Clarke was anxious. She hoped Lexa wouldn't awake before she could leave the car in whatever city she would end up in. For now she just needed to drive as far away as possible from the brunette.
She kept thinking about how Lexa seemed to care about her. How Lexa Woods looked at her. How the famous CEO tried to get informations from her. But Lexa couldn't know the truth. Clarke couldn't keep it out of her mind. The picture of the Woods destroying her family. The image of Lexa approaching her with questions.
Clarke was freaking out. A few months before turning eighteen, Clarke had been told by her mother that she may not have her authorization renewed. Her mother could stay because her work was important. But Clarke was Jake Griffin's daughter. The one who had refused to leave the country when his visa burnt out because he wanted to stay with his family. Abby Griffin had refused to leave the country to live a normal life with them. No. She had wanted to stay in the country that refused to grant a permanent visa to Jake Griffin. In the country that might not give her daughter a visa when the girl would turn eighteen. She had chosen to stay.
And because of her, Jake had died.
Clarke's grip hardened on the wheel. Nine years in this country and she couldn't even stay ? She was only twenty-one. She could do so much for this country. But it didn't want her. No one wanted her.
Not even her mother who chose her work over her family. Not even her boyfriend who only wanted her for sex. And now I'm fucking carrying his baby.
She pushed the pedal a bit more, making the car go faster. She had to go away.
She let go of it, tired of being angry all the time. She needed to take a break. She stopped at a rest area. She looked into the glove compartment and found what she wanted. Change. At least twenty dollars. There wasn't anything else. Lexa wasn't the ostentatious type.
She went into the area shop. She really needed to eat. She bought a coffee from the machines and tons of chocolate bars. Chocolate. She craved for it.
She also needed to go to the bathroom but she'd rather eat before. Food. Chocolate. When was the last time she had eaten ? She had drunk a beer before leaving the bar with Echo. That had been it.
She went outside and sat on the pavement as there were no tables inside where she could've laid her food on. She took a few sips of coffee, enjoying the aroma, and soon bit into her first chocolate bar. Damn. She didn't have anything that good in a very long time.
She closed her eyes, enjoying each bite.
Lexa was driving faster than she should but there weren't many cars on the road, just a couple trucks in front and behind her. She had to find Clarke. She wasn't letting the tiny dark blue point on her phone disappear.
But at some point, she saw it slowing down until it wasn't moving on the map anymore. Lexa pushed the pedal harder. Now was her chance.
She parked her car on a rest area. She looked at the shop from afar before getting out of the car. She saw blonde hair shining in the dark, illuminated by the shop's lights coming through the windows.
She was careful to stay unnoticed.
There she was.
Clarke was chewing chocolate, her eyes closed. She had chocolate on the corner of her lips and Lexa found the blonde absolutely adorable. She looked like a kid. A little girl with her chocolate bar. Lexa calmly sat besides her.
''I could give you as many chocolate bars as you want.'' she said.
Clarke froze. Was that... ? She opened her eyes. Lexa was sitting right next to her. She didn't turn her head. She didn't look at her. She had been found again. Her nightmare was never going to let go of her.
''Why are you running again, Clarke ?'' Lexa asked at the blonde's well-known silence.
Clarke had been okay for a few minutes. She had drunk coffee and eaten chocolate. She had forgotten everything. The bitterness crushing her heart. The pain.
She rose, walking into the shop. She needed to pee. Just ignore her. As if she could.
She went to the toilets, and when she got out, she saw Lexa waiting for her near the sinks.
She washed her hands, trying her best not to explode. Lexa Woods had followed her. Clarke felt trapped.
''You stole my car.'' Lexa stated, wanting to make Clarke react.
And Clarke did, by pulling the keys out of her jeans pocket and coming to put them right beside Lexa, staring at her through the whole process.
Lexa was leaning against one of the sinks, looking deep into Clarke's eyes. She didn't move when the blonde said ''For how long are you planning on stalking me ?''
''Until I'm sure you're safe.''
Clarke let out a laugh. ''Lexa Woods having feelings. You picked the wrong girl to run after.''
Lexa grabbed Clarke by the waist and reversed their position. Clarke was now the one leaning against the sink. She could feel Lexa's body against hers. She could see the green shades in the brunette's eyes. She could smell Lexa's scent. She could almost feel the girl's breath.
Shit. Her head was spinning from all the feelings that were overwhelming her.
''What's wrong, Clarke ? You still think I picked the wrong girl ?'' Lexa clearly used the effect she had on Clarke to win this argument.
