Grumpy boo

“It’s a little bit possessive.”

“No it’s not.”

“Yes it is.”

“No it’s not.” Tobin insisted.

Meg just shook her head.

“Well if you can stop staring at her like you want to break her arms then maybe I'll believe you.”

Tobin now turned to glare at the defender. Meg just put her hands up.

“I’m just saying that for just a friend, you tend to be a little possessive when it comes to her. It’s like you don’t want to share her with anyone else. Here’s a new flash, Tobs. She’s not yours.” Meg reminded her before walking away.

“Yet..she’s not mine, yet.” Tobin grumbled under her breath.

The midfielder continues glaring at the two lone figures in the middle of the field. Her glaring eyes turned darker when Christen hugged her old teammate before turning and walking towards her.

“You okay?” The forward asked curiously when she neared the midfielder.

“Yeah, come on. I’m hungry.” She quickly put her arms around the forward’s shoulder and gave Christen’s old teammate the side eye.

When their eyes met each other, she tightens her hold and smirked proudly when the other girl averted her eyes uncomfortably.

“Are you done?” Christen suddenly said.

“Huh?” Tobin looked at the forward confused.

“Are you done with whatever you feel you need to do?” Christen raised her eyebrows knowingly.

“Yeah….” Tobin replied back sheepishly.

“Come on then. I’m hungry too.” She urged but not before pinching the midfielder on the waist.

“Ow… why you do that for?”

“Well that’s for being mean to Vero.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t think I didn’t notice you’re glaring at her just now.”

“No I didn’t.” Tobin denied.

“Yes you do and it makes it hard for us to have a proper conversation when Vero’s attention kept going over my shoulder.”

“Good.” Tobin said under her breath.

“What did you say?”

“I mean I’m sorry she felt that looking at me is more important than catching up with you.”

“Hmm…mmm. Well you don’t have to worry about that. Vero and I are going out tonight to catch up.”

“But you said you’ll join me for dinner with my mom and sister tonight.” Tobin’s face turned sour.

“Aww….Tobin I’ve totally forgotten about that. Can I take a rain check? I mean I’ve met them before and it’s just that I hardly get to see Vero. I’m really sorry. I promise I will make it up to you, okay?” Christen turned her puppy dog eyes on.

Tobin sighed. It’s true that her mom and sister already met Christen. But since she already confessed to them that she have a certain feeling for the forward (she asked them both to swear to keep it to themselves), her mom has been bugging her nonstop to meet the forward again.

“I guess if you really can’t make it. Then it’s fine.” Tobin replied back gloomily.

Christen circled her arm around the midfielder’s waist and leaned in to place a placating kiss on Tobin’s cheek.

“I’m really sorry. I really thought that the dinner is next week.” Christen apologise again.

Tobin didn’t reply but just nodded her head.

Her mood certainly didn’t improve few hours later. Even having a nice dinner with her mum and sister doesn’t really help to fill the empty feeling she had.

“You okay there Toby?” Her mum asked suddenly.

“Yeah I’m okay.”

“You sure? You hardly eat anything tonight?” She asked again.

Tobin just shrugged off her shoulder. She just continued playing with the foods on her plate. She tried to engage in the conversation with her family but her mind kept going back to wonder what’s Christen doing at the same time.

“I think she’s just missing a certain someone.” Perry teased her sister.

“No I’m not.” The midfielder’s denied.

“She's busy catching up with someone else at the moment.” She continued gloomily.

She can’t help but feel sadden that the forward has chosen the other midfielder over her. She know that she don’t have the right to deny Christen for spending any of her free time with her other friend. But this is important dammit! She’s supposed to be here. She was in the midst of deciding whether to text the forward when her sister spoke up.

“Are you sure about that, Toby?”

“Yeah…she’s meeting up with her teammate from her old team, Tyreso.” Who is also her ex-girlfriend, Tobin said quietly to herself.

“Well I don’t want to call you a liar Toby, but isn’t that your girl walking towards us now?” Her mum teased.

“What?” Tobin turned around eagerly and sure enough there's Christen walking towards them smiling wide.

“Hey guys, sorry I’m a bit late.”

“It’s okay Chris, you didn’t miss much other than Tobin’s here pouting all throughout dinner.” Perry replied.

“No…I didn’t.” Tobin replied embarrassed.

Tobin stood up waiting patiently for Christen to finish her greetings with her mum and sister before she gave the forward a long hug. She didn’t know how long she stood there hugging the forward close. She only let her go when she heard her mum cleared her throat. Christen leaned close and place a small kiss on Tobin’s cheek before sitting down.

