Chapter 20
Clarke looked around, grateful to be far away from the crowd. She took a deep breath. Well, shit. “Lexa, I just assumed she knew,” she tried to explain. “I didn’t…”
“Why would she know?” Lexa snapped again, her eyes piercing. “Why would you even think that I’d tell her?”
Um, because she acts like a jealous and possessive bitch all of the time?
“I don’t know,” Clarke shook her head quickly. She didn’t know what to say or do. Lexa was so angry. Why was she so angry?
“What were you thinking, Clarke?” Lexa finally sighed, rolling her eyes.
“I was thinking that it’s just a picture.” Clarke bit back, feeling her own annoyance starting to rise. “One that I’ve had in shows before, so why would it be a big deal?”
“Because, no one knew it was me,” Lexa retorted quickly, “and now…
“You’re kidding, right?” Raven’s sarcastic voice filled the corridor. “We’ve always known it was you.”
Clarke spun around to see Raven and Octavia standing nearby.
“Lexa, I’m sorry.” Octavia immediately spoke as she stepped forward, looking extremely apologetic. “I was the one that suggested the piece, I didn’t…”
“Well, it was a really stupid suggestion,” Lexa cut her off briskly.
“Hey,” Raven spat as she stepped in front of Octavia. “You really need to stop being such a bitch!”
Lexa opened her mouth to respond, but this time Raven cut her off. “How could Clarke know that Costia didn't know or that she would figure it out? Regardless - you are still the one who chose not to tell her,” she scolded her. “It’s your own damn fault.”
“Why would I tell her?” Lexa scoffed, as if Costia knowing about her and Clarke was the most ludicrous thing ever.
“Why wouldn’t you tell her?” Raven crossed her arms. “Everyone knows. Everyone. Were you just hoping that it would never come out?”
Lexa didn’t answer, but she worked her jaw.
As Clarke stood watching the two go back and forth, her mind just reeled. She didn’t understand why this was happening. Lexa was so angry and defensive, what was the big deal in Costia knowing? Then a bell suddenly went off, deep inside her head.
“That’s exactly what you were hoping,” Clarke’s voice came out raspy and cold. “You didn’t want to have to deal with Costia, the way that I’ve had to deal with Finn.”
Lexa looked at her, the fury in her eyes quickly changing over to fear. “Costia is upset,” she said, clearly trying to change the subject.
“Well, tell her to grow up,” Clarke shook her head, feeling absolutely no sympathy now. “Everyone has a past.”
Lexa took a deep breath and swallowed hard, but said nothing.
Now it was Clarke who was angry. Lexa didn’t usually do relationships, so she had never really been put in the position to have defend their friendship. Clarke on the other hand, had been defending her friendship with Lexa since high school, because somehow, their past always came back to bite her. Apparently, Lexa didn’t want to be bitten.
“What’s the matter?” Clarke hissed, crossing her arms. “Were you afraid she'd be crazy jealous? Or that she wouldn’t trust you to be alone with me? That you’d fight about us? That she’d question every single tiny interaction we had?”
Lexa just stared at her with slightly humiliated eyes.
Clarke shook her head, feeling thoroughly disappointed. “Unbelievable,” she breathed as she glanced away.
“I’m unbelievable?” Lexa’s eyes went wide. “You all but threw the fact that we’ve slept together in Costia’s face!”
“Lexa,” Octavia interrupted quickly. “That is not what happened.”
“It is exactly what happened,” Lexa snapped before turning back to Clarke, “and I think you owe her an apology.”
Clarke’s eyebrows rocketed upward. Yeah, that’s not happening. “There is no way in hell that I’m apologizing to that woman,” she said sternly. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That woman,” Lexa practically growled, “happens to be my girlfriend.”
“That woman, is a devious little bitch,” Clarke countered venomously, “who has done nothing, but shove her relationship with you down my throat for weeks and really, I can’t fucking wait for you to finally open your eyes and see her for what she really is.”
Lexa squared her shoulders, her eyes narrowing as she opened her mouth to respond.
