"Clarke." Lexa whispered softly. Clarke was certain it was a dream, because she could feel that she was warm in her bed, clutching her pillow. "Clarke." Lexa said again, a little more urgently. She could feel Lexa's breath, hot on her chest and it was clear this was not a dream. Clarke opened her eyes to where she was laying partway on top of Lexa, gripping tightly around her neck.
"Shit, I'm sorry." Clarke grunted quietly, peeling herself off of her friend. They laid next to each other, narrow bed not leaving much space between them. Lexa's face was red, strands of her hair matted to her face with sweat. Goosebumps raised near Clarke's collarbone where her skin was the warmest, from the sudden exposure to cool air. She ignored her sore body and the pounding in her head as she watched Lexa take a few gulping breaths.
"I was pretty sure I was going to die." Lexa said, smile in the corners of her lips. "I don't understand how you're such a heavy sleeper."
"You should've just pushed me off." Clarke said, trying hard not to be embarrassed by her sleeping position.
"I didn't want you to fall off the bed or anything. It's not like there's a whole lot of room." Lexa shrugged. There really wasn't. Clarke could feel Lexa's still irregular breaths on her face, only inches away on their shared pillow. She wanted to run a finger over her cheekbones, to feel if the skin there was really as soft as it looked, but instead she stuffed her hand into the pocket of the sweatpants Lexa had lent her to sleep in. "How do you feel?" Lexa asked softly.
"Everything hurts." Clarke groaned. It felt like she had done some serious exercise, but she was knew that wasn't the case.
Lexa chuckled. "Did you sleep okay, at least?" She asked.
"No actually." Clarke mumbled. "I had this terrible dream that Finn kissed me and my mom is going to get married and I spent Halloween crying all over you."
Lexa smirked at her. "Good to see none of that affected your ability to be a complete smartass."
"Shit. I was really hoping none of that was real." Clarke said quietly. Lexa frowned at her apologetically. "I can't believe you even found me."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Last night. You came and found me even though you were mad at me." Clarke said.
"I wasn't mad enough to let anything happen to you." Lexa said seriously. "And it's a good thing I got there when I did, that guy, your ex or whatever, did he hurt you?"
"Who, Finn? No." Clarke shook her head. "He just seriously misread the moment, I think." Clarke frowned.
"I should've just came with you. I could've looked out for you." Lexa sighed.
"I should've just not gotten so drunk. It's not your fault. Plus, you know, we were fighting anyway." Clarke smirked.
"Maybe if you weren't always trying to pick a fight with me." Lexa shrugged, sitting up on the bed.
"I am not!" Clarke sat up, too.
"Listen, um, about all that." Lexa said. She chewed lightly on her bottom lip. Almost like she was nervous. Was she nervous? Clarke wondered for a moment. What could possibly make Lexa nervous? "I was thinking yesterday, after you left-" Lexa started.
"You mean after you made me leave?" Clarke teased.
"There you go, picking fights again." Lexa said, corners of her mouth upturned.
"I am not! Anyway, what were you saying?" Clarke huffed.
"I was saying, after you left yesterday-" She swallowed. "I decided that I want to tell you things." Lexa said. The look on Lexa's face said that this was a big deal, but Clarke didn't quite understand.
"What do you mean?" Clarke asked.
"Things about me." Lexa bit her bottom lip again.
"Oh." Clarke said, surprised. That's what had her so nervous?
"Yeah." Lexa nodded softly.
They sat in silence for a moment, Clarke watched as Lexa looked awkwardly around the room. "So, are you going to?" Clarke chuckled.
"Going to what?" Lexa asked.
"Tell me things." Clarke said.
"Well, I need to be prompted first. Asked questions, you know." Lexa shrugged, as if it was completely obvious.
Clarke fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Fine. Uh, why don't you tell me about-"
"Not here." Lexa said quickly.
"Why not?" Clarke asked.
"It's too much." Lexa said.
"It's too much?" Clarke repeated. "You're worried about telling me personal information in your room because it would be too personal?" She asked, teasing.
"Yes." Lexa said, as seriously as ever.
Clarke chewed on her own lip in thought. "How about we go get breakfast?"
"We definitely need breakfast, but that's not where we'll talk." Lexa said.
"Why not?" Clarke pouted. This was getting frustrating.
"I don't want you ruining my favorite diner." Lexa said simply.
"Why are you assuming it's gonna get ruined?" Clarke asked.
"I don't want to associate it with bad memories." Lexa shrugged.
"Wait a second, does that mean you're gonna associate me with bad memories?" Clarke asked. Lexa rolled her eyes. "What? I'm serious!"
