"Where are we going?" Clarke asked as she watched the city lights fade in the mirror.
"That's a surprise Clarke."
Turning to face Lexa, she curled her legs up onto the seat. She studied the brunette for a minute, trying to read her expression in her profile. She lifted her hand, the one still entwined with Lexa's to press a kiss to fingertips. "I think you should tell me."
"That would ruin the surprise."
"I hate surprises."
Releasing a short bark of laughter, Lexa glanced over at her, "no you don't. You hate not knowing what's going on."
"Lexa!" She whined.
"We're almost there Clarke. Just a few more minutes."
"What on Earth could we be doing this far out of the city?"
Instead of replying Lexa shook her head. She pulled her hand from Clarke's only to rest it on Clarke's knee and squeeze. The blonde wanted to argue more, Lexa could feel it in the air between them.
Finally, they arrived at the old fairgrounds.
"Why are we here? Why are you stopping the car?" Clarke stiffened when Lexa turned off the ignition and left the cab. "Why are you walking around the car like that? Lexa? Why are you opening my door?"
Lexa laughed at Clarke's nervous rapid-fire questions. She held out her hand for Clarke to take. When the blonde shook her head and leaned back into the Jeep, Lexa reached in to undo her seatbelt.
"I thought you wanted a romantic first date?" She said as Clarke fought her for the buckle.
"I do. Romantic. A creepy old carnival isn't romantic."
Shaking her head, Lexa took Clarke's hands in her own. "Just trust me Clarke. You're going to love this."
Glaring at her date didn't seem to help so Clarke sighed. She studied Lexa for another minute, trying to figure out exactly what her plan was. "Are you going to kill me? That's how this usually goes in the movies."
"Clarke, all of your friends know you're with me."
"Right." She nodded and slowly moved her legs out of the cab. "So no killing."
"No killing." Lexa assured her. "Just come with me."
After another slight hesitation Clarke allowed Lexa to help her out of the Jeep. When the brunette tried to retract her hand, she laced their fingers together again and approached the gates. Before Clarke could point out the padlocked chains Lexa was pulling a ring of keys out of her pocket. She barely had to search before she selected one and slid it into the lock.
"Have you been here before? After hours I mean?" Clarke asked.
Lexa nodded and opened the gate for her to enter. Once they were both inside Lexa re-chained the gate and Clarke held her hand out for her to take again.
Clarke allowed her date to lead her through the grounds, occasionally pointing out a ride or game she remembered playing at some point in her youth. She had no idea where Lexa was actually taking her. They were venturing toward the small pond Clarke and her friends had always avoided. Just as Clarke could hear the water moving in the dark Lexa tugged her to the right, toward a large building.
"Seriously Lex?" She huffed as she stumbled after her. "Use your words."
Lexa shot her a smirk before she shrugged. Before Clarke could reply to the gesture Lexa had the keys in her hand again.
"Are we going inside the creepy building?"
"It isn't creepy."
"She speaks!" Clarke gasped as she held her free hand over her heart.
"Funny." Lexa held the now unlocked door open for Clarke to enter first. When the blonde hesitated, Lexa rolled her eyes. "Come on Clarke. Trust me, you're going to love this."
Seeing the little bit of hurt in green eyes spurred Clarke into action. She was really creeped out by the fairgrounds and the building but Lexa was asking for her trust. With a deep breath, she stepped inside.
"I can't see anything."
"I have to turn on the lights." Lexa drawled from just behind her. Using her phone as a flashlight, she turned the wall and found the breakers. She flipped a few switches and turned back to the blonde.
Clarke's jaw dropped. There were tables and chairs and a bar. All very well decorated and coordinated. "What is this?"
"My parents own the fairgrounds. Anya wanted to open a pub and somehow managed to talk them into letting her use this space. It makes sense I guess. It sits unused for most of the year, has a parking lot, and the noise won't bother anybody since we're outside the city." Lexa explained. She took Clarke's hand again and pulled her further through the room, all the way into the kitchen. There was a table set up in there, complete with a bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket.
"Are you cooking for me?"
"We're cooking together."
Clarke shook her head, "I can't cook."
