~~~Barista's Choice~~~
A/N: Okay Clexakru. Here it is. I just want to warn you guys that while there is a lot of Clexa interaction in this chapter, I am calling this story slow burn for a reason. Lexa is still being stubborn, so I thought that I would introduce somebody to shake things up a bit. As always, I hope that you guys enjoy. I would love to know what you thought of this chapter! Read ON!
-Chapter 3-
Clarke only wants two things to happen at this very moment. Maybe she slightly wishes for a zombie apocalypse to come and destroy the world.
Since that scenario isn't likely to happen, Clarke would be perfectly content for the floor underneath her bed to open up and swallow her whole.
Clarke would give anything to take away the mortification of telling the brunette next to her about the creepily accurate portrait that she drew earlier today.
Since the world isn't on Clarke's side, she has to come up with a good reason for having a sketch of Lexa in her book. At least this sketchbook only has one picture of the brunette.
"Uh." Clarke laughs uneasily, rubbing her hand across the back of her neck. "I did that portrait this afternoon. When we were at the park."
"I thought that you were drawing the fountain." Lexa's confused look is probably the cutest thing that Clarke has ever seen.
"I was. And the fountain is awesome. I've also sketched the fountain like a million times. And I looked over at you and you were looking up at the sky. And you just looked really beautiful. You just looked so relaxed and I just had to sketch you. And I'm totally being creepy and now I'm babbling. Please just kill me now."
"Clarke." Lexa laughs, placing her hand on the blonde's leg. "Calm down. It's fine. It's a really good sketch. It's like extremely good. You are ridiculously talented Clarke."
"Thank you. It's nothing really. Just a doodle."
"Don't sell yourself short. This is amazing. I wish that I could just "doodle" and have it turn out like that."
Clarke feels a blush rise up on her cheeks. "It's really easy when you have good subject matter."
"Would you be okay with me keeping it? I mean it's just really, really good. I'm not like a narcissist or anything. It's just like really good and I would love to have it. If that is okay with you of course. I would totally understand if you said no. Now I am babbling."
"Lexa." Clarke laughs, setting her hand on the hand that is still resting on her leg. "I am honored that you went this sketch. By all means."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. Take it."
"Thank you."
"Of course."
Lexa carefully tears the sketch out of the book. She places the sketch on top of the book, setting the items on the bedside table.
"So I see you like to sketch people in your spare time. People and fountains?"
Clarke laughs, cheeks reddening slightly. "I pretty much sketch anything. I mostly sketch people. Usually just people walking around on campus. Or every once in a while I can get Raven or Octavia to model for me. More so Octavia, because Raven hates to sit still."
"Well anytime you want to draw me, go right ahead. I don't mind."
"You might regret that statement later on."
"I doubt it."
"If you say so. So what do you want to do?"
"Like right now?"
"Yeah. I mean. I have a couple movies. Or we can watch something on Netflix."
"Whatever you want to do is fine with me."
"Okay. Well what kind of movies do you like?"
"I don't really watch a lot of movies. When I do watch something, it's usually a documentary."
"Okay, yeah no. I will pick the movie."
Clarke leans over the side of her bed, grabbing her laptop from underneath. She boots up the device, typing in her lock screen passcode. As soon as the laptop boots up, she opens Chrome, opening up Netflix. Clarke logs into her Netflix, clicking on one of the movies in her queue. She settles the laptop between her and Lexa before settling back down on the bed.
"So what did you decide on?"
"From Dusk till Dawn."
"I can't say that I have seen that movie."
"Oh no? It's one of Quentin Tarantino's classics."
"That's fine with me."
The two girls settle down on the bed as the movie begins.
Lexa knows that she isn't in her room when she wakes up. First off, the smell of the room is different. The pillow that she has nestled into doesn't smell like her laundry detergent.
Secondly, she doesn't normally have blonde hair splayed across her face when she is at home.
Wait? Blonde hair? Panic settles in Lexa's belly. Her heartrate spikes and her breathing becomes slightly spastic. She feels the body next to her shift, (Wait? Body next to her?) nuzzling against her neck. Lexa feels the warm exhale across her skin, goosebumps being left in their wake.
"Mmmmmh. Go back to sleep." Clarke's husky, sleep laden voice causes the brunette to shiver.
Lexa relaxes as her mind catches up with her body. She remembers coming over to Clarke's dorm room. She remembers the sketch that Clarke gave to her. They then decided to watch some horror movie on Netflix that Lexa could care less about. Apparently they also fell asleep. Lexa doesn't remember falling asleep, but she also doesn't remember much of the movie past the title screen.
Maybe if she wasn't so busy focusing on the blonde that is practically on top of her. Clarke's legs are intertwined with hers. Her arm is wrapped tightly around Lexa's waist. Clarke's face is pressed against Lexa's collarbone, nose against the skin of her neck.
The cuddling isn't completely one-sided. One of Lexa's hands is wrapped up in Clarke's hair, attempting to press the blonde deeper into her neck. Her other arm is resting underneath the blonde, fingers curled against her hip.
Lexa feels an almost overwhelming sense of belonging in the blonde's arms. She feels safe and completely at home Clarke's arms. The feeling of comfort currently coursing throughout the brunette's veins is something that she hasn't felt since Costia died. That feeling of comfort starts so melt away, turning into a sense of panic.
-Hodnes laik kwelnes.
