Chapter 24
Tonight was the night. It had been a couple of days since the discovery of Finn and Costia's infidelity, but now that the two were back in town, tonight was the night that Clarke an Lexa would finally get to confront them. They had decided to have dinner at Clarke's apartment under the pretenses of burying all of the bullshit from the showcase.
Clarke was angry. For Finn to be cheating after everything, was just a huge slap in the face. She knew that their relationship wasn’t amazingly great, but they tried and she would have never, ever done this to him. And Costia, of all the fucking people in the world to cheat with, it had to be her. Clarke shook her head. She was quite sure that Finn had no idea just how much would be destroyed by all of this. This was one of those things that could splinter a group - the type of thing that drew lines in the sand.
Her thoughts went to Lexa and she couldn't suppress a sigh. Lexa didn't do relationships, she never really had, so the fact that she had taken a chance with Costia really was a big deal. But, in return Costia had done possibly the worst thing that she could have and Clarke couldn’t help but worry about the lasting effect that it would leave on Lexa. She sighed again.
“Thinking about Lexa?” Octavia asked from the kitchen.
“Am I that obvious?” Clarke questioned as she rubbed her eyes..
“I know that you're worried.” Octavia replied as she continued slicing vegetables. She was the one doing the cooking for tonight. While Clarke was angry, no one should suffer through her cooking. Everyone knew that she really had no business in a kitchen.
“I am,” Clarke admitted. “Not just about how she's going to react when she finally sees Finn tonight, but what this is going to do to her, like, on a whole.”
“I understand.” Octavia nodded. It was true. Lexa, on a level, was a sensitive soul. All things considered, no one was really sure how it would change her.
“You didn't see her,” Clarke shook her head. “Not when she got here or when she realized that it was Finn.”
Octavia looked up. “I know,” she told her. “For Lexa, it's like a double smack. Her girlfriend cheating on her with someone so close. I mean, Finn and her aren't exactly close, but we all are, so.”
“Exactly,” Clarke sighed. She had already had the same thought.
“You should go take a shower,” Octavia motioned to the bathroom. “I’m going to finish up here and take off.”
“Yeah, okay.” Clarke nodded as she stood up. “Thanks again for cooking.”
Octavia smirked. “You're the one that said no to killing them,” she reminded her playfully.
“Yeah, but they're not even going to be the ones eating it.” Clarke pointed out with a small smile.
“I don't mind,” Octavia assured her. "Go."
An hour later, Clarke moved through the kitchen making sure that everything was ready, she glanced at the clock. Soon. Soon they would be here and the night would begin, but really, Clarke was just ready for it to be over already. There was a light tapping at the door and Lexa popped her head inside. “Clarke?”
“Come on in,” Clarke waved her in.
Lexa entered with Costia close by. An instant wave of fury pulsed through Clarke when Costia reached out and looped her arms with Lexa’s. Clarke looked at Lexa, her jaw was slightly clenched as she slipped out of Costia's grip and moved to greet her. “Hey,” she placed her usual light kiss on Clarke’s cheek.
“Right on time,” Clarke smiled pleasantly.
“Of course,” Lexa grinned. “Where is he?” She added, her voice low.
“Never on time,” Clarke shook her head. “Will you check the food?”
“Of course.” Lexa nodded and walked off toward the kitchen.
Clarke's eyes went to Costia, who was moving through the room, her eyes wandering about quickly.
“Cute place,” Costia told her politely.
“Thank you,” Clarke nodded. “We try.”
“Smaller than I expected.” Costia noted.
“It works for us just fine,” Clarke bit back lightly.
There was a noise behind Costia and suddenly Finn came though the door. “Sorry,” he murmured. “Couldn't find a parking spot.”
Clarke nodded.
“Hey princess,” he smiled as he placed a sloppy kiss haphazardly on her cheek.
“Hey,” Clarke tried to sound normal. Her eyes found Lexa's and though Lexa's attention was focused on the table, Clarke could see that he eyes were burning.
As Finn walked over to greet Costia, Clarke moved toward Lexa. “Deep breath,” she told her. ”No killing.”
Lexa nodded. “I’ll open the champagne,” she told her.
“Champagne?” Costia asked from the living room. “What are we celebrating?”
Clarke only smiled, as she waited for Lexa who soon came over and handed both Finn and Costia a flute of champagne. She disappeared for another moment before returning with glasses for both her and Clarke.
Clarke cleared her throat. “The last few months have seriously been chaos,” she began,” and it's really time for us all to move passed this ridiculous nonsense.”
“I absolutely agree.” Lexa chimed in with a quick nod.
“Obviously the history between Lexa and I makes the two of you uncomfortable,” Clarke continued. “We get it.”
“I suspect that it's why you're always so rude to Clarke,” Lexa said to Costia, “and, trying to show off that I’m with you now.”
Costia nodded every so slightly, accepting Lexa's analysis of her behavior.
“Finn, you and I have already been down this road about Lexa,” Clarke said quickly.
Finn nodded. “I know,” he responded, his voice somewhat small. “Sorry.”