"I can." Lexa shrugged. "It's an easy way to see how well we mesh Clarke. Seeing how we work together in the kitchen."
"I can make desert. I make a mean chocolate chip cookie."
"We have to eat real food Clarke." Lexa chuckled.
"Says you." Clarke scoffed and began looking for ingredients.
Lexa tapped her on the shoulder and pointed at one of the workstations. Making their way over, Clarke saw everything she needed to make cookies. Lexa winked and moved to the walk in refrigerator, grabbing the burger patties she had prepared earlier for their dinner.
"I'm not sure putting me to work on our first date counts as romance Lexa."
Pulling out her phone, Lexa connected the Bluetooth to the sound system Raven had wired throughout the kitchen. The slow beginning of 'Runaway' by The Corrs began to play through the speakers. Lexa put the patties on a workstation and made her way over to Clarke.
"Romance is something each person has a different idea of. Could I have gone for a dinner in a fancy restaurant followed by a movie or a walk? Sure. But that's so… not me." Lexa wrapped an arm around Clarke's waist and held her other hand up, waiting for a hand to grasp.
Without hesitation Clarke lowered Lexa's hand to her waist before she looped her arms behind Lexa's neck. After stiffening momentarily Lexa relaxed and started swaying to the beat, humming along with the words. Clarke leaned into her, pressing their cheeks together.
"I love The Corrs." Clarke whispered.
"I know."
"How?"
Lexa shrugged, "I notice things."
When the song finished, Lexa swirling them between workstations the entire time, another started playing right away. The aching violin that meant 'Rebel Heart' was now playing filled Clarke's ears.
"This is my favorite song. Ever."
"Your favorite song has no words." Lexa replied, her arm pulling Clarke just a little closer.
"It doesn't need words. It makes you… feel." Clarke exclaimed. "Every time I hear this song it makes me feel strong and like I'm meant for something more than an ordinary life. That's what music ought to do I think."
Lexa nodded, shifting her head so her forehead was pressed to Clarke's. She felt the power behind the song too, she had the first time she'd heard it playing from Clarke's phone. "I think everyone would hear a different message if they listened to this song. But I get what you're saying. There's strength to being a rebel right?"
When the last note played, Lexa spun Clarke away from her and let go of her hand. Clarke looked like she was ready to protest but Lexa just shook her head. "We need to get to cooking or we'll be here all night. And Raven expects you home at a decent time tonight."
"I'm an adult." Clarke pointed out.
"Raven likes to make things go boom Clarke."
"Good point."
Just over forty minutes later Lexa was pulling Clarke's chair out for her. The burger and fries Lexa made up were hot and ready for them to eat. Clarke's cookies were in the oven, filling the kitchen with a mouthwatering scent.
"I honestly don't know which smells better, the burger or the cookies." Clarke said. She waited for Lexa to fill their wine glasses, then for her to check the cookies, then for her dim the lights. "Lexa!"
"Clarke?"
"Are you going to join me?"
"Of course."
Clarke waved to the empty chair across from her. "Please do then."
Lexa laughed as she made her way over to the table again. "I just wanted to set the mood a little."
"I'm with you Lex, the mood is set."
"I think you're the charmer." Lexa replied easily.
Rolling her eyes, Clarke picked up her burger and took a bite. Then she moaned. After carefully chewing the bite and swallowing it she met Lexa's round eyes, "This is possibly the best burger I've ever had."
"I mixed cheese in with the meat. It keeps it moist." Lexa replied, wincing a little at the lame explanation. "And by that I meant thank you."
"You're welcome." Clarke said before she took another bite.
There was no more talking as Clarke finished her burger quickly. It was too good for her put down. Lexa smiled and followed her lead.
"Sorry," Clarke said quietly as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"For what?"
"Aren't first dates supposed to be about getting to know each other?"
"We already know each other Clarke." Lexa replied, reaching across the table to cover Clarke's hand with her own. "We're here because we want to spend time together. And because you said you wouldn't let me kiss you until we went on a date."
"I am sort of glad we don't have to do the boring first date stuff. You're already my best friend. We get to skip to the fun stuff."
"Not all the fun stuff though." Lexa winked.
