Something's Definitely Different

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe shook her head: "I already told you, I'm going to try and cook something for us, and then we'll go out. Don't worry: I'll just call up Alice and ask her for a recipe or---" Zoe paused then, chewing her cheek. Should she be referencing another girlfriend? Her last girlfriend, no less? It didn't help that Zoe remained friends with both her major exes. Alice wasn't even around though, so, so it shouldn't count, right?

Riley was already talking about spoiling her though, and she was usually really good at just accepting these things and being nice and all. Zoe did pick up on the whole needing more weight thing, and she smiled. She took a few more bites, listening as Riley pointed out that it was more than Zoe normally ate.

"I... I didn't eat a whole lot during that week," Zoe said, cutting up her food. "I've never really been that big of a food person period, not really. It's all so heavy and I just don't normally find it all that enjoyable," she looked up, meeting Riley's eyes and smiling, "this is different," she looked back, "and I think I just sort of lost weight and then with the stress and everything..." Zoe took another breath, but stabbed some food, looking up to Riley as she took another bite. Her plate was very nearly cleared, and she'd put down an appetizer too.

"Do they have something with fruit? Those are the kind I like best."

[Riley Forrester]

Riley nodded her head at that, chuckling slightly. "Right, right. I'm just on standby with the extinguisher?" She joked playfully, grinning slightly. Zoe started mentioning Alice before she suddenly cut off. She was one of Zoe's ex's, if Riley could recall. It was almost as if Zoe was afraid of mentioning any of them. Riley didn't really mind too much if they came up in conversation. It wasn't going to offend her. She smiled kindly at Zoe, hoping she'd get that it was ok. "She's the chef, right? That would be a good idea."

Riley listened as Zoe went on, confessing she didn't eat much during that week. Riley knew she wasn't much of an eater, and Riley could see it. However, Zoe looked up and met Riley's eyes, insisting that this was different. It made Riley smile in return before Zoe continued on. After the stress part, Riley's expression softened and she nodded, reaching out to squeeze Zoe's hand for a moment, conveying her understanding with the simple gesture and her look.

"They do have this amazing fruit parfait." Riley answered, smiling a little as she answered

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe had to smile at the thought of Riley standing by with an extinguisher. Riley was undoubtedly joking, but it would quite possibly be required. Already Zoe could see all too clearly her girlfriend coming to her rescue and fighting back a fire that she'd managed to start with her attempts at cooking. Then again, maybe Zoe actually could manage it? She did have an artist's eye, and that first thing could've been a fluke. Plus, she did have Alice in her corner, and apparently Riley was okay with mentioning her from time to time. So Zoe nodded along with that, glad that she could at least relax on that.

Then a hand squeeze and Riley again understanding and offering up a dessert. "That does sound delicious" Zoe admitted. She took another bite of her current plate, which was just down to dregs and such by now. "Do you think we can split it? That way I won't feel so piggish," she had to shift slightly in her seat, fork still raised near her mouth, trying to look wheedling and feeling like she was mostly failing.

[Riley Forrester]

Riley smiled when Zoe did, and it only grew as Zoe seemed to relax about the Alice thing. She really didn't mind all that much. People had ex's. It happened. But Riley was back to focusing on Zoe as she expressed her interest in the parfait. Riley grinned and nodded as she noticed Zoe was definitely eating most, if not all, of her food. At the mention of splitting ti, Riley looked up and saw the look on Zoe's face. Oh god... That's going to be very effective against me. I just know it. Riley thought as her own expression softened and she nodded.

"Although you will never be piggish, ok." Riley agreed before a thought popped into her head. Technically, since they were girlfriends now, it would be fine for Riley to feed Zoe. Right? But then Riley pushed the thought down, although it was biting at the edge of her mind now. Dammit mind. She thought as she finished off her own meal.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe had to smile as Riley insisted she'd never be piggish. It just struck her as yet another entirely girlfriend-y thing to do that she couldn't help but smile at it. Thankfully she couldn't read minds, else her smiles would've turned into flushes of embarrassment and more nervous fidgeting. As it was, she still managed to do a little squirming.

Somehow Zoe still managed to finish off most of her food. She had to raise the plate slightly so that Riley could see. "All done! So that means dessert, right?" She asked, smiling teasingly. She looked around, and seemingly as if called by the word, there was the waitress. Zoe actually let out a slight yelp and shied away from the woman. This of course made her smile and look at the couple, focusing in on Riley.

Was the meal good? At least Zoe could nod to that question. The waitress was then asking if there was any desire for dessert and suddenly Zoe felt words failing her, her mouth moving with no real sound coming out. Which was fairly standard, really.

