Chapter Nine
"You've got a little…" Clarke tapped her nose, but Lexa's brows knotted in confusion, her head tilting to the side in that cute puppy-dog way she had. Clarke chuckles as a few flakes of sugar were shaken from where they rested on the tip of the brunette's nose. Clarke had bought a bag with a dozen zeppoles and—as it turned out—they were Lexa's new favorite treat. She'd already pretty much vacuumed through half of the bag and now her lips were covered in the sweet powdered sugar, which Clarke had had to look away from every time Lexa's tongue had come out to swipe it away. She felt her cheeks heat up as she did it again and Clarke glanced down at Fish, swimming in his bowl; she hadn't been able to think of a more original name.
"What?" Lexa asked, calling her attention back to the slight dusting of sugar at the tip of her nose. Clarke bit back her smile and pulled a napkin from her jacket pocket, balling it up in her fist.
"Stay still," she said as she reached across the picnic table, arm outstretched. She saw Lexa's eyes widen as she swiped at her nose and the sugar crumbled off, dusting the table. When the other girl saw what Clarke had done, she flushed bright red.
"Oh," she said. "Well, that's not embarrassing at all."
Clarke laughed and shook her head. "Just be grateful Raven wasn't here," she said. "She would have taken, like, a million pictures. They'd have a hundred likes on Instagram within the hour."
"Then I'm grateful it's just us," Lexa said, her cheeks going slightly pink as she looked down, bashfully. Clarke mirrored the look as she dropped the napkin in the now empty paper bag and reached for Lexa's hand on the table, causing the girl to look up at her.
"Me too," she said, staring Lexa straight in the eye. She tried to convey everything she was still too scared to say in that exact moment (though she hoped she would get over it before the night's end) and slotted her fingers with Lexa's, squeezing slightly. The smile Lexa gave her melted Clarke's heart and she opened her mouth, intent on finally saying the words that would—
"LOOK AT MY MONKEY!"
Clarke and Lexa jumped, their fingers untangling as they looked up at Octavia, who was brandishing a large stuffed ape that was nearly half her size, her arms wrapped around it like she was cradling a delicate child. Lincoln, Raven, Indra, Monty, and Jasper walked with her, each of them carrying prizes and food of their own. Raven and Indra's hands were linked and they both had knowing looks on their faces. The rest of their friends, however, seemed oblivious.
Clarke was caught halfway between telling her friends to get lost and just giving up all hope of ever asking Lexa to the homecoming dance. Luckily, Octavia distracted her from her thoughts as she shoved the purple animal in her face and practically screeched, "LOOK AT HIM!"
"Very nice, O," Clarke replied, dryly, craning her neck around the mass of fake fur to look up at Lincoln. "How much did that cost you?"
"Let's just say the only way I'm going to college is through an athletic scholarship." He nodded at the stuffed raccoon Clarke had on the bench next to her. "How much did that set you back?"
"Four dollars," Lexa answered with a cheeky grin. "I gave the first prize to some kid, though."
Lincoln crossed his arms and gave her a mock pout. "Show off."
Octavia looked between them and then at Clarke. "I think I'm dating the wrong football player," she said.
"Hey!" Lincoln exclaimed, poking her in the side. Octavia squeaked and swung the monkey at his chest, making him laugh as it let out a tiny whomp upon impact. He pulled her against his chest and pressed a kiss to her forehead that practically had her purring, then he looked over at Clarke and Lexa. "So, where are you guys headed to next?"
Clarke looked to Lexa and raised an eyebrow in a silent question. The brunette's shoulders raised in answer. "Ferris wheel?" she suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Clarke agreed, turning back to Lincoln. "You?"
"I need food," Octavia groaned, patting her flat tummy. "Boyfriend, buy me food?"
"Eat the monkey," Lincoln replied. "Otherwise, I have nothing left." As if to prove his point, he reached into his pockets and turned both inside out with a frown.
"You weren't kidding about the college thing, were you?" Clarke asked, snorting.
"I take donations in cash, checks, and gift cards to Sports Authority."
Clarke reached into her pocket and pulled out a ten dollar bill. "This should get you about a dozen zeppoles and two drinks," she said. "You owe me."
"I got you," Lincoln said, fist-bumping her. "How about I babysit your fish for you while you take your girl on the Ferris wheel?" He wiggled his eyebrows when Clarke blushed and she wanted nothing more than to punch him in his smug face...but she kept her composure as she sighed and nodded.
"Fine," she said. "You okay with leaving Fish here with Lincoln, Lexa?"
"He seems trustworthy," Lexa replied, nodding. "If he dies while I'm gone, you'll have to buy me another one, though."
"Girl, I am broke," Lincoln reminded her. "I just offered to babysit a damn fish for ten dollars."