Clarke took a deep breath. “Living like this can't possibly be healthy for anyone,” she sighed. “and it’s really just time to close this bullshit chapter and move forward.”
“So if we can all agree,” Lexa said holding up her flute. “To moving forward.”
Clarke, Finn and Costia all followed in suit. “To moving forward,” they all said and with that, each one emptied the glass in one long sip.
“Now,” Clarke said as she rolled the champagne flute between her thumb and middle finger. “Exactly how long have you two been fucking?”
Finn’s eyes went wide as Costia’s glass slipped from her fingers and smashed against the floor. Lexa set her glass down and cupped her hands behind her back.
“Clarke,” Finn began quickly, shaking his head. “What are you…”
“We know,” Clarke said firmly as she held up her hand. “Please, just don't even bother trying to deny it.”
“Lexa,” Costia’s voice was suddenly small. “Lexa, I was drunk.”
Finn turned and looked at her. He actually looked offended. “Maybe the first time,” he scoffed.
Costia eyes went wide with horror at his words, she turned and eyed him.
“What?” He shrugged spitefully.
“How long?” Lexa demanded, her severe disgust obvious in her voice.
Finn looked at her. “Shortly after we had dinner at Polis,” he admitted. “We ran into each other and got really, really drunk. We were talking and I don’t know, it just happened, he lowered his eyes. "It just kept happening."
Clarke felt sick. Seriously?
“You bastard,” Clarke glared at him, her blue eyes furious.
“Clarke,” Finn looked up, taking a step forward and reaching out for her.
Lexa moved fast and stood in front of Clarke. “Don't you dare,” she told him through her clenched teeth.
Finn froze in his step. “Lexa, I’m…” he began.
“Dead to me,” Lexa finished his sentence. “I know.”
A tense silence between them. Lexa's eyes were locked with Finn's, she had her shoulders squared and her jaw set. Clarke silently hoped that he didn't tempt her. She knew that at this point, all that Lexa needed was a reason.
“Clarke,” Finn tried again, be didn't move forward. “Can I just explain?”
“No,” Clarke shook her head. “You know, I didn't realize it until right this moment, but I don't care. I don't care what happened or what your reasons were. I don't need to know any more than I already do and just in case it’s not completely obvious,” she spoke calmly. “Finn, you and I are so fucking done.”
“So are we,” Lexa said to Costia. “I feel the same way Clarke does. I don't care what your reasons were. My only hope is that after tonight, I never see you again.”
“However, there is one more thing we need to know first.” Clarke added as she crossed her arms.
Costia swallowed hard and Finn looked incredibly nervous.
“Which one of you is also sleeping with someone else?” Lexa asked, again cupping her hands behind her back.
Finn shook his head quickly and Costia looked at the ground.
“You stupid bitch,” Clarke’s words dripped with utter loathing.
Costia’s eyes shot up and looked at Lexa. “I’m sorry,” she said weakly.
Lexa's eyes narrowed. “Sorry?” She scoffed harshly and took a step forward. “Sorry that you're a liar and a cheat? Sorry that you choose to sleep with my best friends boyfriend – a guy that I've known since I was a kid? Or sorry that your sinful fucking ways brought an STD into my bed and then passed it into Clarke’s?!” Lexa’s voice was loud and searing.
Costia gasped, her hand rushing to cover her mouth as the blood instantly drained from Finn's face.
“Yeah,” Clarke said matter-a-factly. “You might want to see someone about that.”
Finn stepped away from Costia, his hand on his stomach. He looked as though he might be sick.
Clarke stepped forward. “I'm done,” she said quickly. “I want you both to leave. Now.”
Lexa stared at them, as if waiting for one or the other to object, but neither did.
Costia was the first to leave. Turning on her heel and walking out the door without another word. Finn stood still with his hand on his stomach and his apologetic eyes focused on Clarke. He waited.
“Goodbye, Finn,” Clarke said, making sure their eyes met.
Finn swallowed hard, then simply turned and left without a word.
When they were gone Lexa immediately cleaned up the broken glass on the floor as Clarke took her and Lexa's glasses and went into the kitchen. She refilled them both and waited.
“What's up?” Lexa asked when she walked into the kitchen.
Clarke handed her a glass of champagne. “To the next chapter,” she offered with a small smile.
Lexa returned the smile. “To the next chapter,” she said and they both tipped the champagne into their mouths.
“Hungry?” Clarke asked as she set her glass down.
“I am, actually.” Lexa nodded.
Clarke's eyes suddenly fell to something on the counter, but Lexa quickly scooped it up and shoved it into her back pocket.
“What is that?” Clarke asked curiously, her eyes slightly narrowing.
Lexa shrugged, but didn't answer.
“Lex?” She pushed.
“Okay,” Lexa put her hands up and shrugged. “I may, or may not have dosed both of their glasses with a very strong, fast acting laxative.”
“Lexa!” Clarke's eyes went wide. What the what?
"Hey," Lexa grinned smoothly as she popped an eyebrow at her. “It won't kill them.”