“Okay! How do I look?” Isabel turned around and demonstrated her attire to Tiff.

It had taken her the better part of the morning to get ready. And she still wasn’t done. Even with the mirror Isabel had stolen from Hanna, she had trouble making herself look good.

Tiff’s bored expression didn’t exactly help, either.

“Not good?” Isabel turned back to the mirror and combed her long brown hair differently. “How about this?”

The younger girl studied Isabel for a moment. “It’s good.” Tiff evaluated.

“But will Mila like it?” Isabel ran her hands down the last resort clothes she had obtained.

Mila had surprised Isabel unprepared. There just wasn’t enough time for her to get everything she needed.

Isabel tried a ponytail and decided it could work.

Especially since Isabel had to keep an eye on Mila lest she did something stupid again. Like talking to that woman again. Or going out poking an infiltrator organisation bent on destroying the city. Or talking to that woman. That could not be allowed. Isabel’s intuition told her so.

In the end, in her desperation, Isabel raided Hanna’s closet. It had resulted in a suboptimal combination.

It wasn’t the best. Isabel studied her reflection. The red blouse was good enough, she supposed. Maybe the cleavage the garment had was a bit much, but she wanted to show off her good points.

The blazer matched the blouse in colour, but the checkered pattern wasn’t to Isabel’s taste. But this option had been the best she could get in a rush. It suited the overall tone, but that was all.

But there were a couple of things she had bought that Hanna could not help with.

First was a black wavy skirt that reached to Isabel’s knee, leaving a healthy dose of her leg naked.

And a new pair of red shoes with a thin heel. Isabel was already much taller than Mila and didn’t want to loom even more over the girl.

Despite how Mila acted, Isabel felt that the shorter girl’s height was a sore point for her.

Isabel tried to make a braid but gave up. It looked worse than a simple ponytail. Maybe. She wasn’t sure about anything at this point.

“I look awful.” Isabel poked the skin under her eye. Was there a dark ring there? Was she imagining it? To be safe, she applied more foundation.

“You are going to be late.” Tiff pointed out.

“I am almost done.” Isabel desperately tried to crease her blouse. “Okay, how do I look?”

“Fine.” Tiff was as enthusiastic as ever. That is to say - not at all. “You have been looking fine for the last three hours.”

“You don’t get it!” Isabel grabbed and settled down on the ponytail. If she judged Mila’s stare correctly, she liked to look at the exposed neck. “It’s our first date!”

“Is it that big of a deal?” Tiff didn’t understand. “I have been on one with Kefo, and it wasn’t that hard.”

“Y-you two are dating?” This information came as a surprise for Isabel.

“Does going on a date with someone mean you are dating?”

“That’s what I want to know!” Isabel raised her hands in the air and shook them. “Does it?” She felt unsure.

Even in her imagination, Isabel didn’t dare to call Mila her girlfriend.

Okay, maybe Isabel had done that once or twice…

Or three of four or…

Tiff put a finger on her lips and thought for a while. “I don’t think it does? I don’t think I am dating Kefo.”

Isabel wilted. “Are you sure? No, but that makes sense? Wait, so you are not planning on getting together with Kefo?”

“I don’t know,” Tiff replied. “I don’t get all of this dating stuff. I thought you would know.”

Isabel opened her mouth but didn’t speak. She combed her fingers through her hair, letting them slip between. She had done great with getting a cut. And her body was in the best shape ever.

There were advantages to the physical training they were regularly doing. Isabel’s body was well-toned, and her sense of balance had improved.

Now that Isabel had cleaned up and applied make-up, her confidence was at an all-time high.

Which still didn’t amount to much.

But Tiff was right. Why was Isabel asking a fourteen-year-old girl who has lived a good part of her life in the woods about how relationships work? She doubted Silinth gave crash courses on how to hook up.

After going through the mental checks once again, Isabel realised she was out of time. It was noon already. “Shit, shit, shit! Why didn’t you tell me?” She scrambled to put on her shoes.

“I did.” Tiff defended. “Several times.”

“I am so late.” Isabel didn’t listen and stumbled towards the doors. “Oh, no, please be late as well.”

Mila wasn’t.

When Isabel poked her head through the exit towards the courtyard, Mila was already waiting, standing next to the gate.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Isabel felt her heartbeat stop.

Mila was breathtaking.

The deep green dress clung to Mila’s body, leaving little hidden. Her bare shoulders and arms set Isabel’s imagination running wild. Her probably-not-but-maybe-yes-please-let-it-be-yes-girlfriend had pulled her hair up in a bun.

And Mila had… The same Mila who had ignored any and all cosmetics and self-care products…

Mila had applied make-up! Her already gorgeous pale skin shone with lustre unseen on mortal beings. Isabel was convinced Mila was not of this, nor any other world.

And the eyes! Isabel felt herself being lost in the green depths of Mila’s eyes.

“You are late,” Mila noted. Her lips curled up in a mesmerising smile. “Now, don’t stare and come closer. I want to see you.” She invited and extended her arm.

“Yesh.” Isabel swallowed. It was hard. She had forgotten how to walk. Her eyes kept travelling over Mila’s captivating body.

But somehow, Isabel managed to stumble forward. Her treacherous legs kept messing up, while her eyes refused to see anything else but the girl in front of her. Worse yet, her arms decided to lose all sense of coordination, and her heart tried to fit in years' worth of beats in these scant seconds.

