#fa11ingup

she's not a mind reader by any accounts, but she can see beneath the surface. he's hesitating. wrestling with an impulse he shouldn't be fighting at all. & if she were to let him keep going back & forth in his head about whether it's a good idea to kiss her or not, they'd be here all day. she shakes her head, a quiet breath exhaled as lips curl into a smile. that's one too many times his eyes have flicked to her mouth – he's had his chance. taking matters into her own hands, something she's grown exceptionally used to, she grips the side of his open jacket & meets him halfway in a firm kiss – decisive & bold, her very own how to guide in sixty seconds or less. one she's enjoying a great deal, if she takes a second to look past the point she's trying to make. still, it's not that emma doesn't think him capable of making the first move. she's just determined to give him a reminder that he is. nose brushes past his cheek as she pulls back, forest greens searching for his gaze. " nate, you're not the cowardly lion anymore. " in fact, he's done one brave thing after another since he got here. why stop with her ? " take a risk next time. sometimes, it's not as scary as you think. "

ehem:

@fa11ingup | meme

the   plate   of   cake   that   zoey   so   kindly   served   her   remains   in   her   hand   ,   a   singular   bite   taken   out   of   the   treat   that   rumi   is   still   attempting   to   swallow   down.   their   little   hiatus   has   proven   to   be   a   much   welcomed   break   from   all   the   insanity   of   last   week   ,   but   they're   all   slowly   realizing   just   how   ❛   married ❜   they   are   to   their   work   ,   so   much   so   that   without   music   or   choreography   to   focus   on   ,   they   turn   to   trying   other   new   hobbies they've never once attempted before.   baking   a   cake   didn't   seem   like   such   a   hard   feat   ,   but   then   rumi   took   a   bite   out   of   a slice   &   slowly   she   feels   like   she's   about   to   pass   out   from   the   taste.   somehow   ,   they   managed   to   remove   the   sweetness   of   the   frosting   all   together   ,   the   inside   of   the   cake   itself   kinda   crusty   ,   with   the   occasional   crunch   that   she   can   only   assume   (   &   hope   )   is   lingering   egg   shells.   zoey   is   waiting   for   her   review   ,   no   doubt   positive   that   they   could   accomplish   this   seemingly easy task   ,   but   she   hates   to   be   the   one   to   have   to   burst   her   usually positive little bubble.   no   ,   the   truth   is   good.   better   than   keeping   things   from   her.   rumi's   trying   to   be   better   about   that   ,   but   it's   still   a   struggle.

❝   it's   .   .   .   interesting.   ❞   rumi   manages   after   a   moment   ,   the   aftertaste   somehow   worse   as   she   sets   the   plate   down   on   the   counter.   if   only   she   had   some   tea   or   water   .   .   .   anything   to   get   this   taste   out   of   her   mouth.   ❝   maybe   we're   not   meant   to   make   baked   treats   after   all.   we   could   always   just   order   a   cake   if   that's   what   we   want & let the professionals handle it.   ❞   she's   trying   so   hard   not   to   break   zoey's   heart   ,   but   she   knows   just   how   sensitive   her   friend   can   often   be.   immediately   ,   she   rushes   to   her   side   ,   ready   to   console   her.   ❝   hey   ,   it's   alright.   we   tried   something   &   it   didn't   work out.   we   don't   have   to   be   good   at   everything.   ❞   even   rumi   has   a   hard   time   believe   that   last   sentence   ,   but   she   is   trying   her   hardest   to   remind   herself   of   that   mantra.   ❝   you   okay   ?   it's   okay   if   you're   sad.   i   know   we   worked   really   hard   to   make   this   cake.   ❞