Punishing the wrong person

"Table for 7, please." Diana said, herding both her leash and unleashed kids towards the front of the restaurant, with Carol and Alexa following close behind. The view from the patio was beautiful, and the restaurant was beyond packed.

Ordering went well, but Alexa was slightly annoyed when the waitress deferred to Diana and Carol on what she wanted to drink.

"Chocolate milk and water, right?" Carol said, knowing Alexa's palate all too well; she received a nod from Alexa.

Gulping down her liquids, Alexa found herself checking her phone awkwardly as Carol and Diana talked, only jumping in once or twice. The waiter came up, and much like what had happened days ago at the airport, saw her passively pointing at something, and assumed she wanted it. He was gone by the time Alexa could speak up to change her order.

"I thought you didn't like pancakes?" Carol asked, confused at the clearly annoyed Alexa.

"I don't....I wanted a burger. It's like that time at the airport, remember?" Alexa said, laughing a bit, causing Carol to laugh, and then proceed to explain some of their adventures at the airport. As they talked, the waiter came back with food, and Diana spoke up.

"Young man, she didn't want that. Could you please retake her order?" Diana spoke like Alexa was her own daughter, and didn't relax until the man had placed their food down, and retook her order. Alexa ended up explaining her job and life to Diana between twin bites of flapjacks and a burger. Eventually, she prompted a comment from Diana.

"How are you so...petite, and yet, you just ate a meal for two fully grown adults?" Diana asked, turning her attention towards Carol. "Did you not feed her breakfast?"

"No, no. She always likes to eat." Carol said, throwing her hands of sheepishly. Lunch finished early for Alexa, as Carol/Diana slowly ate their food, she demolished it, polishing down everything like it was nothing.

"Joan, finish your food. I mean, heavens, you barely have even pecked at it." Diana said to the girl to her right as Alexa fidgeted with her glasses. A groan followed, and the girl pushed it away from her, not wanting any part in finishing off the full plate. Diana's face became a bit red with anger, and she grabbed Joan's plate, moving it in front of Alexa. "Fine Joan, you don't want to use your words, now Miss Johnson is going to eat your food."

Alexa raised an eyebrow, and looked at Diana, getting the sentence 'Play along' mouthed to her by the woman, followed by a 'Please'. Taking a few small nibbles, which produced no reaction from the girl, Alexa stopped as a pang of pain hit her stomach, already full. Diana slightly kneed her under the table. It proceeded like that until ALexa had finished the plate, with no action other then some annoying stares by the girl, who went back to talking with her sister; if she was mad about not eating, she clearly didn't show it. Diana, however, was happy as the group left, Alexa following behind with her swollen stomach.

"Thanks for helping me teach her a lesson. She is such a handful sometimes, so I have to get creative with my punishments. Do you have to go potty before we go?" Diana asked, having slowed her walk so it was semi-discreet. Alexa shook her head, and talked with Carol as she strapped her into a booster seat.