Lexa awoke early that day from her biological alarm clock. It was pretty easy for the girl to get up in the mornings and go for her morning run, but today, and much like the previous days, was different due to her ankle. She laid in bed staring at her alarm clock. 6:59. She stared and stared until the clock ticked to 7 and her alarm sounded through the room. She hit it off the second it happened and felt a shift next to her, she rolled over to see Commander curling up on the other side of the bed. She sat up with a smile as she calmly pet the burly dog.
"Such a good boy." She whispered to him as he nuzzled his face further into his paws. She couldn't help but remember when Commander would jump on top of a sleeping Clarke, startling the poor blonde awake. Soon after, the cuddly rottweiler would curl up on the blondes stomach, leaving her completely immobile.
Lexa smiled sadly at the memory. She wished Clarke was here for her to wake up to, to cuddle and kiss the sleepy girl awake, but she couldn't have that. Not until Clarke forgave her, and Lexa wasn't sure when that would be.
She carefully got out of bed and limped towards the bathroom. She started to shower and quickly stripped herself of her clothing. She basked in the heat of the water, cleaning her body and washing her hair slowly in hopes to burn off her disappointment. It didn't work, but she felt refreshed and relaxed after her shower. She wrapped a towel around her body and limped back towards her room. Before making it to her closet, she heard a ding, signaling she had received a text message. She unconsciously smiled when her favorite blonde's name popped up onto her screen. When the couple changed each other's names in their phones Lexa went for something simple, whereas Clarke...
The Beautiful Blonde Goddess Who Has Me Whipped
(7:23) - When did you want to go to convenient care?
My Gorgeous Girlfriend Lexa
(7:24) - I just got out of the shower,
give me 10 minutes and I'll be ready.
Lexa went for a simple outfit of purple and black running shorts, with a plain white v neck. She put on her right shoe, leaving the left one off since she couldn't fit it over he brace. She used a towel to try and dry her hair as much as possibly. Heaven knows she couldn't blow dry it. Her hair was still wet when she heard a knock at her door. She threw the towel in the hamper and let her hair fall over her shoulder. She opened the door to a pair of beautiful blue eyes, a pair that she missed seeing so much.
"Hey," Clarke smiled.
"Hey."
"You ready?" Clarke asked, shifting her head over her shoulder, gesturing to the general area of the car.
"Yeah just let me grab my crutches." Lexa went to move back to her room, but the blonde quickly stopped her.
"I'll get them, don't worry. Are they in your room?" The brunette nodded and Clarke moved from the door to Lexa's room. Lexa sighed, feeling the tension was still there between the two. If only the blonde could truly understand just how sorry she really was. Clarke came back with the crutches and the two made it to the car with only a little struggle. Clarke hadn't spoken much, only questions about Lexa's ankle and how it was doing. This, in turn, made Lexa uncomfortable, but she was letting her girlfriend take her time. She would come to her when she's ready.
They made it to the convenient care rather quickly, and soon enough the brunette was in a back room waiting for the doctor. Clarke remained in the waiting room, letting Lexa have this time alone with the doctor. Lexa ran her sweaty palms on her shorts. She couldn't help but be nervous. As she tried to calm her nerves a knock came through the door and it was soon opened by a young man. He had a rather pale complexion and Lexa couldn't exactly tell what his ethnicity was. He had big bug like eyes, with black hair.
"Hi Lexa, I'm Doctor Jackson." He extended his hand and Lexa shook it. "I hear you've been dealing with a sprain and you came to get it checked out?"
"Yes." Lexa says with a nod.
"Now how long ago did this happen?" Doctor Jackson asked as he took a seat in front of the computer.
"5 days ago." He hummed as he typed in her response on the computer.
"The nurse wrote that it happened at a basketball practice. What happened exactly?" Lexa went into the short story about what happened when she rolled her ankle and Jackson nodded along, listening intently while recording it on the computer.
"And where did you get the brace?"
"From the trainer at school."
"So this has been checked out before?" He asked as he rolled his chair over the Lexa who nodded. "Did you wish for a more professional opinion?"