"You're dramatic." Lexa smirked.
"Says the girl who's kept me in suspense for two months." Clarke smirked back.
Lexa rolled her eyes again. "Whatever." A phone vibrated, consistent rumble coming from underneath them. "That's probably yours." Lexa said. She stood, crossing the room to her dresser.
Clarke reached under the bed, feeling around blindly for the phone. By the time she reached it, the vibrations had stopped, and instead she was greeted by the sight of sixty-seven notifications, mostly calls and texts from Octavia and Raven. "What the fuck." Clarke breathed. She swiped to return Raven's most recent call. It rang for less than two seconds before she picked up.
"Clarke! Holy shit!" Raven shouted. Clarke winced at the unexpected noise and clicked to lower the volume. Lexa chuckled, apparently having heard it, too. "We thought you were dead!" She said.
"I didn't." Clarke heard Octavia say in the background.
"Whatever." Clarke could practically hear Raven's eyes roll. "When Finn came back and said you were leaving with some dude but some girl came off and took you instead I figured it was probably just a sex thing-" Raven said, voice somehow still way too loud from the speakers. Clarke looked up at Lexa who was biting back a smirk. "But then you didn't text anyone back and I started to get worried."
"Aw, you do care." Clarke teased.
"Whatever." Raven laughed. "Anyway, what the fuck happened to you last night?" She asked. Clarke opened her mouth to respond, but shut it immediately. On the other side of the small room, Lexa faced the wall and pulled off her shirt, exposing a pale back spotted with intricate tattoos.
"Well, first I got wasted." Clarke said quietly, trying not to look.
"I was there for that." Raven said.
"Then I really don't remember what happened. Then uh, Finn tried to kiss me. Actually, no. He did kiss me."
"Fuck. Seriously?" Raven breathed, her disappointment was obvious.
"Yeah, but then uh, Lexa rescued me." Clarke said. Lexa peeked back toward Clarke at the mention of her name, working a clean black tank top down her rest of her torso. Clarke swallowed hard, trying not to look guilty.
"Lexa? Shit." Raven said quietly.
"I knew it! Ha!" Clarke heard Octavia shout in the background. "Pay up Reyes!"
"You couldn't have lied?" Raven asked dejectedly into the phone.
"Did you guys bet on whether or not I died?" Clarke asked, half offended, half amused.
"Well, technically I just bet against Octavia." Raven said.
"What did she bet?" Clarke asked.
"That you got drunk and slept with Lexa." Raven laughed.
"Rae!" Clarke shushed.
"Oh my god, did you?" Raven asked. Clarke could imagine her face, eyes wide and a splitting grin.
"No!" Clarke said, watching Lexa for any signs of acknowledgment. "Not like that."
"Oh my god, are you still in her room?" Raven asked scandalously.
"Yes." Clarke said in a hushed whisper.
A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Lexa furrowed her brow and crossed the room in three strides to open the door.
"What the fuck?" Clarke said out loud. Raven was on the other side of the threshold in Clarke's Arcadia class of 2014 shirt and a pair of her pyjama shorts.
"Morning." Raven smirked, looking back and forth between Clarke and Lexa.
"How did you get in here?" Clarke asked.
"I slept in your bed last night. Since, you know, you didn't." Raven said, raising her eyebrows slightly.
"You mean you didn't mind listening to O and Lincoln fuck?" Clarke asked, trying to make Raven as uncomfortable as she was.
"They spend the night in his room." Raven said smugly.
"So why was there a sock on the door?" Clarke asked.
"Would you believe I needed beautyrest?" Raven asked, faking a sheepish smile.
"Yes." Clarke growled, eyes lowered.
Raven scoffed, feigning offense with a hand to her heart. "Anyway, I'm here because one, I wanted to personally thank Lexa for saving you from my mistake." Raven said, turning to Lexa. "Thanks for looking out for her." She said.
"No problem." Lexa said, giving her a curt nod before she looked to Clarke for reassurance Raven was being serious. Clarke gave Lexa a small nod in return.
"And the other thing. I think I want to have a small get together at my place tonight. You guys in?" Raven asked.
Lexa looked to Clarke again, an obvious question. "How small?" Clarke asked.
"Small. Just us, O, Linc, Monty, Jasper, Harper, Miller. The usual." Raven shrugged. "I just feel like we're all due for a chill saturday after last night.
Clarke looked to Lexa, raising her eyebrows to question back. "That sounds nice." Lexa said. "I don't think Clarke has ever taken me to a calm party." She chuckled.
