Smoothing down the fabric of her dress, Raven resisted the urge to change her outfit a third time as she frowned at her reflection. She had never been much of a fashionista, and hadn't ever wanted to be one. Simple was her preference; fitted blouses for work, plain t-shirts for leisure, and casual dresses for fancier occasions. Nothing glitzy, or sparkly, or - heaven forbid - pink. In fact, she had always prided herself on how effortlessly understated her wardrobe was.
So why, pray tell, was she considering raiding Kori's closet for an outfit?
She had no desire to impress Garfield. Yeah, the attention he gave her was nice, but she wasn't vying for it or anything. And sure, the compliments he showered her with were flattering, but they weren't necessary to hear. It was obvious that he was attracted to her. Blatantly obvious. She could show up to dinner in a literal garbage bag, and he'd still want to fuck her senseless.
But... she didn't want to wear a garbage bag. She didn't want to wear her plain, boring clothing. She didn't want to wear the simple, sapphire-blue sweater dress that was currently hugging her curves. Yeah, it made her small waist look exceptionally tiny, and the hem hit her mid-thigh, making her long legs look even longer. Also, the color was very flattering - jewel tones always paired well with her fair complexion. And the mock-neck was modest, and the long sleeves would keep her warm (she was always cold), and the fact that her roommate had gifted it to her for Christmas meant that it was officially Kori-Approved. But, still...
Letting out a sigh, Raven turned herself from the full-length mirror beside her dresser and sat herself on her bed. She couldn't understand why she was so worked up over her outfit - her 'date' tonight was as artificial as the zero-calorie sweetener she used in her tea. There was no reason to be nervous; her and Garfield were both on the same page. They were only going out to provide moral support. To keep things from getting too awkward for their respective roommates. It was nothing more than a 'friend-date', as he had so eloquently put it.
So she again had to ask herself: Why? Why was she so nervous?
Maybe it was because she would undoubtedly be compared to Kori. Sure, Garfield hadn't really commented on the redhead - but was that because he hadn't properly gotten a good look at her? The bar had been dimly lit, after all, and the blond had been assigned with distracting Raven so that Dick could move in on the model. And yeah, Garfield hadn't seemed put-off by the task, and had successfully gotten into Raven's pants - three times now - and she figured he'd be down for a fourth.
Yet... she just couldn't stop thinking about how he would react to Kori. Her roommate was vibrant, friendly, and drop-dead gorgeous; no straight male could ever resist her.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Raven silently scolded herself. It honestly didn't matter what Garfield would think of the redhead, because Raven barely cared about what he thought of her. He was just some silly boy, whose opinion didn't matter in the slightest. So what if he was an incredible kisser? Who cared if he was fantastic in bed? And did it really matter that he was actually a nice person? He was a fuck boy, plain and simple. Just some dumb guy who she hooked up with... several times. And who she'd probably hook up with again, if given the opportunity.
Her jealousy of Kori was unwarranted. What, was she suddenly nineteen again? All timid and unsure of herself? No - Raven was an adult. She had known the model for half a decade now - and she had overcome her envy years ago. And no way in hell was she going to let some stupid double-date (that she didn't even want to go on!) stir up old insecurities -
Raven's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on her door.
"Raven? I require your opinion!"
Kori's voice had a nervous quality to it - something the dark-haired girl wasn't accustomed to hearing. Standing from her bed, Raven pointedly ignored her reflection as she passed by her mirror, and instead strode towards her bedroom door. Twisting the knob and pulling it open, she found herself face-to-chin with the redhead.
Kori was standing in the hall, wearing a shy smile and her neon pink undergarments. "I cannot decide on an outfit," she informed Raven needlessly.
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Raven gave her half-naked friend a pointed look. "And you're telling me this because..?" she queried. Kori was the residential fashion expert, after all.
But said expert merely huffed. "Because I trust your judgement," she answered plainly, before her green eyes darted over Raven's outfit. "Oh! You are wearing my gift!" she enthused, smiling brightly. "You look marvelous in it!"
Raven felt herself flush. "Yes, well - you have fantastic taste," she replied, quirking her brow. "So, I'm sure you can figure out an outfit for yourself." Watching as the redhead modeled the entirety of her wardrobe was the last thing Raven wanted to do right now.
Though, Kori didn't seem to grasp that. "I have narrowed it down to three choices, if that is helpful to you," she explained cheerfully, as if reading the pale girl's mind.
Again, Raven tried to suppress her irritation. Her roommate knew her too well. "Fine," she relented.
Kori let out an excited squeal, before snatching the smaller girl's wrist and dragging her across the hall. Thankful that she hadn't yet put on her shoes, Raven allowed herself to be pulled into her roommate's shockingly pink bedroom.
Ignoring the disgustingly girly decor, she zeroed in on the three outfits lying across Kori's bed. The first one was a simple lilac sundress, paired with a white cardigan and silver accessories. Raven immediately dismissed it - wearing white to an Italian restaurant was just asking for trouble. The second outfit consisted of a burgundy bell-sleeve top and sequin gold skirt, and though Raven was certain the redhead could pull it off, she figured the ensemble was a little too flashy for a second date. The third outfit was a purple body-con dress and black denim jacket - a perfect mixture of sexy and casual. Raven pointed to it silently, before retreating back to her room.
"Thank you so very much!" Kori called after her.
Raven merely raised her hand to acknowledge the girl, before stepping into her room and closing the door behind her. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she made her way back towards her mirror.
For some strange reason, knowing what Kori was planning to wear made things a little easier, and Raven found herself eyeing her reflection less critically. Sure, her roommate's form-fitting dress was bound to turn heads, but Raven's outfit no longer seemed as drab. Yeah, it was still a sweater dress - but it was a sexy sweater dress.
Rolling her eyes in spite of herself, Raven made her way towards her vanity. She had never been much of a makeup guru, regardless of her background in ballet and performing, but she still had quite the collection of cosmetics. She could give herself a stage-face in three minutes flat, and she had damn-near perfected a cat eye, but there was just something so alluring about a bold brow and nude lip. Taking a moment to achieve that exact look, Raven quickly swiped on a few coats of mascara for good measure, before silently declaring herself ready.
