True Colors

Tobin is at work when she hears the familiar chime of her phone. Without thinking she picks up her phone from her desk, expecting the message to be from Kelley but instead sees a familiar name on her lock screen. She unlocks her phone and reads the message.

Alex: Sorry about lunch. That’s not the real me, let me make it up to you?

Tobin is not sure what to think at this point. She wants to burn that bridge because, when is she ever going to see Alex Morgan again? Probably never, so no damage not responding to her. After what seems like forever, but was really only an hour, Tobin finally responds.

Tobin: Hey! I understand and would love for you to make it up to me.

Tobin pushes send before her brain can process what she just typed. Her face is a mixture of happiness that she gave Alex the benefit of the doubt and anger that she let her heart take over her brain for a brief moment. Tobin pushes her phone away and lays her head on her desk and lets out a frustrated grunt.

“What’s up with you?” Tobin hears and picks her head up to see Kelley standing at the door. Kelley walks in still wearing her sunglasses and Tobin jumps at the opportunity to point it out.

“Why are you still wearing your sunglasses? You are that important Kell.” Tobin says as she pulls her computer on her lap and props her feet on her desk.

“Well I’ll have you know that I was asked for my autograph while I was getting coffee today.” Kelley says proudly as she sits on Tobin’s desk. Tobin knocks her to the floor with her foot.

“Okay that was rude. What’s the matter with you?” Kelley asks as she rubs her butt and sits down in a chair in front of Tobin’s desk.

“Ugh, a lot.” Tobin says as she throws her head back.

“I have two good ears so do tell.” Kelley says as she leans forward.

Tobin begins to tell Kelley what happened at lunch and how she was conflicted at what to do about Alex. Kelley laughs at her and Tobin throws a pen at her face.

“Kelley this is serious!” Tobin yells as she gets up and starts pacing the length of her office.

“You are really contemplating dating Alex Morgan? The girl you’ve had a crush on since college?” Kelley says and Tobin stops to think about this.

Tobin did in fact have a crush on Alex back in college when she first saw her play soccer. Alex was just a freshman and she was starting forward at Cal Berkeley. Tobin, who was a junior, was amazed by this. Ever since then Tobin went to every home game until she graduated.

“I hate that you’re right, but she has a boyfriend so it’s not a date, and you should have seen the way she acted. It was like a slap in the face to me.” Tobin says as she sits down at her desk.

“Okay well take it a step at a time. She’s at your mercy now. Make her prove she is not that person. Did she text you back?” Kelley asks and Tobin reluctantly looks at her phone and shrugs her shoulders.

Kelley grabs Tobin’s phone to see if Alex did text her back. Tobin watches Kelley read the message and sees a big smile appear of her face which is probably a good sign.

“What did she say?” Tobin asks as she gets up from her chair behind her desk and makes her way over to Kelley.

“I will tell you if you agree to give her a second chance.” Kelley says and Tobin lets out an exasperated sign and runs her finger through her hair. She thinks about it for a couple seconds and finally replies to Kelley.

“Okay.” Tobin says simply and Kelley shoves the phone in Tobin’s face.

Tobin reads the message and re-reads it over and over, ‘this has to be wrong’ she thinks to herself.

“Great! I would love to take you out on a date, if you’ll let me?” Tobin reads out loud and looks to Kelley confused.

“I thought she had a boyfriend?” Tobin asks Kelley and places her phone down and lands face first onto her office couch.

“Well maybe they broke up?” Kelley says skeptically. Tobin and Kelley both know the whole world would know if Alex and Servando broke up. Tobin was in a pickle.

“You and I both know that’s not true. She is either trying to play me or play him and I can’t let her do that.” Tobin says and Kelley nods her head in agreement.

“Then maybe you should tell her that. Meet her for coffee today.” Kelley says and Tobin thinks about it for a couple minutes before grabbing her phone and texting Alex back.

Tobin: How about we meet for coffee first? Are you free for the rest of the day?

Alex: YES I am. I can meet you in half an hour. (:

“I am meeting her in half an hour.” Tobin says as she walks back over to her desk.

“Be straight with her Tobin, but not like heterosexual more like-“Kelley starts to say but Tobin cuts her off.

“I get what you mean, Kell. Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Tobin says and Kelley jumps out of the chair and sprints to the door.

“Good luck! Love you!” Kelley shouts as she runs down the hall.

Tobin texts Alex back and to tell her a coffee place that is close to work and grabs her keys and bag, headed to her car. On the short drive to the coffee shop Tobin can’t help but think this is a very bad idea. Yes she thinks Alex is insanely beautiful but she isn’t sure if she would be able to put up with her attitude, plus the fact that she has a boyfriend.

Tobin arrives first orders her coffee and heads to the back to claim a booth. About 10 minutes later Tobin hears the familiar chime of the door and looks up to see a very attractive Alex Morgan at the counter ordering a drink.

Alex gets her drink and looks up to find Tobin in the back with her head down. She takes a deep breath and walks toward the booth.

“Hey Tobin.” Alex says as she slides gracefully into the booth.

Alex would never admit this but Tobin makes her very nervous and her heart gets all racy when she is around Tobin. This is a new feeling for Alex because she doesn’t even feel this way around Servando.

“Hey Alex, how are you?” Tobin asks as she sits up straight and takes a sip of her coffee.

“I am good very well now that I’m with you.” Alex says and Tobin blushes and looks away at anything but Alex.

”Smooth, very smooth.” Tobin says and they both laugh at this.

It says quiet for a bit before Alex decides to speak up and say what she has been thinking since she sat down.

“Um, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted at lunch today. I promise I’m not always like that.” Alex says and Tobin nods her head because she wasn’t really sure what to do in that moment.

“You’re really cool Alex but why did you act like that?” Tobin asks and Alex takes a deep breath and responds.

“I actually don’t know. I was really trying to show off for you.” Alex says as she covers her face with her hands.

“Wait, what?” Tobin says as she pulls Alex’s hands away from her face.

“Yeah, I wanted to impress you and it totally back fired on me, huh?” Alex says with a chuckle and Tobin nods her head in agreement.

“Yeah just a bit but I think I can forgive you.” Tobin says as she pretends to think about it.

“Well while you think about that I am going to go get a muffin. Want anything?” Alex says and Tobin laughs but shakes her head no.

Alex walks away and Tobin can’t help but check her out but Alex suddenly turns around and catches Tobin’s wandering eyes. She smiles and winks at Tobin and continues walking.

‘Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.’ Tobin thinks to herself.