"Something like that..." Lexa muttered and Doctor Jackson looked up and smiled brightly. He removed Lexa's brace with care and started to examine her foot. His brow furrowed in concentration as he felt her tender spots, and had her move her ankle in certain directions to judge her mobility.
"Well I'm glad you came to me. I'm going to request some x-rays just to be safe because you seem to have some deep bruising along the bottom of your ankle. In the meantime, you hold tight while I go put in the order." With that Doctor Jackson was up and out of the room, leaving Lexa by herself. It was a little while before anyone came back, but once they did a nurse brought in a wheelchair for Lexa. She reluctantly sat in it, but none-the-less she allowed the nurse to wheel her to the x-ray room.
The woman told her to lay on the table and moved her ankle into many painful and uncomfortable positions. They went back to Lexa's room and once again the brunette was left alone as she waited for her x-rays to come back. She felt her phone vibrate in the hem of her pants.
The Beautiful Blonde Goddess Who Has Me Whipped
(8:45) - how's everything going in there?
My Gorgeous Girlfriend Lexa
(8:46) - it's good. They just took the x-rays,
so now I'm just waiting on that.
(8:50) - Have you had breakfast yet?
The Beautiful Blonde Goddess Who Has Me Whipped
(8:52) - No
My Gorgeous Girlfriend Lexa
(8:52) - Want to stop at IHop after this?
I'm buying.
There was a knock at the door and Doctor Jackson was back in the room. Lexa didn't have a chance to look at Clarke's as she stared at the Doctor, waiting to hear the results.
"So nothing is broken," he said as he placed the x-rays on the special board for them, "but you already knew that." He turned back to face Lexa.
"I want you to look right here," he said as he gestured to the bottom part of the ankle in the x-ray, "see this shadow? Right over the ankle bone?"
"Yeah." Lexa said as she craned her head to get a better look. It was faint from where she was, but still noticeable.
"Whenever there's shadowing in an x-ray, that usually means there are torn ligaments. Sometimes it doesn't mean anything and it was just an improper angle of the x-ray, but judging by this shadowing I don't think it was the angle. I recommend you get an MRI to be 100% sure, but I'm almost positive those are torn ligaments."
Lexa was a mixture of sad and happy, sad that Clarke was right and she would be out for longer, but also happy that she was right and she wouldn't cause herself a worse injury. It was hard handling the news, but Lexa knew Clarke just saved her basketball career for the year. She let out a shaky breath before she spoke.
"When can I get the MRI?" She asked.
"You will have to get that at the hospital, but we can schedule it here it you'd like?"
"Yeah, is there any way we can do it this weekend? Or maybe early next week?"
"Let me see." Jackson sat in front of his computer and typed furiously. "There is an appointment open this Saturday at 9 am. Would that work?"
"Yes. I'll take that." Even though it was two days from now and that was the same day as the game, Lexa knew she needed to get it out of the way so she could heal faster. "About how long is it going to take to heal?"
"Well it all depends on the severity of the damage to the ligaments. You'll probably be in a boot for about two weeks, add another few weeks on for healing and strengthening probably about four weeks."
"Four weeks?!"
Jackson nodded, "At the least."
Lexa sighed and slouched back onto the paper covered bed. This is not what she needed right now. Doctor Jackson let her go after giving her ankle exercises to do when she starts to heal. She crutched back out to Clarke who was still waiting patiently for her. She heard the sound of Lexa's crutches and turned around to see the brunette walking her way. She stood up and walked over towards the girl.
"How'd it go?"
"You were right, possible torn ligaments... I have an MRI scheduled for Saturday." Lexa said. Clarke had every right to say 'I told you so' but she refrained from doing so. She could tell this injury would take it's toll on Lexa, so she would provide nothing but support for her even if she was still a little upset. She pulled Lexa into a side hug, careful not to knock the girl off balance.
"C'mon, let's go get some pancakes." She smiled, pulling away to lead the way out to the car.
The two sat in a corner booth in the restaurant. Clarke eating her pancakes and Lexa eating her french toast. They made light conversation, while the bigger problem loomed in the background.
