Everything in her wanted to get to Tally to see if she was okay, to help her up, or really just to be able to do anything, but there was no way in hell she could figure out how to get over there.
Sarah forced herself to try to move at least a little bit faster along the wall to get closer to her. She was grateful that the rink attendant had gone over to help her up at least, even if she herself couldn't. She was concerned when the girl helped her off the ice.
Sarah was only a little way away; thank goodness they were on the side with the entrance to the rink. "Are you okay?" She asked as soon as she came to sit by her.
Tally's face was red, and her hands were scraped up from the ice. "I think I twisted my ankle, it's not that bad probably, but it hurts," Tally looked a little worse for wear and Sarah brushed some of the ice off her back before tucking a loose strand of red hair behind her ear again. "I'm sorry for ruining this, I just got distracted and wasn't watching where I was going,"
"Nonsense," Sarah smiled softly. "I had a great time tonight. And just because I think skating is now out of the question, doesn't mean our evening has to end here. My apartment isn't far, we can have a drink and put some ice on your ankle, if you'd like," Sarah offered.
Tally just nodded without really thinking about it.
Sarah was quick to rip off her skates and put her shoes back on. "Now, let me help you with this," Now it was her turn to get on the ground before the other woman. Ever so gently she undid the laces of Tally's skates and proceeded to put her shoes on. She felt rather than saw, Tally tense up under her touch as she attempted to slide the girl's boots on. "Did that hurt?"
It did hurt, but Tally mostly shivered due to the mere fact that this other woman's touch was so warm and gentle, and she wanted to feel her everywhere. "No,"
"Let's go," Sarah offered Tally her hand, and the redhead took it happily.
The walk back to the car felt long due to Tally's limping, but it gave the redhead an excuse to clutch Sarah's arm. Her very muscular arm. She couldn't even imagine the things this woman was probably capable of. Calm down Tally, calm down. She felt hot even with the brisk wind hitting her cheeks.
Sarah didn't mind the walk either. It was nice, and the girl on her arm was warm. She hoped she was alright, otherwise this would be a very not so good start to things. She wondered if it was a sign that this was not going to go well. It was really Anacostia getting in her head, so she brushed off that thought, she was never one to believe in things like that.
She helped Tally into the car just as she had before, before getting in and driving off.
Sarah turned on the heat and the radio right away as they sped down the street.
"Are you still okay? Too hot? Too cold?" Sarah asked after a minute or two of silence between them, the sound of the fans and the radio softly playing in the background.
"No, I'm okay," Tally was quiet, she looked out the window briefly before looking over at Sarah. "You don't have to do this, you can really just take me home, I don't want to cause you problems," Tally looked back down at her hands as she continued playing with the hem of her coat.
Without taking her eyes off the road. "Do you want to go home?" Her tone was non-judgmental, she sounded concerned and genuine, which only made Tally want to cry for having gotten hurt and potentially ruining the rest of their evening. Though, not here, not in front of Sarah.
Tally shook her head slowly. "I don't but I-"
Sarah looked quickly over at her then back at the road. She reached over and took one of Tally's hands, and Tally looked up at her. "Then calm down, you aren't causing any problems, Tally, I had no other plans than to spend the evening with you,"
Sarah held Tally's hand on her lap, in an attempt to soothe her fears, while she drove one-handed.
"Are you sure?" Tally asked wide-eyed and hopeful.
Sarah smiled. "Completely, besides, we're already here,"
Tally snapped her head around to get a glimpse of the building before they pulled into the parking garage. "Here?" From the fraction of a glimpse Tally got of the building, she recognized it. Abigail's mother owned it, she knew how fancy it was, she had been there a number of times. On that thought, she knew Abigail had mentioned her mom was out of town and that the rest of them not on dates with older hot women, as Raelle put it, would be there drinking to the weekend if she wanted to stop by afterward. Oh, this wasn't good. She did not need Abigail to know Sarah lived here, or any of them for that matter.
"Yes, ma'am, this is home sweet home," Sarah said as she once again helped Tally out of the car. "Is something the matter?" Sarah tilted her head.
"No, I - no, nothing," She tried to put more weight on her foot, but it hurt, and she ended up holding tighter onto Sarah.
"Sorry," She mumbled, and she tried to get herself off of Sarah without making too much of a fool of herself. It was only their first date after all, she had to get some control of herself. But while she was in the other woman's arms she breathed in her perfume. Oh, it smells so good
"Nonsense," Sarah held her up. "Let's get you upstairs," Sarah nodded to the elevator.