Which meant, she could read for the next hour it would take for Kori to deem herself ready, too.
She had just reached the climax when Kori burst through her bedroom door, her green eyes wide. "We are going to be late!"
Raven glanced up, her gaze momentarily taking in her frantic-looking roommate. The model was wearing the dress and jacket, having paired it with black boots that made her even taller. A pang of annoyance stabbed at Raven when she realized she was going to be the shortest one tonight, though she hurriedly shook it away. Not everyone could be 5'10", after all.
Calmly marking her place, Raven closed her book while blankly staring at her friend. "And whose fault is that?" she asked plainly, setting her novel on her bedside table as she climbed out of her bed. Her bare feet hitting her hardwood floor, she ignored the goosebumps that shot up her legs.
"My hair would not curl!" the redhead exclaimed dramatically, before gesturing to her loose waves. "Tonight is so very important, and yet, my hair will not hold a single ringlet!" Her voice was full of distress, though a small, self-deprecating smile tugged at her bright pink lips.
Raven shook her head fondly as she slipped on her socks. "It's just a date, Kori," she chastised halfheartedly. "It's not like you're getting married."
Her roommate giggled sheepishly at Raven's argument. "That is true," she admitted, before twirling her hair in an offensively girlish manner. "But I very much want to make a good impression; the restaurant is the place of Richard's employment."
Raven couldn't stop her surprise from showing as her eyes widened. She was well aware of Garfield working there - but hearing that Dick did, too, was honestly shocking. She had figured that an alleged trust-fund kid wouldn't need a job.
But what really surprised her was the fact that Dick had told Kori - the model - that he worked at a shitty Italian restaurant. His honesty was refreshing, to say the least. Most guys lied to Kori in the hopes of impressing her, when all the redhead really wanted was transparency. Raven begrudgingly had to give the guy props.
"So they both work there?" she mused aloud, before biting back a growl of frustration as Kori gave her a confused smile.
"You told me that you did not pay Garfield any attention," she accused playfully.
Raven adopted a stoic expression as she internally scrambled for an excuse. "I... I mean, he talked quite a bit. I was bound to have remembered something," she offered.
Kori seemed placated as her smile brightened. "I suppose," she said sweetly, before her earlier urgency returned. "Oh! But enough of the chit-chat! Put on your shoes and let us get going!"
She ended her command with a clap, causing Raven's eyebrow to twitch irritably as the pale girl stepped into her favorite pair of boots.
"Again - us running late is entirely your fault."
Putting her car in park, Raven closed her eyes as she leaned her head back against her seat. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this," she muttered, her exasperation apparent in the way she let out a long, labored sigh.
An amused huff sounded from beside her, and even though Raven couldn't see her, she knew that Kori was smiling. "You are an incredible friend," the redhead declared brightly.
Raven furrowed her brows, somewhat unwilling to open her eyes. "I'm an incredible pushover," she corrected. "And I hate you."
Kori giggled at that. "Do not lie to me," she warned teasingly, her voice full of unbridled affection. "You love me."
Opening her eyes, Raven shot her friend a sideways look. "I don't do love," she bit back plainly.
Still, Kori only laughed, before glancing at the phone in her hand. "Well, Richard has texted me that they are almost here. It seems we were not the only ones running late."
Raven quirked her brow. "'We'?" she repeated incredulously.
Again, the model did nothing to hide her amusement, despite the blush that spread over her cheeks. "Perhaps it was just me," she admitted bashfully, before her smile waned as she avoided Raven's eyes.
Uh oh, Raven thought bitterly.
"I think it is best to warn you now," Kori began, changing the subject as she fiddled with her cellphone. "Richard has said that Garfield is very... flirtatious."
A snort of amusement escaped the pale girl - she was fully aware of that fact. "Obnoxious is more accurate," she drawled, ignoring the smirk that tugged at her lips.
Though, the redhead either didn't hear her, or simply chose to look past her correction. "Richard has pleaded with him to be on his best behavior," she continued hurriedly, mistaking Raven's bland amusement for annoyance. "And I ask that you act accordingly, as well. I do not wish to make a bad impression."
But she was only met with a scowl as Raven regarded her incredulously. "Excuse me?" she sneered, sitting up straight as her hands tightly gripped her steering wheel. "You're worried that I'll make a bad impression?"
Kori seemed unfazed by her friend's anger. "I am worried that you will not be kind," she replied honestly.
Again, Raven could only scoff. "I'm fairly certain that me even agreeing to this in the first place is considered 'kind'." Raven knew that Kori was fully aware of her intense dislike of dating - double or otherwise - so the fact that she had even considered coming out tonight was a testament to Raven's 'kindness'.
Though, the redhead didn't seem convinced. "Richard asked Garfield to keep the flirting to a minimum," she stated plainly, causing Raven's eyes to roll (as if the blond wouldn't be a complete tool), "and I am asking you to treat the both of them kindly."
Raven opened her mouth to object, but Kori cut her off with a rare, serious look.
"I would very much like a third date with Richard."
Loosening her grip on her steering wheel, Raven merely shook her head. "I'll try to be nice...ish..." she compromised.
Kori beamed brightly, before glancing back at her phone. "Oh! They have arrived!"
Raven's heart jumped, causing her to internally berate herself. It was just Garfield - an annoying boy who she'd have to entertain for a few hours. She had no reason to be nervous. Removing her keys from the ignition, she begrudgingly opened her car door and stepped onto the pavement. Kori was already a step ahead of her, the redhead's excitement causing her to slam the passenger door closed, the noise echoing across the parking lot.
Resisting the urge to lecture her friend, Raven settled on instead sending the girl a halfhearted glare.
Though, it went unnoticed, for Kori was practically floating towards the two men approaching them.