And as Isabel floundered closer to Mila, she realised something else. An involuntary gasp broke past her lips. Her eyes clung to Mila’s private parts.

Was Mila even wearing anything underneath the dress? Isabel wanted to know. She had to! It was paramount for the sanity of her scrambled mind.

No, Mila had to. There definitely was something, but whatever she had chosen was thin and unnoticeable. It was too… “... hot.” Isabel whispered.

It always came to this. Isabel’s overheated mind was filled with regret. There were better words to describe the angel in front of her.

But one look at Mila’s now seductive smile and Isabel realised she was wrong. This was no angel - this was a devil. And she would sell her soul happily.

While Isabel was searching for something better than ‘hot, Mila’s smile widened, and she took a step forward.

“You look absolutely ravishing, my dear!” Mila licked her lips. “I can’t believe I am so lucky to have a beauty like you as my partner for the day.” She swayed her hips. “Ah, but that’s not just for a day, is it?”

Isabel felt Mila’s eyes on her. They felt hot and made her sweat. “You too.” All her fried brains managed to do was mumble out this humiliating phrase.

What even was this ‘you too’. Isabel wished she had said something better. Something profound that could describe the devilish goddess in front of her.

“Oh, so you do find me pleasing to your eyes, Isabel?” Mila twirled around, presenting herself. “What’s wrong? Do you find me so distracting?” She took another step closer.

“Wow,” Isabel struggled to breathe.

No! This wouldn’t do! Isabel was better than this! She had trained in front of the mirror for hours! Not to mention all those evenings she had imagined this situation.

Sure, Mila was even more stunning than in Isabel’s wildest fantasies, but…

Okay, that was a good reason. But still, Isabel had to show her guts! She had to prove her affection as well!

So, Isabel extended her clammy hand and grabbed Mila’s. She looked down at her boldness in surprise.

“Uh, oh, I mean,” Mila, uncharacteristically to her, stumbled on her words.

Isabel’s eyes rose and searched for Mila’s. But failed, as the girl in front of her was currently avoiding looking at her.

Mila was blushing!

Visibly blushing!

Isabel felt her heart being squeezed by the bashful expression on Mila’s face. It was hard to not grab the diminutive girl and devour her.

Maybe that would be okay?

Isabel was conflicted.

“W- We should-” Mila tried to speak. With her free hand, she ventilated her face. “It’s so hot today. A- Anyway, we should go?”

“Go?” Isabel felt her sweaty palm clamp down on Mila’s. The skin contact was too much for her.

“Yes?”

“Go where?” Isabel felt like her whole world was here. There didn’t exist anything else.

Mila giggled.

Isabel struggled to grasp the concept. Mila didn’t giggle.

“But, of course, to see the city,” Mila explained. “To spend time together. To make memories.”

“Ah!” Isabel nodded. Memories were important. Mila had said so.

“So?” Mila hesitantly intertwined their fingers, ensuring their hands would not get separated. “I-I feel like I’ll do something undue if we stay here any longer. “Her gaze lingered back on where their rooms were. “I think we should move?”

Isabel rubbed her fingers against Mila’s. It was so addicting. It was hard to imagine the world where she didn’t hold Mila’s hand. “We should.” Came an absentminded answer.

“We should.” Mila agreed.

But they failed to move. Isabel kept staring at the unbelievable expression Mila had.

Isabel had never seen Mila so red! It was a new look. Her cavewoman brain approved.

“Mila?” She whispered.

“What is it?” Mila was fidgeting, avoiding Isabel’s gaze.

“You are so hot.” Isabel praised.

It was stupid, yes. Isabel realised it was. That word didn’t express even the tiniest part of what Mila was, but it felt appropriate.

“W-what are you saying?” Mila grew even redder. “That’s my line!” She contended.

“No! You would say something more elaborate!” Isabel disagreed. “That’s my line. You are hot! Very sexy!” She nodded along with her words because they were the truth. “The sexiest.”

“Well, I’ll have to disagree.” Mila finally looked into Isabel’s eyes, challenging what she had said. “You are definitely the most captivating and desirable woman I have seen. No, to ever exist!”

“I want to eat you.” Isabel slipped up and felt her mouth fall open in shock.

That wasn’t what she wanted to say. Isabel could not believe her brain. This was worse than when she had claimed Mila loved her.

“Oh, but that’s something we could arr-” MIila began before forcefully clamping her mouth shut with her free arm.

“I-” Isabel felt a needy hotness gather below. She was so hungry. “I want you to finish that sentence.” She whispered.

“No!” Mila hissed. “Not now!”

“Mila-” Isabel took a step closer.

“What is it?” Mila didn’t escape. She didn’t look away.

“I-”

“Stop!” Andrew’s yell filled the courtyard! “Please leave already! Some people have training they have to do.”

Isabel watched Mila’s head snap towards where Andrew was.

Mila was angry. She was furious.

Isabel loved it. The cold, calculating gaze Mila had…

It was so hot!

“Let’s go.” Mila finally said and pulled Isabel along.

Isabel watched Mila strut in front of her while holding her hand.

It was very nice. Especially the way Mila swayed her ass.

Isabel swallowed. Her brain was in a gutter. Completely useless.

“Very nice.” She muttered.