CHAPTER 4

The most surprising thing in her life is that Lexa has turned up without her having to tell the brunette where the party would be at. Most importantly, the brunette knows basically everyone in this room, albeit the fact that she rarely recognizes half of these people. She may have grown up here, but most of her time were spent overseas where she been embracing her dreams once she graduated high school. Now that she's back, the city hasn't looked that much different. Rather, the people have grown and either moved away or decided to stay. All of her friends seem to have stayed, to which she feels relief at the fact she wouldn't be left alone all too much. She understands the time for grievance, but grief and solitude never would have made her feel better. So she surrounds herself with the people she knows and of course, the one girl that she's so damn determine to break her out of that shell. She's convinced that if she could get Lexa to relax and enjoy her free time a little bit more, then she'd be able to move on with her grief. So far, her progress has been slow. However, if the brunette turning up at the party like she said she would meant anything, then she doesn't show it.

"So how did you really meet Lexa?" Octavia asks as they're standing at the counter, waiting for their drinks after a good half an hour on the dance floor.

"You know that meadow that we used to play at when we were kids?" Octavia nods before Clarke continues. "I missed the bus first time. No one was driving around in the afternoon and she happened to be the only one there. The same thing happened the second time and she was there. So I figured to play with my luck and see if she'd be there the third time around and she was! Girl seems to love driving aimlessly on an isolated road."

"She's a very reserved person." Octavia comments as Clarke nods in agreement. Their drinks arrive shortly after that. "She and her girlfriend broke up not too long ago."

"Is that why she's reserved and seems to be difficult to socialize with?"

"If I'm difficult to socialize with, then why do you hang around me?" Lexa suddenly appears behind the blonde, causing the latter to chokes and almost spills her drink. Both the brunette look on in amusement as Clarke tries to find her composure.

"Oh geez." Clarke turns, rolling her eyes mockingly at Lexa. "Do I need to tell you again? I'm going to teach you how to have fun!"

Lexa narrows her eyes. "No."

"I'm not giving up, you know."

She earns a frown from Lexa. "You should."

Octavia, at that time, bursts out laughing. "Yea... good luck shaking her off your tail, Lexa. Once she has a goal, she'd stick to it until it's done. Then she'd stick to you for ever more."

Lexa sighs, shaking her head in disapproval. "I'm not a good company."

Both girls watch as the tall brunette turns and left, or rather coming to stand by Lincoln. At that time, Clarke lets out a small laugh which causes Octavia to turn and give her an incredulous look.

"The girl just politely rejected you and you found it amusing?"

Clarke calms down her laughter and shakes her head. "She has been trying to tell me that today. Yet here she is, at a party that I invited her to. She may say that she isn't a good company but let me tell you, O, she is a very good company. Heavy emphasis on the good part." The blonde smiles, downing her drink and walks over to the brunette.

At a light tap of her shoulder, Lexa turns before her eyebrow raises questioningly at Clarke.

"Care to dance?" Clarke asks, hand extending towards her. At that time, all eyes are on them. While Clarke is oblivious to that fact since her attention is 100% on Lexa, the brunette seems to be sensing all kind of emotions, and they don't come from the blonde before her.

Jealous. Envy. Rage. Sometimes, being a professional at not only killing, but reading people without having her eyes on them can be a pain. "I don't th-" Lexa pauses, seeing the disappointment and sadness swirling in those gorgeous ocean blues before sighing in defeat. "Fine." She mutters, placing her hand atop Clarke's. "One dance."

The blonde grins as she grasps the brunette's hand, leading her from the grinning Lincoln and onto the dance floor. It's awkward as first, how Lexa just stands there like a statue. Clarke seems to be the one dancing, and it's obvious to bystanders that she's using Lexa as a pole. Said brunette stands there, rigid, as Clarke sways and grind against her as if she was an actual pole. The blonde is carefree, that much she has learned but this is beyond that. She can't figure out what it is that Clarke is trying to do, but if she was using her to be a pole that obviously, she isn't going to let that happen. So when Clarke turns, attempting to use her as a leverage so she can 'dip low', Lexa has quickly grabs onto the blonde's wrist, pulling her in. Her hand now on the blonde's waist, securely holding her tight as both their bodies are flushed together. At that point, the DJ switches to a slow dance song, much to Lexa's dismay but much to Clarke's enjoyment.

"So you can dance, after all." Clarke breathes, head resting lightly against the crook of Lexa's neck. If the brunette shivered at the sudden warm air, she doesn't notice it.

"Depending on my mood."

"What mood are you in right now?"

