(5:34 PM): Are you free right now?

(5:36 PM): Yes. I just walked out of work.

Lexa's phone had not returned to her pocket when it began ringing. She could not stop the slight upturn of her lip upon seeing Clarke's name flash on her screen. She took a deep breath before sliding the screen.

"Hello, Clarke" She answers.
"I like that you know it's me." Clarke says with a teasing voice.
"Well, you did grab my phone at the reception to plug in your number. Then called your phone to have my number." Lexa states.
"You could have deleted it"
"I would not."
"I'm glad" Clarke admits sobering up from her previous joking. Before Lexa could respond (not that she had a response), Clarke rushes into asking, "Are you free tonight for drinks?" She pauses for a moment but then continues before Lexa could interject "I know we just got back… Well I did… but drinks are good… and I just... I want take you to drinks... to apologize of course… and see you." Clarke's voice lowered as she continued her rambling.
Lexa waits a moment, uncertain if Clarke has more to say. "Are you finished?" She asks.
"Uh... Yes, I believe so."
"I would love to go to drinks," Lexa responds. "With you," she adds.
"Sweet!" Clarke exclaims. "Do you know the Ark? It's downtown... Right next to the coffee place, Grounders and the weird statue that sorta looks like a UFO." Clarke responds the smile obvious in her voice
"I know the place. My friend works at Grounders."
"How about we meet there about... well, you just left work so I guess you wish to go home so… 8:30? Unless that doesn't work for you?" Clarke inquires.
"That sounds great." Lexa says well aware of her quickened heart rate from the anticipation of seeing the fascinating girl again. "I have just reached my apartment. I will see you then." Lexa asserts.
"Can't wait," Clarke responds her tone back to the flirtatious teasing it held at the beginning of the conversation.

Lexa hangs up and pauses for a moment. She stood at the bottom step of her two story ascent to her apartment. Adrenaline coursed her veins from just talking to Clarke on the phone. She needed a shower before seeing the girl. Counting down from 10, Lexa slowed her pulse and began the climb to her place.

Over two hours later, Lexa applies her final touches to perfect winged eyes and pulls back to assure they are even. She did a few tight French braids on the side of her head to keep down her flyaways. She kept it simple with a tight black tank that dipped a bit lower than her normal and dark jeans. She even added a silver necklace with a few chains. She can do this. It's no big deal. Just drinks with Clarke.

Turning away from the mirror, her eye catches on the black surrounding much of her forearm. She stares for a moment thrown back to years ago. Rather than the guilt which often swallows her, she's reminded of the same feeling in the pit of her stomach preparing for her first date. The perfect date: sitting and talking for hours about nothing and everything. Getting in trouble for sneaking in hours past curfew but how worth it the punishment was. Especially those final moments lost in another universe intertwined with Costia. She brings two fingers to her mouth kissing them and touches the band softly.

Lexa laces her combat boots and throws on her leather jacket. She wasn't lying to Clarke when she told her she knew the area. The Ark was not even a block from her place. And her friend did work at Grounders... she just also happened to own the place. Walking down the steps into the brisk air, a shiver drops down her spine as she begins her short walk.

Clarke arrives at Ark a bit early, thirty three minutes to be precise. She may live close but what if she tripped and ripped her pants so she had to run back home. It had happened before. She decided to set up camp at the bar to wait. She chose the Ark because it was where she was most comfortable but was now beginning to rethink the option. Too many knowing eyes on her during the date. No. Not date. Just drinks with the most stunning woman.

Monty immediately came up for her order, even though the place had already begun filling.
"Only a water, please," (she did not wish to start without Lexa-no matter how fluttery her stomach).
"Detoxing tonight?" Monty asked filling a cup from the drink hose.
"Waiting for someone," Clarke said with a small smile.
Monty's eyes widened slightly but he quickly focused on the drink in an attempt to hide it. "A someone, someone?"
"I... I don't know," Clarke admitted.
"I hope it goes well. You deserve it." Monty told her though Clarke barely caught the last part it was said with such speed. He handed her the glass with an encouraging smile.
"Thanks. Could you actually bring a cosmopolitan and my normal whisky over when my someone arrives? Please!" She asks biting her lip.
"Damn, Clarke. This definitely sounds like a someone, someone. Good luck," Monty turns from her to tend to the rest of his customers.

Clarke sits staring at her water just focusing on her breaths in and out. She tries to keep all other thoughts at bay and just watch the breaths. She suddenly feels a poke to her side and jumps. Out of the corner of her eye, she catches manicured brown hair and all black. She's completely encased in it within the next moment. "Hey, Bell."
"Clarke."
"I didn't know you were back in the city already." Bellamy releases Clarke from the hug but keeps his arm around her.
"Octavia and Lincoln left for their honeymoon yesterday so I figured I would come back. Some extra time with the boys before I have to head back." Bellamy runs a hand through the hair as if to push its previous length out of his eyes. He was still unfamiliar with the shortness.
"How long again?" Clarke revels in being able to touch him after just FaceTiming for over six months with practically her brother. The boy who picked her up when she fell off her bike. The boy who drove her and Octavia to the mall with almost no complaints. The boy who stood next to her father with his arms crossed glaring intimidatingly after her and Finn the first time he took her out.
"A few weeks," Bellamy answers starling Clarke out of her memories.
"Too short," Clarkes tells him with a frown.
"You know why," Bellamy's eyes begin to take on the sad look which seemed to be permanently engrained since those months ago. The look which began to lift after he joined the service. He takes a step back from Clarke who had returned to staring at the glass and breathing. "Look, I told Jasper I would kick his ass at Call of Duty so I need to head out. Your mom invited me for dinner on Sunday. I'm guessing you'll be there?"
Clarke pulls her eyes from the water to look at Bellamy again. "Never miss it," she says attempting to keep the sadness out of her voice. Tonight's a good night so she does not need to think of the person who always misses Sunday dinner now. She smiles at him. "I miss you, Bells."
"I miss you, too," he leans back in to give her another hug. They sit like that for just a moment taking comfort in the presence of another who understands the pain.

Lexa stands awkwardly next to the entrance. Initially, she had been uncomfortable with how the guy had his arm slung around Clarke. Then she realized who he was and began to feel like she was intruding just watching the conversation. She knew vaguely of the stories about how Bellamy suddenly dropped everything and ran off. It seemed like everything happened last year. Octavia and Lincoln got engaged. Bellamy left to join the army. And she had also heard something about their father figure dying in a horrible way.

Bellamy walks out the doors with a faraway look not even noticing Lexa. Clarke looks nothing like the vibrant girl she previously met. Her shoulders slump around her drink and she looks like she has carried the world on her back.