Chapter Ten – The Honeymoon Phase
Beca
Beca was basically vibrating with excitement! She had honest to goodness never felt this way, which should scare her right? Well it didn't, because it was Chloe, and Chloe was blatantly honest about everything. Well everything except their relationship…relationship…she could actually use that word now! Chloe fucking Beale was her girlfriend! God she just wanted to scream it from the roof tops, no- chill Beca- you can handle this. It's cool, everything was cool, the most gorgeous, talented, honest, kind, (did she mention drop dead gorgeous) and caring girl was now hers. They were each other's. Okay screw trying not to smile at this point, she could control everything else her body wanted to do right now but just thinking about Chloe made her smile so there was no reason to not smile.
They had broken up their make out session when they heard voices coming around the corner. Beca distantly heard an Australian accent, 'I told you already you're not really a panty dropper!' Followed by a male voice that had way too much confidence for someone trying to get with Fat Amy (at least in Beca's opinion), 'I just figured you would want a shoulder to cry on after you watched us be absolutely unstoppable!' Beca had pulled Chloe around the last side of the building before the pair broke into their view. The new couple had debated over walking each other home, 'You can't walk all the way back to the Bellas' house by yourself after going with me it's not safe!' 'And that's the reason I can't let you do it either!' Eventually they settled on splitting ways at that point and texting when they got back to their respective beds.
Beca was greeted by the most promising sight she had ever witnessed when she opened her dorm room door. Lexa was dancing between their beds with her back to the door. The distinct sounds of Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship were playing from the speaker on Lexa's desk (because she knew better than to touch Beca's when she wasn't present). Beca took the one chance she was given and ran with it. "I will hold this over you forever!" She basically screamed the first few words finally making Lexa jump the way her sister always made her do by barging in the room. Beca instantly doubled over with laughter at the shock and red tint creeping up Lexa's face. The music died instantly as Beca caught her breath, "I see why you do this now, your face! It was so priceless!" Laughter rocked her body as did her sister's hand smacking her arm.
"Laugh while you can Bex, karma is a bitch and you are lucky I'm on too good of a high for you to bring me down by getting me once." Lexa teased as she started toward her closet appearing to be changing for bed. Beca noticed how light she looked, she steps seemed to float across the floor and her face was way overly happy at the moment. Something was up.
"Okay, why do you look like they started selling all you can eat tacos at Taco Bell?" Because honestly that was really a thing that neither girl in that room would be sad to have happen, and as Lexa pulled her tank top down finishing changing she turned back to face her, still with at stupid grin on her face.
"Something awesome may have happened after Clarke and I left the pool." Beca could have gone blind with how radiant Lexa's smile was. Beca waited a beat for her to continue and when she didn't she got frustrated but knew her sister would open up with just a little bit of torture.
"Something awesome may have happened to me after you left as well!" Beca had gone to change as well, her coat was still way too hot (even if Chloe had opened it to slide her arms around her waist). Chloe, she was constantly on her mind now, okay so she had been since they first hung out- went out- whatever you want to call it. That dopey smirk was back on her face as she thought about the way Chloe had backed her against the wall, how her fingers threaded through the tiny hairs at the base of her skull, her sad excuse for opening her coat 'I'm cold', 'Bullshit, you just want to see me naked…again!', how low her giggle became after Beca said that to her, and then there was that image again. The image that had been burned on the inside of her eyelids since the first month of school.
Beca had tried so hard not to look that fateful day in the shower, but it was pretty damn hard to not look when someone wasn't even trying to not let you see. Of course she looked, you would have too if you could have seen how absolutely perfect every single part of her was! She knew Chloe had looked too, she saw her when she was trying to look only at her eyes, she saw the way they raked over her and the slight darkening of the blue shade of her eyes.
Beca was pulled out of her thoughts when Lexa coughed at her. "Okay we both obviously have serious news to talk about, and we tell each other everything…so…on three?" Beca caught her eye in the mirror, her sister had seen every emotion that crossed her face just then. Could she tell Lexa about her relationship? Chloe didn't want people to know…no…she only said that they couldn't let Aubrey find out. She said not to tell the Bellas because Aubrey couldn't find out…Lexa was not a Bella, and to be completely honest, she needed to have someone to talk to or she would actually explode!
"Deal." Beca turned and walked back between their beds, Lexa stood face to face with her, well not face to face Lexa was a good six inches taller. "One."
"Two." Lexa sighed and nodded.
"I have a girlfriend!" They both said at the same time. "No way, I'm so happy for you! It's about time." Sometimes, even though they weren't biological, their twin telepathy came out and they kept speaking together. They hugged each other, Beca was so happy for Lexa, she really needed someone after what happened to Costia. It had been horrible for Lexa to lose someone so close to her heart again, Beca would need to have the sister talk with Clarke now…wait a second.
"It's Clarke right? I mean I know I really shouldn't ask because you guys were disgustingly cute tonight, but still I want to be sure that is who I need to talk to." Beca pulled her face back to serious for this portion of the conversation.