[Riley Forrester]

It was so utterly adorable when Zoe finished her plate and held it up a bit to show Riley with a teasing smile. It was so cute, Riley just had to press a quick and light kiss to Zoe's lips before pulling back and smiling. "Yep." Came her reply as she chuckled a little. Then, as if cued in by the word, the waitress came over and spooked Zoe. Ok that's it. I'm definitely convinced that she's picked us as favorites and is watching us-- waiting for the right moment to pop in. Riley thought as she grabbed ahold of Zoe's hand and gave it a reassuring and hopefully comforting squeeze.

Riley nodded vigorously at the question about the meal. Yes, it was amazing. Then came the question about food, and Zoe seemed to freeze up. Squeezing her hand, which Riley had intertwined her fingers with, Riley nodded to the waitress. "Yes. Can we have one of the parfaits?" Riley questioned. The waitress nodded before heading off and leaving them alone (Although Riley had no doubt she'd come back right in the middle of some moment or something.) Riley glanced over at Zoe and smiled. "You ok?" She asked, concern coloring her words.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe kept a goofy smile on her face while the waitress took their order. Thankfully Riley proved more than capable of taking the reins (again), so Zoe could do so and just get a smile from the waitress in turn. Either their server was quite keen or she was enjoying serving the two of them far too much. Zoe couldn't say for sure, but she had her guess.

She could feel Riley's hand squeezing hers and she squeezed back reflexively, turning to look up at her girlfriend. She was nodding along to the order and then letting out a breath she hadn't realized she'd really held as the woman walked off. "What? I'm fine," Zoe said, flushing. "I'm just... I'm not used to being the sexy one," Zoe said, running her hand down her outfit for a moment. "And I'm too busy thinking of so many things at once that they're just," she gestured at her head, rolling her hand for a bit as if she could somehow show the thoughts literally revving up within. She took another breath, letting it out slowly, trying to figure out what she should say or do.

I think I've fallen in love with you and I really want tonight to be our first.

See, that was why Zoe kept shutting up and stiffening. And now she was reaching for the water as an excuse to at least naturally do the former.

[Riley Forrester]

The squeeze back made Riley smile, happy to have some response to show that Zoe was ok. She also heard the sigh that left Zoe as the waitress disappeared again, which made Riley chuckle a little before Zoe answered. She had been fine, just unused to being sexy and thinking about a lot of things that were having a clash in Zoe's head judging from her gesture. Riley chuckled a little and gave her hand another little squeeze. "Zoe, you're always sexy." Was the first thing Riley said.

"And if thoughts are bothering you, do you walk to talk about them? I'm always willing to listen." She offered. She really didn't want Zoe to worry or be bothered if her thoughts were all jumbled and she was freezing up from them. She would always be up for listening to Zoe if she wanted to open up and discuss something on her mind.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

That made Zoe smile again. "Well, to you, yes," she agreed easily enough. "But to everyone else I'm... cute, or something. Plus, I'm not usually the sexy one in the relationship," just one look at Devyn or Alice would attest to that. "I mean, not that you're not. We both are."

Which was part of her problem. She wasn't sure how to really word that, despite what Riley said. Zoe knew she was just overthinking it. Literally every person she met pretty well could attest to her overthinking things. To her thinking too much about, about just everything. And now she was thinking about that syringe in her back and how she wanted to just stab Riley with it and get it over with. But later. Later when they were back in her room. Yes, it had to be her room. It had to be.

"I'm just... thinking about a lot," Zoe admitted. "About you, about the things I don't want to say just yet," she paused, chewing her cheek before looking at Riley. "I know... I know you'd be okay if, if I did. But... but I want the moment to be right, to be perfect. I know that's weird, and that I'm probably overthinking things. They just come naturally. But, well, I want... I want things to just be... be right and..." Zoe took a breath, smiling ruefully at Riley. "I want us to be something people write poetry about."

[Riley Forrester]

According to Zoe, she wasn't used to being the sexy one in the relationship. Although she did say that they both were sexy, which had Riley smiling."Well, you said it yourself. I definitely do find you sexy Zoe." She said with a faint smile as she meant every word. She definitely found Zoe sexy, especially in that outfit which she was definitely not staring at all and was totally focusing on Zoe's eyes especially right now as Zoe kept speaking. Seriously Riles.

