Countdowns and Chaos
Clarke’s alarm buzzed faintly on her nightstand, but it wasn’t what woke her. The familiar ding of a text message pulled her from sleep, and she reached for her phone with a soft groan, squinting at the screen.
Lexa:Good morning, Clarke. Hope you slept well. It’s finally Wednesday, and I’m counting down the hours until I see you. You’ve been the best part of my mornings, even before the coffee. I’ll pick you up at seven tonight—can’t wait.
A sleepy smile spread across Clarke’s face as she reread the text. Her cheeks warmed at the flirty sweetness, and her stomach did a little flip. This had been her routine every morning for the past few days—waking up to something thoughtful from Lexa. It was simple, but it had quickly become a highlight of her day.
She quickly typed back.
Clarke:Morning, Lexa. I did, thanks. And you? Can’t wait for tonight either. You might’ve just made my morning better than coffee.
Setting the phone down, Clarke swung her legs over the side of the bed and stretched. Today felt different—special—and she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. After a moment, she stood and crossed the room to her closet, pulling out a light blue blouse and black slacks, her go-to combination for work.
As she buttoned the blouse and fastened a thin belt around her waist, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and she decided to keep her makeup light, adding just a touch of mascara and lip gloss.
Once ready, she padded into the kitchen to start breakfast. A mix of scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit came together quickly, and she set the plates on the table just as Luxtyn wandered in, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“Morning, Lux,” Clarke greeted with a smile.
“Morning,” Luxtyn mumbled, plopping into a chair. She reached for the toast on her plate. “Hey, do you know if I left my sketchbook in the car? I couldn’t find it last night.”
Clarke tilted her head thoughtfully. “I think so. I noticed it in the back seat when I grabbed the groceries yesterday. Remind me before we leave, and I’ll grab it for you.”
“Thanks,” Luxtyn said, taking a bite of her toast. “Oh, and I need a note for missing gym last week. Coach Moon’s been on me about it.”
Clarke raised an eyebrow with a knowing smile. “You mean the day you suddenly had a headache during relay practice?”
Luxtyn grinned sheepishly. “That’s the one.”
Shaking her head, Clarke chuckled as she reached for a pen and a notepad on the counter. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today. But don’t think I didn’t notice how your ‘headache’ cleared up when we got ice cream later.”
“Hey, ice cream cures all,” Luxtyn replied with mock seriousness.
As they finished breakfast, Clarke cleared her throat. “By the way, you’re staying with Grandma and Grandpa tonight.”
Luxtyn raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Oh? Why? You have plans?”
Clarke hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. “Just something I’m doing. Nothing major, but I didn’t want to leave you here alone too late.”
Her daughter smirked knowingly. “Something or someone?”
Clarke rolled her eyes, heat creeping into her cheeks. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. I just didn’t want to say too much before it’s even a thing.”
“Alright, alright,” Luxtyn said, holding up her hands in surrender. “I won’t pry. But I like this side of you, Mom. It’s nice.”
Clarke softened, reaching out to ruffle her daughter’s hair. “Thanks, kiddo. Now finish up—we’ve got school to get to.”
By the time they cleared the plates and gathered their bags for school, Clarke felt a little more grounded. Her phone buzzed again as she locked the front door, and she glanced at the screen to see another text from Lexa. Smiling to herself, she slid the phone back into her bag, saving the message for later.
The clock on the wall ticked softly, marking the minutes of Clarke’s rare free period. Her classroom, usually a hive of activity and creative energy, was now silent. The sunlight streaming through the windows painted warm patterns on the desks. Clarke leaned back in her chair, enjoying the calm.
She had spent the first part of the hour tidying up supplies and organizing the lesson plans for her afternoon classes. But now, with her tasks complete, her thoughts drifted to the day ahead. The memory of Lexa’s morning text brought a small, involuntary smile to her lips.
Reaching for her phone, she unlocked it and scrolled to their thread. A notification showed Lexa’s response from earlier that she hadn’t had a chance to read yet. Opening the message, her smile widened.
Lexa:Morning’s been busy, but thinking about you has made it better than coffee—and I love coffee. Can’t wait to see you tonight, Clarke. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.