"Don't you find it funny that there's two Marcus Kanes'? The mayor and the basketball coach?" Lexa said as she scarfed down her food. Clarke hummed in response.
"Do you think they know each other?" Clarke added.
"I would think so... It's not a very common name and both of them are widely known throughout the community." Clarke just nodded and a silence fell over the two once more. She was thinking of the best way to talk about what happened by not causing any scene. Tensions were high and Clarke wanted to be careful of how she brought this up.
"Thank you." Lexa said breaking the blonde from her thoughts as a confused look graced Clarke's face.
"For what?"
"Saving my ankle from more damage, and making me see that I'm an idiot and an asshole." Clarke chuckled lightly.
"You're not either of those Lexa."
"I'm still sorry." She said her voice dropping slightly. She was scared that this riff between them was going to be forever, and that was the last thing she wanted.
"I understand." Clarke said. "And after thinking about it all night, I think I can forgive you." She reached over the table and grabbed Lexa's hand. "I don't want this to ruin the best thing that's ever happened to me Lexa."
"And what is that?" Lexa smirked, knowing the answer but wanting to hear Clarke say it.
"You."
Saturday came along faster than it seemed. Lexa had Anya drive her to her appointment at the hospital, allowing Clarke to sleep in. The game was at two o'clock so that gave Lexa plenty of time to get her ankle checked out and make it back in time to support her team. The MRI told them that their was a slight tear in the ligaments, which classified her sprain as a Grade 3 sprain, otherwise known as a severe sprain. Lexa figured as much considering what Clarke and Doctor Jackson had told her.
She took the boot she was given and put it on without any problems. It was a weird sensation but she knew she needed to suck it up and get used to it. Anya dropped her off at the arena where her team was already starting to get ready. She said her hello's but ignored their questions about the boot as she made her way towards Coach Kane's office just outside the locker room.
"Lexa," He said his eyes glancing down to her foot which was now in a big black boot. "What happened?" He asked nervously.
"I got someone's opinion on my ankle and they advised me to get it looked at properly. It was a good thing I did because have some torn ligaments, it'll be about 4 weeks until I'm back..."
Kane sighed, letting his head fall into his hands. "Well better this than having you hurt yourself more. We're lucky we have a two week break after this game, the team definitely needs their captain."
"I'll make sure have a quick and healthy recovery, sir." Lexa smiled and left the room.
"You better Adams!" Kane called out after her, causing the girl to laugh. She made her way over to her team and told them the same thing she told Kane. She mingled with her teammates until they took the floor for some warm ups. It started with a simple shoot around and Lexa stood underneath the basket to get the rebounds. It wasn't shortly after they had started that Lexa got called away by one of the assistant coaches. She wobbled her way over to see them with a reporter.
"Lexa this is-"
"Callie Cartwig reporter for ESPN News." The woman interjected, cutting off her coach. "I wanted to get a story on you, your injury, and possibly any future plans. You have had an obvious impact on the sport so my editor wishes to make it the cover story."
Lexa's heart leapt in her chest. A reporter for ESPN wanted to interview her? For a cover story?
"Uhh- y-yeah definitely." She stammered and Callie grinned.
"Awesome." She pulled out a recorder and a notepad with questions. "How old were you when you started playing basketball?"
"I was 10."
"And how as it impacted your life?" Lexa gave a personal answer and was very professional about everything, knowing exactly what to say and when to say it.
"How did you injure your ankle, and how has it impacted you on continuing your junior season? Also, how long will you be out, due to this injury?" Once again Lexa explained and answered the question giving Callie the perfect amount of information.
"You've had a very promising career, are you planning on entering the WNBA draft?"
"I would love to, yes. After next year if given the opportunity I would take it in a heartbeat, but if that doesn't work out, I'll have my business degree to fall back on. Have to keep all options open, right?" Lexa softly chuckled and Callie nodded.
"I'd have to agree with that. Now I wish to talk about a more personal matter. Not only are you an icon for young girls everywhere, but you seem to have an involvement in the LGBT Community, is this true?"