Clarke's hormones were driving her crazy. Her pregnancy was making fun of her, and she couldn't think of getting away from Lexa. Even if she had to. She approached her face from the brunette's, feeling the girl's comforting warmth. Her glance fell on Lexa's lips. She had kissed them once and she had felt the urge to do it again since then, but she never did because they were Lexa Woods'. But Lexa was so close to her. Their lips were almost touching. Clarke was feeling Lexa's breath on her upper lip.
Why does she have to be so fucking attractive ? Clarke thought.
Lexa almost had Clarke's lips on hers and she slightly moved her head to reach Clarke's right ear.
''Tell me Clarke,'' she whispered, her voice making Clarke shiver, ''do you have a home I can bring you to ?''
''No.''
She had answered straight away, not able to think about anything else than Lexa's proximity. But Lexa stepped back, and Clarke's mind was harshly brought back to reality.
Her eyes widened. Had Lexa just made her spit out one of her secrets ? So easily. Because Clarke couldn't handle herself.
Clarke walked to the other side of the washroom, her back turned to Lexa. Now she hated herself even more. She already had no control over the situation, and now she couldn't even control herself.
You can't want her. She's a Woods.
She then felt something between her legs. She was wet. But not the wet she would've expected. Pregnant wet. Clarke was glad Lexa couldn't see her face right now because it was covered with shame. First she had had to let her fly button open because her pants were becoming too small for her belly, and now she had wet herself.
''Clarke, don't be scared, I just want to help you.'' Lexa said softly.
But Lexa wasn't helping her. She was making things worse. Clarke had so much shame. About her feelings, about her body, about her whole life.
And she was scared. She was frightened by the fact that Lexa Woods kept going after her. A worldwide reknown CEO whose father had caused her father's death. Even if Lexa Woods' intentions seemed good, Clarke couldn't take the risk of being discovered.
So she ran again, leaving the room by the left door.
Dammit, Lexa cursed. She took the right door, trying to follow the blonde who was already out of sight.
Clarke ran through the shop, grabbing chocolate bars on her way out. She heard an employee shouting and knew she had to go faster. She needed those goddamn chocolate bars. She needed them. She was so hungry and they were the only things in the whole world who could make her feel better for a few minutes. The only things who would not leave her with shame.
She went to the car she had stolen from Lexa and searched for the keys. Shit ! I gave them back.
She heard the employee yelling at her and let go of the car, running through the parking lot. He was after her. She knew running was useless as she had nowhere to go, especially in the middle of nowhere without a car.
There was the highway and nothing around.
But she wasn't thinking anymore. What had she become ? She was pregnant at twenty-one without any money. She had nowhere to go. She had quit the only job she could get. And she was probably about to be discovered.
She had never been as scared in her whole life as now. Not even when she got lost when she was seven. Not even when they arrived in a place as big as America. Not even when she was watching the news on TV the day her father died.
She felt her wrist being grabbed, and then her waist. The bars fell.
''You're coming back inside and I'm calling the police.'' the man said.
Clarke tried to free herself from the man's grip but he was stronger than her.
Tears were streaming down her face again. It's over. She had thrown the tiny piece of freedom she had left for chocolate bars. As if she wasn't ashamed enough.
''Let her go.'' another voice said.
''No way ! She stole from the shop ! If I let her go my boss will fire me !''
''If you don't I'll make sure you get fired.''
The man turned towards the one speaking to him, thinking of a joke. But then he saw Lexa Woods' face. His boss was working for another boss who was working for Woods Enterprises. Lexa was on top of it all. Her face was everywhere.
He let go of the young woman who threw herself on the floor to grab a bar, rip up the paper surrounding it and throw it in her mouth.
The man returned to its job, not willing to lose it for a few chocolate bars. He'd tell his boss Lexa Woods was here and, if he wasn't believed, video surveillance would prove his words.
Lexa saw the blonde lying on the floor, compulsively swallowing each chocolate bar, one after another.
Clarke's eyes were filled with tears and her face covered with them.
Lexa also noticed Clarke's opened fly button. And this time, Lexa couldn't stop the tears from coming out of her eyes. She was brokenhearted by Clarke's pain.
I just want to help, she mentally apologized. She felt guilty for Clarke's current condition. Clarke had to run away for some reasons and Lexa kept coming after her, scaring her, making her break the law to escape her.
She sat behind Clarke, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. She had to do something. She couldn't just leave her like this ! Clarke had to let her help !
Clarke had finished all of her bars and she was moaning, scratching the floor covered in bars' papers.