Dick was looking sharp in a crisp black button-up and dark-wash jeans. His black hair was slicked back, and a pair of thick-rimmed glasses sat across the bridge of his nose. Raven was taken aback slightly - she didn't remember him having glasses.
Though, she figured that may have been due to the way her eyes almost immediately drifted over to the blond beside him. Garfield was grinning (shocking), while running his hand through his hair in a way that Raven would never describe as endearing. No, it was obviously a nervous tick - one that probably stemmed from his incessant need for approval. He was dressed much more casually - a purple and black flannel was haphazardly thrown over a white t-shirt, which he carelessly paired with faded jeans and the same tattered shoes that smelt like his room (or did his room smell like his shoes? She didn't care to think too hard on it).
Steeling her resolve and sending out a silent prayer, Raven reluctantly followed after the redhead.
"Richard!" Kori greeted cheerfully, her exclamation nearly causing her newly-flustered date to trip over himself. She bounded towards him excitably, before pulling the blushing man into a hug.
Raven allowed herself a small smirk as she watched the scene, but as her sights idly wandered towards Garfield, her smile fell.
He had also been observing their friends with a teasing twinkle in his green eyes, though the moment those green eyes met hers, the twinkle was replaced by a full-on supernova.
"Raven," he stated loftily, before extending his hand.
She would be lying if she said she had expected his nonchalance. No, she had been prepared for something more... obvious. Yet here he was, acting sort-of gentlemanly - and she found herself pleasantly surprised for once. But that didn't mean she was going to show her surprise.
"Garfield," she returned plainly, before delicately placing her palm against his. She tensed for a moment, fearful that he was going to dramatically kiss the back of her hand or do something else horribly cliche, but he surprised her again by merely shaking it.
"Nice seeing you again," he mused, his stupid, crooked smile making her stomach churn violently.
Raven was about to return the sentiment (out of common courtesy, of course - not because she meant it), but was hastily interrupted as Kori tugged her from the blond's grasp.
"Raven, this is Richard!" The introduction was primarily unneeded, though the two of them humored the model, regardless. "Richard, Raven!"
"Nice to meet you," Richard smiled, extending his hand before him.
Raven returned the gesture politely. "Likewise."
His smile was subdued, but didn't seem in-genuine. His handshake was firm, and he had kept eye-contact with Raven for the entire exchange. He seemed respectful and well-mannered; just the kind of guy Raven would want for her best friend.
"You must be Garfield!"
Releasing Richard's hand, Raven suppressed an exasperated sigh as she watched the blond hold his hand out towards the redhead.
"That's me - " he began, but suddenly seemed unable to talk as Kori ignored his gesture and instead pulled him into one of her signature, bone-crushing hugs.
"I am so very pleased to meet you!" the former-model enthused, entirely unaware of her strength as the blond grimaced in pain.
"Heh, uh, d-ditto," he offered weakly, before awkwardly patting Kori on the back.
She released him after a moment, oblivious to the way he silently gasped for air. "Oh, this is most exciting, is it not?" she squealed, asking no one in particular as she clapped her hands together. "Though, I hope our tardiness has not cost us our reservations," she mused, looking past the boys and towards the restaurant.
Raven followed her gaze, taking in the building's try-hard exterior with a bored expression. The front was rather on-the-nose with the Italian theme, sporting pillars draped in vines and fake grapes hanging above the entrance. The word Giovanni's hung above the doors in cursive, with Ristorante & Bar plastered underneath. She felt her brows arch in approval at the last word - if she were expected to deal with Garfield, then alcohol was a must.
Though, her blank expression fell back into place at the sound of the blond's voice.
"Psh, don't worry about that," Garfield playfully assured Kori, though his gaze seemed to be fixed on Raven (not that she was looking at him or anything - her eyes were expertly avoiding his). "I'm their best waiter, and Dick here is their most popular host - they'll hold our reservations all night."
Again, Raven felt her brow quirk at the casual way Garfield referred to their... more mundane jobs, and how Richard seemed genuinely unbothered by it. Not that she was judging them or anything - Raven, herself, had opted for a simpler job in marketing, rather than pursuing something with her psychology degree. So two mid-twenties guys working in food service? Not unheard of, nor was it anything to be ashamed of. She was just surprised. Most guys lied about that sort of thing; at least when concerning her and Kori.
Mostly Kori.
"Well, let us not test that theory," said redhead giggled, before boldly grabbing Richard's hand and tugging him towards the restaurant.
Raven observed the scene with a bemused expression, noting that her friend's date was turning an impressive shade of burgundy. Though, when she realized that she had been momentarily left alone with Garfield, she figured her own berry complexion would give Dick's a run for his money.
"Cute dress," the blond offered with a shrug, before his fingers ghosted over her thigh as he coyly tugged at the hem.
Raven hurriedly slapped his hand away, her attention focused straight ahead as she followed after their roommates. "No," she deadpanned, unsure of what she was disagreeing with, but confident in her decision.
She could see Garfield scramble to catch up to her from the corner of her eye, before his steps fell in sync with hers. "No?" he questioned, his tone playful.
Raven resisted the urge to shoot him a glare - looking at him always seemed to backfire for her. "Don't," she said instead, still not certain of what she was referring to, but not letting her resolve weaken in the slightest.
"Don't... what?"
She could practically feel his grin.
Her eyebrow twitching, she lowered her voice to a whisper as they neared their friends. "Don't touch me, for one," she hissed, before finally giving in and sending him a pointed look.
Like she had suspected, his face was split into a toothy grin.
Snapping her eyes back to the entrance looming ahead, she continued. "Also, don't flirt with me."
But her demand was met with mirth, and she listened as Garfield let out a hearty chuckle.
"Okay, I know you're trying to be discreet or whatever," he began loftily, before quickly jumping ahead to open the door for her (which only caused her eyes to roll - chivalry was dead, after all), "but Dick will totally know something is up if I don't flirt with you."
Despite wanting to argue, Raven bit back her retort when she realized that their roommates were now within earshot. Sending her companion another irritated look, she reluctantly stepped through the doorway.
