I know I said the Wood's family would come to the Hamptons in this chapter, but unfortunately I lost my chapter about a month or so ago, so this was a rewrite, hence why it's taken me so long. So I do apologise once again for the wait, but I don't want to rush Lexa/Costia talk and the family coming to Hamptons so that will be in the next one.
xx
Clarke finds herself back on the beach at 5:45am, deciding to do something useful with her insomnia by embarking on the tell-tale of the ridiculous Griffin tradition.
She stands looking at to the water, as her dad's voice enters her ears.
"Clarke, I think you're old enough to learn about the Crazy Griffin Tradition that goes back generations. How old are you eighteen?" He says seriously while examining his daughter's face.
"I'm eight, Dad." The young girl laughs at her father's silliness.
"Oh that's right, well I'm still going to tell you." He whispers.
"What is it?" Clarke matched his volume.
"Your grandfather told me when I was fifteen years old, so you're getting a head start compared to your old man." Jake poked his little girl in the belly, causing her to laugh. "Do you trust me kiddo?"
Clarke nods profusely; with a toothy grin too match.
"Take my hand." They walk over to where the tide is coming in.
The freezing cold water washes over their feet causing Clarke to squeal.
"Dad its cold!"
"I know sweetie, the trick is-"
He was immediately cut off, as another tide washes over their feet causing Clarke to jump away from the water, squealing again.
"The trick is to plant your feet in the sand, the first wave is always the coldest. The second will be slightly warmer, and then the third one will be warmer than the second and so on until you don't feel the cold anymore."
"Really?" She said in awe.
His bright blue eyes looks down at her, and grins. "I promise."
"Okay." She says, planting her feet into the sand. "Dad is this the tradition?"
He laughs. "Nope this is just the training, something grandad never gave me. You'll thank me when you're older."
"So what is it then?"
"You're going to think it's really stupid." Jake joked in a childish voice.
"No I won't" Clarke shakes her head.
"Before the sunrises, every Griffin has swum out into the ocean in the icy cold water."
Clarke eyes went wide, as she looked down at the icy water washing over her feet.
"Us Griffins are Crazy, huh?" He made a face, crossing his eyes for emphasis.
Clarke laughed, she suddenly felt strong hands pick her up and swing her round. "I want to do it."
"When you're older okay?" Jake smiled at his daughter before continuing. "Because Clarke it's important to remember whenever you go swimming-".
"You should never swim alone, because the water is dangerous. I know Daddy." Her blue eyes looked into his, before he continued spinning her in the air.
Being at the Hamptons were some of the happiest memories she has.
xx
Clarke opened her eyes, her heart feeling heavier at the memory that surfaced. Clarke had planned to do the Crazy Griffin Tradition on the summer she was fifteen years old, she wanted to be the same age as her dad.
Tears start to fall, as the blonde wished her dad could see her do it; to see his goofy face light up, when she got back.
Clarke breathed out heavily, trying to get rid of the anxious feeling that remained in the pit of her stomach. Not wanting to dwell on it anymore, she removed her kimono in a fluid movement; revealing a black one piece.
She charged into the ocean, the icy cold water instantly taking her breath away, she kept running with determination until the water was deep enough before she dived into the water. Clarke appeared out of the water, gasping at the coldness of the water. She wiped away the wetness from her face, before wholeheartedly laughing at the ridiculous tradition.
"I love you, Dad." Clarke breathed out shakily, before she transitioned into forward stroke, swimming further out.
Xx
"Niylah" Clarke spoke softly, when she found the model sitting at the breakfast bar, nursing a coffee when she returned.
Niylah's jaw dropped, when she saw the blonde only wearing a kimono. Clarke was rubbing a towel against her wet curly hair.
"You couldn't sleep either?" The intern offered to break the tension, with a sly smirk on her face
"No. Did you go swimming?" Niylah asked, rubbing her hands against the mug nervously, soaking up the warmth that radiated from it.
Clarke nodded. "There was something I needed to do. Plus it was a great way to clear my mind". She then waited patiently, seeing the battle the woman in front of her was having.
"Clarke, I'm so sorry for last night. I never intended to-" Niylah began anxiously.
"I know." Clarke interrupted; it actually pained her to see the blonde like this.
"Wait, what? I thought-"
"That I'll still be mad?" The intern finished
"Yes, and you have every right to-"
"But I'm not."
Niylah smiled, Clarke was trying to put her at ease and it was working. "You deserve an apology."
The model saw the intern's lips start to part.
"And before you cut me off, please let me get this off my chest." The blue eyed blonde closed her mouth, a smiled with a nod for her to continue. "People think I'm good with words. Hell I am good with words, but when I'm with you; all logic goes out the window. I was so nervous, i never thought asking if you wanted to be exclusive would end so badly. I'm so truly sorry Clarke. I hope you know that i don't think you use sex, to avoid feelings."
Clarke smiled, appreciating Niylah's apology; she stepped forward and grabbed hold of her hand, placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
"Thank you, but-" The intern saw Niylah's head drop towards the floor, she needed to see those hazel eyes as it was her turn to confess her wrong doing. Clarke gently lifted the model's chin before continuing. "-but I owe you an apology as well. I acted childish, storming out of the room like that. If I had acted my age, I would have been able to see that some of what you said was true. When I'm faced with difficult conversations or situations, I changed the subject so the attention isn't on me. I'm sorry too."