The words were simple yet sweet, tinged with a flirtatious charm that made Clarke’s heart skip a beat. She reread the message, the smile on her face now almost impossible to suppress.
She bit her lip, contemplating her response before typing back.
Clarke:I don’t know if I can compete with coffee, but I’ll take it. You’ve officially set a high bar for tonight. I’ll try not to let you down.
Hitting send, Clarke set the phone down on her desk, letting the anticipation linger. The lighthearted banter and Lexa’s thoughtful words gave her a quiet thrill, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed again.
Lexa:You could never let me down. But if I get to see that smile of yours tonight, I’ll consider the bar cleared.
Clarke laughed softly, her cheeks warming. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the screen for a moment before shaking her head at herself. It was ridiculous how giddy a simple text could make her feel.
She was about to respond when a knock at the door pulled her attention. Bellamy Blake poked his head inside, his signature smirk firmly in place.
“You hiding in here, Griffin? Thought I’d find you in the staff lounge,” he teased.
Clarke chuckled, locking her phone and slipping it into her desk drawer. “Just enjoying a rare moment of quiet, Bellamy. What brings you by?”
“Just thought I’d see if you wanted to grab a coffee before the madness starts again,” Bellamy offered, stepping into the room.
“Tempting,” Clarke said with a smile. “But I think I’ll stick with water for now. Trying to stay focused.”
Bellamy shrugged, plopping into one of the student chairs. “Suit yourself. You look like you’re in a good mood today, though. Big plans later?”
Clarke hesitated for a beat, her smile turning coy. “Something like that.”
Bellamy raised an eyebrow, but before he could press for details, the bell rang, signaling the end of the free period.
“Saved by the bell,” Clarke said with a wink, gathering her things as students began to filter into the room.
“Fine, keep your secrets,” Bellamy teased as he stood. “But you owe me a coffee next time.”
“Deal,” Clarke said with a laugh, turning her attention to the incoming students. As the class began, her mind lingered on Lexa’s words, her excitement for the evening bubbling just beneath the surface.
The cruiser hummed quietly as it rolled through the streets of their patrol zone, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. The warm, golden light filtered through the windshield, and Lexa sat in the passenger seat, her elbow resting against the window. Her thoughts drifted to the evening ahead, a subtle anticipation curling in her chest. Lincoln’s occasional glances didn’t go unnoticed, his trademark grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as the clock inched closer to the end of their shift.
“So,” Lincoln started, breaking the comfortable silence. “Where are you taking Clarke for dinner tonight?”
Lexa glanced at him, a small smirk playing on her lips. “You just dive right in, don’t you?”
Lincoln shrugged, his grin widening. “Can you blame me? I’ve never seen you this excited about a date. I need details.”
Lexa rolled her eyes, though the smile stayed on her face. “I made reservations at that little Italian place downtown—Trattoria Firenze. It’s quiet, cozy, and the food’s supposed to be amazing.”
“Solid choice,” Lincoln said with an approving nod. “You really like her, huh?”
“I do,” Lexa admitted, a rare softness in her voice. “She’s smart, funny, gorgeous… I just hope tonight goes well.”
“It will,” Lincoln assured her. “Assuming we don’t get slammed with calls today. You’re planning to leave on time, right?”
“That’s the goal,” Lexa said with a wry smile. “Get off shift, head home, shower, change, and pick her up by seven. But knowing our luck…”
As if on cue, the dispatcher’s voice crackled over the radio.
“Unit 4-5, report to 25th and Main. Disturbance in progress. Multiple callers reporting a large altercation. Backup requested.”
Lexa groaned, leaning her head back against the seat. “Of course.”
Lincoln shot her an amused look as he flicked on the lights and sirens. “Well, that’s what we signed up for, isn’t it?”
Lexa reached for the radio, acknowledging the call. “Unit 45 en route.”
The cruiser picked up speed as they headed toward the scene. Lexa sighed, glancing at the clock on the dashboard.
“Fingers crossed this doesn’t turn into an all-day mess,” she muttered.
Lincoln chuckled. “Don’t worry, partner. We’ll get you out of here on time. No way I’m letting you miss this date.”
Lexa shot him a grateful look, steeling herself for whatever chaos awaited them at 25th and Main.
