"Any book i'll ever read. You'll be the line that sticks out to me. You capture my attention: carefully listening, don't wanna miss a thing. Keeping my eyes on you." - Lights
"Sorry I'm late. Coach had us run 2 extra miles after practice."
It was 5:13, so Clarke wasn't too late. This was only a study date so Alexandra wasn't freaking out about it too much. Only she was her mother's child and some traits she couldn't get rid of, like being a stickler for time. If someone says 5pm it means 5pm sharp. The brunette doesn't say how she really feels though, simply lets the shorter girl pass the threshold into the foyer. Alexandra was glad Clarke decided to wear relatively loose fitting jeans and a t-shirt that didn't show cleavage or her shoulders. Elizabeth wouldn't be too keen on seeing too much skin.
"It's not a problem. I understand." She says, leading Clarke to the large dining room table on the other side of the house.
"Nice place you've got. And by nice I mean absolutely huge."
"Oh...Yes. Mother likes the space."
Clarke thought it was quite odd that Alexandra simply said 'mother' instead of 'my mother' or even 'my mom'. It was like she didn't want to claim her.
"That's cool I guess. Are your folks home?"
"Yes. Mother and Father will be in to greet you momentarily."
Clarke winced once again at the formality of the girl's tone but just nodded her head and began to pull her notebook, laptop, and textbook out of her messenger bag. Lexa already had her things on the table.
"Ahhh. You're a Mac girl." Clarke noticed. "For the record. PC is totally better."
"How do you figure?"
"PC's give you so much more creative freedom. With a Mac you're kind of stuck with what they give you."
"It's a good thing I don't need anything more than to write paper's and create power-points. I'm perfectly happy with my '$2,000 Facebook machine'" Lexa sniped back. Clarke smiled internally. Thinking that maybe Alexandra had more personality than she was letting on.
"Working on our presentation is going to be interesting."
"What do you mean?" Alexandra inquired.
"Apple and PC don't normally translate to each other well. Files could get misinterpreted. We should probably just pick one of our computers to work on."
"Valid point. Since you are the one with more 'creative freedom' maybe we should use yours. You're an artist right? Maybe you can make Chemistry not so boring for the rest of our classmates."
"How did you know I was an artist?"
"We've been going to the same schools since 1st grade, Clarke. I pay attention."
Suddenly a cold looking hand donning pointy acrylic nails was between Clarke and Lexa's face.
"Elizabeth Woods. And who might you be?"
Clarke, although taken aback, rose to her feet and shook the older woman's hand and introduced herself politely. "Clarke Griffin. Nice to meet you Mrs. Woods."
Lexa was standing now too and she was terrified that her mother would scare Clarke away. Like she had most of the other people she brought home.
"Yes, it is. So tell me how did you come to be paired with my daughter? Do you need her to pass the class?"
"Mother!" The brunette exclaimed. "Please do not be rude to our guests."
"No no. It's quite alright." Clarke replied. Mrs. Woods was a piece of work, and she half expected it based on what her mother has told her. Nonetheless she knew how to handle herself in any situation.
"Actually Mrs. Woods we were paired by our instructor. And no I don't need Alexandra to pass the class, I'm currently holding an A."
"Alright, fair enough. So tell me, what do you want to do after high school? What are your life plans?"
"After high school I want to go to college and declare pre-med. I haven't decided if my main focus is going to be physiology or kinesiology yet. I'll minor in art-history just to have a way to relax my brain. After that I'm definitely going to med school, follow in my mom's footsteps. By the time I'm 30 I'd like to be married and have a nice home to start a family. By the time I'm 50 I'll have my own medical practice and enough financial stability to be able to travel the world and provide medical attention for the less fortunate."
Lexa's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. She couldn't think of a more perfect response if she tried. Elizabeth was speechless as well. But it only lasted a split second before her she asked the question she really wanted to lead off with?
"Oh that sounds just wonderful. So what's your background? Are you...Jewish? Catholic?..."
"Neither." Clarke responded almost too quickly.
"So you're an atheist?"
"No no. Of course not. I grew up Christian."
Elizabeth seemed to relax at that answer. She'd prefer Catholic but Christian was a close second.
"Oh good. It's so nice to see young people active in the church. It's rare these days."
"It really is, Mrs. Woods."
"Ok. I'll leave you girls to it. Oh, Alexandra. Remember Marisol is coming so maybe you should study in your room?"
