ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs | ᴋᴍ ✔︎

New Friend

"Shine your light on me, here I am."

| Alex |

Spending the night at home with Tobin and, for once, my daughter brought feelings of comfort through me. I, admittedly, panicked when I learned that Cody would be spending the night here. I was overcome with an urgent need to please my daughter, going over-the-top to buy the drinks and foods I knew she liked. Adding a secondhand piano in the spare room because she hates brand new instruments.

"They lack character, mom. I like a piano with a story behind it." I remember Cody mumbling as her fingers glide deftly across the keys, and the oak wood.

I got a space ready for Zeus, not that it was difficult, Blue was thrilled. I was sick to my stomach with worry that she would somehow be unhappy or disappointed. In all honesty I probably would've thrown up if Ali and Ash hadn't crashed my welcoming.

And now here I am, my head on Tobin's shoulder with my daughter's head on my lap as she sleeps soundly through another movie.

"What are you thinking about?" Tobin whispers, doing what she can not to wake Cody.

"Her." I answer as I run a hand through my daughter's brown hair. I smile as she sighs in her sleep.

"She's a great kid, Lex."

"She is."

"Then what's wrong? You don't sound happy."

"I just wish she had less traumatic childhood. I wish I could see her more...I'm so proud of her."

"What she's been through has made her who she is. And she wants to see you more, too." Tobin informs me as her hand rubs my knee comfortingly.

"She told you that?"

"God, no." She chuckles. "But she told Jack. Cody isn't very quiet when she's on the phone."

"Can you two shut up, I haven't slept this well in years." Cody grumbles, before turning on her side and cuddling into me. Tobin leaves only to come back a minute later with a blanket for Cody.

The next day we decided to go out for lunch before Tobin and Cody had to join up with the rest of their team before our game tomorrow, with a certain engaged couple tagging along.

"I missed you so much, kid!" Ali squeals as she wraps an arm around Cody's shoulder, walking in front of Tobin, Ash and I.

"I missed you too, Ali."

"Oh, I'm just Ali now?" Krieger asks, her voice dropping in volume, but we can still hear the duo.

"Yeah." Cody wraps her arm around Ali's waist. "I have another mother now, but I still love ya." I feel Tobin's grip on my hand tighten slightly.

"Back off, child." Ash playfully glares at Cody and she seperates from Ali.

After lunch we decide to go the mall, Cody telling us she wanted to get something for Jack to cheer her up.

| Cody |

Orlando's better than I expected, and everything was going fine. Until we were about to head back to Alex's.

I was trailing behind the 'adults', my focused entirely on my phone in hopes that if I stared at it long enough Jack would call or text. Suddenly the wind was knocked out of me and I was looking at the sky.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." A deep voice apologizes almost immediately, and repeatedly. "Here, let me help you up."

I look up to see the culprit. Some ladies would swoon, the romantic 'meet cute', but I'm too gay for that. I do let him help me up though.

"Stop apologizing, it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention."

"I'm still sorry." he chuckles. "I'm Max."

I take his hand when he offers, and shake it, "I'm Cody."

"I know." He states, earning a raised brow from me. "Not in a creepy kind of way, I just mean that I like soccer."

"So you knocked me on my ass on purpose?" I tease.

"No, I promise."

| Tobin |

"So...is she bi?" Ash asks as we watch the scene play out. I glance at Alex to see her biting her lip in worry.

"No."

"Then...what is this?" Ali asks. "Where's Jeri when you need her?"

"She'll be okay." I whisper to Alex, out of earshot of Krashlyn. "For once she doesn't look uncomfortable around a guy."

"I wonder why."

"Hey, mom." Cody greets us, as if she wasn't with us the entire time. "This is Max. He hit me. ATTACK!" Cody raises a fist in the air as Max's face pales immediately. Alex only chuckles at her daughter's goofy side. It's a side to Cody that doesn't usually show up this quickly around new people.

"Don't mind Cody, she's a dork." Alex eventually greets the boy.

| Kristie |

"When are you going to ask her?" Rachel questions me as Kealia listens in.

"I don't know."

"You should ask before someone else beats you to it." The forward states, and holds her hands up to surrender when I glare at her. "I'm just saying, she's beautiful, someone is going to ask her out eventually."

"Um..." Rachel mumbles, her face staring at her phone, when my own goes off.

"That could be an innocent picture between friends." Kealia shrugs.

"Oh really? Because I was thinking how suggestive it was. Maybe they're in love." I deadpan. I stand to leave them, my phone in hand as I pull up my contacts.

"Who ya calling?" Rachel sings. I can hear the smirk on her face.

"Shut up."