Title: Lonely No More

Pairing: Tim/Julie

Synopsis: An unlikely friendship leads to an even more unlikely love.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this story…unfortunately!

A/N: Hello ladies! Well, I'm back with another Tulie, this one set in high school – that seemed to be what I received the most feedback on, so I hope you ladies will enjoy it. It starts the summer before Season 3 and will continue on into Season 3 as the story progresses. I absolutely loved Tim during Season 3. He still had that hint of a bad boy, but he was funny and really sweet with Lyla. Even though I couldn't stand him and Lyla as a couple, I liked how he was with her (I just always thought it would be better if he acted like that with someone else…like Julie!) So, that's what I'm planning on doing in this story :D That being said, there will be some storylines from Season 3 entwined with the story (though not always in the same order), with my own spin on them. So I guess this story could possibly contain some spoilers for any of you ladies that haven't seen Season 3. So, be warned :D Now that I've written a novel as an author's note I'll quit rambling! You ladies please let me know your thoughts about this chapter and let me know if I should continue with this one! Enjoy!

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If the saying, 'Time flies when you're having fun' was true, then the opposite was even more so. Julie didn't know if she had ever been as bored as she was sitting on the lifeguard stand, while time seemed to be moving slower than molasses.

It wasn't that she didn't enjoy her summer job at the pool, because she did. It had a lot of perks – it was easy, she got paid pretty well, and she got to work on her tan.

But some days just seemed to drag on and on. Today was definitely one of those days.

Her eyes scanned the pool for what felt like the thousandth time, making sure everything was still alright. She was so bored, that she found herself almost wishing for something a little exciting to happen. Nothing serious - maybe a kid getting scared on the slide or better yet, an angry rally girl trying to dunk Tim Riggins.

She grinned thinking of that scenario. Not likely, considering that Tim was currently floating around with a girl on each side and a huge shit-eating grin on his face. But hey, a girl could dream.

The pool was crowded with a mixture of small kids and their parents, and teenagers not having anything better to do on the hot mid-July afternoon. There were several people from school scattered around the pool, but not many that Julie would consider her friends.

Friends? What friends?

Julie was starting to feel like she didn't have any of those anymore. Lois was spending the summer in California with her grandparents. Tyra was working extra hours at Applebee's to save up money, and any of her free time was usually spent with Landry.

Landry could be considered a friend, but he spent all his time with Matt. And Julie wasn't sure exactly what she and Matt were anymore. Things were still slightly awkward after the whole her dumping him for the Swede thing last summer. Add his little love fest with Carlotta into the mix, and there just seemed to be too much water under the bridge for them to truly be friends again.

So, when she basically should be living it up and enjoying her summer, her days consisted mostly of working at the pool and then going home and watching movies with her parents. Which was really just pathetic when she stopped to think about it.

Here she was with less than a month left before school started back, and she hadn't done one truly fun thing all summer long. Work and go home. Work and go home and spend time with the parentals. Boring, boring, boring.

She blew her whistle at a couple of kids running around the pool. "No running." She warned quickly.

She smiled, watching as the kids slowed down to a fast-paced walk. Her eyes roamed the area to see Matt and Landry standing in the shallow end of the pool, looking like they were having a serious discussion.

Landry saw her looking their way and waved. Julie returned the wave as her eyes met Matt's. She smiled slightly. He gave her a small wave before turning back to his discussion with Landry.

Well, maybe we can work on that friendship thing, she thought to herself.

Hearing a commotion to her left, she turned her head to see what was happening to find Tim Riggins pulling himself out of the pool. The two females who had been sharing his float apparently didn't want him to leave from the begging they were doing. Tim didn't seem to be listening as he stood on the edge with his hands on his hips, water dripping down his chiseled body.

Julie could see the grin on his face from clear across the pool, and she could tell that he was thoroughly enjoying the girls begging for his company. She shook her head at their antics – the girls, and women, of Dillon were so easy where Tim was concerned. They all wanted a piece of him – whether to tame the 'bad boy' or to heal his 'wounded soul'. Or just for a good roll in the sheets.

Julie had to admit that he was good-looking, probably the best looking guy at Dillon High if she was being honest. And he really wasn't as dumb as he wanted everyone to believe. Misguided and maybe a little lazy on anything other than football, but definitely not dumb.

Julie had surprisingly learned a lot about Tim during the short time that he had stayed in the Taylor household last year during football season. Mostly that he was loyal and would stick his neck out for you if need be. She had learned that when he had taken flack from her dad and saved her from a near-disaster with some Riley dude, earning both her respect and her father's.