"Uh. Yes, Mother." Alexandra replied. Elizabeth walked in one direction and after picking up their things the two teens made their way up a flight of stairs and down a hallway into Lexa's room.
"Marisol?"
"Our maid. My mom is having some kind of event tomorrow afternoon and she's preparing for it."
Once the bedroom door was closed behind them the brunette let out a breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding for so long.
"I'm so sorry. I know my mother can be a lot she's just...over protective."
"No need to worry. I get it. And I may have exaggerated when I was describing my life plans. I only told her what I knew she wanted to hear."
Alexandra laughed. "Looks like you'll fit in well around here. Most people don't know how to hold their own against Elizabeth."
"Oh, Alexandra. You underestimate me."
"I guess I did." The brunette smiled before adding "You can...call me Lexa. If you want."
"Lexa? I like that. It fits you."
Lexa beamed internally. She'd always wanted to be called that. Alexandra was a beautiful name but the way her mother said it was so stiff and anyone else using her full name just reminded her of that. Anya sometimes went with Alex and Nate usually used Ali. Neither names Lexa liked one bit but for some reason was afraid to tell anyone how she wanted to be addressed until now.
"You play the piano?" The blonde gestured to the electric grand piano sitting in front of the window.
"Yes." Was Lexa's simple response.
"Looks like the soccer star does have an artistic side. I bet your boyfriend loves it when you play for him."
"Seems I'm not the only one that has been paying attention."
"We have been going to the same schools since 1st grade."
"Touché. Let's get some work done. It's already 5:30."
"Okay but will you play something for me when we're done?"
"Hmm. Maybe. If you prove yourself worthy."
"And how do I do that?"
"By making yourself useful on this project."
"Yes, your majesty" Clarke giggled and made herself comfortable on the foot of Lexa's bed, opening up her computer. The brunette maneuvered her desk chair to sit in front of Clarke with her computer open as well. Both teens were able to cover a lot of ground relatively quickly, so at 7:30 as promised Lexa sat down in front of her keyboard and opened the window. It was nearly summer so it was still warm and bright outside.
The brunette closed her eyes and let her fingers barely ghost over the plastic keys once before playing a single cord and flowing into a melody that Clarke could only describe as magic in her ears. Lexa never looked at her hands: her eyes remained sealed, scrunched in concentration, and her body swayed from left to right with the melody, the brunettes head was tilted back ever so slightly and her lips were parted. Clarke would be lying if she said she didn't feel something intense in her chest right now: she stared mesmerized at every move the taller girl made and it was over far too soon.
"Wow."
"...wow good? or wow bad?"
"Wow. Lexa...You are absolutely amazing. I've never seen anyone so passionate about anything: the way you lose yourself in the music is just beautiful. What piece was that?"
"Um thanks. It was actually one I wrote with a little bit of improv towards the end. I haven't finished it yet."
"So you're telling me that you wrote that and memorized it? Because there is no sheet music in front of you. And then you just made some stuff up on the end? And it was all perfect?"
"It wasn't perfect, Clarke. I had a lot of timing issues and I need to go through and change a few notes to make it sound smoother."
"That's nonsense. It was incredible. People must tell you that all the time."
"No actually. You're the first person I've ever played for."
"Seriously? First ever?"
"Well you're the first that counts. My music teacher has heard me. My parents have heard but my mother just says 'Oh Joseph, do you remember when she couldn't hold a tune if it was set in her palms?' so I suppose that's her way of telling me that I'm not terrible."
"You've never played for friends? or your boyfriend?"
"All of my friends play some sort of classical instrument. Our parents made us all take lessons and none of them like it. This is the one thing my mother forced me into doing that I appreciate. So my acquaintances don't care because they think is loathe the piano as much as they loathe their respective instruments. As for Nate...well he's never asked. Mother showed him a video of me at a recital when I was 13 and that was enough to satisfy him."
"Well if I had a beautiful girlfriend that could play anything as well as you I'd want to hear it all the time."
Clarke free-spirited athletic artistic beautiful Griffin is pansexual and everyone including Alexandra Woods was well aware of that fact: but Lexa on the other hand has never had a chance to sort out what she actually likes vs. what's been forced on her. Clarke free-spirited athletic artistic beautiful Griffin had just made Alexandra Woods blush. Complimenting her talent as a pianist was an ultimate sign of respect in the brunette's eyes...and the beautiful part wasn't so bad either. Lexa wanted to tell Clarke she was beautiful too and that she loved playing for her and she'd love to do it again. But she wasn't raised to throw caution to the wind. So she replied with as formal of an answer as possible.
