking up, she caught his eye across the width of the truck, was she ready, she really wasn't sure.

"Yup," so she could lie with the best of them. So what. Hopping up into the cab, she settled into the springy leather, waiting for the roar of the engine to chase away the naughty thoughts in her head. There was milk souring behind her and a hungry family at home, now was not the time to obsess over the single guy sitting next to her.

She was seriously going to have to work on that. They had been spending lots of time together and she had not obsessed over every detail that was him, but then that was because he was safely in the taken category. As wrong as Lyla was for him, he was still hers, and that automatically put boundaries on her relationship with him. Even when the power couple had split before they had reconciled so quickly that she had heard of the break and make in one frantic text message from Lois. There had been no single-Tim run-in and given the condition of her sweaty palms, it was just as well.

It was very possible she might make a fool of herself and ruin whatever it was she had with him.

"So, when are you getting back with Lyla," there that was good. Be the sympathetic ear, offer some counsel.

"Don't think I am."

Well. Damn.

Stunned, jaw dropped, she slowly turned her head left, studying his profile she saw no hint of a smile, no curve of the lip to indicate his humor slipping through. Double damn.

He looked serious. Like for real serious.

"Wow."

It wasn't pretty but it was all she had. The not Tim/Lyla was almost as terrifying an idea as them together.

"Well."

So much for the stellar conversation she knew she was capable of. Clamping down tight on her jaw she focused on the passing landscape. Her thoughts whirling and twirling and coming right back to rest on one thought over and over. Why had her name shrieked out of Lyla's mouth.

He would know. Oh, he liked to play the dumb blond, excelled at it, but she knew better. Knew that he saw everything around him and remembered most of it. True he didn't care much about school. The teachers words slid as easily in and out of his head, but when it came to the world around him he could be sharp and observant to the scary degree. Sneaking a peek, she blushed instantly when green eyes met her, busted.

The humor hit her as hard as it had him, and the grin he sent her was beamed back at him ten fold, "Shut up."

He hadn't spoken, hadn't needed to, she knew that he was thinking bratty thoughts and subsequently called him on it. The grins turned to laughs and for a half minute the cab was filled with laughter. A great moment, one she caught out of the air and slipped into her heart.

No sooner had the laughs dimmed did the words tumble out of her mouth, "What did I do Tim?" Lyle had outted her and she needed to know why, was suddenly desperate for it.

He didn't answer right away and maybe she should have explained it better, but then she took in the clenched jaw and knew that he understood. He might not want to explain but he understood what she wanted.

The truck served to the right suddenly, the brakes squealed in protest as he jerked the truck to a stop. Startled the breath in her lungs left her in a gasp, her hands went to the dashboard for support. "God Tim."

Not exactly the response she was looking for but then he was never one for the expected. Before she could offer a more colorful description of what she thought of his driving, he spoke. Tim Riggins was known for a lot of things. His football, his smirk, his abs, but she wasn't sure speaking was anywhere on that list, because Tim didn't speak. No, he mumbled or muttered, sort of glided through his words until you got the gist of things. Tyra once commented that arguing with Tim Riggins was impossible given his complete inability to effectively argue back.

Speaking wasn't a problem at the moment. His words were low and controlled, his attention completely focused on the road before him, she wasn't sure he knew she was still there, but then the words that were coming out of his mouth caught her attention and just whoa.

It was all there. How Lyla had been ragging on him because of his grades, her freaking out when his grades went up after his tutoring (with her). How her parents weren't thrilled with him around. Funny he had an open invite in the Taylor household. The whole episode lasted about five minutes.

At then end of it, she sat in silence, absorbing his words, rolling the implications around her head. Lyla thougt there was something going on with them. Damn. Had taken a look at their friendship (that was more and less) and his involvement in the Taylor family as a whole and let her imagination run loud and through the cafeteria. Double damn.

"God Tim I'm sorry." It was her place in his life that had driven a wedge between him and Lyla and while she really really didn't like her she wanted him happy. "I'm really really sorry. I'll talk to her. Straighten it out."

So the words nearly choked her true, but she was ready to act on them. Would talk to her if it was what he wanted.

"Not necessary," this time he looked at her, his eyes were clear, focused, and it hit her hard; he meant it.

Oh, the why was burning her up. Why was he letting go. Why wasn't he fighting for his Lyla. The questions were itching for release, but she bit her tongue. Hard. Just because they were having this moment of clarity didn't mean she had a free pass to everything going on in his head. Besides there was every possibility that she was not ready to hear the answers.

The look between them stretched on. She wasn't sure what was being played out between them but whatever it was it wasn't good for the weeks worth of Taylor groceries cooking in the bed of the truck.

There were no more words exchanged between them, muttered or enunciated, he simply started up the truck again and peeled off towards home.

Later that night, after the groceries had been put away, and a fairly awesome dinner had been thrown together by her and a rather helpful Tim, homework had been done and parental moments had been shared she finally escaped into her bedroom. Eager for some really real alone time, she threw herself across her bed, hair going every which way and she once again debated the pros and cons of the short bob.

