Chapter Text
Prologue: Your eyes whispered "have we met?"
----
“You want me to do what?”
Toni is currently staring at Shelby like she is speaking another language. She swears she didn't actually hear the blonde ask her what she thought she heard.
“I need you to be my girlfriend.” Shelby says, a desperate look on her face.
Toni sighs. “Yeah, I thought that’s what you said.” She scrunches her eyebrows. “Are you high? Drunk? Sleep deprived?”
Shelby huffs. “No, Toni!.” She takes a deep breath to center herself and then sighs. “I need you to do me this huge favor and pretend to be my girlfriend.”
Toni knows she still has a blank look on her face. She’s so lost.
“I have so many questions.” Toni starts. “But the most important one is, why?”
Shelby half shrugs before sitting next to Toni on the couch.
Both girls were currently relaxing at Toni’s apartment before Shelby had dropped this bomb on her. The blonde had just finished up her finance class while Toni had been done with her classes since noon.
Toni has known Shelby for long enough now to pick up on her tells. The blonde is in her own head and Toni knows that she can’t rush the Texan. So, Toni waits.
After a few minutes, Shelby breaks the silence. “My aunt wants me to come for Thanksgiving this year.”
Toni raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything, waiting for Shelby to continue.
Shelby sighs. “She didn’t know my dad cut me off when I was 17 but when she found out she felt awful. She wished she could’ve done more to help me then.” Her shoulders relax a bit. The frenzied and slightly desperate look that was on her face is gone.
She continues. “Anyhow, she called me up on my new phone number. I’m not really sure how she got it but she called and asked if I could come to Thanksgiving since she’d be hosting this year.”
Toni nods. “Ok, but isn’t that a good thing that she’s reaching out to you?”
Shelby smiles wistfully. “Yeah it is.”
“So then why do I have to go with you and pretend to be your girlfriend?” Toni asks, still completely lost.
“My dad is going to be there and I don’t think he knows I’m invited.” Shelby huffs again, starting to get more riled up at the mention of her father. “I just want to show him I’m not alone. I want to prove him wrong-”
Toni cuts her off. “Fine, I’m in.”
“Wait what?” Shelby raises her eyebrows, shocked. “Just like that?”
Toni crosses her arms, a hard expression on her face but it’s not directed towards the blonde. “Fuck Dave Goodkind. If I can piss him off, I’m going to piss him off.”
Shelby smiles. “Are you sure?”
Toni rolls her eyes. “Yes princess, I’m sure. What’s going to be so hard about posing as a couple? We’re friends.” She shrugs. “We’ll just have to hold hands and shit, right?”
The blonde huffs. “Hold hands and shit?” She shakes her head. “Goodness Toni you are certainly a romantic.”
“Shut up!”
From an outside perspective and based purely on appearances, no one would ever think Toni Shalifoe and Shelby Goodkind would be close friends.
At first, they weren’t.
Shelby and Toni met during an intro to business class they had both been enrolled in at County College of Morris.
Shelby arrived ten minutes before the class and started talking to the professor.
Just as the professor had laughed at a small joke Shelby made, Toni walked in.
The brunette had looked from the blonde to the professor then rolled her eyes. Toni had scoffed and took a seat all the way in the back of the class.
Shelby had tried to make nice when the professor had asked everyone to participate in an icebreaker but Toni was having none of it.
The brunette essentially ignored the blonde for the first two weeks of class before the professor forced them to interact.
The duo had been assigned a presentation to work on together. It was through this assignment, Toni was given more insight on the blonde. She had realized very quickly how she misjudged the Texan.
And being the kind and good-hearted person she was, Shelby forgave Toni without a second thought and their friendship started from there.
The two started spending more and more time outside of class together. Toni learned about the blonde's hardships, struggles and the exile from her home, but in spite of all that, Shelby still saw the best in everything.
In return, Shelby learned that Toni had the opposite of an easy life as well. Toni spoke of being in the foster system in Minnesota and if it hadn’t been for her best friend, she doesn't know where she would’ve ended up.
Since then, they've been close friends, hanging out with their combined friend group they had made through roommates, old friends, and other classmates.
“Ok so, if it’s not just holding hands and shit, what is it?” Toni asks. “What do I need to do?”