Careful not to jostle the still slumbering blonde, Lexa untangles her body from Clarke's tight grip. The blonde lets out a pathetic groan before settling down against Lexa's pillow. A soft sigh leaves Clarke's mouth as she snuggles deeply into the pillow, tucking her arms under the fabric.
-Hodnes laik kwelnes.
The brunette leaves the dorm room with a sigh, her body aching to be back in the blonde's arms. She shuts the door behind her quietly, before making her way out of the dormitory.
Clarke knows that she is alone before she opens her eyes. She can still smell the brunette on her pillow but the warmth of the brunette's body is no longer surrounding her. She misses the warmth of Lexa's body fiercely. She tries to will her body back to sleep, burying her face into the pillow that Lexa was using, but it is no use. Her body craves the other girl's arms and it is unwilling to allow her a moment of peace without the brunette.
The opening and closing of the door is what finally makes Clarke unbury her body from her warm bed.
"Well, well, well. Look at you Miss Reyes. The walk of shame looks good on you."
"Fuck off Griffin."
Raven stumbles into the dorm room, sporting her best JBF'ed hair. Her shirt is buttoned up wrong. And Clarke can't be positive, but she is pretty sure that Raven's collarbone is sporting a pretty impressive hickey.
"You look like you got banged, hard."
Raven laughs. "I don't kiss and tell Princess."
Clarke scoffs, sitting up in her bed. "Since when?"
"Since forever."
"Oh my god!"
"What?"
"Raven? Are you in like with this girl?"
"No…" Raven's eyes drop to the floor.
"Oh my god. You totally are!"
"Shut up Griffin."
"Oh my god! This is awesome!"
"Clarke. I swear to god, I am going to thump you."
"I'm telling Octavia."
"Don't you fucking dare."
"Yeah. I'm telling her."
"CLARKE!" Raven runs across the small room, jumping onto the small bed. She slams her body on top of Clarke's both girls landing with an 'oof' against the mattress. Raven pins Clarke's hips to the bed with her knees. She sits up straight, putting all of her body weight against Clarke's sternum.
"Get off of me!"
"You are going to pay for your insolence, Griffin!" Raven THUMPS Clarke's forehead with her thumb and index finger.
"Raven Reyes is in like!"
"God dammit Clarke!" Another THUMP is flicked against Clarke's head. "Stop!" *THUMP*
"Okay! Jesus! Just stop flicking my forehead for fuck's sake." Clarke groans, hand rubbing her forehead in pain. "Ow! You're such a dick Raven."
"You love it."
"Not really. Now seriously. Get off of me; you reek of sex right now."
Raven laughs, climbing off of her friend, settling down in the bed next to her.
"I know. Isn't it great?"
"Maybe for some people."
Raven coos sarcastically. "Awww. Is little Clarkey jealous? If I am not mistaken, a certain brunette was not present in her apartment last night. Did she perhaps stay the night with a certain blonde bombshell?"
"Ugh. She did in fact stay the night Raven, but I am sad to report that there was no lady lovin' in this bed. Plus she left while I was still sleeping."
"Wham! Bam! Thank you ma'am!"
"Shut up Raven. It wasn't like that. Lexa and I are just friends."
"Yeah sure. And I didn't get laid last night."
"We definitely know that is a bold faced lie."
"Exactly."
"Ugh…what am I going to do Raven?"
"About what?"
"About Lexa dummy."
"I don't know."
"I just…" Clarke runs her fingers through her sleep mussed locks, tugging slightly on the ends. "I really like her. Ugh….what am I going to do?"
"Is she interested in you?" Raven questions, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulders.
"I don't know. I mean I think so. Sometimes I catch her staring at me longingly. Or looking at my lips when I talk to her. But sometimes she is really stoic and cold towards me. I can't tell. Grrr."
"Well babe, I wouldn't worry about it. If she likes you, then she does. If not, then move on."
"You say it like it's just that easy Raven."
"It is. You're hot Clarke. If she isn't interested, you'll have no problem landing another girl. Or dude. Although, you haven't dated or hooked up with any guys recently. You've kind of been indulging in Sapphic pleasures lately."
"Oh my god Raven! Shut up." Clarke smacks her best friend's shoulder.
"What? It's true. Nothing wrong with strict lady lovin' Clarkey."
"Good lord. I can't even with you right now."
"Well I am all out of advice anyway. I need to sleep."
"Oh? Did Anya keep you up all night? What time is it anyway?"
"It was like four a.m. when I walked in."
"Shit!"
"What?"
"I have to be at work in an hour."
"Oh yeah. O told me to tell you that she was going in for you this morning. She wanted some extra hours and when I told her that Lexa was likely here overnight, she was all about taking the shift. She probably wants you to get laid too."
"You guys are assholes."
"We are just trying to make sure that you are happy Clarke. If we don't help, you guys will dance around each other forever."
"It doesn't matter Raven. Lexa only wants to be friends with me. She doesn't want anything else."
"That's not what Anya told me."
"Oh? Did you guys actually have a chance to do more than fuck each other's brains out?"
"Well I mean we had a few breaks between rounds."
"And so my lack of a love life was pillow talk? Gross."
"I mean I could tell you something else. Like there's this thing that she can do with her tongue."
"RAVEN! NO! Get the fuck out of my bed now!"
"But Clarke…"
"No. Absolutely not. Go lay in your own bed before I tit punch you."
"Well that's just rude."
"It is way too early for you to relive your hot night of lesbian sex with me."