Clarke tried to suppress her grin, Raven didn't. "Awesome. Bring anyone you want, it'll be fun." Raven said. "But uh, yeah. I'll let you guys get back to whatever you were doing." Raven said, cocking an implying eyebrow at Clarke before she turned and headed back across the hall.
Lexa shut the door behind her, a bemused smirk on her lips as she examined Clarke for a moment. "So, breakfast?"
"Why not here?" Clarke asked, pointing to a short bench.
"Too public." Lexa said.
"Are you looking for a place to talk, or somewhere to murder me?" Clarke teased.
They walked slowly down the block back toward their dorm, now full of eggs and pancakes. The streets were surprisingly quiet for a Saturday afternoon, majority of students no doubt coping with a post Halloween hangover.
"Possibly both, depending on how it goes." Lexa smirked.
"Why do I get the feeling the most interesting thing I'm gonna get from you is some lame story? Like how once in the fifth grade you called your teacher mom by accident or something-" Clarke asked.
"Wow, that is an oddly specific insult, Clarke." Lexa teased with a knowing eyebrow. "Please, tell me more."
"Okay, it wasn't my fault she actually looked like my mom!" Clarke whined. Lexa laughed. "You've really never called a teacher mom?"
"Not even once." Lexa said.
"Shit." Clarke chuckled. "How about that tree, over there?" She asked.
"Uh, it's a nice tree, I guess?" Lexa said, brow furrowed. "I'm more into flowers than trees though-" Clarke couldn't help but laugh.
"No, Lex, like to sit under. Talk." Clarke said, biting back her laugh.
"I thought I asked you not to call me that." Lexa said, corners of her lips upturned slightly.
"Did you? Hmm, must've blacked that out." Clarke shrugged, grabbing Lexa by the wrist to lead her into the grass.
Clarke plopped down at the base of the tree, crunchy orange leaves flying out from underneath her. Lexa joined her, sitting a little more gracefully. "Alright, well-" Lexa sighed, pushing the sleeves of her cardigan up on her forearms. "Let's get this over with."
Clarke frowned at her expression. "You don't have to do this, you know." She said. "I mean, trust me, I would love to finally get some straight answers-" Lexa bit her bottom lip to hold back a smirk. "But I don't wanna force you into anything."
"You're not forcing me." Lexa said, suddenly very interested in examining a fallen leaf. "I just-" She sighed. "It's been a while." She caught Clarke's eye with half a frown.
"What, since you've had an actual conversation with someone?" Clarke shook her head. "Why does that not surprise me?" She smirked.
"Do you usually get the things you want by insulting people?" Lexa asked, bemused.
"It's worked so far on you." Clarke shrugged, and at that Lexa smirked. They looked at each other for a moment, a honking car on the street briefly catching Clarke's attention.
"Okay." Lexa said suddenly.
"Okay what?" Clarke asked, fighting the urge to chuckle at her friend.
"I'm ready to be questioned now."
"You're ready to be questioned?" Clarke laughed. "What is this, an interrogation?"
"Just ask me some goddamn questions." Lexa sighed, smirking.
"Alright, fine. Since you're so pushy-" Clarke said.
"I thought we were past that." Lexa rolled her eyes.
"Whatever." Clarke said.
"Any day now, Clarke." Lexa said. Leaves crunched underneath her as she shifted, angling her body more toward her friend.
"Right, uh-" Clarke thought for a moment, staring across the grass to the street. "Okay. What happened with Lincoln?" Clarke asked.
"How did I know that would be your first question?" Lexa chuckled. Clarke shrugged, sheepish grin on her lips.
"I've only been asking for weeks." Clarke said.
Lexa took a deep breath, looking off into the distance. She refocused on Clarke's face for a moment. "How much of last night do you remember?" She asked.
"Most of it, I think." Clarke said.
"Do you remember what I told you about Costia?" Lexa asked softly. She looked as if saying the name caused her physical pain, Clarke felt guilty for even witnessing it. She nodded at Lexa. She remembered everything Lexa said last night. In fact, she couldn't stop thinking about it. Lexa took a deep breath, stilling herself. "When she died, Lincoln was here, at school." Clarke watched her intently. "He had to take summer courses through his freshman year as a part of his scholarship." Clarke nodded because it seemed like Lexa was through talking, though she didn't quite understand. "He didn't come to the funeral." Lexa said quietly.
"Oh." Clarke said, wide eyed.
"It wasn't his fault, really." Lexa frowned. "But I was-" She looked to the tree for a moment, apparently searching for words. "I was fucked up, I wasn't in my right mind. I never forgave him for not being there."
