Chapter 5
“Yes, you are!”
“No, I am not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“NO, I AM NOT!” Clarke yelled at Raven making everyone else in the coffee shop look at them. Clarke turned her head to see everyone looking at them and lowered her head sighing.
“I am not acting weird.” She said almost as a whisper trying not to call attention again.
Raven shrugged and placed her arms on the table. “Then why are you wearing just shirts with long sleeves? It’s been two weeks and that’s all you’re have been wearing.”
“That’s not true.”
“You’re right, I forgot about the hoodies and jackets.” She said reaching for the blonde’s forearm.
Clarke quickly strayed from Raven's grip.
“Ah-ha! I knew that it had something to do with your arm; you’re trying to hide something.” Raven said and Clarke kicked her gently under the table.
“I think you’re crazy.”
“Me either.” Octavia said chuckling.
Raven rolled her eyes. “Bellamy doesn’t think so.” Raven teased Octavia.
Octavia glared at her like she was going to kill her and Raven burst in laugh. Clarke just smiled shaking her head.
“So, how’s Lexa?” Raven’s voice cut through the moment and Clarke closed her eyes realizing the mischievousness that laced her friend’s tone. “I didn’t see much of her these days.”
“Yeah, she’s too busy studying for her exams.”
“She’s really attractive, huh?” Raven asked, shooting Clarke a wicked grin.
“Raven.” She warned, receiving a grin at the sound. “What?” Raven asked, innocently as Octavia rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Octavia and I are going to the movies tonight…”
“Are we–” Octavia stopped on her words when Raven elbowed her slightly.
“Don’t you remember O?” She said glaring at Octavia.
“OH! Yes, we are.” She said nodding.
“So why don’t you come and brings Lexa with you?” Raven said.
Clarke thought a little before answer, she knew what were Raven intentions, but she actually wanted to hang out with Lexa more, they barely talked to each other the past two weeks. “Yeah, sure. But only if you don’t try to embarrass me.”
“I won’t.” Raven said wiking at Clarke.
Since they kissed neither Lexa or Clarke knew exactly how to act. What should they do next? Clarke just knew that she liked kissing Lexa, and she didn’t regret it, however she didn’t know if she wanted something more with Lexa. Clarke was afraid of getting hurt once again. She knew that they should have talked about it, but most of the time they were really busy because of the upcoming exams and sometimes they were trying to avoid the subject. Maybe going out would be good for both of them; maybe she should just let things flow naturally between them.
*********
Anya and Lexa were walking around the campus, it’s been a while since they talked face to face, so Anya got to see her best friend. Her so detached best friend.
“…I’m happy that college is going well for you.”
“Yeah, me too. I’m really happy.” Lexa said stopping on her way. She looked at the blue sky and let out a sigh.
Anya glanced at her friend as reading her mind. She knew what this was about. “I know they would be proud of you, Lexa.”
Lexa turned her head to look at Anya with a smile “Yes…”
The two started to walk again silent. After a while in silence, Lexa started to talk again.
“Have you talked to Costia?”
“Yes.”
“Of course, she’s your friend.” She said kicking the grass slightly.
“Yes, she misses you though.”
“She does?”
“Yes, your friendship means a lot for her.”
“It means a lot for me too, but after we broke up, she didn’t talk to me. I waited for her to call me, but… it’s been almost three months.”
“She’ll talk to you… when she is ready.”
Lexa nodded. This time was Anya the one to stop walking, causing her friend to turn around in confusion.
“I actually have something important to tell you.” Anya said sighing.
“And what would–” Someone calling her name made Lexa stop talking to see who was this.
“Lexa!” Clarke called out as she got closer to the brunette.
“Clarke.” The brunette said smiling at the blonde.
“Hey…” Clarke said placing her hand over Lexa's shoulder.
The two locked eyes for few seconds that seemed like years before Anya cleared her throat to call their attention.
“Oh… Clarke this is Anya, Anya this is Clarke, my roommate.”
“Clarke! Oh, I heard about you.” Anya said shaking the blonde's hand with a smile.
“Hopefully good things.” The blonde said smiling back.
“Yes, a lot of good things actually.” Anya said wiking at the brunette who was now trying to hide her face from Clarke’s gaze.