"Fine. You're no fun. I'm going to sleep. Wake me up when you get done with class."
"I'll think about it."
"Oh come on Clarke, you know that I can't sleep if you don't promise to wake me."
"You know I'll wake you up."
"Love you babe."
Avoiding Clarke was surprisingly easy. Since the two girls had different majors, their classes are on opposite sides of the campus. She threw herself into her classwork and picked up extra hours at her waitressing job. In her minute amount of spare time, Lexa made the decision to learn how to play the guitar.
The first week went by without any slipups. Lexa only went to Grounder's in the early afternoon when Octavia was on shift. The younger brunette would make Lexa's drink without questioning her about her sudden change in pattern.
It was the end of the first week when Lexa came to the realization that she missed the blonde, terribly. She missed her bright smile, quirky personality. More importantly, Lexa missed the little doodles that Clarke would leave on her to-go cups.
So by that Saturday morning, Lexa not so subtly asked Anya to get Clarke's cell phone number from Raven. She couldn't muster up the courage to text the blonde until eleven o'clock that night. After finally nailing the song that she had been practicing, Lexa finally reached out to Clarke.
Unknown Number: (11:03 p.m.) Hey Clarke. It's Lexa. I got your phone number from Raven. I hope that is okay. Sorry that I haven't been in contact with you lately. I've been really busy with classes.
Skai Prisa: (11:03 p.m.) Hey Lexa! It's nice to hear from you. I thought that I did something to freak you out and you were never going to talk to me again. I am glad to know that you've just been busy. I mean, not glad but….you know what I mean. I was worried because you haven't been coming into the café in the morning. O says that you've been coming in during her shifts.
Green-Eyed Beauty: (11:04 p.m.) I'm terribly sorry that my absence led you to believe that you had done something wrong. I swear that you did nothing to freak me out. I was a little bit shocked when I woke up in your arms but that was not your fault.
Lexa doesn't want to lie to the blonde. She wants to tell Clarke that she has been avoiding communicating with or seeing the blonde. That she is having a terrible struggle with her feelings towards the other girl. That she had to distance herself so she didn't do something stupid. That she wishes that she wasn't broken. She wants to give into the signals that her heart is giving her concerning the blonde. She wants to grab Clarke and kiss her senseless. Lexa wants to take Clarke out on dates and she wants hold her hand in public. She wants to call Clarke her girlfriend and do all of the stupid, mushy things that couples do. But she can't open her heart up to anyone ever again. Losing Costia almost killed the brunette, and she can't go throw something like that again. So she makes the logical decision, listening to what her head is telling her to do. She is only able to offer Clarke friendship.
When her heart fights with her head, Lexa has a tendency to get overwhelmed. So she had to take a step back and avoid contact with Clarke until she felt like she was back in control. She is comfortable with phone contact, but she isn't ready to face the other girl yet. So Lexa takes a minute to come up with a white lie to tell Clarke, careful not to hurt the other girl's feelings.
I have been coming into the café in the afternoon because I had to switch one of my class times, so I am in class early in the morning until around two. I am really sorry that I haven't been able to see you.
Lexa sets her phone down with a sigh. She feels bad about lying to the blonde, but she is totally afraid of telling Clarke the truth. Clarke doesn't reply immediately, leading the brunette to believe that she is still a little upset with her.
Skai Prisa: (11:15 p.m.) I totally understand Lexa. I am not mad at you about anything. I just thought that you didn't want to be friends with me anymore. I was really sad. I am really happy to know that I was wrong. Sorry about taking so long to reply. I am at work right now, and it is really busy. If I don't answer, just know that it is not because of you.
Green-Eyed Beauty: (11:15 p.m.) There is no way that I wouldn't want to be friends with you Clarke. You are an amazing woman. Go to work. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me. I will text you tomorrow.
Skai Prisa: (11:20 p.m.) : D Awwww! You sure know how to make a girl feel good about herself, Lex. I guess that I will go do what I am paid to do. Have a good night, Lexa. I will talk to you later.
Green-Eyed Beauty: (11:20 p.m.) Good night Clarke.
Lexa goes to bed that night with a huge smile on her face. Thoughts of the blonde assault Lexa's mind, even in her sleep.
Lexa keeps her promise, texting Clarke at around noon the next day. The text message is a simple 'Good Morning," the brunette hoping that she doesn't wake the blonde from her slumber. Lexa can't fight the huge smile that overtakes her face when Clarke replies soon after.
Skai Prisa: (12:05 p.m.) Good morning to you Lexa. Or I guess good afternoon would be the more appropriate response. Did you sleep well?
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:06 p.m.) I slept wonderfully. I had good company last night before bed so sleep came easily.
Lexa's brow furrows as she rereads the message. The context of having company for bed could possibly be misconstrued by the blonde. She releases a sigh of relief when her phone notification pings after minutes.
Skai Prisa: (12:15 p.m.) Sorry. My mom just called. So you had company last night? ;) Get 'em tiger!
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:15 p.m.) Not like that, silly. I was talking about you. :D
Skai Prisa: (12:16 p.m.) Oh…I wasn't aware that I was your 'good company' for the night. ;)
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:16 p.m.) Oh believe me Clarke, you would remember it if I kept you company for the night.
Skai Prisa: (12:17 p.m.) My, my, my, Lexa 'I don't know your last name' are you flirting with me?
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:17 p.m.) It's Woods. My last name is Woods.
