Work Text:
Toni was woken up by a loud noise. Or maybe more accurately, a loud screech. Looking over to where Shelby would usually be asleep beside her, there was no one there.
Toni yawned and sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. “Shelby, is that you?” Toni yelled as she heard another high pierced shout coming from their living room.
Toni threw off the warmth of her blanket and slid out of bed, making her way to where she found her girlfriend sitting on their couch, talking animatedly into her phone.
“Yes! I’m throwing a party this Sunday! You and Leah better be there!” Shelby said into her phone.
Toni blinked at Shelby from the side of the couch. She must’ve been talking to Fatin. “A party?” she mouthed to her. Shelby waved her hand in front of Toni to quiet her. “I didn’t speak,” Toni mumbled to herself.
Toni waited impatiently as Shelby mentioned “cowboys,” “food,” and “drinks” a few more times before she finally hung up. She had no idea what Shelby was talking about or why she failed to mention that they were throwing a party in a week.
Shelby bounced off the couch, clasping her hands in front of herself and faced Toni, a wide grin on her face. “Toni! We’ve got to go shoppin’. We have so much to buy for Sunday’s party.”
Toni stared at her, waiting for her to explain. When an explanation didn't come and Shelby instead ran to the kitchen to start writing stuff down, Toni followed her and finally asked. “Shelby, why are we having a party? I don’t understand-”
Shelby dropped her pen and looked up at Toni. “The Super Bowl! We’re throwin’ a party,” she answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“What?” Toni questioned, too shocked to ask anything else. Shelby ignored her and went back to writing things down. After that, she grabbed her phone to make another phone call. “Shelby,” Toni tried again but her girlfriend was already calling someone else. Shelby’s greeting told her it was Martha on the other end. After a few excited hellos, Shelby was telling her about the party and what to bring. Then she hung up.
Toni, now slightly recovered from the shock of Shelby talking about throwing a Super Bowl party, reached forward to grab Shelby’s phone from her. “Toni!” Shelby chastised. Toni grabbed Shelby’s hands and pulled her to her, circling her arms around her waist.
“Shelby, I know you’re very excited about this, but you need to explain a few things to me,” she told her calmly, pressing a kiss gently to her lips.
Shelby seemed to calm down slightly and kissed her back. She smiled. “I’m sorry,” she said, seeming to finally catch on that she hadn’t told Toni about the party. “I just realized this is my first year away from my family since the Super Bowl," she said a little wistfully. Shelby hadn’t talked to her family since she'd come out last year. Her father wanted nothing to do with her and that left her siblings, Spencer and Melody, who were both under age and therefore unable to talk to Shelby without their father’s permission, lost to her. Shelby’s father had cut all ties and changed all their phone numbers.
“Spencer and I would always go all out for the Super Bowl, throwin’ themed parties. But the Dallas Cowboys are in it this year, Toni! That was our team!” Shelby said, some of her excitement coming back in full force.
Toni couldn't help but grin at her girlfriend’s excitement, even if she was truly baffled. “Shelby, I had no idea you even liked football,” she said.
Shelby smiled a little bashfully, leaning in to give Toni another brief kiss before slowly pulling away. “What did I tell you about multitudes, Toni? I’ve always been a big football fan. I always said I’d marry Tony Romo,” she laughed a little. “Guess I had to settle for Toni Shalifoe,” she said, placing another kiss on Toni’s cheek before going back to her notepad and writing more things down.
Toni laughed at the absurdity of it all. Shelby continued to surprise her. Deciding to humor her, she looked down at her list. “All right, so what do we have to do?”
Shelby looked at her and grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.”
***
Shelby had told them about the party a full week in advance and of course Toni waited until the Saturday before the game to take care of her part of the list. Toni was tasked with Martha in buying decorations for the party. Their friends Fatin and Leah were in charge of drinks, their friend Dot in charge of bringing food, and their friends Rachel and Nora in charge of bringing games to entertain the ones who didn’t care about football. Shelby was at their apartment, tidying it up in preparation for the party.
They’d gotten a few decorations already. Mostly thanks to Martha, but Toni had thrown a few things in their cart. Some of the things Shelby’d requested Toni didn’t understand, but she’d gotten it anyway. Now Toni was trying to figure out what to wear. Shelby had told everyone the theme was “Dallas Cowboys” and to dress appropriately. Toni had no idea what that even entailed. Toni didn’t know anything about football. She was tempted to just buy a cowboy hat and leave it at that. “Marty, what are we supposed to wear for this?” she asked her best friend as they walked down an aisle.
Martha shrugged. “I don’t know, I was hoping you’d know. You’re the sports fan,” she said.
