Highmauve: The Quad

"Ain't no trouble." Agnes shifts her stance so that one hand rest lightly on her hip and her jacket hangs in the crook of her arm. "Wouldn't invite you if I didn't mean it."

Tobi stands next to her, still shirtless, barefoot, and wearing only a pair of thick sweatpants with the college name and logo stamped on them. "You gonna pass up free breakfast?" He asks, sounding almost genuinely confused.

Both the twins eyes rest on her. They're intimidating people, but it seems that only goes skin deep. There's nothing in there eyes that warns her away, only a simple question and maybe a little bit of hope.

Silence. It’s a little longer than any normal person mulling over a thought, but that’s expected at this point. After a little while, Noelle nods quietly “Alright. I’ll go...”

She knew the intimidation was only skin deep. But she still was wary about Agnes. She wondered how much she knew from Tobi.

Both twins smile at her answer. Their grins are about the only thing about them that doesn't match. Where Tobi's is subtle, more of a barely there tilt of the lips and crinkling of the eyes, Agnes's is much more visible and much toothier.

"A'ight," Agnes says, then turns towards Tobi. "Go throw some clothes on, then we'll go. You're halfway to indecent." Tobi turns over the end of the leash to her and turns to head back into the dorm. He smacks her arm as he passes with enough force to knock her a little off balance, but her grin doesn't falter.

"Y'all comin' up?" he calls after him. "Can at least wait inside, might be a quick minute."

"What, you livin' inside now?" Agnes tugs at Sunshine's leash gently. The dog pushes herself up and starts to trot after Tobi and Agnes towards the dorm.

Noelle stands up, brushing them dirt off of her jeans. She feels so full with content and peace, she follows them without a doubt. She lingers a little behind them, watching them interact.

Agnes was what Noelle wanted to be- strong, self-assured, tough. She was definitely Toni’s other half in that aspect. They were so similar yet had such subtle differences- it fascinated her.

Tobi leads them through the front door of the dorms, past the lobby, and up the stairs to the third floor. As they reach the top floor, the room opens up into a bright lounge area. Plush sofas and armchairs are scattered throughout the living space on top of the thick shag carpeting. It's a little more worn in high traffic areas, but still very soft. Plants are dotted throughout the area and look to be very well cared for. A large bulletin board takes up a large chunk of the wall nearest them. It's full of flyers and information about upcoming events; at least half of it is dedicated to the upcoming Homecoming, the times and dates for the different attractions written in Tobi's messy scrawl. One student stares blearily at a toaster in a kitchen space tucked neatly away into one corner, though he looks up when he hears Tobias coming up the stairs. Tobias gives a small wave and the student waves back.

He leads them down the hall and past doors decorated in plant themed name tags until he reaches one with only his name on it. A key slides into the lock and clicks the heavy door open. Tobi swings it fully open and steps inside.

His dorm room is remarkably cozy. The window is open, allowing the breeze to waft in and ruffle the various papers and plants scattered throughout the room. A small sofa takes up one wall while his bed takes up the other, both of them covered in handmade quilts and blankets. He has a desk shoved into a corner and a large laptop on top of it, open but not on. Books are stacked throughout the space, and a small mini fridge acts as an end table next to the couch. Small boxes of food are shoved into different spaces between books and knickknacks on the shelves above his desk. Laundry is stacked next to his bed.

He goes over to the small closet and pulls out a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt before making his way over to the desk and grabbing what looks like one of those trashy tabloid magazines you find in line at the supermarket. He throws it at Agnes on his way out of the room towards the bathrooms. "Saved it fer you. Page ten." Agnes raises the magazine in mock salute at him as he leaves.

Noelle recognized that Tobi was a much better RA than her own. Samantha, the Junior that lived on her floor, rarely came out of her room and put up events and activity reminders sporadically and last minute. Noelle looked around at the lounge area- this dorm was much newer than her own. She recognized the student at the toaster from a couple classes and looked away by instinct.

Homecoming was just around the corner, but Noelle knew it would take a literally rapture to get her to go. School dances were never her thing. She wasn’t exactly graceful and dresses hung on her weirdly. Still, her mother kept asking her about it.

