Chapter 28

"You're so angry!"

"Well they went and fucked up! How do you lose when there is a minute left in the game and you're up by a goal! Not even an overtime loss! Dumbasses!"

All Lexa could do was smile as she and Clarke stood waiting to make their way out of their seats. Clarke was still royally pissed that the Rangers lost but Lexa couldn't deny the fact that it was entirely too cute. Especially since Clarke was never considered the sporty type but she was fiery and so the two went hand in hand.

"You've really embraced the Rangers haven't you?" Lexa asked with a laugh as they started walking up the stairs towards the exit.

"I blame Octavia! It was all she would watch so I kind of just picked it up, I really didn't have much of a choice."

Lexa nodded as Clarke stepped in front of her and took her hand and pulled her through the crowd. "I remember her watching hockey quite a bit."

"Yeah it's a good time. Especially when we meet up after work and catch games, have a beer, or two." Clarke grinned and she continued to pull Lexa through the crowd like a pro.

"Why haven't I been invited to one of these nights yet?"

Clarke shrugged as Lexa started walking in the direction of the Rangers store. Without realizing it they were still holding hands. It wasn't until someone bumped into Lexa in the crowd that they let go.

"Sorry." They both looked up and saw Keenan standing next to her date.

Clarke and Lexa both laughed. "No worries." Lexa smiled as she watched Keenan's eyes look for Clarke's who was doing everything except looking at the other woman.

"That was some kiss." Still she looked right at Clarke, never giving Lexa a second glance.

Lexa laughed and perked up a little. "You know when you love a girl, you always find your way back to her, no matter what. Love like that shows." Lexa made it a point to look back at Clarke, catching her eyes. A genuine smile appearing on the blondes face and making Clarke look away.

"You say that now, we'll see what happens when she's barely home."

Finally Clarke looked right at Keenan, a large smile on her face. Lexa knew that look far too well, it was her 'I'm about to drop some truth on you' face. "Actually she'll always say that because Lexi knows how to be successful and maintain a healthy personal life. You do realize that she's the CEO of a major company right? So unlike some people she's not scared of a little work and she's always pushed me to do what I need to do to better myself. That's what loving someone is about; it's not about wanting to be the only thing in their life.

Mic drop. Was all Lexa could think as she channeled her inner Raven. She looked over to see Keenan's face and it took everything in her to not burst into laughter. Clarke still had that cocky grin on her face and Keenan looked like she had been run over by a train.

"Have a good night, should attend to your date, she may think you're too busy for her." Clarke winked at the woman before taking a hold of Lexa's hand and walking further into the store.

"Way to go Griff, the Laguna Bitch is still in you."

Clarke laughed as she let go of Lexa's hand once she watched Keenan walk out of the store. "Oh she never went anywhere, she just comes with a side of New York Bitch now." Clarke watched as Lexa reached up and grabbed the Lundquist jersey in her size. She took off her jacket and slipped it on before turning around to look at Clarke.

"What do you think?"

Clarke had to admit, Lexa looked pretty cute in the over sized jersey. She shook her head with a laugh. "You don't even know who he is."

"Sure I do, he's the goalie." Clarke looked a little shocked. "I'm perceptive. Plus you were cussing at him pretty much half the game."

"You picked it because you like that number." Clarke raised her eyebrow, still shaking her head.

Lexa shrugged. "Whatever, I'm getting it." Lexa stuck her tongue out as she made her way over to the cash register.

XOXO

"They're going to lose their shit. Especially since we're both wearing Rangers jerseys now."

"Don't be upset because I look hot in mine. I could be one of those puck bunnies that make the calendars." Clarke burst out into laughter in the cab as Lexa posed as best she could from her seat.

"You're ridiculous."

Lexa shook her head. "No I'm hilarious."

"I disagree."

"The fact that you're laughing leads me to believe you're lying Clarke."

Clarke rolled her eyes at Lexa's lawyer tone. "Don't use that tone with me."

Lexa shrugged with a half grin. "Not my fault I'm smart." They felt the cab come to a stop and before Clarke could take her money out she was watching as Lexa passed him a bill and told him to keep the change. "Move it Griffin."