“That picture is of Lexa?” Finn’s voice filled Clarke’s ears, she turned to see him standing behind Raven and Octavia. He shook his head, looking completely defeated and stormed away. Great.
“Shit,” Raven said quietly. “I guess he didn’t know.”
Not a moment later there was a commotion in the other room. Clarke didn’t waste any time, as she rushed down the hallway to find out what was going on. Her question was immediately answered when she turned the corner to find Finn in front of the sketch with Jake holding him by the neck of his shirt and Bellamy moving in front of him.
What the hell?
Finn kicked his foot out, catching the bottom corner of the picture and Clarke’s heart froze at the sight. “No,” her breath caught in her chest as she watched the picture swing back and forth for a moment. Relief washed over her when it didn’t fall and Finn was quickly removed from the gallery by her father and a security guard, while Bellamy followed closely behind.
God. How did this night go so bad, so fast?
Kane moved to the front of the crowd, “Well, I guess not everyone can be a fan,” he chuckled, clapping his hands together before throwing a look at Clarke. Shit.
Clarke turned just in time to see Lexa walk away. She watched her for a moment before looking across the gallery to where Costia was standing with her arms crossed, glaring at her with nothing but a look of pure loathing. Clarke glared right back, unable to stop the smug smirk that had suddenly formed on her face, or prevent her eyebrow from popping slightly.
That’s right. She’s always been mine.
As quickly as the thought appeared, Clarke shook it away. Lexa wasn’t hers. She had never been hers.
“Clarke,” Abby said as she came up behind her. “What is going on?”
Clarke shook her head. “It’s a really long story,” she told her as she watched Anya cross the room and pull Lexa to the side.
She could only imagine what the conversation was about and a few minutes later the three of them left, with Anya only throwing a very regretful look her way.
“He’s gone,” Jake said as he and Bellamy reappeared a few minutes later.
Clarke sighed. “O, can I ride home with you later?”
“Of course,” Octavia answered quickly. “Raven’s coming too.”
Clarke nodded. “Great,” she said before excusing herself to the rest room. She needed to get it together.
Returning a short while later, Clarke was not at all surprised when Kane approached her. “Do I even want to know what that was about?” He asked her quickly.
“My boyfriend,” Clarke said weakly as she motioned toward the door. “He didn’t approve of the piece.”
“Ah,” Kane nodded understandingly. “Well, you can’t please everyone.”
“No,” Clarke shook her head. “I’m sorry about the scene.”
“It happens,” he shrugged. “I’m glad the piece wasn’t damaged though. I know that you have it flagged, but someone’s made quite the offer on it.”
Clarke didn’t have to think. “I’m sorry,” she responded simply. “I can’t do that.”
“Fair enough,” Kane nodded. “Your work, your call.”
“Thank you.” Clarke replied and walked off to find her friends.
The rest of the showcase was uneventful and hours later Clarke found herself pacing in her living room, with Octavia and Raven sitting patiently on the couch, just waiting.
“Am I wrong?” Clarke finally asked. “Do I owe Costia an apology?
“Absolutely not,” Octavia answered quickly.
“If anyone owes her an apology, it’s Lexa.” Raven added. “Though, I have a really hard time believing that she didn’t know.”
“Why?” Octavia questions.
“Because the fact that those two have slept together practically radiates off them,” Raven said as she motioned to Clarke.
Clarke glanced at her and rolled her eyes. “God, Lexa was so,” she shook her head quickly, unable to come up with the right words to express how she was feeling.
“Yeah,” Octavia nodded. “She was being a total ass.”
Yep. That about summed it up.
“Though it is nice to know that she has it in her,” Raven stated appreciatively and Clarke gave her a look.
“Costia’s upset,” Clarke mocked to herself. “Really?”
“I still can’t believe you called her a devious little bitch,” Octavia said with a grin as she shook her head.
“Well she is,” Clarke responded quickly. “Come on, she’s pretty awful. I really don’t know what Lexa even sees in her.”
Octavia and Raven exchanged a look, but silently decided it would be better not to bring up Finn.
A momentary silence fell between them as Clarke’s anger simmered.
