True Colors

Six months have passed since Tobin moved to Portland and things were picture perfect for Alex and Tobin, so much so that Tobin wanted to propose to Alex on their one year anniversary. She had two months to plan a proposal worthy of THE Alex Morgan.

Since leaving Los Angeles Tobin has, believe it or not, been missing Kelley eating all of her food and Kelley has certainly been missing her favorite photographer.

Tobin decided to invite Kelley up to Portland since she is on her off season. Alex loved this idea because she loves Kelley; “we can train together and have sleepovers!” were the first words that came out of Alex’s mouth when Tobin told her the news.

“Tobin Heath!” Tobin hears a familiar voice yell from across the airport. “I have missed the shit outta you buddy!” Kelley yells as she runs into Tobin’s arms and squeezes her tight.

“Kelley, if you don’t loosen up you’ll be squeezing the shit out of me also.” Tobin says and Kelley releases her and they both walk to the exit of the airport out to Tobin’s car.

“Where’s your lover girl?” Kelley asks as she put on her signature sunglasses on.

“Well, ALEX is at my apartment awaiting your arrival. She cooked dinner or something like that.” Tobin says as she helps Kelley put her bags in the trunk of her Jeep.

“Yeesh, Alex cooking? You remember what happened last time, right?” Kelley says as she shutters at the memory.

“Yeah I do, but I can’t say no to her and she’s been taking lessons. Fingers crossed.” Tobin says as she starts her Jeep and they begin the journey to Tobin’s apartment.

“Fingers crossed that it doesn’t land you in the hospital again.” Kelley says and now it’s Tobin’s turn to shutter at the memory.

The ride to Tobin’s was short and filled with laughter between the two best friends.

“Well, here is my home and now yours.” Tobin says as they pull up to a nice apartment complex.

“Wow Tobin, you make a lot more money than I thought you did.” Kelley says and Tobin just shakes her head and grabs Kelley’s bag from the trunk.

“Shut up, Kell. You know exactly how much I make.” Tobin says and Kelley nods her head in agreement.

“Perks of doing your taxes.” Kelley says as she walks into Tobin’s apartment.

“I am still not sure why I let you do that.” Tobin says as she throws Kelley’s bags on the floor.

“Alex? Babe, we’re back.” Tobin says when she doesn’t see anyone in the kitchen.

“In your room!” Alex yells back and Kelley disappears to find her.

“ALEX!” Kelley yells and Alex responds with, “KELLEY!” and then Tobin hears a loud thud and walks back to her room to inspect the damage.

“Really guys? You broke my lamp.” Tobin says as she begins to pick up the broken pieces of her lamp.

Alex and Kelley completely ignore her and walk back into the living room. ‘I guess I’ll clean this up on my own’ Tobin says to herself.

After finishing cleaning up the mess Tobin walks out into the living room to see Alex and Kelley laughing. Tobin is beyond happy that her best friend and the love of her life are best friends.

“No, please don’t get up. I already cleaned up the lamp.” Tobin says sarcastically as she plops on the couch and turns the T.V. on.

“So Kelley, how is L.A.?” Alex asks as if she hasn’t been back since the start of the season, Alex was just there three weeks ago for a photo shoot.

“Well, it is good but I think it misses you guys.” Kelley says and Alex nods her head in agreement. “We miss it as well.” Alex says.

“Speak for yourself, I like it here.” Tobin says and it catches both Kelley and Alex off guard.

“I thought L.A. was home, Tobin?” Alex asks and Tobin shrugs her shoulders.

“I never really had a home before.” Tobin says nonchalantly and Kelley makes her way to the spare room in Tobin’s apartment to give Tobin and Alex some time to talk.

“What do you mean? I thought you had been in the same foster home most of your life?” Alex asks and Tobin gets up from the couch to pace around the living room.

