"Dude, are you serious?" Clarke asks, her expression incredulous. She took off her denim shirt, opting to tie it around her waist and wiping the sweat from her forehead. It was no warmer than usual for an afternoon in DC, but the humidity was starting to pick up. With the weather growing increasingly sticky, Clarke's irritation only develops further. Granted, they were all broke and that was attributed to their lack of motivation to get a job and their parents' reluctance to reward their laziness.
Raven shrugs her shoulder, bubble gum snapping between her teeth. She wore a dark grey tank top with spots that darkened under her arms. She shifted her weight onto her braced leg, the metal parts letting out a dull creak. She tucks her hands into her pockets, as if by magic something else will appear, but pulling out the empty fabric, she snaps her gum again. "Look, I said I got some, not a lot."
"This is a dollar sixty-three, a dusty lifesaver, and gum wrapper," Octavia clarifies, recounting the change in her hand. "Oh, excuse me, a dollar seventy-three." She muses, an eyebrow quirked.
Clarke groans loudly. The three of them stand beneath a stop sign, traffic zooming by. Clarke drops her board, resting her foot on top. She points to Octavia's open palm, "What the hell are we supposed to get with this?"
Popping her gum, Raven narrows her eyes. "Uh, hey, doctor's daughter, where's your buy in?"
Clarke digs into her back pockets, pulling out a five dollar bill and giving it to Octavia. "Mom's been holding out on me," she says, rolling her eyes. "O? Anything?"
Octavia hands the money back to Raven, and reaches for her backpack. The dingy pink bag is decorated with various patches and Sharpie doodles, courtesy of Clarke. After a moment, she manages to scrap together three dollars and eighty-two cents. She sighs dejectedly, "I could probably get some more from the guys but they'll want to hang out, so..."
"Nah, it's girls night. Time to resort to plan B," Clarke sighs, a smirk on her lips. She knows she doesn't need to elaborate on exactly what she means.
Octavia just laughs, clapping her hands together in excitement. Raven jumps in the air, her brace landing with a loud clank. A wild grin appears when she says "Hell yeah! Time to play hustle the tourists! Riverside or the mall, where we thinkin'?"
An hour later and a quick skate to the National Mall, the girls set up. Clarke has her guitar over her shoulder, while Raven arranges a plastic paint tub between her feet, getting a rhythm going. Hundreds of out of towners cross in front of them, a few of glance at the latest side show. Clarke picks up on Raven's beat and begins singing an Fleetwood Mac song. Octavia sits behind them, penning a sign on a piece of cardboard. Once finished, she fishes a tambourine from of her backpack and plays sloppily to the beat. Raven just laughs as she reads the sign: Homeless youth, needs new leg brace to walk. "So, you think I can finally get a new leg brace, Octavia?"
"Oh, gosh, I hope so. Lord knows you need a new one," Octavia plays, both of them acting for the gathering crowd of tourists. "Hey, everyone," she shouts above Clarke's singing, "Help a homeless girl get a new brace, her Obama care hasn't kicked in yet," she says with an added pout.
A few senior citizens ooh and ah, shaking their heads for the poor girl with the broken leg brace and her two friends that are probably homeless. Clarke tries her best not to laugh, closing her eyes to focus on her singing. Those stupid tourists fell for it every time.
Two Fleetwood Mac and three Rolling Stones songs later, the girls decide to call it quits. Octavia snatches up the old snap back that held the donations, dumping it in her backpack before pushing the cap back on Clarke's head. "Never fails," she laughs as the three girls skate away.
Heading to their own neighborhood, Clarke shouts back to her friends, "How much do you think we have?"
"Definitely enough for booze and a pizza!" Octavia hollers, hanging on the the straps of her backpack as she follows Clarke's path.
Raven pumps her good leg on the asphalt, maintaining her speed with Octavia's. "Hey, yeah, you can thank the crippled girl for that."
Clarke lets out a forced laugh, "Ha! Yeah, right, it was my lovely voice that lured the tourists-"
"I mean my tambourine skills are pretty tight, so," Octavia laughs again. The three friends continue bickering over their respective roles in their little game for a bit longer before stopping into their favorite liquor store. And by favorite, it simply means they didn't ID. Or just didn't care. Then again, neither did the girls. After shelling out for a six pack and bottle of whiskey that fits snugly in Octavia's backpack, they leisurely start to Clarke's.