She played with some new color combination's, summer was approaching and clothes and make-up had to be adjusted, added some songs onto her ipod, Jason Mraz was speaking to her lately. Dad had slipped in for a good night hug, Mom had kissed her off with a ten minute call out, and she dimmed the lights, slipped into the softest pair of shorts and most worn tank top she owned, and slipped under the covers. This was it. The time of the day that was her favorite. In this last half an hour she might read a chapter or three, write a bit on some piece of creative write, spit out a poem, or maybe roll over the day and put it in her journal. Whatever the choice it was never school related, never parental covered. It was Julie thoughts for Julie times.

Tonight there was no reading, no writing, she couldn't even muster the strength to write the day in her journal, she would so do that tomorrow night. No, right now she was ready to recall every moment, every second of the afternoon and evening that had passed. True, the morning had sucked, really been kinda unbearable, but everything after the trip to the grocery store was so worth remembering and obsessing over.

Definitely going to obsessing over quite a bit of things.

Halfway through Julie time and on her second run through of the truck moment she heard it.

A rasp, a whisper, a hand tapping at her window. Damn. Jumping up she made it to the window in three steps. Without hesitation she reached for the drawn curtains and yanked them open. Her heart was beating and she gave no thought to the fact that there might be someone there that she might not want to see while standing in her most comfy jammies. Too late.

The view was clear and she nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw a face, a man's face, "God dammit Tim!" her whisper was furious, her hands were shaking but that did not stop her from unlocking the window and helping him push it up.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He ignored her attempts to pull him inside, brushing aside her hands, he chose instead to lean into the room arms resting against the sill, one hand found her swinging one and she found herself entwining her fingers with his. Surreal.

"There was one thing I left out this afternoon," huh, what, she was having trouble focusing on her words when she was staring down at their hands and wishing she had a camera, "one big reason why Lyla threw your name at me yesterday."

And now he had her attention. Looking up, she was surprised by how close he was, so of course she stepped even closer, "what was it?" Her words were no longer furious but certainly still a whisper, and he seemed to be considering them carefully, weighing the possible outcomes of telling her the truth. Damn. He was wavering. And that was so unfair seeing that he had come here and she was all out of bed and curious. Ignoring the bells and whistles screaming caution, bending over, she counted and discarded how scandalous the view down her top was, she was certain that if she wasn't as close as she could possibly be she might miss it.

There was a split second of warning, she could have sworn that his eyes brightened as he reached his decision, her breath hitched, and his words were a hint against her lips, "this," he moved fast, faster than she could have thought possible given the obstruction between them. It didn't seem to bother him, no sir, no sooner did she hear the words was her face cupped ever so gently between rough palms.

Double damn.

...

...

...

He kissed her. Tim Riggins was leaning through her bedroom window and kissing her. She nearly crumpled, her knees caught the edge of the window sill and pain zipped up her legs, in surprise she opened her mouth to gasp, only to have the tongue of Tim freaking Riggins slip inside.

Any further thoughts of pain or knees and possible badly placed bruises slipped from her thoughts as his tongue and hers got to know each other very, very well. His thumbs were running across her cheeks, his lips were warm and soft against hers and every time his tongue pressed against hers she felt a stab of heat and want between her legs.

She had never ever been kissed like that before. Never had any idea it could be like that. Figures that Tim would be the one to open to her to the possibility. At the mention of it, she opened her eyes, just as he pulled away enough to look right back into them.

"I guess she knew what she was talking about."

Do what?

There should be more kissing now, there really should be, but he was smiling at her, maybe smirking, but she would let it pass, there was mad kissage to be absorbed and wait what did he say.

"Go to bed Taylor, lock this window real tight, never know who might come knocking," he was moving away from her stepping off back into the night, "Goodnight Tim," she was grateful that the words had come out automatically, and she did her best to shut the window, struggling slightly when he stopped long enough to smile at her.

Damn. That smile was weapon like in its effectiveness.

"See you tomorrow Taylor."

Tomorrow. What? But he was gone. Left staring into the night she couldn't even begin to absorb all that had happened. Shutting the curtains, she stumbled backwards until her knees hit the bed and she fell onto it.

With tingling lips, she simply had to run her fingers over them, God, she had the rich taste of him in her mouth. Pure awesome.

So much to think, so much to consider, she had to put it all in order. Lyla had thought there was something between her and Tim, something that had insinuated that Tim might want to kiss her, Julie, and what he had come over to prove it, to disprove it. Whatever.

She had just kissed Tim Riggins. She couldn't help it, the squeal was necessary and uncontrollable and released whole hearted into her pillow.

Was she in any way ready for this? Probably not. Would her parents freak if they knew? Maybe. Was she going to obsess over every word and insinuation and moment? Duh.

Was there any possibility for more? God she hoped so.

He had after all said that he would see her tomorrow.