Chapter 31

"Hi there sleepy head." Lexa smiled as she met Clarke outside Gate 4.

Clarke smiled. "When a girl tells your she got Rangers tickets and wants you to be her date you get out of bed, sleepy or not."

"I'm glad hockey is what won you over, here I thought it was my charm and exceptional company."

"The company was a good reason too." Clarke winked as she grabbed a hold of Lexa's hand and dragged her through the crowd.

"Always such a flirt Griffin." Clarke laughed as Lexa handed over their tickets to be scanned. Once inside the warmth of the building Lexa unzipped her coat to reveal the Rangers jersey she had purchased after their game. "Beer?"

"I thought you were more into wine these days?"

It was Lexa's turn to wink. "It's a hockey game, it calls for beer!"

"Beer it is then." Clarke nodded as they walked up to the beer cart with giant smiles plastered all over their faces. "Hopefully we don't run into any of my exes tonight."

Lexa looked around as Clarke ordered their beers. "Um pretty sure one is standing right in front of you." Before Lexa could pay Clarke shoved a beer in her hand and paid the bartender.

"Ha, ha, you're so funny and the least I can do is buy the beer since you bought the tickets."

"The tickets were given to me." Lexa nodded as she sipped her beer and started walking in the direction of their section.

Clarke narrowed her eyes. "Maybe but I can guarantee that you give whomever gave you the tickets something."

Lexa shrugged and tried to hide the grin on her face. "I don't know what you're talking about Griffin."

"Shut up and walk." Clarke shoved Lexa towards their seats with her friend and a shake of her head.

XOXO

"Told you we'd get you to a winning game."

"Yeah but it only took one game to do that."

Lexa couldn't help but smile at the pout on Clarke's face. "Clarke Griffin! Are you using me for Rangers tickets?" Clarke nodded with another pout. "You're being insanely adorable right now." Lexa shook her head.

"Not my fault." Clarke smiled as she tried to hide the fact that butterflies were currently fluttering around in her stomach. "Besides I'm awesome company, it's a win-win."

All Lexa could do was laugh and take a hold of Clarke's hand as they weaved through the crowd. "How about a celebratory beer? I know a place."

Clarke raised an eyebrow. "Oh you know a place? Look at you turning into a New Yorker." Clarke tried her best New York style accent but Lexa only laughed at her in return.

"Yes, I do. I think you'll like it. Maybe play a game of pool while we're there?"

"Lead the way beautiful."

"Miss. Callaway!" Both Lexa and Clarke heard through the crowd and it caused them both to look.

"Mr. Cage. It's nice to see you outside the office."

The older man smiled. "Likewise. I saw you through the crowd and just wanted to say hello."

Lexa smiled and Clarke couldn't help but watch in amazement, Lexa really was genuinely charming. "I'm glad you did. Clarke this is Dante, Dante this is Clarke."

Clarke extended her hand and shook Dante's with a smile. "It's very nice to meet you Mr. Cage."

"Please, call me Dante and it is very nice to meet you as well but I'll leave you two to your night. A young couple in love deserves to enjoy themselves. You remind me of me and my late wife Isabelle, it's very nice to see you so happy and settling in well Mrs. Callaway."

Lexa was about to say something when she felt Clarke squeeze her hand. "Thank you," Clarke grinned, "I hope you have a great night as well." All Lexa could do was smile until Dante walked away.

"What is with you and going with the people thinking we're dating?"

Clarke shrugged. "As soon as he said we reminded him of his late wife, I knew we had to just go with it."

"What am I supposed to do when I get a girlfriend eventually and he finds out it isn't you."

Clarke laughed as she started walking out the door. "That's your problem."

Lexa chased after her into the crowd of people that were on the sidewalk and wrapped her arms around the blonde once she caught up to her. She attempted to try and tickle her but Clarke continued to laugh causing Lexa to pick her up and spin her around as fast as she could before they almost fell over. "You're an ass."

"A nice one." Clarke winked once they both finally got their balance and breath back from laughing so hard. Lexa rolled her eyes and hailed a cab. "Nice, I'm somewhat impressed, you're getting good at that."

"I'm good at most things that involve the use of my fingers." She wiggled her eyebrows as she got into the cab, leaving the door open for Clarke who was too busy shaking her head.

"I'm not even going to comment on that." She finally replied once she slid in next to Lexa and closed the door.

"That's because you know it's true."

Clarke raised an eyebrow and stared at the woman sitting beside her. "Lets be honest here if anyone can say they're good with their fingers it's me. I am a surgeon after all and I never heard you complain."

Lexa had to admit that Clarke had her on that one but she was sure as hell going to try and win. "So what you're really saying is that you had to go to school for years on how to use your fingers, while I have natural talent and if there was an Olympic sport involving that, I'd for sure win."

"Nice try, but no. You're losing your game Callaway, must be all that sitting in an office you do instead of fighting for the rights on the people in a court of law." Lexa's mouth dropped open slightly. "I got the brains too baby, always remember that. Point team Griff."