"I understand." Clarke nodded. She felt like she should've said something better, something more eloquent and comforting, something that would let Lexa know she really did understand. A small smile crossed Lexa's lips and Clarke realized that maybe in this case, 'I understand' was enough. Lexa looked resigned to her silence. "What was she like? Costia." Clarke asked. The stranger's name felt strange on her tongue, like she shouldn't have said it.
Lexa smiled sadly, glancing at Clarke. "She was wild. Way too much fun for me. Always talking to people, wanting to explore." Lexa chuckled. "It's amazing we were together for so long. She was much cooler than me."
"It sure sounds like it." Clarke teased.
"What was your dad like?" Lexa asked.
"He was the best." Clarke breathed. The question caught her off guard, but it didn't make her answer any less immediate. "I mean I know everyone thinks their parents are the best or whatever, but, he really was." Clarke smiled slightly. Lexa's expression was strange, almost sad.
"I believe you." Lexa said. Clarke wanted to touch her, to hold her, somehow, those three words felt safe. It was more than anyone else was able to give her in a long time.
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the wind shake the leaves, the mutters of passerby, the cars on the street. "So what about Anya? What's the deal with her?" Clarke asked.
"There is no deal." Lexa shrugged.
"Then why are you guys so weird around each other?" Clarke furrowed her brow.
"We're not." Lexa said.
"You so are! Everytime I see you guys you're having some crazy stare down." Clarke said.
Lexa smirked, looking over at Clarke. "You really want to know?" She asked.
"Uh, yeah." Clarke said obviously.
"She doesn't like you." Lexa laughed.
"What?" Clarke exclaimed. "Why?"
"See, I knew you wouldn't take it well." She laughed again. "That's why I never wanted to talk about it."
"What did I ever do to her?" Clarke groaned.
"Anya doesn't like anyone I hang out with other than her." Lexa sighed. "Nothing personal."
"Not even Lincoln?" Clarke asked.
"She's known him as long as I have." Lexa said.
"Are they friends?"
"They used to be." Lexa frowned. "Before everything happened." Clarke nodded at that, a meaningful silence surrounding them.
"Why don't you invite her to the party tonight?" Clarke asked. "Maybe you guys can all finally make up."
"I don't know, Clarke." Lexa frowned from one corner of her mouth.
"Come on, you can't tell me I need to stop holding a grudge against my mom while you still haven't forgiven Lincoln." Clarke insisted.
"I have forgiven him." Lexa said.
"Does he know that?" Clarke asked.
"No."
"Well alright then." Clarke said, very self satisfied. "Why don't you invite Anya to the party tonight?" She added. "You guys can all hang out."
"Uh huh." Lexa said, skeptically.
"What?" Clarke asked.
"You just want a chance to impress Anya, don't you?" Lexa asked.
"Why can't I want both?" Clarke smirked.
"So predictable." Lexa chuckled.
"Whatever, don't act like you don't like it." Clarke shrugged.
"Who says I'm acting?" Lexa teased.
"Thanks." Clarke said seriously.
"For not acting?" Lexa asked, confused.
"No. For telling me things." Clarke clarified.
"Oh. It was only fair." Lexa shrugged.
"Regret it yet?" Clarke asked.
"Not yet."
"Good. Hopefully you never do." Clarke smiled, hoping Lexa would ignore how presumptuous that sounded. "Anyway, call Anya. Invite her to the party. I promise it'll be a good time."
"Yeah." Lexa smiled. "I think I will."
Clarke and Octavia walked in to Raven's apartment to find Lincoln, Lexa and Anya standing in a loose huddle toward the kitchen, all holding beers and laughing together. It was bizarre, not only to see them interact for once, but to see Lexa so open and unguarded around other people. Lexa noticed her come in before anyone else. She grinned as she approached Clarke.
"Hey." Lexa smiled. Clarke's heartbeat a little faster at her affectionate tone. As they met in the center of the room, Clarke could tell her eyes were glassy. Without warning, Lexa pulled her in for a hug, too warm and smelling of whiskey. Clarke almost didn't care that she was drunk. "I'm glad you're here." Lexa said when she finally released Clarke.
"Yeah, well, I am the one who invited you." Clarke laughed.
"Right." Lexa chuckled.
"So how long have you been here? Considering you've had enough time to get drunk-"
"I am not!" Lexa laughed. "Okay. I am. A little bit. This much-" Lexa said, gesturing with a space between her fingers. "We, the three of us-" She said, gesturing to Anya and Lincoln, who now had an arm around Octavia's waist. "We went to get drinks before we came here."
"Ah." Clarke nodded. "So it went well?"