When they reached Tobi’s room, it was unequivocally his. The coziness, the quilts, the mountains of work. It was so loved in and alive- almost the exact opposite of her own room.

Once the tabloid was in Agnes’ hand, she looked at the cover. Noelle was fascinated by urban legends and modern folklore. And ancient folklore. And Americana folklore. As an aspiring writer, storytelling was something she found fascinating in any form. She would spend hours researching stories and reports of sky serpents and Native American monsters. Living in Portland, she would often hear about old stories by the sailors and fisherman that have been passed down by their own ancestors.

When Tobi left, Noelle watched Agnes warily. Her face is neutral and stoic, as she adjusts her round glasses.

The magazine cover looks to be a blurry photo of something massive surrounded by trees. It appears to be vaguely deer shaped with large curving antlers, but that’s about where the similarity ends. The bolded title proudly proclaims, ‘Spirit of Shenandoah Captured on Film!’.

‘Made the cover this time.’ Agnes thinks with a wry smile. She flips the magazine open and pages through it before landing on the page Tobi had mentioned. Her eyes skim over the page briefly before flipping it closed and tucking it in her pocket. She’ll read it when she gets home.

With nothing else to do but wait, she makes her way over to Tobi’s couch and sits down, leaning back into the couch. Sunshine moves around the room to sniff at Tobi’s possessions, snuffling gently into Tobi's laundry and at his quilts. Agnes drops the leash to better let the dog explore.

“So, Noelle.” Agnes starts. He voice is like Tobi’s: Low timbered and a little rough. She draws out Noelle’s name in long syllables. “Tobi’s told me a little bit ‘bout you.”

The Spirit of Shenandoah.

Huh.

Noelle of course had heard of it briefly. Gritty pictures that have been enhanced and zoomed to grit. The cryptic was a relatively new discovery. She wondered why Tobi would think his sister would find it interesting. Noelle knew she worked in the parks near-

When she saw Agnes’ smile, her synapses sparked in sudden realization. While still stoic, Noelle was reviewing every piece of information about the creature as well as Agnes.

When she heard her name, Noelle snapped to now. She’s silent for a moment, then “Yeah? What’d he tell you?”

It isn’t aggressive, just curious.

"Hmm," Agnes hums, thinking. "He ran into some shy freshman durin' orientation. Told me she were part of the program he was in too, that she was a quiet sort." Agnes leans her head back against the back of the couch. There's a brief pause. Fluttering papers echo through the quiet as the breeze moves softly through the open window. Agnes's eyes close with the noise and she breathes in slow and relaxed. When she opens them again, she's looking at Noelle. "Told me too he wouldn' have gotten through a class without her help." She holds Noelle in her gaze, serious.

"I know he gets real bad sometime, and it kills me t'not be able to be near 'nough to help anymore. So I jus' wanted t'say thanks." She nods her head once, a gesture of respect. "I 'preciate what y'did for him." Her grin returns, softer this time.

"Bitchin' power y'got, too."

Noelle bites her lip when she first starts. She wasn't exactly proud that she was so shy when she first met Tobi. The breeze tousled her hair gently, and Noelle slowly adjusted it back.

She met Agnes' eyes and stares back, quietly receiving the gratitude. She gives a short nod as if to say Yeah, well I couldn't leave him like that.

At the remarks of her abilities, her cheeks turn a slight rosy pink"Oh. Yeah. Um, thanks." She felt awkward about the compliment. It wasn't that interesting- Tobi's was far more interesting than her own.

C'mon, give yourself some credit." Agnes watches Noelle blush with a small chuckle.

Tobias walks in then, shaking some water out of his hair. He's showered quickly and changed into the clothes he took with him. The hoodie looks soft and worn, and the jeans are one step away from fraying at the knees. "You botherin' her?" He rumbles at Agnes as he walks into the room. Sweatpants fly through the room as he balls up the ones he was wearing and throws them at the laundry pile. Sunshine 'wufs' quietly and chases after them.

"Nah, jus' talkin'." Agnes shakes her head. Tobias shoots her a look, but doesn't say anything. " 'preciate the magazine." She pats her pocket where the magazine resides.

"Y'should, cost me like five bucks." he says as he sits on his bed to pull on his boots. He looks over at Noelle briefly, silently asking if she's still good.