"Yes it is Clarke and try to be nice when you do talk to her, oh and she already knows about Costia." Beca was shocked, Lexa had never told anyone about Costia before. "It felt right, I knew I could tell her and it wouldn't change anything. I knew I could trust her with that. I was right." Beca just nodded.
"Well you be nice to Chloe then when you give her the talk too. There is something different about her from the others. I can't shake off the things she does, her voice, her laugh, her touch, the way her mouth…"
"Okay no details please!" Lexa cut her off with a laugh. "No wait I need a few details. What exactly happened after I left the pool?"
"Well actually it kind of all started really moving last week when I went over to talk to her about why she kissed me the night we hung- went out." They had moved to sit on Lexa's bed side by side. "She told me she had wanted to since she saw me at the activities fair, then we kinda made out in her room, I don't know what happened I had no control over what I was doing or saying at that moment." Lexa laughed and shook her head. "Aubrey, our captain and her best friend, came home then."
"Is that the angry blonde that was yelling at you guys about making a list or some shit after the riff off ended?"
"Yeah that was General Posen. Anyway, Aubrey basically hates me because I have good ideas and she is a dictator, so Chloe said that we couldn't let anyone find out what happened so it was whatever. Well tonight after everything was said and done she drug me behind a building and basically attacked me with her mouth, no complaints by the way. Then I got her to stop for like two seconds and asked her if this was like a thing between us or what. She said, and I quote, 'you are mine'. So yeah Chloe Beale is my girlfriend now!" Lexa smiled and side hugged her on the bed. "So how did yours go down?"
"Well I walked Clarke back to her dorm and before I could get the question out we were forced into the dorm room of her two best friends, you remember Raven and Octavia right?" Beca nodded. "Well I didn't really know Raven as well as I did Octavia and they decided that I needed too. So we learned a bit about each other and then they told me about Finn." Beca felt her eyebrows pull together in silent question. "Finn is Clarke's ex-boyfriend, she is bisexual like someone else I know." She knocked herself into Beca's shoulder.
"Chloe too." Beca added without really meaning too. Lexa just raised one shoulder in a shrug silently saying 'whatever' and continued.
"He was actually dating Clarke at the same time he was dating Raven." Beca was of course shocked. "Yeah I was pretty shocked too, they explained everything though and how it actually brought them closer. They did tell me though that they neglected to actually get revenge on him so we set up a plan and I'm going to help them all take him down, or at least make his day awful for a while."
"Of course you would!" Revenge has always been Lexa's way of letting out her frustration on things. Their sophomore year of high school, pre Costia's death, the couple got detention for kissing in the hallway before school started so to get back at the principle…they stole "For Sale" signs out of yards and relocated them on the front lawn of the school. It gave off the impression that someone was trying to sell the school itself. They never got caught because they did it in the dead of night after the street lights had gone off and it was too dark for security to make out their faces or even their bodies on the security cameras. The school spent two days trying to track down the locations for all the signs.
Lexa didn't give out any details to their plan against Finn because the less Beca knew the better. Then she continued her story about asking Clarke out. "I made sure to do it outside of her dorm room because that was the same place I asked her out on our first date. I also made sure to ask her to be my girlfriend not just to go out with me because yeah you know I have to be specific." Again Beca nodded rolling her eyes at her sister. "Clarke basically threw her body around mine, I mean there was no way her feet were touching the ground, and hugged me repeating 'yes' over and over. God it was perfect! I really wanted to kiss her but I didn't." Beca gave her a face asking why not. "I want to do this right Bex, I don't want to rush things like I did with Costia. Not for fear that they will turn out the same, but for fear that I will return to that person." Beca understood, she felt the same about Chloe, she was glad she couldn't shake the way the older girl made her feel. That was how she knew it was more than she has had in the past. That was when her phone buzzed from across the room, that was also when she remembered that she didn't text Chloe when she got home. Shit, first task as a girlfriend failed! Way to go Mitchell! She chastised herself.
Chloe Beale: I just got into my room. I'm also changing your contact name in my phone. It was Bec…now it is Bec(insert heart eye emoji here).
Beca let out a huff of a laugh before explaining to her sister who was pointedly staring at her until she did. Then she replied.
Bec(heart eyes): Glad you got home. Make sure Aubrey never sees your phone then. I'm gonna change yours too then. It may take me a while to figure out one worthy of you though.
Beca wasn't much of an emoji person. Her feelings were always better explained through song, so she instantly opened her music app trying to find a song to set to Chloe's ringtone and text tone. She moved back to sit by Lexa. "Trying to figure out a cute name for her?" Lexa asked.
"Yeah I want to but right now I'm picking her ringtone."
"Well make it something you like because I have a feeling we will hear it a lot." Beca smacked her arm with the back of her hand. Lexa then drew out her phone and started fiddling with it.
"You are changing Clarke's contact name aren't you?" Beca gave her a knowing smirk.