“I was but I never considered that my home, Kelley was my home, and when I left for college everything changed. I never went back to that house not even for Christmas or summer break.” Tobin says as she begins to remember her not so glamourous college years.

“What did you do? And what about Kelley?” Alex asks as she watches a very uneasy Tobin pace around the living room.

Tobin takes a deep breath and starts to tell Alex all she doesn’t know, “I worked during the summer and just floated from couch to couch until school would start back up.”

“What about Kelley, Tobin?” Alex asks as she pulls Tobin back on he couch with her.

“I didn’t see or talk to her for three years. We played each other my senior year and she hated me for what I did, but understood why I never went back.” Tobin says as she looks at her hands that were sitting in her lap, doing anything and everything to avoid Alex’s eyes.

“Why did she understand?” Alex starts off but quickly adds, “It would be a lot easier if you would just tell me all at once instead of taking dramatic pauses.” Tobin laughs at this.

“That foster home I was in was a shithole, Alex, the only people that kept me sane where Cheney and Kelley. Our foster parents didn’t care about us; they just saw us as a check from the state. It was not a good living environment.” Tobin says and Alex is not sure what to say so she says nothing.

“It got worse when I left and Kelley had no one there to keep her sane and I live with that guilt and regret every day. If I had visited or even called once in a while things would have been different, but I didn’t. I was selfish.” Tobin says as she leans her head back on the couch and lets out an exasperated sigh.

“What happened at that house, Tobin?” Alex finally asks and Tobin shakes her head side to side as if to say ‘no’.

“I am not going to tell you that because it’s not relevant anymore. Ask Kelley if you want to know that badly.” Tobin says as she gets up and open to door to her balcony and takes a seat in one of the chairs.

“Give her some time, she’ll come around.” Alex hears and turns to see Kelley standing in the door of the kitchen.

“I just never knew how bad it was. I thought she had a good life. She has never said anything like this before.” Alex says as she buries her head in her hands.

“She hardly ever talks about it. You’re the first person she has ever opened up to like that.” Kelley says as she sits by Alex and rubs soothing patters on the forwards back.

“She said I was her home and maybe I was but you’re her home now.” Kelley says and Alex physically loses her breath but Kelley continues, “She would follow you to the ends of the world, Alex. Tobin was a homebody without a home, but now she found her home in the face of a blue eyed soccer player.” Kelley says and Alex is amazed at the eloquent and sophisticated words that flow from her friend’s mouth.

“Wow, Kell that was beautiful.” Alex says and Kelley laughs and smacks her on the back of the head. “Go get your girl, Alex.” Kelley says and motions to the balcony.

Alex gets up and walks over to the sliding glass door and sees Tobin looking out at downtown Portland. “Mind if I join you?” Alex asks and Tobin nods her head and opens her arms.

“You’re my home, Tobin.” Alex says and nuzzles her head into the crook of Tobin’s neck. Alex feels Tobin’s arms wrap tightly around her and Alex knows in that moment that no matter where they are in life, Tobin will always be her home.

“I love you so much.” Tobin says as she kisses Alex’s head tenderly.

“I love you more.” Alex says and neither of them makes any attempt to get up, but instead they hold tightly onto one another.

.

“Kelley I am not, let me repeat not, getting on that thing.” Tobin says to a whining Kelley as they stand in front of what seems to be a massive death trap, but in fact is not.

“Come on Tobin, it’s just a rollercoaster. Do you really want Alex to see you wimp out?” Kelley comments back to a stiff and fearful Tobin.

Tobin and Alex have been showing Kelley around Portland and according to Alex the Portland fair ‘is a must’, so that is why Tobin is stuck in the predicament she is in.

‘Stupid Alex and her stupid idea’, Tobin mutters to herself. On one hand she doesn’t want Alex to think that she is a wimp, but on the other hand she doesn’t want to die.

“I don’t care. I’d like to live to marry her, so I’m out.” Tobin says as she makes her way to a set of benches and watcher her girlfriend and best friend risk their life for sixty seconds of adrenaline.

