Hey, guys. I am so sorry for the delay. It's just that university is just really heavy, you know? Anyway, on with the story. This chapter's word count is 2,052 words and is written on Clarke's POV. Enjoy :)
You take in everything you can from the house as you walk towards the dinning room. There are photos scattered all over the place hanging from the walls alongside with some trophies and important looking degrees, but all you can think about is if that cute little brunette that appears in most of the photos is Lexa. You make a mental note about asking her about them later.
"Before we take a seat, I think my kids are yet to introduce themselves." Ms. Woods says with a playful demeanor but still scolding the three teenagers you think are Lexa's siblings
"My name's Octavia Blake, and here is my big brother Bellamy. Nice meeting you." The smallest brunette with piercing light green eyes says as she shakes your hand (after shaking your mom's, of course)
Bellamy just smirks at you and you see Lexa huff softly at the soft blush that starts spreading through your cheeks; and from the corner of your eye you see her punch his arm not very softly. So you come to the conclusion that the cute boy (Bellamy) is definitely not her boyfriend.
"And I'm Raven Reyes. I'm just a friend of the family who decided to stick around for a while in search for a place of my own."
You smile at the taller brunette and realize she's staring directly into your eyes, as if she knows you from somewhere. You shake your head lightly realizing that sounds crazy.
After the introductions are over, you scan the table but decide to wait for Lexa to take a seat so you can take the seat next to hers, but your mom silently motions you to sit besides her, so you end sitting across Lexa.
She looks at you and fake cries making you laugh softly, but the expression in her face changes immediately after she catches your smile.
Finally when you are all in your seats and the food has been settled into place, Lexa's mom smiles sweetly at both you and your mother.
"I want you to thank you for coming to have dinner with us. I hope you join us again sometime. Having said that, let us eat!"
No more words are needed and as the forks and knives clatter softly against the plates, a soft but cheery conversation ensues.
"So where are you kids attending to for school?" your mother inquires as she looks at everyone curiously
"Well, Raven, Lexa and I are attending Jaha's, or you know, the Highschool that's just a couple blocks from here. It's our senior year so we are really excited." Octavia gushes out and you find yourself smiling at her buzz
"And well, I am currently working at a mechanic workshop while I wait for the response of my really late college applications." Bellamy admits kinda cheekily and you watch everyone from the house roll their eyes in amusement
"Well, how about you Clarke?" Lexa's mom asks and everyone focuses on what your answer will be
You squirm in your seat lightly as Lexa's rich green eyes stare at you.
"Well, I am actually also starting my senior year at Jaha's? Is that how you called it?" you try not to sound so lost but you end up doing so and everyone laughs at your tone
The laughter soon dies down and Octavia nods at you before elaborating further
"The name is not actually Jaha, for that matter, but since the principals of the last 2 generations have had the same family name we like to call it like that."
The name sounds familiar and you find yourself nodding, finally understanding what they were talking about.
"Anyways, I'm really glad you are attending the same school as us, but let me tell you: you must hang out with us grounders, not those lame-ass mountain men or the creepy Reapers. Hell, you can even hang out with the Arkers, they are nice folks."
"Octavia! Mind your language." Ms. Woods scolds softly and you all smile as Octavia just mutters a soft 'yeah yeah, sorry'.
A comfortable silence settles over the table, but it is not long before you break it asking what did Octavia mean with all those groups she mentioned.
The four teenagers break into full-toothed grins and look at each other as if they already had a prepared speech for the question.
"Well, the Arkers are our friends. They are all the kids that come from different states and settle down here in Cali for highschool. Technically, you would be a part of them but since you seem kinda awesome you can join us." Octavia says with a wink but Raven is quick to follow
"Actually, both the Blakes and I are former Arkers, but we hang out with the grounders all the time. Anyway, the Mountain Men are the rich, snobby kids who think they own the school and everyone who attends it. They are also from California and they usually are the jocks and cheerleaders, but there are some exceptions. They are always making parties in their enormous mansions and showing off their luxuries every time they can."
You nod as you take all the information in and look at Bellamy as he clears his throat.
"As for the Reapers, well… they are like the Mountain Men mascots, they worship the ground they walk on and do as they command. They used to be grounders but out of nowhere they decided they were too good to be one, so they created their own social group with the help of the Mountain Men. They are always playing mean pranks to the Arkers and looking for fights with the grounders."
Before you can ask who the grounders are, Lexa just smirks at you as she starts her speech.
