Chapter 4
Clarke sunk into her lazy boy recliner while Octavia and Raven sat together on the couch. After the first week of classes everyone was ready for a lazy Friday night. Raven had her legs in Octavia’s lap and Octavia was gently messaging Raven’s injured leg. A few beer bottles where on the coffee table and 2 pizza boxes open in the kitchen. It was a familiar scene.
“So what are we watching tonight? How about we start Jessica Jones? I love a badass women in leather.” Raven said as she took a swig of beer.
“No more details please! I already know way more than I want to know about you and your leather infatuation.” Clarke retorted. Raven was very liberal when speaking of personal preferences of a sexual nature and had made Clarke squirm uncomfortably many times.
“Leather is a kink, Clarke. Not an infatuation. Learn you sexual vocabulary already.” Raven responded with a grin. Octavia just smirked as Clarke blushed. That was their thing. One of them would say something that would make Clarke uncomfortable and the other would support it.
“And leather is hot Clarke. Did you see that chick Costia’s leather pants? You’d be blind not to want that.” Raven said. In truth Clarke hadn’t noticed Costia’s leather pants. She’d been focused on the fact that Lexa and Costia were not dating. Clarke looked back over to a smirking Raven while Octavia looked uncomfortable. Her body a bit tense and her hands stopping the message of Raven’s leg momentarily.
“Lexa didn’t seem to want that.” Clarke said nonchalantly. Hoping they didn't catch onto the use of Lexa's first name.
“I’m sure you’d rather Lexa have a kink for blonde haired blue eyed girls.” Raven teased.
“I don’t really know if that counts as a kink, Ray.” Octavia responded.
“I’m making a point here O. Either support me or keep your pretty little mouth closed.” Octavia flipped Raven the bird.
“Who the hell is Costia anyway?” Octavia asked.
“Our professor’s ex.” Clarke responded in hopes that Raven wouldn’t need to expand. She had no such luck.
“Costia is the hot ex-girlfriend of our hot professor who happens to be gay.” Raven elaborated.
“Why does her orientation matter again anyway? She’s our professor not our friend.” Clarke said hoping to downplay whatever it was that was happening.
“Oh Griffin you know why her orientation matters. She likes girls. You like girls. Do the math.” Raven replied.
“Yeah and I don’t think you really want to be her friend anyway.” Octavia added.
“It doesn’t matter. She’s our professor and……”
“You know it’s technically not against the rules for a student and professor to date.” Raven interrupted. A twinkle in her eye. Clarke's jaw dropped.
“And how do you know that?”
“Costia told me.” Raven responded.
“Costia?”
“Yeah, we had coffee this morning.” Raven replied. Clarke's mouth dropped open again and Octavia tensed.
“You met her yesterday!” Clarke exclaimed.
“Yeah, but I saw her campus coffee shop and we got to talking. Kinda bummed she was only in a leather jacket and not leather pants.” Raven said.
“Ok guys let just find something to watch. I vote Jessica Jones. Clarke?” Octavia said her eyes on the television.
“Yeah. Jessica Jones sounds good to me.”
"Oh, and heads up for tomorrow night. Cancel any plans where going out to this new bar I found." Raven said after a quick glance at her phone.
"Which one?" Clarke asked.
"I'll show you tomorrow night Griffin." Raven replied.
***
Lexa propped her feet up on the coffee table as she opened her laptop. She had Netflix on for background noise, a bag of gummy bears within reach, and a vanilla Coke next them. She normally didn’t eat so much junk food but it was Saturday night and she had already been to the gym earlier in the day. She ran a 5k in under 25 minutes and then spend an hour doing weights. So she felt she deserved a little junk food. Now she would do classwork while watching Netflix. Not a bad Saturday night if she was honest. Basically exactly how she spent her Friday night.
“Oh no. You are not spending another night doing work and watching TV!” Anya said as she walked in the door.
“Anya I just need to……”
“Nope, don’t care. Costia invited us out for drinks and we are going!” Anya said. Her arms crossed and face stern. Glancing at her phone she did see she had a missed text from Costia.
“Anya…..”
“You’re coming. Take off those sweatpants and something else on. We leave in 30.” Anya said before walking out of the room. Her door shut, allowing no room for argument.
An hour later Lexa, Anya, and Costia were sitting at a bar near campus, chatting, and sipping their drinks. Conversation flowed easily as the three girls discussed the ups and downs of graduate school.
“You have got to be lying. No way anyone’s that dumb.” Anya said to Costia.
“I’m telling you nothing but the truth. I like giving at least one easy question on a quiz so I asked ‘When did the war of 1812 take place’ and 4 students gave the answer wrong.” Costia said before talking another sip of wine.
“But we’re a good school. Polis University is a really good school. How the hell do we have students that get that answer wrong?” Lexa questioned. “Oh…I bet they played football don’t they?” Lexa answered herself.
“Hey!” Anya swatted Lexa on the arm. “Watch what you say about Jocks! I played lacrosse! Hell you played soccer Lex!”
“Yeah, but you and I both would have gotten into a good college without sports. Playing just got us money.” Lexa argued.
Lexa was looking at Anya when she saw a flash of blonde hair. It was weird how she had started noticing blonde hair recently. She would get a glimpse of a blonde and then her eyes would continue to watch to see the face the hair belonged to. Lexa didn’t even realize she was doing it until she felt a slight disappointment when she didn’t recognize the face.