Skai Prisa: (12:18 p.m.) Well Miss Woods, you are a flirt.
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:18 p.m.) *shrugs* Some people are just easy to flirt with.
Skai Prisa: (12:19 p.m.) Oh so now I'm easy?
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:19 p.m.) Shit…no, no, no. Clarke, I didn't mean that at all.
Skai Prisa: (12:20 p.m.) Chill Lex. I'm totally fucking with you.
Green-Eyed Beauty (12:20 p.m.) You are evil, Klark Kom Skaikru.
Skai Prisa: (12:21 p.m.) You love it. ;)
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:21 p.m.) Maybe I do. Hey. I have class right now. I will text you later.
Skai Prisa: (12:22 p.m.) Go! Educate yourself, young scholar.
Green-Eyed Beauty: (12:22 p.m.) Shut up.
Skai Prisa: (12:23 p.m.) Pay attention Miss Woods.
Lexa laughs out loud before putting her phone away. Her class passes by without incident, her attention focused on a certain blonde.
The second week goes by in pretty much the same way. The girls never get a chance to meet up, mostly due to Lexa's avoidance of the blonde. Lexa knows that she isn't ready to face Clarke. She thought that had her unruly attraction towards the other girl under control. The cutesy text messages that Clarke had a tendency to send to Lexa were proving the brunette's willpower to be very weak.
By the end of the second week of having Clarke's phone number, Lexa knew that she had to distance herself even more from the blonde.
She didn't want to stop talking to her completely, so she opted to answer her text messages with one word answers or emoji's, hoping that the blonde would eventually give up on her. Clarke was proving to be a very persistent if not aggressive friend, texting the brunette non-stop. Lexa spent the next two weeks barely responding to the sunny text messages from Clarke.
Her two weeks of minimal communication with the blonde proved to be very productive. Lexa was able to learn three songs from start to finish on her guitar. Lexa was crazy excited about her new found talent with the guitar. It definitely helped with her on-going attraction to Clarke. She just hoped that she would be able to stand strong when she inevitably saw the other girl again.
Clarke was in a sour mood. She hasn't seen Lexa in the past two weeks. She kept sending goofy text messages to the brunette throughout the day, but Lexa's responses were minimal at best. Lexa was still avoiding the café during Clarke's shifts, getting her caffeine fix from Octavia or Indra. Clarke was pretty salty about the obvious avoidance from her newfound 'friend.'
Not seeing the brunette coupled with her best friend's newly blossomed relationship has the normally cheery blonde a jealous mess.
Raven and Anya have been completely inseparable since their night together, frequently leaving Clarke as the third wheel.
To avoid the constant state of jealousy, Clarke threw herself into work and school. When she wasn't in class, she was busy serving coffee or alcohol.
Raven shows up at Arkadia with Lincoln and Octavia in tow an hour into Clarke's shift. The bar is extremely busy, leaving the blonde unable to pay much attention to her friends. Raven is stuck as third wheel while Octavia and Lincoln try to suck each other's souls out through their mouths. Choking back a gag, the brunette makes her way up to the bar. It takes her a few minutes to snag Clarke's attention, the blonde making her way over as soon as she notices her friend.
"What's up, buttercup?"
"Dude. I need alcohol and lots of it. Linctavia is doing their soul sucking thing again."
"Ugh, gross. Where's your girlfriend?" Clarke questions her friend, pouring her a double shot of tequila.
"She's not my girlfriend Griffin." Raven tosses back the shot, slamming the glass back onto the countertop. "She's on her way. Lexa got out of work late so they should be here any minute."
Clarke's eyes widen as she pours her friend another shot, the thought of seeing Lexa making her heart race. "Lexa is coming?"
"Um yeah. Anya had a really bad week at work, so she wants to unwind. Lexa has this weird thing about not drinking, but she has to be with Anya if Anya wants to drink. I dunno. Anyway." Raven slams back her second double shot, hissing at the burn of the alcohol. "Hit me up one more time bartender. I need one more double and probably an old fashioned."
"What are you, eighty?" Clarke teases as she mixes her friend's drink. Sliding the old fashioned over, she grabs the bottle of tequila, pouring another shot. "You need to slow down Reyes, or else you're going to be hammered before Anya gets here."
"Meh. It makes dealing with Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb bearable. Thanks for the drinks, babe."
"I'm putting them on your tab, Raven!" Clarke yells, chuckling at the half-hearted wave the brunette gives her.
Bartending was something that Clarke never saw herself doing. After she starting working at Grounder's she fell in love with mixing drinks and the fast paced environment. So when her friend Monty asked her to come help bartend, she really couldn't say no.
Plus, being a female bartender really had its perks. Clarke would just put on a low cut top and denim shorts or skinny jeans and she would quite a killing in tips. This was a pretty awesome deal, because art supplies are not a cheap endeavor.
So even though being a bartender was never in Clarke's life plan, neither was working in a café. All in all, the blonde couldn't complain about either job. She was in a good place in life, good job, great friends; she was doing well in school. If only she could find a girlfriend or a boyfriend to cure the immense loneliness that was over taking her entire being. Really there was only one person that the blonde wanted. A certain sarcastic brunette with a killer bod, and mesmerizing green eyes that she couldn't stop thinking about.
Lexa didn't really want to come out to the bar tonight. Not being much of a drinker, she was often volunteered to be the designated driver. Being completely sober in a room full of drunks was not something that Lexa particularly enjoyed.