"Yeah, I'm actually pretty good a names though. I mean yours is Tiny Demon." Beca smacked her again. "Okay dude stop hitting me! I'm thinking Dr. Hot Pants since you know she is pre-med." Beca had to admit that was pretty good. She also saw Lexa add the picture she took of Clarke from their first date to contact. Beca was still scrolling through songs when she came across one of her mixes from her early days. There was one song that stuck out…actually one part of the song. She entered her ringtone app she downloaded and picked the song from her library and cut it down to that one part. Once she had it right she turned to Lexa and gave her a smirk. She pressed play as the words started to flow from her phone.
She's got a love like whoa.
Girl's got a love like whoa!
Bah dah dah.
Yeah she could listen to that for a while, because it was totally true about how she felt with Chloe.
Chloe
It was now fast approaching winter break in their schooling. Chloe had been spending equal amounts of time between the Bellas' rehearsals, her school work, keeping Aubrey from killing Beca, keeping Beca from killing Aubrey, spending time with each of the Bellas (as to not draw attention to how much time she spent with Beca alone), and obviously making out with Beca. They had gone to every one of Lexa's lacrosse games and watched her be "The Commander" as Beca would say and Chloe loved it. It gave her ideas on how to get the Bellas to perform better together. Though for some odd reason every time Chloe brought an idea up to Aubrey it was shot down before it was completely on the table. To be completely honest Aubrey was starting to get under her skin, it took a lot for someone to do that with Chloe.
Finally being fed up for the week Chloe went over to Beca's on a Friday night to get out of the Bellas' house…okay so she wanted to get out of the house but it was basically so she could get away from Aubrey's incisive out loud thinking and worrying. When she had texted Beca her girlfriend was more than happy to have her over, even offering to come and pick her up, Chloe told her that she needed a few minutes to herself to calm down a bit. Beca threw open the door the second Chloe's knuckles made contact and pulled her inside. Once she heard the door clicked closed Beca gave her a quick kiss and said "hey". Chloe smiled and took off her coat, which Beca took and hung up on the hook over her closet door, and set her back pack down at the foot of a bed.
This was the first time Chloe had been in Beca's room, 'Is there a reason I can't come to your dorm sometimes?' 'No it's just that Lexa is there almost always and we can't do things like this.' The memory made Chloe smile with how comfortable Beca was with her when they were alone together. She took the chance to look around the room. It was blatantly obvious which half was Lexa's. There were trophies, ribbons, and medals on the shelves. Tons of book, autographed pictures and balls, there were pictures of teams, pictures of her and Beca, and there was a small family photo of a tween Lexa wedged between a man and woman in their early forties.
"That's her parents." Beca's voice came from behind her, she didn't turn though, she just nodded and moved her eyes around the room. Lexa had a lot more school work on her half of the room too. Lining Beca's shelves were hundreds of records, CDs, and cassette tapes. There were different sets of headphones, a few mementos, a couple pictures of her and Lexa, and in the corner almost completely hidden was a picture of a beautiful woman who looked like an older version of Beca but with brown eyes. "And that's mom." Beca's voice had somehow gotten quieter though they were standing closer together now. This time Chloe did turn to face her.
When she did she noticed what was on the desk behind the chair Beca was sitting in. There was a small keyboard, can she play? A Mac desktop, and laptop that seemed to be connected, and about three other pieces of equipment that Chloe didn't recognize. "What is all of this?" Chloe asked, she got excited when she saw the happy look on Beca's face.
"This is what I want to do with my life." Chloe perched on the corner of Beca's bed closest to her girlfriend and listened to her excitement. "When my parents started fighting music became my escape. As I got older it became a lifeline. Mom bought me a lot of the equipment you see here, the keyboard was actually a gift from my step mom, and dad bought me the computers. I started mixing tracks after my mom got sick remember? They seemed to help Lexa for a while, then they helped me when mom died." Beca's face was cast over with a shadow that Chloe caught instantly. Chloe reached over and took one of Beca's hands in both of her own.
"Show me how it works?" Chloe asked knowing that it would bring Beca back from whatever it was that knocked her train of thought off track. "How do you make a mix? Have any I can hear?" Beca smiled at her then and opened the desk drawer to reveal possibly thirty flash drives. Beca dug around and pulled out the one she was searching for popping it into her laptop. She took her hand back then moving the large headphones from around her neck and placing them over her ears. Wow she's so hot! Keep it together Chloe, you did not come over here just to make out with her, you have things you need to do! Beca started pulling things up on screens and Chloe saw sound waves being to form in areas. She could faintly hear music, she figured it was coming from Beca's headphones, she should have been worried about her hearing right? Beca had started explaining things to her…well maybe she was yelling things about mixing at her. Chloe just sat desperately trying not to laugh at her girlfriend but it was way too cute.
"AND THIS IS THE NEW BASS LINE," Beca caught her eye and saw the giggle rise from her chest. She took her headphones off and Chloe could hear the music a little better. "Oh I'm talking really loud." Then she paused the song and started it over, handing her headphones to Chloe. "That's me singing, and please be careful with the headphones. Those are the ones from my grandma." Chloe nodded and fixed them around her ears and nodded at Beca to start the song. She watched her girlfriend draw her knees up toward her face.
The music that filled her ears was so not what Chloe was expecting from Beca, it sounded like the sting section of an orchestra, then the lyrics hit.