"First rounds on me." Clarke pointed at her as she exited the cab and held the door open for Lexa to slide out.

"Works for me."

XOXO

"Where the fuck was my invite you bitch?" Octavia shook her head as she stood at the bar with Lexa as Raven and Clarke went to the washroom.

"I tried to get a hold you!" Lexa shrugged as she sipped on the drink Clarke had bought her.

Octavia narrowed her eyes. "Really, because I had no missed calls from you."

"I emailed you! I was in a meeting when I got the tickets, I couldn't exactly call you."

Octavia pulled her phone out of her purse and opened her email. Sure enough there was an email from Lexa Callaway. Rangers game tomorrow night? "I hate you."

Any laughed with the shake of her head. "If I didn't know any better I'd think you two were dating."

"We did, but I was too much for her to handle. My guns scare her." Lexa rolled her eyes as she took another sip of her drink as Octavia put hers on the bar and met Raven and Clarke who had stopped on the dance floor on their way back from the washroom.

Anya leaned against the bar next to Lexa as they watched the three friends dance like no one was watching. "When did you realize it?"

"What?"

"You're giving her the look. When did you realize everything I have been telling you for the past five years?"

Lexa finished her drink and set the glass behind her. A small smile crept over her features. "Maybe I always knew but we kind of kissed tonight."

Anya's eyes widened. "You kind of what?"

Lexa didn't take her eyes off the dance floor. "Kiss cam, run ins with an ex. It was really not romantic at all. It was actually kind of awkward but it still made my heart race the way it used to. Being so close to her, the way she always made me feel came back. It was like everything that I tried to forget was suddenly right in front of me. I didn't realize it right away but about half way into the third period, I snuck a look at her and that was it. I can't believe I let that girl get away."

"You have a crush on Clarke Griffin."

"God that sounds far too familiar."

Anya laughed as she turned around and ordered another round. "That's because it some things will never change. You having the hots for Griff is one of those things."

"Tell her and I'll kill you! I'm not trying to complicate our relationship. We barely know each other anymore and I've really liked getting to know her again. You do anything to jeopardize that and I'll find Octavia's guns."

Anya shook her hands in front of Lexa. "I'm so scared of the big bad lawyer, turned CEO threatening violence. Now if you don't me you'd take my to court or something I might be frightened."

"Shut up. Why are we friends again?"

"Because I'm your dose of reality in that bubble head of yours."

Lexa gave her the middle finger as the music stopped playing. She knew what bar Octavia had chosen to break Raven and Anya into New York life and she was excited to see the look on Anya's face when she realized it. "Now that it's midnight, you all know what time it is. Come on up and let's have some fun." The DJ grinned and before Anya knew what was going on Lexa was dragging her towards the stage.

"No. No. No. No."

"You wanted an invite to New York, well now you've got it!" Clarke grinned as she spoke into Anya's ear once her and Lexa were on stage with them.

"I'm not drunk enough for this! I won't even…" Anya trailed off as she heard the music start to play. All she could do was glare at Raven.

"Senior prom," was all Raven said before the words started to show up on the screen in front of them.

"At first I was afraid, I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live without you by my side." Clarke sang as she looked at Octavia.

"But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong and I grew strong and I learned how to get along." Raven sang into Lexa's ear with a grin.

"And so you're back from outer space I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock. I should have made you leave your key if I had known for just one second that you'd be back to bother me." Lexa tried to sing without bursting into laughter as she wrapped an arm around Anya's shoulder.

"Oh now go, walk out the door. Just turn around now cause you're not welcome anymore. Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with me goodbye." Octavia turned to look at Anya as she finished singing the line.

A beat. "You think I'd crumble, you think I'd lay down and die. Oh no not I." Anya sang as loudly as she could as she finally crumbled and gave in to the song.

"I will survive, oh as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive. I've got all my life to live. I've got all my love to give and I will survive." They all sang as the crowed cheered.

Once the song was done they all stepped off the stage in a fit of laughter. "Okay someone needs to tell me the senior prom story." Octavia laughed as they headed back to the bar to order another round.

"Alright let Ray Rey tell you the tale." Raven grinned as they all squeezed into an empty booth.

"I'm going to kill you." Anya shook her head as she put back half her beer.