Her nose was immediately attacked by the smell of garlic, and she couldn't stop a distasteful frown from tugging at her lips as her eyes scanned the restaurant. It was clean - which was usually a good sign. The waitstaff were dressed in maroon button-ups and black slacks, and the customer base ranged from several elderly couples on dates to a slightly rambunctious Little League team. It was family-friendly, for sure; but not family-oriented, seeing how half of the restaurant also doubled as a bar.
Her frown wavered slightly at that.
"Table's this way," came Dick's voice, startling Raven out of her idle observation.
"Ooh, the bar," Garfield singsonged, giving his friend a teasing look. "How'd you swing that?"
Raven watched as Richard merely rolled his eyes, before locking gazes with her and mouthing the word 'sorry'.
She allowed herself a small smirk - so far, this guy was winning her favor.
"This place is so very quaint!" Kori enthused, the sound of her voice immediately turning her date into a tomato.
Her smirk widening ever so slightly, Raven watched as Richard merely nodded at the model, before awkwardly gesturing towards their table. She made a move to follow after the two of them, again avoiding her 'date's' eye. Garfield was directly beside her as they crossed into the bar, though he thankfully refrained from touching her.
They were seated at a small table, with four chairs surrounding it. Kori was sat at Raven's right, her green eyes wandering around the kitschy restaurant in awe. Dick sat himself next to Kori, which put him directly across from Raven, causing her to roll her eyes fondly at the way he stared at the redhead, also awe-struck. Glancing to her left, she found that Garfield, too, was staring at the model as he sat down.
Though, rather than the usual, lustful gazes Raven was used to seeing men give her roommate, the blond was watching her with a confused expression.
"Is this your first time at a restaurant or something?" he questioned bluntly.
Raven was tempted to kick him under the table, though Richard apparently beat her to it as a slight thump sounded from below.
"Ow! Dude!" Garfield protested, his brows furrowing incredulously as he regarded his roommate. Raven watched as his hand slipped under the table, before sheepishly rubbing at what she assumed to be his shin.
Thankfully, Kori either didn't notice the exchange, or simply chose to ignore it. "Oh, no. I have been to many restaurants," she answered kindly, her eyes absently perusing the menu placed before her. "Or, should I say, ristorantes," she added, giggling. "Although, I do prefer the simplicity of trattorias, for most of my time in Italy was spent avoiding the paparazzi."
Both men became eerily silent at the former-model's nonchalance, their faces blank. To Kori, she was merely sharing an interesting anecdote. But to the guys? She was reminding them of the fact that they were currently having dinner with a professional model. Two, if you counted Raven's bubblegum ad.
She didn't think it counted, personally - though she was sure Garfield would beg to differ. If he remembered how to speak again, that is.
"Osterias are more my speed," Raven mused blandly, hoping to dispel the sudden awkwardness that fell upon the table. "I never turn down the opportunity to drink."
Her last remark was untrue, but it seemed to finally knock some sense back into their dates.
"Then why didn't you want me to buy you a drink at the bar?" Garfield scoffed, clearly unbothered by alerting his friend to Raven's initial rejection.
Again, she felt her face flush. "Because I didn't want to encourage you," she snapped, before earning a kick of her own as Kori sent her a pointed look.
'Be kind,' she mouthed sternly.
Raven found herself copying Garfield as she tentatively rubbed her shin, her eyes narrowing at her roommate.
"I told you this was a bad idea," the blond whined, turning his attention towards Richard.
But at that, her head whipped back to her 'date', and for a singular moment, Raven felt bad. She wasn't sure how else to describe it - the feeling was a mixture between pity and regret, with the slightest hint of offense as his words bruised her ego.
But, again, it was only for a moment, for the somber emotion was almost immediately replaced by annoyance when she felt a hand absently brush over her knee.
"Gar," Richard warned, unaware of the blond's silent gesture as his eyes fleetingly passed over both women.
Raven could see Kori stiffen from her peripheral vision; a sure-fire sign that the girl was getting upset. Though, with the way Garfield's hand tentatively moved up Raven's thigh, she knew that her roommate had no reason to be. The blond was merely putting on a show - making it blatantly obvious that there was nothing going on between the two of them. Nothing at all.
You know, aside from the occasional wandering hand, it seemed.
"Hey, you guys ready to order? I can get drinks started."
All four of them jumped at the sound of their waiter's voice, Garfield's hand retracting from Raven's thigh faster than she thought possible.
Her eyes darting towards the maroon-clad man, Raven felt a tinge of irritation at the casual way he spoke to the group, before remembering that he was their dates' coworker.
"Uh, the usual for me," Garfield answered briskly, his face flushed ever so slightly.
Raven quickly looked away, her eyes skimming over the drink menu as her other two companions put in their order.
"And for you?"
Glancing up, Raven gave the waiter a blank look. "I'll have a Bellini."
Nodding politely, he retreated from the table.
A moment of awkwardness lingered, before Kori delicately cleared her throat. "Ahem, so... Have you ever been to Italy, Richard?" She blinked her pretty green eyes in his direction, causing him to shift his attention towards his menu.
"No, can't say I have," he replied, pretending to read the text he had undoubtedly memorized. "I've been to every state, though. And Canada."
"Oh, how very interesting," Kori replied sweetly, though her smile waned when Richard seemed unwilling to elaborate.
"I've been to Africa," Garfield interjected, a lazy grin spreading over his face as he leaned back in his chair. "Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda... a few others," he trailed off, shrugging.
Raven arched her brow at that - she hadn't expected him to be so well-traveled. It was something they apparently had in common - aside from the places themselves.
"Oh! I have been to Morocco!" Kori supplied excitably, straightening in her seat. "Marrakesh is so very lovely!"
Sensing that her roommate was going to dominate the conversation, Raven elected to kept her travels to herself, and instead spared a glance to the man sat across from her. Richard was staring at the redhead while sporting a small, bewildered smile - as if he were unsure of whether or not she was actually there.