I say release me
'Cause I'm not able to
Convince myself
That I'm better off without you
Chloe had loved Beca's voice from that moment she walked into the shower room singing Titanium. The sound of her low alto shifting into the high range of notes was enough to send shivers down Chloe's arms. Then the music picked up beat and she heard the distinct sound of Beca almost rapping again.
Been there done that messed around
I'm havin' fun don't put me down
I'll never let you sweep me off my feet
I won't let you win again the messages I've tried to send
My information's just not going in
Burnin' bridges shore to shore
I break away from something more
I'm not turned on to love until it's cheap
Been there done that messed around
I'm havin' fun don't put me down
I'll never let you sweep me off my feet
Then when the chorus started Chloe almost started dancing, she was able to contain herself into just rocking her head to the beat though. Her eyes slipped closed and she listened to the sound of Beca sing and combine the two songs into an almost seamless single version.
This time baby I'll be (Release me)
Bulletproof (Release my body)
This time baby I'll be (I know it's wrong)
Bulletproof (So why do I keep coming back)
This time baby I'll be (I say Release me)
Bulletproof ('Cause I'm not able to)
This time baby I'll be (Convince myself)
Bulletproof (That I'm better off without you)
Once the started dying down Chloe finally opened her eyes and looked at Beca who had dropped her knees and had a proud smile on her face. "THIS IS REALLY GOOD, I MEAN LIKE WOW!" Beca let out a huff of a laugh, then Chloe figured out what she did. "Now I'm yelling right?" Beca nodded and Chloe took off the headphones as the song ended and handed them back. "You are seriously amazing Beca! Why aren't you playing that on the school station?"
"Freshmen aren't allowed in the booth…I gave some mixes to Luke the station manager but he hasn't really said anything about them. I'm not even sure if he has listened to any of them." Beca turned back to turn off her equipment. Chloe knew who Luke was, he was friends with Tom, and she would be finding him and making him listen to Beca's mixes as soon as she could. Then she remembered what she brought with her. She bounded to the other end of Beca's bed and grabbed her bag pulling out one of her favorite 80's movies, The Breakfast Club.
"So, I brought this along because I am making you watch the ending!" Beca took the case and groaned a little before getting up and joining Chloe on the bed where she was already bringing her own laptop to life. She didn't take the case back from Beca when she offered it because the disk was already in place. She skipped to the menu and clicked the chapter right before the credits. "This is seriously one of the most perfect endings to any movie ever! It brings everyone together and literally changes all of their lives. Plus this song launched Simple Minds in the US." Chloe had her eyes fixed on the screen where they watched Judd Nelson's character put an earring in his right ear. Then Anthony Michael Hall's voice filled their ears.
"So which of Anthony Michael Hall's movies were your favorites?" Beca asked quietly.
"Well this obviously, and Sixteen Candles, and of course Weird Science." Chloe answered not taking her eyes off the screen for a second.
"Of course." Beca teased from beside her. Chloe started miming the last few lines of the movie before the song started to take full volume, she could feel eyes on the side of her head. She turned to see Beca watching her.
"You are missing the ending."
"I'm sure watching the beginning would have made this part make more sense."
"YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE BEGINNING!" Chloe really should have guessed that, but Beca said she just never made it to the endings.
"No I haven't and don't even think about starting it now." Beca had closed Chloe's laptop and placed it behind them on a shelf out of the way. "Because I can't sit here and not kiss you anymore." Then Beca was on her.
Things started out slow like usual and Chloe liked that, she could feel how much Beca cared when they kissed like this, but somehow Beca had reached back around to her computer and hit play on her mix again. This time the sounds filled the room coming from the speakers set up on the desk, though it was quieter than when she wore the headphones. The feeling that came over her when she listened to the song the first time was back and she forced herself to convey her feeling to Beca through their kiss.
Soon Chloe had moved to lay herself down on her back and Beca was holding herself half over her but not resting any of her body weight on top of her. The song had switched to something with 500 Miles in it. Chloe traced her hands around Beca's shoulders and down her sides to grip at her hips and she started to pull Beca down to her.
"PAYBACK'S A BITCH!"
"MOTHER FUCKER! OH MY GOD!" Beca screamed and Chloe shot her eyes open as the warmth that had been under her hands disappeared with Beca's body. Chloe saw a flash of brunette as Beca fell toward the ground. She glanced toward the door to see Lexa standing just inside, with it closed, having trouble standing upright with how hard she was laughing. Then she turned to her girlfriend who was sprawled on the floor beside the bed.
"Oh my gosh, Bec, babe are you okay?" Chloe propped herself up on her side to loom over a very angry Beca.
"I will be after I kill my sister!" Beca shot herself off the floor and launched at Lexa who easily sidestepped her and ran to her own bed to block any further attack with her pillow. "What the fuck dude? Why did you feel the need to do that? Why didn't you just turn around and leave?" Chloe watched amused at the sisterly banter between the two.