"Really well." Lexa grinned. "I feel good."
Clarke couldn't help but grin back at her. "I'm happy for you."
"Thank you. For helping me do this." Lexa said seriously.
Clarke felt her cheeks warm up. "Well, really you were just taking your own advice."
"I never would've without you." Lexa said, placing a hand on Clarke's cheek. Clarke felt like she couldn't breathe, vaguely aware of Lincoln and Anya watching them.
"Ayo! Party's here!" Jasper shouted. The rest of their friends must have came together, because within seconds the living room was crowded with delinquents fanning out, lots of nods and hello's and hugs.
"Someone needs to teach Jasper what low key means." Raven said, entering the room from the hallway.
"Someone needs to teach Raven what fun means." Jasper said as he and Monty unloaded their bags onto a small round kitchen table, filling a plate with brownies.
"Remind me why I always invite you to these things?" Raven asked as she approached them.
"Because you can't invite Monty without inviting me?" Jasper asked, laughing as he stuffed a brownie into his mouth.
"Exactly." Raven smirked. She put on some music, upbeat pop hits kept the mood up as the friends mingled.
Clarke noticed Anya wandering toward where she was talking with Lexa. "So, how is the classmate?" Anya asked, directed more toward Lexa than to Clarke, despite it being about her.
"The classmate is great." Clarke said. "Just having a great ol' time in class with Lexa."
Lexa rolled her eyes at Anya. "She knows, Clarke." She laughed.
"Knows what?" Clarke feigned innocence.
"She knows we're not classmates." Lexa said.
"It was a shit lie, anyway." Anya chuckled.
"Sup bitches?" Raven said, slinging an arm over Clarke's shoulder. "I'm glad you came, Lexa." She smiled. "And I'm sure Clarke is, too." Clarke glared at her in response. "You guys wanna play a game or something?" She asked. Lexa's eyes lit up.
"Where's your cocky friend?" Lexa asked.
"I thought I was the cocky friend." Raven chuckled.
"So you're cocky?" Anya asked. Raven bit her lip.
"Confident, really." Raven said.
"It's well deserved." Anya said in a low voice.
Clarke looked to Lexa, trying to get help assessing their friend's strange behavior, but Lexa apparently hadn't even noticed.
"He's like this tall-" Lexa gestured. "Dark curly hair-"
"Oh, you mean Bellamy?" Clarke asked.
"He lives here, so I'm sure he'll be by at some point." Raven said.
"Excellent." Lexa said. Clarke had no doubt she was looking to challenge him in beer pong again.
"Yo! Assholes! Should we play a game or something?" Raven asked, drawing everyone's attention.
"Yeah. But please, no pong. I'm so tired of it." Jasper groaned.
"No. You're tired of losing." Monty laughed.
"I know! Since we have some new friends, why don't we play never have I ever?" Raven grinned devilishly. Clarke groaned as the rest of her friends hummed in agreement. It seemed like everyone in attendance was interested in figuring someone else out. Clarke was, too, but this didn't seem like the best way to do it. Everytime she played never have I ever with her friends, she came out of it drunk and looking very bad. "Make sure you have a drink!"
"It's been forever, hasn't it?" Lexa laughed, looking over at Anya who nodded with a smile. She passed Clarke a beer before turning back to Raven.
"Alright, everyone come sit." Raven commanded, patting the space next to her on the floor. Clarke sat on the right of Lexa, between her and Harper. She was directly across from Raven in the circle, and she knew immediately that it was a mistake.
"Can we at least pretend that we're gonna play it right instead of using it as an excuse to learn way too much about each other's sex lives?" Monty asked as he took a seat between Jasper and Miller.
"You can, but I won't." Miller laughed.
"Why don't you start, Monty?" Raven asked. "We can go counter clockwise so Nate's last."
Monty nodded. "Alright, never have I ever- uh, been to California."
"Wait so, do we drink if we've done it? Or if we haven't done it?" Harper asked.
"If you have." Raven said.
Harper nodded and took a sip of her drink, so did Clarke. She caught Lexa looking at her out of the corner of her eye and raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Was it nice there?" Lexa asked quietly.
"It was beautiful." Clarke said. "But I was fourteen and my parents dragged me along on their romantic vacation to Napa Valley, so it wasn't a whole lot of fun." She laughed. Lexa smiled back at her.
"Never have I ever-" Jasper started, cut short by his own laughter. "Never have I ever taken a massive hit from Monty's gravity bong without coughing." Jasper laughed again.
"You can't do that! It's way too specific! I'm literally the only person here who would have to drink." Monty huffed.
"That's why it's so funny!" Jasper said defensively.