“Basketball! I’m a basketball fan, Marty! I don’t know anything about football. I didn’t even know Shelby liked football until a week ago,” she sighed.
Toni finally made it to the clothing section and spotted some Cowboys themed clothing. There was an entire row with nothing but blue and white jerseys. “I guess those’ll do, leave it to Texas to go all out,” she rolled her eyes but grabbed her and Martha two of them. “Too bad there’s no Tony Romo jersey,” she chuckled to herself, causing Martha to give her a confused look. “Never mind, inside joke,” she said. “Let’s go. I think we’ve got enough stuff. Shelby will want to set this all up tonight, knowing her.”
On the drive home, with Martha in the driver's seat, Toni had an idea. She wasn’t sure it’d work. She bit her bottom lip and scrolled through her phone. She mentioned the idea to Martha on the drive, who thought it sounded like a nice idea. Toni pondered it a few more minutes before eventually sending a text to Dot, hoping she could help her. Dot sent a text back after a few minutes and said she’d ask Fatin. Toni waited a few more minutes and finally Fatin called her back. After discussing the idea with her, Fatin said she’d get back to her. Toni hung up and nervously tapped her leg. “We’ll see, I guess,” she said to Martha as they finally pulled up to her and Shelby’s apartment.
***
As soon as all the decorations were scattered on the floor of the apartment and Martha had gone home, Shelby got to work with decorating. The first thing she noticed was some basketball themed plates and napkins. “Really, babe? The Dallas Mavericks?” she raised an eyebrow at her. Toni shrugged sheepishly.
“It’s blue and white!" Toni tried defending herself. “Nobody will notice or care,” she said.
“I noticed!” Shelby said indignantly, shaking a finger at her. “The blue isn't even the same color as the Cowboys."
“Nobody but you will notice,” Toni clarified.
Shelby narrowed her eyes but said nothing. She placed the plates and napkins on the table and sorted through the rest. Aside from the basketball mishap, everything else seemed to pass the Shelby test.
Toni breathed a sigh of relief and sat on the couch as Shelby finished putting up the last of the blue and white streamers. Toni watched as she stood on her tiptoes, her shirt lifting up and revealing a sliver of skin. Toni smiled at her. “You’re so beautiful,” she said. Shelby stood back on her feet and smiled at her.
Once Toni had gotten over the shock of Shelby being into football, she couldn't help but enjoy how excited she'd been all week. She loved when Shelby got invested in things. Seeing her girlfriend happy made her happy. She’d never known anyone in her life with as much energy and excitement as Shelby. Toni’s life growing up in the foster system was certainly not dull, but it wasn’t exciting or fun. Her entire childhood had felt like dark clouds always hovering over her head, waiting to drench her in rain. Despite their first few heated arguments (until Toni had learned Shelby was closeted and not homophobic), once Shelby bounded her way into Toni’s life their freshman year of college, Toni couldn’t get enough of that happy, bubbly energy. It felt like sunshine peaking through those dark clouds.
“Looks great, Bee,” she said, looking at everything. Blue and white streamers hung up all over, the plates and napkins were set. A large C-O-W-B-O-Y-S banner hung up on the wall.
Shelby eyed everything once more before flopping down next to Toni. “I’m glad you think so, I hope it will be fun,” she said. “I wonder what Spencer is doin’,” she mumbled, more to herself than Toni, but Toni heard.
She pulled Shelby into her side and kissed the top of her head. “I bet he’s thinking about you and wondering what you’re doing,” she said. Shelby nestled into Toni’s side and hummed quietly. Toni ran her fingers up and down Shelby’s arm. She kissed the top of her head again.
As Shelby seemed lost in thought, Toni thought again about her idea from earlier. Fatin had never gotten back to her, so she wasn’t sure what was going to happen. She thought about sending another text to Fatin. As Shelby’s breathing slowed and Toni could feel the moment she drifted off, Toni knew now was her chance. She slowly untangled herself from Shelby and went to grab her phone.
Fatin picked up after a few rings. Toni walked into their bedroom so as not to wake Shelby. After a few minutes, Fatin had told Toni she’d asked Nora for help and she’d let her know in the morning one way or another. “Nora?” she questioned.
“Yup, you’d never believe me, but-” Fatin had started to say.
“No, it’s Nora. I believe you,” Toni said, causing Fatin to laugh. “Either way, let me know by the morning, will you? It’s okay if nothing comes of it. The party will probably be fun without it, but I just thought... you know...” Toni trailed off.
“I know, Toni. We’re going to try. We’ll make it happen,” she said. Toni hung up the phone right as Shelby came sleepily into the room.
“Who was that?” Shelby yawned. Toni jumped and turned around.