The ride up was quick, Tally was surprised how high they were going. Not quite to the top but pretty damn close.
Sarah held her the whole way, allowing the redhead to lean against her and stay off her foot. Tally just accepted it, but it wasn't uncomfortable, on the contrary it felt wonderful, natural even, like it was normal.
Sarah cleared her throat as they approached her front door. "Just so you are aware, Miss Craven, I don't normally take people home on the first date, so I wasn't expecting to have guests tonight. If you'd be so kind as to forgive the mess,"
Tally just shook her head. There was no way this well put together lady was messier than she herself was. "We'll see,"
Sarah scanned her key card, slung the door open lazily and helped Tally inside.
Immediately Tally knew her instincts were right. Sarah was a very clean and put together person and her apartment was no different, the only thing out of place was a paper takeout coffee cup from her stop to the cafe this morning. "You are crazy,"
Sarah locked the door behind them. "Excuse me?"
"Clearly your definition of messy is different from mine," Tally shrugged. "This…this is not messy," She looked around. The main room was large with an open floor plan living room, dining room, and kitchen that was connected to them. There was a hallway that she could barely see down, but there were several closed doors. The decor was lowkey but looked very expensive.
"Well now that comment almost requires me to see your place more thoroughly so I can be the judge of that," Sarah countered with a smirk and Tally's eyes widened.
"Uh yeah I suppose so," She stammered, a little shocked.
Sarah looked at her knowingly. "Too forward?"
"No, not at all, just you do not understand how much cleaning I will have to do. I will need more than a two-week warning, a month preferably," Tally sighed, as she sat down on one of the barstools and propped up her foot on another one.
"A month?!" It was Sarah's turn to be shocked. "How about two days?"
Tally opened her mouth then closed it, trying to figure out what else she was doing this weekend. Looking into Sarah's patient gaze made her falter though, all other thoughts left her. "Two days?"
Sarah nodded. "Acceptable?"
"Yup, yes, yeah, sure, that works," Tally stumbled, deciding to just believe she had nothing else to do and hoping that if she did that it would be something easy to get out of.
"Perfect, I look forward to it. Now to important matters," Sarah was quick to procure some ice and help Tally take her shoe off. "Hopefully this will help a little, I can always take you to an urgent care if you'd like," She offered.
Tally shook her head immediately. "No. I will be okay, thank you though,"
Sarah nodded. "Care for something to drink then?"
Tally nodded slowly. She wouldn't be driving anywhere, so why not. Though she didn't want to be stumbling when she left to see her friends so she would have to keep that in mind. Mostly because she knew she was already bad at keeping secrets, and when she was drunk, she was like an audiobook infused with a polygraph, she was incapable of keeping anything to herself and she knew her friends would be asking her about this whole date.
"I have almost anything you could think of, is there anything in particular you prefer?" Sarah asked over her shoulder.
"What are you having?" Tally asked, as she pressed the ice firmer onto her ankle.
"Whiskey," Sarah glanced at her, her eyes almost challenging her to ask for the same, but Tally shook her head. Sarah smirked. "I have an idea,"
"Oh?"
"Perhaps I should return the favor and mix you a mystery." Sarah turned and leaned on the marble island. "So you'll have to come back if you ever want it again,"
Her voice was so sexy, Tally couldn't get enough. "Payback?"
Sarah's eyes glistened. "If you want to think about it that way. I prefer to think of it as a reason for you to come back and get to know me better,"
Tally leaned forward. "And what makes you so sure I'll like it enough for that,"
Sarah smirked more at that. "I accept that challenge. You read me well enough on day one, and had me coming again and again, back to the cafe that is. After all this time I am confident I could do the same," Sarah clearly knew what she was saying, and she could probably see what she was doing to Tally.
Her face felt like it was on fire, she probably couldn't blush any more than this. It was a nice thought though, being about to make this woman come again and again for her. Nope, nope, not now, not tonight. "I dare you to try," Tally challenged and crossed her arms.
"As you wish," Sarah looked at her for a minute longer as if that was all she needed in order to know Tally completely. "Don't cheat now," Sarah warned.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Where is your bathroom?" She stood and carefully maneuvered her way around the island, coming to stand dangerously close behind Sarah.
Sarah turned around and nearly jumped seeing she was so close to her now. "You don't need to leave the room, I'm not that serious," She held Tally gently by her elbow.
