Head Over Heels - - -

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

All Zoe wanted right now was to spend time with Romeo. They were doing this whole dating thing the "right" way by having an official first date, but hadn't they already kind of had one? Cuddling on a couch had to count for something. Almost kissing had to make it some odd sort of date/hanging out. Waking up in the same bed together definitly had to add up to... anything. She wanted to do that again. Just relax around each other and not feel so pressured by the outside world; to just be them. Dresses and makeup and heels weren't her; they were little things she was sampling tonight to keep Romeo's eyes on her. And, so far, it was working. But, being cooped up in an apartment with movies and takeout sounded so much more romantic to her. It'd would only be them then. No reality, no outside troubles; just them. Like it should be.

Zoe stumbled along in her heels, head high and horribly acting like she had no trouble at all with these shoes. Tomorrow, she'd have to thank Ember for whatever injury these things would no doubt cause. Ignoring the heightened chances of her death by killer shoes, Zoe turned her bright eyes up to Romeo, laughing softly at his reply. "We should go back there sometime when you'll actually lemme pay," she answered with a coy smile. That little diner had been exactly what she'd needed after her breakdown and, for her, it'd always hold that memory with Romeo. Maybe, if he ever let her plan or pay for anything, she'd arrange a trip there and a movie night. But, she shouldn't be thinking that far ahead. They hadn't even ordered their dinner yet!

She smiled at him across the table, eyes wandering back out to the window with a dreamy haze filling them. New York could be beautiful, sure, but that didn't rule our the danger factor for her. And, right now, she doubted anything could. Zoe blinked, looking at him in confusion as she brought her attention back to their table. "Ya mean there's more?" She had thought the dinner would be date enough. But, of course, he was Romeo, after all. She should've guessed he'd planned some big adventure instead of focusing their night around a meal.

Zoe flipped open her menu, eyes skimming the page quickly as a bad habit she'd developed the day she'd moved to New York. She automatically went to prices, not food, thanks to the tight budget she kept herself on. Nine times out of ten when someone else payed, she picked the cheapest thing she knew she'd eat. Besides, the last thing she wanted was for him to spend his entire paycheck on her this evening. "This baked chicken sounds yummy," she answered, turning her eyes to deserts to locate that cheesecake he'd seemed so fond of. "What're you getting, hun?"

• • •

WORDS: 528!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: This is horrible. :D <3

[Romeo Jackson Jervis]

For Romeo, tonight was more like protocol than anything he usually did. It was hard to have a first date when Zoe had already spent the night at his apartment and they had cuddled on the couch and almost kiss in what had to be one of the tensest moments in Romeo’s young life. However, he wanted to do it right, like the unwritten book said and charm her with a beautiful meal and a perfect night. After tonight, if she wanted him, more dates would happen, but he was happy if they were just nights cuddled watching movies or simply hanging out somewhere without all the frills and fancy. After all, he liked the girl he had met that day in Borders; the simplistic and laid back country mouse who, for tonight, had turned into a city beauty. He liked this look, he did and his eyes couldn’t keep off her, but that didn’t mean he didn’t adore her usual jeans and shirts. He was lucky enough to know the girl behind the make up and the skyscraper heels and she was perfect to him.

The chuckle that came from the back of his throat was warm and deep and his olive eyes fell affectionately onto the pretty blonde at his side. “Y’ might find y’self waitin’ for a cold day in hell for that to ‘appen.”

[/color] He joked, raising his eyebrows almost challengingly at her. He liked treating her to little things like ice cream and hoped he could continue to do it. Plus, he was a gentleman to the core and fully believed in the guy paying for the dates, at least the first few times. It irritated him to no end when guys suggested splitting the bill at the end of the first romantic night on the town and Romeo was often seen as old-fashioned for wanting to front the cost of the night and spend the time trying to charm and woo her. It was everything chivalry had left in this day and age and Romeo refused to let it die within him, even if his accent and his city lifestyle might have suggested otherwise at first glance.

He chewed on the inside of his lip gently. It was still tender if he bit too hard, but it was the only thing he could do right now to calm his erupting nerves at his green eyes settled on her, studying her expression as she gazed out of the window. He hoped tonight would go down well with what he had planned for them both. Romeo would be there to hold her hand through it all, but that didn’t mean that she would entirely appreciate how he was going to try and help her. One bad mishap and her view of the city was marred, almost destroyed and for Romeo, there was almost nothing more magical that the hidden beauty of the city that never slept. He wanted her to see it too, to have some trust restored in the concrete jungle that was currently her home. He smirked softly and then looked down at the table cloth, his fingers toying with the edge of it. “Mmhm. I figured y’d like more than just dinner.”[/color] He commented casually. It wasn’t a big thing he had planned, but he hoped she would enjoy it just a little.