"He's right." Raven said. "House rules. No intentionally specific ones allowed."
"Boo, you guys suck." Jasper groaned.
"Try again." Raven smirked.
"Fine. Uh, okay. Never- never have I ever- shit. Uh- I've never- flown a kite?" Jasper said.
"You've never flown a kite?" Clarke laughed.
"Have you?" Jasper asked.
Clarke thought about it for a moment, and she couldn't think of a single instance of a time she'd actually flown a kite. "I guess not." She shrugged. No one took a drink.
"Seriously? None of us has ever flown a kite?" Jasper asked. "Well that's gotta be some fucked up depraved childhood shit." He laughed.
"Never have I ever- had a sibling." Raven said. Clarke noticed Lexa look to Lincoln, who shook his head at her. No one picked up their drink aside from Octavia.
"What the hell, Rae?" Octavia huffed. "You just said no specific ones!"
"How was I supposed to know you're the only person here with a sibling?" Raven laughed. "Don't be a baby." She teased. Octavia stuck her tongue out at Raven before taking a sip from her drink.
"Never have I never not had a sibling." Octavia said, staring defiantly at Raven.
"Aw come on, she can't do that!" Jasper said.
"Just drink." Raven chuckled. "Or else we'll never hear the end of it." Quietly, everyone but Octavia sipped their beers and shifted their attention to Lincoln.
"Never have I ever failed a class." Lincoln said.
Clarke groaned, but cut herself short at the way Lexa grinned. What a nerd. Clarke, Octavia, Jasper, and Harper all drank. She noticed Lexa eyeing her again, and understood it to be a question. "It was the ninth grade and I thought I was too cool for health, so I never went." Clarke laughed. "My mom was livid."
"I can imagine." Lexa smirked.
"Never have I ever seen Harry Potter." Anya said, staring across the room to where a Ravenclaw banner was hung.
"What?!" Raven exclaimed in complete horror.
"How is that even possible?" Harper asked.
"Yeah, have you even been alive for the past twenty years?" Jasper laughed.
"I never had the chance as a kid." Anya shrugged. "And by the time it became a big deal I just didn't have an interest."
"That's crazy, you would love it." Raven insisted.
"How would you know?" Anya asked.
"Because everyone loves it. The only people who don't love Harry Potter are liars." Raven huffed.
"Are you all going to drink, or what?" Anya asked. Raven glared at her. Everyone raised their drinks aside from Anya, Lincoln and Lexa.
"Aren't you going to drink?" Clarke asked.
"I've never seen it either." Lexa admitted.
"I can't believe you kept that a secret!" Clarke said. "I mean how many times have I told you that you're a total Slytherin just to find out you don't even know what that means-"
"I do have the internet, Clarke." Lexa laughed. Clarke couldn't help but laugh too, at the idea of Lexa actually looking up what a Slytherin was. "But maybe we can watch them sometime." She added.
Clarke bit back a grin. "Yeah, we will."
"Whenever you two are finished, it's Lexa's turn." Raven said, giving Clarke an implying look.
"Right, sorry." Lexa said, she looked back to the circle to address the group. "Never have I ever been on an airplane." Lexa said.
"Seriously?" Raven asked. "I'm gonna be fucked up by the end of this game." She raised her drink and again, everyone but Anya, Lincoln and Lexa drank.
"Never have I ever- shit. I probably should've thought of one, huh?" Clarke asked.
"You think?" Octavia giggled.
"Never have I ever- been to D.C." Clarke said, she looked over to see Lexa smile at her before she took a drink. Anya scowled, first at Clarke, then at Lexa. She and Lincoln drank, too.
"I thought you were trying to get Anya to like you?" Lexa laughed, whispering to Clarke.
"I panicked." Clarke shrugged.
"It was funny." Lexa said.
"Never have I ever had a real boyfriend." Harper said.
"As opposed to, what? A fake boyfriend?" Monty asked.
"No." Harper rolled her eyes. "Like, an official boyfriend. With a title."
Clarke sighed, feeling deliberately victimized. She raised her drink to her friends, Octavia, Raven and Miller in an unofficial cheers before drinking yet again.
"Oh no, here we go." Monty laughed, looking at Miller.
"Alright, you guys ready?" Miller grinned mischievously. "Never have I ever had sex with a woman."
"Really?" Raven asked.
"Well, when you figure out you're gay by age twelve, you don't really feel the need to experiment." He laughed.