The blonde weaves easily on the sidewalk with her longboard, the wind laps at her cheeks as she jokes with her friends. In these moments, Clarke feels her happiest. She has her best friends at her back, a stash of booze, and a board beneath her feet. It was simple, but she loves it. There was nothing else Clarke could ask for, except...
She stops suddenly, sending Octavia and Raven slamming into her. "Whoa, what the hell, Clarke!" Raven exclaims, trying to find her balance.
"The booze, dude!" Octavia adds, tightening her straps with a furrowed brow. She smooths out her hair, little pieces of wind-whipped hair extending from the braids on the sides of her head. She glances around, quickly realizing what made Clarke stop.
Clarke stands silent in front of a red store front, the sign overhead reads Polis. "I put in a request last week, it will just be real quick!" She promises with pleading eyes as she backs toward the door.
The two girls groan simultaneously, Raven muttering curse words beneath her breath. Octavia puts her hands on her hips, "That's why you brought us this way?"
Throwing back her head with mock villain laughter, "Come on, guys, you should know better," She reaches for the door handle and says "Just wait outside then."
"No way, it's hot as hell out here," Raven comments dragging Octavia behind them, the brunette stomping her feet childishly.
The bookstore was cool inside, smelling with a certain duskiness of old books that only Clarke appreciated. She inhales deeply and smiles. The lighting was dimmer than any Barnes and Noble, the shelves overflowed with old and used books. The wooden floors creak beneath their feet, their boards dragging at their heels. Clarke's voice rang into the empty store, "Jaha, your favorite customer is here!"
There was no response, but a shuffling in the upstairs section. Clarke breathed a laugh, exchanging a knowing look with the girls. Jaha wasn't exactly known for his grace, he was always stumbling over stacks of books despite his constant effort for organization. Clarke turns to the stair case expecting to see his fumbling stature, but someone else appears in his place. A girl. The three friends exchanged a look of confusion. The girl forces a tight smile, tucking her long wavy hair behind an ear. "Uhm, sorry. Jaha isn't here right now, but I can probably help you. What are you looking for?" She inquires politely.
This girl is beautiful, no... gorgeous. Clarke is practically taken aback by her. She wears a red plaid flannel and a little straw hat that she somehow manages to make attractive. Her smile is small, but suiting. Black shorts show her tan legs that end in black high top Converse. Her hands fold in front of her and she starts to descend the stairs until she is face to face with the blonde. "Uh, I think I reserved a book?"
"Is that a question or a statement, Griffin?" Raven jabs her side, Octavia giggling. They recognize Clarke's tone. It was the holy-hell-this-girl-is-cute tone, which was a combination of stammering and a nervous laughter.
The girl smiles, nodding her head. "Okay, which one?"
"Yeah, Clarke, which one?" Octavia teases, sharing another knowing glance with Raven.
Clarke eyes her friends with daggers, which only escalates their laughter. She turns back to the patient girl, tucking some blonde hair behind her ears. "Yes, it was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Jules Verne. Jaha said he'd keep an eye out for me?"
The girl tilts her head to the side, like a wondering puppy, before clicking her tongue. "Right, okay," she decides, heading to the counter. "Uhm, he didn't say anything, but maybe he put it here," she mumbles. She disappears behind the counter, a shuffling sound accompanying her movements.
Taking this moment, Clarke shoots her friends a open-mouthed grin with wide eyes. She mouths, "She's hot!"
The darker brunette shifts her weight to her braced leg, "Get her number!" Octavia agrees, flashing a thumbs up.
Just then, the girl reappears. "No book. I can check upstairs," she starts, pointing to the sci-fi section housed in the upstairs corner.
Clarke knew that section like the back of her hand but, she shrugs casually, "Yeah, that'd be cool." The girl begins for the stairs, and Clarke follows her after a shove from her friends. She trails after the girl, not being able to stop herself from appreciating how nicely the black shorts hug the girl's curves. Once there, the girl scours the shelves, her finger trailing along several works before getting to the Verne section. Clarke watches her intently and the way her olive eyes quickly scan every title before frowning in disappointment.
"No book, but we have a lot Verne if you want to try something else in the mean time," she offers, with a half-smile.
Smiling back, because the girl has an amazing smile (even if it was only a slight one), Clarke shakes her head, shoving her hands in her jean pockets. "Nah, it's cool," she says, the girl glancing again toward the Verne section in defeat. "Uhm, where is Jaha?"
