Sky's Still Blue • Friday Night Lights

Chapter 2

"So honey, how was your first day?" Mrs. Bradshaw asked Anne during dinner.

"It went really well." Anne replied, chewing her food.

"Did you make any friends?"

"Yeah, a girl named Julie Taylor. Her dad is the coach of the football team, and her mom is the principal. Her boyfriend Matt Saracen is really nice too, he offered to help me get a job. Oh, and Landry Clarke, who is like, super funny. He has a band."

"That's wonderful, Annie!" Her mother exclaimed, pressing both hands to her cheeks. "And you thought you wouldn't be able to make friends!"

"Yeah, well, I guess I'm lucky to have found such nice classmates. I didn't think people in small towns would be so welcoming." She said, looking down at her now empty plate.

"I know you miss home..."

"No, I don't!" Anne shook her head. "I mean, I miss L.A. for shallow reasons, like the malls. I can talk to my friends on the phone, so please don't worry. We did the right thing by moving here, mom." It wasn't a complete lie, but not the full truth either. She did miss her home, but she didn't miss watching her mother be miserable. It was still confusing for Anne to understand why they had to end up in Dillon, Texas of all places, but she didn't bother to argue. Anything to make her mother happy.

Her mother nodded, squeezing her shoulder. Anne avoided mentioning her father at all costs; she knew her mom still felt heartbroken, furious, and humiliated. What a cliche he was; cheating on his wife with his secretary. Her father was a lawyer, and started sending them checks once the divorce was finished, but her mother refused to use them. 'Blood money', she called them.

The next day at lunch, Julie introduced Anne to some new people. Devin Boland, who was in Landry's band; and Lois Becker, who Julie shared some classes with.

"So is it true that you live next to Tim Riggins?" Lois asked her.

Anne rolled her eyes, looking at Julie. The blonde smiled at her, feigning innocence. "Seriously? Why is it such a big deal that I live next to this guy?"

"Because he's so hot! That's why!" Lois smiled in amusement. "You're so lucky."

"I haven't even met him." Anne reminded them. "Can we talk about something else, please?"

"He's sitting right over there..." Lois said, pointing at another table, completely ignoring Anne's question.

"Don't turn around, Anne. It'd be too obvious." Devin advised her.

"Wasn't planning on it." Anne took a final sip of her milk, and stood up. "I better get going. I need to get ready for Spanish. I'll see you later, girls." She grabbed her bag, and headed towards the classroom. Landry was already there, so she sat next to him.

Anne bit her lip, feeling ridiculous. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask him. "Hey Landry, do you know a guy named Tim Riggins?

Landry gave her a weird look. "Yeah, he's the tailback of the football team. Why?"

"I live next door to him. Julie and the other girls keep teasing me about it, but I don't even know the dude. I just want to know what the big deal is, that's all."

The boy pursed his lips. "Well, he's pretty popular with the ladies."

"Yeah, I figured that."

"But if you want my own personal opinion on the matter... try not to fall in love with him, or anything. Because you seem like a nice person and I'd hate to see..."

"Woah, woah!" Anne interrupted him, trying to keep her voice down. "I just told you I don't know the dude. Why do you think I'm going to fall for him or something? That's absurd."