Something's Definitely Different

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Was this a betrayal of that trust? No, it didn't feel like it. The feeling was mutual, right? Riley liked her. She'd said as much. It might not be as strong, but Zoe was convinced. She loved Riley. She couldn't say with anything like certainty when it had actually happened fully. That picture had just sort of drifted to the center of her collage, had become the focal point for her life. She loved Riley and she desperately wanted to show it, and she knew just how.

Zoe took a breath, pulling out the syringe. It looked like an epi-pen, an emergency needle with its plastic case. Zoe ran her hands over it, remembering how close she'd come to using it before, how she'd hesitated. She couldn't do that now. She turned, looking at Riley. Her eyes met her girlfriend's for a moment. If it was like an epi-pen, and the doctor had said it was, then it would go through cloth.

Zoe stepped forward, closed the gap. She tilted her head up, took Riley's lips in her own, kissed her. she let her hand, the syringe, go down for a bit. And she jabbed it into Riley's stomach. She pushed her thumb over it, and she injected her girlfriend. The kiss ended as Zoe pulled back, meeting Riley's eyes. "I love you."

[Riley Forrester]

Zoe took out an epi-pen. Or at least something similar that Zoe seemed to be contemplating. Curiosity was filling Riley up quickly. What was that for? Was this what Zoe meant? Was she showing Riley something? But then, her thoughts ceased as Zoe turned to Riley and met her eyes. She looked so determined and so very, very beautiful. Riley found herself staring but she couldn't look away as Zoe took a step and closed the gap between them.

Riley could feel the heat coming off the other girl at their close proximity. Then Zoe was tilting her head up and suddenly they were kissing again. Riley felt herself melt into it before suddenly she felt the syringe press against her stomach. Even as her head warned her about what was going to happen next, she still flinched a little when she felt the needle pierce her skin, her stomach muscles coiling at the sudden pain.

Did Riley jump away and start flipping out? Did she demand to know exactly what Zoe had just injected her with? Did she curse and swear at the other girl for the brief pain? No. Because Riley really did trust Zoe. And besides, Zoe's next words would've frozen Riley even if she had flipped out.

‘I love you.’

It took a second or two before her words registered. And when they did, Riley’s eyes widened and her lips parted— both stunned and awed at the same time. Beneath the surface, there was a whirlwind of emotions battering around inside the punky girl. But on the outside, Riley could only stare as the emotions all settled on saying one thing.

“Zoe…”

It was said in a breath, mixed with want and uncertainty and affection and kindness and the very same emotion that Zoe just claimed to have for Riley now. Love.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe smiled up at Riley. "It's okay, you don't have to say anything," she insisted. Zoe took a breath then, reaching up, cupping Riley's face in her hands for a moment. No, more than a moment: long enough for the other girl to realize that something was different, that she wouldn't feel the by now familiar tingling. Zoe moved her head forward, head tilted, took those lips in hers. She could express it now, repeat with action what words had said before. She loved Riley. She could feel it swelling within her as she kissed the other girl, knowing that her ability wouldn't stop them, that they were free to touch and be touched. The passion leaked into Zoe's lips.

She could feel her love for Riley. Not only that, even if she couldn't fully process it: she could feel the desire of not being chained to her power, of letting someone know her real feelings, of touching them, of holding them. She took Riley's hand, placed it against her skin for a moment, wanting to feel that touch against her. It had been so long since someone could touch her for long. Alice had resistance, but this was different. There wouldn't be a danger, not from the power, at least. Zoe felt her hunger pouring into her kiss, feeling herself give way, wanting, needing more.

[Riley Forrester]

Zoe said Riley didn't need to say anything more. Which was good because Riley doubted she could actually speak after that. All her strength seemed to drain with that one word. And as Riley watched, that owner of that word took a deep breath before cupping Riley's face. The realization came within only a few seconds.

Her face wasn't going numb.

Eyes widening even further, Riley glanced down at her stomach. The syringe! It must've....But....- Before her thoughts could be complete, Zoe was there, kissing Riley again. God, it felt so good. It always felt good kissing Zoe, and now love was practically pouring from Zoe's kiss as if a dam had broken. And then it hit her.