Noelle is about to say something, but Tobi walks in. She fades back again, observing. She gives Tobi a small nod as if to say It's fine.

Her eyes move to the quilts, and she started to look at them in detail. She stares at the quilts and tilts her head "Hey Tobi? Who made these?"

The question catches Tobi a bit off guard. He hadn't been expecting any questions about his quilts of all things, but then remembers Noelle said she did some sort of crafts. Should have figured they'd interest her. Agnes also looks a bit surprised at the question. Her eyebrows raise before her expression fades into a very soft, very fond smile. She leans back into the sofa and waits patiently for Tobi's answer.

"Aw," he stumbles with his words. "Well, made 'em when I was real little with our Ma. I remember it was one'a her favorite things to do, an I always thought it was pretty neat how she made these real pretty blankets. So she taught me how t'do it, and I just kept kin'a makin' em. They remind me a her." He finishes. His hand rests on the blanket underneath him, his fingers slowly burying themselves in the fabric. "I got more of 'em at Ness's."

"They're warmer than the noonday sun. He's not gettin' em back." Agnes says from her spot.

"They're really good... I mean, they look well constructed. Your mom had some real talent. You too." Gingerly placing her fingers on the stitching of a blanket that lays on the arm of the couch. She looks at it for a moment, then looks back at them "My mom and I made blankets too. Not as many."

A smile plays on her lips, and she nods at Tobi "Good Job."

"Well shucks." Tobi brings his hand to rub at the back of his neck. "Ain't no thing. Jus' somethin' to do." He hides the rising flush on his face by leaning down to tie his shoes.

Agnes shoots Noelle a conspiratorial look. 'Gets embarrassed real easy bout this stuff.' she mouths at Noelle.

"Hush up." Tobi mutters lightly without looking up.

"No, I understand... They are really good though." Noelle looks away for a moment chewing her lip. She didn't really know what to say to that. She got rather sheepish herself when people complimented her work. She looks out the window at a couple of songbirds that swoop down to a nearby tree.

With his shoes tied, Tobi stands up off the bed. "A'ight, you owe me an' her breakfast." he nods at Agnes. She stands shortly after he does and pulls her jacket across her own broad shoulders. Keys jingle against the magazine sticking out of her pocket. She reaches in to grab them and twirls them around her finger once she has them out.

"Usual place?" Agnes asks. Tobias nods. He whistles once and Sunshine trots over to him, leash in her mouth.

"Good girl." he says quietly as he takes the leash from her. He pats her once on the head. "You comin'?" he turns to Noelle as the three of them stand in the doorway.

Noelle quickly snaps out of her stupor and looks at them "Yeah. Let's go."

She follows them out, the hair on her arm standing up straight. Storm coming. In Portland, they could get really nasty. But it somehow comforted Noelle. Made her feel connected. Made her feel real.

She follows Tobi, Agnes, and Sunshine through campus. After for being there for almost a month, it was starting to feel like home. Things weren't perfect- she still got looks by the people who saw her name tag during orientation and Tamara was still a little rude. But she had Tobi and her books and the Library and the others in the program. They've all grown on her. Especially Tobi.

The wind was picking up slightly as they walked. Tobias could feel the stirrings of a storm rolling in. In an hour or so there'd be rain, maybe some thunder or lightning if they're lucky. Tobias appreciated the anticipation as well as the actual action of the storm, the build up and the explosion of rain that would fall in about an hour. He was content with his sister and his dog at his side, as well as Noelle, all on their way to breakfast. It felt comfortable, like a moment he could really settle into. His eyes crinkle at the sides as his mouth tilts up and his head dips toward the ground. Agnes looks over at him with a sideways glance, turning back with her own small smile.

She was glad he was happy, glad he had found a place where he could feel safe. Noelle was a good friend to him; Agnes felt so much more at ease knowing he had someone watching out for him.

After a while of walking, they reach the small town Tobi and Noelle had gone to on their own walk. Tucked away between a few buildings was a small, run down storefront. Tobi pulls open the door to reveal a worn looking, but cozy restaurant. Booths line the wood paneled walls, and all the tables and chairs out on the floor are mismatched. An ancient coffee maker sits underneath an old Pepsi menu advertising the day's specials with mugs lined up beside it, each sporting a different logo or picture. String lights line the wall, but they're not lit. Tobi and Agnes choose a booth. Sunshine settles herself quietly under the table.