Lexa laid a hand on the blonde's face, removing the hair from it. She was trying to soothe her by caressing her cheek with the back of her hand.
''Clarke.'' she said, her voice broken. ''Clarke, please, come with me.''
But Clarke cried even more, shaking. The weight of shame was so heavy on her she thought she would never be able to stand up again.
''Clarke, please...'' Lexa whispered, laying a hand on the girl's arm. ''Let me take care of you.'' She added, her voice so low it was almost covered by Clarke's cries.
It took a while for Clarke to stop crying. She let Lexa bring her to her car. She fell asleep on the back seat.
Lexa stopped at a motel. They were both exhausted. Clarke was still sleeping. Lexa had to wake her up to get inside the motel, but Clarke was barely standing, half sleeping. Lexa carried her and put her into bed. She sat into the wheelchair near the door and fell asleep hoping Clarke wouldn't wake up before her and run away again.
When Clarke woke up, she found food and clothes on a chair beside the bed. She grabbed the food and ate it faster than it took her to discover it. She then looked at the clothes. They were new. A bit bigger than her current ones. And there were new shoes, too.
She went to take a shower and put the new clothes on afterwards. They fitted her. She sat on the bed, putting a pillow against her chest and bringing her knees to it. She remembered everything that had happened last night. What have I done ?
The door opened half an hour later. Lexa was back and glad to see the blonde hadn't run away. She saw Clarke on the bed, wearing the clothes she had bought her this morning.
She sat on the bed in front of her. Clarke's grip hardened on her knees.
''I'd like you to see my doctor.'' Lexa simply announced. ''He won't say anything, I promise.''
Clarke didn't say anything. Lexa was right, she had to see a doctor. She was offered the chance to see a doctor for free. Hopefully she wouldn't have to tell her story.
She followed Lexa. It was almost the end of the afternoon. There was no one into the doctor's room.
''Hello, Lexa.''
''Hi, Jackson.''
Jackson was here for Lexa when she needed him the most. He had always been. Before she met him the first time, she had refused to keep seeing her father's doctor. He was always following her father's orders and he would tell him everything about their appointments. Lexa couldn't stand being watched anymore so she stopped going to the doctor. Until she really needed to see one.
And there was Jackson. Both her doctor and her friend. Without him, she'd certainly be dead.
Clarke followed the man to the other side of the room. He closed the big curtain separating both sides. Clarke was glad she was given this privacy.
She laid down on the bed.
''Let's check you first.'' Jackson said with a smile.
Clarke didn't like being touched this way, being looked at, but she had no choice. After he examined her, he decided to check on her baby and made a scan. It was tiny but it had the shape of a baby. Clarke's baby. Finn's baby. It was still hard for her to accept. She couldn't believe the baby she was seeing on the screen was hers. It's so real. It was too soon to tell its gender, but Clarke didn't care right now. Accepting a baby was hard enough, she didn't need to know she was expecting a girl or a boy. It would only make things harder. Too real.
''She's shaken but she and her baby are both okay. I guess she's a lucky girl.'' Jackson explained when they got back to his desk.
I bet she is, Lexa thought. Clarke had admitted she had no home. Did she live on the streets ? After all, she was found into one of the company's storage rooms. She had tried to sleep in a safer and warmer place and Lexa had blamed her for it.
Lexa thanked Jackson who refused the money she wanted to give him and left. Clarke followed her but stopped in front of Lexa's car.
''Can I go now ?'' she asked.
Lexa's heart bumped into her chest. She thought Clarke was going to come with her to some place safe. But the blonde didn't seem ready to let her help.
''Come with me to WE. I'll give you your money back. You worked for me, you earned it. It's yours. Rent some place for you and your incoming baby.''
Clarke looked down, then up again, biting her lip. There was no way she was telling Lexa she couldn't possibly rent some place because she didn't have the papers required to do it.
''Have your job back, Clarke.'' Lexa added. ''You need the money and I need you. I won't find any translator as good as you. You really did some good job.''
''Apart from puking during your meeting and insulting you ?''
Lexa laughed and Clarke looked away thinking about how beautiful it sounded.
''You may not be employee of the month, but you're still great.''
Clarke smiled slightly. It was the first time in ages someone told her she was great and actually sounded sincere. Since Dad.
Clarke was confused. Lexa Woods was too nice to be a Woods.
Clarke wasn't sure yet if she could trust her. She really wanted too, but she was also really scared.
Hey !
What do you think of this chapter ?
For how long do you think Clarke will keep lying and fighting ? Will she even be able to get out of that nightmare of hers ?
Next chapter might come sooner than expected. See ya !