Sky's Still Blue • Friday Night Lights

Chapter 7

"So, where are we going exactly?" Anne asked Tim as he drove. She kept on playing with the sleeves of her sweater, not knowing what to expect. Why did I even agree to this?

"Anywhere you want." Tim replied.

"Um, I don't know." She mumbled. "I don't really know this town very well yet. Maybe somewhere quiet?"

He nodded. "I know the perfect place."

"Fine, I'm trusting you."

Anne's phone buzzed, and she found she had received a text from Julie. It read:

Good luck on your date! ;) Please tell me all about it later.

She rolled her eyes, responding immediately:

It's not a date! Go to sleep.

Anne caught Tim looking at her and her cheeks reddened. "So how did you get into football?" She asked him.

"I just like hitting people." He said, focusing back on the road.

"Why not join a boxing gym instead?"

Tim grinned at her question, and Anne drew her lower lip between her teeth. Why is he so pretty? It's not fair. They remained in silence until Tim parked outside a place called Smitty's.

"A bar?" Anne scoffed. "Seriously? We're minors!"

"Relax." Tim laughed, getting out of the truck. "They know me. Come on."

Anne gaped at him as if he were an alien, feeling like she was melting. Why does he want my company so badly? I don't get it. "Okay." She managed to whisper, following him towards the bar's door. Tim opened it for her and asked her to pick a table. She picked the cleanest she could find, and waited for him uncomfortably in her chair. When he finally joined her, he was carrying a gigantic glass of beer.

Anne wrinkled her nose in distaste at the sight of the alcohol in his hand. "You're gonna drink all that?"

"You want some?" He asked, taking a sip.

"Hell, no!" She cried out. "That stuff tastes like piss to me. I don't know how you can drink it."

"I don't know how you can't."

Anne rolled her eyes. "How did they even serve you that?"

He handed her his fake ID, and she snorted after reading it. "Toby Morgan? Two-time Iraq veteran? They obviously know this is bullshit."

"They know, but they don't care." Tim put the ID away and continued to drink. Anne watched him silently for a few moments, resting her chin on her hand. He had a small cut on his lower lip, and it took everything in her not to reach out her hand to touch it gently.

"How come this place is so empty?" She wondered.

"Most people are celebrating elsewhere." He explained. "I come here to get away from the noise."

"Okay, I have to ask you something." She looked at her lap for a few seconds before meeting his eyes again. "Why did ask me to come with you? You could be out there partying like a rockstar right now."

The corners of his mouth turned up. "Nah, I think I'm good here."

That doesn't answer my question. "If you say so." I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. He's so enchanting and composed, and I'm... me. Maybe I should ask Tyra for advice, since she dated him. No, that would be weird. Maybe Matt and Landry, since they play football with him and are guys...