A smile very similar to the one Garfield had worn after spending the night at her place, though Raven decided not to look any deeper into that. Instead, she sneaked a quick peek at the blond, whose brows were furrowed as he listened to Kori talk about the fashion in Morocco.
Despite finding him incredibly irritating, Raven also found him sinfully attractive. His hairdo was a perfect combination of messy and styled, and the blond color could only be described as sun-kissed. His eyebrows were darker, and slightly on the thicker side, though they had a nice, natural shape to them. And although Raven was used to bright green eyes, seeing how she was faced with Kori's everyday, there was something so mesmerizing about the vibrant emerald shade of Garfield's.
He had a nose that other males would pay good money for, and lips that made her want to lean over and capture in a kiss. His only imperfection, facially-speaking (not that his body was imperfect - no, it was quite the opposite), were his teeth. They were an off-white color, and primarily straight - aside from his surprisingly sharp canines, one of which stuck out at an odd angle.
Also, his ears were kinda big, and slightly pointed, though she found them kind of... interesting. Not cute, mind you.
Their waiter returned shortly with their drinks, and Raven hurriedly took a sip from hers - prosecco was the only wine she somewhat enjoyed (aside from the occasional champagne, but only due to the novelty of it), although the peach puree that allowed her drink to be called a Bellini disguised most of the flavor. Not that she was upset, or anything - she actually preferred not being able to taste her alcohol.
Garfield seemed to have ordered some type of gin, while Richard and Kori shared a bottle of red wine. Raven smirked at that - maybe the alcohol would loosen the two of them up a bit.
"Any appetizers?" their waiter mused, his eyes darting between Richard and the redhead curiously.
"Uh, we'd like some bread sticks, probably," Garfield guessed, glancing towards his table mates.
Raven merely shrugged, realizing that she was the only one who had heard him. Richard was too busy pouring a glass of wine for Kori, while simultaneously explaining the proper way to hold the bottle.
"I'll get those right out," the waiter agreed, his casual demeanor throwing Raven off once more. "And I'm guessing you're getting your usual?"
Looking towards Garfield, she watched as he grinned. "Duh," was his eloquent reply.
"I'll have my usual, as well," came Richard's voice as he suddenly reentered the conversation.
The waiter nodded, before shifting his attention towards Kori.
Giggling sheepishly, the redhead quickly attempted to look over her menu, before seemingly giving up as she spared her date a faux-shy glance. "I will have what Richard is having," she decided. "I trust that you have good taste."
She was batting her eyelashes playfully, going into full-on flirt mode. Raven suppressed a sigh - Richard didn't stand a chance.
Feeling the waiter's eyes on her, she absently held up her menu as her sights focused in on her drink. "I'll just have a salad."
Garfield snorted in amusement as their waiter paused, clearly waiting for her to elaborate. But, when it became obvious that she wasn't planning to, he awkwardly cleared his throat as he took her menu. "Um... which one? We have pasta salad, chopped salad, wedge salad - "
"Wedge salad, no cheese, dressing on the side," she answered flatly.
Another moment of silence passed between them (aside from Kori's giggling as Richard nearly knocked his silverware to the floor), before the waiter nodded. "Right, well... I'll get out the bread sticks, right away."
And with that, he retreated back to the safety of the kitchen.
"Thanks, dude!" Garfield called after him, before setting his sights on Raven.
She tried to ignore him as she pointedly sipped on her cocktail. Peach had never been her favorite, but the artificial taste was enough to mask the prosecco.
"A salad?" the blond teased.
Raven watched as Kori tilted her head to the side coyly, smiling at something Richard had said.
"I'm not that hungry," she offered, noting the way her roommate's date shyly slipped off his glasses, before setting them on the table.
"Had a bite during your lunch?"
But at that, her eyes snapped to her 'date'.
He was wearing that same stupid grin that was beginning to haunt her; his dumb, twisted canine seemingly mocking her as it poked out. Narrowing her eyes, she silently dared the blond to push it.
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Maybe," she deadpanned, mentally scolding herself for blushing as her mind replayed their last hookup. She wasn't sure on the logistics of it, but for some reason, fucking on top of her desk had just... worked for her. And she really hadn't meant to bite him, but the way he was pounding into her had been beyond blissful, and she needed to do something to muffle her scream, lest her entire workplace find out about them. It was just that good.
Not that she would ever tell him that.
He continued to look all too pleased with himself as he sipped on his drink, his eyes twinkling mischievously. Again, Raven ignored the sappy side of her that wanted to get lost in those eyes, and instead averted her gaze to their companions.
Richard was less red, despite the way Kori was leaning towards him, her fingers lightly trailing over his bicep. Another giggle escaped her at something he said, though Raven was unable to hear them, seeing how her pulse was hammering in her ears. The blond wasn't being overtly flirty with her, but he was still somehow managing to send her stomach tumbling. And her drink really wasn't helping, nor was it taking the edge off. If anything, it was making her more fidgety. Raven had never been an expert on hookups, but she was fairly certain that she shouldn't have been this nervous. Plus, it wasn't like he had even exposed them or anything - he was just being an idiot. Something she assumed was normal.
"So, what is it you do, Raven?"
The sound of her name slipped past the thumping, causing her to sit up straighter as she came back to reality.
Richard was giving her a small smile, having been the one to include her in the conversation.
"Marketing," she answered plainly, sparing a glance towards the blond beside her. He was pointedly avoiding her gaze while attempting to hide his smirk behind his glass. "I'm an ad-executive at a car dealership."
Richard nodded politely, seemingly satisfied with her answer as he turned his attention back towards Kori.
"What dealership?" a teasing voice inquired.
Resisting the urge to scowl, Raven acknowledged Garfield briefly. "Jump City Motors," she hurriedly offered, hoping to move on.
But at her reply, Richard seemed to perk up. "Really? Do you happen to know a Vic Stone?"
Raven suppressed a sigh - of course he'd know him, too. "Yes."
"Huh, small world!" Garfield grinned knowingly. "Vic's like, one of our best friends. Hey, we should all get together sometime!"