"You would have done the same thing to me if you had walked in on me and Clarke don't even try to deny it!" Beca didn't retaliate she just stole the pillow from her sister and threw it back at her face, though Lexa caught it before it actually hit her. She was still laughing as she hit Beca across the back with it when she turned and made her way back to Chloe who had sat up now. "I'm sorry Chloe I didn't mean to ruin what was going on, that is just one of my things to do to Beca. She got me really good the night you two became official and I have been waiting for the perfect moment to get her back ever since."
"I had been hoping she stopped doing it all together because I finally got her once." Beca offered moving her arm around her waist.
"No it's fine," Chloe laughed. "I bet from your standpoint it was really funny and, sorry Bec but, it was really funny that you fell on the floor." Chloe giggled at her girlfriend's dismay. Beca just squeezed her side and made her jump from that one spot that Beca knew was ticklish. "Plus this is your room and you should feel welcome to come in at any time." Beca had told Chloe that she told Lexa about their relationship after it had happened and she really didn't care that her sister knew. Chloe wished she had someone to talk to about all the amazing things that Beca did for her.
"Well I won't be here long, I just came to change and I'm headed out with Clarke to meet up with her friends. I guess we are having our first triple date." Lexa said from behind her closet door. Beca's head snapped toward the door.
"Triple date? I though only Clarke and Octavia were in relationships?" Beca asked the door.
"Raven said she has been talking to and seeing someone so we are going to meet them tonight." Chloe was a little confused at first but now that the names of the other were coming out she was catching on. Lexa and Clarke were going on a triple date with Octavia and her boyfriend…oh what was his name…it was a president right? Clinton? George? Lincoln that was it! Plus Clarke and Octavia's other best friend Raven who had a new date…see Chloe could follow…kinda. "See you guys later! I promise to send a text when I'm on my way home this time." Beca threw her pillow at the door as Lexa laughed her way out of it. Chloe's mind was already back on other things.
"So where were we exactly?" She ran her hand up the arm around her waist and wrapped her hand around the back of Beca's neck pulling her back into a searing kiss. Beca broke it quickly her eyebrows raised in teasing and that smirk firmly in place. "What?" Chloe asked a little upset that the kissing had stopped again.
"Babe?" Beca asked and Chloe blushed. She had hoped Beca missed her slip up but you know what? Who cares? Yep she called Beca 'babe' and she liked doing it and she probably would do it again…though not in the presence of any Bella. The corners of her mouth drew back into her trademark smile and she pushed Beca back down on the bed and moved herself on top returning back to their previously interrupted activities.
Clarke
"Please?"
"No."
"Please!?"
"No!"
"Clarke, Pppllleeeaaassseee?"
"NO Lexa!"
"Why not?" They had just arrived at the restaurant when Lexa started begging. Clarke knew what she wanted the second she followed her line of sight. They had caught sight of Octavia and Lincoln lip locked against the wall of the building hidden in the shadows.
"Because you already tortured your sister and Chloe before you picked me up." It was a very valid argument at just that but Clarke had better plans. "That makes this one mine!" She gave her girlfriend a devilish grin and winked before slipping out the door of the jeep as quietly as she could. She heard Lexa follow behind her but once the car door closed she couldn't hear her any more. Guess that is why she can get Beca so easily. Keeping her foot falls light she rushed to the corner of the building down the wall from the "busy" couple. Clarke slinked her way toward them keeping her back pressed to the wall. She was basically standing right next to Lincoln before she stopped and turned to see Lexa giving her a thumbs up from straight out behind Octavia. "You're not going to be hungry if you keep eating each other's faces!" Clarke spoke just above a whisper but it was enough to get them both to jump causing Lincoln to draw Octavia in protectively.
Lexa ran up beside Clarke and pulled her away as Octavia tried to swing at her. They were both laughing hard at the other couple's response as O came toward them again and Lexa instantly stepped forward to protect her causing Octavia to back down quickly. Lincoln had already put their group in and there was a pager hanging out of his jacket pocket. The four made small talk, already being so familiar with each other. Clarke liked that Lexa got along with both her friends and Lincoln, it meant that there wouldn't be any weirdness when they all got together like this in the future. She could only hope it would stay this way when Raven showed. They didn't get any details on who she was bringing, not how they met, not how long they have been talking, they didn't even get a gender (not that it mattered). Clarke and O just wanted Raven to be happy, she hasn't been since Finn, and she did seem more chipper lately.
Raven emerged from the shadowy parking lot a few moments later. "Hey guys! I want you all to meet…"
"Anya?" Lexa and Octavia answered simultaneously. Clarke looked from the girl approaching Raven, to her girlfriend's shocked yet pleased face, to Octavia's down right confused expression. Just then the pager went off from Lincoln's pocket. Without really saying another word they went to be seated at their table. Thankfully, at least in Clarke's opinion, it was round. Clarke sat down in the chair that Lexa had so graciously pulled out for her, Lexa sat to her right and Octavia to her left. That put Raven next to Lincoln and Anya next to Lexa who was still smiling. After about seven minutes of looking at the relatively small menu, Clarke couldn't take it anymore she was so confused!
