Chapter 20
The next morning, Clarke awoke with a smile. She was lying in a large and comfortable bed, in a city she had never been to, and she was free of any obligations. Thinking about last night with Lexa and what she had said to her, a pale red crept onto her cheeks. She hadn't known how much she meant to the actress and even more so, she didn't know how to deal with so many feelings. So she had merely returned it with a broad and embarrassed smile. At such moments she cursed herself for her shyness. She had never worn her heart on her tongue, so she admired Lexa, who could still do it despite everything that had happened.
She wrote a short WhatsApp to Bellamy. Told him about yesterday and how well she had slept. Along with that, she sent a picture of her room and a sleepy photo of herself.
She stretched again before getting up, stripping naked, putting on her robe and disappearing into the bathroom. She felt the fatigue and the flight, although it had not gone long. No sooner had she showered than there was a knock at the door. Still with wet hair and only in her robe, she went to the door, where a stunned Lexa stood. She couldn't help herself and soaked up the sight. After a few too long seconds she had regained her composure.
"I was going to ask you if we wanted to have breakfast together?"
"If I may change first?"
"If you must" this one gave in reply with a wink.
"Do you want to come in while I do? I won't be long."
"You can just knock when you're ready" she replied sheepishly.
As agreed, Clarke finally did so and together they went downstairs.
"Are you sure you want to watch? You're welcome to go into town, too."
"Isn't that why you invited me to the set?"
The brunette nodded and together they got into the car that took them to the set.
Somewhat embarrassed, Lexa smiled, she was so happy Clarke was here, but she hadn't considered how nervous her mere presence would make her. Just the thought of her watching her made her doubt her acting skills.
Finally they pulled up to a bus shelter, the somewhat obese man sitting inside checked all the information, took a look inside the car and then let them pass.
Lexa was immediately taken in charge and Clarke accompanied her everywhere. They joked, laughed and goofed around. No one had ever seen the actress like this before. She had always been focused and polite, but also distant. To experience her like this now amazed everyone present.
Finally, the first scenes began, at first the brunette was still able to concentrate, but the more she thought of the blue eyes and saw them every time she raised her head, the more nervous she became, until she finally asked for a break.
Somewhat taken aback, she was granted it.
Clarke approached her anxiously.
"Is everything all right?"
"Yeah. It's just kind of not my day. I can't seem to concentrate."
"Would you rather I go?"
The no that now followed had been a bit too quick and too definite, so it was immediately followed by a, please stay.
The blonde grabbed the brunette's shoulders and looked deep into her eyes.
"You can do this. I don't know anyone who could do it better." A smile followed and if the touch hadn't been enough to throw her completely off her game, by now at the latest, it would have been over. She didn't want this closeness to end, even though she knew what it meant to her. Even though she knew she wanted more and would not get more than she had before. She felt like a junkie on drugs. Except she couldn't get Clarke through her nose. All she had were fleeting, brief moments like these, and she savored them to the fullest.
"Lexa? Where are you? We'd like to move on."
She was rudely jerked out of all her thoughts.
"Coming." She hurried back to shoot the scene.
Again and again they had to do it, until finally they postponed further shooting until tomorrow. Clarke wondered what was going on. She had watched the brunette once before during a shoot and there she had been completely focused, but today her mind seemed far away and somehow she doubted that she was just having a bad day.
After everything was canceled, Lexa had to be taken off her makeup and she had to take off her costume again, so the blonde waited for the actress. As soon as Lexa left the trailer she heard loud screeching. She looked to the barrier tape where many fans were standing and decided to go over to them. When Clarke went to her trailer to see how far it was, she saw the brunette busy handing out signatures to her fans, who had been waiting for several hours. Some of them almost fainted, others wanted to touch her and others wanted a photo with her. Finally, she said goodbye to them and she turned to the doctor.
"I'm sorry you had to wait, but if they're already holding out there...and I'm so incredibly grateful to each of them, I want to take the time."
Clarke just smiled.
"That's not a problem, they're welcome to have your celebrity self, after all, I get the real you." With a wink she added a "how could I be jealous or complain, you're my favorite that way anyway." And if she wasn't mistaken, the brunette blushed.
That evening, Bellamy and she had agreed to talk on FaceTime.
When the young man appeared on her cell phone, she had to smile. She was incredibly happy to see him.
"Hey."
"Hey. How was your day?" He wanted to know right away, too.
She told him about breakfast, the somewhat bumpy day of shooting, the many fans and the dinner together.
"You can't believe how many people are always standing there just to see Lexa. For hours, just for a photo, a look or a smile from her. It's all so surreal."
He smiled.
"Well, that sounds like an exciting day. What's the crew like? Is everyone nice to you?"
She had to think for a moment.
"Nice might be an exaggeration. They accept that I'm there. I talk to Lexa most of the time, but if I need something, I get it." Suddenly she remembered something she hadn't told Bell yesterday.
"Oh that's right, I forgot to tell you yesterday. Ilian, the main character, invited me to celebrate. He wants to go dancing with me and even gave me a kiss on the hand."
Bell felt the jealousy rising inside him and almost missed Clarke's eye roll, but instead of giving in to that feeling, he tried to approach the situation as calmly as possible.
"Do you mean Ilian Trishanakru? The action star?"
"Yes, that's the one. I think he was trying to play the seducer or be funny. But neither came off so well, yet I think he could still be quite nice. Maybe someday the whole crew will go away, I think I'd join that too. Assuming Lexa would come along, I wouldn't want to without her."
Bell's relief grew and after they talked some more about their day, he told her about his.
"We got a new instructor. She's only about five years older than me, but she's a blast. She can fight so fast you can't even follow her with your eyes. She's done several black belts and other martial arts, can handle pretty much any weapon, and already runs an entire department. Only the best of the best get in there. Every year, out of 100 possible candidates, they pick just a handful to take under their wing and train for an extra six months."
His eyes lit up at the thought and his ambition was aroused, she knew.
"So what's the name of the new trainer?"
"Echo."