"I don't think - " Raven began to politely refuse, but Kori's voice proved to be louder.
"Oh! Victor is so very kind!" she enthused, having met the man on several occasions. "I would love to do the hanging out with him!"
Raven could feel the vein in her forehead throb as she willed herself to have an aneurysm. She was never the biggest fan of group outings, and making new friends was the last thing she needed. Sure, if Garfield asked her for her number later, she'd probably give it to him - but not so that he could chat her ear off. No, it would strictly be for booty-calls, seeing how she was apparently shit at relationships, if her past attempts were any indication.
Not that she thought Garfield wanted a relationship with her; she wasn't vain enough to assume that. But she could tell that he liked teasing her, and teasing was often a sign of endearment between friends. And she did not want to be his friend. Fuck buddy? Sure. But a friend was not something she was in the market for at the moment.
Luckily, the waiter arrived with their bread sticks before any plans with Victor could be solidified.
"Your food will all be out shortly," he announced, giving them all a quick smile, before retreating once more.
Raven stared at the basket sat in front of her, wishing she were any place else.
The rest of the dinner had gone surprisingly smooth, seeing how everyone's mouths were too full to converse properly. Sure, Garfield had attempted to chat despite his mouthful of eggplant, but Richard had thankfully nipped it in the bud.
But as the boys walked towards the register to pay and Kori discreetly pulled Raven to the side, she knew that the brief moments of peace were coming to an end.
"I am going to kiss him," the redhead whispered, her excitement apparent in the way she practically shook.
Raven arched her brow, somewhat taken aback. "You haven't kissed him yet?"
Kori shook her head, smiling shyly as her eyes wandered towards her date. "I did not want to rush things," she admitted quietly, before doing that stupid, girly hair-twirl again. "But I am enjoying his company, and I want him to know that. So, I will be kissing him tonight."
The slightest feeling of shame washed over Raven at her friend's confession. Here she was, debating the best way to slip the blond her number so that they could hookup again, and Kori hadn't even kissed Richard yet. When had she become such a harlot?
"But, I will need you to distract Garfield, for I do not wish to embarrass Richard by, how you say, planting one on him in front of everyone," the redhead continued.
Raven suppressed a snort of amusement at her task; distract Garfield? Oh, how the tables had turned. "I can manage that," she deadpanned, shifting her attention towards the blond. He was leaning against the counter, chatting animatedly with the host as Richard signed the receipt. "But you'll owe me."
Kori merely giggled as she playfully knocked her shoulder with Raven's. "I suppose I will," she agreed, before a devious smirk crawled across her lips. "Though, he is very attractive, no?"
Raven mentally congratulated herself when she didn't blush, having expected her roommate's question eventually. "He's cute," she offered dully, knowing that a half-truth was less suspicious than an outright lie. "But he's also the most annoying person I have ever had the displeasure of meeting," she continued, now being entirely truthful. "Therefore, you'll owe me."
Another laugh escaped the redhead, before she linked her arm with Raven's and pulled her towards their dates.
"Oh, this has been a wondrous evening!" Kori began cheerfully, releasing Raven as they approached the two men, and instead linking arms with Richard.
He nodded in reply, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I'm glad you - "
But Kori quickly cut him off. "Shall we go for a walk? I have heard many wonderful things about the boardwalk at this time of night!" Without waiting for an answer, the model practically dragged her date out of the restaurant.
Garfield made a move to follow, but Raven quickly reached out and yanked him back.
"Ow! What the hell?" he asked, obviously clueless as he sent her a glare.
Raven simply returned it. "Kori's gonna kiss him, and she doesn't want an audience," she explained bluntly.
A moment of silence passed between them, before realization dawned on the blond's face. "Oh," he replied, though an incredulous expression immediately took over. "Wait - they haven't kissed yet?"
Raven neglected to answer as she moved past him and through the exit, before heading in the opposite direction of where their roommates had gone. She could hear Garfield clumsily follow after her, though she refrained from looking back.
"How long do you think they're gonna be?" he mused, having successfully caught up to her.
She merely shrugged, unsure of the answer. "The night's still young."
She could see Garfield nod from the corner of her eye. "Huh, I guess..."
Silence settled between them for nearly five whole seconds, before the talkative blond remembered who he was. "So, was tonight as bad as you thought it'd be?" he questioned, his tone playful as he casually slipped his hands into his pockets.
Raven continued to match his steps as she led them towards the parking lot. "The night's still young," she repeated ominously. "I'm sure you'll find a way to ruin it."
He chuckled at that, shaking his head and mussing up his already askew hair. Raven idly wondered if it was okay for her to find that cute, before cursing herself for even entertaining the thought.
"So, uh, what do you wanna do?" he mused, releasing Raven from her inner turmoil.
With her car looming ahead of them, she let out a hushed sigh as she pondered over his question. Half of her wanted to just ditch the blond and head home - Kori could obviously get a ride from Richard, so it wouldn't be like she was abandoning her or anything. But the other half of Raven was admiring the tinted windows on her SUV, and the privacy they would undoubtedly give.
Sparing her companion a glance, and in turn noting the way his flannel fit snugly against his shoulders, she quickly made up her mind.
Car sex wasn't as easy as the movies made it out to be. It wasn't easy at all, actually. In fact, it was downright difficult, bordering on outright impossible.
"Ow! My hair - "
"Whoa, watch your knee - "
"You're the one - ugh!"
Pulling her dress back down, Raven shot the blond a disgruntled look as she sat herself beside him. Despite being incredibly flexible, the backseat of her car was proving to be an awful place to hookup, as it left little room to maneuver and offered hardly any comfort.
Garfield returned her glare as he crossed his arms over his chest, choosing to leave his pants undone. "Don't look at me like this is my fault," he snapped, before turning his head and staring out the windshield. "I'm not the one who won't fold down the seats."
Raven huffed in frustration, before mirroring his pose. "They're a pain to readjust," she defended, her usual monotone laced with irritation.
