Sky's Still Blue • Friday Night Lights

Chapter 8

"Morning." Anne greeted her mother that Saturday. The older woman was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. "How are you?"

"Morning, baby." Janice responded, her eyes on the pancakes she was making. "I'm good, and you?"

"I'm fine." Anne sighed. "Well, except for the fact that we still need to address the elephant in the room."

Janice met her daughter's glare, and dropped the spoon she had been holding. "Annie, there's nothing to t-"

"Stop it, mom!" The girl hissed, exasperated by the entire situation. There's no backing down now. "Look, I know dad hurt you, and I'll always resent him for that. But you're pregnant with his baby, and he has a right to know. You can't keep this a secret forever, and you can't force me to lie anymore."

Janice blinked several times, dumbfounded by her daughter's anger. "Listen, baby, I know I've been distant these last few days, b-"

"You've been more than distant!" Anne cut her off again. "You have no idea what's been going on in my life lately. I've made some really amazing friends at school, and I'm also running for vice president. Oh, and last night, I kinda had a date with the kid who lives next door." Don't let Julie hear me admit that. "I just miss the way things were between us. I miss you, mom."

Tears were now streaming down Anne's face, and Janice stepped towards her, pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry, Annie, I'm sorry."

"I miss you." Annie sobbed in her mother's arms. "I know he cheated on you, but you have to tell him."

"I know." Janice whispered, rubbing Annie's back lightly. "I'm sorry I've been so stubborn. The last thing I wanted to do was make you sad."

Anne pulled away after a few seconds, and wiped the tears from her face. "Are you going to call him now?"

"He's probably busy right now, so I'll do it first thing tomorrow." Janice promised. "It's not a conversation I'm looking forward to."

I'm aware. "Okay."

"Now..." Janice began, changing the subject. "What do you mean you went on a date last night?"

Anne let out a nervous laugh. I should not have said it like that. "It wasn't technically a date. I just hung out with him for a while after the game. His name's Tim Riggins, and he lives with his brother Billy. He's on the football team."

Janice's eyes widened. "I've heard some things about that boy. He has quite the reputation, honey."

"Yeah, I know." Anne rolled her eyes. "But he's a good person, and I like being around him. We're just friends." But I might want more than that...

"If you say so, baby." Janice nodded, cupping her daughter's cheek. "Let's go eat breakfast now, and you can tell me everything about your new friends."

They sat on the table facing each other, savoring the blueberry pancakes. Anne was relieved that her mother had finally come to her senses, and that some normality had returned to their lives. She still has to talk to dad, though.

"So there's Julie Taylor, Matt Saracen, Landry Clarke, and Tim Riggins, all whom I already talked to you about." Anne recalled, taking another bite of her pancake. "Tyra Collette; who is the one running for Student Body president, and who has accepted me as her VP. She lives with her mom and her sister. Then there's Devin Boland, and Lois Becker. I share a couple of classes with them, and I don't know them very well yet, but they're nice."

"That's a lot of friends, Annie." Janice commented, looking impressed. "I'm happy for you."

"Yeah, I'm happy too. Especially considering that Max and Kaylee dropped me like a basket of dirty laundry when I told them I was moving away." Anne said bitterly. "'Friends forever', my ass." She'd been friends with those two girls for years, and while she didn't miss them, their attitude towards her still afflicted her.