The question slightly catches her off guard. Normally, she isn't in a mood for anything. Her showing up to this party it's just a courtesy to keep the blonde happy, even though she isn't quite sure why. "I don't know."

Clarke pulls back and pouts. "You're dancing with me and you don't know what mood you're in?" The brunette gives a small shrug. "You are impossible, Lexa."

At that, Lexa smirks. "I thought you've convinced yourself that I'm not."

"Sometimes," Clarke starts, pursing her lips even more. "You really are impossible."

"I'm only here because you asked me to, Clarke. I'm not here to socialize or dance."

Clarke is touched. She truly is. For someone so reserved like Octavia has said, the brunette shows up because of her request despite them not knowing each other that long or on a personal level.

"Well, is this a start of a friendship at least?" She asks, her heart pounding at the anticipation of Lexa's answer.

"Why are you so determine to be friends with me?"

"Because I want to."

"But I am-"

"Not a good company? I know. I don't care. I want to spend more time with you, unless you don't want to spend time with me then I understand."

There's a tone that she doesn't like, that Lexa isn't quite prepared to hear coming out of Clarke's lips. She is so used to hearing the girl's cheery tone that that sudden sadness in her voice makes the brunette frown. Does she or does she not want to spend time with Clarke? In a way, she feels a bit like herself whenever Clarke is around. She feels free, even if they were just driving aimlessly on the isolated road.

"I do." Lexa replies as she feels Clarke slowly retracts herself from the taller girl's hold.

The blonde quickly looks up, hope shining in her eyes. "You do? You do what?"

Lexa smiles. A smile that Clarke rarely ever sees and it makes her smile as well. After all, seeing Lexa smile is such a rare occasion and she isn't going to let it go to waste. "I do like to spend more time with you, Clarke."

"Good! Shopping tomorrow!" Clarke declares then giggles at the frown that quickly appears on the brunette's features. "Too fast? Or you don't like shopping?"

"I'm not the type of girl for such...things."

"Then you can hold my bags."

"I am also not your chaperon."

"Then we can go to the meadow."

"Why? You seem to have fallen in love with it."

At this, Clarke smiles as she leans forth, arms wrapping around Lexa's neck as she rests her head on the girl's shoulder. "That's the only place that reminds me of him."

Lexa frowns. "Him? Who?"

"My dad."

The brunette's eyes soften. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"It's fine." Clarke shrugs. "It's almost been two weeks since he died."

"You're saying it like it has only been yesterday."

Clarke sighs, pulling back just as the song comes to an end. "Because it feels like yesterday." And before Lexa could get a say, the blonde slowly turns. "I need another drink."

Lexa watches as the blonde goes before turning her head, eyes looking for Lincoln since he's the only one that she can tolerate. Unfortunately, her eyes land on Costia when the latter has been watching her with displeasure. That's when Lexa moves, and it's not away from Costia either.

Once Clarke has received her drink, she turns to see if Lexa would be following her but she knows that the girl wouldn't, doesn't mean she shouldn't look. When she locates the brunette, a frown appears on her face. Lexa seems to be engaged in a conversation with another woman. Sure, it's not like the both of them are progressing to be something more than friends, as Lexa seems to be reluctant about only being friends, but she feels a bit agitated at the fact that the other brunette is trying to put her hand on Lexa, while the latter is avoiding any form of contact. Before she knows it, she finds herself making her way toward the pair until a firm hand grasps her forearm, jerking her into a soft halt.

"I think you should let it be." Lincoln says as blue eyes turn to him.

"You know that woman?" Clarke asks, confused and slightly annoyed at his hand on hers. He releases her arm soon enough when he notices her discomfort.

"Costia. Lexa's former girlfriend." He states.

Clarke's eyes widen as she turns to look at the women. "So she does do relationships."

Lincoln chuckles. "She's not all uptight. If she came here because of you, she must've liked you. Well, enough to put up with your optimistism."

Clarke smiles at that, though the smile quickly disappears when she sees Lexa turning, face contorting into a deep frown and heads towards the exit. "I better go see if she's ok."

Lincoln nods as he, too, sees his cousin storming towards the door. If anything, he knows of the relationship between Lexa and Costia. While he may not like how Costia plays the small part of why Lexa locks herself up in her apartment, only coming out for some necessary air but never interact with anyone. The fact that he is mildly surprise that she has made a friend with Clarke is a statement.

"So, do you think we can get our party animal Lexa Woods back?" Asks Octavia as she joins his side, fingers intertwining with his as she rests her head atop his shoulder.

"It depends on how persuasive Clarke can be."

"Clarke can only be very persuasive when she's drunk."

Lincoln chuckles. "Oh, we'll see."