"Oh, he's visiting his son," the girl answers, looking to her customer again.
Clarke, places a hand to her forehead, "Oh, yeah! Wells is graduating from police academy, I forgot," she grins. The girl brushes her hair back again, shifting her balance. Clarke knew the girl was simply being polite, but she wanted to know more and was eager to keep up the conversation. "So, did he hire you to watch the shop then while he's out of town?" She quickly asks.
"Yes, to organize. I've been up here all day," the girl says softly, eyeing the back shelves. Her eyes move downstairs and a slightly pained expression crosses her brow before she adds, "Still a lot to do."
Clarke does the same, "Yeah, but looks better already," she turns back, and bites her lip. "By the way, I'm Clarke. I basically come here all the time."
Crossing her arms with a smirk painting her face, the girl nods to the Verne section, "So, did you really need my help?"
Caught, Clarke laughs nervously, the grip on her board tightening. "Ha, uhm, yeah. Nope. But, I guess I just wanted an excuse to talk to you."
A faint blush traces the girl's cheeks as she tries to look away. "You probably know this place fairly well then."
"Definitely, spent a lot spare time here trying to avoid real life, responsibilities, and all that," Clarke says, then wonders if she's making herself out to be some slacker skateboarder. She changes the subject, attempting to put on an extra thick layer of confidence, "So, are you going to tell me your name or should I refer to you as cute bookstore girl?" The girl's blush gives a rise to her cockiness, a trait that often gets teased by her friends.
"Ha, wow," the girl says, rubbing her arms. Her smile didn't fade when she says coolly, "It's Lexa."
"That's fitting."
"How so?" Lexa raises her brow, wondering.
Clarke inhales sharply, "Well, the Greek root lex refers to words, which are in books, and you work in a bookstore...surrounded by words..." Lexa flashes Clarke a faint expression of awe followed by a light laugh. Clarke presses her lips together in a firm line, feeling overwhelmingly awkward. She was spoiling it. "Right, okay, I'm gonna go before I embarrass myself even more." She heads downstairs, Lexa at her heels and faces her friends. "No dice, we can go," she says abruptly, pushing her friends for the door.
"Whoa, where's the fire?" Octavia sasses, struggling with the weight of her backpack and the blonde's sudden need to leave. Clarke glances behind her, and Lexa leans casually on the counter, observing them. She flashes an awkward smile, still attempting to get her friends out the damn door.
Raven lets out a loud laugh, "It's in her pants!" Her laughter is immediately joined by Octavia's which juxtaposes Clarke's reddening face. As they finally leave the shop, Clarke steals one last look. Lexa waves, her lips pulled in an amused smile.
"I hate both of you," Clarke utters as she skates to catch up to her friends, the thought of Lexa's smile whirling in her mind.
"Dude, please, she works in a bookstore. She probably loves that dorky shit," Octavia comments, shoving a handful of popcorn in her mouth. The three were around the kitchen island, Raven and Octavia perched on the barstools while Clarke preferred the countertop. They had long changed into their pajamas after stashing the booze in Clarke's closet. They were buying time before Clarke's mom would leave.
"She probably thinks I'm the most awkward person ever," Clarke corrected.
Raven threw an M&M into the air and caught it in her mouth, "That's because you are." Clarke responded with an M&M to the forehead. "Ow, relax. Look, just go there tomorrow and ask her out. Simple as that."
Clarke rolled her eyes, "Yeah, easier said than done. I can't ever show my face in there again," she sighed dramatically.
Raven and Octavia shared an annoyed look before they each threw popcorn at Clarke. They all laughed, but the food fight was cut short when Clarke's mom walked into the kitchen.
"Clarke? Really? How old are you?" Her mom hassles, her hand on her hip, popcorn crunching under her Nikes. She wore scrubs, which meant it would be just a few more minutes until they had the house to themselves.
"Don't worry, Mom, we'll clean up," she answers in a flat tone.
Abby shakes her head, retrieving her packed lunch from the fridge. "Girls, try to keep it down tonight. You know how Mr. Wallace gets after 9 PM."
Groaning, Clarke spins on the counter. "If that old man can't take it, then he shouldn't be living in a college town."
