The Second Date Wouldn't Measure Up

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

It wasn't just air either: too long of a contact with Zoe's skin would literally send Riley into anaphylactic shock. That did occur to Zoe as their liplock continued for some time. She knew her power, her numbness, had to be spreading through Riley. If their tongues had been working, the other girl's mouth would even be numb from the inside. They did pull off before they quite got to that point, however, and Riley was blushing while Zoe felt breathless and flushed.

"Oh, right, eating," Zoe said, looking around. "Oh, gosh, you too?" Zoe looked at Riley, then giggled. "Sorry it's just, when, um, I'm really comfortable around someone, I really, ah, I um, well, cuddling's nice. You need to be careful though," she moved to start getting the food ready. "If you kiss me too long, you really will end up in the hospital. I, um, one of... I sort of... did that," Zoe flushed as she hurried to get out the various food, mostly light wrapped sandwiches and salads. "I, well, it was," she lowered her head to play with a container of salad, "it was, um, Devyn, and I sort of, um, we kissed and, ah, if there weren't medics..." Zoe flushed and looked away, before looking up at Riley. "So please, um, make sure you're careful? I like you too much to want to see that happen to you..."

[Riley Forrester]

Riley's mouth did indeed feel numb, and her voice probably would've been hilarious to listen to if she weren't using her powers to modify it a little and make sure her voice came out clearly. Thank god for vocal mimicry. Riley though with relief as Zoe moved away and started preparing the food. She also started mentioning the danger of her power,which Zoe had figured would be bad. She wasn't too surprised. There was also a mention of Devyn, who must've been another ex. Then finally, Zoe warned her to be careful, especially since she liked Riley so much.

That made the punky girl grin, and shake her head. "I'll try, Zoe. But it's gonna be tough." She admitted. "Cause...well I really like it and, um... I really like you..." Wow, you're good at this. Her brain said helpfully as Riley averted her eyes. "Umm.... What are we eating?" She inquired, glancing at the food

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The shaking head nearly had Zoe protesting, especially as this really was serious and not her joking around. What followed was a bat of stuttering that almost sounded like what Zoe produced herself. She flushed at that, fidgeting with the food for a moment, mentally reminding herself that they would be cuddling together under this beautiful tree later.

"Salads," she said, grabbing one of the plastic containers and holding it out for Riley. "And a few sandwiches, some apples, a few slices of cake, um, some bottles of water, and I think there are some chips in here?" Zoe fidgeted around for a bit, eventually just pulling the basket over and setting it between them. She looked down at it, flushing. "Sorry, I'm, well, like I said, I'm not a huge fan of the whole, eating... thing," she looked in. It looked like a pleasant meal to her, but she wasn't sure.

Flushing, she looked up at her date. "Maybe next time we should, um, go to a restaurant, so you can order something that's not," she looked down, blushing, "rabbit food..." Which was what several of her friends called it, often to Zoe's face.

[Riley Forrester]

More blushing. Cuddling later Riles. Remember. Later. She thought, forcefully restraining herself. Zoe was obviously worried for her health and safety, but it really was going to be hard to resist. Luckily, they moved onto the food. Which, in Riley's opinion, was perfect for a picnic. A full out dinner; perhaps not for her. But a picnic? It was absolutely fine. Hell, it even had cake! So Riley only smiled warmly up at Zoe, chuckling. "It's perfect." She assured the girl.

And then she mentioned eating at another restaurant. Which meant a third date. Oh hell yeah. "Of course! But not because this is 'rabbit food.'" She said with air quotes, smirking. "But because I'd love to have a third date with you." She confirmed, smiling as she reached for one of the sandwiches. When she picked it up, she looked at Zoe. "So! Time to eat?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Perfect, Zoe flushed at that, fairly certain that it wasn't. She was almost tempted to mention that Riley hadn't eaten food cooked by someone who really knew what they were doing. At least Riley seemed enthusiastic, even talking about how happy she was about the food, even teasing her about the rabbit food comment.

"It would be nice to be in a restaurant," Zoe said, also thinking about being in public, being seen. Would that mean something for their relationship? Did they have a relationship? NO, no, she shouldn't think of stuff like that. Just.. enjoy the moment. Whenever Zoe started thinking too much, she had a tendency to get wrapped up in things, which she'd already done several times during this date alone.

"Time to eat!" she said, almost too perkily. She moved the food around, making sure they both had portions of everything in hand. It took some balancing, getting everything spread out on the blanket and all. "Oh, and, um, I am going to want to take a picture of us again, it's... um, well, you know," she shrugged, handing a water bottle over, "what I do."

