AN: Thank you guys for being so patient. You have been rewarded with another chapter! Sorry for any mistakes. Enjoy!
Lexa sat with an apprehensive gaze as she waited for Clarke to respond.
Perhaps it was too soon since their relationship progressed for them to move back in together. She thought they had been moving along well, but with the blonde's silence, doubts began to bubble to the surface.
"Clarke?" She swallowed. "Um, forget I mentioned it. Maybe we should just keep at it how we are, grow a little more. Everything's good, no need to mess with it." She backpedaled reluctantly because her mind was still set on her girlfriend moving in.
Clarke closed her mouth, something she was surprised by since she hadn't noticed it had been open the entire time. She swallowed and exhaled softly so the brunette wouldn't catch it. "Hold on." She started in an attempt to calm the other girl's nervous jabbering. "Ok." She took a deep breath. "Before we go any further, I want to bring something up." She looked down at her feet. "I didn't want to do this now, and not while we're on a date, but it looks like there's no better time than now."
"Ok now you're talking too much." Lexa replied with a curious expression.
The blonde nodded with an apologetic smile before she continued. "Something's been bothering me for a while now, but I didn't know how to bring it up." She looked at Lexa, her eyes begging her to be patient and understanding as she expressed her concerns.
Lexa was silent the entire time her girlfriend voiced the gnawing feeling she had been carrying around.
She wondered if she should be insulted that her girlfriend would think her capable of begrudging her success, but Lexa knew it was a valid worry. One that not everyone would care enough to address in the first place. So, she was more grateful than anything to have heard Clarke's apprehensions.
"Babe, there's no way that I could ever envy you getting ahead in your career." Lexa finally interjected on a pause from Clarke. The blonde exhaled in relief and nodded slowly at her. "You have earned every accomplishment, and you have reached every milestone because of your tenacity to succeed. I could never hold that against you." Lexa reached for the blonde's hands before squeezing them gently.
Of course, Clarke knew that. She did, but deep down everyone can feel a twinge of hurt at someone's success while they trudged along. Roan had been a clear example of that. He had been sweet and supportive of her work at first, but when she began to get more recognition from their professors, he consistently added a jab after his initial congratulatory comments. 'I wasn't even trying', 'looks like someone used her looks to get that grade', 'next time you might not get that lucky'. Those still stung like hell when she heard them in the faraway distance of her memories. She doubted he meant to truly put her down, but bitterness was an ugly friend, and it could turn the kindest people into monsters.
Well, Roan had done that in other ways, but the fact remains.
She squeezed the brunette's hands in response, hoping to convey her acceptance of the girl's words. "I just don't want any of this to get in our way. I'm here for you, and I'll be here when MPC calls begging for your next transcript. I need you to know that I believe in you. Whether we both succeed or we both fail, I want to make sure we have each other's backs. Always." Clarke finished with a small timid smile.
"I have your back, Clarke. If you become some famous artist millionaire, or if you don't, I'll still be here. I promise." Lexa nodded. "So, will you move in with me, Virginia?"
Releasing another sigh of relief, Clarke smiled wider. "If you're willing to deal with my ravenous hunger for morning after pancakes and my paranoia, you've got yourself a live-in girlfriend."
They shared a small laugh under the gazebo, not minding the few visitors that cast looks at them. The place was silent except for their chuckles.
When they recovered from their small fit, they sighed in unison and moved in for a kiss.
"Wait, is that why you haven't been answering your phone while you're with me?" Lexa questioned when they moved apart, suddenly making sense of the blonde's odd behavior.
Clarke nodded sheepishly. "I didn't want to keep rubbing it in your face, especially not when you get in your zone and start typing away."
She looked at her appreciatively before shaking her head. "You don't have to worry about that, and you don't have to put any prospects on hold, not for anyone and certainly not for me." Lexa added. "Alright?"
"Ok." Clarke nodded, hopeful that everything would work out for them both. "Now take me to our place so we can make out like teenagers in bed." She moved forward to kiss her girlfriend again.
"Oh, we're going to do more than just make out." Lexa replied as she stood with Clarke's hand wrapped in hers.
Raven sat beside Clarke on the bar stool as they watched their peers walk to and from their areas preparing for the night.
Some time had passed since they unveiled the new burlesque show Lexa had written, and though people were still attending and business was good, Indra had asked her writer to come up with a second show. She even offered her higher pay, which the brunette declined straightaway with a menacing yet playful glower.
Lexa had taken her time, but the second time around had been much easier for her, the band, and the performers. Upon completion of the first rehearsal, Indra had happily approved and asked that everyone be able to execute it within two weeks' time.
Her team didn't fail her.
"Your girl strikes again." Raven smiled as she looked at her friends flailing and accentuating gyrations up on stage.
The blonde nodded proudly before responding. "She's a natural."
Raven agreed. "Yeah, so is she planning on submitting either of these plays to that bitch ass publishing company? I mean those guys are idiots for not buying her stuff already. They're missing out on some serious bank."
It had been a few months since they had started living together in Lexa's place again. There had been no new developments for either of them, but neither girl complained, at least not openly. They still spent their nights working at Tassels, hanging out with their friends, and during the day they did everything they could together, including working on their respective crafts.