Yeah, Tim was a lot different than the persona that he chose to show the rest of the world. Sure, he drank too much and partied too hard, and would probably always be a bit of a bad boy, but there was a lot more underneath all that.

Julie shook her head quickly. Why am I sitting here analyzing Tim Riggins?

She glanced down at her watch, sighing deeply. "Because I've got another hour left of work and nothin' better to do." She mumbled.

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"Well shit." Julie muttered, slamming her phone shut.

She had finally finished her long shift at work and called her mom for a ride home, only to hear her mom say that Gracie had just laid down for a nap and that it would be at least another hour or so before she could pick Julie up.

"Could this day get any worse?" She muttered to herself, slipping her phone into her bag.

"You talkin' to yourself, Taylor?"

She looked up to see a smirking Tim Riggins sidling up beside her. "Apparently it can." She muttered quietly.

"You okay?" He asked, coming to a stop in front of her.

Julie nodded her head slightly. "Yeah, I'm just peachy." She said dryly.

Tim smirked. "You don't sound like it."

"It's just been a long day, and now my mom says she can't come pick me up for at least another hour." She shrugged, looking down at her feet and then back up at Tim.

"I can give you a ride."

"No. You don't have to do that." She said quickly, shaking her head slightly.

"I know I don't have to." He said simply. "Hop in." He said, walking around to the driver side of his truck.

Julie walked to the passenger side, opening the door and hoisting herself up into the truck. She wasn't going to turn down a ride, that was for sure.

"Thanks."

"No worries."

With that, Tim pulled out of the parking lot and onto the streets of Dillon, heading toward Julie's house.

They rode in silence. Tim wasn't usually much of a talker, while Julie tended to chatter away when she was nervous. Or even when she wasn't.

After several minutes of silence, Julie glanced at Tim. "Um, I really do appreciate the ride."

"No problem." He responded, taking his eyes away from the road to give her a small smile. "Your place is on my way home anyway, Jules."

Julie nodded. "I'm hoping to get a vehicle of my own soon. It kind of sucks depending on your parents and having to borrow their vehicle to get around."

"Yeah." Tim said, nodding his head. "I bet."

"Not that I have a whole lot on my social calendar or anything." She said sarcastically. "But it would be nice to have my own vehicle."

"You're not partying every night?" He asked with a smirk.

"Ha! That's funny." She said dryly, rolling her eyes at him. "If you consider sitting at home with my mom and dad nearly every night partying, then yes, I'm partying hard."

Tim chuckled quietly, shaking his head slightly.

"So, um, practice starts up next week. You lookin' forward to it?" She asked.

"I don't know." Tim shrugged. "Lookin' forward to getting the season started, but not necessarily the practicing."

"Dad's excited. He's been watching game tape 24-7. It's driving me and my mom crazy."

Tim chuckled lightly. Julie grinned at the sound as the two fell back into a comfortable silence.

"Oh, slow down, slow down!" Julie said excitedly a few moments later. "Stop the truck!"

"What's wrong?" He asked, slamming on brakes and coming to a stop on the quiet street.

"See that car right there." Julie said, pointing to a dark blue Celica parked in the drive. "That's the car Mrs. Oddmarc from church is going to sell me whenever I save up enough money."

"Jesus, Jules." Tim muttered softly. "I thought something was wrong, or it was something important."

"Me getting a car is important." She said emphatically. "What do you think?"

Tim shrugged. "It's a car."

"It's not just a car." Julie huffed. "It's going to be my car. Isn't it beautiful?"

Tim chose not to comment, smirking instead as he once again began driving down the street.

"It looks better than this truck." Julie stated bravely, giving him a smirk.

"Jules, you disrespect my truck and I might have to let you walk the rest of the way home." Tim responded with a smirk of his own.

Julie laughed quietly, surprisingly enjoying the easy, playful banter after the day that she had. She knew that she and Tim got well enough, but she hadn't expected for his offer to drive her home to be the highlight of her long, boring day.

A few moments later, Tim pulled up in front of Julie's house, bringing his truck to a slow stop.

"Well, thanks for the ride." She said, turning to give him a smile. "I know, I know – no worries."

Tim grinned, watching as she climbed out of the truck.

"Well, um, I guess I'll see you around, at the pool and stuff." Julie said quickly, pushing her hair behind her ear and giving him an almost shy smile.

"See yah, Jules." He said with a nod.

"Yeah, see yah." She said with a smile, shutting the truck door and making her way to the house.