Chapter 31
It was a few days after Thanksgiving and Lexa found herself sitting at her kitchen table furiously typing away on her laptop when Anya entered the room.
“So,” she said as she opened the fridge. “You and Clarke.”
“What about us?” Lexa asked without looking up.
“Are you together now?” Anya asked curiously.
Lexa's brow furrowed slightly as she shook her head. “Uh, no,” she replied and continued typing.
“Oh.” Anya nodded. “I just thought, you know, you two slept together the other night, so maybe…”
“Not the first time that's happened,” Lexa chuckled.
“Well, I know that, but I just thought…” Anya motioned a bit.
Lexa shrugged, still not looking up. “It's not like that,” she said simply.
Anya sat down. “Look, I get why you two didn't get together way back when, you both had a lot going on, but things are different now,” she told her as she poured herself some juice.
“Believe me, we both still have just as much going on,” Lexa replied, still very much focused on her work, “and we’re still just as focused on our goals as we were then.”
“You were willing to try with Costia.” Anya pointed out.
Lexa stopped typing. “Look how that turned out,” she responded rather harshly.
“Clarke is not Costia.” Anya defended quickly.
“You do not have to tell me that,” Lexa snapped. “I am well aware of who Clarke is.”
Anya sighed. “You two could be so happy together,” she tried.
“We are happy,” Lexa insisted. “Look, I know that a lot of people don't get it, but this just- it works for us.”
“Haven't you ever wanted more?” Anya asked her.
“What I want, is to finish this article.” Lexa explained, beginning to feel slightly frustrated. “I know I'm only freelancing, but one great article and I can actually make something of myself.”
Anya’s eyes narrowed. “You say that as though your nothing,” her voice came out hard.
“Not nothing,” Lexa shook her head. “But, just, I don't know. I can be better.”
“I really think you should consider what I'm saying.” Anya sighed again.
“Listen, I get it, I do,” Lexa assured her “but, can you please not push? We’re fine just the way we are.”
Anya shook her head and stood up.
“What's going on with you and Rae?” Lexa found herself inquiring.
Anya turned and looked at her. “Something,” she answered quietly.
Lexa smiled. She liked the thought. It was more than obvious that Anya really cared about Raven, and Lexa was pretty sure that Raven felt the same, even though it seemed that neither of them wanted to admit it.
When Anya was gone all of Lexa’s attention went back into her work. She had already pumped out three articles today and wanted to at least finish the one in front of her before she called it a day. She had meant what she had told her sister, she was still just as focused on her goals now as she had been back in high school. She loved writing, but didn't want to freelance for the rest of her life. She took every job that she could in the hopes that someday she would produce something that would gain her the attention that she needed establish herself.
Clarke: Lexa!
Lexa: Yeah?
Clarke: What are you doing?
Lexa: Working.
Clarke: Boo.
Lexa: ?
Clarke: I wanted to show you something.
Lexa: Okay?
Clarke: IMG_119
Lexa stared at the screen, a smile forming on her face.
Lexa: You bought a car??
Clarke: :)
Clarke: Come outside.
Lexa grinned as she shut her laptop and darted for the door. Once outside she found Clarke leaning against a small blue four door with a huge smile on her face. She made straight for her and gave her a hug.
“Clarke, this is awesome,” she told her as she ghosted a kiss on her cheek. “How did you get it?”
“One of my customers,” Clarke smiled. “He didn't need it anymore, so he was willing to let it go pretty cheap.”
“Nice,” Lexa nodded. “So, how does it feel to have your own ride again?”
“Uh, amazing,” Clarke laughed. “Not that I minded all of the walking, but having a car just makes it so much easier to get around.”
“Definitely,” Lexa agreed. “So, what are you doing now?”
“On my way home,” Clarke answered. “I have to take a shower and get ready for a rehearsal at Polis, but I just wanted to show you,” she motioned to her car happily.
“Totally get it,” Lexa grinned at her. Excited Clarke was certainly adorable.
“Maybe you could come by Polis later?” Clarke suggested, a hint of hope obvious in her voice. “Check out my set?”
Lexa thought of her article. “Yeah,” she nodded. “As long as I get my article done, I'm sure I can.”
“Awesome,” Clarke smiled happily.
They chatted for another fifteen minutes or so about the car, the rehearsal and Wells, as he was going to be there. Lexa inwardly groaned at the thought, but assured Clarke that as long as she finished up her work in time, she’d be there. When Clarke finally left, Lexa ran back up to her laptop and began working at a breakneck speed. Truth be told, she would very much like to be able to watch Clarke rehearse her set.
Several hours later Lexa pulled into the parking lot a Polis, she was a little late, she knew that, but she also knew that Clarke would only care about the fact that she had shown up at all. Walking inside she quickly made her way into the closed lounge and leaned against the bar. Clarke was on the stage talking to the house band. She looked mildly stressed, but good nonetheless.
“You Lexa?” a voice said in her ear and tuning Lexa found a woman staring at her from behind the bar, she had brown hair with blonde highlights.
“I am,” Lexa nodded.
The woman slid a glass in front of her and poured some vodka into it. “Clarke told me to get you a drink when you got here,” she told her with a smile. She was cute.
