You rerouted the course of my self-determined path.
Over the past year, I have often found myself contemplating the moment which it happened.
And I think…
Perhaps…
That maybe it was that day we had our first date.
Do you remember, my love?
When you showed up with flowers and rather nervous.
Or maybe…
It was that night, when we shared our first kiss.
But it could have also been the day I truly fell in love with you.
Or the day I at least realized I was in love with you…
for my heart has always known it, it was my brain that needed to come to terms with it.
Yet when I truly trace back the moments we have shared,
I am more and more convinced that my life was forever altered
that day you and I locked eyes while we each stood on opposite ends of your staircase.
I, as usual, was reluctant and uncertain… afraid you could say.
And maybe you were able to interpret all of that.
But I remember what message was transmitted in your gaze.
Determination.
Disbelief.
Possibilities.
You saw the future of 'us' in that moment.
All before you even knew my name…
I didn't know it then… wouldn't have believed it then if anyone had tried to tell me otherwise,
but that was the last moment I would ever spend in my ordinary life.
You half-stumbled, half-slithered your way into my guarded heart in ways that no one else ever could.
What you saw that night… I will never truly know.
But one thing is certain.
You rerouted my path permanently.
You pulled me out of a sure-to-be boring, uneventful, cautious route
into one that was rocky, thorny, and uncertain…
Yet beautiful.
Because you were there.
/
One Year Ago...
Raven burst into the room with such pizzazz that it sent the door swinging into the wall, colliding with such intensity it poked a hole straight through it.
"Guess where you'll be on Saturday, April 15th at approximately 7 Post-Meridian Pacific Standard Time?" She asked loudly, grinning unashamedly at the frightened blonde.
"Raven! Do NOT give me any more reasons to take away your key! Please learn the fine art of knocking!" Clarke responded, not bothering to leave her chair, where she slumped atop the many books and laptop on her cluttered desk. "I'll be studying. For a Midterm. You should know that because you'll be doing the same."
"Negative, blondie! Gosh you suck at this…" Raven sighed, walking towards Clarke and throwing a gold envelope on top of her chemistry - wait, no, biology? Raven shrugged, something sciency - textbook.
"You, princess, will be attending the highly anticipated, outrageous, out of this world – wait for it - Annual Wood's Birthday Extravaganza!" She finished with both arms stretched towards Clarke, hands splayed and fingers wiggling.
"Come again?" Clarke narrowed her eyes; glaring at Raven in honest confusion.
"Gahh! Keep up! You know, for a self-proclaimed genius, you sure don't live up to the title." Raven teased, opening the envelope for Clarke and waving the invitation in front of her still confused face. "Lexa Woods! The richest, brattiest, most envied senior in all of UCLA…? It's her birthday!"
"And I care because…?" Clarke blinked a few times, still failing to process the reason for Raven's overly eager attitude.
"What! How long have you been cooped away in this gloom room of doom?" She replied, shaking her head in utter shame. "Sheesh, no wonder you're still single."
"Hey! Leave my love life out of this and just cut to the point, Reyes. I have studying to get done."
"LEXAAA WOOODSSSSS!" Raven continued, sounding an awful lot like Dory from Finding Nemo. "Rich bitty…you're in biology with her! It's her birthday and she invited us! Well, me… because I actually try to make friends. But you're my 'Plus One' soooo, you comin'."
"Ha! Yea keep dreaming, Ray." Clarke scoffed at the idea; the absurdity of it all baffling her. "Not gonna happen." She stated, rotating in her chair to face her computer.
"Aw that's too bad… And too late!" She smiled, turning to leave, tossing the invite on Clarke's desk. "I already RSVP'd for us both… So… Yea, good talk." And she bolted out of the room, crashing into Aden right as she turned the corner out of the bedroom. "OUCH! Watch where you're going, you little brat!"
"ME? You ran into me, you uncoordinated moron!" He replied, followed immediately by an "OW! You'll pay for that, Raven!" Aden growled as Raven swatted the back of his head.
