The restaurant Claudia picked was one Almenira had never even heard of. Unsurprisingly as well, since the price tag on most things was something no average college student had any business of even entertaining. Though, Almenira supposed she wasn't just an average college student any longer and probably never was.
She was basically Cinderella in fact, if Cinderella was a mob princess and lesbian.
Anyways,
They drove for an half hour to escape the suburban oppression that was identical colonial houses and community bake sales. As they drove, Almenira imagined that Claudia would just keep driving. And Almenira would watch in silence as they passed town line after town line, never once questioning where they were going but knowing that they would be alone and together and that was enough for her.
But they only drove as far as the metropolitan city that was a few miles out from town. The restaurant was on the top floor of a tower that Almenira didn't have the chance to determine the entire purpose of before Claudia swept her into an elevator.
"I remember promising a dinner date?" The woman had said a few hours before and Almenira blushed at the memory, then began to recant the promise.
"Oh, don't you even start. It's the least I can do to make everything up to you. I'll make sure it's a bon a fide date too. Dresses and cocktails."
Now Almenira was planted stiffly in a dim, fairly bustling room.
She stared blankly at the menu, many items were written in French... or perhaps it was Italian? Either way she had no idea what anything actually looked like. But Claudia studied the menu studiously so Almenira pretended to be deeply enthralled by the options as well.
"Good evening, may I get you started on refreshments this evening?" Almenira is startled by the saccharine voice that comes from a slender brunette waitress with elvish features.
Claudia lifted her eyes, unperturbed, and gave a slight eyebrow raise that silently asked Almenira if she had anything in mind.
"Oh— erm..." Almenira's eyes flitted down to the menu, combing over the too-long words with too many accents in a panic.
"How about classic lemonade? I'll have Pinot Grigio, thank you."
Claudia offered a courteous smile to their waitress and Almenira took notice of the affection behind the smile the waitress returned.
Instead of a twinge of jealousy or possessiveness, Almenira could only sympathize. Claudia could charm her way to get the nuclear codes. Almenira understood completely, being enchanted by even her simplest actions.
The spell was broken once the waitress turned away from the blonde woman to collect Almenira's menu. She presented Almenira with a smile, of course, but it was the kind that was meant to be polite and nothing else. And Almenira couldn't be mad at that. Compared to Claudia, she was little more than a shadow that followed closely behind
Almenira gave a diffident smile towards her date, silently thanking her for helping her save face. She awkwardly cleared her throat, unsure of where to focus her attention now that she couldn't bury her face in an undeciperable menu. She talked to Claudia more nowadays than she has spoken to her own best friend, so why was it so nerve-wracking to fraternize with the woman when they were out in public?
Claudia quietly observed her fidgeting with a mellow gaze before she took pity on her sudden loss of how to function. "How're your studies going, dear?"
"Oh!" The relief she felt to be spoken to first was heard apparently through her exclamation. "They're going well, actually. Now that I don't have my Principles of Finance class, my workload has been a lot more manageable. Whatever happened to my old professor, I can't thank the universe enough."
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Claudia's plump lips stretched upwards in amusement as Alemira rambled on to which the girl grinned back sheepishly. Almenira hypothesized that the way she spoke seemed cute to Claudia and perhaps that is why she smiled the way she did at most of her words, though she hoped Claudia found her an endearing sort of cute that wasn't akin to listening to a child ramble.
Almenira basked under her affections either way and felt empowered to talk more and more. "I've been thinking about changing my major too, but I'm not sure..."
"To design?"
"No, still finance-ish but I was thinking like data science or something along those lines."
Claudia's eyebrows shot up, impressed. "Cute, nice, and smart, you're a triple threat, Alme."
Almenira blushed and dropped her gaze instinctively. "Oh, stop." she murmured halfheartedly.
"No. If I told you about the people I've had the pleasure and displeasure of meeting, you wouldn't believe me. Much less, when I tell you you're better than them all."
Alemira's face was burning now. She was so unused to compliments or praise that she didn't trust herself not to cry if Claudia said anything more.
"Then you don't know yourself," She said quietly, finally meeting Claudia's eyes once again and for once, drawing the sea of icy blue into her. The woman cocked her head to the side, and Almenira thought she belonged in a painting so she said as much.
"I think you're perfect, Claudia."
"Oh..."
"I think all the time that you're the perfect woman who great poets write about, who lovelorn musicians wail about, and who lonely people wish they could have love them. I think you're a privilege, no, a blessing to know."
Claudia remained speechless, her eyes now widened and unblinking, and Almenira refused to break the visual connection they maintained. Even as the waitress returned skillfully balancing their drinks on a platter and looking expectantly down at Claudia, the woman remained as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist and all that was left in existence was Almenira and all her sugary confessions.
The waitress eyed the two entranced women with peculiarity but set the glasses down quietly then swiftly departed.
Finally, Claudia's eyes fluttered softly and down to the condensation-coated glass of white wine. She reached out towards it with a slight tremor in her hand that she quickly corrected by grasping the stem firmly and taking a large and quick sip. She was wishing she had ordered a Scotch instead.
Almenira fumbled with the wrapper of her staw and sipped the sweet juice, surprisingly, not feeling like she wanted to disappear into the ground. What she had said was true and she wanted Claudia to know how much Almenira admired her.
Claudia set her glass down and then cleared her throat. "You tryna give ya old lady a stroke?"
Almenira's heart fluttered at the implication that Claudia belonged to her and the strong southern accent that the woman had suddenly taken on.
"Only a mild one."
"Oh, Alme, you'll be the death of me."
She murmured more to herself than to the girl who wore a smug look.
The waitress's return was not a welcomed interruption as Almenira could practically feel the tension they had been building simmer out. Claudia shifted her attention onto their server with a pearly smile and soft eyes. Now, she was jealous and much to her chagrin, the brunette girl enthusiastically engaged her.
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