Lexa and Lincoln pulled up to the scene at 25th and Main, lights flashing as their cruiser came to a stop. A crowd had gathered outside a small convenience store, and voices were raised in a cacophony of anger. Two men were in the middle of the crowd, shouting at each other with escalating fury, while a handful of bystanders tried unsuccessfully to pull them apart.
Lexa stepped out of the car, adjusting her radio and scanning the scene. "Great. Just what we needed," she muttered, glancing at Lincoln.
"Looks like it’s heating up," Lincoln said, nodding toward the men. "Let’s try to de-escalate before it gets worse."
Lexa nodded, walking toward the crowd with her hands raised in a calming gesture. "Alright, everyone, let’s take a step back," she called out firmly but calmly. "We’re here to help, but we need you all to give us some space."
The crowd began to part slightly as Lexa and Lincoln moved in. One of the men, a burly guy in his late thirties with a flushed face, turned his glare toward Lexa. "This is none of your business, officer!" he snapped.
"It became our business when it spilled into the street," Lexa replied evenly. "Let’s start with names. What’s going on here?"
The second man, younger and wiry with a torn shirt, pointed an accusatory finger. "This guy stole my wallet! I caught him in the act, and now he’s trying to play dumb."
"I didn’t take anything!" the older man barked, his fists clenching. "You’re just looking for someone to blame because you’re careless!"
Lexa stepped between them, keeping her tone steady. "Okay, we’re not going to solve this by yelling. If there’s a misunderstanding, we’ll figure it out. But first, I need you both to take a step back and calm down."
The older man didn’t budge. His eyes darted between Lexa and the younger man, his anger still boiling over. "I’m not backing down until he admits what he did."
"Sir, I need you to listen," Lexa said, her voice firm. "Nobody’s accusing anyone right now. Let’s talk this through like adults, alright?"
As she spoke, the tension snapped. The older man suddenly swung his arm, aiming directly at the younger man, but Lexa, standing in the middle, caught the brunt of the punch squarely to her face. The force sent her staggering back, pain exploding across her cheekbone. The sharp sting of metal grazed her skin where the man’s heavy ring had struck, leaving a vivid, bleeding cut.
"Lexa!" Lincoln shouted, stepping forward to restrain the older man.
"I’m fine," Lexa gritted out, though the blood dripping from her nose and the corner of her mouth told another story.
Lincoln shot her a sharp look as he twisted the older man’s arms behind his back and pinned him against the wall. "That’s enough! You’re under arrest for assaulting an officer."
As the crowd murmured in shock, Lincoln glanced back at Lexa. His concern was evident. "Lex, you’re bleeding a lot. We’re getting you checked out."
"I’m fine," Lexa protested, swiping at her nose and wincing at the sharp sting.
"Not up for debate," Lincoln said firmly, pulling out his radio. "Unit 45 to dispatch. Need another unit at 25th and Main to transport one male for holding."
"Copy that, 45. Unit enroute," the dispatcher replied.
Within minutes, Anya’s cruiser pulled up, her rookie Marisol Vega jumping out to assist.
Anya took one look at Lexa’s face and shook her head. "What the hell happened? You try to mediate with your jaw, Commander?"
"Not the time, Anya," Lincoln said, handing over the restrained man. "We need you to take him back to the precinct for holding. Lexa needs medical attention."
Marisol silently took the suspect, her wide eyes darting to Lexa as Anya nudged her toward the car.
"Go on, Rookie," Anya said gruffly. "He’s your problem now. Lexa clearly can’t handle herself today."
"Funny," Lexa muttered, her voice nasal from the blood still dripping.
"Hospital, Lex," Lincoln insisted, pulling her toward their cruiser. "Don’t make me carry you there."
Lexa sighed but didn’t argue further, letting Lincoln guide her to the passenger seat. As Anya and Marisol drove off with the suspect, Lexa leaned back, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"This day just keeps getting better," she mumbled, the irony not lost on her as Lincoln pulled out toward the hospital.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow as Clarke pulled her car into the driveway. Luxtyn was mid-sentence, animatedly recounting her school day as Clarke turned off the ignition and opened the door.
"Come on, Lux," Clarke urged as she grabbed her bag from the back seat. "We’re on a bit of a time crunch tonight."