The thought of Anya going out to a bar alone make Lexa's heart constrict. Ever since Costia had died, Lexa had a fear of her best friend getting drunk and dying in a car accident. So on the rare occasion that Anya wanted to go out, Lexa would tag along.
Walking into Arkcadia, Lexa felt a very fraternity house vibe. The bar was definitely seventy five percent men, well 'boys' really. The air felt sticky, a stagnant mixture of liquor and sweat permeating throughout the bar.
Anya asks Lexa to get her a long island before making her way over to the table where Raven, Octavia and who Lexa assumes is Lincoln are sitting. Lexa rolls her eyes at her best friend before making her way over to the bar. The bartender is currently bent over behind the bar, changing out a keg underneath the counter. Lexa watches the girl as she works, not so subtly checking out the other girl's ass. The curves beneath the girl's tight jeans make the brunette's mouth go dry. Lexa wants nothing more than to run her hands up the girl's thighs, and dig her fingernails into the sensitive flesh of her hips. Lexa's slight arousal is completely broken when the girl stands back up. The brunette's mouth drops open as Clarke's bright blue eyes meet her shocked gaze.
"Hey stranger! Fancy seeing you here."
"Hey Clarke. I didn't know that you worked here."
"Yeah. This is my night job. My friend owns the place."
"That's pretty awesome."
"It pays the bills. So what are you doing here? I've been trying to get you to hang out with me for the past few weeks and you've been too busy"
"I didn't originally plan on coming out. Anya wanted to hang out with Raven and she tends to get really drunk. So I came to make sure that she gets home alright."
"What can I get for you tonight, Lexa?"
"Um. Can I get a long island and just a cranberry juice?"
"Sure thing."
Clarke pulls down two glasses, expertly preparing the two drinks simultaneously. Clarke slides the drinks down towards Lexa before wiping the counter down. Lexa pulls out her wallet, prepared to give the blonde her debit card. Clarke waves her off with a small smile.
"Don't worry about it Lexa. Drinks are on the house."
"Oh you don't have to do that Clarke."
"I know. I wanted to."
"Thank you."
"Don't worry about it. It's what friends do. Even if their friends avoid pretty much all contact with them."
Lexa sighs, fingers dragging through her brunette locks. "Clarke I'm sorry. I've just been really busy."
"It's funny. You just said that to me yesterday when I asked if you wanted to meet me at the park. Yet here you are at a bar. I'm just a little bit sad that you have time to hang out with my friends, but not with me."
Clarke turns away without another word, making her way over to the other side of the bar to check on patrons. Lexa stands cemented in place, shock marring her features. When Clarke doesn't immediately return, Lexa makes her way over to the table. She passes the long island to Anya, who is completely immersed in all things Raven at the moment.
By the end of her third cranberry juice, Lexa is pondering suicide using the cardboard coaster that her empty glass is resting on. Octavia and her boyfriend have migrated to the dancefloor, currently engaging in a game of heavy petting and grinding on each other's bodies. Anya and Raven are no better, attached by the lips as if that were their only chance at survival. Groaning inwardly, the brunette leaves the table, intent on heading back over to the bar. She stops in her tracks when she notices the girl at the counter stealing Clarke's attention.
The girl has light brown hair and she is clad in tight dark wash jeans and a red tank top. She is leaning slightly over the bar top, her index finger curling around a lock of Clarke's hair. Clarke has a goofy grin plastered on her face; eyes alight in mirth as she laughs at something the girl says to her.
Lexa feels her throat tighten, a feeling washing over her that she hasn't felt in a long time, jealousy. Lexa wants to be the one to twirl Clarke's hair in-between her fingers, the soft strands tickling her skin. She wants to be the one to make the blonde's eyes light up with laughter.
Lexa feels the sudden desire to interrupt the two, her envy getting the best of her. So, the brunette confidently makes her way back up to the counter, sitting down on a stool next to her new nemesis. It takes two whole minutes and Lexa clearing her throat three times before Clarke's attention is swayed. She pulls away from the other girl, blues eyes locking in on Lexa.
"Hey Lexa." The blonde smiles, a red blush dusting her cheeks.
"Clarke." Lexa gives the blond a curt nod, a tight smile on her lips.
"Are you having fun?"
"Hardly. I don't find enjoyment in being the fifth wheel."
Clarke laughs softly, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "I know how you feel. I have been going through this for weeks."
"Well. It's bad."
"Oh believe me, I know."
"Who is your friend?"
"Oh." Clarke looks over at the other girl. "Lexa, this is Niylah. Niylah, this is my friend Lexa."
The two girls trade obviously false pleasantries, their eyes locking in some sort of territorial battle.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you two. I was just coming to ask if I could get another cranberry juice."
"Yeah, of course." Clarke scoops some ice into a whisky glass, filling it with the rich red beverage. She slides the drink over to Lexa with a grin. "One vodka cran, hold the vodka."
"Thank you Clarke."
"My pleasure, Lexa." The blonde gets called to the other side of the bar. She excuses herself with a grin.
"Why are you at a bar if you aren't drinking?" Niylah questions, her words laced with sarcasm.
"Not that it's any of your business, Niylah, but I don't drink. I'm just here hanging out with Clarke and I's friends."
"That's cute. So now that you have your drink, you can go back to your friends." Niylah sneers at Lexa, a scowl etched across her face.