"Don't make me give you another Dutch Oven, you little turd!" Raven threatened, causing Aden to gag in response; reimagining the scenario. "Yea, that's what I thought…"
"Both of you be quiet!...and both of you watch your language!" Clarke chided them, still curiously analyzing the envelope Raven left behind.
"Is this the thank you I get for trying to rescue you from your boring life!?" Raven responded, huffing from frustration. "Well… YOU are hereby dismissed as my charity case!"
Clarke shook her head, smiling at Raven's goofiness. She picked up the invite, noticing how each word was handwritten in black ink onto sturdy, sparkling, gold-tinted paper in perfect symmetry-
Miss Raven Reyes
Congratulations!
You are invited to attend the 23rd birthday celebration of
Alexandria (Lexa) Mae Woods
Date: Saturday, April Fifteenth
Time: Seven Post-Meridian Pacific Standard Time (oh, Raven was actually being serious!)
Location: Wood's Mansion, Beverly Hills, CA
Attire: Formal
Theme: Masquerade Ball- Mask Required
You are permitted a Plus One
Please RSVP no later than April First
Clarke sighed. She tossed the invitation aside and was about to dive back into her books when Aden burst into her room.
"Clarke!" He blurted, hair fussed and face flushed. A frown plastered on his young face. "Please go get Raven out of my room! She's not letting me do homework and keeps farting all over the place!" He tossed his arms up in the air to illustrate frustration, eyes pleading for mercy.
"You little liar! He was playing Call of Duty when I walked in, Clarke! Didn't see a single book open!" Raven chimed in from his room across the hall. "He's just mad because I took over the game and I am whooping his A-BUTT!…But A for effort, kid! You should really consider a career in acting!"
"Well, you should consider getting a career!" Aden shouted back, shaking his head in disapproval. "Freeloader!"
"Parasite!" Raven yelled back from his room.
"Enough. Aden, no games until your homework is finished. You know better." Clarke scolded, softening her expressions when she saw his disappointment. "…And AGAIN watch your language REYES!" The blonde yelled across the hall to her friend who has still in Aden's room, most likely still playing the kid's game.
Turning to the boy she smiled and asked, "What do you want for dinner?"
"Pizza!" She heard Raven yell from across the hall, in near-perfect synchrony with Aden, causing a groan to escape from Clarke.
"I swear, sometimes it feels like I'm taking care of two kids!" She whined, taking another glance at the invitation before exiting her room for the kitchen, a thought for another day.
/
"Aunt Indra!" Lexa called, as she stepped through the massive, double-glass door trimmed with dark wood. Her voice echoing off of the colossal marble walls in the grand foyer of the mansion; a glass dome and a glittering chandelier hung above, both impressing and intimidating visitors in equal measure.
"Kitchen!" A voice shouted in response, and she walked past the dual spiral staircase that led to the upstairs part of the house in its direction. There, she found a hunched Indra, apron on and focused, as she carefully placed the last layer of pasta on the lasagna.
"Indra, we have cooks. Why do you insist on slaving away in the kitchen when that's what they're paid to do?" Lexa questioned, opening a 1953 bottle of imported scotch and pouring herself a generous portion.
"Because…" Indra responded, a smile framing her still youthful face as she worked. "I just happen to know how much you love my lasagna." She looked up at Lexa, smile immediately collapsing as she watched her toss back the liquor. "Lexa... I thought we agreed that you would at least make an effort to control the urges."
Lexa nodded, ignoring Indra's devastated look and poured herself another portion.
"We did and I am." She responded, tossing it back and swallowing the burning fluid in one gulp. "Today, I'm having just two instead of three." She smirked, proud at her witty response.
"Any news from the tailor? I need my outfit ready at least a week before my party, Indra. What about the musician? Did we get Justin or not? …I swear performers are such a pain to deal with."
"Performers aren't the only ones…" Indra whispered to herself, chuckling as she did. "The tailor will have the outfit ready on the 5th, so there's still plenty of time. As for Justin, he's trying to rearrange his tour schedule in order to squeeze us in. I will be hearing from his manager within the week."