“Thank you,” Lexa nodded again and took a sip. She glanced toward the stage and found Clarke's eyes on her, raising the glass slightly, she gave her an acknowledging nod and Clarke smiled back at her.
An hour later, as Lexa sat mesmerized by Clarke singing on the stage, everything was suddenly brought to a halt by the sound of a voice that made her skin crawl.
“Come on, people,” Wells said as he snapped is fingers several times. “Pay attention.”
Lexa turned to see him speaking to several employees on the other side of the room. She snarled at his condescending tone, wanting nothing more than than to go knock him on his pompous ass.
The girl behind the bar rolled her eyes slightly. “He’s such a jerk,” she muttered.
“Always has been,” Lexa stated simply.
The girl smiled at her again, a slight twinkle in her dark eyes.
“What’s your name?” Lexa found the question falling from her lips without thought.
“Echo,” she answered quickly.
Lexa smiled. “Interesting name,” she noted and finished off her drink.
“I've been told,” Echo chuckled. “Want another?” She asked, motioning to Lexa's now empty glass.
“Please,” Lexa replied politely.
When Echo returned not a moment later she placed the drink in front of Lexa and grinned. “That one's on me,” she told her with the slightest of winks, before returning to her work.
Lexa smirked slightly and gave her a light nod.
“Hey,” Clarke's voice broke into her thoughts. “Glad you made it. Sorry, I couldn't get over here before now.”
“No, you're fine,” Lexa assured her as she placed a tiny peck on her cheek. ”You sounded great up there.”
“Thank you,” Clarke smiled appreciatively. “The room helps too. It has great acoustics.”
“Truth,” Lexa agreed with a nod and took a sip of her drink. As the glass left her lips she saw what was coming and her stomach tightened slightly.
“Lexa,” Wells said as he approached them, a stupid little smile playing on his face. “Long time, no see.”
“Wells,” Lexa nodded stiffly.
They stared at each other for a moment, both clearly not interested in the normal small talk.
“So, Clarke,” he said turning slightly, but Lexa could have sworn his eyes quickly flicked over Clarke's figure and it caused a fire to spark in her chest. “The set sounds really good,” he told her.
“Thank you,” Clarke replied with a tight, but pleasant smile.
Wells nodded. “Think you'll be ready for next week?”
“Oh, of course,” Clarke assured him. “More than ready.”
"Excellent," Wells grinned. “Have you given any more thoughts to dinner?” He asked, his eyes definitely wandering.
“Hey, pay attention,” Lexa said harshly and snapped her fingers at him. “Her eyes are up here.”
Wells took a step back and stared at her.
“Lexa," Clarke scolded her in a whisper.
“What?” Lexa shrugged quickly. “It's true. He’s looking at you like you’re a damn meal.”
“Lexa, I can assure you,” Wells began, but Lexa cut him off with a glare. He put up his hands as if to surrender and walked away.
“What was that about?” Clarke asked when he was gone.
“Really?” Lexa looked at her, her jaw tightening. “I know you saw it.”
“Calm down, okay?” Clarke told her softly.
But, Lexa didn't want to calm down. She tipped the rest of her drink into her mouth and raised her hand to flag down Echo. Why the hell was she suddenly so angry?
“Another one?” Echo asked as she approached them.
“Please,” Lexa nodded.
“No,” Clarke interjected. ”I think you're good.”
Seriously?
“I think I can judge that for myself,” Lexa replied quickly, but Clarke shot Echo her hardest, don't you dare glare, and Echo walked off. “Whatever,” Lexa sighed as she dropped her hand onto the bar.
Suddenly Clarke's hand was on the back of her neck, it was soothing. “What is it?” She asked knowingly.
Lexa shook her head. “I don't know,” she answered. It was true. She didn't know why her anger had flared so fast, but now she just wanted to sink into the floor.
“Want to get out of here?” Clarke asked her, her thumb lightly rubbing across her neck.
“I want to go home.” Lexa nodded.
“Okay,” Clarke said, taking a step back. “Want me to come with?”
Lexa shook her head. “No,” she said as she leaned forward and barley kissed Clarke's cheek. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”
Getting home, Lexa through herself into the shower and then went directly to bed. As she lay there with her arm across her face, she felt herself being consumed by embarrassment and regret. What the hell had happened? Why had she gone off like that? She was there to show support for Clarke, not cause a scene. She’d been mentally scolding herself for about an hour when suddenly her phone lit up the room.
Clarke: Are you okay?
Lexa: I’m sorry about what happened.
Clarke: It’s okay.
Lexa: Not really.
Clarke: People look. It's what they do.
Clarke: Besides, you are the one that said that I have an amazing body.
Lexa: I did and you do.
Lexa: But, I made a scene.
Clarke: You did.
Lexa: I can't stand Wells.
Clarke: I know.
Lexa: I’m sorry.
Clarke: Stop. Just relax and try to get some sleep, okay?
Clarke: I don't want you disappearing.
Clarke knew her far to well. Lexa was more than ready to disappear for a couple days.
Lexa: I’ll try.
Clarke: I'll see you tomorrow?
Lexa: Yes.
Clarke: Promise?
Lexa: Promise.
Lexa tucked her phone away and rolled over. Clarke was right. She just needed to relax and get some rest. Everything would be fine tomorrow.