A/N: Guys don't hate me. The reason the wait was so so so long was because I went to bootcamp. Not only did I have to prepare, which added more time, but I wasn't allowed to bring any electronics. On top of that, I had a month long training course where I couldn't use any electronics right after bootcamp. Thank you for your support.
Breathless, Clarke comes to a stop in front of her home, Lexa already having stopped. She clasps her hands together behind her head trying to catch her breath while Lexa seems as if she is ready to run another few miles.
"You're already improving, Clarke." "Then why do I still feel like I'm dying after every run." She groans. Lexa lets out a small chuckle and starts to walk up the front steps with Clarke trailing after her, still trying to catch her breath.
Lexa opens the front door for Clarke, smiling at her as she walks ahead into the kitchen. "Oh by the way, Anya says she's coming over tonight. She said she'll be bringing food, so don't worry." Lexa states as she sits down at the bar. "Are you coming as well?" "Well if you wanted to get dinner with me, all you had to do was ask, Clarke." Lexa laughs as Clarke's cheeks turn red. "Oh, shut up." Clarke says as she slides Lexa a water she grabbed from the fridge. "But, no, I don't think I'll be able to make it tonight." "Oh, okay," Clarke says surprised with how disappointed she is, "But we're still on for tomorrow morning, yeah?" "Of course."
A knock resonates down the hall to the kitchen where Clarke awaits her Aunt. She slides of her chair, and goes to open the front door. As soon as the door opens wide enough for her Aunt to slide through, she does exactly that, and envelops Clarke in a bear hug, kissing her on the temple. Clarke hugs back just as tight, and smiles into Anya's shoulder.
Anya holds onto her for a few moments longer before pulling back and smiling. "Look at you! I know I just saw you, but I was in a hurry. Wow you have grown!" Clarke smiles sheepishly and is surprised when Anya brings her into another quick hug. She pulls back yet again but keeps her hands on Clarke's arms, as her face scrunched up into concern. "How are you, darling? Really?" Clarke gives a small smile, "I'm doing okay Anya. Really." "Ok sweetie." Anya kisses Clarke on the forehead before releasing her and grabbing the grocery bags from in front of the door and starting down the hallway.
Anya places the bags on top of the counter before unpacking its contents. "I hope you're in the mood for pasta because that's the only thing I can cook. If you can even call it cooking." She says with a laugh. Clarke laughs, " How do you still not know how to cook?" " Darling. The Marine Corps provides your food. All you have to do is show up." Clarke laughs and shakes her head while opening the cabinet right of the stove to get a big pot for the pasta.
She sits at the bar making casual conversation with her Aunt as she starts to cook the pasta. " So art school, yes?" " Yeah. I got a scholarship to Cal Arts. Mom is super proud." Clarke replies. "As she should be. You're an amazing girl, Clarke. Very talented!" Clarke blushes and smiles sheepishly. "Thanks, Anya." "Your dad would be proud. So would Wells."
Clarke is thankful that Anya's back is to her when just the mere mention of them changes her mood as fast and as painful as a car crash. "I know. Thanks." Anya stirs the pasta, making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot and turns towards Clarke. "And that boy. Finn. He deserved what he got."
Clarke's eyes widen and feels her heart speed up as she nods her agreement to her Aunt. She hates him. She hates what he did. Hates how she couldn't function from the fear he caused, still causes in her sometimes. Hates how he can still somehow control her, just by his name being brought up in a conversation, despite how very impossible that is.
"Anyways. Tell me, any new suitors?" Clarke gives a half-hearted laugh but shakes her head. "Nope… What about you? Lexa did say that you two are living together…" With that her Aunt throws her head back with laughter. "Oh, darling, no. My man is stationed in Pendleton. It's his last year," She chuckles. "Once he's out, he's moving here to live with me. Lexa is practically my daughter. I took her in her senior year. She's had a rough past." "Oh, I didn't know." Clarke replies. "Yeah the girl is tough. You glance at her and you wouldn't think she's gone through what she has… Same goes for you."
Clarke gives a soft smile, and looks down into her lap, focusing on her fidgeting hands, focusing on the lines, and veins, anything to stop the memories from overtaking her mind. Clarke exhales heavily as her Anya's attention shifts to the stove when a hissing sound erupts, the water having bubbled over the edge. So maybe that's why Lexa seems to understand me so well.
Clarke's heart lurches at the thought that something so scarring, something similar to Clarke's experiences, happened to the playful girl. She wants to know what happened to the girl, to help in some small way, but another part of her doesn't want to know, wants to pretend that bad things don't happen in this world, and that good people have good things happen to them.
Her thoughts are interrupted by the splashing sound of Anya pouring the pot and its contents into a strainer placed in the sink. "Alright, foods done. Do me a favor and set the table, sweetie."
Clarke lays in bed, her Aunt having left hours earlier. She stares up at the darkened ceiling, her mind going so fast no thoughts pop to the forefront of her mind, but the racing is enough to not allow sleep to catch her.
Clarke rolls over on her side when her phone startles her, the vibration having broken through her trance. She reaches towards her nightstand, the cold night air seeping in through the small crevices the movement created.
She pulls her phone to her face, the brightness causing her to squint, and a sharp pain hits the front of brain. Her heart skips a beat, and a small smile appears on her face, as she sees the name painted across the front of her screen.
Good evening. How was dinner with Anya?
It was good. Heard about that time you fell down the bleachers at the basketball game lol. Clarke replies with a small chuckle.
Well. That's the last time I tell Anya anything. At all.
Awe, you're embarrassed? :P
Typically, I wouldn't be. But when you tell embarrassing stories to the girl you're trying to impress, it becomes a little bit more mortifying.
Clarke's stomach flips and a grin becomes to hard to hold back. Oh, someone's trying to impress me? Well, you're not doing a very good job so far.
Ouch, Clarke. That hurts :/
Don't be such a baby! You know I'm kidding. You know you've already impressed me a lot.
I know. I just wanted to hear you say it. :P
Clarke rolls her eyes, and is about to type out a response when Lexa sends another text. I'm sorry, I gtg. See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Clarke.
Goodnight, Lexa.
Clarke locks her phone, placing it back on the nightstand and plugging it into the charger. She rolls back onto her back and and stares back up at the ceiling, this time with a smile, and thoughts of Lexa lulling her to sleep.