"Just remember I can build bombs." Raven quieted her as Lexa and Clarke shared a look. "Anyways. Picture this: Senior prom after party. We were all partying down on the beach; yes we were quite drunk thanks to Monty. The Griff over here decided that it'd be safer if we brought the party inside because Murphy kept trying to run into the water. So the last time her did it, Anya went in after him, grabbed his ear and dragged him out. That alone was hilarious but it was enough for Lexa to agree that we should move the party elsewhere. We went back to Lexa's since her parents were gone somewhere. It's all a little hazey from the alcohol but at some point in the night all anyone could hear was the sweet sound of Gloria Gaynor being ruined, and I do mean ruined by little miss Anya. This girl was standing on the table, shirt in her hand belting out 'I will survive'. She'll never live it down."

Octavia burst out into laughter as Anya sat looking rather annoyed but there was still a small hint of a smile on her face.

XOXO

"Thank you for tonight." Clarke smiled as they stood outside the large rotating doors of the hotel."

Lexa smiled with a nod. "Anytime, I had fun and now I have my very own jersey for the next time we go."

"We're going again are we?" Clarke asked with a wink.

"Of course. We have to make sure you see a game where they actually win, plus I think we're kiss cam famous now. Need to make an appearance and sign autographs."

It was Clarke's turn to laugh. "We make a good kiss cam team, I'll give you that."

"Are you implying that I'm a decent kisser?"

Clarke raised an eyebrow. "Potentially but it wasn't long enough for me to get a full gage of your skills."

"Is that an invitation?" Lexa challenged, trying to hide the smirk on her face.

"Wouldn't you like to know? In all seriousness," Lexa's heart stopped unsure of what Clarke was going to say. "I had a lot of fun tonight, thank you for taking me, even if I was your second option. Thank god Octavia doesn't check her emails."

Lexa couldn't hold back the smile any longer. "I never said you were my second option."

Clarke read her features in the dim light. "You knew she wouldn't check her email. She's never been good with that and you knew it."

"I had to at least make it look like I tried. Thank God that girl will never change." Clarke let out a small cough. "Are you still fighting off that cold? I thought I told you to take it easy."

"I'm a surgeon, we don't know how to do that and I'll be fine, just the time of year with the seasons changing and all."

Lexa nodded as Clarke reached in and gave her a big hug. "Thank you."

"You said that already." Lexa said as she regretfully pulled away from Clarke.

"I'm glad you were there tonight, with the whole Keenan thing. Not many people get under my skin but she does."

Lexa nodded in understanding. "Just know that you deserve far better than her and I know that me saying that is a complete contradiction but you've worked your ass off to get where you are and you've never let anything stop you. You're an amazing human being and you are going to make someone so very lucky. You're the most independent, brave person I have ever known. You're an inspiration and a prime example of why you should never give up on your dreams and goals because they come true."

Clarke looked down at her feet and blushed slightly. "Thank you Lex, that means a lot, especially coming from you. Never doubt that, just because our past isn't one to be desired doesn't mean that I haven't always valued your opinion."

They stood talking for another brief moment before Clarke shivered and Lexa told her that she better get home and into bed before the sickness finally caught up to her. Clarke watched as Lexa made her way into the hotel and she couldn't help but to smile.

Once she finally got home and got comfortable in bed she realized how much her cheeks hurt. She had almost literally smiled all night, even though running into Keenan had been a slight mood killer, it hadn't taken long for the happy mood she had been in to come back. Deep down she knew it was because of Lexa, because know one really made her smile the way Lexa did. She had a feeling that something had changed tonight, she felt lighter in a weird way but she couldn't place why.

XOXO

One Week Later

Clarke's phone started ringing as she stood in line at the café. She stepped aside and pulled it out of her bag. Her forehead furrowed, as she didn't recognize the number. "Hello?" She answered.

"Hi, is this Clarke?" The voice seemed familiar but Clarke couldn't place it over the phone.

"It is, may I ask who's calling?" She smiled at the barista as she handed her, her coffee.

"Sorry, it's Costia I was wondering if you had a moment to talk." Clarke stopped pouring the cream into her coffee. One thought running through her mind. Why the fuck was Costia calling her.

TBC…