Chapter 29
"Welcome back to the Good Night Show with Charles Pike. After the break we now deal with the exciting question, where is Lexa Woods? No one has seen her for almost 2 weeks and the start of shooting of her next movie has also been postponed and, wouldn't you know it, the blonde, aka Clarke Griffin, has also disappeared. And what was that court case around her manager? Is it related to the trial of Costia Trikru and the disappearance of the two women? Questions upon questions and none are answered. Our team has tried several times to find a contact person and unfortunately had no success. So we can only speculate. Have the two retreated into a love nest? Or what else could be the reason for the secrecy? We will find out everything, we always do."
Clarke sat by Lexa's bed as usual, leaving her only when absolutely necessary and even then reluctantly. For hours they just talked, sometimes both reading something, but most of the time they wanted to catch up on everything they had missed in each other's lives. Only one question still burned under Clarke's fingernails.
"Why did you put me down as an emergency contact and since when? Please don't get me wrong, I'm honored, but then it came as quite a surprise."
A little embarrassed, the actress looked at her.
"When I came back after that year of radio silence and we continued to stay in touch after the shooting, I realized that you were the person closest to me and I knew that I would trust you with my life anytime and that was even before we got together." Lexa blushed and began to stammer. "So, I mean, I don't know...are we together?"
Clarke smiled gently at her. "First, I need to talk to Bellamy, and once that's settled, I'd like to be with you if that's what you actually want, too."
In response, the brunette kissed her, first lovingly and then with passion. While the kiss was still going on, Anya came in and interrupted her.
"I don't mean to bother you, but the doctor is about to come in for rounds."
Clarke sat next to Lexa's bed, she had also straightened up as best she could, right next to her was Anya as the doctor came in. He began to speak directly, by now the staff knew they were allowed to talk about any diagnoses in front of the blonde and the big sister.
"Well Miss Woods, your vitals look very good. You will remain here for observation for a few more days before we can discharge you after a routine follow-up. However, you still need to take it easy, which means no sports activities, plenty of rest, and ideally have someone around to take care of her. Complications can occur at any time until complete healing. That's why later follow-ups are also important."
The actress was happy, finally no more gray walls, even if she would have to continue to take it easy, it was progress. After a few more explanations, the doctor had left.
Anya had directly offered that Lexa could come to her, she was working but she never had long services.
"Or you could come to my place, the press doesn't know where I live, at least I don't think they do, and I have plenty of room, even if the shifts aren't ideal."
Clarke had suggested it before she could think about it, but she knew that was what she wanted. She wanted more time with her and to take care of her as best she could.
"Anya? Could you leave us alone for a moment?" asked the actress.
Her big sister said goodbye and went for a coffee in the cafeteria.
"Are you serious?" wanted to know Lexa.
The blonde searched her gaze and nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. Otherwise I wouldn't have asked you."
The two looked at each other in love and smiled.
When Titus heard about the plan, he was not thrilled and had gone to Lexa's room for the first time since he had done it. The latter knew what was coming and asked Clarke to keep Anya company.
"What if the press finds you? What are you going to tell them? What happens if it all comes out and you lose the film project?"
Lexa sighed, already expecting headwinds on his part.
"I know you're worried, but I'm fine and it makes the most sense that way. They'd lay siege to Anya as soon as they knew where I was and I want to leave her out of it, so far it's always worked. I want her to keep her quiet life away from all the hype, she has nothing to do with this. It wouldn't be fair to ask her to do that."
"There would be another option, besides Clarke and Anya. You could also go to a hotel and I'll take care of you."
"I don't want a hotel life anymore, or not only. Since I've played bigger roles and moved out of home, I've been living from city to city, always in different hotels. I want to arrive again and I want a home again, even if it's temporary."
The manager understood that he had no chance and kept silent. He had warned her of the dangers involved, that was all he could do.
Clarke and Lexa, together with Anya, Indra and Titus, had decided that Lexa, accompanied by Titus, would follow by plane, because Clarke had to go back to the hospital and Anya would otherwise have had a target on her back.
Finally the day of farewell had come, for privacy reasons the two women had decided to say goodbye to each other in the actress' room. They embraced for a long time and kissed profusely, already looking forward to seeing each other again in a few days.
Clarke had told Bellamy during a phone call when she was arriving and he had insisted on picking the blonde up from the airport so she wouldn't have to take a cab home. When she met him, he immediately noticed something was wrong. He knew Lexa had been shot and that she was worried, but he doubted it was just that. She had kept the kissing part from him and also how she felt about Lexa, she wanted to tell him in person, she owed him that. After a hug and a brief greeting, they walked silently to his car and just as silently, they drove off. The whole way, no one had said a word, it wasn't until they were in front of Clarke's house that she looked to him.
"Bell? Are you still coming inside? I'd like to talk to you about something."
They both entered the house, sat down on the sofa and she brought them both a glass of water.
Finally, he broke the silence.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know how to start..."
"Whatever it is, you know I'm here for you and I've always understood you so far." He took her hand in his.
"You know I don't want to hurt you." Immediately he interrupted her.
"But you've realized it's nothing more than friendship, right?"
Astonished she looked at him, there was no anger in his look, maybe a little disappointment, but he continued to look at her lovingly from his dark eyes.
"How did you know?"
"I just know you. It was a feeling, and the nature of our phone calls changed while you were away."
She looked at him sadly. There was so much she wanted to say, but the words couldn't find their way out of her thoughts. She knew she had to tell him everything and so she started again.