Romeo wasn’t the richest guy in the world, but his Christmas bonus had definitely eased the pressure of rent and bills, even if it was only for a few months. Tonight was something he wanted to spend his money on and even Ellie had instructed him to splash out on Zoe and treat her to something nice. He looked at what she planned on ordering and nodded. It wasn’t the most expensive thing on the menu, but then that item sounded vile. He nodded with a small smile and then looked up at her. “I think I’m gonna be a typical guy and go with the steak.”[/color] He answered, just as the waitress began to head their way again. It was usually a safe bet and Romeo wasn’t a fan of these gourmet dishes that often sounded like they came with a side order of poison. Burgers, fries, steaks…the unhealthy range was usually what appealed to his hearty appetite.
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• • •

TAGGED! His Juliet <3
WORDS! 754
OUTFIT! Sexy Mofo!
LYRICS! Speechless - - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe would've been fine with another movie night, this time without the injuries and with more of the innocent cuddling. She'd loved that because it was just the two of them then; not even Ellie had been enough to break their bubble for a long while. And everything was more relaxed. There weren't all these pressures about saying or doing the right thing, and it was more them, in her mind. She liked the "cleaned-up" version of Romeo that was with her this evening, but it wasn't the guy she'd fallen for. Her Romeo was the handsome, funny Borders employee who'd charmed her while still on the clock at work. That was the guy she wanted to be snuggled with on a couch right now.

But, she would admit, being out in public had its advantages. Zoe didn't usually pay attention to peoples' eyes, not when she was in her country mouse attire at least, but tonight... tonight people were looking at her. Or, they had been in her apartment building, and she'd caught one or two when they'd walked into the place. She felt more confident this way than she ever would've in comfy pj's. This was what girls like Ember got when they walked out into public and, right now, Zoe had both the attire and the date going for her just like all of the other city women. She fit in for once. Snuggling on a couch would've denied her all of this; but, it also would've brought her closer to the place she longed to be.

One of her blonde brows rose in return at his. "Ya have no idea how sneaky I can be. I'm a mouse, afterall," she challenged, biting her lip to keep a smile from breaking lose. Zoe would find a way to pay for at least one of their dates if it was the last thing she ever did. He didn't need to be dropping paychecks on her when she could just as well pay, too. Besides, while she loved his chivalry and his gentlemanly ways, she felt bad about it. Why should she get everything free? Sure, she was a female, and that was some unofficial right apparently, but that didn't mean she liked it. Actually, with the more dates they went on, she'd be showing him just how much she disapproved of it.

One reason Zoe was enjoying the window's view was because it was the city, minus all the pounding noise. That scared her the most somedays, even more than the attack. The amount of sound was so loud and pressing and overpowering; it felt like it was crushing her. This picture now, however, was different. It was silent, peaceful almost. And, between the romantic interior and dreamy exterior, Zoe was guessing everything was going to her head. Why else would she getting so sentimental? "I woulda been fine with popcorn and a movie," she answered playfully, giving him a small teasing smile. Not that she was ungrateful for the extravagent dinner, she just preferred the simpler things.

Zoe shook her head, smiling again. "I knew there was somethin' American 'bout ya," she laughed prettily. Maybe it wasn't only an American guy trait but, in her experience, steak always seemed to be popular with them. Plus, she didn't have a lot of foreign friends. Romeo was probably one of her only ones. She smiled at the waitress as she approached, listening to the specials and whatnot. When it came to the drinks and the alcoholic ones offered, her eyes glazed over for a tiny second. Zoe didn't drink, no matter where she was or who she was with, not that the waitress knew that. Snapping back to attention she ordered her chicken and a glass of water, handing over her menu and relaxing once more.

• • •

WORDS: 674!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Romeo Jackson Jervis]

He could hardly believe that he was here tonight with Zoe. Romeo didn’t think she’d want to date someone like him, even if he did jump into a fight to save her. He was rough around the edges, believed that getting mugged was just another part of city life and thought that everyone should know how to throw a half decent punch at the least. Zoe was so much better than he was and probably had some country boy with a farm to inherit and a heart of gold who was patiently waiting for her back in her quiet little hometown, far away from the bright lights of the city and the never ending screeches of emergency sirens and car alarms.
He almost had to pinch himself whenever he looked at her, all glammed up and looking simply gorgeous. Romeo thought she was beautiful anyway, but tonight she looked as though she owned the city and everyone in it. For a girl who was so quiet and shy she walked as though she had all the confidence in the world tonight.

He smirked, flicking her eyes up to look at her with just a hint of a flirtatious twinkle. “Then maybe I’ll just ‘ave to set a trap out for y’.”

[/color] He joked, chuckling softly. He never thought that the nickname he had once made for her would stick so well, but then he had also never thought that he would be here with her now on their first date together. Romeo just hoped that there could be so many more than this one for them to joke around on, flirt on and whatever else this could lead to. Romeo hadn’t felt this way about anyone in the longest of times and it was wonderful to feel so light footed again as the strongest stages of a crush took over him. Each time he looked at Zoe his heart fluttered and romantic Shakespeare quotes filled his brain.

Romeo smiled at Zoe and reached across for her hand on the tablecloth, his thumb brushing gently across her skin as he met her eyes, feeling like there was no other place in the world where he would want to be right now. “But y’ deserve so much more.”[/color] He whispered lovingly, squeezing her hand softly, but not letting go. If he could have done, Romeo would’ve taken her to a nicer restaurant, worn a nicer suit and given her the most perfect night she could ask for, but he was only a supervisor at Borders for the time being and it wasn’t as though they got paid a lot more for the slightly bit more authority they held over the other employees there.