Shelby raises an eyebrow. “Well first could you maybe act like the idea of dating me doesn’t physically repulse you? I get it, I’m not your type.”
While the fact that Shelby isn’t Toni’s usual type wasn't wrong, what the blonde had first said couldn’t be farther from Toni’s true feelings.
But, Toni wasn’t going to open that can of worms.
Toni takes a deep breath. “Seriously Shelby, what do you need me to do?”
Shelby thinks for a moment. “I think we may need a little more input from someone else.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Toni definitely doesn’t like where this is heading.
“I need to call Dottie.” Shelby says, already unlocking her phone.
_____
Dot stares at the pair for a long three minutes.
She just received a lot of information all at once.
One, being that she was invited to Aunt Lizzie’s 40th and Thanksgiving.
When Dot and Shelby were sophomores in high school, they grew close because they had been paired together for a French assignment. Aunt Lizzie spoke fluent French and had offered to help them with it.
For a week straight, Shelby and Dot spent everyday after school with Aunt Lizzie. Through those after school sessions, Shelby and Aunt Lizzie learned the truth about Dot’s father. Aunt Lizzie was there for Dot for the next two years, especially after her father passed.
Dot loved Aunt Lizzie like she was her own aunt. Shelby was glad her aunt was able to help Dot.
Two, being that Shelby would see her immediate family for the first time in two years since her father had kicked her out of the house when she came out to her family.
Three, being that Shelby thought the best decision to show up her father was to bring a girlfriend home and rub it in his face.
“Dottie, are you still with us?” Shelby asks, mildly concerned that her friend hasn't said anything since Shelby explained what their plan was.
Dot blinks once. Then twice. “You’re going to what? I don’t know if I heard you right.”
“We’re going to fake date.” Toni says, still not quite believing it either.
Dot laughs. “No, seriously.”
Shelby shakes her head, letting Dot know that they are entirely serious.
“Wow.” Dot looks stunned. “Just- wow.”
Shelby takes one of Dot’s hands in her own. “Dottie, please help us.”
“By doing what?” Dot seems just as lost as Toni was when Shelby first brought this up to her. “I’ve never fake dated someone.” She sighs. “Wow, even saying that sentence makes me feel ridiculous.”
Shelby huffs and stands to face Toni and Dot. “Ok look, I know this idea is probably the most foolish thing I could ever think of that would feasibly work but if you can’t tell I am desperate.”
The brunettes know this is really affecting the blonde, especially when Shelby starts pacing.
“I don’t want my dad to keep me from all of my family.” She huffs. “I am done being scared of him and avoiding him. I want to see my aunt and celebrate her birthday. I haven’t seen my siblings in two years.” She adds softly, mostly talking to herself now. “Mel is going to be a teenager in a few months and Spence is going to start driving real soon.”
Toni walks over to her and puts a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, I’m not saying no, princess.” She waits for the blonde to meet her gaze. “I was never saying no. I’m in this. This situation may be-” She pauses to find the right word. “Unconventional but whatever you need from me, you got it.”
Shelby nods and then pulls Toni into a hug.
The short brunette is not used to someone’s default being physical touch for comfort but she’s known Shelby long enough now to understand that that is exactly what Shelby needs.
Dot gives them a moment before grabbing Shelby’s attention. “You know I’m always on your side, right?”
Shelby smiles. “I know Dottie.”
Dot nods. “Good and while I don’t think this plan is solid, I will do whatever it takes to help you.” She adds. “Especially to stick it to Dave Goodkind."
“Fuck yeah!” Toni holds out her fist to Dot who bumps it.
Shelby shakes her head but she’s still got a soft smile on her face.
“So, how should we start this?”
___
Dot paces back and forth in front of the duo. When she stops, she crosses her arms. She looks down at the girls sitting on the couch in the living room.
“Shelby, where did you meet?”
The blonde takes a deep breath. “We met during a business class in the summer. We worked on a project together and got closer.”
Dot nods. “Toni, who asked who out?”
“Shelby asked me out.” Toni answers. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure if she’d be interested and I thought I was way out of my league- still do.”
Shelby smiles and puts an arm around the brunette, giving her a side hug.
“Love it, getting convinced.” Dot says. She squints and thinks of another question they had gone over earlier.