"Squeeze us in? Who the fuck does he think we are! You know what, cancel him. I want Katy Perry instead." Lexa waved a hand in dismissal, fingers twitching to grasp the bottle once more but preventing herself from doing so. "She's a better entertainer and much sexier to look at anyway."
"Relax, child. Everything will be perfect for your party." Indra soothed her, using a timid tone that always urged an innocent response from Lexa, her own special weapon to calm the spirited girl since she was a toddler. She paused her movements for a moment, analyzing Lexa where she stood leaning against the granite counter.
"Sometimes I see you and I have a difficult time processing how much you've grown… what a beautiful and strong young woman you've become."
Lexa's eyes met hers and Indra thought she saw a flash of emotions penetrate through the guarded, emerald eyes. "Your parents would have been proud, child."
The flash of emotions lingered for another second before it vanished; stare hardening to its original form once it passed.
"Proud? Of what, exactly? That their only daughter is a drunk, a womanizer, and spending their life's work on lavish parties and cars?" She scoffed, caving into the urge and pouring herself another drink, quickly bringing it up to her impatient lips. "Highly doubt it."
"Oh, and speaking of womanizing," Lexa continued, swiftly changing the subject, "I'm having a girl over tonight. Suzy, or Sandra, or- who the hell cares. In case you want to retreat to the basement so you don't complain that I keep you up late." And with a wink and her infamous mischievous smirk, Lexa walked away before Indra had a chance to say anything further.
/
"This will cost you Aden-soccer-duty for two months, Raven!" Clarke hissed, trying to focus on her walk, which was highly compromised by the 4-inch heels Raven suggested she wear (and by 'suggesting' meaning throwing it at Clarke with a 'Got those for you. You're welcome.'), while straining to breathe at the impossibly tight dress Raven insisted she purchase (and by 'insisting' meaning buying it for her and then threatening to send her distant, workaholic mother an email stating that Aden was being starved and urging the woman to come home if she refused to wear it)... so she sucked it up and slid into the limo after her dashing, cunning, manipulative best friend.
"Hey, I love the brat. He gets me! …You know we talk mad crap about you when you're not around right?" She joked, elbowing Clarke at her own smugness.
"You two talk mad crap about me to my face, so no, that doesn't surprise me." Clarke said while rolling her eyes at her friend.
"Listen, just try and have a good time tonight. It will be fun!... Won't kill you to let loose once in a while... Oh, and I brought along my purse in case we see knickknacks that we can snatch."
Clarke rolled her eyes again. "You're already filthy rich… you can retire that high school habit of yours, Ray."
"Yea, well, old habits die hard. Plus," She said, left hand gently tapping her left leg, which was sheathed in a metal brace, "makes me think of how we used to be in the old days, ya know. Raven and Clarke- a modern Bonnie and Clyde but prettier and with more UNF!" She winked and smiled, spirits high and hardly ever dismayed by anything.
The limo slowed to a crawl roughly a few minutes later as it approached a massive, 10-feet tall, wrought iron gate with gold decor splashed against the black metal. Clarke stared in awe, registering the large 'W' resting in an ovular frame on top of the gate as it parted to allow them entry. Raven bounced excitedly on the seat next to her, champagne glass in hand spilling its contents all over the carpeted limo floor.
"HOLY SHIT!" She exclaimed, eyes wide in excitement. "Man, and I thought I was swimming in dough! This lucky bitch probably needs to use Waze to get from her bedroom to the crapper in this place!"
From the distance, as the limo drove down the lengthy driveway, the glamorous Wood's mansion blossomed into view, sucking away Clarke's breath at the sight. It resembled less of a mansion and more of a palace, modern yet similar to something you'd expect out of The Great Gatsby. Every light, in every room, was on and the exterior of the mansion was ornamented with flashing white lights.
The chauffeur pulled to a stop in front of the granite staircase leading to the entrance of the house, and almost instantly the door of the limo was pulled open by servants in black and gold tuxedos, extending a hand first to Clarke, then to Raven, and helping them out of the vehicle. Another servant, standing a few feet away, carried a tray with champagne glasses, handing each of the women a glass.