"Clarke," her mom scolds, her eyes stern and voice sharp. Then, with a mouthful of M&Ms, Raven waves down Abby. "Yes, Raven?" Her tone softens.
"Can you look at my knee? I think I tweaked it skating today?" Raven asks, putting on her puppy dog eyes while getting her hundredth eye roll from Clarke.
"Mom, she's fine," Clarke punctuates. "Aren't you running late for work?"
Abby dismisses Clarke with a wave of her hand. She gestures for Raven to stick out her bare leg, the girl did so weakly, dramatically Clarke notes, and rests her foot on Abby's thigh. Abby peers down at the knee, focusing completely on the scarred skin of the younger girl. Raven makes kissing faces to Clarke, who crosses her arms in total annoyance while Octavia suppresses her giggles. Abby runs her hand over the knee, "A little swollen. You shouldn't be skating," she lectures, letting down the girl's leg gently. "You know the drill, rest-"
"Rest, ice, compression, and elevation," Octavia and Clarke say together almost robotically. They burst into giggles, but Abby shoots them an annoyed glare.
Raven props her leg on an empty barstool next to her, rubbing her faux injury. She shrugs her shoulders, maintaining strong eye contact with the doctor. "Abby, it's our life. I can't have a bum leg making me fall behind these two nerds," Raven spoke honestly, albeit dramatically.
The doctor pats Raven's thigh, "Just be careful." Raven nods, before coyly grinning to Clarke once Abby's back turns. "Clarke, I'm working the ED tonight, so only call if it's an actual emergency-"
"If it was an actual emergency, I'd just call 911. They'd actually pick up," Clarke retorts.
Her mother shoots her a sharp look. She opens her mouth to speak, but decides the argument wasn't worth it. "Night, girls," she says hastily before exiting the house.
"Little harsh, Clarke," Octavia states, stuffing her face with more popcorn.
Clarke jumps down from the counter, "It's true," she turns to Raven, "'Oh, Abby, my leg hurts, please fix it'," She whines in a nasally voice, "Bull shit, your leg is fine and for the millionth time: STOP. HITTING. ON. MY. MOM."
The Clarke's friends burst into a fit of giggles. Raven tries to talk through them, "Hey, who's hands were on who?," she snorts, "She almost got to second base at the rate we were going-"
"Oh, my god. Gross, stop." Clarke leaves the kitchen, trying for her bedroom, the two cackling hyenas behind her.
"Guess who's the new Mrs. Griffin?" Octavia adds.
"Never gonna happen!" Clarke shouts, disgusted as she shuts her bedroom door behind her.
Raven pushes the door open anyway, helping herself to Clarke's vanity. She finds a light colored scarf and tucks it neatly into her bun. "I'm thinking a double wedding, me and your hot mom, obvs, and you and cute bookstore girl." Octavia tosses a fake stuffed rose from Clarke's vanity to Raven, humming the bridal song. Clarke tries to ignore them,but laughs as she rummages through her laundry pile for the alcohol. "Stepmother is too evil, so Mommy Dearest will do. But, don't worry, Clarke. I'll be a cool mom," she continues, giddy with her own humor.
The blonde lets out a sarcastic laugh, "You're soooo funny." She slides the six pack towards Octavia's feet, holding the whiskey in her hand. She sees Raven mimicking a walk down the aisle, Octavia using M&Ms and popcorn as celebration rice. "Really? Really, guys?" This time they all burst into a fit of giggles, before Octavia passes them each a beer. It was lukewarm, but Clarke doesn't care.
She wants to forget about her mom. Forget about how her mom basically lives in the hospital and only uses their home for sleeping. Forget how broke she is but how she's determined spend her summer vacation on vacation. She wants to leave behind the memories of a shitty semester, a semester filled with disappointment from her mother, endless arguments with her ex-boyfriend, and a really close run in with the cops. Clarke wasn't a bad person, but she wasn't the person her mother and Finn wanted her to be. She felt pressured. And that pissed her off. So, she wanted to forget it all.
What she didn't want to forget was the amused expression of the cute girl behind the counter at the bookstore. Raven was right. Stopping in the next day for a friendly hello would be just that... friendly. She grins widely and foam drips from her lip. She wipes at it with the back of her hand. "Can we just get really drunk?"
Raven matches her smile, playfully punching Clarke in the arm. "'Course, dear."
Octavia clinks their bottles together, adding a very giggly "Always."