Zoe apparently had a lot on her mind, and some of it had to do with Riley. And other parts of it were things that Zoe didn't yet want to discuss. It did make Riley a little curious as she listened. Was it whatever was making Zoe freeze up? But from Zoe's words, she was going to tell Riley. Just at the right time. She wanted it to come naturally to them. Then there was the last bit with a rueful smile that had Riley chuckling and shaking her head.

"Alright. I trust you." Riley said with a warm smile. Because she did. Zoe would tell her when she was ready for it. Riley wasn't about to push her for it.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Yes, Riley found her sexy, which certainly didn't help the rampaging thoughts and desires that assaulted Zoe all out. She almost felt like leaping across the booth and wrapping herself around Riley then and there, public be damned. Except Zoe could never do something like that. Well, at least not sober.

Oh God, being drunk around Riley would definitely be something. She didn't even want to think about that right now.

Trust her. Zoe smiled at that. "I don't know if your being so understanding is making it easier or harder," she said, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. She would've said more, but of course their waitress had to pick that moment to appear. Zoe pulled back as the parfait appeared, actually offering thanks. The waitress smiled and offered a teasing "she speaks" before nodding. She asked for anything else, and assuming Riley didn't have anything, the waitress would be off.

Leaving Zoe staring at the dessert and wondering where to start.

[Riley Forrester]

Whatever it was that Zoe was thinking about, apparently Riley was making it harder or easier with her understanding. Riley smile, although looked a bit more curious. However, before Zoe could say more or Riley could ask questions, the sneaky waitress appeared again with their parfait. Smirking, Riley thanked the woman and said they were fine before the waitress headed off. Then Riley turned to Zoe, and noticed how she seemed to just be staring.

Wait.... Suddenly an opportunity had appeared. Did Riley dare take it? Well, we are girlfriends. So it would be normal. Totally normal. And sexy. And very, very, very-- ok Riley just stop and do it before you lose your nerve. At that internal command, Riley picked up the utensil that came with the parfait and took a scoop. And then, with the bit of food on the end, she held it out to Zoe with a warm, affectionate smile.

"Here. Try it."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe stared at the parfait in rapt amazement. it just looked almost too good to actually bite into. Just so beautiful and delightful. She couldn't smell it, not exactly, but she could almost taste it just by looking at it. They did say that you did a lot of your eating with your eyes, and Zoe was starting now. She could even see Riley coming closer to it, going with a spoon and---

and wait, what was she?

Zoe was suddenly reminded almost too strongly of a recent experience with Devyn. Her friend had wanted Zoe to feed her, and that had just been a rice cake. Zoe had insisted it was awkward, that there was something flirty, almost sexual about feeding someone, and that it was something that you shouldn't do with someone who wasn't your girlfriend. And now Riley was doing just that.

Zoe didn't hesitate.

She leaned forward, opened her mouth, pulled back hair and kept things away from the dress, and wrapped her lips around the spoon. somehow she ended up looking up at Riley as she did so, at least until the flavors hit. Then Zoe was closing her eyes and letting out a little moan. She pulled back, soon waving a hand. "You so should try that," she said, pointing. "It is just as good as it looks."

[Riley Forrester]

Zoe did not hesitate a wink, which made Riley's smile widened and quieted the slight panic that had been going through her head. Part of her had been worried that Zoe would've just stared at the spoon and not eaten it. But Zoe was already eating it, lips wrapping around the utensil while staring at Riley the whole time. It made Riley flush, but not nearly as much as when Zoe moaned.

Good god the noises she makes are going to drive me insane.

Soon Zoe pulled away and Riley tried to calm her slightly racing heart. She advised Riley to try it, and Riley was happy enough to do something other than try not to stare at Zoe's lips. She scooped up a bit for herself and tried it. And immediately let out a little moan herself and shut her eyes with a smile. Hoooooooooooly crap that's amazing. Riley thought as she swallowed and grinned at Zoe, her embarrassment temporarily forgotten.

"You weren't kidding."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe savored the taste as she pulled back, looking at Riley. Her girlfriend looked... disheveled, for some reason. Zoe couldn't quite figure it out. Had something happened while she'd been taking a bite? Or had it just been that? Surely it couldn't have just been that. maybe Zoe was just seeing something that wasn't there. yeah, that definitely made a lot more sense.

"Yes, it's quite good," Zoe repeated, nodding. She squirmed a bit, waving impatiently. "Now can I have some more? Oh, I should, um, just get my own spoon, shouldn't I?" Zoe flushed and began looking around, certain that she'd had a spoon somewhere. She hadn't left it on the plate of regular food that had been taken, had she? Maybe it was still wrapped in her napkin? Zoe started lifting things, looking around, now strangely determined to find the spoon in question.