“I’m happy to hear that.” Clarke said looking at Anya again.
“I think I better get going.” Anya said pulling her car keys from her pockets.
“Wait, didn’t you have something to tell me?” Lexa said with a frown.
“That can come later.” Anya said as she walked towards her car that was parked on the other side of the street. She waved a good bye before get in the car and drove away. Clarke and Lexa just stared as the car went out of sight, in silence.
“So what kind of good things did you say about me?” Clarke asked grinning at the brunette.
“She was just being polite, I actually said mean things about you. How much annoying you a–” Her sentence was stopped by a elbow on her rips. “Ouch.”
“You deserve worse than that though.”
“Why? I was just kidding.” Lexa said playfully.
“I know, but it was funny anyway.” Clarke said chuckling.
“Ooh, really?” Lexa put her hands inside Clarke’s shirt, rubbing her fingers into her stomach. “What about this, do you think this is funny?”
“NO! STOP, PLEASE. STOP!” Clarke said bursting in laugh. “I hate tickles.”
“Good to know.” Lexa said giggling.
Clarke ran, but Lexa didn’t follow her. She just stood there in amusement, smiling.
“Clarke…” She muttered. “I really like you.”
“Aren’t you coming?” Clarke said seeing that Lexa wasn’t following her.
Lexa nodded as walked towards the blonde.
**********
Clarke laid on her bed, stretching her legs on the wall and Lexa got back to reading her flashcards. Now and then she stole a few glances from Clarke, but without saying anything. After few minutes Clarke got up from bed sighing.
“What’s wrong?” Lexa asked.
“I’m bored.” Clarke said grinning at the brunette who chuckled not knowing how to take that.
“What?”
Clarke sat beside Lexa on the floor, resting her head on the edge of the bed and reached for her flashcards.
“Can’t you stop studying for one damn second?”
“No.” Lexa snatched the flashcards out of her hands. Clarke turned and reached for the flashcards, but Lexa held it up.
“Oh, come on Lexa.”
“I said no. I have to study.”
Clarke sighed and rolled her eyes. She started to get closer to Lexa. So now they were inches away from each other. Lexa gulped down as her heart started beating fast at the girl’s proximity. She turned her head slowly, facing Clarke. Clarke smiled and in a fast movement took the flashcards from Lexa. Lexa frowned and tried to get it back but the blonde got up of floor backing away from Lexa.
“Clarke, give it back!”
“Do you wanna it?” Clarke said teasing. “Then come here and take it.”
Lexa stood up and tried to reach the flashcards but Clarke waved them away.“Oops.” She said grinning.
Lexa tried to reach it again but Clarke ran away and Lexa gone after her, chasing her around the room. Clarke almost bumped into the lamp but kept running.
“Clarke, stop that! You’re not twelve anymore.” Lexa said but smiled in amusement.
“Maybe I don’t care.” Clarke said giggling.
Lexa was on the other side of the room while Clarke was next to her bed, Lexa moved slowly getting closer to the blonde. She tried to run away again but Lexa grabbed Clarke’s waist pulling her down on her bed. She struggled but Lexa was stronger and immobilized the blonde, she was pinning both of Clarke’s hands against the mattress. Both of them gasping for air. They locked eyes, eyes not daring to look away.
Clarke smiled causing the brunette to smile as well. She realized that the brunette was easing her grip and took the opportunity, she rolled them on and was suddenly on top of Lexa, resting her hands over her shoulders.
“You’re so beautiful.” Lexa said before she could stop herself.
“You think?” Clarke said smiling.
Lexa nodded smiling back.
Clarke started to lean in, but was stopped when she heard the sound of the door opening.
“Oh my God! Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Raven said with a mischievous look.
“You weren’t interrupting anything.” Clarke said pulling away quickly from the brunette whose cheeks couldn’t be more red from embarrassment.
“Anyway, I just came here to remember you about tonight.” Raven said now looking with a grin at Lexa who was trying desperately to hide her face.
“There’s something really special called smartphones, you know? Where we can send texts, remember?” Clarke said narrowing her eyes at Raven.
“Chill out Griffin. I had important things to talk to you, but I’m just leaving.”
