Renting happiness

The months went by and no tabloid magazine or any TV channel is talking about this scandalous rumour that Costia started anymore. Lexa and Clarke are just living their every-day lives and nothing really exciting is happening except that both of them are just utterly and unconditionally in love with each other. Clarke is about to write her final exams, so she uses all her time to study for it. Lexa totally understands that and helps her as much as she can. Lexa has already the perfect idea for Clarke’s graduation party and the special gift she wants to give her on that day. She already arranged a few things for the party and it’s going to be really huge. In comparison, Lexa’s life in the company has changed a lot. Her employees have more trust in her now and she is having a very friendly relationship with some of them instead of trying to make them scared of her. They still have lots of respect for her but it’s not as formal anymore and they have some giggles now and then in the office.

Clarke has finally written all of her exams, Lexa is spending the weeks until she gets her results with assuring her that she did the best she could and that she will pass. Of course, Clarke is nervous and is sure she hasn’t studied enough. Until one day Lexa is quietly working in her office and suddenly the door bursts open and someone starts screaming “I PASSED MOTHERFUCKERS!” very loudly while a small person with long blonde hair runs up to Lexa and literally knocks her off her chair because she hugs her so violently.

“Woah Woah! Prisa!” Lexa says still trying to realise what just happened the last few seconds.

“I PASSED IT LEXA!!! I PASSED IT! OH MY GOD I CAN’T BELIEVE IT” Clarke shouts while she lays on the floor with Lexa. Lexa gets up and picks Clarke up in her arms to spin her around.

“I am so proud of you baby! See I told you, you could do it!” Lexa cheers with her and kisses her very gently.

“You are right! I am so relieved. This is great.” Clarke says and spends the next 20 minutes to describe detailed how she didn’t want to open the Email with her results but then finally did it and screamed so loud that one of her neighbours knocked on her door to check if everything was okay or if she is getting murdered.

Lexa is having a huge smile on her face while Clarke is talking because that means that she can finally give that huge party she planned for her. It may not be exactly what Clarke expects from it but hey at least she likes surprises. A few more days later Lexa is getting ready to go to Clarke’s graduation. Clarke wanted to convince her that it’s not really necessary for Lexa to be there and that it will be very boring but Lexa insisted on being there. She knows Clarke doesn’t like lots of attention but Lexa won’t miss this important event in her life. Clarke is already there since this morning, so as Lexa arrives in her black Audi R8 and her tailored dark red suit, she is already getting some confused looks by the families of other graduates. Lexa follows the rest of the people to an area outside where hundreds of chairs are lined up in front of a big stage with a podium. She sits down where people don’t really see her and waits until the ceremony starts.

As everybody is seated, an old black woman walks up to the podium and starts to speak “Thank you all very much for being here on this special day. For the graduates it might be the happiest day of their lives so far and I am proud to present these excellent young adults who made their time here worth while and will step out into the world now, with a lot more experience than when they came here to the University of Chicago.”

Everybody starts clapping and Lexa smiles a little bit because she just remembered her graduation. The black lady got a sheet of paper out of an envelope and starts reading the names of the graduates. It takes a while until she mentions Clarke’s name and as she does, Lexa gets up from her chair and claps enthusiastic and even whistles loudly. Even from here she can see Clarke smiling and blushing as she takes her diploma and walks down the stairs to sit back down. About 20 minutes later graduation is over and Lexa gets up to wait for Clarke at the entrance. When she sees her, she has the biggest grin on her face that Lexa has ever seen her with and Clarke runs towards her to hug her.

“I am so proud of you baby.” Lexa says and kisses her gently.

“I still cannot believe it! I am so happy right now.” Clarke replies.

“You should be! It’s a special day and it has to be celebrated.” Lexa smiles.

“Please I do not want a big party or anything you know me.” Clarke says shyly.

“Yeah, I know. Let’s just go to my place and I will cook something for us in the evening.” Lexa suggests and Clarke nods.

Of course there is no such thing happening but Lexa wants to keep it a secret until they are there. So, the women get in the car and drive home. Clarke is so happy and is ranting about how nervous she was on stage, that she doesn’t even notice the cars which are all parked in front of the house as they walk up the stairs. Lexa unlocks the door and they enter. Clarke takes her jacket off and they walk into the kitchen.

Lexa grins as she says “I know we said no presents.”

“We never said that.” Clarke replies

“But I got you something very special anyways.” Lexa continues as she gets a huge box out of a drawer. The box slightly moved.

“Lexa? Why is the box moving? What is in there?” Clarke asks worried.

“Open it and find it out.” Lexa suggests.

Clarke lifts the top of the box very slowly and carefully and her mouth drops open when she sees what is inside. She reaches into the box with both hands and gets out a little golden retriever puppy.