But Garfield seemed unsatisfied with her answer as he scowled. "What's a pain is you kneeing me," he bit back, before his eyes darted back to her. "And when are you ever even back here? What do they need to be adjusted for?"
Raven kept her eyes forward, practically drilling holes in the headrest of the passenger seat. She really didn't want to admit that her reason for leaving the seats as they were was due to her having no idea how to adjust them in the first place. "It's my car, Garfield," she spat instead.
She watched him slump against the seat from the corner of her eye, only half-listening as he let out a groan.
"This is so lame," he whined, before uncrossing his arms and letting them fall to his sides. "Now Dick is probably getting more action than me!"
But at that, Raven couldn't help but scoff in amusement. "Dick is maybe getting to second base tonight," she pointed out dryly, feeling a small smirk tug at her lips. Kori wasn't necessarily an angel, but she wasn't a fan of moving too fast. It would 'tarnish her image' - or so she had said. Raven wasn't the biggest fan of discussing their sex lives, but from what she had gathered, the redhead had had a few tight-lipped partners over the years.
"Second base with a model..." Garfield corrected absently.
Raven tried to ignore the sharp pang of jealousy that stabbed at her stomach, though it proved to be futile as she self-consciously tucked her hair behind her ear. A scowl was firmly etched across her face, and she again berated herself for caring.
"But I've actually slept with a model," the blond continued quietly, tearing Raven from her pity-party as she gave him a bewildered look.
"Who, m-me?" she blurted, before mentally slapping herself across the face at how flustered she sounded.
But Garfield didn't seem to notice, and merely nodded.
His observation somehow making her more self-conscious, she attempted to correct him. "I told you, I'm not - "
Still, he seemed distracted as he idly waved her off. "Yeah, he'll maybe get to second base tonight, but... but I've already hit a home-run..." A wicked grin slowly crawled over his features, before he suddenly turned towards Raven, causing her to jump in surprise. "That means I'm coming out on top!"
Raven simply blinked at her companion, finding herself completely, one-hundred percent lost. "You're... You've... What?"
But he just kept grinning. "I've already won," he stated plainly, before nonchalantly shrugging.
Her brows furrowing, Raven again tried to understand. "You've won?" she repeated, incredulous. "What, was this a competition or something? 'Who can sleep with the model first'?" She had half a mind to kick his -
"Ah ha!" he exclaimed, pointing a triumphant finger in her face. "You admit it!"
"Admit what - "
"You're a model!"
Again, Raven could only stare at him, her mouth hanging open as her mind attempted to decipher his sudden excitement. One minute, he's moping about car seats, and the next, he's grinning like a madman while leaning in closer -
She stiffened as he unexpectedly pulled her into a kiss, his tongue taking full advantage of her parted lips. Though, her shock only lasted a moment before she threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling him even closer. Her back hit the door with a muffled thump as he threw his weight onto her, while simultaneously slipping his hand beneath her dress. He had already removed her underwear during their previous attempt, though she still let out a surprised gasp when his fingers tentatively brushed over her core.
He smiled against her lips, allowing her to feel that crooked canine of his as he attempted to kiss in spite of his expression. His fingers were still toying at her entrance, causing her to whine pitifully while shifting herself closer.
But at that, he pulled back slightly, his breathing heavy as he regarded her with a grin. "How about we adjust these seats real quick?" he teased.
Raven could feel the heat of a blush work its way across her face and down her neck; her slight embarrassment only fueling her annoyance. Narrowing her eyes, she roughly pushed him off of her.
He fell back into the middle seat, letting out a surprised chuckle. "Aw, come on! I'm just - "
But she silenced him with another kiss as she climbed onto his lap, straddling him. His hands had instantly gripped onto her hips, his tongue moving with hers as he greedily returned the kiss. He tasted like mint and gin, and she idly wondered when he had gotten a breath-mint, and why he hadn't offered one to her. Though, she hurriedly shook away the thought as she kissed him harder; finding the combination odd, yet somehow addictive.
The same thing could be said to describe their relationship - although, she hated to use that word, even in the privacy of her own mind. But whatever she called it, she couldn't deny how weird their dynamic was. She didn't necessarily like him; he was annoying, abrasive, and seemed unmotivated. Nice, sure. She'd give him that. And he appeared to be able to keep a secret, which she was extremely grateful for. But he also seemed a bit too eager to befriend her, and if it wasn't for the fact that he could fuck her speechless, she probably would have ghosted him by now.
Instead, she continued to kiss him, her teeth nibbling at his bottom lip.
A small part of her wanted to give in and fold down her back seats, but she knew she was too stubborn to let him win. They would find a way to do it like this, or they wouldn't do it at all. Sure, the thought of not being able to finish what they had started was troubling, and she'd hate to end the night unsatisfied. But god, she just could not get into a good position. The ceiling of her SUV was a little too close for comfort, and she wasn't crazy about the way she had to bend her knees -
Although, any complaint she had died in her throat the moment she felt a telltale twitch beneath her. Ever so slowly, she ground her hips against his.
Garfield moaned against her mouth as his fingers dug into her hips, and Raven couldn't help but feel proud of the effect she had on him. Shifting her weight onto her heels, she made quick work of pulling down his pants and boxers, breaking their kiss as she freed his erection.
"Can you try not to knee me this time?" he joked, though his breathlessness caused his taunt to sound more like a plea.
Raven shot him a glare, though she refrained from answering as she lowered herself onto him.
Her position was undeniably awkward as she attempted to get comfortable, yet Garfield seemed unconcerned with her comfort as he let out another moan, before thrusting up into her.
A mixture of surprise, pain, and pleasure shot through her, and she was caught between scowling and sighing as she rocked against him. His hold on her hips tightened as he slammed her down, his breath hitching with every thrust. The top of her head was brushing against the ceiling, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she'd actually hit it. But despite the odd angle and impending headache, she couldn't help but enjoy herself. Her dress was bunched up over her stomach, and Garfield seemed to take advantage of that as he slipped one hand under the fabric and slowly trailed it up her side.