“Sorry, again for being late. I’ve totally forgotten about our dinner tonight and I accidently made another plan with my old teammate.” Christen started her explanation.

“What happen to your friend? Don’t tell us you ditch her?” Perry asked curiously.

“No. We just went for a quick catch up over coffee. She understands that I’ve already made another arrangement and cannot back out from it. I know how this girl here will never let me forget about it if I don’t come tonight.” Christen replied back while nudging the midfielder beside her.

Both Tobin’s mom and sister raised their eyebrows simultaneously when Tobin face blushed red after Christen said that. They both watched in amusement when Tobin pulled her chair closer to the forward’s leaving only a small space between them and then rest her right arm behind Christen’s chair.

It’s like she’s staking her claim or something, Perry thought to herself. Tobin even ordered the forward’s dinner when Christen was busy conversing with their mum. This caring gestures totally not like her usual sister behavior at all.

What’s more interesting was when the food arrived on the table, Christen just smiled thankfully at Tobin, take a forkful of her salad and continue her conversation with their mum without missing a beat. Tobin in the meantime will occasionally grab the forward’s hand that holding the fork and direct it to her mouth instead and Christen will just let her. Their action was so seamless that it looks as if they have practiced the movement 100 times before. She don’t think Tobin even realized that Christen is totally smitten with her too.

Tobin was in the middle of pulling Christen’s hand again when her mum admonished her softly.

“Well, Toby I’m glad your appetite is back. But maybe you should just finished your own meal than Chris’s dinner.”

Tobin’s pout came out. “Oh…okay.” Her shoulder slumped sadly. She starts to let go the forward’s wrists but before she can fully do so, Christen spoke up.

“No…It’s okay. I don’t eat a lot especially for dinner. She’s just helping me to finish it. She know how I hate to waste food.” She continued offering her fork.

When Tobin hesitated, Christen urged her further. “It’s okay, Tobin. Come on. I know you want to.”

Cindy just smile and shakes her head when her daughter opened her mouth and let the forward feed her. Throughout the night, she watched raptly when Christen just continue feeding her daughter without even a peep of complaint. From her point of view she doesn’t believe how oblivious her daughter is on how Christen seems to have some feelings for her too.

Tobin's face remained smiling the whole night watching how seamlessly Christen blend in with her family. Even her mom gave her the subtle nods of approval for choosing the right girl to fall with.

Few hours later while she was happily joking around with her sister, she can feel Christen’s right arm surrounding her waist from behind and cuddle closer to her. Well that’s a sure sign that she’s tired. When Christen is tired or sleepy she tend to be in cuddling mode.

“Well I think it’s time for us to go.” Tobin said suddenly.

“Oh you are leaving already?” Perry asked.

“I’m sorry I’m just feeling tired from the game today.”

“No..it’s okay, Toby. We understand that both of you surely tired. With Chris just arrive here this morning directly from her game yesterday.” Her mom replied back understandably.

After getting out their proper goodbye from her mom and sister, she guide the forward toward her car while Christen trying to hold herself up from falling dead asleep on her feet.

“Come on my car is not that far.” Christen just nods her head.

They made their way to the car in records time and after making sure the forward’s seatbelt is secured she started the engine and drove away from the restaurant.

By the time her car reached the front of her apartment, Christen already fallen asleep in her seat, her head slumped to the side. Tobin switched off her engine and leaned closer to the forward.

“Hey Chris, we are here. Hey…wake up sleepyhead.” Christen blinked her eyes open sleepily.

“Sorry I fell asleep.”

“No it’s okay. I know you didn’t stop to rest since you landed today. Come on. The sooner we reach my apartment the sooner you can properly rest.”

They made their way to the apartment with Tobin half support half drag the forward. By the time they reach the bedroom, Christen quickly brushed her teeth and pull off her jeans before crawled to her side on the bed. Before long she fall into a deep sleep. Tobin followed few minutes later cradling her close.

The next morning they agreed to go out for their breakfast as Tobin hardly have anything in her fridge. They were just enjoying their breakfast when another voice called up Christen’s name. Tobin looked up and sighed when she saw Vero walking towards them.

“Hey! I thought you suppose to leave this morning?” Christen greets her old teammate happily.

“Yeah there’s some mix up my flight schedule. So here I am. Didn’t know I’ll be seeing you here.” The midfielder asked back curiously.

“Oh…that’s because I’m staying with Tobin. Her place is just 15 minutes from here.” The forward explained.

“Hey…Tobin.” Tobin just nodded her head at the half-hearted greeting.

“Well do you want to join us?” Christen invites.

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“You don’t mind right, Tobin?” Christen turned on her puppy dog eyes.

