"Sorry?"
"It's really you," Shalimar said excited.
"Um, I think you've got the wrong woman. My name is Lara."
"You can't be, you look exactly the same. You talk the same." The feral took a deep breath. "You even smell the same."
Lara looked strangely at her and Shalimar quickly tried to cover up.
"I mean, you don't smell, it's your scent…kinda," she said nervously. What the hell was going on here? Had Emma lost her memory?
The feral shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.
"I'm sorry. I just thought you were someone I hadn't seen in a long time."
"It's okay. We all have a moment like that in our lives," Lara assured, smiling at the stunning woman in front of her.
"I'm Shalimar Fox, but just call me Shal if you want to." The blonde said and extended her hand.
"Lara Perkins."
"It's nice to meet you," the feral said grinning.
For a moment they locked eyes and just stared at each other. They were interrupted though by the annoying guy from earlier.
"Lara, they need you in the kitchen, stop flirting."
The red head blushed. "I have to go."
"Maybe I'll see you again?" Shalimar asked with hope.
"Maybe," Lara replied before walking away.
Looking over at the irritating man, Shalimar saw him smirking to himself and she wanted to wipe the perverted smile of his face more than anything. She settled with flashing her eyes at him and smirked as he stepped back in shock, his eyes wide open. Then she turned and strode off towards the exit.
----
The next day Shalimar walked into the same diner and sat down even closer to the kitchen than the day before. As the door opened she tried to look for the red head, but was disappointed when she didn't see her. She smiled however when she picked up Emma's scent. Or was it Lara now, she wasn't sure. She felt how the younger woman was moving in from behind her and laughed inwardly. When the red head was a few metres away she spoke. It's nice to see you again, Lara." She slightly turned her head and saw the surprised expression the other woman wore.
"How did you know I was coming?"
"I smelled you," the feral answered as if it should explain everything, but she only got a strange look from the younger woman.
"I was kidding, I could see your reflection in the glass," Shalimar quickly covered up as she gestured towards the kitchen doors nervously.
Lara laughed before sitting down next to the blonde. The beautiful woman in front of her wasn't like most people and she wanted to get to know her. It was just something about her that pulled the red head towards her and it wasn't just her beauty.
"So you came back," Lara said with a smile.
"Well, you did an impression."
"So did you."
Shalimar's cheeks turned light red. "I'm sorry about that," she replied in embarrassment.
"It's fine really. I thought you were cute."
"Not exactly the first impression I wanted to make, but I guess it's better than dumb."
Lara laughed. "And you're funny."
Shalimar felt her heart beat faster at this. "A very close friend of mine used to say that."
"And you don't agree?"
"Let's just say that most of those who have met me would rather call me dangerous or crazy."
"They must have met you on a bad day then."
"You don't even know me. Aren't you scared or at least uncomfortable when I say that?"
"Not really."
"Why not?"
"I don't know, I just feel comfortable with you."
Lara looked at her watch and then over to the kitchen doors.
"I should probably go, but if you want we could get a drink or have dinner or something tonight?"
"Sure, that would be great," Shalimar answered, wondering if she should ask if it was a date or just a friendly occasion.
"Great, here's my number," the red head said as she got a pen and wrote her number on a napkin.
The feral noticed that the woman's hands were slightly shaking and she easily picked up her nervousness. Definitely a date, she thought to herself.
When Lara passed her the napkin Shalimar smiled at her. "I'll call you," she said before standing up. Lara stood up too.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later?"
"Count on it." The blonde replied, grinning.
-----
Walking into a phone booth, Shalimar took of the hook and called Lara's number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's Shalimar."
"Hey."
"When and where do you wanna meet?"
"Does eight sound good?"
"Sounds great. Are we eating?"
"If you want to."
"I do."
"Okay, why don't you meet me at-"
"Wait," Shalimar quickly interrupted.
"What?"
"I don't really know where anything is in this town, I'm kinda new."
"Oh, well why don't you meet me outside the restaurant I work at and we can walk to the place we're eating at?"
"Okay. When do I need to be there?"
"How about 7.30?"
"Perfect, I'll be there."
"Okay, I'll see you then."
"Yeah, bye," the feral said as she hung up and let out a relieved sigh. Why the heck was she feeling so nervous?
-----
Shalimar shifted nervously as she stood outside Lara's working place waiting for the red head to show up. She had been early, afraid she might be too late. She hadn't put on anything spectacular since they were walking outside, just some tight pants and a simple top that was cut low. She smiled as Emma's scent…Lara's scent reached her even before she could see her.
She smiled brightly as the red head came into view and felt her nervousness slip away when she was met by an equally bright smile from the younger woman. Oh, definitely a date all right.
"Hi," Lara said nervously when she reached the blonde.
"Ready to go?" Shalimar asked, her smile never leaving her face.
"Sure am," the red head replied, amazed at how even the older woman's beautiful brown eyes seemed to be smiling at her, glinting in the slowly growing dark.