"Bell, but that wasn't all. And believe me, this surprises me the most myself, but I fell in love with Lexa. It just happened, maybe I've been doing this for a long time and just didn't realize it."
"I thought so after the photo, I know you said you were just friends, it's just that you seemed so familiar and you always talked about her very differently than you talked about anyone else. So affectionate, I just figured my part."
He looked slightly sad at the thought, yet he accepted her decision.
"Why are you so understanding?" She had thought he would be angry or reproach her. But none of that happened.
A melancholy smile appeared on his lips.
"You played your cards close to your chest from the start, and I knew what I was getting into. Of course it hurts and I wish it had turned out differently, only sometimes you have no control over what happens. You gave me, and more importantly us, a chance, that's all I ever wanted. I promised you that no matter what happens we will always be friends and I meant it. It's probably for the best that way, there's just one thing you have to promise me."
"Like what?"
"You tell Octavia." He laughed at the top of his lungs at that, and Clarke joined in. She loved her best friend and by now she knew she did too, just as she loved O` like a brother, just as she loved a sister.
"Deal. On the condition that you patch me up afterward."
"I'll try."
They both grinned and they knew that no matter what, they would be able to fix everything.
So a few days passed before Lexa finally passed the routine checkup and was finally allowed to leave the hospital. Not, however, without receiving final instructions from the doctor. He told her about the possible difficulties and side effects of both the pills and the pain, when she would have to seek immediate medical attention, and what she would have to watch out for during any exertion. She was to avoid any exertion and wait until the doctor gave the green light before starting any sports or movie stunts again.
As soon as they were out of the hospital, she felt freer than she had in a long time. The back exit was deserted, with only a single car ready to leave at a moment's notice. The tinted windows would allow them to travel as incognito as possible, they had booked a private plane especially for this purpose. These were less closely controlled and much better protected from possible paparazzi. They drove to the private rear exit and were let through after a short control check. This way they managed to fly out of the country undetected.
"Hello everyone and welcome to the Good Night Show. As diligent fans have informed me, Lexa Woods is currently on a plane whose arrival point is unknown. What is there to hide Miss Woods? Is it something serious or is it simply a surgical procedure gone wrong?" Matching his words, presenter Charles Pike disfigured his face, stretching it as if he had had a face lift. The audience roared.
"Wilder and wilder rumors are swirling around the actress and everyone is patiently waiting for an answer and as soon as there is one, we'll be there."
Titus watched the show with growing apprehension, he had known it would continue to come to a head, but no one had listened to him and he knew he had lost the right to interfere. He was still allowed to advise them, but he had lost his position.
He should not have underestimated his protégé, however; she already had a plan, which she would put into action as soon as she was better. But first she wanted to go to Clarke and take her in her arms.
A few hours later they had arrived in front of the house and she loved it from the first moment. Clarke stepped out of the house even before they had rung the doorbell and took Lexa into her arms, hesitant and careful not to hurt her. The excitement was palpable with her hands. She helped Titus with the suitcases and insisted that the actress not wear anything.
"If you want, you can make yourself at home in my bedroom or in the guest room, as you like..."
Titus gasped, and had he been the type to do so, he probably would have rolled his eyes.
"Lexa... it would be better if you set up in the guest room, just in case you are being watched right now, then where you sleep that night is up to you."
She thought about it for a moment and nodded, he was right on that point.
This was how the two lived their daily lives together. Clarke had her shifts, but they spent as many hours together as possible and as soon as the actress was feeling better, she made breakfast each morning because, unlike the blonde, she was an early riser. Finally the big day came and she would go public to put an end to the rumors, but she would not go to the sleazy Charles who twisted everything to his liking.
"Welcome to Let`s Talk about with Monty Green. Today`s guest is none other than Miss Lexa Woods." The latter nodded to the cameras with a smile and waved to the guests.
"May I say you?" Monty was always polite and did not want to offend anyone, for this reason even actors came to him who otherwise rarely gave interviews.
"Gladly Monty."
The latter nodded and then continued.
"As you surely know Lexa, there are many rumors about your sudden disappearance and the postponement of the shooting start. What is the truth of these? Are you actually sick? Because I don't see any surgical procedures, which frankly you wouldn't need."
He looked her in the eye, appearing so kind and sincere that the actress instantly relaxed.
"Thanks for the compliment, and no, I haven't had any lifts, nor am I sick. I was away for a few days to recover and no, not because of an addiction or depression." She smiled and the audience laughed, but still waited anxiously for an answer.
"In fact, it's because I had an accident and had to recover from it. I'm fine now, though, but I have to take it easy for a few more weeks and not do anything that would strain me too much."
Monty nodded and you could see concern in his eyes, which looked sincere.
"What kind of accident was it?"
"I got shot and was in the hospital for a while after surgery."
Shocked murmurs went through the crowd.
"What about the perpetrator?"
"He was caught and convicted, that's what counts in the end. Justice has been done."
After that some audience questions were asked and after 90min the fun was over, all participants said goodbye and Lexa knew that after this interview the comments would come soon and she was not wrong. Especially because she had not named a culprit.
"What an interesting interview, don't you think? I would just love to know who the perpetrator is that she apparently knew or why would she cover for him? Where and especially with whom did she go into hiding? Is it about the blonde doctor again with whom she is supposedly just friends? Or does she actually have a boyfriend who could sweeten the hours a bit? Don't you have the feeling that after this interview more questions were added instead of being answered? I'll stay tuned for you, and now I wish you all a good night." With that, Charles walked out of the studio.