The timer bussing across the kitchen interrupted whatever Clarke was going to say. The only response Lexa's wink got was a raised brow and smirk. Clarke pulled out the tray of cookies and placed them on a heat pad to cool for a while. She returned to her chair and covered Lexa's hand with her own.
"You're awfully flirty today Lex."
"I like flirting with you."
"Good. I like you flirting with me." Clarke winked.
Lexa gulped, "Good?"
Clarke nodded. She liked seeing Lexa like this. Confident one minute, nervous the next. To the blonde it meant that they weren't making a mistake. It may be their first date but they knew each other. Clarke would be able to tell easily if Lexa was regretting this date. Flirting and dancing made it abundantly clear she was happy to be here.
The small talk that followed flowed easily. They discussed school. Clarke told Lexa all about her conversation with her grandmother and Finn. She bristled at Finn's request just like Clarke had, but the younger woman was quick to reassure her. Lexa was in the middle of a story about Anya and an unfortunate tree-climbing experience when Clarke made her way over to cookies, returning with a plate.
"Do we have any milk? I don't think this wine will do my cookies justice." Clarke said as she sat down again.
Lexa nodded and retrieved a half-gallon from the fridge. "I knew you'd want to make cookies. I had to be prepared."
"My hero." Clarke laughed as Lexa poured milk into clean wine glasses. "I'm glad you're keeping this classy."
"Anything for you Clarke Griffin." Lexa winked. "And more importantly, anything for your cookies."
"If Raven were here she'd be making a dirty joke out of that."
Lexa chuckled, "she would. She's horrible about that."
Once they finished their desert and cleaned the kitchen Lexa led Clarke back through the grounds. Instead of returning to the main gate and the car, Lexa took her to the bumper cars.
"Are we going to ride?" Clarke asked warily.
"No, I know you don't like them." Lexa replied. She jumped over the turnstile, helping Clarke climb over after her.
"Then what are we doing here?"
Lexa pulled her into the middle of the oval rink. She positioned Clarke just right before she pointed to her left, toward the entrance to the hall of mirrors.
"That's where you were the first time I saw you."
Clarke's head whipped around. Her eyes found Lexa's. "What do you mean?"
"I was sixteen," Lexa explained. "I was helping for the summer. I was bored out of my mind one day, helping Anya untangle a snarl of bumper cars when I glanced up and saw… you."
"We didn't meet until we went to college." Clarke replied.
"I know. My parents really liked my private school. But I saw you that day and I was blown away. I didn't know a girl as beautiful as you existed." Lexa said. "So there I stood, staring even after you and Raven had disappeared inside. Anya let the riders start again because she got tired of waiting for me."
"So you saw me all those years ago and now you're on a date with me." Clarke looped her arms around Lexa's neck again. "What are the chances?"
"I like to think I was very good in a previous life." Lexa replied, slowly wrapping her arms around Clarke. "Good karma and all that."
Clarke nodded. She took a small step closer to Lexa, pressing their bodies together. "I wasn't out back then. If you'd have said something to me I probably would have been a bitch to you."
Lexa's arms tightened. "Good thing I waited then."
Blue eyes dropped to plump lips, "maybe you shouldn't be so good at waiting. Sometimes you need to…"
"Be brave?" Lexa smirked when Clarke didn't finish her thought.
"Please?"
"Fine." Lexa sighed exaggeratedly. "But this is the last time. Next time it's your turn!"
Clarke tried to fight the grin. She really did. But her mouth didn't want to listen to her. She was still smiling when Lexa's lips lowered to hers. Lexa had her lips barely parted, caressing her lower lip first, then her upper lip, then back to her lower lip. When Clarke's grin broke so she could return the kiss, Lexa captured her lower lip between her own.
Their mouths moved together like they were made to fit together in that eternal dance. They molded to each other like they'd been created to perfectly seal together. Lexa pulled back, just enough so her eyes could flutter open to meet Clarke's. She leaned in quickly and nipped at her lips, smiling softly at the moan her action elicited.
"So worth it." Lexa murmured against Clarke's lips.
"What's worth what?" Clarke whispered back.
Lexa captured her in a swift kiss, pulling her as close as she could before separating with lips with a pop. She grinned at Clarke's dazed look, "Being the brave one."