Clarke had promised herself not to push Lexa into talking about 'the story', but she had mentioned it to the brunette that she should try sending the Maunon Publishing Company a copy of her first play.
Though Lexa had not dismissed it outright, she had still not submitted anything, and it became difficult for the blonde not to ask her why she hadn't. All she could do was let her girlfriend deal with it how she saw fit. For now.
"No. I don't think she wants to send the plays in." She sighed as she observed her girlfriend giving the dancers their directions. "She has her reasons, and I have a feeling it has something to do with a bigger story she's working on."
The brunette dancer nodded in understanding. "Saving the best for last kinda thing, huh." She looked over to Clarke. "Good for her. She's going to blow their fucking minds, I bet."
"I know she will. If not them, then some other company better suited for her." Clarke smiled at her friend. "Anyway, shouldn't you be up there or something?"
Raven waved her hand flippantly. "It's all up here." She pointed to her brain. "Besides, I have some time to chat before they really need me for my parts. So, how's the married life going?" She began to tease.
After an emphasized eye roll, Clarke decided to respond. "Shut up." She smiled. "Living with my girlfriend," She corrected. "has been amazing. It is definitely different from the first time, but better." The blonde paused as she caught sight of Raven's own eye roll. "Thanks for asking as if you cared, jerk."
"Oh, come on, I care." Raven defended, and after a silent moment of introspection she continued. "I actually kind of envy you guys." Clarke quirked an eyebrow in question. "You guys are happy, and it came as an unforeseen epiphany for you guys. I mean everyone could tell you were going to end up together, but neither of you was looking for that. Some of us look actively with no luck." She presented a solemn smile.
Draping an arm around her friend's shoulders, she offered some words of comfort. "I know who you look at, but that's a dead end. As a friend, I'm imploring you stop that so you can finally notice someone else." Clarke squeezed her friend into her side. "Maybe if you stop looking altogether, someone will come along and surprise you." She smiled reassuringly before squeezing one last time. "Now go up there and help my girl kick some ass."
Raven nodded, her eyes were slightly red and watery, but she smiled in return. "Thanks, Clarke. Love ya."
"Love you too, Rae."
While Clarke manned the bar area and Lexa worked things back stage, she noticed her friend Anthony had decided to return to Tassels after a long absence, and sat at his usual table before the commencement of the show.
She wanted to walk over to say hello and personally give him his customary cocktail, but no other bartenders were on hand to help cover her. Instead, she asked one of the waiters to deliver his favorite drink before the lights dimmed and the show began.
He turned around to look at her and smiled with gratitude before lifting the glass in silent toast to her.
The music began and each dancer was unveiled in sequence while they performed the opening number. There was definitely more skin showing this time around, but without revealing too much or making the girls feel uncomfortable, which they appreciated.
Still, the audience erupted in whistles as they watched the performers move fluidly with the music as they sang their dialogue. Raven was the last to come out and truth be told, Clarke thought she looked flawless.
The blonde smiled at her friend and nodded proudly as she realized Lexa had outdone herself. She had managed to make this play even better than the first.
By the time the show was over, Anthony had made his way back towards the bar. He was perched on one of the stools when Lexa walked over and fist bumped him. It had become a joke between the three by now, and it was the closest thing the brunette could come up with that resembled a proper hello.
"This one had me sweating, Lexa." The guy grinned. "You have a way with words. Amazing."
Lexa nodded in thanks before moving around the back of the bar to help Clarke. "It's really up to the dancers to make it sexy. The words are important, but the delivery matters just as much if not more." She replied.
"Man, and deliver they did." Anthony nodded. "The scene with the small dinghy, wow."
He was referring of course, to the part of the play where Raven enacted the discovery of an unblemished new world where the only inhabitants were burlesque amazon women.
Her worn leather ensemble hugged each and every curve of her body as she yielded a weapon in one hand and a lantern in the other. The small fabric was great for exposing just enough to make everyone drool at the images their own minds conjured up. The added mist spray of simulated sweat beads made her skin glow with the spotlight, it was surreal and racy.
The bonus was that Raven's character was also a gladiator who could kick some serious ass if provoked. And on several occasions she had, with Lincoln and Jasper being her victims, although they had clearly showed up in her world to attack her not the other way around.
Clarke and Lexa smiled at each other when they heard the guy detail how much he enjoyed the entire show. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Anthony." Lexa thanked him again before moving on to assist customers with empty glasses.
"She's great, Clarke." Anthony smiled at his friend. "I'm glad you two are doing well."
"Thanks. I'm glad too." She paused as her mind churned. "Listen, stick around for the second showing and I'll introduce you to someone." She smiled mischievously at him.
Clarke sat next to Lexa as they enjoyed their breakfast. Coffee and pancakes on a Saturday was Clarke's favorite way of concluding a memorable night and welcoming a new day. Lexa knew this, so she did her best to surprise her every now and then with different variations of pancakes and fruit.
The blonde was two of the fluffy disks in when she felt the brunette's eyes on her.