She could kiss Zoe.

She could kiss Zoe.

No powers, no pulling away so the numbness wouldn't hurt her.

Just kissing.

It was like flipping a switch, triggering something in Riley. She kissed back with equal passion and emotion coming through, expressing her love not by words but by action and the kiss she was sharing with her girlfriend. Hesitantly and a little shakily, Riley's hands came up to cup Zoe's cheeks as well. Without the numbness, she could truly appreciate how Zoe felt. How smooth and soft she was without worrying. Deepening the kiss further, Riley's arms slid down to wrap around Zoe's waist and bring her closer, suddenly unable to get quite enough of kissing her girlfriend. She felt the hunger coming from Zoe as the girl gave way and Riley joined her, sinking into bliss with the long kiss.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

No limits. They could kiss now, actually kiss, no pulling away for numbness. Zoe suddenly felt so free, knowing that Riley could kiss her back, could show her the passion and the love that she gave. Riley did. Zoe could feel it, feel those lips pressing against her own. She could feel Riley's hands coming up to her cheeks now, cupping her. Zoe's own hands fell down, threading around Riley's waist, holding her. The sheer hunger: as if they'd been offered only little tidbits of this before now, not able to truly show it.

Still no words. Not even a break as Zoe poured more of herself in, letting her mouth open and yield and give and take. Her hands gripped Riley tight, holding her, needing that solidity as all the want and need washed over her. Zoe's head spun, her mind lost in the sea of emotions. but she didn't want to stop. Not yet. Not now. She never wanted to stop. She wanted to stretch the kiss, this moment, forever.

But shouldn't they be moving further? Should Zoe say or do something? She pulled Riley closer, felt a moan slide out from around her lips. Her body began to tremble, anticipating, as if bracing for it. She wanted this, she knew she did, it burned her...

[Riley Forrester]

Riley's mind was basically getting caught up in a frenzy. The fact she could hold Zoe with no fear was still something a part of her marveled at. But that part-- the one that could still think and register things other than sheer feeling--was quickly being pushed aside as the kiss went on and Zoe held on tight, prompting Riley to just pull her ever closer, basically melding their bodies together just as their lips were melding together. She never, ever wanted to stop.

Especially as she heard a moan come from Zoe, which made Riley shiver and blush and let out a soft noise of her own as she held Zoe tight. The girl was trembling, and Riley could feel a sort of anticipation there. However, Riley also realized how little air she had left. She didn't want to stop, truly she didn't. But her body finally demanded that she take in oxygen so she had to break off the kiss with her forehead resting against Zoe and her eyes still basically shut as she pants. Damn her need to breath.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

It almost felt as if they were merging on some level. The desire to continue that, to push it further, to have more, rose up within Zoe. She wanted Riley, she wanted this so very, very bad. She couldn't recall ever feeling something quite so primal and desperate and physical. It made her tremble and feel weak at the knees and... and it was almost starting to scare her. Her head spun and she felt her heart going so very quickly, her pulse hammering.

Then Riley pulled off. Zoe gasped, sucking air, her body insisting on what it had been denied. Zoe felt Riley's forehead press against her own, the touch light. She sucked more air in greedily, her head spinning, her hands clutching against her girlfriend, clinging for support.

"This is---nice," she gasped, shifting to look into Riley's eyes. "I--" she didn't know what to say, and now that they'd stopped kissing and touching, she didn't quite know what to do. She chewed her lip, lowering her gaze for a moment. "I just--" she stopped again, just what? Even she didn't know how to phrase it. Nor could she find it in her to let go of Riley. She desperately wanted to feel those arms wrapped around her, to feel that skin against hers.

Does she love me? That mattered to you. Does it matter now?

[Riley Forrester]

Seems she wasn't the only one who had needed to breath, as Zoe sucked in air along with Riley when their lips parted and they leaned into each other. Zoe was clutching at Riley for support, and she managed to pant ok how nice this was. The remark made Riley chuckle, albeit her voice was husky and breathless as she did. Talking for her was still seemingly impossible, although Zoe seemed to be having a bit of trouble herself. She couldn't finish her sentence, and Riley half-way opened her eyes to see Zoe was looking down.