"Already that's enough, what exactly is going on here?" She looked between all four of the other girls at the table for the answer. She felt Lexa slide her left hand into her own right before she turned to answer her.
"Anya is the captain of our lacrosse team." Lexa explained calmly trying to ease some of Clarke's rising anger, it was working. Clarke thought about the team trying to quickly run the girl's face with her mental database. It was harder without the face paint. Then it clicked, Anya Green number 22, she was a rather good player often found out front alongside Lexa and Octavia.
"Which I'd like to point out that I didn't keep this from either you or Octavia. Raven just so happens to be terrible at giving out important information, like how one of her best friends is on my team, or how the other is dating the girl I am training to become captain next year instead of me." Anya deadpanned sending a glare toward Raven who was trying to not look up from the menu.
"Rea how did this happen?" Raven didn't look up from the menu when Octavia calmly asked the question everyone wanted answered. "We aren't upset about it happening it was just kind of a shock. You guys played it off well at games and such."
"You were at the games?" Anya asked Raven who was trying to sink down in her seat. She finally looked up and caught the small smile Anya was giving her.
"Fine! Yes, I'm always at the games. O is one of my best friends and I will always support her. Plus once Clarke figured out Lexa was on the team she needed someone to make sure she didn't get drool all over herself."
"I resent that!" Clarke teased as she felt Lexa squeeze the hand she still held. Their waitress came by then and took not only their drink orders but also their meal orders, leaving them to themselves again.
"So how did you two start talking?" Lincoln asked, "I mean it can't be any worse than me begging Octavia's brother, Bellamy, to let me take her out on a date. I was literally on my knees and I'm still doing his laundry every week because I didn't ask him before we became official. It's like I'm a pledge all over again!" Everyone laughed along with the frat boy. That was one of the first things that Clarke really liked about Lincoln, he cared enough about people to actually make sure those closest to them would be comfortable with things. You could also see how much he cared every time he looked at Octavia, especially if he didn't think someone else was watching him. Raven looked pleadingly at Anya who just shook her head before Raven let out a sigh.
"A couple months ago I was working late at the garage when Sinclair told me he needed me to go tow in a customer off the highway. So I got the truck and went to find our new customer, when I got there I found a car smoking from under the hood. I parked in front and grabbed the flashlight to check somethings out before I put it on the bed. Turns out I ended up checking out the driver a little more than the actual car. I towed her in desperately trying to be cool, when we got back to the garage I gave her keys to her loaner and my number, because I was 'working on her car'," Raven added the air quotes. "Turns out Sinclair actually did make me fix her car, it was just a blown hose and a leak in the same hose." Everyone's eyes glazed over when she started talking car…well everyone except Lexa and Lincoln. "She had called that next day and I told her she could come in and get her car. When she went to pay I told her there wasn't a bill."
"She said that it was such an easy fix that payment wasn't necessary but I insisted on giving her something in return for the work she put into my beloved car." Anya cut in.
"Which you really need to start taking better care of, that thing is a classic and should be treated as such! Anyway I told her that if she really wanted to do something for me then she could go out on a date with me and she actually agreed." Raven had turned to look Anya in the eye and Clarke now understood what Raven meant when she said 'you have heart eyes for Lexa'.
The rest of their dinner went by without anything unusual and Clarke felt that feeling of gratitude that everyone around their table got along better than any other time the main three had been in relationships. They all went their separate ways after dinner was over, Lexa took Clarke back to their dorm due to the fact that both of them needed to actually get some studying done for their classes they didn't have together. Each time Clarke walked up to her dorm she smiled because the memories of Lexa asking her out and asking her to be her girlfriend would always flood her brain. It made it easier to open the door and tolerate Kimmy Jin that way. Tonight she was hoping for another milestone in their relationship to take place outside that door.
She was perfectly fine with the fact that Lexa hadn't kissed her yet, she figured that there was a reason for it and she tried to be patient. Tried being the key word here, honestly she was a little frustrated with the whole thing, Octavia and Lincoln were always kissing each other and just once Clarke wanted to give them a run for their money. After seeing Raven, not so subtly, kiss Anya before they got in the car it made her feel left out. But there had to be a reason right? "There is a reason right?"
"A reason for what Clarke?" Lexa asked as they came to a stop before the door again. Oh shit I said that out loud didn't I? Clarke only panicked for a second after she saw the genuine look in Lexa's eyes, she just wanted to understand. Clarke took a deep breath.
"There is a reason you haven't kissed me yet right? Like one that will actually be reasonable?" Wow Griffin you are basically blowing this right now! Clarke saw Lexa's face pull in confusion and guilt. "No, I mean I'm not complaining, I just want to understand."
"It's okay Clarke, I see it in your eyes, I saw it when you caught Raven and Anya." Lexa looked down at their joined hands and ran her thumb across Clarke's knuckles. "Yes there is a reason, I wanted to do right by you. I wanted you to know how much I care and how important you are to me. I didn't want to rush things because the last time I did things didn't turn out great." Clarke knew she meant Costia but it wasn't like Clarke was going out to the ghetto every other night how could things end up the same? "It doesn't have to do with the fact that she got killed, it has to do with the person I became. I did everything humanly possible to get Costia to fall for me, some of them I'm not exactly proud of and I didn't want to retreat back into that person I was. You deserve to be treated like royalty Clarke, you are worth waiting for." The corners of Lexa's eyes filled slightly with tears, not enough to fall but enough for the emotion to be seen.