"I hate you." This time it was Lexa's turn to pout and cross her arms, though she couldn't hold it for long because Clarke stared at her until she started laughing.

"No, no, go back to hating me and trying to be all cute."

"Trying? I'm always cute."

Five minutes later the cab pulled over to let the two women out. Clarke almost didn't notice what bar they were through their fit of continued laughter. "This is where you want to go? No one writes to the colonel?"

"I really thought it was no one writes on the colonel, which was always weird to me." Lexa said as she opened the door for Clarke. "So you know this place?"

"You could say that, best fresh mojito's ever." Clarke smiled as Lexa stood next to her in the door way as they looked around for an empty table.

"Clarke!" Both Clarke and Lexa turned their heads at the sound of the voice and Lexa watched as one of the bartenders walked over from behind the bar and wrapped her arms around Clarke.

"Hey, Kelly. How are you?" Clarke hugged her back briefly before both women let go.

"I'm good and you?"

Clarke smiled. "Really good, I just got back from L.A. not too long ago."

"I'm glad New York has you back then. I'll get you a table." Clarke nodded as the brunette walked away.

"Damn, she's beautiful who was that?" Lexa wiggled her eyebrows.

"Just a friend, I haven't seen her in awhile though, life gets busy." Clarke saw the woman wave her hand causing her to move in that direction.

"Just friends?" Lexa questioned as she followed her. "Is that why you know this place?"

"Thanks Kell, oh and this is Lexa. Lexa, Kelly."

Kelly smiled and Lexa could see why Clarke and her were friends. "Nice to meet you." Kelly said as Lexa sat down across from Clarke.

"And you as well." Lexa smiled back up at the brunette.

"Did you guys want a menu?"

Clarke and Lexa looked at each other before shaking their heads. "No thanks but we will take a couple drinks."

"Rye and ginger for you?" Kelly asked causing Clarke to smile and nod. "And for yourself gorgeous?"

"I'll have a Manhattan." Kelly nodded with a smile before walking off.

"Okay, so how many times have the two of you hooked up?" Lexa asked with a mischievous grin.

Clarke flipped her off with the shake of her head as she pulled her hair to one side. "A couple, but we really are just friends. She's great but we lost touch for awhile, life really does get in the way."

XOXO

An hour later Lexa and Clarke were talking when Clarke heard a familiar voice behind her. "Lexa, I didn't see you come in tonight."

"Hi, Marcus. I snuck in a little while ago." The man moved forward and noticed that Lexa was sitting with someone.

"Clarke?" He smiled once he saw her face and all Clarke could do was blush slightly before getting up and giving the man a hug, leaving Lexa quite confused. "It's so good to see you. How are things?"

"Really good, how are things here? The place looks great."

"We did a little redecorating but I'm glad you approve and things are going well."

"So you are familiar with this place." Lexa grinned as Clarke leaned against the table.

Marcus let out a laugh. "She should be familiar with it. She used to spend enough time here."

Clarke nodded sheepishly. "So much time that Kane here offered me a job. He said if I was going to be here, I might as well make him some money bartending."

"Speaking of, since you're here, you should play something for old times sake." Marcus tried as Clarke covered her face.

"It's not even that kind of night and I don't have my guitar."

"You can use mine. Come on, for an old guy?"

Clarke looked to Lexa. "I'm not going to help you, sing away pretty girl."

"Ugh, fine."

XOXO

"How's it going everyone?" Marcus said into the microphone as the crowd cheered. "We have a one night only performance tonight by an old friend. "Please give it up for the one and only Clarke Griffin."

Everyone cheered, even though the majority of people had no idea who Clarke was. Lexa couldn't help but get up and stand near the bar.

"Hey guys, I don't even know what I should play since I was throw into this." She smiled as she sat down on the stool, guitar on her lap.

"Should've been us." Someone yelled.

Clarke laughed slightly with a nod. "Okay, I think I can do that."

Sure enough with wasting another minute Clarke started strumming and people were instantly drawn in, no one new expecting that to come out of the girl wearing an oversized Ranger's jersey.

"Walking round with my head down, but I can't hide with these high heels on. Downtown in a thick crowd but it's just you that my mind is on. Dressed up, got my heart messed up. You got yours and I got mine. It's unfair that I still care and I wonder where you are tonight. Thinking it could be different, but maybe we missed it. Thinking it could be different, it could; it could. It should've been us, should've been a fire, should've been the perfect storm. Could've been the real thing, now we'll never know for sure, ooh. We were crazy, but amazing, baby we both know it should've been us." She strummed a few more chords, and dared to look up at Lexa who was standing next to the bar, her eyes locked on Clarke.

Swallowing the lump in her throat she continued. "Back and forth like a tug of war, what's it all for, do I want it back. I still got a little flame for ya even though you drove me mad. Now and then, I pretend that it's you when I close my eyes. You got yours, I got mine but I wonder where you are tonight."