"And we expect to get our money's worth," Lexa retorted. "You better take good care of Fish; he's family."
"Whatever you say, weirdo," Lincoln snorted under his breath. Lexa stood and elbowed him in the side and he snickered, giving her a soft shove. Clarke stood up with her, tucking her raccoon under her arm. As they passed Raven and Indra (who were making those disgusting googly eyes at each other. Again.), Clarke stopped to whisper in the former's ear.
"Keep an eye on Lincoln," she said. "Make sure he doesn't kill Lexa's fish."
Raven gave her a mock salute. "Auntie Raven is on duty," she said, then giggled, murmuring the word "doodie" under her breath as she tugged Indra toward the table. Clarke and Indra shared an eye roll and she suddenly felt much closer to the other girl.
Clarke linked her arm with Lexa's and the two strolled leisurely toward the Ferris wheel, which had a rather short line that seemed to be shrinking quickly. They stood in silence, their elbows locked, and shared sly glances at each other every now and then, quickly looking away so as not to get caught. When it came to their turn, Lexa allowed Clarke to get into the seat first, then situated herself next to her. The only thing between them was Clarke's raccoon's squished body and even that wasn't enough to distract her from the heat of Lexa's hand, which had fallen near Clarke's leg.
Clarke felt her face heat up so much that the slight wind that ruffled through her blonde curls wasn't even enough to cool her down. She avoided Lexa's eye, looking out at the bird's eye view of the church parking lot, at all the carnival patrons milling about. She quickly located her friends near the zeppole cart and recognized Lincoln and Octavia as the former fed the latter in a disgustingly romantic fashion. She wrinkled her nose slightly, shaking her head, then turned to find Lexa staring at her, green eyes lit up intensely.
"What?" Clarke asked, feeling the heat return to her cheeks.
"Nothing," Lexa replied, shaking her head and giving her a slight smirk. "It's just...nothing." Her cheeks bloomed red and her hair fell over them like a curtain as she looked down. Clarke felt a flutter in her chest and took a deep breath, getting her bearings as she reached for Lexa's hand, linking their fingers. Lexa glanced over, blinking up at Clarke from under the curtain of brown waves and the blonde smiled, biting her lip.
"I'm glad you're here," she said, feeling her throat suddenly go dry at the look of surprise in Lexa's eyes. "With me," she added, her voice a little bit rougher.
Lexa gave her a sweet smile that caused yet another flutter, this time in her stomach. "Me too," she whispered, squeezing Clarke's hand.
Clarke grinned bashfully and fought to keep her eyes locked with Lexa's as she cleared her throat again. "So," she said, "I was wondering…"
"Yeah?" Lexa asked, her interest piqued by the look of apprehension in the blonde's eyes.
"Um," Clarke said, feeling her heartrate pick up at the hopeful look in Lexa's eyes. "I was wondering if you might want to…I mean, if you wanted to…I mean…" She shook her head and swallowed thickly, looking down at their linked fingers. Lexa's squeezed hers and Clarke felt a little bit of the tension ease as she looked up into her kind face, green eyes twinkling. Lexa nodded in encouragement and Clarke took another deep breath. "I was wondering if you would like to…gotothehomecomingdancewithme!" She let it all out in one breath and felt her face turn to flames at the look of surprise and confusion on Lexa's face as she did that puppy dog head tilt and knotted her brows together.
"Huh?"
Clarke sighed, her blonde hair fluttering with her breath, and forced her words out more slowly: "Do you want to go to Homecoming with me?" she asked, taking a deep breath once the words were out of her mouth.
"Huh?" Lexa's eyes were wide as saucers, her cheeks pink and rosy, spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.
"Please don't make me say it any slower because I don't think that's possible," Clarke groaned, covering her face with her hands.
"No, I heard you," Lexa replied, smiling slightly. "I just meant…you want to go to Homecoming with me?" Clarke nodded. "What about that thing you said last week about not being 'ready'?"
"I…I realized how dumb it sounds?" Clarke tried, then slumped in her seat. "I mean, it's been a year and we only dated for, like, a month. Raven dated him for years and yet she moved on just fine, you know?"
"That doesn't mean you have to," Lexa said, squeezing her hand. "People handle things differently. Just because Raven was quick to move on, doesn't mean you have to be. I'm fine with waiting, if that's what you need."
Clarke smiled at her, feeling her heart swell with affection. She knew how much Lexa liked her (had known since their little talk about the whole surprise kiss debacle) and it meant so much to her that she was willing to give her space and time despite their obvious feelings for each other. But she was so tired of time and space and letting her heart 'heal' after all this time. If anything, being around Lexa had shown her just how much her heart had healed without her even taking notice of it. And while she was still cautious about trusting somebody else with it again, Clarke realized that Lexa was worth the risk.