Tobin has been sitting at the benches for a couple minutes when she sees someone out of the corner of her eye. “Can I help you?” Tobin asks the person now standing in front of her.

“You’re Tobin Heath, right?” The person asks and Tobin is taken back and tries to remember where she might now this person from, she’s got nothing.

“Yes I am. I’m sorry I don’t remember your name.” Tobin says as she gives this person her full attention.

“Well, I’d be surprised if you did because we’ve never met..” This person says and Tobin lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “I’m Jude by the way. I’m a fan of your photography.” The boy says and a smile forms on her face. She has never been recognized before.

“Whoa, seriously?” Tobin says to the young man who couldn’t be more than seventeen or eighteen. “That’s rad dude.” Tobin adds and Jude laughs.

“Yeah, I love taking pictures and then I saw yours and I was amazed. You’re brilliant.” Jude says as he stands awkwardly in front of his hero.

“Have a seat Jude, let’s chat.” Tobin says and they chat for a while about photography and sports. Tobin realizes that Jude is a little dude version of her, they like all the same things and same sports teams.

They continue to talk about everything until Alex and Kelley come back from the rollercoaster. “Hey babe, are you replacing me already?” Alex says in a teasing manor.

“Never in a million years,” Tobin says and then introduces Jude to Alex and Kelley. “Jude this is my girlfriend Alex-“

“Morgan and Kelley O’Hara.” Jude says with a shell shocked look on his face. “I am big fans.” Jude says once he regains his composure.

“Wait, really? How do you even know me?” Kelley asks with a confused look on her face.

“My older brother went to Stanford when you were there and I saw you play a couple times. You are really good.” Jude says and Kelley swoons at his words.

“So, how old are you Jude?” Kelley asks in a flirting tone.

“Seventeen almost eighteen.” Jude says and Kelley realizes her mistake and excuses herself from the group to go ‘pray and wash her mouth out’.

“So, Jude do you play soccer?” Alex asks the young man as she takes a seat next to him and across from Tobin.

“Yeah, I have a scholarship to play at Cal Berkeley next year.” He says and Alex high fives him.

“Yes, that’s awesome! Cal is the best school in the world.” Alex says and Tobin scoffs at her.

“Why are you scoffing? You went there too.” Alex asks confused at why Tobin would scoff at her own school.

“I only did my masters and doctorate there; I went The University of North Carolina and played soccer.” Tobin says and Alex is beyond confused now because she did not know that.

“Why did I not know about this?” Alex asks with a crinkle in her forehead.

“I dunno, I figured Kelley told you or something. Sorry babe, we can play twenty questions later tonight.” Tobin says as she grabs Alex’s hand from across the table.

“Jude, if you ever need help or advice about photography or soccer then you can call me.” Tobin says as she holds out her hand for his phone and proceeds to put her number in.

“I am actually doing a photo shoot later this week if you want to tag along?” Tobin asks and Jude nods his head up and down furiously.

“I would love that! I'll text you.” Jude says as he runs away to catch up with his friends who have been calling him for the past ten minutes.

“Nice kid.” Tobin says and Alex nods her head in agreement.

“So, twenty questions but there is a twist.” Alex starts and Tobin rolls her eyes in response. “I get to ask the questions, you don’t.” Alex finishes and Tobin throws her head back and lets out a groan.

“Fine, but later, my brain hurts right now.” Tobin says as she sees Kelley walking back toward them.

“Well hey there, weirdo.” Alex says to Kelley referring to what happened earlier.

“Oh gosh, I know. It was a momentary lapse in judgment. Don’t ever let me do that again.” Kelley says as she throws herself onto the picnic table across from Tobin.

“Don’t worry kiddo.” Tobin says as she ruffles Kelley’s hair which earns her a smack to the shoulder.