This time she recognized the face.
Costia turned her head to see what Lexa was looking at and grinned when she saw Clarke, Raven, and another girl Lexa didn’t recognize.
“Hey, Raven over here!” Costia called out. Raven waved back and soon the three other girls where making their way to the table.
“Well, what a nice surprise it is to see you Costia and Professor Woods. You both know Clarke but this is the third musketeer Octavia.” Raven said as she introduced another uncommonly pretty girl. Octavia smiled at Lexa and Anya but her smile faltered a bit when she turned to Costia.
“Nice to meet you Octaiva. This is Anya.” Costia said before continuing, “and I’m going to insist you guys call Lexa, Lexa and not Professor Woods. Sorry Lex you don’t get a vote.” Costia finished.
Lexa glanced at Clarke. Clarke’s eyes were wondering whether or not to listen to Costia’s declaration. Asking if she did have permission to use Lexa’s name.
“We’re not in the classroom.” Lexa shrugged.
Raven and Costia shared a conspiratory grin. Octavia weirdly frowned. While Clarke’s eyes lit up and small smile graced her face.
“I’m gonna grab some drinks guys anyone want anything?” Octavia asked.
“I’ll take something with tequila.” Clarke said.
“I’ll come help you with the drinks O.” Raven said.
“Yeah, we need another round too actually. Anya come help with the drinks?” Costia asked as she stood up from her seat. Anya rolled her eyes but got up. Clarke began to protest the mass exodus but Raven cut her off.
“Ok, back in sec guys.” Raven grinned as the majority of their group walked away from the table. Which left Clarke and Lexa alone. Both girl’s cheeks a bit pink and their eyes looking anywhere but each other.
“Shit, I’m so sorry about Raven she’s…….she’s kind of weirdly intense sometimes.” Clarke said quietly.
“Its ok. It’s not like Costia was much better.” Lexa said. Lexa then took a deep breath before raising her head to look directly at Clarke. “So what’s your major Clarke? I don’t think I ever asked?” Clarke sighed. Not the most original question but it she couldn’t blame Lexa for that. It was a safe question which was all that mattered.
“Biology and Studio Art double major. I’m basically a pre-med who likes to draw.” Clarke responded.
“Interesting combo?” Lexa raised an eyebrow in question.
“My mom’s a doctor and wants me to go to Med School. I don’t dislike medicine but I prefer art.”
“What’s your medium?” Lexa asked.
“I like charcoal and painting. I do some watercolor but mostly acrylic.” Clarke responded. Not the most stimulating of conversations but if Lexa kept looking at her with those green eyes Clarke didn’t really care.
“Do you have a favorite artist?” Lexa asked.
“You first.” Clarke responded. Wanting to change the subject to Lexa.
“Is it cliche if I say Waterhouse’s Lady of Shallot?” Lexa asked a bit sheepishly. Clarke laughed.
“You really were an English major weren’t you? It’s a beautiful painting but god what is so special about that poem?” Clarke questioned.
“It’s only one of the best poems in all of the English language. Tennyson worked on it for years. I mean the 1832 version was amazing but the 1842….incredible. People still debate the morals of Lancelot. I mean is his last line meant to be praising or insulting? Was Tennyson trying to…….” Lexa quickly shut her mouth when she realized she was rambling. It was a bad habit that happened when she talking about a poem or book she liked. She blushed lightly when she saw the amusement on Clarke’s face.
“You definitely are meant to be learning literature. It’s obvious you have a passion for it and its refreshing to see someone following their passion rather than chasing money.” Clarke said sincerely. Lexa was unusually bad at receiving compliments so she turned the topic back to Clarke.
“So who’s your favorite artist? You never said?” Lexa asked. Her eyes meeting Clarke's again.
“Monet. See I’m the cliché one not you.” Clarke responded. Lexa laughed.
“Fairly predictable yes. But how can anyone really fault you for liking Monet. His paintings are beautiful. There is nothing wrong with liking pretty things.” Lexa responded. Her gaze going a bit soft for a moment.
“Thank you. You have no idea how many time some hipster art guy has told me Monet is an artist for the common folk and blah blah blah. Monet and other Impressionists make beautiful pieces. Just because non-intellectuals see their worth doesn’t devalue them.” Clarke responded. Her fist clenched. She really did hate it when hipsters felt they were superior over the common man just because they know the names Marc Quinn or Tracey Emin.
Lexa smiled at her and said, “The more obscure our tastes the greater proof of our genius.”
Clarke chuckled and replied, “And what writer or poets said that?”
“Jennifer Donnelly."
"She your favorite author?" Clarke asked.
"Nope. Close but no. You got a favorite author, Clarke?"
***
Returning to the table Octavia, Raven, and Costia saw Clarke and Lexa were deep in discussion. Lexa was leaning on her elbows with her body leaning toward Clarke and sparkle in her eye. Clarke was animatedly talking about something and didn't seem to notice the smile plastered on her face. Their chemistry was undeniable. An intimacy in the air around them. Magnetic even.
Raven, Octavia, and Costia all smiled when they saw the two girls so deep in conversation. The only face not smiling was Anya's.
Instead she said, "You three better hope this doesn't end in heartbreak."