Chapter 1 - Do You?
This was crazy, it really was. At least it was to everyone else. Not to Lexa, though. Lexa actually very much enjoyed jogging at 5:30 in the morning around the neighborhood. She adored seeing the sky in it's prime moments of light purple fading to baby blue. She enjoyed the air at that particular moment of the morning because it didn't feel so stifling or stuffy. It felt cool and fresh but not too cold to make her throat feel like it was being being struck with a thousand tiny needles.
No, she didn't think she was crazy. Octavia would groan every time Lexa mentioned going for a run. She knew her friend would never agree to it, but it was fun pestering the fellow green eyed goddess. She liked when her friends made fun of her. It was the light kind of teasing that makes you feel comfortable and at home. LIke each and every joke and jab was a crackle from a homey fireplace set ablaze to keep the air warm. But not too warm to the point she felt herself sweating.
If Lexa had to chose what her favorite part of her ass crack of dawn runs were, she would say it was coming home to Clarke still in bed, tangled up in their light blue bed sheets, naked with messy blonde hair splayed all over her pillow as she hugged Lexa's, unconsciously aware of Lexa's absence. But she entered their loft apartment that morning at roughly 6:10 am, clanked her chain of keys down in the little turtle bowl Clarke made a year ago in her spare time whilst lacking motivation for a painting, and was welcomed with a bright yellow post it note that had Clarke's scribbly handwriting on it. Lexa smiled to herself and picked it up.
Don't take your shoes off yet.
You still have a bit of running
Around to do.
Your first clue: The place I
Met my best friend
-Clarke3
Lexa stared down at her girlfriend's sloppy handwriting, dumbfounded. She was surprised Clarke had even been awake this early. Trying to wake her early in the morning was like poking a grizzly bear with a stick. Clarke had always been the romantic type. Whenever Lexa would come home from a long day of work at the office, beat and drenched in fatigue, Clarke would make one of Lexa's favorite dinners, or fill the apartment up with candles, which was inevitably Lexa's weakness, or maybe she would just hand her a flower and carry her to bed where they bared themselves and Clarke would hold her until she fell asleep, which was always very quickly if she had a long day. But this was new. It seemed Clarke had put together a little scavenger hunt for Lexa on their day off. Lexa was completely fine with that as long as her prize was Clarke. She knew where her first destination was like the back of her hand. Clarke and Octavia told it a million times when they got drunk, and a million more when they were sober.
Lexa grabbed her thicker sweater from the hook on the closet door and grabbed her keys once more before leaving the dark apartment. This time, she took her time walking to the place Clarke first met Octavia. Knowing Clarke, Lexa had practically all day. She loved seeing the neighborhood wake up. Before Clarke, she wouldn't have. She would have felt the urge to run and hide. The sounds of people's laughter wouldn't make her cringe, but they would have put a damper on her mood. She hated the sun until she met the sun and fell in love with her rays of blonde hair, and sky blue eyes with a pearly white smile filled with warmth all the way from her head to her toes. No, Lexa never really was a people person when she lived under a constant dark sky, and she still wasn't even after she met Clarke. But now it was easier to appreciate them and the society that fills around them in their town. It was easier to appreciate the beauty of the outside even with all of the buildings and honks from cars.
Lexa stopped in front of the large hospital that first housed Clarke, as well as Octavia. She grinned at the story that has forever been imprinted into her brain. She let it play in her mind as she entered and walked to the front desk. The lady behind it was filing her long pink nails humming an unfamiliar tune. She had blue scrubs on with a raspberry jelly stain on the shirt. Right near her nametag. Debby.
"Um, hi," Lexa murmured, her palms started to sweat. "Have you got a note or something for me?"
"Lexa Woods?" The lady, Debby, smiled and set her nail filer onto the desk with a small tap. Lexa mentally face palmed herself knowing she forgot to say her name. She always fumbled over her words when she talked to strangers. Clarke knew that better than anyone.
"Yes, that's me," Lexa half smiled.
"Well, sugar I do indeed have a note for you," Debby's grin grew wider as she revealed two gold front teeth. "But you'll have to answer this question first."
"Of course, what is it?"
"What is the room number?"
This one was easy. That was Clarke and Octavia's lucky number. Hearing them talk about it for years rubbed off on her. Her and Clarke's apartment number was 8. They also met on August 8th, the 8th day after Clarke and Octavia's birthday. Clarke was born in room 8 alongside Octavia at 8 am.
"Room 8," Lexa said proudly. Debby smiled warmly and gestured for Lexa to follow her. The hospital smell made Lexa a bit nauseous and the lights were all too bright. The wall had professional paintings that Clarke would laugh at if it were any other place and there was a section of painted handprints from the children that lived under the hospital's roof. It made Lexa's heart twinge when she saw the tiniest hand in purple.
