Work Text:
How the hell did this end up as his life?
Driving Annie to Castlewood just to stand and watch her makeout with Jackson Lewis? And then get lectured by Mary Vaugn?
Ty sighed as he signalled to Annie that the coast was clear, yanking open the car door for her as she hurried over.
"Happy birthday Cinderella. This is your last carriage ride."
He stalked round to his own side, got in and started the car, pulling off in silence. He could feel Annie glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, twisting her fingers together in her lap.
After a few minutes, she tried to break the stifling silence that had grown between them.
"That was a close one, huh?" she grinned.
"Too close."
Annie blinked at the sharpness of his tone, but she wasn't one to give up that easily. "Thanks again for driving me Ty. Jackson and I appreciate it."
Jackson and I. Tyler's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.
"Yeah well, don't expect it to happen again." he snapped.
"I...I wont."
With that, Annie let them lapse into silence once again, turning to stare out the window at the lights flashing past.
By the time they pulled up outside of the Sullivan's home, tiredness had leeched some of the anger out of Ty. It had been a long day, for everyone.
He glanced over at Annie. She was chewing on her lip as she looked towards her house, a light still on in the living room.
"Hey. I'm sure your parents are fine," he said. "Don't let your Aunt or Jackson's mess ruin your special day."
"Jackson didn't cause any mess." Annie protested, twisting to frown at him.
Ty just rolled his eyes, trying to keep a lid on his anger. "C'mon Annie, you just spent over an hour on your birthday driving to Castlewood to see him for two minutes. All that for a guy who makes you sneak around and won't even stand up to his mom for you."
Annie's frown deepened. "Hey, that was my choice! And Jackson is not to blame for the actions of his mother."
"I know, I just..." he trailed off, his eyes flitting around the car before settling on her face. "I hate to see you upset. You deserve better than this, than him."
Annie gazed up at him. They were both twisted in their seats, leaning towards each other over the handbrake and cup holders. Ty realised with a start that at some point his hand had come to rest on Annie's knee, his thumb tracing circles on the bare skin just below the hem of her dress.
Suddenly, the Sullivan's porch light flicked on. Annie started and Tyler drew back his hand, retreating to his own side of the car.
"I should be getting inside," Annie said, tucking her hair behind her ears and gathering her bag. "Thanks again Ty, for everything today."
He nodded. "Good night Annie. Happy birthday."
She gave him a final smile as she stepped out of the car and made her way inside. Tyler watched her go, making sure she was safely inside before starting his engine and pulling off.
They didn't see each other again until the next afternoon. Fifth period, Chemistry.
Ty spotted her coming down the hallway and lingered in the doorway until she caught up.
"Hey." "Hi."
She smiled at him. She looked pretty today, wearing a new pair of earrings and a blue shirt that brought out her eyes.
"How's your first day going?"
"Had better. You?"
"Kinda depends on what Coach's syllabus for chemistry looks like." he joked.
Despite both of them making an effort, there was still a lingering awkwardness between them. Annie nodded, rocking back on her heels before stepping forward and reaching for the doorhandle to enter the classroom.
Tyler acted on pure instinct. Before he even really realised what he was doing, he reached out and put his hand on top of hers, stopping her from opening the door. He stepped into her personal space, bracketing her against the corner, her back against the wall.
Her hand was warm beneath his. Ty stared down at her, trying to catch her eye.
"Your birthday. Castlewood." he murmured.
Annie inhaled sharply through her nose and pulled her hand back to her side.
"Thank you, again," she started, "and I'm so sorry you had to deal with that-"
"I meant it. I'm not taking you out there anymore."
Ty's voice was low, his jaw ticking. He was shocked but how absolutely furious he still was, at how much anger, and some other acidic emotion that he couldn't quite identify, was twisting in his gut.
He kept his gaze looked with Annie's, forcing her to see the seriousness of his words, willing her to hear the unspoken words. I'm not taking you to see him anymore.
Annie paused, seemingly taken aback. Then she scrunched her eyebrows together, raising her shoulders in a miniscule shrug.
"I won't go again." her voice was light, but she held his gaze firmly.
"I think that's for the best."
He stepped even closer towards her, feeling a sick thrill at Annie's little gasp, before turning away and pulling open the door to let her go ahead of him into the classroom.
Tyler sighed, clapping Gabe on the back and heading for the doorway. He had survived his last ever first day of school. All he wanted now was to get home and crash for a few hours.
