begin again ( ᴀᴘ ).

        the meal before her is more than enough to place her in high spirits ( or, rather, far higher than the ones prior.  seemingly impossible, but if anyone were to bring about such a feat, it was sure to be spencer ). laughter dances about the air upon falling free from her lips, a most precious response to spencer’s actions. within seconds, lauren’s expression becomes coy.  hues of brown drift from her companion to the cheese & back again. ❛  yes, please -- as much as you can possibly spare. ❜

      ❛ oh, gee, ❜ remarks silvery tone, palms resting themselves just atop her hips all the while. it’s then that brows proceed to contort the upper half of her countenance, leaving them fixed in what appears to be thought, an indication she takes the assigned task quite SERIOUSLY. lauren must admit she’s rather grateful her companion is even offering her a choice seeing as dinner had been meant to be homemade. whilst love hangs from every word that falls from her lips & drifts about her every move, the meal was to be prepared at by hands of a woman who spent weeks trying to get the recipe just right. prepared with drive, dedication, determination. meant to be impressive, surely, but the ingredients she’d purchased being smashed along the subway tile due to careless teens was anything but. shoulders’d hung low the entirety of the ride to his apartment, lips painted into a frown even once upon his doorstep. fortunately, the other’s mere presence was enough to be rid of her embarrassment & perhaps even her shame, but not so much her GUILT.        ❛ you know i don’t do well under pressure ... ❜ really, she doesn’t, but latter seems a mere jest for her mind’s already made up.  ❛ ——— but ! we couldn’t possibly go wrong with pizza, right ? so i think i’m going to have to go with pizza.❜

      ❛ no, yeah, definitely -- you’re right. i’m actually ... apprehensive about how to go about disciplining, not really my strong suit. it makes me nervous that i’ll, um, i don’t know, say something that might negatively impact him. something would make him hate me. ❜ while the concern is entirely genuine, lauren doesn’t falter. instead, she merely sighs & places a palm just under chin. ❛ i would say teach me, but you saw what happened when you tried to help me with dancing ——— a lost cause ! ❜

     ❛ you know me, carmilla -- i don’t mind . ❜ delivery is genuine, just as much so as the simper that soon creeps upon her lips.  ❛ besides, there is not a soul better to compete with. in fact, every time i look aidan, i’m reminded i played an awful large role in his cuteness. he has my cheeks, see ? ❜ she’ll gently squish his face & then her own to demonstrate.

      chaste kiss brings about the most wondrous warmth to her cheek. she’ll smile easy, an expression that comes about most often in his presence. lips proceed to part not a moment later to give life to  the sweetest laughter as lithe form proceed to leans against the counter, listening intently. lauren finds it rather relaxing to hear his voice when watching him work.  ❛ i know it’s not .. what you’re used to, and i don’t doubt this has been tough, but i know you -- somehow, some way, you’ll be back to doing what you love. ❜ despite the circumstances, her belief in him never falters. ❛ but for now, i will bet on ... ah, just about anything, that you’re the best seer of “ who needs which whatever where “ ever. ❜ a reassuring palm lands upon his shoulder, chin soon resting atop.  ❛ and, of course, the best chef.  ❜

       ❛ ready as i’ll ever be ! ❜ lauren leans back then, reaching for the small bag that had rested to the right of her feet. a newfound sense of vigor places the most prominent pep - in - her - step as she hums a tune or two, all whilst approaching the door.

      head falls & rises into a nod languid in nature. a most forgiving smile tugs at once parted lips. body language alone clearly indicates his apology has been accepted. she’ll proceed to do a quick scan of the fridge so as to avoid assuring the other only to discover otherwise. fortunately all worry soon subsides, for within seconds a bag abundant with the item in question is plucked from the fridge. ❛ here you go. ❜ dainty digits pass them off with a simper. ❛ why don’t you tell me about it ? your day, i mean. ❜

      ❛ gee, i should have known ! i’m no stranger to competing with this little charmer for the attention of others.  ❜

     lips curl  into the BIGGEST & BRIGHTEST of beams. she’s cheesing so hard it hurts.   ❛ sophie ! have i ever told you how much i love and appreciate you ? ❜ just then, petite form moves forth & envelops the other. ❛ i love you ! i appreciate you ! ❜