Chapter 16
Raven’s surgery was a success and in the days that followed the procedure, her mood seemed to increase significantly.
“Hey Rae,” Clarke said as she entered the room. She glanced around at the dozens of floral arrangements that littered the room and smiled.
“How'd you get here?” Raven questioned curiously as she sat up a bit.
“Octavia let me borrow her car while she's at work,” Clarke answered. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling,” Raven said with a grin as she touched her leg. “It hurts, but I can feel it.”
Clarke didn't like the thought of Raven being in pain, but the fact that she could feel was something. “Drawback of getting the feeling back, huh?”
Raven nodded. “As soon as I heal up some, we’re going to start physical therapy. Chances are good that I'll be able to walk, but I made need some assistance.”
“Assistance?” Clarke asked as she sat down in the chair closest to the bed.
Raven shrugged. “Yeah, I don't know,” she answered. “Maybe a cane or something?”
Clarke nodded. Well, a cane wasn't so bad.
“So, I finally got to meet Costia yesterday.” Raven said as she shifted and changed positions. “She seems nice.”
Clarke shrugged. “I guess,” she responded flatly. Nope.
“What?” Raven asked curiously.
“Nothing,” Clarke shook her head. Everything.
“Don't give me that shit, Griffin.” Raven said as she pointed at her. “I know you. What is it?”
Clarke took a deep breath. Fine. She could tell Raven. “I don't trust her,” she finally answered.
“Why?” Raven asked.
“I just get a bad vibe from her.” Clarke explained as she leaned back in the chair. “I don’t know why.”
Raven thought for a moment. “Is it because she's with Lexa?”
“No,” Clarke shook her head. “Well, maybe, but not like that. It's in the way she looks at me.”
“How does she look at you?” Raven questioned.
“I don't know,” Clarke shrugged and sighed a bit. “It's smug and snide. Like she's won some competition that I didn't even know I was competing in.”
“Is it possible that you're seeing something that isn't there, just because of the last few months?” Raven asked. “I mean, you and Lexa are just starting to spend more time together again.”
Clarke shrugged again. “Maybe?” Nope. She wasn't seeing things - not at all.
“Give it some time,” Raven told her. “Maybe she’ll be at Anya and Lexa's this weekend and you two can get to know each other a little better.”
Clarke shook her head. “No weekends until you're out of here,” she said simply.
A warm smile crossed Raven’s face. “You guys don't have to do that,” her voice came out soft.
“We want to,” Clarke responded with a grin. “Everyone’s already decided.”
“It might be a while yet.” Raven said, motioning to her leg.
“It takes as long as it takes,” Lexa's voice floated into the room and turning, Clarke found her leaning in the doorway.
Shit. How long had she been there?
“When’d you turn up?” Raven asked curiously.
“Just a second ago,” Lexa answered as she entered the room and held up a paper bag. “I thought maybe you'd like a break from that hospital food.”
“Hell yes, I do.” Raven smiled happily. “It’s okay?”
Lexa nodded. “I cleared it with Abby.”
Raven adjusted herself on the bed as she took the bag and peeked inside. Pizza. “You're awesome,” she exclaimed happily.
Lexa grinned. “I've heard,” she told her with a sharp wink.
Raven pulled out a slice and took a rather large bite. “Oh my f…” she moaned. “So good. Sorry Clarke, going to have to marry this one,” she said, pointing to Lexa.
“Good luck taking on Costia,” Clarke scoffed before she could stop herself. Shit.
“I'd be more worried about taking on you.” Raven mumbled into her pizza.
“Oh stop it,” Clarke laughed as she nudged Raven’s shoulder while Lexa chuckled.
“Ow,” Raven feigned. “Hey, I'm injured,” she laughed.
They chatted for an hour while Raven ate her pizza. The conversation was pleasant and practically normal. Minus the fact that Raven was lying in a hospital bed, it was the best that Clarke had felt in weeks, that was, until Lexa's phone went off.
“Shit,” Lexa mumbled as she grabbed her jacket. “I have to go. I'm supposed to meet Costia,” she explained.
Clarke rolled her eyes unnoticed. “I'll walk you out,” she said quickly. “I have to get to the diner anyway.”
“You're working today?” Lexa questioned. “That's where I meeting Costia,” she smiled.
Fucking great.
Clarke smiled. “Great,” she said before turning to Raven. “I'll text you later.”
“Can't wait,” Raven replied with a sly grin.
“Bye Rae,” Lexa said with a wave. “I’ll try to come by tomorrow.”
“Sounds good,” Raven nodded.
They exited the hospital quickly and as Clarke drove to the diner she only had one though. Let them be in anyone else's section.
God hates her. That was the conclusion that Clarke came to when she came out from the back and saw Lexa and Costia sitting in her section. “Fuck my life,” she mumbled to herself as she approached their table.
“Hey guys,” Clarke said as she reached their table. “Can I start you off with some drinks?”
Lexa looked up and smiled, she didn't have to answer. Clarke quickly jotted down a water and looked at Costia.
“Clarke,” Costia greeted her curtly. “I'll take a…” a crash from the kitchen echoed through the diner, “…tea with lemon.”
“You got it,” Clarke nodded and made her way back behind the counter and into the kitchen where Harper just looked at her apologetically
“You good?” Clarke asked quickly.
“I got it,” Harper assured her and Clarke left the kitchen.
As she stood getting Lexa and Costia's drinks, Finn came in.