“Oh my god… Oh my god… you didn’t. Oh my god.” Clarke repeats again and again not knowing how to react to this.

“Look at his collar baby.” Lexa says smiling. On the collar of the dog, there’s a key hanging from it.

“What is the key for?” Clarke asks confused.

“That is the key for this house because I wanted to know what you think of the idea to move in with me?” Lexa asks hesitating a little. Clarke doesn’t answer but just hugs Lexa again very tightly and starts crying a little.

“I would love to Lexa!” she cheers after a minute and Lexa spins her around in her arms being just as happy in this moment.

“So, I think you like your present huh?” Lexa asks.

“Are you kidding?! I love it!” Clarke says and squeezes her little puppy, which playfully licks her cheek and barks twice.

Lexa takes Clarke’s hand and leads her into the living room where all the lights are out. As Clarke comes closer suddenly all the lights go on and about 4 people jump out from all kinds of hiding places and yell

“SURPRISE CLARKE!”

Clarke jumps a little and screams because she got scared for a second but as she realises all the people that were hiding in Lexa’s living room she just starts crying all over again. Every one of them just runs towards her and hugs her. There are her old high-school besties Raven and Octavia, her mum Abby and step-dad Kane. Lexa takes a few steps back out of respect while the big family is all hugging each other for a few minutes and all the women have tears in their eyes. The door bell rings, so Lexa goes to the front door to see who it is. She opens it and there is a tall, dark-skinned, bald guy with a handsome face standing in front of her.

“Long time no see little sis.” The tall guy says smiling as he hugs Lexa.

“I missed you Lincoln! I am so glad you could make it.” Lexa says after she hugged her big brother.

“Of course I come. You wouldn’t shut up about your princess, so I need to see if she is really as awesome as you keep telling me.” Lincoln laughs and takes his coat off as he steps inside. Lexa walks into the living room with him where everybody is talking with each other.

“Hey everybody! I wanted to introduce my brother Lincoln to you. He came all the way from Seattle so that he could meet all of you.” Lexa explains.

Everybody waves and says hi. They are going to have enough time to get to know each other later. Lexa walks back into the kitchen to get some drinks and something to eat. She prefers it if her guests eat in the kitchen, so she prepares everything on the kitchen counters before she returns to her guests.

She politely approaches Clarke’s parents and says in a very formal voice “Mrs. Griffin I would like to introduce myself, I am Lexa Woodson. Thank you very much for assisting me with the party. I very much appreciate it.”

They shake hands and Abby replies “It’s very nice to meet you Lexa, thank you for arranging all of this.”

“Of course, Clarke’s graduation has to be celebrated.” Lexa says before she turns to Kane to repeat the introduction to him.

They seem very pleased with Lexa so far, so she excuses herself to direct her attention to the other attendants of her party. She walks over to Clarke who is already giggling and laughing with her two friends Raven and Octavia.

“So this is the famous and mysterious Ms. Woodson we have heard so much of!” Raven says in a curious voice.

Lexa smiles politely and shakes their hands saying “I hope Clarke only has positive things to say about me.”

“Oh that for sure. More than just positive huh Clarke” Octavia grins and bumps Clarke with her elbow.

“Stop it guys! At least she knows how to take care of her girlfriend.” Clarke replies and kisses Lexa for a few seconds before she returns to her mom and step-dad to talk with them.

“Are you enjoying the party so far?” Lexa asks Octavia and Raven.

“Yeah, it’s pretty great here! Your house is huge by the way.” Raven answers.

Lexa nods to thank her for this compliment as Octavia adds “So, does your brother have a girlfriend or something?”

“It has not come to my knowledge that he currently has a girlfriend.” Lexa replies.

Suddenly Octavia smiles and empties her glass of Champaign and just mumbles “Perfect.” before she walks off into Lincoln’s direction.

Raven sighs out loud and just shakes her head. This must happen pretty often. Lexa spends the next hour with talking a little bit with everybody before she is pouring herself a glass of whiskey together with her brother, who prefers this over Champaign, and they just stand in the kitchen talking a little bit.

“How is business doing, Lincoln?” Lexa asks curiously.

“Pretty good so far. It was hard to build up a good reputation in Seattle but I am getting jobs very regularly now. Apparently these days more and more people need an interpreter.” he answers. The siblings toast each other and empty them both. “Do you think this friend of Clarke is interested in me?” Lincoln asks after a long pause.

“Octavia? I think so. She asked me earlier if you have a girlfriend.” Lexa replies and both look at her how she is taking two shots in a row while Clarke and Raven are cheering.

“Oh really? Very nice! She is very good looking I have to admit it.” Lincoln says and smiles.

“But be careful. Remember what happened last time you took a chick home from a party. She stalked you for 4 months.” Lexa reminds him but Lincoln only rolls his eyes at her and walks over to Octavia again.