The double doors were pulled open as they approached, doormen bowing to them in a welcome as they entered the impressive foyer. This moment, the moment Clarke's eyes scanned the interior of the house, the moment it gazed upon the impeccably dressed attendees that loitered around her, was the fist time her jaw dropped open in sheer admiration.
"Holy-" Clarke started…
"Dog turd." Raven finished, classy as usual. "And to think… all she had to do was be squeezed out of her mothers' vagina to get all of this… how is that fair?!"
"Both her parents had to die for her to get all of this, Ray… I hardly think it's fair." Clarke responded back quietly, feeling a pang of sorrow for the girl; a stranger she never met and never heard of, until recently. Raven looked at her questioningly, intrigued at how Clarke knew the details about the splendid, yet tragic life of Lexa Woods.
Clarke shrugged, giving Raven a smug but serious smile. "Google."
They moved to the main hall, where people flowed in and out of the vast ballroom, Clarke immediately noticing that majority of the attendees were the upper, snobby portion of her UCLA colleagues - people Clarke and Raven had nothing in common with nor associated with by any means. The men were dressed in the finest suits and tux designed in Beverly Hills, accented with a tie –either traditional or bow- and postures that not only screamed 'old money', it reeked of it. The women wore dresses that appeared to be uniquely crafted and designed with only that individual in mind, beautiful and prestigious. There was an array of colors in dresses- navy blue, red, black (like Clarke's), gold, silver (like Raven's), and so on. Yet the most intriguing feature of anyone's outfit was, without a doubt, the mask each person sported; effectively concealing the identity of it's owner.
"Man, I'd love to drop one of my homemade stink bombs in here." Raven said, chuckling at her own joke. "I'd happily go to jail for a night if it came to that."
"You know, we didn't have to come… You're the one who practically dragged us here."
"For the knickknacks, Griffin!" Raven responded, as if it was obvious to everyone but Clarke. "I want a souvenir before the night is over."
The ballroom was equally stunning. There were tables placed along the walls, candles and flower petals decorated the center, and near the entrance to the room a long table rested, decked with a variety of finger foods and deserts. On the opposite side was a small, but plentiful bar with a bartender serving beverages ranging from soft drinks to hard liquor. Music was blasting via surround speakers, and a small crowd danced to its tunes in the center of the room.
"Alright here's an idea…if we get separated, lost, or somehow dragged to the dance floor by persistent, drunk weirdos, we need a rendezvous spot." Raven plotted, not a second went by before she found a solution. "I vote the bar. Let's go scope it out."
They each had two drinks, and Raven was in the process of ordering a third when a loud screech cut through the music and a familiar voice erupted from the stage at the far end of the room, causing Clarke's eyes to widened at the sight. "Is that…?!"
"Good evening, Ladies and Gents!" Katy Perry announced, flashing the cheering crowd a dazzling smile. "Welcome, all, to Lexa's twenty- third birthday party! Who's excited to be here?" She asked, receiving louder cheers and applauses. "Lexa personally invited me here tonight and I could not be happier to be able to celebrate such a special day with such an incredible woman, so I propose a toast!" She chimed, lifting a glass of champagne to the crowd, where a group of people surrounded a figure Clarke assumed to be Lexa but couldn't see past the bodies. "To Lexa!..." the crowd chanted back, hands rising into the air with glasses and cups. "…In life, may you find your purpose. In love, may you find your heart. Good fortune on your journey, and always remember…an end is only a start. Happy birthday, Lex!" Katy finished, earning more cheers and applauses from the crowd. "We have an eventful evening planned for you all tonight, so enjoy, let loose, and of course, have fun!"
Pairs gathered at the center to dance and cheer as the performer began to sing, Clarke and Raven quickly jumping in and singing along.
"FUCK YES, KATY PERRY!" Raven shouted, singing out-of-pitch and slurring her words, the sound coming out of her mouth turning heads and earning her curious looks. "'You'ust gotta iniiiiiite da liiiiiight. And let it shaaaane. Just ooooo da niiiiight. Like the fork of Julaaaaahhh!'"