His touch was like fire against her cold skin, and she let out a hiss of pleasure as she dipped her head down to kiss him again. Her fingers gripped his hair tightly as she pulled him closer, electing a pained chuckle against her lips as he clumsily returned the pressure. Though, their position was still causing her discomfort; her neck was craned oddly, a seat buckle was digging into her knee, and she couldn't brace herself properly as she bounced on his lap.
Letting out an exasperated growl, Raven detached her lips from Garfield's, and instead glared at the roof of her car as she popped her neck. All she wanted was to enjoy a quickie before their friends got back - was that really too much to ask?
"I'm gonna..." the blond began, and Raven nearly screamed in frustration, before suddenly finding herself falling backwards, "...move us, h-hold on," he finished, his eyes locking with hers as he shifted himself forward.
Hurriedly averting her gaze, Raven wrapped her arms around his neck; her thighs tightening against his hips as he leaned her onto her center console. Reaching one arm behind her, she braced herself against her dashboard as he continued to plow into her.
"B-better?" he asked huskily. He still had one of his arms wrapped around her, while using his other to brace himself on the passenger seat.
Raven was unable to find the sense to speak as she chewed on her bottom lip, and instead settled for nodding.
He smiled at that, his crooked teeth dazzling in the dim lighting of the parking lot. Again, she had to look away.
The feeling of him inside of her was nothing short of incredible, and she could feel herself getting closer with every thrust. The odd angle was similar to their quickie on her desk; the way his cock slammed in and out of her was raw and hormonal, yet surprisingly enjoyable. And the lack of intimacy was quite the turn-on, if she were to be completely honest. She kinda liked being a dirty little secret - his dirty little secret.
It was... hot. So incredibly hot.
The pressure building, she let out a hushed curse as she reached her other arm behind her to better brace herself, but the sudden honk of a horn caused her to sit upright and wrap her arms around the blond, her eyes wide.
The few cars parked next to them were empty, and they were hidden from the road, though she felt a sinking feeling settle in her stomach at the thought of being exposed.
Yet, she couldn't figure out who had honked at them. Her worried gaze shifting towards Garfield, she opened her mouth to ask his opinion, but was cut off as he let out a hearty chuckle.
"What happened to being discreet?" he teased, before quickly resuming his thrusts as he nuzzled his face into her neck.
Realization dawned on Raven slowly, along with a furious blush. "It was o-obviously an accident," she bit back shakily, before roughly pushing away his head and tentatively lowering herself once again. Being more mindful of where she placed her hands, Raven ignored his cheeky grin and instead focused on her impending orgasm.
"I think... you wanna... g-get caught," Garfield accused between pants.
Raven could only scowl. "D-don't talk," she demanded, squeezing her eyes shut as her legs wrapped around him tighter. The pressure was back, and building even quicker as his cock moved in and out of her, hitting and stroking all the right places. She could taste the faintest trace of blood from biting her bottom lip, though the slight pain only amplified her pleasure as her fingers gripped onto her dashboard. His thrusts were becoming wilder; a sign that he, too, was nearing completion, though she held no ill-will as a sense of euphoria began to wash over her.
It was a leg-trembling, toe-curling kind of orgasm - the kind that made Raven mutter curses beneath her breath while her back arched. She could feel Garfield's hold on her tighten, before she was unceremoniously pulled towards him as he captured her lips with his own.
She kissed him lazily, finding that all of her motor functions were temporarily on standby. Though, the way his tongue relentlessly probed her mouth told her that he didn't really mind. He had stopped his thrusting, but remained inside of her as he kissed her harshly.
After a moment, though, he tentatively pulled back, before sending her an embarrassed smile.
"Heh, uh... got any napkins in here?" he mused sheepishly.
Her eyes closed, Raven greedily inhaled the scent of her tea, letting the earthy aroma relax her. Kori had nonstop-talked about their evening on the way home, her green eyes bright with glee and her face flushed in excitement. Richard was apparently a 'most excellent kisser' - and Raven had been spared none of the details.
But that had been nearly half an hour ago. Now, both girls were home, dressed in their pajamas, and in the process of going to bed. Raven could hear the sink running as her roommate washed off her makeup, happily humming along to the pop-song playing from her phone.
Opening her eyes, Raven glanced towards the bathroom door. Kori's skincare routine took about fifteen minutes, meaning the shorter girl had about thirteen minutes left to check her own phone without looking suspicious.
She had given Garfield her number before Richard and Kori had returned from their walk, though he had yet to text her. Not that she was wanting him to text her right away - no, she had just expected it. He seemed like the type to text a lot, seeing how he was so insufferably talkative and whatnot.
But as she checked her phone for the tenth time since being home, she found no new message waiting for her. Letting out a sigh, Raven mentally scolded herself. Garfield was a nuisance - there was absolutely no reason to be disappointed that he hadn't texted her yet. She should have been celebrating that fact, in all actuality. Him not texting her was a sign that he understood her terms; she had given him her number so that they could hookup again - not so that he could badger her incessantly with jokes and puns and attempted conversation.
Taking a sip of her tea, Raven felt a small, satisfied smirk tug at her lips. He was respecting her wishes and being a good fuck-buddy. This was exactly what she had wanted.
So, naturally, she completely ignored the jolt of excitement that shot through her when her phone lit up. Snatching the device with her free hand, she hurriedly unlocked it.
One New Picture Message was displayed in her notifications, having been sent from a number that wasn't yet saved in her phone.
Rereading the words, Raven felt her eyes narrow as she hesitantly opened the conversation, but was only met with confusion as she stared at the picture Garfield had sent.
It was a creep-shot of Richard, who seemed unaware of the camera as he sat on a beanbag chair.
Bewildered, Raven took another sip of her tea while debating if the blond had even meant to send that, before another message came through.
Obligatory Dick pic
She snorted despite herself, effectively spraying tea out of her nose and onto the screen.
Thanks to the five minutes I spent researching Italian words, I am now getting ads in Italian. Technology is incredible.