Chapter 21
"What are we doing today on your day off?" Clarke wanted to know.
"Preferably get far away from all the hustle and bustle, away from Indra, and just have a normal, quiet day with you."
"Hmm, I think that can be arranged."
"What are you going to do?"
"We're going to sneak away." Mischievously, the blonde grinned as they both lay sprawled on Lexa's bed. Heads close together.
"I don't know if this is such a good idea..."
"What's going to happen big? We'll tell Indra we're going to the restaurant downstairs for breakfast, she never accompanies us there. Instead, we'll sneak out and have a worry-free day. Just as you wish."
All the blonde had to do was look Lexa in the eye and her resistance was broken, so the two of them had fun misleading Indra and Titus into hiding for a few hours. As easy as their plan sounded, it almost failed because of her nervousness. The brunette might be a good actress, but a terribly bad liar, so Clarke did the talking.
"Lexa, you really need to learn how to lie properly."
"I don't like lying..." Besides, she was far too duty-bound. So many people relied on her, she was always correct and fair. Maybe that was why she needed a break, even if it felt wrong.
As soon as they were outside, the actress hooked up with her favorite doctor and they grabbed an iced chocolate with lots of whipped cream at the next best opportunity. They went into many stores, tried on the most bizarre sunglasses and hats, and goofed around together. So hours passed without them realizing how long it actually was. To give their feet a little breather, they sat down in a small café, armed with some shopping bags.
Lexa made the mistake of briefly looking at her cell phone, 10 calls from Titus and another 5 from Indra, as well as countless messages. Immediately she got a guilty conscience. But this day off, without demands, without constant smiling, even if you don't want to, did her just too good, so she put her cell phone away and gave Clarke a genuine, from the bottom of her heart, smile.
Finally, the waiter came to their table and began to beam when he recognized the brunette and asked directly for an autograph. After that he bought the two women a drink each and went to the next table beaming with joy, his day was saved. Smiling, they looked after him.
"Even though I feel guilty about Titus and Indra worrying, it was a good idea. I get to switch off and be me far too rarely." Lexa bristled. "Actually, I can only do that with you and Anya."
Clarke smiled broadly.
"I also find it incredibly easy to just be me and forget about all my stress. When I'm with you, somehow everything is good, no matter how bad things get. I don't know why it's like that. Everything is just easier with you than without you."
As soon as she said the words, she realized exactly what she had said and blushed. After that, both women were so embarrassed that they fell silent.
As Clarke tried to bridge the silence, she looked out the window and noticed two men who looked familiar. Hadn't they been in the two stores nearby earlier? Immediately she voiced her suspicions.
"I think we're being followed by paparazzi."
Immediately Lexa looked annoyed.
"I don't know how they found us, but they always succeed, no matter how careful I am."
Quickly, the blonde waved to the waiter who had served her earlier.
"Do you have an emergency exit here?"
Irritated, he looked at her. "Why?"
The addressed pointed her head in the direction of the two men.
"Do you see those two out there? They've been following us and we'd like to get rid of them."
He nodded and immediately the women got up and followed him. He led them to the back of the store. They stepped out the door and exhaled in relief when they didn't spot anyone behind it and changed sides of the street.
Just when Clarke thought they had gotten rid of their pursuers, she noticed another one coming toward them but hadn't seen her yet. She quickly pulled the taller one by the hand into a side alley and kissed her, but always kept her eyes on the street to see if they had been recognized or if she had been able to react in time. Only now did she realize with what passion she had just been kissed back.
Lexa had been surprised when the blonde had suddenly come so close that she had felt her breath on her lips, then when she kissed her, she had been so perplexed at first that she didn't react, only to lose herself in the kiss afterwards. She had not noticed the actual reason for the sudden change of mood. The paparazzi who now walked past them paid no attention to the kissers and Clarke broke away. Still a little out of breath, but overwhelmed by the kiss, Lexa stood leaning against the wall. Clarke smiled with satisfaction.
"We lost him."
The brunette didn't understand at first, but then the penny dropped.
"There was another paparazzo after us."
Her disappointment could not have been greater. Her previously felt sense of happiness disappeared and every emotion drained from her face.
After that, the two decided to go back to their hotel. The mood was tense, even if the blonde didn't understand why.
Lexa knocked on the door to Clarke's room. A short time later it was opened and the blonde looked closely at the actress. Lexa's hair was open for once, no braids were woven into it, instead it fell in playful waves over her shoulders. She wore a black nightgown that had small straps and was open on one side of the leg. It accentuated her figure and showed skin without showing too much. Clarke's was blue with long sleeves and much more discreet, despite the leg opening, she made sure of that. For a moment the two stopped in the doorway, visibly embarrassed. The blonde was uncomfortable with how much she had patterned the actress earlier. Tried to cover it up, though, and instead invited the brunette in with a wave of her hand.
"Come in, sit down."
Clarke pointed to a bench in front of her bed and Lexa sat down. For a moment, she was silent. She was so close to Clarke and so unable to speak. How was she going to find the right words?
"Thank you, for your support with the paparazzi. That meant a lot to me. You didn't take advantage of my carelessness."
"I did what I was convinced was the right thing to do." She looked the brunette in the eye for a moment before averting her gaze again, knowing that while what she said was true, it wasn't the full truth.
"Besides, we're friends, you look out for each other." So many words burned on her lips, but nothing came out.
Silence again and all of a sudden it became too much for the doctor and she couldn't handle the closeness anymore. They were far too close.
"I should go to sleep now. Good night Lexa."
Lexa, who had put so much emotion into her words, felt rejected, but didn't want to admit it to herself or Clarke, so she merely nodded.
"Good night. Clarke." She looked deep into the blonde's eyes and a slight smile played around her lips, no matter what might be between them, she meant an incredible amount to her. However, she didn't say a word, but left the room again, but not without looking back once more. The blonde followed her out with her gazes. Longing and confused, about this circumstance.