As he neared the end of the hallway, he heard someone call his name.
Turning, he saw it was Annie. "Can we talk for a second?" she asked.
"Sure."
Annie nodded at him, glancing around at the few dawdling students in the hallway. She opened a door to an empty English classroom and beckoned him inside. Tyler followed.
He had barely closed the door behind him before she rounded on him.
"What is your problem Tyler Townsend?" she asked, arms folded in front of her.
Ty flinched, raising his eyebrows in shock. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Ty raked a hand through his hair. "Annie, it's been a long day, I have no idea what you are talking about -"
"I'm talking about last night in your car and whatever that was outside Chemistry. Why are you so pissed at Jackson, at me!"
"Because you're not thinking clearly! He's no good for you and you shouldn't be seeing him anymore."
Annie scoffed, her expression furious. "What, we almost get caught sneaking around one time and -"
"It's not just that!" Tyler was pacing the room, waving his hands around as he attempted to make her understand. "Jackson has always been a jerk, a-and he's selfish! Or have you forgotten everything he did to you last year? He's pulling you around on a string, he's got you lying to your mom and everyone you care about!"
Annie stepped in front of him, cutting him off. "Jackson isn't making me do anything!" she shouted. "I am choosing to date him, choosing to sneak around because we have to and we care about each other."
Her cheeks were flushed, eyes flashing as she glared up at him. She jabbed a finger in his chest as she continued.
"I'm a big girl and I can make my own decisions. I don't need this protective older brother act from you!"
Ty caught her hand, holding it against his chest. "It is not a big brother thing!" he growled.
"Then what is it! Why do you care?" she cried, yanking her arm back.
"Because you deserve better!"
It was the same thing he said last night, and it was a simple truth Ty felt in his soul. Annie just seemed even angrier.
"And who's better!" she cried, tears filling her eyes. "Because in case you haven't noticed, there aren't exactly guys queueing up to date me. I wanted you, and you rejected me and humiliated me in front of the entire school!"
She whirled away from him, pressing her hand to her mouth. Tyler felt like something in his chest was cracking, a physical pain echoing around his ribcage. He reached out to place a hand on Annie's shoulder but she shrugged him off, stepping out of his reach.
When she reached the door, she wiped her face and turned to face him, her expression stoney.
"You're not my brother and you're not my boyfriend. So stay out of my love life."
With that she was gone. The door closed behind her, leaving Tyler and his feelings in an empty classroom.
He could finally identify that other emotion that had been twisting his guts and lacing his words.
Jealousy.
A few days later on the football field, all that was forgotten.
Ty walked over to stand with his brother, Lily and CeCe. His eyes immediately find her, standing a few feet apart from everyone, twisting her hands in her cardigan sleeves.
"Annie okay?" he asks.
"She's psyching herself up." is CeCe's reply.
Ty crosses his arms as we watches the scene before him. Jackson, laughing and having a casual conversation as Annie stands in front of him, clearly in distress and wanting to talk to him.
He glances at the worried expression on CeCe's face and feels that jealousy, that need to protect Annie flare up in his chest again. He starts forward, hands curling into fists, but has barely moved before CeCe collars him.
"Hey - this is something she needs to do by herself, okay." she says. Her words are firm and offer no room for negotiation, but she gives him a knowing look that makes Ty feel like his feelings are written all over his face.
He hovers menacingly in the background, arms folded and head tilted, gaze locked on Annie as she rips Jackson a knew one, feeling pride join the other emotions coursing through him. He hears her parrot the words he had used, talking about Jackson being selfish and having to lie to the people she loved.
When it's over she turns, tears beginning to fall, and runs straight into his arms.
He wraps her in a hug, squeezing her against his chest as if he can shield her from any pain.
"What happened?" he asks. Now his eyes are locked on Jackson, already calculating how to make him pay for hurting her.
"You were right, I deserve better." she sobbed, weeping into his shoulder.
Their friends move off, giving them space. Ty would stand there with her in his arms for as long as she needed to, for forever.
He fights back his own anger, focusing only on Annie.
"What can I do?" he breathes.
"Just be there." she sniffles, her voice cracking around the words.
"Always." he promises without hesitation.
Ty tightens his grip on her, pressing his lips to her hair.
They stay locked in that embrace, holding each other, until they are the only two left on the field.