Tally just chuckled and tilted her head. She let her hand trace down Sarah's before falling back at her side. "I know. So…which door?"
"Second on the left," Sarah smiled and let her go.
"Thanks," Tally hobbled across the kitchen. "At least this way you can be assured I'm being good,"
Sarah whipped her head around at that, but Tally was already down the hall out of her view. Goddess, this girl was something else. She made her feel things she hadn't in a while. What she wouldn't give to have this girl under her, really proving how good of a girl she could be. Sarah shivered at the thought.
It was date number one, she had to remind herself to keep her hands off, to control herself, even though Tally seemed rather like she would enjoy being controlled. No. Enough Sarah. Focus.
Tally struck her as a fan of drinks on the sweeter and fruitier side, which wasn't really her own personal preference, but she did have a few things. She mixed the easiest drink she knew that would be sweet yet still elegant. Just in time too, her phone rang right as she set the glass down on the island. She groaned. She didn't care who, she just cared why. Cause whatever the reason, it had better be good for interrupting her evening like this.
She rolled her eyes as she looked down at the caller ID. She had to take it. She walked out to her balcony, leaving the sliding door cracked open so she could hear Tally if she needed anything.
Tally just sat for a moment. What was she thinking? Who says things like that?! It's date number one. Stupid. Maybe it was her boring past relationships that made her want to be a little bolder, or maybe it was something else. She hadn't even had anything to drink yet. So maybe a drink wouldn't be a good idea. She should probably just escape now while she still had the excuse of her foot hurting. Then maybe she could get herself back under control. Or Sarah would think she was too weird or something that maybe this would just be it. It could be okay, she liked Sarah, but she continued to just embarrass herself in front of her and she would much rather do without that. She sighed, washed her hands, and quietly pried the door open.
She heard the sliding door and Sarah's muffled voice. She looked around as she crept back down the hallway. She caught sight of Sarah pacing around outside on her balcony holding her phone to her ear. She looked a little upset, so Tally decided it really would be best to just go.
That drink on the counter looked really good though. She was by no means an alcohol connoisseur so all she knew was that it smelled good. In one of Sarah's fancy glasses was ice, a vibrant amber looking liquid, a few blueberries bobbing gently near the surface, and a cute little straw. Served as if she were at a restaurant or a bar. She couldn't leave without trying it.
It was heavenly. SO smooth. Heavy citrus tones, yet sweet rather than sour. Sarah was right, it was really good. She caught Sarah's eye and raised the glass in thanks. Sarah grinned and Tally couldn't help but smile back and shake her head.
Whoever she was on the phone with must've said something that annoyed her though, because Sarah frowned and turned away from Tally and shut the door completely.
Tally was curious, but not terribly so. She probably didn't need to know.
The drink made her feel warm, but her ankle throbbed with every step. Now seemed like a good time to make her exit, she didn't know how long Sarah would be on the phone for. Looking around, she found a pad of sticky notes and a pen. She scribbled a quick note, drank the rest of that drink before setting the glass in the sink, and made her way to the door. One last glance at Sarah, the older woman had her back to her, she waved anyway and said a quick goodbye and left.
She didn't want to leave but it was getting late anyway. She had no doubt she would be seeing Sarah again soon anyway. She checked her phone to see several messages from her friends.
*Save any drinks for me?* She texted their group chat.
*U no how R drinks, get ovr here now if u want any* Abigail responded.
*I resentt tthat* - Raelle
*O please, dnt evn* - Abigail
*Just come ovr* - Raelle
*B there soon* - Tally hit send and pressed the elevator button, only two floors down. She looked over her shoulder to the hallway down which was Sarah's place.
It was an easy journey down to Abigail's apartment. She knocked on the door. She heard a bunch of shushing and a few hurried footsteps before the door was opened. Abigail looked a little shocked to see Tally standing there. Honestly, she should have waited a few minutes, but she hadn't thought that far through it. The warmth of that drink and the memories of her evening with Sarah were distracting her.
"Tally? That was fast," Abigail looked at her quizzically.
"It's Tally? Aw I wanted pizza," She heard Raelle's disappointed voice from further in the apartment.
"Jeez, thanks Rae," Tally rolled her eyes as she tried her very best to hide her injury from her friends. She flopped on the couch next to Raelle and Abigail was quick to toss her a mike's hard lemonade. It was room temperature, and it was cherry flavored. Neither of which she liked. It was not even on the same planet as the drink Sarah had just made for her.
Abigail stood crossing her arms looking at her intently. "Details, now,"
