'That episode was a disaster.' Murphy muttered.
Clarke had her legs sprawled across Murphy as they watched the last episode from the sofa. Clarke was glad to have him back, although there were very few people that she would ever admit this to. They'd agreed to share the apartment pretty much on a whim. Murphy needed somewhere to go and Clarke didn't want to share the place by herself after Octavia moved back in with Bellamy. Like every new event in Polis, it did cause some tension and most notably with Wells.
Wells had been one of Clarke's closest friends for years, although they had slightly drifted apart after the death of her father a few years ago. He also hated Murphy and Murphy felt exactly the same. Murphy had been lucky not to go to prison after being caught trashing Jaha's office after Jaha fired Murphy's father. Wells had not appreciated the act of vandalism against his father's office and while Jaha showed leniency, Wells treated Murphy as little more than a criminal. Murphy didn't seem to mind but he took every opportunity to annoy Wells that he possibly could. Clarke had made Murphy promise to tone it down while they lived together and he had at least stuck to that.
'Welcome back.' Clarke muttered dryly.
'Wouldn't be home without an argument over nothing.' Murphy commented as the credits finished and the adverts came on; the episode had ended with the dinner Bellamy had held. 'At least you miss out on filming this week.'
'Thank God for the art show at Mount Weather.' Clarke agreed.
'At least Costia struck out with Lexa.' Murphy drawled, with a knowing smirk.
Clarke gave his leg a playful kick with her own. She hadn't told Murphy anything but somehow he always seemed to be a step ahead and know exactly what was going on with everyone.
'Maybe she was just nervous.' Clarke replied. 'It was her first date on TV.'
'She looked like she wanted to run right out of Polis.' Murphy pointed out.
Clarke fought a smile but Murphy raised his eyebrows and Clarke knew that battle had been lost.
'We've barely even spoken.' Clarke protested.
'Then go talk to her.' Murphy suggested teasingly.
'Yeah, because it's that easy.' Clarke replied sarcastically, and she picked up her phone from beside her and turned on Twitter.
'It's better than pining longingly across the table.' Murphy scoffed. 'It was truly disgusting.'
Clarke glared at him.
'I do not pine.' She retorted in a deadly voice.
'Oh, but you are.' Murphy threw back and Clarke rolled her eyes before switching her attention to her phone but her face dropped. 'More comments?'
Murphy's voice was restrained as though it was costing him a great deal not to start yelling and Clarke nodded, switching her phone off and putting it on the table in front of them.
'Ignore them.' He advised.
'I do.' Clarke replied in a small voice.
'For fuck's sake!' Murphy suddenly spat and Clarke jumped and retracted her legs, in surprise at the outburst. 'Sorry! It's just you think they'd get a life. It's pathetic.'
Clarke smiled appreciatively at him. She'd had to deal with comments online since the first season. Everyone said she was too fat and not pretty enough. They hated her teeth and her hair, how she was too stubborn and too opinionated and she was criticised her for always looking out for her friends. She was called selfish while being accused of playing the saint and her looks were always trashed compared to Costia and even compared to her best friends; Raven and Octavia. The last couple of seasons hadn't been so bad although there had been a bit more criticism last week. There had been the odd tweet about how she shouldn't be on the show now Lexa was on as Lexa was much prettier but it was nothing that deserved much attention. Now that Lexa had seemingly turned down Costia the comments had seemed to come thick and fast, especially after she and Lexa had attracted so much attention during episode one. Clarke had barely glanced at the comments but she was hardly surprised that they had seemed to all be saying that it would be completely unbelievable if Lexa chose Costia and that the producers must have fixed it.
'Don't worry,' Clarke sighed, 'I'm really used to it.'
Octavia, Anya, Lexa and Lincoln crawled to a halt as Raven walked up along the path holding out a plastic tray of coffees for each of them. They gladly took a plastic cup each and Lexa quickly took sip and even though they'd been running for a few kilometers, Lexa felt like caffeine was working much better to wake her up- although it was beautiful running next to the river.
'You should join us.' Anya challenged Raven but Raven just shrugged and looked down at the brace on her leg.
'Thanks, but somehow I don't think so.'
Octavia rolled her eyes.
'She never would have come before anyway.' Octavia scoffed. 'It took all of her energy to drag her ass to mine and Clarke's place to watch our Netflix.'
'You loved my company.' Raven retorted easily.