He laughed warmly and then shook his head. “I don’t think I’ve lived ‘ere long enough t’ ‘ave anything American about me.”[/color] He joked and then he leaned over the table to comically whisper to her. “No where ‘ere does a decent fish ‘n’ chips or jellied eels. Plus, if I mention a pan o’ scouse ‘ere I just get looked at as though I’m speakin’ a bleedin’ foreign language!”[/color] He did miss a lot of the food that was associated with the north west of England and had found nowhere in the states that managed to reproduce the meals he had grown up with and loved.
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• • •

TAGGED! His Juliet <3
WORDS! 594
OUTFIT! Sexy Mofo!
LYRICS! Speechless - - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Never before had Zoe felt like a real princess. At least, never before tonight. She had her beautiful "transformation," though the fairy godmother was a bit more... Ember and less Disney, and she had her Prince Charming. She had the fancy date, and the feeling of confidence she'd never had before. She felt like someone from a fairy tale instead of just Zoe, the little country mouse. It was all so perfect; the flowers, the beautiful table, a smiling guy who couldn't keep his eyes off her. This was absolutely the best first date anyone could've given her; she only hoped she could convince Romeo of that one day.

Her cheeks flushed a shade pinker, but her eyes met his without hesitation. Tonight was about having fun and Zoe was fully prepared for their usual banter and general playfulness. It was what made them, well, "them." And she wouldn't have traded it for the world on a string. "I don't think I'd mind bein' caught. At least not by you," she replied with her own mildly flirtatious smirk. Her slender fingers tucked some straying hair behind her ear, toying with the curly strand for a moment before setting it in place. There hadn't been a lot of time for flirting lessons with Ember today, but her friend had given her some tips. Zoe couldn't say she was going to use every one of them, but she was starting to employ a few. Like playing with her hair. Though, now that she thought back, it seemed like they'd been doing this forever. They always teased and joked with each other; the only difference now was that it was accompanied by coy smiles and new sparkling in the eyes. Other than that, it was still Romeo and Zoe as they'd always been.

This restaurant, to her, was upscale and classy. She could honestly say she didn't eat out at places like this, not unless she had some extremely special occasion to celebrate or on the rare occasion she met Ember and/or her older brother for a quick meal during work. But, besides that, any meal she didn't cook came from a cafe or food truck around the city. It was a nice change to be in a formal dining hall, looking classy and simple in her white dress and heels. Romeo's warm fingers touching hers had her mind quickly turning back to their table, and she flashed him a gently smile. His words brought another blush to her cheeks, her eyes turning away from him for a moment as her usual shyness peeked through. Zoe still wasn't used to people saying things like that to her. It flustered her for a moment as she tried to regain her composure, but, ultimately, she gave up and simply smiled at him. Even if she didn't know what to say to his more tender words, she loved them all the same. It made her feel that this wasn't a mistake. Falling for Romeo was probably one of the smartest moves she'd ever made in her life.

Her fingers found their way between his, making Zoe never want to let go. His touch had a calming effect on her, like he was constantly letting her know that he was here, he wouldn't let anyone hurt her. She couldn't help wanting to hold on tighter because of it. "Ya never know. New York could be converting you," she joked with a teasing smile. Zoe laughed with him at his complaining about the food, knowing the feeling. Even if she was able to re-create some dishes from her hometown, mostly ones her Mama had made for the large family during Zoe's childhood, they never turned out quite like she remembered. Some things, it appeared, could truly only be found at "home."

Zoe handed her menu over to the waiter after ordering and took a quick sip of her water. She'd hardly had time to drink anything this afternoon, and it was catching up with her now. Her mouth suddenly felt dry and sticky, longing for the cooling element of the icy water. Setting her glass down, she noticed the very light imprint of pink lipgloss where her lips had pressed. Wasn't the stuff supposed to stay on your lips?! Before she could panic, Zoe took a deep breath and looked up at Romeo. The lipgloss didn't matter; only he did. Afterall, he had asked out the college kid who more often than not spent every other afternoon at Borders. This blooming city girl was not what he'd planned for or been expecting. She hadn't been expecting it either, until about the time she'd called Ember. In an effort to pick up the conversation after the waiter's interruption, Zoe said without thinking what it'd imply, "What time's Elli expectin' ya home tonight?"

• • •

WORDS: 851!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Romeo Jackson Jervis]

Romeo didn’t have much to offer anyone really. He won the award of the happy, charismatic guy, but he was from a different country, a broken family and was supporting his baby sister. It wasn’t like girls found that attractive and too many people had thrown him polite smiles when he explained his plan to get into teaching once Ellie was old enough to fend for herself. His circumstances had been the reason he’d been held back in previous relationships and now, with Zoe, he wanted to prove to her that he could do so much more than what his life seemed to be like. It wasn’t like he lived an exciting life with exhilarating adventures at every twist and turn, but he believed that Zoe wasn’t interested in some wild lifestyle that didn’t give a moment to breathe, re-gather composure and just relax in the moment of what they had.