“Hey,” he said as he leaned across the counter a placed a light peck on her cheek. “How's it going?”
“Just started,” Clarke replied with a shrug.
“Well, hopefully it goes quickly,” Finn responded, pushing his shaggy dark hair out of his face.
“We’ll see,” Clarke nodded as she grabbed Lexa and Costia's drinks.
She made her way back to the table and set the glasses down. “Have you two decided?” She asked pleasantly.
“We’re each going to take a Caesar salad,” Costia answered.
“Coming right up,” Clarke smiled quickly and turned to leave.
“UGH,” Costia's voice echoed in Clarke’s ears. “That's awful."
Clarke spun around and saw Costia setting her cup back down. “What's wrong?” She asked quickly.
“It's so sweet,” Costia replied.
“You asked for iced tea?” Clarke responded feeling instantly confused.
“I asked for unsweetened tea,” Costia snapped lightly.
“Shit,” Clarke said quietly. “I’m sorry, Costia. I must have misheard you. I'll get you a new drink.”
Clarke rushed back behind the counter to make Costia a new drink.
“Everything okay?” Finn asked, taking in Clarke's frazzled disposition.
“I got distracted by Harper and messed up Costia's drink,” Clarke answered. Did she mess it up? She tried to think back to that moment.
“Oh,” Finn replied. “I didn't even realize she was in here,” he glanced around.
“Yeah,” Clarke replied, pointing to the other side of the diner. “Her and Lexa are over there.”
“I see them now,” Finn nodded. “I'll have to pop over before I leave.”
Clarke shrugged as she walked away with Costia's drink.
As she neared the table she gave the two an apologetic smile, similar to the one that Harper had recently given her. “Sorry about that, Costia.”
“No problem,” Costia said with a sideward glance.
Clarke looked at Lexa, even more apologetic, she seemed slightly put off.
Shit. Did she think that it had happened on purpose?
As her shift wore on and business picked up Clarke noticed that Finn had made his way over to Lexa and Costia and had slid into the booth next to Lexa. They seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, but in the back of her mind Clarke couldn't help but hope that Finn was behaving himself. She had just finished cashing out a customer when Finn appeared at the counter again.
“Hey,” he said smiling. “How do you feel about having dinner with Lexa and Costia tomorrow night?”
Clarke looked up. Seriously? “Um, I don't know,” she hesitated.
“Why?” Finn questioned, looking slightly disappointed.
“I need to get my pieces selected for the showcase.” Clarke explained. “We’ll see, okay?”
“Fair enough,” he replied and walked back to the table.
Clarke turned and poured herself a cup of coffee. She was so ready to go home. She pulled out her phone.
Clarke: I want to go home.
Raven: What's wrong?
Clarke: Lexa + Costia + Finn + mistake drink order x possible dinner date = :(
Raven: Haha, damn. So, double dating already??
Clarke: Shut it.
Raven: You need to give her a chance.
Raven: Octavia agrees.
Clarke: You told O?
Raven: Duh?
Clarke stuffed her phone back into her pocket. Of course Raven would tell Octavia.
By the time Clarke got home from work that night she was completely exhausted and fell asleep on the couch within a few minutes of entering the apartment. She woke up a few hours later covered with a blanket and smiled warmly as she silently thanked the stars for Octavia.
Late the following morning Clarke was pacing. She had gone through an pulled out a lot of her work and had it situated throughout the apartment. Fifteen pieces was a heavy order and while her work ranged all over the place and there was plenty to go around, she wanted to make sure that the ones she picked out were perfect.
“You’re over thinking it,” Octavia told her from the kitchen table.
“I know,” Clarke nodded as she stared at a still life she’d done a few weeks ago. It was good, but not great. She pushed it aside. She had several picked out, but not enough.
“What about the one that's hanging in the hallway?” Octavia asked. “It's a great piece.”
Clarke looked at her. It was true the picture in the hallway was, by far, one of her best. “I don't know if I'd want to part with it,” Clarke shook her head.
“No one is saying that you have to,” Octavia assured her. “People can make offers on your work, but you're not obligated to sell any of it.”
Clarke nodded. Hm. It was true.
She turned and walked down the hall. She stared at the charcoal picture on the wall, every line was perfect.
The entire outline was heavily shaded, but the center focus depicted a woman on her back, covered only by a rumpled sheet at her waist. Her face lost in the darkness, save only her mouth, which was hung open slightly. The arch of her back and hint of someone's hand beneath the sheet made what was transpiring all too obvious. The piece was very suggestive, yes, but truly amazing.
Clarke shook her head and walked away. Maybe.
“Well?” Octavia asked as she returned to the living room.
“I don't know,” Clarke shrugged. “We’ll see. That one may be too over the top, even for me.”
“How many more do you need?” Octavia flipped through a few paintings that Clarke had discarded.
“At least six,” Clarke sighed and shook her head.
“Well, just think on it then,” Octavia told her.
Clarke nodded. “I will.”
Finn: So dinner?
Clarke sighed again. She had no desire to go to dinner, especially with Costia of all people.
“Finn?” Octavia asked.
“Uh huh,” Clarke mumbled.
“You going to go?” Octavia questioned her again.
“Yep,” Clarke answered with a nod.
“Good girl,” Octavia smiled as she continued flipping through Clarke's paintings.
Clarke glared at her lightly before redirecting her eyes back to her phone.
Clarke: Just let me know what time to be ready.