“What was your first date?”
Shelby takes this one. “We took the train to New York City. I had never been to Central Park and Toni thought I'd love it, which I did!”
Toni nods. “Then we grabbed some tacos at Los Tacos and ended up on the High Line for a bit.”
“The High Line was amazing. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did.” Shelby admits. “We ended our date by getting something sweet. We got some gelato at Venchi.”
“Good, good.” Dot says.
There’s a pause in the conversation before Dot speaks again.
Dot turns to Toni. “What is Shelby’s favorite color?”
“Huh?” They hadn’t rehearsed those types of questions.
“What’s your girlfriend’s favorite color?” Dot crosses her arms over her chest. “What’s her favorite movie? Favorite song?” The brunette raises an eyebrow. “How old are her siblings? What’s the most surprising thing about her? Why are you dating her?”
Toni’s eyes widened. “What is happening?” She looks at Shelby, who just shrugs.
Dot turns to Shelby. “What about you? What’s Toni’s favorite color? Favorite movie or song? What do you like most about her?”
“What the fuck Dot?” Toni asks.
The other brunette moves to put her hands on her waist. “You can’t just memorize stuff about your relationship like your first date and all that and expect it to convince your family that you’re in love or some shit. The little things matter too.”
Toni sighs, “Fair.” She knows Dot has a point. She thinks for a moment before speaking. “Shelby’s siblings are Spencer and Melody. Spencer is 15 and Mel is 12. Her favorite movies are anything super cheesy and super white, like that movie on Netflix, When We First Met-”
“Rude!” Shelby playfully glares at Toni, which makes the brunette laugh harder.
Toni continues. “I’m not wrong princess but I’ll digress.” She smiles. “Shelby loves having popcorn with peanut M&Ms when watching movies. Her favorite song is Mine by Taylor Swift- or Everything has Changed by Taylor Swift or- Red or-”
She cuts herself off and looks at Shelby. “You really love Taylor Swift and-” Toni takes a deep breath, closes her eyes and pinches the bridge of her nose. “And also country music. I’m trying not to hold it against you.” She says that last part like she's in physical pain.
Shelby smiles. “Stop being dramatic, you love Taylor Swift and I catch you singing under your breath to some Luke Combs now and again.”
Toni smirks. “No comment. Moving on, Shelby’s favorite color is orange but she never wears it; she writes with it.”
Shelby doesn’t show it but she is slightly shocked Toni remembers all of this about her.
Dot doesn’t look as impressed but motions for Toni to keep going.
Toni starts getting a little lost in all her memories of Shelby. She remembers seeing the blonde write in orange gel pen during their business 101 class, then switching to a blue ballpoint pen and highlighting with orange.
Toni also remembers waiting for the Texan to show up one day to their class with an orange shirt or shorts or even a dress but the blonde never did. Shelby always wore every other color but never orange.
“She doesn’t like how she looks in orange and she prefers to wear yellows or greens.” Toni explains. Then she can’t help but add, “I love when she wears green because it brings out her eyes.”
There’s a beat of silence for a moment and it takes Toni a little longer than she’d like to admit to realize what she had just said.
“Wow, Toni.” Shelby smiles. “Even I’m impressed.”
Toni is still reeling from her accidental reveal so she doesn’t say anything.
The blonde continues to smile at her and then she responds to Dot’s questions in turn.
“Your favorite movie is Shutter Island but your guilty pleasure is Wild Mountain Thyme because hearing Emily Blunt try and do an Irish accent and failing is hilarious to you.”
Toni gets out of her own head and laughs. “I love Emily Blunt but wow her accent was just- laughable. Possibly offensive to people actually living in Ireland.”
Shelby sends the brunette a fond smile before nodding. “You’re not wrong.”
Then Shelby adds, “You also love anything from the 00s like Counting Crows or Matchbox Twenty.”
Dot looks from Shelby to Toni. They’ve both most likely forgotten she’s standing right in front of them.
Before Dot can say anything, Shelby continues to show them how much she knows about Toni.
“You don’t have any biological siblings- well you may but you have no idea and you have no desire to find out. Martha is your sister in all but blood and you’re content with her and her alone. I love seeing you with her. You’re extra soft when talking to her or about her.”