"Well, you bitches gonna drink or what?" Raven laughed. There were a couple of chuckles and the sound of shuffling for drinks. Miller, Octavia and Raven were the only ones who didn't move. Clarke smirked as Lincoln and Anya quietly clicked their cans together in cheers before they turned to Lexa and did the same. Clarke tried her best to be subtle, but she couldn't help but stare as Lexa took a long gulp from her beer.
"Hey Clarke." Raven called. Clarke quickly looked over at her, terrified she would make fun of her staring.
"Hmm?" She hummed.
"Shouldn't you be drinking?" Raven asked, a menacing twinkle in her eye.
"Right." Clarke blushed, feeling several pairs of eyes on her as she tipped back her beer, finishing it. When she set it down, she tried not to notice the way Lexa was examining her.
"Well, now I know how I'm going to win this game." Miller laughed.
"Never have I ever fucked in a car." Lexa laughed. The game had gone on for a while, getting increasingly explicit as everyone got drunk. Clarke felt like her cheeks matched her cup, bright red.
"I thought fucking in cars was a teenage staple for like, everyone?" Raven laughed.
"When I was a teenager none of my friends had cars." Lexa shrugged.
"It's a city thing." Anya said.
"That sucks." Raven said. Clarke couldn't help but imagine being in a dark car with Lexa on top of her, seat belt buckle digging into her back as she moved to unzip her jeans- Someone needed to change the subject.
"Hey, anyone wanna come smoke?" Jasper asked. There were a few murmurs in agreement from the right side of the circle.
"We're good." Octavia said after momentarily conferring with Lincoln. She sat in his lap, head back, looking relaxed.
"So what, game's over?" Raven asked.
"Yeah, wanna come hotbox your bathroom?" Jasper asked, helping Monty up as he stood.
"I'm good for now. Just don't set fire to anything." Raven smirked.
"That was one time!" Jasper said.
"And you'll never live it down." Raven laughed. Jasper led the way down the hall toward the bathroom, Monty, Harper and Miller followed. "Alright, I think I need some liquor." Raven said, stretching as she stood. Anya stood quickly, too.
"I'll join you." Anya said. Clarke looked between the two of them, still confused. She looked to Lexa, who again was not paying attention as they disappeared into the kitchen.
"So, you like girls?" Lexa asked suddenly. Clarke nearly choked on her drink. "Or was it just a one time thing?"
Clarke immediately flashed back to the game, when Raven made sure she drank for having slept with a girl. She could feel her face burning. "I- I- uh. Yeah. I like girls." Clarke nodded awkwardly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lexa asked. Her expression was strange.
Clarke shrugged. "For the same reasons you didn't tell me, I guess." Lexa nodded, a quiet understanding between them.
"Was it Raven?" Lexa asked, looking across the room to where Raven and Anya had reemerged with refreshed cups.
"What?" Clarke asked.
"The girl you slept with."
"Ew! No. She's one of my best friends."
"Friends can't find friend's attractive?" Lexa asked, staring at her. Clarke swallowed hard.
"I didn't say that." Clarke managed. "She's just, Raven. Plus, she's straight."
"Doesn't look so straight to me." Lexa laughed, watching Raven again as Anya ran a thumb over her hand.
"Holy shit." Clarke laughed. "Have they been like that since you got here?"
"They were weird. Like they knew each other or something." Lexa shrugged. She laid back on the floor, smiling at the ceiling. Clarke scooted closer to her, for a better look at her face.
"I can't believe we've been friends this long and this is the first time I'm seeing you like, actually drunk." Clarke said.
"I know, I know. I don't get drunk around you." Lexa laughed.
"Why not?" Clarke asked.
"Because drunk people can't keep secrets." Lexa laughed. "And you always ask so many questions."
"But you're drunk now." Clarke said.
"I've decided that secrets are too stressful. I feel good today. I don't need secrets today." Lexa said.
"What about tomorrow?" Clarke asked. Lexa only shrugged and smiled in response. "It's nice to see you smile."
"You make me smile." Lexa said.
"You're going to hate yourself for saying that tomorrow." Clarke knew that she was blushing, but she bet Lexa didn't notice. She glanced around the room, Raven was engrossed in conversation with Anya, Octavia and Lincoln were busy kissing, no one was watching them. Clarke relaxed a little.
"Do you?" Lexa asked.
"What?"
"Hate me for saying it." Lexa said.
"No." Clarke smiled.
"Good." Lexa nodded.
In what seemed like way too short a time, the rest of the party returned, heavy lidded. "Let's do body shots!" Jasper yelled.
"What part of low key and chill did you not understand?" Raven chuckled.
"Come on, we didn't bring that tequila for nothing." Jasper said, pointing across the room to the bottle.