That was why he was trying to keep tonight as simplistically beautiful as was possible. He wanted to give Zoe a date that was fitting of her and simplistic beauty was exactly how Romeo saw the country girl who always seemed so overwhelmed by the vast city she had moved to for her college education.
He chuckled softly at their flirtatious joke. It probably sounded insane to anyone else who heard them in passing, but this was what Romeo loved about spending time with her; they were unique together. There was none of the falseness that he saw in other relationships and whilst this was their first date, Romeo felt as though he already knew Zoe well enough to know for certain that they would never be the couple who put on a mask for the rest of the world.
“Good, ‘cause once I’ve caught y’, I ain’t lettin’ you go, love.”

[/color] He said affectionately, his olive eyes meeting hers and shining with sincerity. He didn’t toy with people’s feelings or their hearts and when it came to Zoe, he never wanted to be apart from her, which was a slightly scary thought considering they weren’t in a relationship yet really.

His thumb drew soft circles on the back of her hand as they chatted quietly, each of them savouring the innocent touch of the other. When he was with Zoe, Romeo was a little afraid of being his boisterous self because she always seemed like she’d break if he held her too tightly. “Maybe it is, but the day I become like every other American guy out there is the day that I bring Liverpool to New York. I don’t care ‘ow I ‘ave to do it, but I will.”[/color] He was far too proud of where he was from to let it all slip away, even if it was decades later. His accent hadn’t faded a bit since the move almost ten years ago and he hoped it never would. It was who he was, who he wanted to be and nothing should be able to take that from him.

Romeo smirked at Zoe’s question and sipped his drink before answering. “She’s not.”[/color] He didn’t even think of how suggestive that might be, but he was already elaborating on what he meant after another swift gulp of his drink. “She’s stayin’ at a mate’s house. I’ll pick ‘er up tomorra lunch time.”[/color] He shrugged a little at his big brotherly instincts took over. “Even though she’s sixteen now, I still don’t like leavin’ ‘er in the apartment alone of an evening.”[/color] Whilst the date wasn’t going to run on into the early morning, Romeo still didn’t like the thought of Ellie being alone until whatever time it was when he finally came home.
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• • •

TAGGED! His Juliet <3
WORDS! 653
OUTFIT! Sexy Mofo!
LYRICS! Speechless - - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe had herself to offer. Nothing more, nothing less. She had a tiny apartment that was barely up to its current rent payment, had classes or a job swamping a good portion of her time, and she hardly had a penny to spare on extras. Her clothes weren't from the biggest name designers and her hair was far from stylish; she wasn't perfect by any means. She was only her, and that was all she could give a guy. That package included her shyness, and her awkwardness, and her fear of the city. But, it also had her "witty" banter, her sweet smile, and the fact that she was as loyal a person as one could be. Yes, Zoe didn't have a lot to offer, but it was still a lot more than some girls.

The pink in her cheeks darkened as their flirting continued, and she found herself longing to kiss him again. Her innocent baby blues flickered to his lips for one moment, lingering and wondering what they'd feel like pressed to her own. Soft and warm, she imagined, and sweet with a hint of the cigarrette she was positive he must've smoked at one point today. The thoughts made her stomach tighten, partially form embarrassment at thinking such things and mostly from anticipation. Zoe wanted him to kiss her tonight. It didn't matter when, but she wanted it to happen. She wanted to finally kiss him. "Ya think I'm already caught?" The remark was accompanied by a playful, flirty smirk. She still didn't know if it suited her usually sweet, unsuggestive face, but she was trying it out for the evening. It was fun though, and it'd be a total lie to say she wasn't already enjoying herself. Their banter, his handsome smile, and the perfect view made this date wonderful, even if it'd hardly begun yet.

A shiver of pleasure ran down her spine as his thumb traced circles on her skin. She smiled at him, giving his hand a light squeeze as she listened to him talking. It was always fun to watch him speak; the way his lips moved, how the different, often foreign, words formed on his tongue, the spark that entered his eye whenever he spoke of Liverpool. It was almost magical. "I hope ya never become another American guy. Don't think I'd like ya much if ya did," she teased lightly. One of the reasons she liked him was because he wasn't like usual, typical American guys. He was different, like her, and she admired that he was so proud of his home.

Zoe's blue eyes blinked at him as he answered, and then she tried to busy herself with studying their intertwined hands. Was their date really going to last until tomorrow? Not for society's suspected reasons, not in a million years. But... snuggling with and watching a movie did sound nice after whatever he had planned. Surely that couldn't be against "dating regulations"? "Big brother syndrome, huh?" Zoe joked, trying hard not to let her thoughts show on her face. This could be dealt with later. For now, they only had to worry about dinner.