Debby stopped in front of room 8 and held a hand towards the open room, telling Lexa to go in. The room had two hospital beds and a large window overlooking the city. There was a bright shimmery red heart balloon on the table by the hospital bed closest to the window, and Lexa eagerly made her way over to it. She picked up the yellow post it note and tangled the balloon string around her index finger. Clarke's handwriting was no neater than before, but the words made her laugh.
That was an easy one
Octavia tells that story
A million times, not like I do ;)
Now the place I met my second
Best friend
Pimples and rock and roll bands
-Clarke3
Lexa folded the note and shoved it into her sweater pocket and made her way to the doorway where Debby still stood, dabbing away fallen tears from her eyes and cheeks. Lexa stopped in her tracks, baffled and worried. Debby waved her hand at Lexa.
"Love is beautiful," Debby sniffled. Confused, Lexa smiled and nodded a thank you before walking past the blubbering woman and down the hall wondering what the hell Clarke was up to.
Lexa tied the sleeves of her sweatshirt around her hips as she leaned on the fence of the middle school. She had ran there knowing the school was too far for a walk and she was more eager to get to Clarke after seeing the nurse at the hospital cry at the romance Clarke was twirling Lexa in. She realized she probably could've grilled the nurse until she told her what Clarke had planned, but that would've ruined everything and upset Clarke. And Clarke being upset was definitely something Lexa did not want.
She searched the perimeter of the fence, letting her fingertip glide along the rusty metal diamonds. She stopped near the large oak tree near the bushes where Clarke and her friends would drink small sips of vodka during recess. She was a rather rebellious middle schooler, Lexa always thought. Lexa stopped at the part of the fence that still had a large piece of red cloth from Raven's shirt. Some loose threads from the cloth swayed in the whisper of a breeze, but the entire cloth tied itself around a yellow note. Lexa's nimble thin fingers untied the knot and pulled the note free, leaving the fabric alone still stuck to the fence. She unfolded it and began to read
That one wasn't very hard either
Raven still likes to complain about
That damn shirt.
Now here's where it gets good my
Green eyed beauty
The place I first saw the love of my life
-Clarke3
Lexa had to think about this one. Clarke always joked about the first time she really saw Lexa. Sometimes she would say she saw Lexa in the grocery store in aisle 8 where she was guiltily buying 20 milkyways. Other times she would say she first saw her in Lexa's old job at a burger joint near their college. But then Lexa remembered her and Clarke's first night together. After their hearts had stopped thudding and their breathing went back to normal, Clarke confessed the truth of where she first met Lexa into the smooth skin of Lexa's neck which then held a ton of red hickeys.
Lexa left the middle school and began her long trek to Polis University.
Polis was a large uni. But once you mapped it all out in your brain it seemed like the smallest place on earth. Lexa remembered loving the smell it had. It didn't smell like sweat and piss and armpits like it did in high school. It smelled somewhat like a clean office with new supplies. It smelled like freedom, adulthood, education. And as soon as she first stepped into Psychology, it smelled like Clarke.
Lexa walked through the maze of halls, saying quick hello's to old professors that once lectured her brain into migraines and made her once controlled body sleep deprived and coffee dependant. She opened the door to psychology and breathed in the smell of Clarke's perfume. The room was empty, the seats all pushed in except for one. The sun shone down right onto it and Lexa laughed at herself for thinking of how damn beautiful and perfect it was.
She walked to the desk and bent down to push the chair in, then picked up the note with a brain sticker on it.
I was sitting right in this desk and you
Were sitting in the front with your
Cute little glasses on the bridge of
Your nose and your hair was in a
Messy bun and you were the most
Beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
I didn't get much studying done that
Semester. Now, the place we first met
-Clarke3
Lexa put the note in her pocket with the others and sat down on the desk a moment. She thought of what Clarke might be doing. Was she just making up for their two year anniversary she missed because of the big opening party at the art gallery? Or was she simply trying to make their day off spontaneous and adventurous since all they normally did was cuddle on the couch and watch reruns of Impractical Jokers? She didn't know. But she knew she had to go to the park in order to find out. Before she hopped off of the dark, smooth wood of the desk, something caught her eye. There was a small drawing on the corner of the desk done in sharpie. Lexa gasped and grinned at the small image of herself with her glasses on the bridge of her nose and her hair falling out of the bun in small strands. The sweater falling down on one side of her shoulder exposing a bra strap and very detailed set of collar bones. Lexa touched the dry ink with her finger and felt her heart flutter. She knew one thing about tonight; she was going to kiss Clarke. Everywhere.
