CHAPTER 5

It's a mistake. She shouldn't have walked over to Costia. She should have followed Clarke but there wasn't a reason to do so. Costia wasn't the best option either. She should have known that Costia would show up in this kind of party. Yet, she let the blonde invades her mind and completely forget about the existence of her former girlfriend. The conversation, short it was, didn't go well. She's storming over to the door now, hand almost reaching the button until she feels a hand gently grasping at her wrist.

"Lexa." Comes Clarke's soft, gentle voice, making her stop in her track.

"Can I leave?" The brunette asks, not turning herself around to face the blonde. Her eyes are on the button where it acts as her savior at this moment.

Clarke's hand remains wrap around the brunette's wrist, though she can feel the taller girl relaxing, even if it was only a little. "You can't let her ruin your fun."

"I came here because you invited me. No, begged me to."

The blonde frowns before making her presence physically known to Lexa, by shifting her body so that Lexa's eyes are on her instead of the door. "Then I'll leave with you."

The brunette straightens her composure. Head slightly lolling back as she stares at Clarke. "You're insane. This is your scene. It's obviously not mine."

"I can tell when you're lying." Clarke retorts.

"You barely know me, Clarke."

"That's true, but I know when you're enjoying yourself. Your eyes light up every time you'd see something amusing or entertaining. They brighten that little bit more when you begin to have fun. Let loose. Just because we rarely exchange words, don't mean I don't notice those little things about you."

Lexa remains silent after what she has just heard. This girl that she met not about two weeks ago, studies her more than anyone else ever had. And when the words sink in and realization hit Clarke, the brunette watches at ocean blues widen and a light rosy shade paints across the blonde's cheeks.

"I...uh...I mean... I'm not a creep, ok?!" Clarke huffs in defense, shifting her head so that her hair may cover her face.

Lexa chuckles at the display. Before she could even stop her own hand, it reaches over to the blonde, pushing back the blonde tresses behind her ear. The gentle action in itself shocks her, yet at the same time excites her -though for whatever reason is still unknown to her. "If you really wanted to leave with me, I guess I can't stop you. But where do you want to go? Considering I have a car and can drive for the both of us."

At this, Clarke quickly reverts her gaze to where it previously was, on Lexa. "The meadow?"

Lexa quirks her brow. "In the middle of the night? Aren't you afraid of lurkers?"

"Lurkers?" Clarke frowns, turning to press the button to release the door. Once the door opens, she steps out from the room, pulling Lexa along with her. "This city is the safest city. Well, last I was here it kind of was."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Lexa squeezes the hand that is now holding her own (it's adamant that Clarke has taken a bold move by moving her hand from the brunette's wrist, down to her hand).

"It's fine. I'll get over it. It hasn't been all too long." Clarke shrugs, as if it wasn't that much of a big deal.

"If there is anything I can do to make you feel better..." Lexa starts but cuts short, not quite certain to what she is offering.

"You keeping me company is enough, Lexa." Clarke replies, turning her head so the brunette can see the smile on her face. "Plus, you being sweet to me."

Lexa immediately scowls. "I'm not sweet."

Clarke lets out a light laugh as she turns her head back to look in front of her. Lexa just shakes her head. It isn't long until they fall into a comfortable silent. Lexa takes notes on the few people they have walked past. They all seem to bow their heads towards the blonde, as if Clarke was someone bigger than them. It got her curious, though not enough for her to voice it out. Once they exit the hotel and reach Lexa's car, the brunette quickly unlocks it and opens the passenger door for Clarke. The blonde smiles in thank before getting in. Once the door has been closed and Lexa situates herself in the driver seat, Clarke reaches over after the ignition has been turned on. However, she pauses her hand in mid-air, eyes looking up to Lexa as if silently asking for permission. She receives a quirk eyebrow and a second later, an amused chuckle before the brunette's gaze focus ahead, where she has already backed her car out and leisurely leading the car to the meadow. And the music have been turned on, volume not too high to wake up the neighborhood as they drive pass.

"It's always club music at night." Clarke states, trying to start a small conversation. "And you don't own many good albums."

"I apologize for not having the same taste in music as you." Comes the sarcastic reply.

"You know what? Screw the meadow. Let's go to your place."

Silent.

"...What are you thinking, Lexa?"

"I'm not sure how many shots you've had, but this is not a one night stand, Clarke."

Clarke can hear the amusement loud and clear ringing in the brunette's tone. She also notices that the car is turning into another street, quite the opposite direction from the meadow. She feels a bit giddy at the fact that Lexa has finally decided to just...give their friendship a chance. Although, at this point, she isn't quite sure whether she wants it to be a friendship anymore. There's just something about Lexa that she can't grasp. Octavia and Raven haven't really gotten her mind off of her father's death. And yet, whenever she's around the brunette's presence, she hasn't thought about her deceased father. It is true that she might have mentioned about his death and how it hasn't been that long, she moves on quickly after that. It's like Lexa seems to have this affect on her that the brunette doesn't really know. It isn't like she's using Lexa just to forget her pain. With Lexa, she feels like herself -more alive to be frank.

"And despite saying that, you're taking me to your place." Clarke feigns a dramatic sigh. "Seems like it is going to be a one night stand, after all."

Lexa chuckles, which prompts a smile spreading across the blonde's lips. The first time she met Lexa, the girl never even crack a smile. It's true that it has taken her quite a few car rides to get the brunette to loosen up. Furthermore, it takes one decent conversation and a party to have the girl relaxes in her presence. Now she wonders what Lexa would be like if the brunette completely relaxes. With whatever the girl is dealing with, Clarke can tell that she still has her walls up. She really does want to take those walls down and get to know the real Lexa. She might only have gotten 30% of Lexa but honestly? She wants more.