"The grounders are all the kids that have lived all their lives here in California or at least attended Jaha's secondary school as well as high school. There's not much left to say." And there's that smile that wrecks havoc in both your mind and your belly, as if the whole animal kingdom was running up and down in a huge stampede, flock, shoal kind of combination.
The trance is broken as Bellamy once again clears his throat.
"Of course there is more left to say. My dear Lex here forgot to say something. Didn't you, Commander?" the shit eating grin in his face doesn't disappear even after Lexa's death stare
"Commander? What does he mean?"
"What my big brother means Clarke, is that cute little Lexa here is the leader of the grounders. She's the most badass, coolest, bestest skater there is in all freaking Cali and she is, therefore, the Commander."
" You make me sound too cool for someone who actually isn't, O."
"No way you are saying that, Lex! Here, Clarke. Let me tell you a story. One time we were at this big ass place, that was actually private property, when suddenly we were ambu-" Bellamy's shit eating grin quickly fades away as Raven elbows hi in the ribs and he slowly comes into the realization he shouldn't have said that, as the look of Ms. Woods is not one of happiness at all
"Why did you stop, Bellamy? I'm sure we are all excited to hear the whole story."
Bellamy looks like he just shat his pants and just manages to let out a soft and awkward laugh
"Sure, yeah… so, we were at this… park. Yeah, park. With swings and slides. And we saw this kid crying and we… bought him a popsicle. Yeah! That's right, that's what we did. And then we played tag and used the swings and… it was fun. Real fun. That's the story." Raven looks actually amused at Bellamy's lame attempt to fix things but both Octavia and Lexa have their faces in their hands as they listen to Bellamy's babbling
As in cue, your mom clears her throat and asks if it would be a good time to bring the apple pie you brought. Ms. Woods smiles and gestures your mom towards the kitchen not before sending a 'we will talk later' look to all her kids.
"Way to go, Bell! You sure know how to cover things up nicely." Raven says between laughs and you all snicker as he tries to cover himself up.
"Anyways, Lexa is cool. But she is just lame when she's trying to make an impression with someone." Octavia adds with a wink and both you and Lexa blush
Dinner continues it course and more trivial things are discussed until it is time for you to go. Your mom decides it is a good time to chat with Lexa's mom for a little while, giving you the perfect time to get Lexa alone.
"Here, let me show you something." She says leading you upstairs and you raise your eyebrows as she motions towards what you think is her room
"Really, Lexa? I have just known you for less than 12 hours and you are already trying to charm me into your room?" It is intended to be playful but it really just ends plain flirting, making Lexa freeze and blush intensely
"You wish, Clarke. I just wanna show you something I am sure you will like." She banters with a smile and you smile back at her
'I am pretty sure I would like what's under that shirt.'
Your train of thought is stopped as you step into the bedroom. You look around taking it all in. There's posters from different bands on the walls and what looks like a collection of snapbacks on several shelves, accompanied by a pile of a rare mix of books and videogames right beside her bed.
But what takes your whole attention is the framed picture beside her bed. It's her and another girl looking incredibly happy. It looks like it was taken a long time ago as they are standing right beside a skateboard and they're almost of the same height. Lexa looks happy, really really happy and you wonder who the other girl is.
Before you can ask a cold gentle breeze hits you and you turn around to see Lexa stretching her hand towards you motioning towards the window. You take it without asking why and you step outside. You shiver at the cold breeze, but it is soon forgotten as you trip with a tile. But just before something can happen, you feel a strong pair of hands holding you in place.
"Easy there, Sunshine. Mind your steps." She says playfully and you frown
"It is just the darkness."
"Yeah, sure. Now I can see how great you are with excuses."
There's no time for you to retort because she's making you sit down as soon as she says that. Silently, she places her fingers under your chin lifting it and the view just takes your breath away.
There are twinkling stars above you and shining lights on the skyline and the sound of the waves may be far away but still you can faintly hear it as they come and go. Your heart flutters in your chest as you turn around and see a trace of a smile in her lips. And despite you just met her, despite you just got here to California, the constant feeling in the bottom of your stomach and the quick beating of your heart are all signs of how being here, right next to her, so close you can hear her soft intakes of breath, feels a whole lot more like home than New York ever felt.
"I come here every time I feel like I need a moment to… just feel, you know? To let go of everything I have to hold on to and just stare into the horizon. It is kind of my safe haven."
You can just sigh as you try to bask it all in. Your eyes trace Lexa's form as if trying to memorize it with just a look. She turns around as if she feels your stare and then without you rest your head on her shoulder taking her hand in yours.
If someone were to ask you which day would you relive again and again, without a doubt, you would choose this day in a heart beat.