[Riley Forrester]

Riley smiled when Zoe flushed, but she restrained herself from touching the girl again. Caaaaalllmmmm Her brain insisted as Riley focused on what Zoe was saying. "Yeah. We would have to go to a fancy one though, since the third date is usually when you dress up." Riley stated, chuckling. Which then brought on images of Zoe in a dress. Whiiiiiich Riley quickly pushed away and instead diverted her attention back to the food. Bad Riles.

Riley was glad she had food to eat, because it helped take her mind off of her previous thoughts. It was actually good, and Riley enjoyed ever bite she took. Although she forced herself to eat slowly so she didn't scarf it all down. And she listened to Zoe as well, mentioning how she wanted to take a picture. She grinned at that last bit, chuckling. "I know, and I love it." She said, managing to throw a wink in there. And then she quickly ate as a blush colored her cheeks a little. Oh wow. Look at you go Riles.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded: "Yes! That's what I was thinking too! Plus, um, it'll be nice to, to dress up for each other, don't you think?" Zoe asked, smiling shyly and fidgeting a little. She nibbled a bit more at her sandwich, idly thinking about what Riley would look like if she actually wore a dress. Or would she opt to wear a suit instead? Either or would definitely look good on her, that much was certain. Zoe really didn't know how she kept getting such... such sexy people interested in her.

Maybe the photography? Riley did tease her about it, and Zoe flushed. "Well, I love that you're a musician," Zoe replied promptly, before picking at her sandwich again. "I actually feel a lot more comfortable with you because of that. Like, it's nice to have someone else who... who's artistic," she looked up, meeting Riley's eyes, "who gets it." Who gets me.

Zoe held for a moment before looking away, taking some of her picked apart sandwich and nibbling at it. She nodded at the tree. "it's really remarkable, isn't it? I've taken a few people's pictures near here, but, um," she glanced at Riley, "you're, ah, the first, well, not really the first girl but..." she looked back at the sandwich, mumbling, "you know what I mean."

[Riley Forrester]

Oh dear. She was mentioning the dressing up thing again. Don't derail. Don't derail. RIly thought as she grinned at Zoe, nodded. "Of course! Although, I've got to warn you... I'm probably going to wear a suit because dresses and me don't exactly get along." She admitted, hoping that it wouldn't bother Zoe too much. She just didn't like wearing dresses. They weren't her style, and Riley never figured they looked good on her. They were just... eh.

Riley felt her own cheeks color slightly in response, but she smiled nonetheless. and it only grew as Zoe went on, claiming to be comfortable around the punky girl. Wow. Hell yeah. Riley thought triumphantly, smiling warmly as she met Zoe's eyes. It was kind of... hypnotizing. And definitely intimate. "Thanks." Riley managed, blushing just a bit more. Jeez. I am a blush machine. She thought. "I... definitely feel the same way." She added honestly.

Finally the eye contact was broken and Riley remembered to breath. She continued eating, mostly to give her an excuse to look away, before glancing back at Zoe as she spoke. Which only brought the blushes back anew again. Riley gulped down her food and chuckled a little, reaching over to give Zoe's hand a squeeze. "I get it." She said, smiling.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The admission had Zoe smiling again. "I, um, actually like it when girls wear suits," she admitted, flushing dark again. There was something that made them seem so confident when they dressed like that. Well, and Zoe had always had some preference for androgynous looking women, that or the really exotic ones.

Such thoughts kept circling as Zoe met Riley's eyes for that long look. The poet often forgot that you could immediately tell everything she felt simply by looking into her eyes. They showed her emotions as clearly as an empath would have felt them. Just now, they stared with affection, looking on with trust, and then seemed to spark with a last bit of laughter. They went down in a sort of demure shyness for several long seconds.

"Thanks," she said as Riley insisted she got it. Zoe took a few more bites of her sandwich, awkwardly working it with one hand. "We, um, really should eat. So we can, uh, do some more, um, exploring? Or cuddling. Or, whatever," she shrugged slightly, flushing yet again.

[Riley Forrester]

Oh.... Oh thank god. Riley thought with an internal sigh of relief and then a grin at how badly Zoe was blushing. Well, seems like she certainly liked suits! Now Riley was just dying to out one on. Even though she wasn't the fondest of wearing one. She figured she could just for Zoe. But then she was struck a bit speechless by what she saw in the girl's eyes.