"You know what?" Lexa words die in her throat as Clarke makes her way back over to the girls.
"What'd I miss?"
"Nothing." Both girls blurt out, breaking their stare down to look over at Clarke.
"So…thanks for the drink Clarke. I'll see you later."
"Bye Lex!"
Lexa makes her way back over to the table, her head hanging in defeat. Sitting down in the booth, Lexa takes a swing of the juice, wishing that the tart drink was mixed with vodka. The sudden appearance of the brunette causes Raven and Anya to break their seemingly endless lip lock.
"Heda? Eting kei?" (Commander? Everything okay?)
"No."
"Chit kom au?" (What happened?)
"English please. Assholes." Raven scoffs, rolling her eyes at the pair.
"What happened, Lexa?" Anya questions the brunette, taking a sip of her third long island of the night.
"Look over at the bar and see for yourself."
Anya and Raven look over at the bar, eyes widening as the take in the scene before them. Niylah is still leaning over the bar, talking animatedly to the blonde. Clarke is leaning against the bar, face resting in her hand as she smiles at the other girl.
"Damn! Who is that girl?" Raven questions, nudging Anya to get her attention. They both look over at Lexa with matching grins. Lexa is all but green with envy, a deep frown set in on her face.
"That is Niylah." Lexa says, saying the girl's name like it leaves a bad taste in her mouth.
"She's hot."
"Hell yeah she is."
"She's okay I guess. Kind of bitchy if you ask me."
"Are you jealous, Lex?"
Lexa scoffs at her best friend. "No. She is bitchy."
"Mmmhmmm. I think that you are jealous."
"I'm most definitely not. She was totally rude to me."
"I'm sure that she was."
"Excuse me?"
"Because…" Anya begins, stopping when Raven places a hand on her arm.
"Look, Lexa." Raven starts, folding her arms across her chest. "Obviously you gave her a reason to be rude to you."
"What does that mean?"
"Well…you tend to be kind of prickly sometimes."
"I'm sure that I don't know what you mean."
"You don't? How do you not? I accidently ran into you when Clarke and were jogging and you almost ripped me a new asshole."
Lexa laughs sarcastically. "You weren't all rainbows and sunshine, Raven."
Anya puts her hands on both girls' shoulders. "Girls. Can we calm down? Your introduction, while hilarious, is not necessary to this conversation." Anya turns her attention to her best friend. "Lexa. If that girl was rude, I am sure it is because she sees you as competition."
"Competition? For what?"
"Are you fucking serious right now?" Raven yells, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "You have a very obvious lady boner for Clarke."
"What? No I don't. Clarke and I are just friends."
"Cut the bullshit, Lexa. Even a blind man could see the heart eyes that you have for my best friend."
"No…"
"Still don't believe you."
"Whatever. We are just friends."
"Okay. Whatever you say Lexa. I'm going to go scope out the new girl." Raven pecks Anya's lips before leaving the table.
Anya waits until Raven is out of earshot before turning her attention to her best friend.
"You and Raven need to learn how to chill."
"She started it!"
"Doesn't matter Lexa. I really like her, please don't fuck this up for me by being a dick."
"She needs to calm down too Anya. It's not just me."
"I know. I'll talk to her."
"So you really like her?"
"Oh my god yes. She is amazing. But that isn't what we are here to talk about. What is going on with you and Clarke?"
Lexa groans, burying her face into her hands. "Nothing is going on. We are just friends, Anya."
"Ron ai ridiyo op, Leksa." (Speak true, Lexa.)
"I have told you already. It doesn't matter. I can't be with her. I just can't."
"Lexa, look at me." Lexa lifts her head to meet Anya's concerned gaze. "Why won't you try again?"
"I'm broken, Onya. Hodnes laik kwelnes. I can't have my heart broken again. I won't make it this time." (Love is weakness.)
"Leksa. Hodnes laik uf. Nou kwelnes." (Lexa. Love is strength. Not weakness.)
"No. I just can't do it. I won't."
"I told you that I won't push you, Lexa. But I want you to know that you are making a huge mistake. In the short amount of time that I have been around these girls, I have gotten to know Clarke. She is an amazing woman. I just really wish that you would give her a chance. She's crazy about you. Even if you have been kind of a dick over the last couple of weeks."
"I just can't be around her. It's hard enough for me to text her. Seeing her breaks the tiny bit of resolve that I have. For God sakes Anya, I can't even be around her without wanting to kiss her senseless."
"So really what I am hearing is. You do have feelings for her; you just don't want to give her a shot."
"It isn't that simple."
"It really is."
"I want to give her a shot, Anya. I really do. I just can't. Even thinking about being in a relationship with somebody else makes me want to pass out."
"But how long do you think this 'just friends' façade is going to last?"
Lexa groans, rubbing her newly calloused hands over her face. "I don't know, Anya. Until she gets tired of me, I guess."
"That will never happen. Clarke is a good person. Even if you are giving her some bullshit, half-assed friendship, she will take whatever you will give her. I know that she has feelings for you, but she will bury them as long as she knows that she will have you as a friend."
"Well. I won't ever be able to give her what she needs."
"You are so fucking stubborn." Anya growls, running her fingers through her hair aggressively. "You're giving me a fucking tumor with your bullheadedness. All I'm saying Lexa, is that you are missing out on an amazing woman. That girl over there is going to scoop Clarke up. And I won't feel sorry for you when she does."
"That's real nice."