Toni rolls her eyes. “Shut up.” But she’s still smiling because she loves hearing Shelby talk about one of her favorite people.
Not that she’ll ever tell anyone about that.
“And your favorite color is red.” Shelby smiles. “But my favorite piece of clothing of yours is your denim jumpsuit.”
Toni can’t stop the faint blush on her cheeks.
Dot clears her throat, making both girls jump.
When they look at her, she has an eyebrow raised and confusion is written all over her face.
“Ok, I think we’re done for today.” She shakes her head. “Or at least I am done with the both of you for now.” She walks out the door without a second glance.
Shelby raises an eyebrow then looks back at Toni. “Did we say something bad?”
Toni shrugs. “No idea.”
Shelby sighs and leans back into the couch. “Thanks for doing this again.”
“It’s not a big deal Shelby.”
The blonde waits for the brunette to meet her gaze. “It is to me, Toni.” She sighs. “Part of me is still kind of terrified to confront my dad.”
Toni shakes her head. “Don’t think about it like that. Think about the good things- like seeing your aunt and your cousins- seeing your brother and sister.” She puts one of her hands over Shelby’s. “Don’t let him spoil this. This is a good thing.”
Shelby smiles. “You're right Toni.”
Toni nods. “So, what else should I know?”
Shelby shrugs. “Honestly, you know a lot already.”
“Do I?”
The blonde smiles. “Well yes, we are friends Toni.” She shrugs. “Like, my Aunt Lizzie, tell me what you know about her.”
“Well your Aunt Lizzie is pretty badass.” Toni says with a smirk. She watches Shelby roll her eyes, which is exactly the response Toni knew she’d get from her.
Toni continues. “I know I’ve never met her but I admire that she was the black sheep of the family.” She smirks again. “She also gets bonus points in my book for going against everything your grandfather and father represent.”
Shelby can’t help but laugh at that. “She definitely did that. Piercings, dying her hair red, dating pretty young.” She smiles wistfully. “Aunt Lizzie is a free spirit for sure.” Then adds, “I love that about her.”
Toni leans back against the couch as well, then looks at Shelby. “She had your cousin when she was like- 18 right?”
Shelby nods. “Yes, she and my uncle got married right before she had my older cousin Grant and then had my cousin Maddie a few years later. We’re the same age as her.”
Toni nods. “Right, right. Your grandfather basically shunned her and kicked her out of the house after high school, right? Prick.”
Shelby laughs. “Toni!” She playfully hits the girl’s arm.
The brunette holds her hands up. “Fine, fine.” She sighs. “Once your grandfather died, your dad got in contact with your aunt when you were like 5?”
“He did. Mostly because he wanted me and my siblings to get a bigger family feel. My mama’s family wasn’t enough for him.” Shelby pauses for a moment. “I think it was a pride thing but I don’t know for sure since I never got the whole truth about Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Chris from either of my parents.”
Toni watches as Shelby starts playing with the blanket in between them. She’d noticed early on in their friendship that the blonde always needed to keep her hands busy whenever she talked about something that made her upset. Because of that, the brunette gave the Texan a yellow fidget cube for Christmas as a last minute gift.
Toni doesn’t know it but Shelby carries the fidget cube with her wherever she goes.
“It’ll be ok princess.” Toni says.
Shelby smiles. “I hope.”
___
During the next week, Toni and Shelby continue to plan with Dot about their Thanksgiving break plans. They decide that they will be driving down to Clearwater since they don’t want to spend the money on plane tickets.
Midway through the week, Dot figures out their car situation but there’s a catch. She bursts into Shelby’s apartment to find the pair sitting on the couch watching some Netflix show.
“So, my roommate is going to be spending Thanksgiving alone.” Dot starts as she moves to stand in front of them. “Do you think she could come with us?”
Shelby smiles as she sits up. “Of course!”
Toni raises an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t we know who it is before you say yes, princess?”
“No one should be alone for Thanksgiving, Toni.” She turns to Dot. “Who is it?” Shelby asks, still unperturbed by the idea of inviting a stranger over for Thanksgiving.
“Mia Hunt.” Dot answers.
Toni asks, “Who the fuck is that?” at the same time Shelby exclaims. “Oh Mia? I can’t wait to meet her!”