She casted her a sideways glance as she chewed slowly. "What?"
Lexa shook her head with a small smile. "I saw Raven and Anthony chatting it up after we closed up shop last night." She commented.
"Yeah, so?" Clarke continued to dig into her soggy pancakes with her eyes glued to her girlfriend in challenge.
The girl shook her head, amused with the blonde and her feigned ignorance. "Clarke Griffin are you, aside from a budding young artist, also a match maker?" She sipped on her coffee after asking the question.
A look of disbelief crossed the artist's features. "Whatever do you mean, Alexandria?"
They smiled at each other before Lexa shook her head again. "You know exactly what I mean." Clarke grinned in response. "You're trying to hook those two up." She answered herself.
"Maybe." Clarke shrugged nonchalantly.
"Definitely." Lexa retorted.
Not realizing she was just about to admit to it, Clarke replied quickly. "They're both really good people that deserve a little lovin', don't you think?" She stated her case with a smile despite having just lost the battle against her brunette.
Lexa smiled with a nod because she knew Clarke was right. "You're cute, Clarke. You always worry about everyone, that's why I," She caught herself before finishing her natural train of thought.
The blonde waited on the edge of her seat as she realized she...probably knew what Lexa...possibly had on the tip of her tongue.
"That's why you're you." The brunette finished as if nothing had just almost happened. She was grateful that Clarke hadn't said anything regarding her near slip of the tongue. "I hope they go out and fall in love and make lots of babies." Lexa stated honestly before biting into her own pancakes.
Her heart still hammered in her chest, and she assumed Lexa's did too, as she exhaled and nodded in agreement with the writer. "Me too." She drank some of the coffee as she changed the subject. "Hey so how's the writing coming along? I know you tabled your work while you ironed out the play for Indra."
Lexa didn't want to go there again with her. Not because she minded Clarke asking, but because it frustrated her to no end that she could not make up her mind about what she wanted to do. A part of her wanted to send in the plays, both of them, so they could see she was capable of writing smutty stuff, but the bigger part of her wanted to submit only the best. While her plays had been revered and highly appreciated, she felt those were fun and sexy, but not worthy of any publishing company.
She sighed heavily as she thought about her response. "I'm almost done." She paused to look at her girl. "I don't want to send anything less than perfect to them. I've worked so hard now; I don't want that work to go to waste."
"I get it." Clarke nodded. "Hey, I use you for inspiration all the time- you can use me too, you know." She attempted to bring levity back into their moment.
"I did it for free. I have a feeling you'll charge." She teased and they shared a laugh.
Clarke sat across from two prominent gallery curators with a seemingly composed expression.
She wasn't calm and collected, not in any way shape or form.
But she did have one saving grace.
The polished surface of the executive table distorted the lights above her, and in the reflections she tried to makes sense of shapes that weren't really there. Twenty minutes into it she had identified none, but the activity did provide a distraction for her anxiety.
Her palms were sweaty even as they resided over the fabric that covered her thighs. Better the slacks than the table she thought, because she could only imagine the marred glossy finish after having smudged her nervously wet skin over it time and time again.
When the meeting concluded she would have to thank Anthony for the short notice meeting he had managed to secure for her with a couple of associates.
Clarke was grateful of course, even in utter distress, she was glad to be sitting with such promising connections.
The couple was not top tier, not by a long shot, but they were well known and had several galleries under their watch that spanned across four states. Unfortunately for her, none of them included California, much to her surprise.
"Well Clarke, your samples and portfolio are fabulous and we would really like to feature you in one of our galleries." The woman spoke getting to the reason why they had agreed to meet with the young artist. "You can sleep on the choices and get back to us. We will make the arrangements then to get your collection over to the location."
Equal parts of excitement and nerves rushed through Clarke's body as she nodded along. "I really appreciate this opportunity, thank you." She smiled. "I will have an answer for you by tomorrow evening."
The couple nodded in acceptance as they stood. "Please, pass along our greetings to Anthony." The woman added before taking Clarke's offered hand in a firm grip. "I'm excited to get this business relationship set up, Clarke. I'm sure my husband is too." She looked casually to her left where the man agreed with a nod.
"Again, thank you." The blonde replied before watching the couple exit the conference room.
As she walked out minutes later, she spared a broad smile and thumbs up for Frankie who returned the gestures before disappearing back into her office.
She had generously offered The Ark to Clarke for her business meeting, and the blonde had accepted gratefully promising to make it up her. Frankie only waved her off with a smile before whispering something about not needing a payment in return. Clarke was still in awe of the woman-so carefree, so astute, and so selfless. She was amazing and Clarke hoped to keep her in her life for a really long time.
Clarke would make it up to her, but first she had to make up her mind about her next step.
TBC…
I feel something brewing. Anybody else feel it? Anyway, so what do you guys think about Raven and Anthony, and who's the person Clarke referred to when she was comforting her? I'm curious. Aren't you? Say, did you guys catch our girl's line there in the middle somewhere? I had to. Really, I did. It was burning to get out. What do you guys think she was going to say? Nah, let's not go there yet. Muahahahahaha.