Marcus looked at Clarke and then at Lexa from where he stood behind the bar and the suddenly the light bulbs went off in his head. Shaking his head with a laugh he poured a drink before sliding it towards the brunette who had come to frequent his bar. "You're her Lexa, the Lexa that broke her heart."

Lexa looked over at him and took a deep breath. "Biggest regret of my life." He nodded and looked down at the drink causing her to pick it up and finish it all.

"I take it she didn't tell you about this place?"

Lexa shook her head. "I found it on my own, but I shouldn't be surprised, life likes playing these games with us."

"Alright everyone, how about I play one more that's a little happier?" Clarke asked the crowd, bringing Lexa and Marcus out of their conversation. People started clapping so Clarke laughed, looked at Lexa with a soft smile and started strumming again. "This one is for a very special friend."

"When legs don't work when they used to before and I can't sweep you off of your feet. Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love? Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks? Darling I will be loving you til we're 70. Baby heart could still fall as hard at 23 and I'm thinking about how people fall in love in mysterious ways and I just wanna tell you I am. So honey now, take me into your loving arms, kiss me under the light of a thousand stars, place your head on my beating heart. I'm thinking out loud, maybe we found love right where we are." She looked up at Lexa again but this time the smile on the woman's face couldn't be missed.

XOXO

Clarke walked towards Lexa once she had put the guitar down as the 90's reggae that was playing before Clarke starting playing again. "Should've been us eh?" Lexa grinned as she handed over the drink she had gotten for Clarke.

"Writing helped get some of the emotions out. That's one of the reasons I started coming here, they had an open mic night. That and I needed somewhere that didn't remind me of you because it seemed like no matter where I went, even in this giant metropolis, I was reminded of you."

"You sounded amazing and I really am sorry."

Clarke nodded. "I know, it was a long time ago so why don't we just continue living in the present?" Lexa smiled and started dancing causing Clarke to laugh slightly. "This reminds me of that night at Echo's when Anya thought she could out dance you." Clarke said as she watched Lexa throw her head back laughing at the memory.

"Yeah, that didn't turn out to well for her." Lexa looked at the people that were dancing and looked back at Clarke. "Want to dance with me?"

Clarke laughed and finished her drink before letting Lexa lead her over to the dance floor. Once they were in the midst of the rest of the crowd Lexa held Clarke's hand up and spun her around and pulled her in close so that her back was pressed up against Lexa. They're handed rested on Clarke's hips as Clarke followed Lexa's lead. Occasionally leaning her head back against Lexa's shoulder with a laugh as they continued to move to the music.

When the song changed Lexa spun Clarke around again and wrapped her arm around the blondes waist pulling her close, this time so that they were facing one another. Clarke grinned and wrapped an arm loosely around Lexa's neck as they kept dancing.

At some point Clarke felt Lexa's hand on the small of her back under her jersey and it caused her to inhale sharply. Being this close to Lexa wasn't a good thing, especially after being interrupted earlier that night. A few minutes after that she felt Lexa's leg in between her own but when she looked at Lexa it was clear the woman was just dancing.

It wasn't until she felt soft nails scrape across her back that she knew Lexa was messing with her. Her cheeks got really red as she looked at the smirk on Lexa's face. "Oh my god."

Lexa bit her lip before leaning in and placing a feather light kiss on Clarke's neck just under her jawbone. "You alright?" She whispered into her ear.

"How did you know?" Clarke dared to ask and it only caused Lexa to grin even more like a fool.

"We were in a long distance relationship, I know exactly what that sounds like. Those aren't sounds a girl ever forgets."

"You're a tease and not playing fair." Clarke grinned as she moved back slightly, her arm still around Lexa's neck.

Lexa shrugged, definitely feeling all the drinks they had had as she ran her up and down Clarke's side. "Want to get out of here?"

Clarke thought for a minute before nodding.

Once the cool air outside hit them, it seemed to sober them up slightly. It took them a minute but they finally hailed down a cab. Clarke opened the door for Lexa and got in after her. She told the driver the hotel Lexa had been staying at, not knowing that Lexa was no longer staying there.

They were quiet for most of the ride before Lexa finally had the courage to speak. "I'm not trying to step over the line but I have to be honest with you. I can't get that kiss out of my head. I know it was nothing but I still feel the way it made my lips tingle and I've been replaying it over and over again in my head since it happened."

Clarke turned her attention towards the brunette in the car as her heart starting beating faster and without thinking she closed the distance between them and crashed her lips against Lexa's.

One or both of them let of a hum of approval into the kiss as Clarke's hand came up to rest on Lexa's cheeks. They weren't entirely sure which one of them had made the noise but Clarke did know that it was Lexa's hand that was rubbing up and down her side and just like that they were thrown back into the past. Clarke hated to admit it but nothing had felt that good in a very long time.

TBC…