“No! I’ll go.” Lexa said grabbing her flashcards and walking away quickly.
Raven watched as she walked out the room, with a mischievous look that Lexa avoided until she was finally out of the room.
“So, what is so important?” Clarke asked her friend curious.
“Bellamy asked me to be his girlfriend.”
“What? When?”
“Today, actually half an hour ago.”
“And what did you say?”
“I said yes.”
“Can’t wait to see Octavia’s face when she hear–”
“No! You can’t tell her, not yet.” Raven said grabbing Clarke’s arms.
“Ok, ok. Calm down, I won’t say anything.”
Clarke said as she held her hands up; she didn’t realized but the sleeves of her shirt were folded thanks to Raven’s grasp.
“What is that?” Raven said noticing a black words written under Clarke’s forearm.
Clarke tried to hide it but Raven grabbed her left forearm. Clarke struggled but gave up when she saw Raven’s wide eyes. She had read it.
“Oh. My. God.” Raven as her lips curved into a large smile. “I knew you were hiding something, but this?”
Clarke rolled her eyes and let out a long breath “It’s not what you think.”
“What? Clarke stop that, ok? I saw the proof of your crime, now everything makes sense.” Raven said grinning. “And Lexa got one too, didn’t she? Oh my gosh!”
“If you at least let me speak!” Clarke said with a steady voice but couldn’t avoid the smile. “Lexa and I were drunk when we did it.”
“So what? We got drunk a lot of times and I never tattooed your name on my arm.” Raven said chuckling.
“That’s… that’s different.”
“Of course it is, you’re in love.”
“No, we are not in love!”
“I won’t argue about that Clarke, you know I know.”
“What are you talking about?” Clarke said frowning.
“Well, last week I received a call of my good friend Abby, you know? And she asked about her daughter and her new girlfriend and–”
“My mom did what?”
“Yeah, if you answered the phone sometimes, maybe she wouldn’t have call your friends to know how you’re doing.” Raven said wiking.
Clarke sighed “I can’t believe that.”
“Oh, come on, Clarke! If you like her, just tell me. Are you two officially dating?”
“No, we’re not. My mom saw my tattoo and I needed an excuse for why I did this. Lexa just pretended to be my girlfriend for one night.”
“And?”
“And we kissed. That’s it.”
“Wow. Now I see that I was really interrupting your next step when I came, huh?”
Clarke narrowed her eyes and punched her friend on the shoulder “There were no next step going on, besides, we didn’t even talk about the kiss yet. I don’t know if she regrets it.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t.”
“Even if you’re right… I don’t know whether I’m ready or not for another relationship.”
“Well, that’s something you’ll have to find out. But if you want my advice, don’t let the past lead your future. Not everyone is like Finn.”
“I know.”
Raven hugged Clarke tightly, she knew how much Finn’s memories hurt Clarke. She pulled away when her phone rang.
“It’s Bell. I gotta go. See you later?” She said smiling.
“Yes.” Clarke said smiling back. “Hey!” she called out Raven before she left.
“Yeah?” Raven said turning her face, still holding the knob of the door.
“Don’t tell O and Lincoln about this.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t tell.” Raven said wiking at her friend and opened the door.
“NO EVEN TO BELLAMY!” Clarke shouted.
“CAN’T PROMISSE THAT!” Raven shouted back from the other side of the door.
***********
“Where are they?” Bellamy asked stomping on the floor impatiently.
“They must be making out.” Raven said laughing.
“No need to know about that!” Lincoln said shaking his head.
“It’s almost nine, we’ll get late.” Bellamy said pouting.
“Here they come.” Octavia said pointing to Clarke and Lexa.
“Finally!” Bellamy exasperated putting his hands in the air.
“Sorry guys.” Clarke said as she approached.
“Are you coming with us Lexa?” Lincoln asked pointing to his car.
“No, I’m going in my car.”
“Ok, then. Let’s go or we gonna miss the movie.” Lincoln said opening the door of the car to let Octavia get in.
Bellamy got in his car and opened the door for Raven from inside, she got in the car but not before wiking at Clarke and Lexa.
“She never changes, does she?” Lexa said glancing at Clarke who just chuckled.