Lexa was taken aback by the question, not at all expecting it to take an even more personal turn. "Yes, I do." She responded hesitantly.
"It's always nice to have a strong figure in support for an oppressed community, how do you feel knowing people look up to you in the basketball world, and the Gay and Lesbian community?"
"I'm sorry?" Lexa questioned, "I'm... I wasn't aware that people in that community knew who I was let alone looked up to me. It's great that they do, but why exactly do they support me?"
"I believe it's because of your open relationship with your girlfriend... Clarke Griffin? I believe her name is? As a strong figure in the sports world people already think highly of you, now that your relationship is all the buzz, you, and I suppose your girlfriend, are quickly becoming icons in the LGBT Society."
"My relationship is all the buzz?" Lexa questioned. "Once again I was not aware that people were fully aware of my relationship. I mean that is a personal matter."
"I don't want to push you to talk about it if you are uncomfortable, does this make you uncomfortable?"
"No! No... it doesn't. Clarke and I are proud of our relationship and honored to be recognized as idols in that community, it's just a little odd considering our relationship has now been put out into the open, more so than we planned, I guess. Also I didn't really think I was that famous where both communities would notice me. I had always tried to make an impact in the women's basketball community, but I never thought it would transfer over to the LGBT Community as well."
"Are you okay with me using this in the article?"
"I mean, yeah sure, but isn't the article about basketball? It's going in ESPN afterall..." Callie chuckled at that.
"The article is about you, Lexa. Not just basketball." Callie turned around and waved at a young man with a camera around his neck. "This is Seth, he's the photographer for the article. He'll be taking pictures all throughout the game, and we plan on using this," Callie brought out a picture that was taken by the Polis Newspaper a few weeks back, "As the cover photo."
The picture was of Lexa jumping about to shoot, her face was calm and determined as the ball rested in her hands in mid form. It was a very cool and athletic picture and Lexa couldn't lie, it'd be perfect for the cover photo. She smiled and nodded at the woman.
"This is so awesome." Callie laughed again as she put her recorder and the picture away.
"I'll let Seth do his thing then. Thank you Lexa, it was an honor and a pleasure to interview you."
"It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you, Ms. Cartwig." The lady gave one final smile and a nod and walked away to the stands.
"I won't be in your way, I'll just be around. Snapping pictures here and there." Lexa smiled at the boy, who couldn't be any older than her, and walked off towards her team. The other team had started to arrive and they took the other side of the floor. Lexa was talking to Ontari and Niylah about the other team, helping them prepare, when she noticed Seth take a picture of them talking intently. He walked away and Lexa lost him after that, but her name was called from behind her and she quickly forgot about it.
She turned around to see Clarke standing at the edge of the stands, leaning against the bar. She walked over and pulled herself up to be eye level with her girlfriend.
"I don't think that's safe, babe." Clarke said with a slight chuckle in her voice. She knew Lexa wouldn't really care as long as neither of them fell. Lexa shrugged and leaned over the bar to bring hers and Clarke's lips together. It was a feeling that both girls missed and as their lips connected, a familiar sense of electricity flowed through them, making them feel more alive. They both kept their eye's closed for a slight second as they pulled away smiling.
"You're a little early. How did you even get in here? They aren't letting fans in for another hour." Lexa asked, leaning back slightly on the bar. Clarke rolled her eyes and pulled the girl back, trying to keep her in one place and safe from harm.
"I have my ways." Clarke smirked. Lexa was about to respond when she was called by her teammates who were making their way towards the locker room.
"I'll see you after the game. Oh! ESPN is writing an article about me, it's going to be the cover story!" She leaned in and gave Clarke a quick peck on the lips.
"Oh my gosh, Lex! That's amazing!" Clarke cheered, a with an ear to ear smile on her face.
"It's really cool, but I really gotta go babe." She pecked her lips again.
"Bye gorgeous." Clarke smiled widely as Lexa carefully stepped down and hobbled over to the locker room. She turned around to go back to her seat when she caught sight of a women smiling at her and a boy next to her holding a camera. She ignored it however, because all she could think about was how nice it was that the couple was finally back to normal.