The pond still had ducks swimming in it although it was fall and nearly almost winter. The park was right near Polis so it wasn't that far of a walk Lexa walked with a spring in her step hoping she was getting closer to Clarke. She felt so far she was doing pretty good. She had always been good at these types of things. It's her determination and eagerness to see what comes of it all. People sat in the grass on blankets, reading books, talking, holding hot cups of pumpkin spice coffee in their gloved hands, and some kids played near the sandlot. This is how it looked most every day. Except for the day they had officially met.
Lexa sat on the small bench under the large tree that swooped over to hide her from the clouds. She plucked the note from the right armrest and revealed a carving into the black metal: "CG + LW 4eva". Lexa laughed at the cheesiness of the sentimental gesture and focused on the note. As she read, she unconsciously rolled the edges of the note between her index finger and her thumb.
I was having an extremely bad day
And was letting off steam in the only
Relaxing place I could find
Then you came and sat next to me
You were in a wool sweater and a
Large puff jacket but you were still
Shivering. When I offered you my
Coat of course you said no.
I draped it around you anyway.
Then we started talking about the
Weather as if it wasn't so cliche
Then we dipped into our dreams,
Our fantasies, our goals, our lives
I was just absolutely mesmerized by
You. That's when I knew I just had to
Know you. Caspian the great spitter.
-Clarke3
Lexa chuckled to herself. She definitely knew where she was headed to next. It was the coffee shop her and Clarke went to almost every day after they became close friends. The place always smelled somewhat like Christmas. It had a mixed scent of cinnamon, apple pie and coffee and lipstick. It also smelled like cold. Like snow even if the sun was out and the air made everyone's skin cry and hair stick to the sides of their faces. It was a homey place. A lovely place.
Lexa unlocked her phone as soon as she rounded the corner and continued to walk towards Arkadia Bevz. She was surprised to see no texts or notifications at all. It was almost 5 o'clock and usually Octavia would have texted her by now asking some stupid question about a movie they watched previously or what she should do about her snobby coworker in the self defense class she teaches. Or she would have gotten a call from Raven asking her what club they're going to on Friday night and if she has any date's for her. The least she expected was a message from Anya complaining about the inmates at the prison she guards. But there was nothing. Zero. Notta. All that flashed back to her was the screensaver of her and Clarke smiling big at the zoo from last summer. Clarke's arm around Lexa's waist holding her close ear the giraffe exhibit. Lexa was about to open her texts and text Anya or Octavia and Raven or maybe even Clarke until she heard someone shout her name. She looked up and saw the man in the black apron who whole heartedly hates her and Clarke's guts. He was standing outside the doors to Arkadia Bevs , right next to the chalkboard that said, "Specials Today Are: Raspberry Mocha, Pumpkin Spice Anything, Lexa Scone From Home"
Lexa stared at it wide eyed. She didn't know how she got the dude to do this, but she did, and although he did, he looked pissed.
"Are ya gonna come in and get your damn drink and scone or not?" He spat at her before she could reply. She followed him into the coffee shop and disappeared behind the counter for a moment. She noted he didn't look any cleaner than usual. His hair was still mussed up like he crawled out of bed only seconds ago and his apron had burn holes all over it. He was a jerk on the outside, but on the inside Lexa knew he was a big softy. He reappeared fast and shoved the white chocolate cinnamon scone and the Pumpkin Spice Anything to her. She picked up the scone and searched it over. Clarke had made it, and it was her favorite kind. She sighed in relief and sat it back down next to her coffee. There was Clarke's handwriting right on the coffee cup. Lexa started digging through her pocket for some cash but the man stopped her.
"It's on the house. And no, your little girlfriend didn't pay for it either. I wouldn't let her." His cheeks flushed as he looked down and scuffed his foot against the smooth floor. Lexa couldn't help but giggle at his demeanor. He looked so unlike himself. She grabbed her scone and coffee and placed a hand on his arm.
"Thank you, Caspian. You're such a nice guy." She then left and before she could get all the way out the door, she heard the man huff out in annoyance, "For fucks sake, my name is Murphy!"
Lexa bit into the scone as she read the next note. Her tongue was rewarded with deliciousness and she groaned in delight.
Caspian has a kickass name but what an
Asshole he is huh, babe? We could never
Get a scone without a snarky remark and
A nice big glob of spit on top. But it was
Nice because at least he could make our
Coffee right. Hope your beautiful legs aren't
Getting too tired because there's a ton of
Places to go. But there's no place like home
-Clarke3
The old movie theaters greeted Lexa with the smell of stale popcorn and spilled lemon lime soda. But this place made Lexa sigh in heavy contentment. She could still see her and Clarke outside the front doors nervously fumbling for words as if it was their first time hanging out. Lexa walked up to the doors where the sticky note stuck to the glass. Lexa stood in the exact same spot she stood over 2 years ago. This was where Clarke and Lexa were going to ask the same question.