"I don't want to wait anymore," she said, squeezing Lexa's hand again. "I'm through with waiting. I just…I just want to give this a shot. Give us a shot. And I hope…I hope you feel the same." She looked away now, slightly embarrassed by how cheesy the words that had just come out of her mouth sounded. It was as if she was in some kind of overdramatic rom com, or worse: a sappy romance novel. Not even the good kind, either. More like the kind they sold in CVS.
Then she felt heat at her chin and it took her a moment to realize that it was Lexa's fingers lightly cupping her jaw, gently guiding Clarke's gaze back to hers. Lexa's eyes were soft and shimmery and enchanting, almost putting Clarke in a trance as their faces moved closer together—so near that Clarke could feel the heat of Lexa's breath on her lips. Her heart stuttered as she waited—for what, she had no idea.
"Yes," Lexa breathed, finally, giving Clarke a smirk.
"Yes?" Clarke echoed, her brows furrowing slightly in confusion. All she could focus on was the intensity in Lexa's gaze.
"Yes," Lexa repeated. "I would love to go to Homecoming with you."
Suddenly, it was like all the tension had left Clarke's body, leaving her with a feeling that she was so light she might float into the clouds. As if to ground herself, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to Lexa's for the first time in weeks, letting out a sigh at the softness that met her. The kiss was chaste for the most part, but Clarke's heart still lit up like a firework as she felt Lexa's lips curl upward in a smile.
When they pulled back, both girls were blushing and smiling widely, suddenly very bashful as they looked away from each other, gazing out at the crowds milling about below. Clarke felt Lexa's fingers interlock with hers between their bodies and she bit her lip, glancing over at the other girl, who did the same.
The smiles didn't leave their lips until they returned to the ground.
"That was fun," Lexa said, her voice quiet as she and Clarke walked, hand-in-hand, up the pathway to her house.
Clarke nodded, smiling over at her as they reached the front door. "It really was," she said. The raccoon was tucked against her chest, the soft fur tickling his chin. "I'm really glad you came out with us tonight." She took a deep breath. "With me," she corrected.
They stopped and turned to each other under the porch light, their fingers unlinking. Lexa held Fish (who miraculously lived through fifteen minutes in the care of Lincoln and Raven) in her left hand and brought him closer to her chest as she bit her lip, looking bashfully at Clarke. "I'm glad I came out, too," she said, tilting her head in that way. Clarke was unable to keep herself from reaching up to push a lock of hair away from her face, her fingers knocking slightly into Lexa's glasses and knocking them askew.
"Oops," she chuckled, tucking her stuffed animal under her arm so that both hands were free to fix the adorably dorky glasses. "Sorry about that." Lexa's eyes widened slightly at the close proximity, but she didn't seem too bothered by it. Not at all, in fact. Her free hand came up to rest on Clarke's, which had fallen to cup her jaw near her ear and she slotted her fingers between the blonde's, leaning into her touch. Clarke smiled at that and leaned forward until the tip of her nose brushed against Lexa's, their breaths mingling as their eyes closed, their lips getting closer until…
"Lexa, is that—oh, sorry!"
Clarke and Lexa jumped apart—the latter nearly falling into the bushes behind her—when the door opened suddenly and Anya poked her head out, only to immediately close the door again when she realized what she had interrupted.
It was too late, though; the moment was gone. Lexa and Clarke shared a look and amused smiles broke over their faces, before both of them let out nervous chuckles and shook their heads. Clarke cleared her throat.
"So," she said, "I'll, uh, see you tomorrow then?"
Lexa nodded, giving her a crooked grin. "Tomorrow," she said.
Clarke's smile widened and she leaned up, pressing a quick kiss to Lexa's cheek, which spawned a cute flush of pink across her cheeks. "Goodnight, Lexa," she whispered, squeezing her free hand, before making her way back up the path.
Lexa watched her go, a dopey grin on her face and hearts in her eyes as she pressed her hand to the spot on her cheek that Clarke's lips had touched. "Goodnight, Clarke," she whispered in return. Clarke shot her one more precious grin before getting into her car and gave a wave as she pulled away from the curb. Lexa lifted her hand in a tiny wave back, before turning and opening the front door.
Once inside, she leaned back against the hardwood and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she let a slow smile spread her lips.
"So," a voice said, startling her. Lexa opened her eyes to see her older sister situated on the stairs, her hands folded in her lap as she smiled up at her, one eyebrow raised. "Did you have fun?"
Lexa rolled her eyes and walked past, heading to the kitchen to find a bowl for Fish. Anya was right on her tail.