• • •

WORDS: 560!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Romeo Jackson Jervis]

Being with Zoe tonight seemed too right for even Shakespeare to find the perfect words. Romeo had lines and lines of the literature he thought was beautiful running through his mind, but none of them seemed perfect enough for Zoe and how she made him feel. It sounded so cliché, but it was true. There were no words to explain how good tonight was, and they’d not long left the restaurant! His plans were far from over yet and it was with her hand in his that he slowly led her towards Central Park, the raven sky speckled with stars above them as New York quietened for the night. It was far from silent, the low hum of life echoing even when they moved away from the busy streets and the nightclubs that were drumming up their early business already.

He glanced down at the small woman next to him and smiled lovingly at her, prising his fingers away from hers to shrug off his thicker jacket and drape it around her frame, using it also as an excuse to hold her closer to him. “It’s still not quite summer, yet.”

[/color] He joked, his bare arms quickly growing accustomed to the temperature. The Englishman had been out in worse and often enjoyed the colder air to the burning summer sun. Maybe it had been the northern city so close to the docks that had made him that way inclined, but it wasn’t something that came up too much for him to need to argue his opinion over. Everyone preferred one to the other, it was the same as anything else in life.
Still, a city boy like Romeo didn’t usually become so quickly smitten, but then city boys rarely found themselves in the presence of an endearing country mouse who just so happened to push her way into his heart before he had even been able to realise what was happening. Now, she was in and Romeo never wanted her out, which was terrifying for a first day and was a thought that he was in no rush to express to the young Zoe, who he was certain would flee for the hills if he went there now with his feelings for her.

The park was quiet now and the only people Romeo could see were other couples walking down the paths and over the cool grass. It was too late for any group activity to be taking place and Romeo guided Zoe to nowhere in particular, just enjoying walking with her and having her almost entirely in his arms. “So, Miss Tylers, what time do I ‘ave t’ ‘ave y’ ‘ome for?”[/color] He joked in a soft voice, not wanting to keep her out too late in case she had an early class or work. Tomorrow was his day off, so he was fine for time, but he knew that if he wasn’t careful the hours would dwindle away and he’d be keeping Zoe from the important things in her life that she had to be getting on with. In the distance he could hear soft music coming from near the lake, just a little further ahead of their path. With a small smile to himself, he kept them on that path. Dancing may not have been on his original agenda for tonight, but it would damn sure make it perfect.
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• • •

TAGGED! His Juliet <3
WORDS! 596
OUTFIT! Sexy Mofo!
LYRICS! Speechless - - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe couldn't find words to describe how she was feeling. The night was perfect so far; dinner had been wonderful, and now their walk was taking them into the most beautiful spot in the city. At least, she always considered the park that. Being around so many growing plants made her feel, just for a moment, like she was home. And, even if the plants were far from "growing" this time of year, it was still beautiful and was the best place to walk at this time of night.

The darkness weighed heavily on her as her fingers rested between Romeo's. Zoe was trying to hide the tension in her shoulders while her eyes darted to every shadow that moved even half an inch. It was so dark. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip sharply as she walked closer to his side. Why did she have to still be so scared? Especially when she was supposed to be carefree and happy tonight? Couldn't she just get over it and move on already? Romeo was here, and there was a decent amount of light from the streetlamps. Nobody could hurt her right now. And, besides, she knew a certain person wouldn't let anything or anyone harm her. She didn't have a single shadow to be scared of thanks to him.

Zoe looked up as his hand moved from hers, a smile relaxing onto her face as he tucked his warm jacket about her shoulders. It felt comfortable around her, and his intoxicating smell wafted up to her nose. She couldn't hide a grin when his arm gently pulled her close. "I'm plenty warm now," she said back, her voice quiet as her head leaned against him. As they started walking once again, her feet reminded her of the only thorn in the evening. These heels were murdering her poor toes, and her legs felt wobbly even as they strolled down the flat park sidewalk. But they made her legs look so amazing... and there was probably blood caked on the inside of them by now. Sighing, she stopped again and untangled herself from his arm. Blushing, Zoe admitted, "These things are gonna kill my feet if I leave 'em on any longer." She stooped down and easily stepped out of the shoes, a look of relief crossing her face as her toes revelled in the numbing coolness of the ground. Picking them up again, she tucked herself back under his arm and smiled up at him. "Much better," she said, biting the inside of her lip and continuing down the path Romeo had chosen for them. Her head fell back against his shoulder as they walked, the soft hum of New York's undying activity a pleasant background noise for their stroll. Zoe's side tingled where his hand rested and she was very aware of just how close they were. Their bodies hadn't been this cuddly since... falling asleep together in his bed.

With an amused laugh, she answered, "I'm twenty-two. My 'specific time home' went out the winda' a few years back." Zoe shook her head while she added, "I'm off'a class tomorra and work's not til the evening. Ya have me for as long as ya'd like." She gave him another smile and pulled his jacket tighter around her shoulders. Everything seemed so peaceful and quiet... and she was loving every second of it.

• • •

WORDS: 608!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Romeo Jackson Jervis]

Part of the reason Romeo had brought Zoe out tonight and left the car at the restaurant whilst they walked to the Park was to show her that the city wasn’t all dangerous. He understood that she was still anxious after the attack, but he wanted to help make it all better again, help her to see the magic of the city once more. She had said she felt safe with him and he had grown up around concrete and skyscrapers his whole life, so who was a better tour guide, really? If anything happened, he could take care of them both and there was very little that worried him about the route they were taking, so he was sure that everything would be fine. It might not be a total cure tonight, but it would hopefully be a start.