She just what? Riley had no idea, as Zoe had an uncertain look to her face again. And yet, she still clung to Riley and remained pressed firmly against her, making Riley even warmer. Riley could see a sort of want in her eyes, and had definitely felt it during the kiss. Riley herself had returned it, but now she felt as though she should voice it. Maybe that was just the heat and excitement talking. But it was also the truth. So, smiling a smile full of love and affection, Riley gave Zoe another long, slow, passionate kiss before pulling away a little again.

"I just want you." Riley confessed, finishing Zoe's words but with Riley's thoughts.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

God, another kiss. Zoe felt her lips give way to Riley's once more. Already they tingled, but not with the tingle that came with her power. No, this was different, new, a good deal more pleasant. She could feel this tingle seeping throughout her entire body, curling her toes inside her shoes, mixing her blood, stirring her heart. Just another heady kiss to further spin her mind.

And Riley finishing the words with her own thoughts. Zoe actually felt her knees buckle, just hearing them, knowing that someone, that Riley felt that way about her. She gripped Riley tight, hands moving up to thread in hair while she kissed for several long moments and only a short breath. "I want you so much,' she confessed, her lips barely away from her girlfriend's, "that's why--the preventative and--now my power's not in the way," she breathed hard, and again found her body seeming to lock up. She wanted this, right? She'd initiated it. She could feel her lips tingling, feel her body yearning, so why couldn't she say more? Do more? She couldn't even seem to quite be ready to kiss Riley again...

[Riley Forrester]

Riley gripped Zoe as her knees seemed to buckle when Riley finished the sentence. It made her chuckle a little before that ended in a slight and short gasp when hands moved up to thread in her hair and pull Riley back into another ing kiss that Riley eagerly-- hungrily-- returned. Then they had to part again, but this time their faces stayed close as Zoe confessed. Confessed she wanted Riley too. All while her lips were less than an inch away from Riley's. She mentioned the preventative-- which Riley figured as the syringe-- and her powers not being in the way.

And yet, Riley could feel Zoe's body lock up. Even through her haze of emotion, concern for her girlfriend seeped though. Zoe was nervous about something, and it made Riley wish she could just sweep the girl off her feet and carry her away from all her worries. With that in mind, Riley lean forward a little and placed another kiss on Zoe's lips. This one was slow and laden with emotion before Riley cut it off and held Zoe tightly. "What's going on in that beautiful mind?" Riley asked with a bit of a smile but also genuine concern, stealing the lyrics to the song she had serenaded Zoe with the last time they were in Zoe's dorm.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Another kiss, more leaning, and of course some understanding. Zoe nearly felt her knees buckle again, not quite believing that she'd somehow ended up this lucky, with someone who cared about her this deeply, who would just out and say something like that without the slightest bit of hesitation. Zoe thought she caught something in the phrasing that struck her as familiar, something she'd perhaps heard before, but she couldn't quite remember.

Words kept failing her despite. She looked up at Riley again, staring, loving. She leaned forward to once again take Riley's lips in hers, but as she did, this time her hands did not remain in very chaste positions. Trembling, shaking, uncertain fingers began fumbling with Riley's clothing as Zoe pushed herself forward, telling herself she wanted this, that this was where they were going, that she was ready, that she loved Riley, that she'd already used the preventative and there would be no turning back.

There was no turning back now.

[Riley Forrester]

Riley held onto Zoe tightly as she felt the girl lean against her again, almost as if her legs were giving out a little. But then Zoe was staring at her, that love in her eyes as she kissed Riley again and Riley smoothly merged her lips to Zoe's again with ease. But then, she was suddenly being pushed back, forced to backstep as Zoe had them on the move. And then.... Holy shit. Hands. Hands pulling at her clothes. Shaking and uncertain, but their intent clear. Just as Zoe's intentions were made clear to Riley.

She wants to... Oh god Zoe.

