I Meant To Ask

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Riley! I meant to ask earlier!" Zoe sort of word-vomited into the phone. The "Sort of" came from the fact that this particular burst of verbiage didn't happen to contain all that much in the way of actual words or anything along those lines. It was mostly just a short little burst, more like a word hiccup than anything else. The poet chewed her cheek on the other end, one hand going to wind a curl around a finger.

"I mean, hiiii, it's Zoe, your girlfriend," she tried, already wincing for the tone she ended up taking. She actually moved the phone to slightly tap herself on the head, berating herself for even trying that. She'd need a few moments to try and think of a real way to talk to her girlfriend on the phone and ask this of her...

[Riley Forrester]

Riley had been a bit curious when her phone had vibrated in the middle of her studying. But the moment she had seen it was Zoe, her face had brightened and she turned from her work, picking it up and answering. Immediately, words sprung out that had Riley's head shooting back in surprise, wincing a little. Whoa! What a way to wake up! Her brain thought as Zoe tried again.

Riley couldn't help but chuckle, smiling fondly even though Zoe couldn't see it. "Hey Zoe! Always glad to hear you." She replied, her tone relaxed and happy as it conveyed that-yes- she really was glad to hear Zoe's voice despite the burst. "So what's up? What did you need to ask?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Naturally the pulled away phone meant that Zoe didn't hear Riley's initial response. She was too busy tapping herself on the forehead with the phone and silently berating herself for actually doing that. She heard a few more noises coming from it and pulled the phone down her ear, actually hearing the next bit.

"Ask? Oh, right!" Zoe said, again fighting the urge to hit her head. "Uh, so, um, you know Ezra, right?" she chewed her cheek for a bit. "The, ah, really nice one? The one that, uh, took your photos and offered you... food?" Zoe thought that was how the bribery had went. She did remember the conversation, but good luck recalling any of the details.

[Riley Forrester]

Zoe seemed extremely flustered for some reason over the phone, stumbling over her words. There was the mention of Ezra and if Riley remembered him. The one that offered Riley food and beer for pictures. "Oh! Yeah! I remember him. Why?" Riley asked, keeping her voice calm in hopes that it would calm Zoe as well.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Right, of course she remembered him. Why wouldn't she? Zoe chewed her cheek again. "Well, ah, he, um, well, he had this--we're friends," like she didn't already know that. No, don't take the phone away from your ear; keep it cradled so you can actually at least pretend to converse like a normal person you ninny. "And, ah, he had this idea. For a trip. A weekend trip. With, ah, him, and me and his friend Alex and another photographer friend of mine named Quinn and, ah..." far too long of a pause while Zoe chewed at her cheek again, "you?"

She had to smile at that, and shift nervously. Surely Riley would be on board, right? Right? Right?

[Riley Forrester]

Obviously it didn't quite work, for there was more stammering. Ezra was Zoe's friend, Riley caught that. Then something about an idea of his for a trip. A weekend trip. With him, Alex-- maybe that one from before she met that koala hugged him-- and some other person named Quinn. And also Riley.

Riley blinked before understanding that this call was an offering. Immediately she grinned. "Sure! That sounds like a blast! Where is the trip gonna be?' Riley asked, clearly excited.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe couldn't help but nearly collapse with relief when Riley agreed. Not that she'd been expecting otherwise, not from Riley, but, well, still, it was one thing to expect, it was another to actually hear the confirmation that you'd been hoping for.

"oh, uh, we're thinking of traveling for a bit? The idea is for me and Ezra and Quinn to, well, to take some photographs of some of the areas around here. We'll probably hit a few spots, but Ezra and I talked about focusing some on Glacial National park. But we, ah, we wanted to invite some other... people along," Zoe flushed slightly at that. "When we, um, when we sort of made this plans you and I were just, ah, friends? But I'm sure Ezra won't mind. Quinn might, but well, he's, ah, he's very into the whole not caring... thing?" Zoe wasn't sure how else to describe it. "You'll understand when you meet him, really."

Which was probably the best way to describe Quinn that Zoe, at least, could think of.

[Riley Forrester]

So, they were just going to travel for a bit. Huh... I could live with that. Riley thought. The mention of the Glacial National park had her grinning with excitement. Apparently it had started out with Zoe just inviting a friend. Buuuttt..... Now they were together. But Zoe doubted Ezra would mind, and Riley had a feeling he wouldn't either. The other boy might've but according to Zoe he still wouldn't care much.