Luxtyn tilted her head curiously, her brow furrowing. "I know, I know. Grandma and Grandpa's, right?"
Clarke smiled, holding the door open as Luxtyn hopped out of the car. "Exactly. So hurry inside and get your overnight bag packed, okay? Toothbrush included this time!"
Luxtyn groaned dramatically but dashed inside, her backpack bouncing against her small frame. Clarke followed, setting her work bag by the door and kicking off her shoes. She made a beeline for the kitchen to grab a quick glass of water, listening to the thud of Luxtyn’s footsteps upstairs.
"Do I need to pack my bunny slippers?" Luxtyn called down.
"Up to you, kiddo!" Clarke replied, chuckling as she sipped her water. "But make it quick!"
A few minutes later, Luxtyn descended the stairs, a backpack slung over one shoulder and her favorite stuffed animal peeking out from the top.
"All set," she announced triumphantly.
"Good. Let’s get going," Clarke said, grabbing her keys and her own bag.
"Do you think Grandma’s made lasagna? I’m starving," Luxtyn said, glancing at Clarke as she parked the car.
Clarke smirked, turning off the engine. "Knowing Grandma, she probably made lasagna and dessert. Come on, grab your stuff."
Luxtyn sighed dramatically but unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her bag. "You’re lucky I like staying here. Otherwise, I’d be calling child services for this whole 'Mom’s dumping me off at the grandparents' thing."
Clarke raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh, please. You love their snacks and unlimited screen time. Don’t even pretend you’re not thrilled."
Before they could reach the door, it swung open, and Clarke’s mom stepped out, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
"There’s my girl!" her mom said, pulling Luxtyn into a hug. "And you’re just in time—lasagna’s in the oven."
"I knew it," Luxtyn said with a grin, squeezing her grandma back.
"Hi, Mom," Clarke said, giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping inside.
"Hey, Clarke," her dad called from the living room, where a game hummed softly on the TV. He stood up, offering her a hug. "How was work?"
"Same old, same old," Clarke replied, smiling. "Thanks for taking her tonight."
"Anytime," he said, ruffling Luxtyn’s hair as she slipped past him toward the kitchen. "You’re not staying?"
"Not tonight," Clarke said, following Luxtyn to check her bag. "I’ve got plans."
Her mom leaned against the counter, a curious look on her face. "Plans, huh? What kind of plans?"
Clarke shot her a pointed look. "Just… plans. Let’s leave it at that."
"Plans that involve a date?" her dad asked, raising an eyebrow.
Clarke groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Maybe. But it’s just a first date, so can we not make this a big deal?"
Luxtyn popped her head out of the pantry, a granola bar in hand. "Wait, you’re going on a date? That’s why I’m here? You could’ve just told me, Mom."
Clarke chuckled, shaking her head. "I didn’t want to jinx it. Besides, I knew you’d be fine with Grandma and Grandpa. Admit it—you’re happy to raid their snacks."
Luxtyn shrugged, taking a bite of the granola bar. "Fair point. Just don’t be weird about it, okay?"
"Me, weird? Never," Clarke said, rolling her eyes playfully.
Her mom squeezed her shoulder. "You deserve a nice night, Clarke. Don’t worry about us—we’ve got this."
"Thanks, Mom," Clarke said softly.
Once Luxtyn was settled with promises of lasagna and TV marathons, Clarke said her goodbyes and headed home. Her phone buzzed in the cup holder on the drive back, and she glanced at it briefly at a stoplight.
Lexa:Hey, Clarke. Just a heads-up—I might be a little late tonight. Got caught up with an altercation at work. Can’t wait to see you, though.
Clarke smiled, her nerves settling as she pulled into her driveway.
Clarke:Thanks for letting me know. Be safe, okay? I’ll be here whenever you’re ready. And I can’t wait to see you either.
Inside her house, Clarke kicked off her shoes and rushed upstairs, excitement bubbling as she showered and got dressed. She meticulously selected her outfit, checked her hair twice in the mirror, and applied just enough makeup to feel polished but not overdone.
By the time she was ready, her phone buzzed again, another message from Lexa lighting up the screen. Clarke grinned, already feeling the night was off to a promising start.