Niylah pulled Clarke into a hug, and every muscle in the intern's body relaxed, as she wrapped her arms around her.
"I don't want to hurt you Niylah." The intern mumbled against the fabric of the model's dressing gown.
The model pulled out of the hug to look at Clarke
"What?"
"I like you Niylah, I really do but I'm really not good at relationships. I'm a mess. I runaway when things get to real; I tend to not process my feelings very well." Clarke paused, when she saw Niylah's lip draw into a thin line.
"And if I say I'm willing to take that risk."
Clarke smiled sadly, staring into those hopeful hazel eyes. "Niylah-"
"Don't-" Niylah breathed cupping the blonde's face.
Clarke continued anyway. "I haven't been with anyone except you since I moved to New York and I don't plan to be. Can that not just be enough? Labels will end up ruining things."
Niylah bit her lip, trying to contain the excitement in her chest to no avail; she pushed that energy out, as she clasped her hands around Clarke's face and surged forward claiming those lips in a heated kiss. It might have not been exactly what she wanted to hear, but two seconds ago she thought she ruined everything. The older blonde knows this is Clarke's roundabout way to say she is exclusive without any commitment or labels.
Clarke backed Niylah against the breakfast bar, finding position in between her legs, as her hands untied her dressing gown. "I take that as a yes." The intern breathed against Niylah's lip, while the model removed the kimono off the blonde's body.
Too absorbed in one another, they only pulled away when they heard the stairs creak; drawing their attention to the voices in that direction.
Xx
Lexa grabbed her phone of the nightstand; she let out an audible groan when she saw it was nearly 7:30am. She had less than three hours sleep.
The brunette sat up and turned to face the noise of heavy breathing to find Costia lying on her front, with last night's clothes still on.
A pool of dread filled her stomach, as remnants of last night filter in her head.
"We need to talk, Lexa" Costia slurred having being woken up from her alcohol induced coma, when Lexa returned from her early breakfast with Clarke. "I just can't -" She began in an exhausted tone.
Before Lexa could answer, she watched her girlfriend fall back to sleep; feeling an eerie silence with heavy breathing.
Lexa needed her morning coffee, before she was even able to go down that road of thinking about what to do about her relationship with Costia without caffeine.
She walked out of the room, making her way down the stairs, when she heard movement and noises. The brunette had made it half way when she saw Clarke and Niylah in a compromising position.
Lexa came to abrupt halt, remaining frozen as she just stared at the two blondes kissing. Niylah removed Clarke's kimono, and Lexa's mouth went dry, and no matter how hard she tried she couldn't seem to get her brain and legs to coordinate.
Soft groans filtered the air, snapping Lexa out of her trance, a pool of shame washed over the brunette, causing her to come to her senses. She was just about to turn around and go back upstairs, when she felt someone hit her over the back of the head.
"Good morning asshole." Raven chimed, descending down the stairs, not noticing the two women in the kitchen. "What are you doing lurking on the stairs?"
"I wasn't." Lexa defended; turning bright red. God she knew Raven would be the death of her. The brunette involuntarily glanced back over at Clarke, and she was met with stunned blue eyes, she wanted the ground to swallow her up whole.
The Latina finally noticed Clarke and Niylah, judging by their swollen lips, it was easy to put two and two together. A disturbing smirk grew on her face, as she looked back at Lexa; suddenly realising why her friend was awkwardly hovering on the stairs.
"Did we disturb you?" The Latina still wearing her sickening smirk, as she made her way downstairs and into the kitchen area.
"Nice outfit." She added directing it at Clarke, who became quickly aware that she was only wearing her one piece swimsuit. The intern blushed, as she picked up her kimono off the floor, and swiftly put it on.
Lexa closed her eyes, seriously wondering why the ground hasn't swallowed her up yet. Leave it to Raven to make a question sound dirty and make things even more uncomfortable.
"No." Niylah answered quickly. "We were just-. I mean we were only-. We weren't-" the model rambled on, until she felt a warm hand on her bicep.
"They caught us making out Niylah, it's not like they're our parents." Clarke laughed somewhat awkwardly, as she made eye contact with Lexa.
"Ahem to that." Raven cheered.
"I guess I just didn't expect anyone to be up so early." The Model scoffed gawkily
"Well I heard Woods over here leaving her room, and planned to guilt trip her into making me pancakes."
There was a moment of awkward silence, as Lexa was still staring into blue eyes. She soon realised everyone was looking at her expectantly, ignoring the smirk on Raven's face, her mind soon caught to her mouth.
"And what do i have to feel guilty about?" Lexa voice was controlled and clipped compared the weird feeling that resonated inside of her.
"You helped these two beat me at beer pong, that's an ultimate betrayal. You owe me those tasty pancakes."
"Fine" Lexa rolled her eyes.
"Would anyone else like some?"
Clarke bit her lip, she wasn't particularly hungry, thanks to the impromptu breakfast with Lexa. But she could not pass down this opportunity, it's been four years since she last had them.
"Yes, please. It's been a while since i have had your pancakes" Clarke laughed, when Lexa reciprocated with a lopsided smile.
The room felt silent, Niylah gave a questionable look, as she watched the exchange. Deciding not to question it, but by the way Raven was raising her eyebrows suggestively at Lexa thinking no one was looking; it was easy to tell there was definitely history between the two girls.
xx
It was a quick chapter, and not the best.
Thanks for being patient with me.