Riley chuckled at it all. "Sounds like a fun group. I'm definitely happy to go with you, Zoe." Riley stated with a smile. "And It'd be nice to see the Park."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"It should be a fun group!" Zoe insisted, feeling herself relaxing more and more with the acceptance. "Alex is really nice too, or at least, Ezra makes her sound pretty nice. I've met her a few times, but not really enough to know. And the park is quite beautiful: I'm the one who suggested it and all. It'll be great to get away with you too! Though, um, there is, ah, there will be other people," Zoe flushed, again finding herself playing with that loose curl.

"And, uh, I think you and I and Alex will have to share a room? Or a tent?" How could that not be awkward, any way you looked at it?

[Riley Forrester]

Riley smiled as it seemed like Zoe was starting to relax. Apparently Zoe had never met Alex too much, so she didn't know much one the girl. All Riley knew was that Alex enjoyed tackle hugging Ezra. She seemed nice enough though. Zoe definitely sounded excited about the park, but Riley could almost see her blushing with that last bit. It made her chuckle.

"It'll be great to get away with you two, Zoe. I gotta confess, that' kinda the major reason I wanna go." Riley admitted, blushing a little as she rubbed the back of her neck. But Zoe went on, mentioning how the three of them would have to share a room. Which would be.... definitely interesting. Oh shit. That means Zoe and I would need to change and.... No no no no mind out of the gutter Riley. She backtracked quickly even as her face reddened a little. "It'll be alright. Long as none of us snore too loudly." Riley joked instead, biting back any other not-so-innocent thoughts. Dammit mind...

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe couldn't quite suppress the giggle that rose up as Riley admitted that the main reason she wanted to go on the trip happened to be the girl inviting. "Well, I didn't think you'd be too entranced by the photographic views," Zoe replied lightly, smiling at her own little joke in there. The smile turned a bit more uneasy (though thankfully Riley didn't see it) as Zoe thought the same thought that Riley did; they'd be in a position where...

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. We can always bring earplugs. I'm a very light sleeper, but I've been told I don't make much noise. I can even provide references if you want,' Zoe then realized what this probably meant and she blushed. It didn't make it any easier that the people most likely to realize this were all either ex-girlfriends or, well, there was Di, and Di wasn't a girlfriend, albeit she was a fairly attractive girl...

[Riley Forrester]

The giggle across the phone line made Riley smile even wider, and the little joke made the smile turn into a grin. Although it did die down a little at the prospect of the two of them sharing a room together. Or a tent. Or.... a bed. That realization made Riley flushed and rub her face. Stoooooooooop She pleaded, barely making out what Zoe was saying. Something about light sleeper and references. There was a bit of a silence between the two, but Riley pressed on to break it.

"So... when is this trip? This weekend or a bit from now?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Well, there's a long weekend coming up, so we might plan it for that. Thankfully we've all got very similar schedules, so it won't be too much of a nightmare to get everything arranged. Nobody has any shows this early, but Alex and I will have to make certain we can take off work. We were probably thinking a few weekends from now?" Zoe couldn't help but frame it as a question. Riley was part of the expedition after all, and Zoe didn't want to leave her girlfriend out, especially not with all the planning she'd already gotten started with (not to mention the talk with Quinn).

"it will be soon though," Zoe continued quickly, before Riley could manage. "Otherwise it'll become one of those things we always talk about but never actually get around to doing."

[Riley Forrester]

Riley listened intently as Zoe spoke, mulling over her words. So it was going to be soon enough; when everyone's schedule was clear. That honestly sounded good to Riley, and have her some time to get ready and generally get all her stuff done so she wouldn't have to worry about anything. "That sounds good. I don't have anything on the weekends really, so I'm flexible on the date." She admitted with a shrug even though Zoe couldn't see

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Great!" Zoe said, nearly doing another little dance of victory. "But you will have plenty to do on the weekends now, you have a needy girlfriend remember?" Zoe smiled and flushed at that, lowering her head slightly. Again the hand went up to start threading a curl around a finger, actually pulling it slightly as Zoe worked it over. "Not that, um, we have to spend every weekend together or anything. If you want a break I'll most definitely understand, and it's perfectly fine. I want you to have your space."

And again, Zoe was flushing, if for entirely different reasons. It seemed as if she couldn't even make it through a phone conversation without getting embarrassed and tripping over her own tongue.