Clarke noticed Lexa perk up. "You a fan of tequila?" She smirked.
Lexa nodded. "First liquor I ever had. I was twelve."
"As in twelve years old? Holy shit." Clarke said. She couldn't tell whether or not Lexa was joking.
"I know. It's not the worst thing I did when I was twelve, either." Lexa laughed. She shook her head suddenly, as if she was trying to clear it out. "I shouldn't talk about that stuff though. We're having fun. You're having fun, right?" She asked.
"I'm having fun." Clarke nodded.
"Good." Lexa smiled. "You deserve it."
"I've gotta use the bathroom real quick, are you gonna be okay here?" Clarke asked her.
"Okay? I'm great. Today is great." Lexa laughed.
"Alright, I'll be right back." Clarke said. She trekked down the hallway as quickly as she could without looking silly, feeling responsible for her drunk friend.
By the time she returned, Clarke noticed a drunk Lexa very enthusiastically eating a brownie out of the corner of her eye, encouraged by Monty and Jasper. Immediately, she dashed to her side. "You know those are space brownies, right?" Clarke asked, note of panic obvious. Lexa cocked a questioning eyebrow at her. "They're pot brownies, Lex." Clarke said. Lexa's eyes widened in surprise, larger than Clarke would've thought possible.
"Oh shit." Lexa laughed. She opened her mouth and started spitting the remainder of the brownie out onto her plate. Clarke hated that it was more endearing than gross, particles of spongy chocolate still stuck to the sides of her mouth. She rolled her eyes, despite being thankful that for once she wasn't the one who needed taking care of. She grabbed a napkin from the table and quickly swiped it along Lexa's cheeks and mouth.
"How many did you eat?" Clarke asked.
"One? Two maybe." Lexa chuckled. "I don't know."
"Okay, that's fine, cause people don't get high the first time anyway-"
Lexa laughed again. "It's not my first time getting high."
"It's not?" Clarke asked. "You told me you don't do drugs."
"Yeah, not anymore." Lexa laughed, rolling her eyes a little, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Clarke wanted to ask more, but it felt like she would be taking advantage of her. She resigned to ask her about it in the morning. There were more important things right now.
Within twenty minutes, she was on the floor again, sitting next to Lexa as she laid on the floor with Monty and Jasper. It was a hilarious sight, Lexa with a wide seemingly-permanent grin and eyelids mostly closed. She pretended not to notice as Lexa stroked a long finger under her chin and along the skin of her neck.
"How am I supposed to get you back home?" Clarke teased.
"I can walk, Clarke. I still have legs."
"You do." She chuckled. "Long ones."
"Do you like them?" Lexa asked.
"What?" Clarke asked.
"My legs." Lexa said, propping herself up on her elbows.
"Uh, yeah." Clarke coughed. "I do."
"Your's are nicer." Lexa hummed.
"You think?" Clarke asked.
Lexa nodded, a long swing of her head. "I look at them a lot."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I like to look at you." Lexa said. Clarke was blushing once again.
"We should head back to the dorm. I'm sure someone on our floor is being too loud." Clarke said. "You're missing out on busting them."
"You ever realize you're like the cops?" Jasper asked Lexa.
"What?" Lexa laughed.
"You're like the cops, man. Cause you gotta dime people out and shit." Jasper said.
"No dude, she's like- the leader. Like the captain or whatever." Monty said.
"You're like- you're like- the fucking captain of the 6th floor, you know that? Like the fucking president! The president of the sixth floor!" Jasper laughed wildly.
"You ready to go?" Clarke asked Lexa, standing from the floor.
"Are you disrespecting her?" Jasper asked.
"What?" Clarke asked.
"Are you fucking disrespecting your president? Are you kidding me, Clarke? Is this serious? That's the fucking president, Clarke! She's your fucking president!" Jasper yelled. Lexa watched, laughing. "You need to show some goddamn respect for your president! Okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, yeah, okay-" Clarke started, just to shut him up.
"No! You can't just say okay! You can't! She's the goddamn president, Clarke. She's your fucking commander-in-chief-"
"Technically, no one voted for her, so she can't be the president-" Clarke said.
"Clarke I swear to god, I swear to fucking God. Disrespect your president in front of me again and I'm gonna lose it. She's not even my president! She's not even my commander in chief and I have more respect for her than you do!" Jasper yelled.
"You do need to respect your commander, Clarke." Monty nodded.
"Yeah Clarke." Lexa grinned. "Respect your commander."
"You guys are never hanging out again." Clarke laughed. Lexa took her hand and she pulled her up, yelling out goodbyes before they slipped out of the door into the night.