Smiling down at her, Romeo pressed his lips to her golden hair. It was starting to become a habit now, but she didn’t seem to mind it so much, so he wasn’t about to stop. “Good. I can’t ‘ave me country mouse freezin’ out ’ere.”

[/color] He joked, squeezing her arm affectionately as she cuddled into his side. He loved having her so close to him. She seemed to fit just perfectly into his arms and there was almost no tension or fear in her when they were like this.
He paused, confused when she moved away from him and then laughed when he realised she was struggling in the shoes. He clicked his fingers out of an old ritual and prised the shoes from her hands to carry them himself. They seemed tiny compared to the shoes on his own feet, but he was busy staring long and hard at the heel itself. “Why, oh why, do y’ kill y’rselves with these things?”[/color] He asked rhetorically. He understood that women had some strange shoe fetish that most men, including himself, couldn’t quite wrap their heads around. The complaining, the need to have each and every pair of ankle breaking footwear…how on earth was it all worth it? “I’m sure there was never a logical reason for inventin’ these.”[/color] He said, holding them loosely in his hands as he guided them both closer to the grass so that Zoe would be away from any harsh debris on the concrete path.

Chuckling, he held her closer, his hand straying a little lower on her waist, but still keeping itself at a respectable point. It just meant he could hold her even closer this way. The music was growing louder, not enough to really catch attention, but enough to make a pleasant accompaniment for the night air and the atmosphere the serenity of the park offered at this time. “Well then, why not enjoy this evenin’ a li’l more?”[/color] A mischievous smirk danced across his lips and he guided her a little further along the path, until the music was more clearly heard as it came from the small café that was probably getting ready to start closing up for the evening. He hopped in front of Zoe and offered out his hand, complete with a chivalrous bow. “May I have this dance?”[/color] He asked, the song not entirely unknown to him, but the name didn’t matter right now as he waited for Zoe’s answer.
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• • •

TAGGED! His Juliet <3
WORDS! 589
OUTFIT! Sexy Mofo!
LYRICS! Speechless - - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

It was true that Zoe felt safe around him. She'd admitted as much while she was curled up next to him under a blanket, snuggling and listening to his soft voice talk her to sleep. And she didn't mind if he knew that. This one weakness with this one person, she could accept. He was the only one who knew how hard the incident had hurt her, physically and emotionally. The trust was there that he wouldn't mock her for it, or even tease or ridicule her. He would protect her, help her get over it. He would keep it from ever happening again.

But, she couldn't shake her fears of the dark so easily, not yet anyways. The shifting shadows still haunted her and made her step that much closer to Romeo's safe, welcoming side. She was safe with him; she was safe in his arms. "It ain't that cold tonight," she laughed, shaking her head at him. Only their first date and already he was being overprotective of her. But it felt nice. He cared about her and her well-being, and she didn't have to hide herself from him. She could let her accent thicken a tiny bit and voice her own opinions without being called "old-fashioned" and "a bore."

Zoe handed him her shoes without a second thought. Even if they weren't hers, she hated them with a burning passion and wished she could just toss the things in a trash bin. They were such a pain in the butt! That type of beauty was too high a price for her to afford. And, besides, Romeo wasn't here to see her in heels. He was here to be with her. At least, that's what she kept telling herself. "Trust me, it wasn't by choice tonight," she muttered, cuddling back up to his side. There was a considerable difference in her height, but, at this point, she didn't care. Her feet and body could relax again, which was really all she wanted for the rest of tonight. "That is why this is prob'ly the only night yer ever gonna see me in 'em," she smiled, letting the grass tickly her toes as they walked. It was just starting to peek up again and it felt nice against her bare feet. Much better than the heels had, anyways.

His hand dropping lower on her waist didn't bother her. Actually, she enjoyed the fact that it allowed them to walk closer to each other. The feeling of calmness and safety flooded her as she continued to stroll with him, her lips in a silly smile as she realized, finally, that she was one of the lovesick couples in Central Park. Zoe blinked at him curiously as he stopped in front of her. What was he doing now? At his question, she now noticed the music playing somewhere off in the distance. With an amused laugh, she grabbed his hand and let herself be led back into his arms. "Dancin' in Central Park. I never thought I'd see tha day," she teased, resting her head against him as the music filled her head. The song was perfect. The atmosphere was perfect. Tonight was perfect.

• • •

WORDS: 572!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Romeo Jackson Jervis]

It was his overprotective nature at times that often made him forget that not everyone was a damsel in distress. He knew that Zoe was capable of taking care of herself, but ever since the incident outside Borders, he was even more determined to keep her safe from harm and reintroduce her to the beauty of the city that was her temporary home whilst she attended the university. There weren’t many girls he would do this for though; protect like he was their own personal knight in shining armour. No, that was treatment reserved only for the country mouse in his arms and the little sister of his that was almost a magnet for trouble, if Romeo didn’t intervene at times before she said something she would definitely regret. Right now though, he wasn’t thinking about the girl who shared some of his genetic traits. He was enjoying the company of the blonde vet-to-be and wishing that he could make everything in her life perfect.