Noelle walked in. She knew this place- her mom and sister took her to breakfast when they drove her down. Many tears and promises were made before there were hugs and goodbyes. Her heart tugged at the memory as they sit in the same booth as the one from a while ago. She needed to call her mom. It's been a week.

It reminded her of home too- once a week she would take her sister out to eat. Noelle was normally the only one home to cook dinner, and she quickly ran out of recipes that Joy would actually eat. The small dives with fried food were Joy's haven, and Noelle relished in it. The waitress would always know their names and eventually, didn't even need to take their order.

Noelle sits next to Tobi, her arm brushing against him gently. She sits on top of her hands, pressing her lips together. With her hunched shoulders, she looked smaller than the two with her,

The waitress comes over shortly after they're seated. She's older than the the three college students in the booth, probably mid fourties. Deep smile lines around her eyes speak to a kind demeanor, and she makes her way over to the table looking pleasantly surprised at the sight of them. Agnes makes easy conversation with her, the two obviously familiar with each other. Mugs are offered, Agnes and Tobi each get one filled to the brim with a bitter, dark roast. The sugar and cream aren't touched before the two each take sips from their respective mugs, one with the 'I Believe" image from the x-files and one with a picture from the Andy Griffith show.

"Always a pleasure to have the two of you back." the waitress smiles. "Bring the loveliest company." her eyes flick to the dog underneath the table.

"Y'make it worth comin' back to, Julie." Agnes offers back. "Think I'd die 'fer them blueberry pancakes." The waitress laughs and writes the order down on her notepad. She looks up again at Tobi.

"Eggs if y'could." he says. Julie nods again. Finally she turns to Noelle.

"And you, sweet pea? What'll you have?"

"Um... Could I please have some pancakes and bacon?" Noelle says, nervously. She stays seated on her hands, but she stops putting pressure on her lips. She looks at the waitress, then back at the table.

God, she was making a fool of herself. She was such a spazz. She tries to sit up, but it ends up looking unnatural for her.

"Pancakes and bacon coming right up!" she chirps brightly before walking back towards the kitchen. Tobi and his sister settle into the booth. Outside, the sky begins to darken as the storm rolls into town.

"Storm's rollin' through." Tobias hums. He leans his head against the back of the booth and closes his eyes. His shoulders brush Noelle's as he brings his arms up to rest crossed on his chest.

"Earlier than th'radio said it would." Agnes agrees as she watches the first drops of rain patter against the storefront window. "Prob'ly should've driven." she reflects wryly and takes another sip of her coffee. Soft, twangy guitar can be heard throughout the small restaurant from a radio sitting at the counter. Julie moves from booth to booth wiping them down and placing new utensils. Metal tools against a griddle and the soft hissing of cooking food sounds from behind a swinging black door. The sound crescendos whenever Julie pushes it open. There's no one else in the restaurant but them, most likely kept away by the rain.

Noelle watches the rain softly patter, which helps her relax. She rolls her shoulders and places her hands on her lap. She notices Tobi's shoulder but chooses to ignore it. Don't draw attention to yourself. She hoped the storm would last long- working on research and schoolwork in the library while watching the rain was one of her favorite things to do at school.

She listens to the conversation, unsure if she should insert herself into the conversation. These two lead such interesting lives and she felt as her own didn't measure up.

"That truck you got made it all th'way here?" Tobi cracks an eye open. "That hunk'a metal's one foot outta the grave."

"Ain't nothin' wrong with my baby." Agnes huffs.

"That thing's older'n the holy bible, jus' let it die Ness." Tobi smiles wryly at his sister. He opens his eyes and leans forward on the table to grab his own Andy Griffith mug. He takes a sip, relishing the hot burn of the coffee. Rainy days like this, nothing felt better than watching it pour with a hot cup of coffee and good company. He was lucky to have both. Speaking of which...

"You ever been here 'fore, Noelle?" he asks her, ignoring Agnes's glare at him. Girl's been quiet this whole time, he hopes they're not makin' her uncomfortable.