“Was the screaming death trap fun?” Tobin asked both of the girls who respond giddily. “It was pretty freaking awesome! You missed out loser.” Kelley says and Tobin shakes her head and laughs at Kelley’s antics.

“You really did miss out, Tobs.” Alex adds and Tobin responds with, “Well maybe if I survive twenty questions with you I’ll go on one.”

“Yeah Tobs, don’t you think it’s kinda weird that Alex doesn’t know much about you?” Kelley says and Tobin gives her a death glare from across the table.

“I am starving. Dinner anyone?” Kelley says trying to change the subject and luckily Alex buys it and they all head downtown to grab pizza.

.

Dinner was a success and the three movies following were a success as well.

“I am headed to bed. Please don’t be too loud tonight.” Kelley says on her way to Tobin’s guestroom which she dubbed as ‘her bedroom’. She misses the finger that Tobin flips her way.

“I’m pretty beat too, you ready for bed?” Tobin asks Alex who was half asleep on her shoulder. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Tobin says as she carefully gets up and picks up Alex and heads to her room with the young striker in her arms.

“Twenty questions. Toby.” Alex mutters as Tobin gently lays her on the bed.

“Not tonight, baby. You are too tired and so am I.” Tobin responds back as she starts to change into a pair of shorts and t-shirt.

“Why don’t you want to tell me about yourself?” Alex asks with hurt in her voice. Tobin spins around from the spot at her dresser to see tears streaking down her girlfriends face.

"Alex, babe what’s wrong?” Tobin asks as she begins to wipe away the tears on Alex face. “Do you not trust me?” Alex says as she begins to cry more.

“Of course I trust you, I love you Lex.” Tobin says and seals her words with a kiss to the younger woman’s mouth.

“Then let me in.” Alex says as she gets up walks to the bathroom and slams the door.

Tobin walks over to the bathroom door and slides down to the carpet with her back to the door. “My parents left my siblings and me when I was 13 because they didn’t want us anymore. They split us up into different foster homes because no one else in my family would take us.” Tobin says and takes a deep breath because she knows she has a lot more to tell.

“I met Lauren that same year and she helped me through losing my parents and siblings. The foster home we were put in was a rundown house that barley had plumbing. Lauren and I shared a room with three other girls. We slept on the floor together.” Tobin says as she remembers just how terrible the situation was.

“Cheney got adopted a couple years later and then came sweet Kelley. Her parents died in a car crash. Lauren was my sanity and when she left I became Kelley’s sanity. She was my little sister and my best friend. We played soccer together and both realized that we were quite good so we practiced every day. I got a scholarship to UNC and left without looking back. I left her and things got really bad. She never told me what really went down but I can imagine what happened.” Tobin says a she feels a couple tears slide down her face.

“I graduated college and moved out to California to be closer to Kelley. I got my masters at Cal Berkeley and then got my doctorate. Cal Berkeley was also the place that I saw the girl I would later fall in love with. I graduated and got a job taking wedding and prom pictures and slowly made my way up to shooting for major magazines.” Tobin says as she gets up from the floor and opens the bathroom door to see her girlfriend sitting on top of the counter.

“It was there that I met a girl that would later make everything in my life seem obsolete, her name was Alice Morgan, I think?” Tobin says and earns a tears eyed laughed from Alex.

“Shut up loser.” Alex says as she brings Tobin in for a sweet kiss.

“Ask me questions.” Tobin says as she guides herself and Alex back to the bed.

“Where were born?” Alex asks. “New Jersey.” Tobin answers with pride.

“Have you tried to find your siblings?”

“All the time.” Tobin says sadly.

“Thank you, Tobin.” Alex says and Tobin nods because she isn’t sure she can say something without crying again.

“I’m so proud of you.” Alex says as she pulls Tobin up to her chest and wraps her arms around the photographer.

“I love you so much, Alice Morgan.” Tobin says and Alex laughs, “I love you too, Toby Heath.”