His green eyes looked up and he nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the clear night sky. There was definitely a nightly chill in the air, but it was more pleasant than bothersome and it wasn’t hindering their walk through the park any, so Romeo was quite enjoying the freshness it seemed to bring to the air. “Aye, but I’d rather ‘ave y’ all toasty warm than shiverin’.”

[/color] He remarked with a cheeky little grin. He had lived on docks his whole life nearly, so the cold air was something that rarely bothered him, even when New York was in the throes of winter and everyone was moaning and groaning about their rosy cheeks and Rudolf-like noses.

Holding the shoes casually by his side, Romeo tucked her closer to his side once she was at her normal height. He loved how small she was compared to him and how she seemed to fit perfectly in his arms as though she was the missing piece to his part of a jigsaw puzzle. It was incredible and instantly brought a smile to his lips. “One of those ideas that seemed good at the time?”[/color] He asked with a knowing look in his eyes. He had heard Ellie say it before when the siblings had gone somewhere or she had been to a dance at the school. Romeo was often the guy who reached into his wardrobe and pulled out whatever his fingers touched and, of course, heels were never part of his selections. He chuckled warmly and planted another soft kiss to her head. “You’ll still be beautiful t’ us, love, even if y’ wore nothin’ but a burlap sack.”[/color] He told her, squeezing her side affectionately.

Romeo pulled Zoe closer and smirked against her hair as he moved them both to the soft melody that was travelling through the park now. “What? Y’ didn’t ‘ave us pegged as a romantic?”[/color] He asked in a deep whisper, his hand resting on her lower back as they swayed in perfect timing to the other. He lowered his lips to her head again, kissing her hair gently before resting his chin as close to her head as he could get without stooping. Without any warning, he quickly lifted Zoe from the ground to spin her around once, before lowering her feet back to the cool grass and chuckling lovingly at the girl he was with, her shoes now discarded a few feet away from where they were dancing.
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• • •

TAGGED! His Juliet <3
WORDS! 584
OUTFIT! Sexy Mofo!
LYRICS! Speechless - - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

It was moments like these that reminded Zoe of why she was falling so hard for Romeo. He was relaxed, and funny, and charming, and wonderful; any girl would've been lucky to have him. Yet, by some chance of fate, she was the girl who was snuggled up to his side on a romantic stroll through the park. Maybe the stars really were on their side for just this one, unforgettable piece of time.

Slightly nervously, Zoe shook her head at his question. The heels hadn't even been her idea! It was Ember; all Ember. The makeup, the shortened dress, the heels, and the pretty hairstyle were all borrowed from the more worldly blonde, who'd only dragged the country mouse around like a Barbie doll. At times, that was what Zoe had felt like; blonde, long-legged, and in impossibly high heels. "It wasn't even my idea. One'a my friends kinda helped out tonight, and she wouldn't lemme leave without heels on," she shrugged, trying to hide her blushing cheeks. It was impossible for her to lie about how the heels had found their way onto her sore feet, and Ember did deserve a bit of credit for working magic this evening. Zoe wouldn't admit that to her friend if her life depended on it, but confessing it to Romeo was a completely different matter.

A silly smile found its way onto her lips, her blush darkening as his lips touched her hair again. "Jeans'n a tee shirt are a bit more my style, but thank ya kindly," she joked, cuddling closer to his as he gave her a light squeeze. Zoe turned her head up, brushing her lips gently against his cheek, a grin now on her face as they walked together. She hoped they'd be able to do this many times in the future.

Zoe fit snugly into his arms as they swayed to the music, her head pressed against his chest and her hand in his. For a second, her eyes closed and she committed to memory the feeling of being so warm and safe and loved. For that second, she felt like she'd finally figured out what all those romances novels were trying to describe; and, dang, had they done a horrible job. "I didn't ever think you'd be actin' romantic for me," she whispered back with a small laugh, her head nestling comfortably against him. Her laugh got louder as he swung her around, Zoe holding tight to him and giving him a breathless smile as he set her back down. She smiled up at him, happiness and love sparkling in her eyes. Even if he was no Prince Charming, Zoe was head over heels for him, and that was written clearly across her face as she continued to dance with him.

• • •

WORDS: 509!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Romeo Jackson Jervis]

Romeo chuckled warmly. He should’ve figured that Zoe would have phoned a friend for help about tonight. Not because she was incapable or anything, but because it seemed to be genetically programmed into girls to share this sort of thing together. When they were little they dressed up dolls and as they got older they started dressing each other. It was probably a good thing that they grew out of highlighting doll’s hair with highlighter pens or felt tips…that probably wouldn’t be something that went down well as adulthood loomed near. “What, did she nick y’r shoes and leave y’ with only these?”

[/color] He asked amusedly, raising the heels to look at once more, shaking his head at how uncomfortable they looked. He was impressed and surprised that Zoe had made it this far in them before needing to take them off or breaking her ankle, though the latter was hardly what any guy wanted on his first date with a beautiful woman.

