#testm.

noelle adjusted the strap of her heel and looked over at them with a slow, teasing smile. "just so we're clear," she whispered. "i'm doing this as a favor, not because you look ridiculously good in that color." she slipped her arm through theirs before they could respond, already playing the part as the door to the valentine's get together came into view. "if anyone asks how we met, it was unexpected and magical. if they ask how serious we are?" her fingers squeezed their arm gently. "we make them uncomfortable with eye contact. got it?" she winked with the same teasing smirk. "now relax, i've got you. just try not to fall in love with me before dessert."

"you know," esther started casually not giving eye contact at first. "most managers just… manage. inventory. schedules. yelling about glassware. very normal stuff." then looked up for just a second before immediately looking away; like eye contact itself was dangerous. "they don't stand there during a slow shift staring at their employee." she reached for a glass despite nothing needing cleaning. "we work together, that's already messy enough. i'm broke, i need this job, and hr would absolutely not be romantic about whatever this." she paused to gesture vaguely between them, "is." their eyes met again as the following words fell from her lips stubbornly. thoughtlessly. "so maybe… stop looking at me like that before i do something stupid and you have to write me up for it."

farah hadn't stopped smiling since she sat down, which was exactly the problem. fingers curled tight around her mimosa like it was emotional support. eyes darting everywhere but directly across the table. "so," she chirped. "fun fact : i did not know we had friends in common when i made… certain life choices the other night." a nervous laugh slipped as she tucked a curl behind her ear, then brought the chill glass to her lips for a sip of her liquid courage. "in my defense, i panicked. you were sleeping peacefully and i suddenly remembered i am not built for morning after eye contact." she was never one to sugarcoat the truth.