Chapter 4

First Date

They'd agreed on an afternoon date, meeting in a small coffee-shop right next to the campus. Lexa had decided that it was only a small thing, which probably wouldn't lead to anything, besides the blond not stalking her anymore. Yet the fear in her stomach as she entered the place was still the same as when she'd first gone to that diner, a week earlier. It even seemed worst.

As she passed the door, letting it close behind her, she instantly noticed Clarke seating at one of the tables. The blond noticed her, too, and waved at her, a smile on her lips. The flash of déjà vu which hit her was dizzying, but she walked forward, to the table, and sat down.

"Hey! You came!" Clarke declared excitedly.

It was enough to fight Lexa's dizziness. She frowned.

"Of course, why wouldn't I have come?"

Clarke's cheek turned slightly red, and Lexa couldn't help but find the sight endearing, and very familiar, which send a shiver down her spine.

"Well, I was kind of afraid I had scared you off and you only agreed so I could let you go to class."

Lexa chuckled, which made the other girl smile.

"Believe me, I don't agree to that often. But seeing the circumstances..."

Clarke nodded.

"I know. It's a bit scary, isn't it?"

Lexa nodded. She decided to not elaborate on her thought, however, as the waitress came to take their orders. Lexa ordered a tea, and Clarke a hot chocolate. They waited silently for their order, not sure what to say, leaving a cloud of awkwardness floating over them. Lexa wanted to start a conversation but found she didn't know much about the blond and didn't know what to ask her. Yet a voice in her head kept telling her to ask about art, about what Clarke had been drawing lately, as if she knew, instinctively, that the other girl was an artist. Finally, two cups were placed on their tables, and Lexa could occupy her hands with her tea. She blew lightly on the hot beverage, so focused on cooling the drink that she didn't hear what Clarke said. She looked up, only to find the blond expecting her answer.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked you what you were studying ?"

"Oh, I studying law, mostly."

"A lawyer, hum?"

Lexa shrugged.

"Hopefully. You?"

"I'm studying art."

Lexa felt her heart freeze over, but suddenly the sight of Clarke's eyes was enough to make her feel better and forget her fears. So Lexa focused on that, her perfect blue eyes. This time, instead of drowning in them, she was floating, letting herself follow the current and ignoring everything else around.

"I don't know why, but it doesn't surprise me." Lexa declared.

"What, do I look like an artist?" Clarke asked playfully.

"Well, for starters, you have some paint on your forehead."

Clarke blushed furiously, her eyes growing wide in surprise. She tried to rub her forehead, but only managed to make Lexa laugh.

"Just above your eyebrow. I don't think you can get rid of it so easily."

Clarke sighed.

"Well, I guess you'll have to continue staring at me with paint on my face."

Lexa couldn't help but blush, and she took a sip of her tea.

"What color is it?"

Lexa looked once again above Clarke's eyebrow, at the small and faint trace of paint mating her skin.

"It's teal."

Clarke frowned until she finally remembered when she'd used teal paint. She then took a sip of her hot chocolate, careful to clean her upper lip from the foam stuck there.

"So, Octavia told me you just moved in. How do you like Arcadia?"

"It's nice. Smaller than Polis but it's good. It's closer to nature, too, and I like that."

Clarke nodded.

"Have you been to the park yet? It's pretty massive so even I don't think I've ever seen it in its entirety, but still, it's pretty nice."

"Which one, the Station Park?"

"Yep."

"Yes, I did traverse it last Sunday or something."

"Traverse? Like, length or width?"

Lexa shrugged, taking another sip of her tea.

"I don't know. I went from the entrance on Maple Street to the pond and back again."

Clarke was stunned.

"That's like, seven miles! Twice!"

Clarke's stunned expression only made Lexa giggle. Soon enough, the blond joined in, the two of them laughing for what felt like no particular reason at all.


When they exited the shop, it was already dark outside. What Lexa had assumed would only be a short and forgettable date turned out to last several hours, during which they talked and laughed. Lexa had forgotten about her anxiety, and that feeling of déjà vu she'd been feeling toward the blond.

As they walked through campus, Lexa taking Clarke back to her dorm, their conversation continued. They were both close, mostly to ward off the cold, Lexa told herself, but neither of them dared to take the other's hand in hers. The thought alone made Lexa's fingers itched. She felt her hand growing hotter, ready to take Clarke's.

"And we're here."

They stopped, Lexa cursing herself for not reacting more quickly. They were standing in front of Clarke's dorm building, both unsure of what to say. Lexa placed her hands in her coat's pocket.

"Thank you for the date," Clarke finally declared. "I had a wonderful time."

"Me too. And I should be the one thanking you. It was your idea."

Clarke smiled, her feet unsure whether they should go toward the door or the girl.

"So, does that mean we can plan another one?" she asked hopefully.

Lexa smiled.

"I think we should, yes."

Clarke smiled as well and took a step closer to the brunette.

"You should smile more often, you have a beautiful smile."

Lexa felt her heart flutter in her chest. No one had ever said that to her.

"You think so?"

Clarke nodded.

"I know so."

Neither of them ever remembered who was the first to lean in, they only felt the other's lips caressing theirs, and wanted more. The kiss felt too short for Lexa, but an eternity seemed to have passed around them as if days had gone by, and they'd stayed there, kissing. Enjoying the other's closeness and warmth. Clarke seemed happy as she walked up the stairs to her dorm after their goodbye kiss. She waved at Lexa and told her good night. Lexa wasn't. She was stunned. A thousand words had come crashing into her head, and she couldn't remember a single one of them, but only remember them all at once. It was overwhelming. In that instant, it seemed the only thing keeping her sane was Clarke's kiss lingering on her lips.


A/N: Hi guys! As promised I'm back, I hope you all had a good weekend. Once again, I wanted to thank David12leca for the reviews! I'm glad you like the story so far. I personally like to read stories where Clarke's dad is alive so I was not about to waste the opportunity to put him in! Anyway, I'll see you all tomorrow for another Interlude!