Remember when we went to see the Wizard of Oz
That night and you told me it was your favorite
Movie and you used to dress up as dorothy
For Halloween when you were a kid? I remember
How happy you looked. How your sweetness just
Emitted from you and it made my heart pound
And my chest ache. That night, I was going to
Ask you to be my girl but you beat me to it
And nothing has ever felt so right in my life
The key to my heart is in your palm
In your heart.
-Clarke3
Lexa had a feeling she was getting really close to wherever Clarke was. She had to be. The sun would be setting soon. The road leading up to the art gallery Clarke worked at was almost completely empty. Lexa loved it and hated it at the same time. Nowhere was safe. She always believed that. Then she met Clarke and everywhere was safe as long as she had the beautiful blonde by her side. It was peaceful on the other hand. There was faint sounds of cars and people singing on their porch steps in the neighborhoods close by. Her body was buzzing as she walked up to building. She hadn't seen Clarke all day which would have usually made her extremely upset considering they both work quite a bit, but she knew Clarke was up to something amazing.
There on the silver door handles of the glass doors to the gallery hung a necklace with a key on it. And above it was a yellow sticky note stuck to the glass. Lexa put the necklace around her neck and and clasped the ends together so now the key rested against her chest just below her collarbones. Lexa pulled the sticky off of the glass and tried not to wipe away the smudge from the stickiness from the yellow post it.
When I asked you to move in with me, Octavia was mad
At the both of us for 3 weeks because I didn't tell her my
Plans, yet I told Raven. She still loved you, though and
Decided to give me the cold shoulder until I let her win
At jenga on Saturday game night. Things were so light
Back then. You were so surprised and I remember
Thinking you might say no, how the fear swelled up
Inside of me and threatened to pop me like a balloon.
But then you had that look in your eyes and I just knew.
When you didn't say anything, grabbed my cheeks,
And kissed me, I knew that you were my forever.
Your favorite place on earth is where you'll find me
-Clarke3
Lexa didn't think before she jogged her way to the apartment she shared with Clarke. She ran all the way to her car and pulled out her keys with shaky hands. She jumped into the car and immediately pulled out of the lot and made her way to the outskirts of town. Her car coughed and lurched forward as she accelerated the gas. She pulled into a dirt road and started to drive up the mountain. Her heart was racing and although the weather was anything but hot, she was sweating and she tried her hardest to keep the car in its lane. After about 15 minutes of driving uphill, she spotted her favorite place on earth and pulled in and parked. She stepped out of the car and glanced around. The inhaled the intense smell of pine and sighed. You could see the whole town from up there. The sun was setting on below the horizon and there were candles lining the trail to the open spot. Lexa lot of how that was a bad fire hazard, but decided to ignore it then and let them lead her way to her girl.
She stepped into the flat open space and there Clark was. Lexa's jaw dropped at the sight of her. Clarke had on Lexa's favorite blue dress that clung to her in all the right ways, sculpting her curves. She had a hand behind her back and a note in the one visible. Lexa can see the look on her lover's face, and realization courses through her. Shock hits her like a wrecking ball smashing into a brick building. Still, her legs continue to move on their own accord, and she stops directly in front of Clarke. She doesn't think she can muster up the right words or get out all of her feelings. But then she thinks she doesn't have to when Clarke looked down at the note and began to read in her husky voice.
"When you showed me this place and told me about your parents, I knew you gave me your full trust and I could never get over how strong you were for that. In such an awful situation you were still able to see the beauty in things." Clarke let out a shaky sigh. "And I admired you so much, I wanted to take you in my arms and sit here in this little spot in this town forever. But as the time passed, I realized that I can spend forever with you anywhere. You are my light, Lexa. You make my stomach flutter, my laughter louden, my soul free, and my heart ache. As I stand here with you right now in your favorite place in the world, I realized my favorite place in the world is anywhere with you. And I want to spend whatever eternity I have beside you, loving you, supporting you, picking you up when you're down, and kissing and holding you, so," Clarke got down on one knee and grabbed lexa's left hand. Lexa gasps and cups her free hand over her mouth. Tears slid down her pink cheeks and ran down her thin fingers. Her long brown hair started to fly in the small gust of wind, and she started to shiver. This time it was because of something entirely else than the chill. She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. "I don't think you'll beat me to it this time, little bird. Lexa Indra Woods, will you marry me?"