"Well? What do you want me to say? I am your best friend, but that girl is everything that is good in the world. And I can't sit by and watch you tear her down because you don't want to take a chance on her."
"I'm going to the restroom."
Lexa gets up from her spot, walking towards the restroom. Anya's eyes follow her best friend's retreating figure, an exasperated sigh leaving her lips.
Clarke can't remember the last time that somebody put so much effort into flirting with her. She is completely enamored by the brunette on the other side of the bar counter. Between the cheesy pick up lines and the downcast, flirty glances, Clarke is sure that her face is a permanent shade of red. She absolutely loves it.
Her dating life has been pretty much non-existent since her disastrous 'relationship' with Finn. She has had a few casual hook-ups, but she hasn't had the desire to attempt dating again. Until Lexa came into her life, that is. Being around Lexa has made Clarke feel more alive than she has ever felt. Unfortunately for Clarke, the brunette has made it perfectly clear that she desires nothing but friendship from the blonde. Clarke has finally accepted that she will be the best friend possible, while quietly pining for Lexa. Now in the blink of an eye, this other brunette is showing monumental interest in her.
Niylah is gorgeous, and her flirting game is on point. A small part of Clarke can't help but wish that Lexa was the one twirling her hair and spouting cheesy pick-up lines. Since it's clear that the brunette isn't going to be that girl, Clarke will take what she can get. She wants to get over her unrequited crush on the brunette, she just doesn't know how. Right now, with Niylah bending over the bar counter, Clarke feels like it might happen.
Clarke is midway through her appreciation of Niylah's chest when Raven clambers over to the bar. Raven takes in the sight of Clarke openly ogling the other girl, a shit eating grin plastered on her face.
"Hey Princess. Who's the hottie?"
"Uh. Hey Raven. Niylah this is my best friend Raven. Raven, this is Niylah."
"Nice to meet you Raven." Niylah holds her hand out towards the other brunette.
"Likewise, Niylah." Raven grasps her hand. "You're pretty hot."
"Um, thank you?"
"No. Thank you. Clarke. I need some alcohol."
"Are you sure Raven? You've had quite a bit of tequila tonight."
"I'm sure. I definitely didn't come over her just to check out the new girl here."
"Are all your friends going to check on me tonight, Clarke?"
"What? No…Oh my god, Niylah….I totally didn't know that they were going to come over here."
"Chill guys. I just need some alcohol inside of me."
Clarke rolls her eyes at her friend, pouring her a double shot of tequila. Raven downs the alcohol quickly, grimacing at the burn. She slams the glass down on the counter and drops into one of the stools.
"Fuck! Hit me again."
"Last shot. You have had enough alcohol tonight."
"You're not my mom, hooker. Give me liquor."
"Hey guys."
Clarke barely manages to suppress a groan as Octavia saunters up to the bar, panting slightly. She has a light sheen of sweat adorning her body.
"Hey O. Clarke was just introducing me to her new lady friend."
"Niylah, this is my other best friend, Octavia."
"Hey."
"Sup?" Octavia eyes the other girl warily, arms crossing over her chest. "Clarke, I need a margarita." Octavia takes a seat on one of the bar stools as the blonde starts making her friend's drink. "So, Niylah. Tell us a little bit about yourself."
"Yes, please do."
"What is this? The Spanish Inquisition?"
"We're just trying to get to know you, is all."
"Sure you are."
"Come on Niylah. If it will make you feel better, I'll start. My name is Raven Reyes. I am twenty two years old. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. Hmmm..I am majoring in mechanical engineering. I am an only child. Oh! When I was eighteen, I got into a car accident. I was pinned underneath the steering wheel. A piece of the driver's side door got lodged into my spine. So long story short, I pretty much can't feel my left leg at all. It sucks. So that's me. Your turn O."
"I'm Octavia Blake. I am twenty one years old and I grew up in San Diego, California. I am majoring in sports medicine. I have an older brother, Bellamy. He is in the Marine Corps. I have been friends with Clarke since we were in diapers, and I know how to kill a person in at least five different ways."
"Jeez, you guys. Leave the poor girl alone." Clarke hands Octavia the margarita, turning to face Niylah with a smile. "Please don't let them scare you away, they are mostly harmless."
Niylah pats Clarke's hand reassuringly which causes the blonde to blush furiously.
"Don't worry about it. I am Niylah Harmon. I am twenty four years old and I am from Seattle, Washington. I am in my final year of law school. I have one brother, John. He is nineteen years old. He goes to school here too. He is here on a baseball scholarship. Is that sufficient enough information to sate your curiosity?"
"Ohh Clarkey. I like this one. Lock it down!" Raven all but shouts. "Where the fuck is my shot?"
"If I pour you this shot, you have to leave."
"But I didn't even get the other shot that you promised me."
"Fine. I will kick your ass if you puke in the bar. Or if you puke in the dorm room." Clarke pulls out another glass, filling the two glasses with tequila. "Now leave us alone."
"Aye, aye Captain." Raven tosses the shots back simultaneously, hissing as she swallows them down. "Let us leave these two lovely ladies alone, O-face."
"Alright, but heed my words Niylah. Don't fuck with my friend's heart."
The two girls walk away from the bar, making their way back over to the able. Lincoln is sitting at the table with Anya, both of them talking animatedly about mixed martial arts. Octavia snuggles into the booth with Lincoln, pecking his cheek as he puts his arm around her shoulders. Raven scoots in next to Anya, snuggling in closely to the other girl.