“And y’ make those jeans and t-shirts look incredible.”[/color] He said goofily, grinning like some lovesick idiot. If Ellie was here, he knew that she’d be making vomiting noises and demanding for less cheese. Then again, she was sixteen and didn’t understand how Romeo saw the world or how he could be such a sickening romantic without even trying as hard as so many other guys might. Smiling down at her, he cuddled her closer and relaxed again. Who though that strolling through the park at night could be such a wonderful experience; soothing and exhilarating at the same time?!

Romeo held Zoe close as they danced to the music and a smile found its way to his lips and refused to leave them. The moment was too perfect for words and the city boy, for once, found himself speechless. He didn’t want to ruin the magic of this moment with his brash words and rough accent. He didn’t want to say anything anymore. Zoe looked incredible, so happy in the darkened park and Romeo knew what he wanted to do, so badly and now everything seemed right. It was almost as though the stars had aligned and fate was watching down on them, giving them both everything they had wanted in just a brief short second. He stopped moving, but held Zoe close still, his hand leaving hers to move the blonde locks of hair from her eyes before caressing her cheek lovingly, his green eyes meeting hers with so much affection locked in them. His fingers buried themselves beneath her hair, gently lingering on her neck as his thumb brushed over her jawline tenderly. His eyes flickered to her lips and then back to her eyes and Romeo took a deep breath before lowering his head to hers, pressing his lips gently, but firmly to her own in a kiss that sent shivers down his spine. Books and movies may have written about such a phenomenon, but Romeo was experiencing it first-hand right now. He pulled away, just to make sure she was okay with his bold move and then gently kissed her again, smiling as his lips brushed hers.
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• • •

TAGGED! His Juliet <3
WORDS! 527
OUTFIT! Sexy Mofo!
LYRICS! Speechless - - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe didn't regret having Ember come over this afternoon, or even feel remorse over wearing the heels. Romeo's face when he'd first seen her standing in the doorway was enough payment for the temporary pain, and the feeling of his eyes glancing over her body gave her shivers of unforgettable joy. All the makeup, the disgusting cloud of hairspray, and the blisters on her feet were worth it, but she did love Romeo all the more for being a good sport about her going barefoot. "That ain't Ember's style a'tall. She more held me at gun point to keep me from rippin' tha things off my feet," Zoe laughed fondly, shaking her head at the antics from earlier. The high heel lessons, tutoring in flirting, and other advice Ember had offered were all welcomed thankfully, but it was impossible for the country blonde not to laugh every time she thought of the seriouness her friend had had while explaining how dating "worked." She knew very well that her friend's explanations would be a far way off the course this evening would be taking; but she knew Romeo. Ember didn't, and, for the time being, Zoe was going to keep it that way. The last thing she needed was for her best friend to be scaring off a potential boyfriend, though, already, he counted as much more than that. Boyfriend seemed too high school; star-crossed lover too over-done. Romeo was Romeo, and that was all Zoe wanted him to be.

"And yer just tryin' to make me blush," she said back with a smirk, hitting his chest lightly. It was something she should've been immune to by now, but she could never get over being complimented by him. Her cheeks seemed to have a mind of their own whenever he began to say sweet words to her, and there wasn't a single thing in the world that she could do to keep from blushing. Oh, she loved the compliments, of course; just not her reaction. Plus, they always left her tongue-tied as she tried to process that Romeo had been talking about her.

Zoe snuggled easily into his arms as they danced, breathing in the familiar scent that she'd grown to love over the course of their friendship-turned-romance. A smile was happily placed on her lips as they moved to the soft music, the tune seeming to fit the moment perfectly. Nothing was lacking now; they had music, a clear sky, and a beautiful night. Haul in a few movie cameras and a director, and this could've been the closing scene in a hit film. Zoe's head came up as Romeo stopped, and she then realized how small the distance between them was. Her eyes found his, a tiny twinge of fear in them now. She knew what he was going to do, and she wanted him to do it so badly. But what if she did it wrong? What if it was a fluke? What if there weren't any fireworks or sparks or... no. She didn't have to worry about that. There would be fireworks, there would be love; it was the two of them. They'd had electricity between them since forever. Nothing would be able to mess this up, not even her lack of experience.

She didn't move as he leaned down, her eyes closing slowly as his lips finally met hers. They hesitated for only a second, moving softly against his after Zoe let her fears go. This was their first kiss, and it was even better than she'd dreamed. There were sparks, and she could've sworn fireworks were shooting off somewhere. Her smile widened as Romeo pulled back, her breath quicker as she tried to gulp down air. She met him halfway as his lips moved towards hers again and Zoe stepped closer to him, hands resting lightly on his chest. Her lips pressed gently against his, keeping the moment sweet.

After waiting for so long, the moment seemed even better than the movies.

• • •

WORDS: 701!
TAG: Superman to her Rescue ;3
LOCATION: Cloud Nine, With Romeo
OUTFIT: special thanks to ember! <3
LYRICS: "Let Me Down Easy" by Billy Currington
NOTES: <3 <3 <3