"Thank you Lexa." Clarke raised the hand that wasn't held up to cup Lexa's cheek running her thumb across the bone. "But you are the one worth waiting for." Clarke watched as forest green eyes flicked back and forth between her own and then down quickly before coming back up.
Lexa dropped the hand she was holding and cupped her hand opposite of how Clarke had done to her. Her other hand moved to rest on her hip bone and long fingers gripped slightly to the fabric resting there pulling her in slightly. Clarke's own eyes betrayed her and flicked down to see Lexa's tongue quickly dart out and wet her lips. Her stomach fluttered at the sight and realization of what was about to happen, it took all of her willpower not to throw herself across the gap. She slid the hand down from Lexa's cheek to reach around the back of her neck and placed her other hand on Lexa's shoulder.
The both moved in slowly, both completely aware of what they were doing, Clarke desperately hoping Lexa didn't pull away at the last second. "I'm tired of waiting." Lexa whispered and Clarke's breath caught at the felling of the warmth breeze across her lips. Then she closed the gap. Their first kiss was so perfect, it was soft yet filled with emotion. Their mouths fit perfectly and worked in tandem with each other. They both sighed into it at the same time. Neither of them stopped as the pulled apart slightly, there were a total of four before they switched positions and things started to get a little more heated. Clarke threaded her fingers up into Lexa's hair and Lexa dropped her other hand to grip at Clarke's hips. Lexa swiped her tongue across Clarke's bottom lip and she had to swallow a moan at the girl asking for entrance.
Clarke pulled them apart resting her forehead to Lexa's. "Not yet, if we start that now I won't be able to stop any time soon. I really don't want our first make out to be in the hallway and I know Kimmy Jin is in there and unfortunately your dorm got called dibs on already." Clarke giggled still slightly out of breath at the pure passion of the kiss and not necessarily at the ferocity.
"Like I said Clarke, you are worth waiting for, but I'm really glad we did that just now." Lexa smiled. She closed the gap again placing a small chaste kiss on Clarke's lips before letting her go completely. "I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight Clarke."
"Goodnight Lexa."
"I'm telling you guys! Mine is the best because she can use her size and speed to get past the defenders."
"Well mine is automatically the best because she is the captain!"
"You are both wrong! Mine is the best because she puts both of yours on their asses on a daily basis with her skills!" Raven, Lincoln, and Clarke were leaning on the small fence that surrounded the Barden lacrosse field. It was the championship game and the Knights were still undefeated, giving them home court advantage being the top team, the three were waiting for the team to make their way to the field for their pre-game practice. They were obviously arguing about which one of their girlfriends was the best player and would be winning 'Most Valuable Player' and Clarke was winning the argument. They each stood proud for their girl and the others in their Barden Women's Lacrosse gear.
Lincoln was wearing his Sigma Beta Theta t-shirt and jacket with a Barden green beanie covering his short Mohawk. Raven wore a Barden Lacrosse t-shirt under her favorite red jacket. Clarke had commandeered Lexa's lacrosse hoodie that had WOODS written across the back which she had on under Lexa's leather jacket that she still refused to give back. At the mention of Lexa knocking both Anya and Octavia out with her skills the argument of who was better ended with groans of agreement and nodding, and a very proud smirk from Clarke herself.
Clarke noticed the team coming out from their locker room to start practice, all of them already wearing their signature war paint, Lexa caught her eye and smiled. Lexa turned to Anya and Octavia and after the three shared a look they were all sprinting toward their waiting partners. "O will totally win this!" Lincoln challenged.
"As if!" Raven sprouted off. Clarke just kept quiet because Lexa was basically on top of them already. Once she reached her girlfriend, first of course, she leaned in a stole a victory kiss.
"You two never stood a chance you know that right?" Clarke asked Raven and Lincoln as the parted ways from their girlfriends' lips as well.
"What are you talking about?" Lexa asked.
"We weren't including Lexa!" Raven added, "So Anya actually won!" She smiled and kissed her very confused girlfriend again.
"Yeah we can't include Lexa because she wins everything and it's not fun for us anymore!" Lincoln faked whined.
"Okay seriously what are you three talking about?" Octavia asked.
"They have been betting on which one of you is better." Beca spoke up as she made her way from beside the stands. "Which one is the better lacrosse player, which one will be the fastest to reach them, which one is the best kisser…"
"Hey we didn't make that bet!" Raven tried to defend them.
"Yet!" Chloe popped out before covering her own mouth as Beca let out a laugh. They came to stand with the rest of the group, Lexa hugging both of them. Lexa quickly introduced Anya to them both then pulled Clarke back in for another, rather heated, kiss before the three Knights had to start practice.