Tobin just shrugged her shoulder and nodded her head. Vero tried to slide in beside Christen in the booth but the forward shakes her head.

“I need to go to the bathroom. Just ordered something first Vero and you guys can catch up in the meantime.” She rushed out before leaving both midfielders gaping at each other.

“Well uh..I can go if you don’t feel comfortable.” Vero started after she sit in front of Tobin to break the uneasy silence.

“Why would I feel uncomfortable?” Tobin asked back stiffly.

“Uh..cause me and Chris have history?”

“Yeah… I know that so?”

“Well I know both of you is a thing now so I don’t want to..”

“Wait…wait…we are not a thing.” Tobin interjected.

“What..but..”

“I mean we are just friends nothing more.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“Oh..it’s just that both of you seems so close.” Tobin shrugged her shoulder.

“Yeah…we are just a close friend. But there’s nothing more.”

“Erm… okay then, if yo say so.”

“But it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be more.” Tobin mumbled under her breath.

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

Vero just called up the waiter to give her orders and just as the waiter left, the forward appeared at their table. They both looks on as Christen seems to be contemplating which side she need to go to but before she made a move to sit beside Vero, Tobin stands up and gesture to her own booth.

“You can sit with me, Chris. I know you like to be near the window.” The forward smiles at the invitation and slide into the booth before Tobin followed closely.

There’s not much space between them when the midfielder put her right arm on the forward’s shoulder while absently playing with her hair. Christen doesn’t seem to be bothered with it at all. She just pulled her breakfast nearer before taking a sip of her coffee. Vero just watched their interactions with curious gaze. Well that doesn’t seem to be just a normal friends gestures, she thought to herself.

“So Vero what’s your plan for the day?”

“Nothing much. I’ll just hang out here while waiting for my flight later tonight. You got any good ideas where I can go?”

Christen nodded her head excitedly and start to lists out her favorite places that Vero can visit while she was in Portland. Tobin smiles when most of the places the forward mentioned is the one that Tobin brought her before. She’s glad that Christen found her favorite place here in Portland. Tobin suddenly realized that the table was quiet. Christen was saying something to her.

“Huh? Sorry, Chris can you repeat your question?”

“Well since Vero is here I want to show her my favorite place. Do you want to join us?” She asked.

Tobin tried to cover her reaction but Christen can feel the midfielder squeezing her shoulder possessively. Before it can become too painful she softly pried Tobin’s fingers from her shoulder and instead linked it with her own. Tobin realizing what nearly happen look at the forward sheepishly.

“Sorry.” She mouthed the words.

Christen just shakes her head and smiles accepting the apologies easily.

“So you want to join us?” The forward asked again.

“Erm…I can’t. I promise Allie I will join her and Alex to discuss about her wedding remember?”

“Well it’s too bad but I’m sure you will have fun.” Christen teased her.

She knew how the midfielder hate to be in between Alex and Allie. Both are too stubborn for their own good. Even though its Allie’s wedding, Alex is too hard headed to let Allie choose something that she herself doesn’t approve. She said it was her job as the bridesmaid to make sure her friend doesn’t make the wrong decision. Tobin is the only calm voice of reason to make sure their plan ran smoothly.

For the rest of breakfast, the duo continue to plan back and forth on places they can visit in such a short time while Tobin just chip in when it’s necessary. She was not really interested in giving her input if it means taking away Christen’s time from her.

Once they finished their meal, Tobin reluctantly leave her booth and follow the two animated figure out of the restaurant. Christen turned to face her downturn face. She tried to hide her grumpy face but of course Christen knows better.

“Hey Vero, can you gives us a minute?” The midfielder nodded her head before moving a few feet away.

“Hey come here.” Tobin walked into the forwards open arms.

“I promise after today I will spend every minute with you okay? You will feel bored with me after that.” She joked.

“Never.” Tobin whispered back holding her closer.

“Well I have to go now.” Christen starts to pull back but Tobin held on.

“Don’t do anything that I will not do okay? Promise me?” Tobin said at the juncture of her neck.

Christen chuckles softly. “That will be a lot. What will you not do specifically?”

“Kissing or going back to your ex.” Tobin replies deadpan.

Christen eyes widen in shocked while her hand rubbed the midfielders back comfortingly.

“Erm…Well that’s very specific.”

“So you promise?” Tobin leaned back and asked again hesitantly.

Staring into the midfielder’s concern brown eyes Christen just nodded her head.

“Okay, I promise.” She reassured her.

Tobin release her hold smiling happily. She watched as Christen walked towards her ex and start on their journey but not before giving her a slight wave.