“It was Fatin. Last minute drink decision making,” she said. “Don’t worry, she says there’ll be lots of alcohol.” Shelby laughed and walked closer to Toni, pulling her into a hug.
“I never doubted Fatin’s ability to provide us with drinks,” she said into Toni’s wavy brown hair, breathing her in. “You smell nice,” she mumbled sleepily into Toni’s neck. Toni shivered slightly.
“Let’s get you to bed, miss Cowboy, big day tomorrow,” Toni grinned and pulled Shelby to bed.
***
Shelby was up at the crack of dawn making sure everything was ready, even though they’d done everything the night before. Toni opted to sleep in and was just getting out of the shower and putting on her Cowboys jersey when she’d gotten a call. Racing to her phone, she picked it up. It was Nora.
“Nora?”
“Toni, hello. We’re on our way... and I think it’ll work,” she said into the phone. Toni fist pumped the air and danced around. After a few more details were laid out, Toni hung up and ran into the living room. She stopped dead once she saw Shelby.
Shelby’s long blonde hair was in loose waves around her shoulders and she was wearing a long sleeved white and blue crop top with stars down the middle, very short white shorts and tall white boots. “Wow,” Toni said.
Shelby looked up from where she’d put some of the appetizers out. Dot was bringing wings and pizza, but Shelby’d put out chips and dip. She gave Toni a wink. “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader,” she said. “You like it?” Shelby smiled.
“This is why you wanted me to buy the pom-poms yesterday,” Toni grinned. “You look so sexy,” she said, going up to her and pulling her in for a kiss.
“So do you,” Shelby said, pulling back from their kiss to eye Toni in her Cowboys jersey. “It always comes back to a Toni in a Cowboys jersey for me...” she trailed her hands down Toni’s arms, looking her up and down once more.
They admired each other for a few more minutes before they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Ladies!” Fatin said once Shelby opened the door. Fatin was wearing blue glitter in her hair, along with a sparkly blue and white top, and blue jeans. She gave Shelby and Toni both hugs as she walked in. Leah came in behind her, carrying two large bags of drinks. Toni nodded toward the table so Leah could put them down. Leah was wearing blue jeans and a simple white top. Toni wasn’t surprised that was the extent of her attire.
Dot and Martha arrived next, Martha in her matching jersey with Toni. Dot was wearing a black Dallas Texas Cowboys hoodie. Toni helped her carry the food in as Shelby, Fatin, Leah and Martha moved to the living room to start the game.
The last to arrive were the Reid twins, Nora and Rachel. Nora had painted blue and white markings on her face. Toni wasn’t sure if that was something they did in football or if this was just a thing Nora wanted to do. She didn’t ask. Rachel was dressed similar to Toni and Martha, in her own Cowboys jersey. After welcoming them in, she pulled Nora to the side to ask her more about their plan. Nora confirmed that she was hoping for it around Half Time. If not then, then after the game.
***
Half way through the game, everyone was suitably tipsy. Rachel, Shelby and Dot were the most invested in the game. Leah, Martha and Nora were playing a game of cards, not invested in the game at all. Fatin was drinking merrily while occasionally scrolling her phone. That left Toni, who didn’t want to play a game of cards, nor did she care about the football game, to sit on the couch and bounce her leg nervously, waiting for Nora to let her know if her plan was going to work.
Shelby screamed to her right and jumped up and down, grabbing Dot’s arm. Toni looked to the television and saw men running and it looked like something important was happening but then Shelby, Dot and Rachel groaned.
“Damnit!” Rachel said.
“What happened?” Toni asked.
“The other team just scored, we’re now down 6,” Rachel said. Dot sighed and flopped back on the couch. Shelby looked sad.
“Aw, I’m sorry Shelby, you still have half of the game, right? Half Time is about to start,” Toni said.
“Do we not exist?” Rachel said to Toni, pointing to herself and Dot, who were as equally upset as Shelby. Toni shrugged. Rachel huffed and turned back to the game.
Once Half Time came and went and still nothing from Nora, Toni began to worry. They were in the fourth quarter now and the Cowboys were still losing, even more than before. Shelby looked positively sad. Toni looked to Nora, who was in full conversation with Martha. Toni got her attention, motioning with her head to her phone. Nora looked down at her phone and shook her head but she gave Toni a reassuring smile, trying to tell her not to worry.
That was hard to do. All Toni wanted was for Shelby to have a good time. Shelby had been so excited all week planning this party and now with her team losing, and Toni’s idea possibly not working, Toni was afraid she was going to end the night upset. She sighed and reached for a potato chip and looked to the game once more.