'Funny, because I'm not missing it now I'm back at Bellamy's.' Octavia smirked and Raven glared at her.
'How is it at Bellamy's?' Lexa asked.
'Echo's not too bad when she stays over.' Octavia shrugged.
'We never get to spend any time alone though.' Lincoln pointed out.
'We have your place.' Octavia dismissed with a small roll of her eyes.
'And then Bellamy grills us whenever I drop you back home.' Lincoln muttered and Raven pulled a face of disgust.
'He needs to chill out.'
'Yeah, because you are so chill.' Anya mocked.
'Where's Clarke, anyway?' Lincoln asked Raven before she could respond to Anya.
'Art thing out of the city. She's flying back Sunday.' Raven said, eyeing Lexa for a second before glancing back to Lincoln.
Lexa took another sip of coffee, pleased to hear Clarke was getting more attention for her work.
'So are you going on another date with Costia?' Raven asked and Lexa furrowed her brow and shook her head.
'No chemistry?' Octavia asked, shivering slightly where she stood.
'I'm just not attracted to her.' Lexa admitted.
'That'll be a blow to the ego.' Raven mumbled.
'Come on, Raven...' Lincoln pleaded.
'For once, I think Raven has a point.' Anya told Lincoln. 'She didn't seem that nice at the dinner.'
'Her and Ontari...' Raven said, and her disgust seemed to be so strong that she was lost for words.
'We'll be seeing them again tomorrow night.' Lincoln reminded them. 'Jasper is DJing.'
'I liked it better when he spent all of his time in his room watching porn.' Raven replied dreamily.
Lexa felt much more at ease filming in the club. The darker environment made it easier to ignore the cameras. They hadn't been a problem so far but she had still been slightly on edge. She wore a short black dress and had spent much of the night with Anya and Lincoln. Octavia and Raven had already won her trust but she was still wary of being grilled about Clarke. They had both picked up on any tension or attraction extremely quickly but Lincoln had reassured her that neither of them would say anything; they looked out for their best friend but they rarely ever interfered.
Lexa danced happily with Lincoln and Wells for a few songs before making her way over to an empty table and taking break. Within a minute, Costia was making her way over and sat next to her.
'Jasper is a better DJ than I remembered.' Costia said.
'You don't go to his gigs much?' Lexa asked and Costia shook her head but didn't elaborate and Lexa didn't need her to; Jasper was too close with Octavia and the others.
'Looks like you were having fun though.' Costia smiled, inching closer slightly and Lexa nodded. 'It's good that you're settling into the group.'
'Octavia and Raven have been really nice.' Lexa said, slightly pointedly.
'Yeah, they can be fun...' Costia replied, slightly forced. 'Do you want to go out again this week?'
Lexa hesitated for a moment. She moved back slightly in her chair and got an inch more space between them. Costia was smiling at her gently and Lexa couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for her.
'I'm not really looking for anything right now.'
'That's okay.' Costia smiled. 'I better see what Ontari has got up to.'
Costia reached over and gave Lexa's hand a small squeeze but she got up and disappeared back onto the crowded dance floor but Lexa nearly shouted out in surprise when Raven crashed into the now unoccupied seat less than a second later.
'What was that about?' Raven asked eagerly, indicating her head towards the dance floor.
'Why are we watching the episode together?' Lexa asked, as Anya plonked herself down on the sofa next to Lexa.
'Because I want you to hear me laugh when you reject Costia again.'
Lexa turned to Anya with a horrified expression.
'You are completely heartless, do you know that?'
'Please,' Anya scoffed, 'everyone asks people out and everyone gets turned down one time or another. It's no big deal.'
'It is to me.' Lexa retorted and Anya froze for a second, her gaze turning softer.
'You don't have to go out with every woman who asks you.' Anya said tenderly.
'I know that.' Lexa responded stiffly.
'Just because you're out now doesn't mean you have to throw yourself at every woman.' Anya soothed.
'I am aware.' Lexa said in a tone that indicated she wanted nothing more than for the conversation to move swiftly along.
Anya turned back to the TV.
'This episode will suck for you.' Anya sighed.
'Anya, can we talk about anything other than Costia?' Lexa asked, in a tone torn between desperation and total exasperation.
'Oh, not that.' Anya dismissed. 'I meant that Clarke's not in it.'
Lexa pulled the cushion from behind her back and threw it at Anya's face.
Author's Note: don't worry; Clexa will get a scene together in the next episode! Thank you for reading and reviews :)