The brunette whips her head towards the blonde. “Who is Mia Hunt? She sounds like a soccer player.”
“She is Dottie’s roommate since the beginning of the term. They’re real close. I haven’t been able to meet her but she sounds super sweet.” Shelby explains.
Toni rolls her eyes. “You also call Italian ice, water ice so your judgement is pretty off.”
Shelby shakes her head. “It’s called water ice!”
“You could not be more wrong!” Toni exclaims. “We’re not getting into this again princess.”
“You brought it up!” Shelby counters.
Dot stops them. “Wow, you two have mastered fighting like an old married couple.”
Shelby smiles. “Moving on, Mia is more than welcome. I’ll have to call Aunt Lizzie just in case but I’m sure she’ll be ok with it.”
Dot nods. “Mia is good people, I swear. I can vouch for her.”
Toni shrugs. “OK but how does this help us with the fact that we don’t have a car?”
“Because Mia’s boyfriend Logan has access to his family’s minivan. They haven't used it in a while and they don’t need it anytime soon so Mia asked and Logan gave her the keys.” She looks at Toni. “His family is super well off so cars to them are a dime a dozen.”
Toni glares at the other brunette. “I hate that.”
“I know right?" Dot shakes her head. "But Logan is actually a really good person. He’s super down to earth. He’s taking a few classes at Morris and aims to get his real estate license.”
“Wait, Logan Peyton?” Shelby asks.
Dot raises an eyebrow. “Uh, yeah. How did you know that?”
Toni rolls her eyes. “Of course you know him.”
Shelby elbows the shorter brunette. “Hush you, and Logan is a year behind me in my program. He’s a sweetie. I did not know he was well off.”
Dot nods. “Yeah, he doesn’t act like it at all.”
Shelby smiles. “Well alright!." She looks down at her phone. "Let me go call my aunt real quick before I forget.”
The two watch as Shelby steps into her bedroom. Dot sits down in the spot Shelby just vacated.
“Are you ready for Thanksgiving break Shalifoe?” Dot asks.
Toni laughs. “Oh fuck yeah.” She sighs. “I need a break.”
“I think this road trip will be good.” Dot says. “I think we all need a breather.”
Toni exhales. “I agree with you there dude.”
Dot pauses for a moment before speaking. “I think having Mia on the trip could help us too.”
Toni raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well she doesn’t know either of you.” Dot starts. “So, you and Shelby could practice being a couple to convince Shelby’s parents.”
Toni blinks. “Wait, what?”
Dot shrugs. “Shelby’s father is like a police dog searching for drugs. He’s relentless and always finds something to nitpick Shelby about.” She sighs. “I’m not trying to psych you out Toni but if you do this, you can’t let him get to you and you can’t show any hesitance."
Toni rolls her eyes. “You know, this guy gets better and better the more I hear about him.”
Dot laughs.
“I’m being entirely sarcastic if you couldn’t tell.” Toni explains with a smirk.
Dot rolls her eyes. Then she says in a sardonic tone, “Oh no, I had no idea.”
Before either of them can say anything else, Shelby walks back in.
The blonde smiles. “Aunt Lizzie said yes, the more the merrier!”
“Awesome!” Dot says. She stands up. “I’m going to my place to tell Mia.” She stops and turns to look at Shelby. “Also Shelbs, I was talking to Toni, I’m thinking we don’t tell Mia the truth about you and Toni so-”
“So we can practice!” Shelby finishes her sentence. “Oh that’s a great idea Dottie!”
Toni raises an eyebrow. “That was fucking creepy.”
Dot shrugs. “Eh, you get used to it.” She nods. “Later losers.” She salutes to them and then walks out.
Shelby sits on the couch next to Toni. “You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
Toni shrugs. “I mean I don’t think it’s not a good idea.”
“That was way too many double negatives in a sentence Toni.” Shelby says. “You know that confuses me!” She elbows Toni’s side.
“Ow, ok, ok!” Toni laughs. “I think it’ll be good practice. I just hope Mia isn’t super intuitive.”
Shelby laughs. “Me too.”
Toni sighs. "Either way, we got this princess."
The blonde sends her a smile. "Yeah we do."