“I’m sorry I recommended the piece.” Octavia told her softly. “If I’d know that all of this was going to happen…”
“It’s not your fault.” Clarke put her hand up. “It was my choice.”
“I really hope you two don’t go back to not speaking,” Octavia’s voice was small.
Clarke’s heart sunk at the thought. That wouldn’t happen again, would it? She thought briefly about calling Lexa, but decided against it, figuring she was probably with Costia.
Quickly she turned and walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water and some aspirin, her head was pounding. As she leaned against the counter her thoughts went to Lexa. She’d call her tomorrow and they’d talk. They’d figure it out. It’d be fine. No more bullshit. They’d both agreed.
“How come you and Lexa never dated?” Raven suddenly asked.
Clarke looked up at her and shrugged. “It was never like that,” she answered simply.
“Well, I know that,” Raven nodded, “but, why?”
Clarke thought back. It was a long time ago. She considered joking about how they were young and dumb, but really, that wasn’t the case. Though they may have been young, they were both fully aware of what they were doing and why. “When it started, life was pretty crazy. College was on the horizon and our lives were already complicated enough,” she explained. “We both knew what we wanted, and what we didn’t.”
“What about after that?” Raven asked as she sat forward, adjusting her brace.
Clarke shook her head. “Nope,” she answered easily.
“Have you ever discussed dating?” Octavia asked curiously.
Again, Clarke shook her head. “Why would we?” She shrugged.
“Wow,” Raven said sitting back. “Sometimes, I really wish that you two could see each other.”
“We see each other just fine,” Clarke assured her.
“No,” Raven chuckled. “Not like that. I mean, I wish you could see what you two are like together, from an outside perspective.”
Clarke furrowed her brow. “Oh.”
“It can be pretty intense,” Octavia admitted as tucked her legs under herself.
“Intense?” Raven feigned a shudder. “Sometimes, I need to walk away just to take a moment with myself,” she wiggled her eyebrows, “if you know what I mean.”
“Oh, shut up,” Clarke laughed loudly as Octavia crashed her in the face with a pillow.
Clarke's phone suddenly buzzed on the table.
Finn: I’m sorry.
Finn: I’m drunk.
Finn: I was angry.
Clarke: Go away, Finn.
Finn: I’m sorry.
Finn: Can we please talk?
Clarke: Fuck off!
“Lexa?” Octavia asked hopeful.
“Finn,” Clarke rolled her eyes as she dropped her phone back on to the table.
“Now he, was a total dick.” Raven said quickly. “I can’t believe he tried to trash one of your pieces.”
“I couldn’t believe it either,” Clarke shook her head. Asshole. “He says that he’s drunk.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Octavia shrugged. “He had at least six glasses of champagne.”
“Why the hell would he drink that much tonight?” Clarke asked annoyed. Major asshole.
“Who knows,” Raven shrugged. “I thought he seemed off all night.”
Octavia nodded in agreement.
“I mean, I guess I can kind of understand why the picture upset him,” Clarke said as she brushed her fingers against her scalp.
“That’s bullshit,” Raven responded rather fast. “It’s not like it’s a new picture or anything.”
“I agree with Raven,” Octavia said as she stood up and walked off toward the bathroom.
Clarke dropped herself on the couch next to Raven and sighed. “Someone offered to buy it,” she told her. "Kane said they made quite an offer."
“Really?” Raven’s eyebrows went up. “Are you going to sell it?”
Clarke shook her head. “I love it too much,” she said softly. She really did.
“It really is beautiful.” Raven said, her tone kind.
A couple hours later Clarke was still awake in her bed. She couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened and she couldn’t stop thinking about Lexa. She hadn’t meant for anything like this to happen. What Raven had said had been true. There was no way that she could she have known that Costia didn’t know about their history or that she would see the picture and put it together on her own. After everything that had happened in the months prior, the last thing that she wanted to do was cause another rift between her and Lexa. She rolled over and pushed the button on her phone, checking the time. It was almost three in the morning. She was sure that Lexa would be asleep, but she had to try.
Clarke: We need to talk about this. We agreed, remember? No more bullshit.