After a few more drinks, Raven decided she had enough of Katy and the suffocating crowd. "Griffin! Operation Knick a Knickknack is on! Vamos! Rapido!" She tugged Clarke out of the ballroom with the pretense of heading for the nearest restroom, but redirected towards the foyer which was currently vacant when she confirmed they were in the clear.
"Ray, this isn't one of your brightest ideas and I'm calling you out on it." Clarke tried to reason with her, but she knew it was a pointless effort.
"One teeny, weeny little souvenir! That's it, then we leave!" Raven was already climbing one of the double staircases towards the second level, leaving Clarke no choice but to follow in pursuit. Once there, she went for the nearest door, expectations high and showing, and walked into what seemed to be a guest bedroom. She closed the door, uninterested. "Too impersonal. Next."
"Raven! Just grab whatever and lets go before someone finds us!" Clarke begged, watching as Raven opened and closed another door farther ahead.
"Bathroom." She said in explanation, opening yet another door. "Aha! Here. We. Go." And she moved in. Clarke followed. The room was strange to say the least; a single, long shelf ran along its walls, decorated with different trinkets and items that made no sense in the slightest. Raven grabbed a silver, flower-shaped brooch, covered in small crystals. "Got it! Let's bounce! I wanna try and get a selfie with Katy before she leaves!"
"Raven maybe you shouldn't… that seems expensive, we can get in a lot of trouble if-"
"Relax, Princess. Look at all the crap on these shelves. She'll never even miss it, I promise!" So after surrendering to Raven's appeal, they left. Clarke took another glance at the strange room before shutting the lights and pulling the door closed; ignoring the uneasy feeling looming from the unwarranted discovery.
/
Indra waited until the coast was clear before firmly grabbing Lexa's arm and pulling her to the foyer, where they could have a private moment free from wandering eyes. "How many drinks have you had, Lexa, and God help you if you lie to me, girl." Indra hissed, tone angry and serious, but not appearing to frighten the grinning, swaying brunette in the least bit.
"Well, um let's see… I was never the best mathematician, but according to my calculations, roughly… seven…?" She spoke, words slurring and breath stinking of gin, presenting Indra with ten fingers instead of seven.
"You foolish girl! You were in there groping that girl…and lucky for you I caught you before you were able to slip your foul hands under her dress…Lexa, you cannot go around acting like this, do you hear me?!" Indra asked bewildered, shaking her head, a little terrified at Lexa's poor behavior. "This isn't a game, child! This is serious and you can get in real trouble!"
"She was practically begging for it… they always do, so relax Indra, no harm done. She's probably looking for me to finish what I started so…" She took a step back, indicating she was done with this conversation, and she saw Indra move to stop her, to keep her from leaving, but it wasn't Indra's attempt that rooted her in place; her feet suddenly feeling like it was cemented to the floor beneath and unable to budge.
Her eyes drifted to the top of the staircase, where she saw the most breathtaking figure descend to where she stood; golden hair flowing freely from her movements, long dress cascading off each step behind her in such a magical way, Lexa thought it was an illusion. Lexa's eyes hungrily scanned the length of the toned and curvaceous body, noticing the dangerous yet alluring opening that dipped down her chest, exposing the top and side of her full breasts. Even though her face was hidden behind a pearly white mask, her lively blue eyes pierced through it, causing Lexa to instantly forget how to breathe.
She suddenly felt broken yet unexplainably sober; knees unlocking and beginning to weaken, throat dry and raspy, and eyes beginning to sting - refusing to blink and cause the image to disappear, afraid it was another drunken apparition. But it wasn't. She knew the moment those solid, bright eyes finally found hers and connected. The moment blue and green met and held the other's stare, neither wanting to linger but finding it impossible to break contact. The girl, whoever she was, stopped dead in her track, returning Lexa's fiery gaze in equal fervor.
And at that moment, as Lexa would soon discover, was the turning point in her life; the moment she crossed paths with this goddess whom she had yet to meet. She didn't care about anything else that second…all she cared about was getting to know this stranger that was making her heart pump a bit faster and her palms to become moist…all she cared about was getting to know the girl behind the mask.