She wished she cared about football, but basketball it was not. Watching Shelby made her appreciate it a tiny bit, though. Shelby's eyes were glued to the television and she was riveted the whole time, grabbing Dot’s and Rachel’s arms every time something happened, good or bad. Toni figured as long as she could watch Shelby enjoying football, she herself could enjoy football.
Nearing the end of the last quarter, Leah had fallen asleep. Fatin was showing Martha something on her phone and the three Cowboy fans, Shelby, Dot and Rachel, were all standing up, holding each other’s hands, eyes watching the screen. Toni’s eyes were glued to the girls, watching them as the clock ticked down. She knew the Cowboys didn’t have a chance, she knew they knew it too, but they held on. Finally, once the clock ran out and the other team won, groans erupted from all over. Leah lifted her head up roughly. “What happened?”
“Nothing, go back to sleep,” Fatin said, clearly not paying attention to the turmoil that Rachel, Shelby and Dot were going through.
“WE LOST!” Rachel shouted.
“Oh well, next time,” Dot said, looking a little disappointed, but not as much as Rachel.
Toni looked to Shelby, who had finally sat down and pulled her legs underneath herself. She sighed but looked over to Toni. She had a frown on her face but smiled a little once she saw her. Shelby then looked back at the television, her frown returning.
Suddenly a ring could be heard, causing Toni to jump. No one else noticed. Toni turned to the source. Nora. Nora was holding up her phone and answered it immediately. “Yes, yes, hello,” she said. Toni stared at her eagerly. Nora smiled. “Shelby?”
Shelby turned her attention away from the television to look at Nora. “Yes?”
“It’s for you,” she said, handing her phone to Shelby. Shelby looked confused but took it.
“Hello?” she asked. “Oh my God, Spencer,” she screamed and jumped off the couch, running to her and Toni’s bedroom.
Nora smiled at Toni and gave her a thumbs up. Fatin and Dot turned to look at her too and both smiled. Martha moved over to where Toni was and pulled her into a hug. “Looks like it worked,” she said to Toni. Toni just beamed at her.
***
About an hour later, after everyone had left except Nora and Rachel, Toni sat on the couch with the twins, waiting for Shelby. Shelby hadn’t come out since she’d taken the phone call. The girls all helped Toni clean up before heading off, but the twins had stuck around because Shelby still had Nora’s phone. She’d heard lots of laughter coming from her bedroom but hadn’t interrupted.
Another twenty or so minutes later, Shelby finally emerged. Her eyes looked a little puffy like she’d been crying, but she was smiling wildly at Toni. She walked over to Nora and handed her her phone, thanked her and gave her a big hug. Nora returned the hug. “Any time you need me,” she said. Rachel smiled at them both.
“We’ll leave you guys, thanks for the party,” Rachel said, getting up and heading to the door. Toni thanked Nora once more, as did Shelby and walked them out.
As soon as the door shut, Toni was engulfed in a hug and surrounded by soft blonde waves. “Toni!” Shelby screamed. “How did you do it? I know this was your idea,” she said.
Toni smiled and told her how it’d been a team effort, but eventually Nora had been the one to find him. “I don't know how Nora did it, but she did. We knew it couldn't come from you and we knew you didn’t know anything about Spencer because your dad blocked everything, but Nora found him.”
Shelby’s eyes sparkled with tears again. “I can’t believe you did that! He was so happy to talk to me, we had so much to say. He said he and Mel have wanted to talk to me for months but Daddy wouldn't let them, hasn’t even told them where I am,” she sniffled. “But he’s almost 18 and he said as soon as he turns 18, he’s getting a new phone and contacting me. I gave him your number and mine. He also said Mama misses me and talks about me a lot, but he can tell she's afraid of our daddy.”
Toni listened to Shelby ramble and talk excitedly about talking with her brother. Shelby told Toni that Spencer and Melody had thrown a party themselves and invited some of their friends. But the whole time Spencer had been thinking about Shelby, too, but then he’d gotten a message from an unknown number telling him his “party planning football partner in crime” would like to talk to him. He’d known right away it was Shelby and called the number after the game.
Once Shelby was thoroughly talked out and her and Toni were cuddled together on the couch, Toni hugged Shelby to her side. “So, you’re not too disappointed your team lost?” Toni asked.
Shelby turned her head to stare at Toni, green eyes finding brown. “Toni, you got me in contact with my brother. That is worth ten thousand Super Bowl games. This was the best party ever, and I had nothing to do with it,” she said, cupping Toni’s jaw and pulling her in for a kiss.
Toni kissed her back, sliding her own hands into Shelby’s hair. Shelby’s joy was always infectious, but when Toni herself was the reason for that joy, it was the best joy of all. Maybe Super Bowl parties weren’t so bad after all.
***