Act 2 | Chapter 20

Riley took a large bite into her half of the lobster's tail. A bit of juice seeped out from between her lips as she tried to keep her head over the plate to prevent spilling it anywhere. I chuckled and took my own bite out of the meal. It was rather chewy and honestly reminded me of shrimp, only much larger.

"This is so good," Riley commented, taking another bite. I gave her a nod of agreement and looked back down at my plate. We had split the lobster in half. It was a horrible attempt to divide the lobster up into two halves for us to share, but we did it. Somehow.

"So," I started, "Tell me something embarrassing you did as a kid?"

"I'm pretty sure my mum told you everything," Riley responded, giggling a small bit.

"Not really. Just that one story."

"Um." Riley went quiet for a moment. I kept my attention fixated on her eyes while I patiently waited for an answer, "Well, as a kid I used to play dress up a lot so I borrowed a lot of my mum's clothes."

"And how well did they fit?" I asked in a teasing voice.

"I was like teen, they were way too big for me." She giggled.

"That's what I thought." I took another bite from my lobster, "Alright, ask me another question."

"Alright. Did you ever make any embarrassing artwork?"

"Hm. Well... yes but actually no. When You have to draw someone you usually have to draw them naked first. Outline their shape, leg's arms, hands, breasts, everything. It usually feels uncomfortable when drawing a full body person because they always look naked for a majority of the drawing. Then you start adding clothes once you're done."

Um, okay. Did you ever think about doing just naked artwork?"

I went silent and froze up a bit. All I could think of was my mother and what she would do to me. Force me to stand up or sit down while she painted all over me against my will. "I have thought about it, but never actually did it." Was my response.

"Alright then. What to ask me another question?"

I looked back up at her and nodded. There was one thing I wanted to ask her that I hadn't for a while, though I wasn't sure if it was the best idea.

"If you don't mind me asking, where's your dad now?"

"He's um..." Riley went quiet and looked down. I might have crossed the line with that question. I know what happened between Riley's mother and father, and I don't think she took it very well. "Next question," Riley said blatantly.

"Sorry. I was just wondering." It felt a bit awkward after that. The two of us ate in silence while we finished up our lobster. It didn't take long since the lobster itself wasn't very big.

"Were splitting the bill both ways right?" She asked.

"Right. I'll pay half, and you pay the other."

"Fine." Riley pulled her wallet out and put her money down on the table, just as I did the same. "You have any plans after this?"

"No, not really?"

"We could go down to the beach?" Riley suggested.

"The snowy beach with a frozen lake?" I tilted my head.

"Yeah, just a stroll before we get back into the car."

"I guess we can. No harm in doing so." I stood up and left a tip on the table for the waitress. Riley got up beside me, took my hand, and started leading me past the parking lot, and over to the beach. Thankfully it wasn't snowing, though it was very chilly out. I made sure to grab my coat from the car first. Things over the last few months sure felt strange. Not even half a year ago I was sitting down in my room all alone, working on some dumb art project for a college scholarship. To think it took only one night for me to change. The only friend I ever had was in love with me, and now I was living with her. Hell, I just had sex for the first time too. It really felt like I was growing up and moving on in life. When I saw that movie for the first time, something changed in me. I wanted to see more of it. I changed, stood up for myself, and I even killed two people. I didn't feel anything while killing them. It was exciting, exhilarating. I wanted to do it again, but if I did, then I would run the risk of getting caught. I had to stop killing. Never again. But these two people who have caused me nothing but trouble for years on end. Pushing me around, kicking me out of the girl's locker room naked after gym ended, constantly verbally assaulting me, and breathing down my neck. They were gone now, and I didn't need to worry anymore. I don't regret killing them.

"Thanks for the date." Riley said, squeezing my hand a bit."

"Thank you for driving me to the date I'm taking you on." I joked. Riley chuckled a bit and start walking own the side of the frozen beach with me.

"So what do you think you're going to do once school's over? Were seniors so we're graduating soon."

"Haven't given it much thought. Kinda nervous to think about a college is around the corner."

"Yeah. You never expect a day like that to come. I've heard it all my life. One day I'll go to college, and I honestly never thought I would get this far. It's scary to think about that big day finally approaching. But since I didn't win that scholarship, I'll have to actually pay for school."

"I'm sure you can find another way. Maybe if Maria is still missing, you could be taken in since you were in the second place!"

"I don't know. I got disqualified because my art was ruined."

"Optimism Zoe!" Riley gently bumped my shoulder with her own.

"I guess it's still a possibility?"

"Yeah, like that." She chuckled.

"What about you tough, Riley? You really haven't thought ahead to what you wanna do?"

"To be honest I don't know. The only thing in school that I've found interesting is the phycology class I just started."

"Phycology? Didn't think you were interested in that?" I tiled my head, "I remember you being telling me you were super board on the first day of the class?"

"Well, I was until I started paying attention. Besides, I wouldn't have taken it unless I had anything else to choose from."

"So it's something you like them?"

"Not really, but it's interesting?" Riley shrugged.

"It's a fun subject."

"It is, but get's boring sometimes."

"All classes are. But once you really get into it, You'll like it." I smiled, turning around once we reached the end of the beach.

"You've taken this class before?" Riley asked.

"Yeah, I finished it last year."

"Was it actually fun?"

"I had fun it. I'm sure you will too." I gave her a quick peck on the cheek, and the two of us started walking back to the car, our fingers interlocked.