Split

Looking Sweet

"Hey! Come sit." Rhea says as Emma approaches the table.

She moves over a seat, making room for Emma to sit between her and Dom. Emma smiles and sits, looking around at all the eyes that are suddenly on her.

"Guys this is...okay I'm sorry what's your name?" Rhea asks, her voice going softer as if she's embarrassed.

"Emma." She replies.

"Emma! I invited her to eat with us." Rhea smiles as she takes a bite.

"Nice to meet you, Emma." Finn smiles. 

Dom nods at her and smiles with a mouthful.

"Gross Dom." Rhea laughs.

Emma giggles and looks over at Damian. He's wearing a small smile, but he's looking at her with a hint of worry in his eyes. Like there's something he desperately wants to say but can't or doesn't know how to.

She awkwardly looks back down at her tray and takes a bite before looking back at Rhea. She smiles as she talks about her home life. Her two dogs, Barry and Luna, and her plans for them when they have to leave town again in a few days.

Emma doesn't realize she's stopped eating and has just been staring with a smile on her face until Rhea looks over at her and giggles.

"Cat got your tongue again?" She asks.

"No. I was just thinking about how cute you are when you talk about your dogs." She boldly states, taking a sip of her drink.

Rhea laughs and her cheeks flush a little again as she shakes her head and eats.

"That's twice now you've flirted with me tonight." She replies before looking at Emma.

Emma smiles and goes to say something but notices the look flash in Rhea's eyes again. The one of hatred and disgust. But again, it's gone as quickly as it was there.

"Well it was great eating with you Emma. You should join us again on Saturday after the Supershow. We planned to go to a local favorite out there. You in?" Damian interrupts.

Emma smiles at him and says, "only if I wouldn't intrude."

"Nah not at all. You should come." Finn smiles.

Rhea places a hand on Emma's shoulder. She's smiling at her, waiting for her response. Only Emma hesitates. Not because she doesn't want to, but because Rhea's soft touch is vastly different from her tough presence back at the shows.

"I'll be there." She smiles.

The five of them chat for a few minutes longer before Dom breaks up the conversation with a comment about how tired he is. Rhea laughs and ruffles his hair before they all say their goodbyes.

It's pitch black out, so Damian offers to walk Emma to her car to make sure she's safe. It's a sweet gesture but she tries to decline, saying she'll be okay, but he insists. So she shrugs and lets him walk her to her car in silence.

Once they get to it she says, "Thank you for walking me. And for everything. This was fun."

Damian nods slightly in acknowledgement, but that look has returned to his face. The one where he looks like he desperately wants to tell her something, but can't or shouldn't.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

"Just...be careful okay? Rhea she's...she's complicated." He finishes, stumbling on his words trying to find the right ones.

Emma frowns.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"Priest! Come on we don't have all night!" She hears Rhea shout from across the parking lot.

With that, Damian apologizes and walks away, not looking back at her as he leaves her confused. Emma gets in her car, locks the doors and frowns.

What did he mean by that?

*days later*

Emma spent the week packing and cleaning her apartment, preparing for another long trip away. She scheduled her usual live-in dog sitter to to be there for the next few weeks until she has a break again. The dog sitter being her sister, Amaya. When Amaya walks into the apartment, she rolls her eyes.

"You did not have to clean like you were expecting the Queen of England." She says as she plops down on the couch.

The two dogs, a German Shepherd named Lily and a miniature poodle named Larry, come running from their beds begging for her attention. Amaya smiles and starts petting them while talking to them in a baby voice.

"I just wanted to make sure it was comfortable. I'll be back in a few weeks are you sure you're okay?" Emma asks, wheeling her suitcase to the door and throwing her duffle bag over her shoulder.

"I'll be fine! But if you don't come back with Rhea on your arm I'll be mad." Amaya winks.

"Oh hush I knew I shouldn't have told you. Okay I have to go. Love you!" She says.

Amaya waves her off and she rushes out to the Uber, placing her backpack, suitcase and duffle in the trunk before slipping into the backseat. It's a short ride to the airport and she's checked in and boarding the plane before she knows it.

When she sits in her window seat and buckles up, she's surprised when a familiar face boards the plane and takes the seat right next to her. She looks at Rhea, who smiles back at her.

"Fancy meeting you here." Rhea giggles.

She's wearing a similar outfit to the one from last night, only instead of a Judgment Day shirt she's wearing a fitted cropped tank top with a light zip up jacket over it. She has headphones around her neck and Emma can't help but admire how she can easily pull the look off.

"Uh oh she's staring again." Rhea smiles.

Emma shakes her head and laughs a little at herself. Why is she suddenly so starstruck by Rhea? Not just starstruck, but maybe a little infatuated.

"Sorry. You're just so sweet to look at." Emma says, biting her lip.

This time, Rhea doesn't blush. She doesn't giggle. She smirks. Grinning at Emma and letting her eyes trail down her body. They pause at the low-cut tank she's wearing. Her boobs pushed up by the bra she's wearing underneath. Emma watches as she bites her lip, her eyes making their way down to the short jean shorts she's wearing, down her bare legs to the vans she has on her feet.

When her eyes raise back up to meet Emma's, she's not smirking anymore. Her eyes flash with that questionable look of hatred and disgust. Again, it disappears and the smile returns to Rhea's face.

"Sweet." Rhea winks before moving her headphones to her ears.

She leans her head back on the seat and closes her eyes. The two are silent for the rest of the trip, leaving Emma squirming in her seat. Partially from wondering what the hell is happening; partially out of sexual frustration.