There was a brief moment between their kissing where there lips parted for an instant, and Riley tried saying something. But suddenly something hit her back and the word cut off before she could even truly start it. She glanced behind with a hazy and still dazed look from all the kissing for an instant. It was Zoe's door. Her bedroom door.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Standing had become more and more problematic. Zoe's legs simply did not want to keep her upright, especially with the heels. Her lips didn't seem to have any problem staying glued to Riley's, continually moving against them, for that fact. But just keeping upright seemed to be one of the hardest things that Zoe had ever done. Then Riley started working them backward, pushing them, pushing her.

Something parted. Zoe looked up, breathing hard, head spinning, trying to think or say something. And at some point, somehow, they'd hit a door. Zoe looked over Riley's shoulder as she did. The door. Zoe's door.

her bedroom door.

Zoe stared at it for several long, hard seconds. Or was it minutes? Hours? Time froze. She froze. No, not froze: she was trembling... quivering for some reason. Was the floor moving? No, that was her legs. her hands were on Riley, clinging like some sort of needy infant to its mother. The door. She couldn't stop looking at the door. Shouldn't they be moving to the door? Inside. To the bed. This was bedroom activity. To the door. They should be heading toward the door.

her bedroom door.
inside.

her bedroom door.
inside they step.
the passion pushes.
heads leave.
thoughts die.
across the bedroom door.
gasps.
love lives?
thoughts die.
need thrives.
lives change.
her bedroom door.

[Riley Forrester]

Zoe froze again, clingy to Riley as if she was some sort of life-line. She was trembling so badly it was tearingRiley's heart to piece. She remembered Zoe's words. The whole physical thing with her old girlfriend. How she had said she felt broken. She could remember it so clearly.

'But, well, she, um, really wanted... she's really passionate and... physical, and that was a thing for me, you know? With my sister and how everything was. So it became a thing between us, and I kept, I kept trying and pushing myself, and now I'm sort of worried that part of me might be all messed up.'

Zoe was pushing herself again. She was pushing herself for Riley, she realized. Oh no, Zoe. Oh please don't do this to yourself. Riley thought desperately, her arms wrapping Zoe up in a warm hug, supporting her body in body and in spirit. Riley placed another kiss on Zoe's lips, only this time she poured as much love and affection and acceptance into it as she could before pulling her head back.

"Zoe wait." She breathed, still a little breathless from it all. "Please, you don't have to force yourself to do this." She insisted, smiling as warmly as she could at the girl, reaching up to fix her face as she tried to convey her understanding and acceptance. "And please don't think this means I don't want you, or to be with you, or to do... to dothis with you. Because I do. I do so badly Zoe. I care so so so so much for you. That's why I don't want to rush or force this. I want you to be completely ok and comfortable with this because I want it to be special. Because you're special to me, Zoe." Riley promised, assuring her. Hoping desperately that Zoe would understand and wouldn't think she was pushing her away.

"You are so special to me Zoe. So I want this to just come naturally. Because it's tearing my heart apart to see you shaking like this."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Another kiss, this one with a different flavor. One that nearly made Zoe's legs give out completely. It almost had this flavor of forgiveness in it, a promise. And Riley pulled back and Zoe found her head burying in Riley's chest as her girlfriend continued. She felt the hands pulling her back up, looking into Riley's eyes. She wanted her, wanted to do this with her and she cared for her and...

"I--you'd be my first," Zoe managed, the words suddenly coming, "and I thought this all out! I planned it! I was mentally ready! I've been tested and there's nothing wrong with me! I had the syringe and I used it, and I dressed all sexy and I picked out dating underwear with Vera and I just--I really, really, want you, Riley. I want you so bad that it's hurting me and making me quiver and--and I love you and I want our relationship to be deeper and physical but we're there and I'm looking at that door..."

Zoe stopped, taking another shaking breath, feeling everything tremble. She was special, special to Riley, this should come naturally, Zoe suddenly felt the tears flowing. "I've messed it up again, haven't I? I'm trying to push it and push you and oh God," she ended up pressing her head against Riley, shaking as the sobs started to seize her. "And what's worse is that I still just want to kick that blasted door down and have you ravish me like I'm some kind of heroine but I can't go through it, I just can't and---" and she felt like she was failing, somehow. Again.