Affection. Pure affection and trust and laughter. Oh.... Riley thought before the contact was broken. She only hoped her own eyes had portrayed even half as much emotion as Zoe's had. Seriously. She had the most amazing eyes. But then Riley was brought back to the present by Zoe's comment. "Oh... Honestly?" Riley said, retraction her hand to eat. "I would be alright with just cuddling for a while." She said honestly, smiling a bit at Zoe.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

the thought of just cuddling was appealing, and Zoe had to smile and nod slightly. "It is tempting," she admitted. She pointed up at the tree, "but, um, I really would like us to, well, look around for a bit too. We can always cuddle, like, in our dorms, later, or..." Zoe flushed, realizing what that hinted. She shook her head, turning to look at Riley. "I didn't mean... I'm not propositioning you or anything! Not that I wouldn't because you--well, we'd have to go on more dates first and be officially girlfriends, which I would like eventually but, um, I'm just---" Zoe was sliding into full "Mary Poppins" mode, where her voice sounded so British that you half expected her to start asking for tea and crumpets before asking to go to the loo. It didn't help that she was going fast.

"I just meant---cuddling. I like it. With you. Because I trust you. And I like you. And you're sexy. But, um, I don't--" Zoe took a deep breath, before burying her head in her hands. "I should just stay away from some words..." she nearly moaned.

[Riley Forrester]

Riley was slightly sadden by Zoe's suggestion to explore, but not much, and it went away in an instant when she looked at the tree. It was magnificent. And besides, Zoe was right. They could just cuddle in their.... Wait, whoa. Riley realized, glancing over at Zoe with a new blush just as the girl seemed to realize what she had said. Quickly, Zoe was backpedalling, trying to assure Riley she wasn't propositioning her but wouldn't mind it (which of course made Riley blush a bit more) except once they had gone on more dates and were girl friends. All the while, her accent was getting thicker and thicker and it just made Riley smile.

Then there it was again. Enjoyment of cuddling with the punky girl. Her trust in Riley. Affirmation in liking her. And again the mention of Riley somehow being sexy. Then Zoe buried her head in her hands and practically moaned her sorrows. It was enough to make Riley laugh and put down what remained of her sandwich before she crawled forward and took Zoe's hands away wrap her own arms around Zoe and kiss the girl again. Why is she just so kissable?

Eventually Riley pulled her head away again, grinning. "No. Use words. Always use words. Please."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Arms around her again. Zoe felt herself tense for a moment before she had to remind herself that this was Riley, ergo locking up and tensing was rather on the foolish side of things, really. Hands took hers, pulled them away, and soon she felt lips on hers again. Zoe moved hers without thinking at this point, kissing back, again not really believing this was happening. When Riley pulled away, Zoe was nearly crying.

"I just think certain words probably aren't good," Zoe said, smiling up at the other girl. "Especially as I'm enjoying kissing you far too much." Another smile, and Zoe reached down for a grape, holding it up and popping it in Riley's mouth now. "And you should behave, because we've only got one preventative. Though I suppose I could ask Dr. Campbell to make more..."

Zoe trailed off, chewing on her cheek, trying to imagine approaching him and explaining. The talk had been awkward enough last time, and she definitely didn't want him to think that she slept around...

[Riley Forrester]

When Riley pulled way, she could see the water gathering in the girl's eyes. Whoops. Riley though before planting a kiss under each of Zoe's eyes, smiling softly. "Hey now, don't cry." She said gently, chuckling. Then she was listening as Zoe insisted some words weren't good, before smiling up at Riley. Admitting that she liked kissing the girl. Riley would've laughed, but Zoe suddenly popped a grape in her mouth. It surprised the punky girl, but she ate it, grinning at Zoe once she finished.

"Oh.... fine. But I blame you for being so adorable." Riley teased, returning to her spot and finishing the rest of her food. Wow, that was really bold of Zoe. But Riley had enjoyed it, she admitted. But then she remembered. "Oh! We're going to explore, right?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"What? No, it's, um, a good cry," Zoe insisted, reaching up to wipe at her eyes a bit, not even seeming to have realized her eyes were watering until she reached up to touch them. She was tempted to continue but, well, there was the teasing grape thing and then Riley insisting she was adorable. Now that Zoe could handle, so she simply focused back on her food.

Zoe didn't know if she should be relieved or disappointed that Riley hadn't reacted to the mention of the preventative. It did block Zoe's power from affecting someone for a while which meant, well, all kinds of things. Zoe tried not to think about them, to instead focus on eating. Besides, while she liked Riley... a lot, and really thought her attractive, she still didn't want to do... that until she was with someone she loved.

"Right!" Zoe said, nearly jerking back to Riley. "There's some really neat plants around here, and if you look up at the tree," she pointed, "you can sometimes see some animals, all kinds, up there." She took a deep breath, sighing with contentment as she looked up at the impressive tree. "It's just so nice here..."