Clarke didn’t say a word during the drive, neither did Lexa. The only sound was of the song coming from the radio. Clarke was looking through the window, thinking about what Raven had said earlier. It helps no one to dwell on the past. There was no reason to not let things between her and Lexa flow. She knew Lexa wasn’t like Finn. Lexa was different, she was special. Clarke took a deep breath and turned her head to look at Lexa.
Lexa was focused on the street but realized Clarke’s gaze. “What is it?”
“Nothing…”
“What you mean ‘nothing’? Tell me what is bothering you.”
Clarke chuckled “It’s not something that is really bothering me."
Lexa stopped the car on the traffic light and turned her head to look at Clarke. “What is it then?” Lexa said softly.
Clarke smiled and leaned in, slowly, she cupped the brunette's face; thumbs brushing over sharp cheekbones. Clarke her lips against Lexa's. Soft full lips. Lexa cupped the nape of her neck pulling Clarke closer, their lips were opening and closing over one another, slow movements like if they were dancing. Just few seconds that seemed like an eternity.
Clarke pulled away and looked at the beautiful green eyes.
“It wasn’t just ‘nothing’, huh?” Lexa said smirking.
Clarke chuckled pecking Lexa on the lips once again.
*********
They were in line to buy the snacks when Raven started to speak. “Hey, Lexa!”
“Yes?” she questioned, taking a quick side look at Clarke then giving her full attention to Raven.
“I was thinking in make a new tattoo, here.” She said pointing to her left forearm. “What you think?”
Clarke pinched the tip of her nose and shook her head smiling.
“I think that’s a bad idea.”
“Really? I was thinking of, you know, write the name of my future boyfriend here.”
“What if you two break–” Lexa windned her eyes when she realized what Raven was talking about.
Raven laughed while Octavia, Lincoln and Bellamy just watched the scene frowning not understanding what all this was about.
Raven was about to tease Lexa again but the guy calling out for the next costumer made her turn around to buy the popcorn.
Clarke couldn’t hold her laugh anymore and draped herself over Lexa, holding onto the brunette's jacket as her laughter tumbled onto Lexa's neck. Lexa rolled her eyes, however Clarke could see the quirk of her lips upwards. Her actions making their friends even more confused then they already were.
After buying everything and getting the tickets they made their way to the movie theater. Lexa and Clarke were behind their friends and Lexa took the opportunity to talk to Clarke in private.
“Why did you tell Raven about the tattoo?”
“I didn’t, she found out on her own.” Clarke said chuckling. “But she didn’t tell anyone.” Clarke reassured Lexa that was now less tense knowing that.
“Hey.” Lexa said softly elbowing Clarke to call her attention, since she was holding both of their popcorn buckets, she couldn’t do it with her hands.
“You’re beautiful.” She said smiling.
"You already told me that."
"I know but I would say this thousand times more."
“Aw, you're getting smoother... Thank yo–” Clarke was cut off by Raven who pulled her to walk faster.
“The movie already started!” She said frowning at her friends. “We don’t have time for romance.”
**********
Raven was throwing popcorns at Bellamy who supposed to be watching the movie, but instead was fall asleep. She sighed and punched him on the shoulder making him wake up startled. Making everyone laugh.
“Sorry Rae.” He said wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Raven shrugged and leaned over her not so secret boyfriend’s chest.
“How can Octavia not know that they’re dating?” Lexa asked Clarke.
“I think she knows, but doesn’t want to acknowledge that.”
“Oh.”
Clarke looked at Bellamy and Raven and chuckled at how silly they were. She reached for more popcorn, but the bucket was already empty.
“Do you want me to buy you more popcorn?” Lexa said to Clarke’s ear, a proximity that sent sparks through Clarke’s spine.
She turned her head facing the brunette and nodded smiling. She wanted to kiss her again, she really wanted, but she couldn't do that so near of her friends, not yet. Lexa smiled back and stood up.
Once out of there Lexa saw something that she didn’t expect to see. Among the other people in the line, Anya and Costia hugging. Too close, more than friends are supposed to be. Lexa frowned at what she was seeing and her frown deepened more when Anya pecked Costia’s lips. No, now she was furious. Her breathing increasing as she closed her hands into fists.
Costia and Anya, together? It can’t be.