"Thank you, Clarke. I appreciate your feedback."
"Sure." The blonde was a little confused at the change of tone. They had gone from having somewhat of a laid back conversation to dinner at a royal ball in 2 seconds flat. "Um, well it's gonna be dark soon. I better get home so my parents don't worry about me driving at night."
"Of course. I'll walk you out."
...
After school on Tuesday, Clarke and Octavia went to a discount record store to browse the collection. The girls knew when the new deliveries came in and always went in to get all the good stuff before it was swiped by anyone else.
"So how was it studying with captain hard-ass?"
"Actually, O she wasn't bad at all. In fact I had a really good time."
"You're joking, right?"
"No, I'm not. She's funny, crazy smart, a hard worker, and the way she looks at me is so intense. I found out she plays piano, and sweet baby Jesus she is absolutely amazing. I've never seen anyone so passionate about anything."
Octavia raised both of her eyebrows and forced herself to lift her jaw off the floor.
"You are totally into her aren't you?"
"No! It's not like that at all. I just didn't know Lexa was so...talented. At everything."
"Lexa?"
"Yeah, that's what she asked me to call her. I think it's cute."
"Oh my God. You're really smitten."
"I am not!"
"Really? Okay give me reasons you wouldn't date her."
"Uh..." Clarke was momentarily at a loss for words because based on Lexa's personality alone, there wasn't any reason at all. But there was one thing. "She has a boyfriend."
"Besides that, Clarke."
"...Ok fine. Maybe I like her a little but I have to keep my feelings to myself."
"I totally knew it!" Octavia cheered. "So when are you going to see her again?"
"Wednesday and Friday after practice, once next Monday, and we present on Tuesday. At the rate we're working we'll be done with the project by Friday."
"And after you do your presentation?"
"After I do my presentation...what?"
"Are you going to see her after that?"
...
"So how was princess popular?"
"Anya, don't call her that." Lexa replied as she shifted on her friend's couch.
"Why not? It describes her perfectly."
"Because she has a name."
"Fine. How was Clarke?"
"Thank you. She was good. We got a lot of work done. She's the most helpful partner I've ever had."
"Wow. So blondie isn't dumb after all."
"The exact opposite actually. Mother likes her."
"SHUT UP! I thought I was the only one able to break through momma E's stone cold heart."
"Apparently not. Clarke has quite a way with words. Had Elizabeth eating out of the palm of her hand. And technically you never had to break through anything. Our parents are friends, you're practically my sister."
"You know. I'd like to think of myself as more of a mentor. I am older than you."
"Only by 6 months. Don't be so dramatic."
"I also graduate next month and you're still a junior. That's not dramatic."
"Whatever, Anya."
"Anyway. Back to the original topic. What was blondie like?"
Lexa took a moment to try and collect the various parts of Clarke and wrap it all into a short paragraph that would make sense.
"Clarke is...well pretty much perfect. She's witty, easy to talk to, and she made doing homework fun. She's got a snarky personality, and can handle herself perfectly with Elizabeth. So that automatically catapults her to number 2 on my top 5 list of people."
"Alright, slow down Casanova. There's no need to bump her up so quickly."
"You're number 1, Anya. Relax"
"Oh good. I was a little worried. I figured Nate would be at the top of your list."
"He's 4...maybe."
"I still don't understand why you're with him. Obviously you guys aren't into each other. Why not put an end to it now?"
"Because we've been together for almost 4 years and it's easy."
"You really want easy? What about excitement? Passion? Lust? Love?...have you even said the L word to each other?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"I take that as a no. If you don't love each other after 4 years then what's the point?"
"I'm perfectly content with my love life."
"That may be. But you aren't supposed to be content. You're supposed to be heels over head, stupid in love."
"It'll come in time."
"No it won't. Nate is a nice guy but I don't think he's for you. And I think you know that too."
"Speaking of. Nate is meeting me at my house for movie night so I'm going to head out now."
Anya rolled her eyes at the way Alex-Lexa...the way Lexa blatantly ignored her. The brunette was in denial and she desperately hoped she would figure it out soon.
"Alright fine. We can talk about this later. Go be miserable."
"I'm only miserable with you." Lexa said as she collected her things. "Oh and don't make any plans for next weekend. Clarke invited me to a party and said I could bring a friend."