"Welcome back to the party ladies."
"We were gone for like five minutes."
"So?" Anya questions as she places a kiss on Raven's cheek.
"I love her."
"So you think that the plan will work?"
"Wait, what plan?" Octavia asks with her cup inches from her lips.
"Oh. See. We have a plan. I call it 'Pull Lexa's head out of her own ass.' Basically we are going to make Lexa lose her fucking mind with jealousy. Since she won't admit that she has a lady boner for our Princess. We are going to help her figure her shit out."
"That's awful. That poor girl."
Raven scoffs at Octavia. "Lexa and Clarke belong together. They are like soulmates dude."
"Ugh. I hate it when you're right."
"I'm always right babe."
"Right about what?"
"Um, nothing. We were just talking about UFC."
"Oh. Okay." Lexa slides into the booth next to Octavia. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing. We've just been chilling. Relaxing. Chillaxing."
"Are you drunk Raven?"
Raven pinches her thumb and index finger close together. "Like this many."
"Oh yeah, you're drunk."
"Shut up, Commander."
"Okay Raven. Let's go dance." Anya grabs Raven's hand, pulling her out of the booth to the dance floor. Lincoln and Octavia follow soon after, leaving Lexa alone at the table.
Lexa sips at the watered down cranberry juice in her cup, trying to fight the urge to glance over a Clarke. She tries to distract herself, pulling out her phone. She doesn't have any text messages, obviously, because the only two people that text her are at the bar. She opens her facebook app, scrolling through her newsfeed. This distracts her for two minutes before she grows bored. Glancing up from the device, she audibly sighs as her eyes drift towards Clarke.
Clarke's attention is solely focused on Niylah; her eyes are alight with mirth. The blonde has a hand resting on Niylah's forearm, her body angled towards the other girl. Lexa continues staring at the two girls, envy bubbling in her stomach.
She's not sure how long she sits at the table staring at the train wreck in front of her, but soon enough, Clarke is yelling out last call around the bar. She breaks away from her flirt fest with the brunette, making a few last call drinks.
It's about another thirty minutes when the staff kicks everybody out. The group stumbles outside, deciding to wait for Clarke to get done closing down.
Raven stumbles alongside Anya, her limp more pronounced in her state of drunkenness. She grimaces with each step, her right hand rubbing near constant circles on her knee.
"Hey An?"
"Yes, Raven?"
"I need a favor."
"What's up buttercup?"
"Will you carry me?" Her bottom lip juts out into a pout. "My knee hurts."
"Oh my god, are you really pouting?"
"Maybe."
"That is a low blow, Miss Reyes."
"Please."
"Fine. Hop on."
Anya kneels down slightly, Raven climbing onto the woman's back.
"My, my, my. Somebody is pussy whipped."
"Fuck off Woods. At least some of us are getting some."
"Low blow, Joka." (Fucker.)
"I love you too, Heda."
Another twenty minutes pass by before the bar staff makes their way out of the bar, locking the door behind them. Clarke makes her way over to her friends, her head buried in her phone. Her eyes lock on Raven being piggybacked by Anya first.
"Oh. You fell for her puppy dog eyes and pouting lip, didn't you?" Clarke says with a laugh.
"Yeah. I can't help it. She sexes me up."
"Gross."
Raven looks over at Clarke, a drunken grin plastered on her face. "It's true though."
"That's nice." Clarke looks down at her phone, typing something before looking back up.
"What's got your attention over there Princess?"
"Oh." Clarke curses inwardly as her face heats up in a blush. "It's nothin'"
"Nothing, my ass. All of your friends are here, who're you texting?"
"Just Niylah."
"You guys already exchanged phone numbers?"
"Yeah. She asked me out."
"Oh really?"
Lexa's attention snaps towards Clarke, dread filling her body, making it hard to breathe.
"Yeah."
"Well? Did you say yes?"
"I did."
"Whoop!" Octavia drunkenly yells, raising her fist in the air. "About time Griffin!"
"I'm with O. You haven't dated anybody since Finn."
"I have too."
"No Princess. Hooking up with people doesn't count as a date."
"Well, whatever. We're in college."
"So. When are you going out?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Nice!" Raven hollers. "That girl works fast. She knows when to not waste an opportunity."
"Are you excited?" Octavia asks, glancing over at Lexa. She almost feels bad when she sees the girl's crestfallen expression. Almost.
"Yeah. I'm pretty nervous."
"You'll be fine."
"Anya, we need to go. I have to work in the morning." Lexa's voice cuts sharply into the night air.
"Okay. Are you coming Rae?"
Raven chuckles, leaning in to nip at Anya's earlobe. "Not yet, but hopefully soon."
Anya groans softly, eliciting another chuckle from Raven. "You're evil."
"And you're sexy. Take me home."
"Anya! Let's go!"
"Jeez…Chil au. (Chill out.)
"Goodnight guys." Clarke calls out, still engrossed in her phone. She says goodbye to Octavia and Lincoln before making her way to her car.
As soon as the blonde is out of earshot, Octavia turns to face her boyfriend.
"How long do you think it's going to take before Lexa cracks?"
"Not long, by the looks of it."
"That girl doesn't know what is about to hit her."
The couple laughs as they make their way over to Lincoln's motorcycle.
TBC
A/N 2: Let me know what you thought! Thanks for reading!