The other all sat together with Bellamy, Monroe, Ontari, and Niylah who showed up later to cheer their school on. Beca's dad showed up with a woman a short while later taking seats behind her and Chloe. Right before the game began Lexa caught sight of Clarke again, she may have been fidgeting slightly in her seat due to the fact that Lexa's "parents" (for all extensive purposes) were sitting right there, and made her way toward the group. She quickly and effortlessly hopped the short fence and climbed the bleachers toward them taking Clarke by the hand.
"Uncle Rick, Aunt Shelia I want to introduce you to Clarke." Lexa started moving Beca out of the way with her hips. Clarke rose and offered her hand to the couple who both shook it politely and smiled at her.
"It's nice to meet you Dr. Mitchell, Mrs. Mitchell." Clarke was panicking inside. Was this too soon to be meeting the parents? Well she knew that Shelia was Beca's stepmom and that Dr. Mitchell taught Comparative Literature at Barden and they were bound to cross paths at some point, but she didn't know that they knew who Clarke was, Lexa never mentioned anything other than how Beca had responded. Her panic must have been obvious because Lexa's long fingers were curling around her side and her thumb was brushing across it soothingly.
"It's a great honor to meet the girl that has finally brought out Little Lexie back to us!" Dr. Mitchell taunted and Clarke turned to see a slight blush under the dark mask of paint Lexa wore. "Chill Lexa, I'm only joking! We never called her that, she wouldn't let us, but it is very nice to meet you Clarke Griffin. Lexa has told us a bit about you and we can see how happy you make her, it has been a while since she has been like this."
"Okay that is enough for now I have a game to go win!" Lexa started to pull away but Clarke caught her wrist before she could go too far and planted a kiss on the edge of her jaw so she didn't smudge the paint. This time the blush was obvious and not only on Lexa. Clarke quickly realized that she just kissed her girlfriend in front of her parents and sat down quickly.
"It's okay Clarke." Beca whispered in her ear as she scooted back into her seat that Lexa had moved her out of. "They are cool with that kind of thing…it's unfortunately one of the things that makes the step-monster tolerable." Beca had been really trying to open up to Clarke whenever the three of them got together. Clarke liked Beca a lot, she could see why her and Lexa were so close, it didn't take long before she considered Beca a friend. Though the death threat she sent Clarke's way after she was officially with Lexa was meant to be intimidating, it ended up with Clarke laughing because of how small Beca actually was. All three girls laughed that night knowing why Clarke couldn't keep a straight face.
The game was equally matched on both sides. For every goal the Knights scored the opposing team, the Reapers, would score their own. The game was winding down to the last few seconds and the Knights had the ball. Harper picked it up in the back field and launched it up to midfield where Anya swiftly made the catch. The Reapers pressed their offensive line learning quickly which Knights were their big players. Anya ducked under a guard and found Octavia across field tossing her the ball. Lexa was already pressing the goal swiftly losing her defenders. Octavia passed the ball before Lexa was completely open and they hadn't even looked at each other.
Of course Lexa caught it without hardly any need to change speed or her already intended location. Clarke watched as the defender that had been behind Octavia turned and ran full force toward Lexa. It was their last opportunity for a shot on goal before the end of regular play. Lexa saw her chance and raised her stick to shoot. As she threw it forward in her shot, the defender swung her own stick and smacked Lexa right across her ribs under her right arm.
The only things that registered with Clarke were the flying end of a broken lacrosse stick and Lexa's body crumpling to the ground.
Lexa
She saw the ball smack into the net winning them the game right as the pain rocked her body. She instantly couldn't breath and went down clutching at the sight of impact. She heard fans start to cheer then silence fall over the field as she lay on the ground unable to get enough air in her lungs. She knew she was breathing at least some because as she took a deep breath the pain became unbearable. She rolled onto her back and started sat up. As she took off her helmet the only things that registered were the broken stick lying beside her and Beca hopping the fence around the field and heading to her.
"Lex, oh my God, are you okay?" Beca dropped to her knees beside her, Lexa wanted to nod and say she was fine but Beca would see right through her. "DAD GET THE CAR!" Beca called back over her shoulder at her father who was now standing at the fence with Sheila. "We are taking you to the hospital." She didn't argue, she threw her arm around her sister's shoulders and felt another body come under her other side. Octavia was there, Lexa was glad the shorter girl helped instead of Anya due to the height difference between her and Beca. Anya was still right there beside her though and as O and Bex pulled her standing the crowd started to cheer again.
Lexa shot a look at Beca and then at Anya. "M-my," she had to push the words out with the shallow quick breaths she could take. "M-my…bag-g…ke-ys…jee-p…Cl-arke." Was all she could get out at the moment, although it was easier to breath now. Dr. Mitchell backed his SUV up to the gate in the fence where Beca and Octavia were still slightly holding Lexa up. Lexa looked back over her shoulder at Clarke to see concern and fear, Chloe had her arms wrapped around Clarke trying to sooth her some. Lexa flashed what she hoped was a reassuring smile before climbing into the back seat with her head in Beca's lap.
Lexa was lying on the hospital bed on her left side. The hospital staff had made her remove all of her gear and clothing (except her sports bra) from her upper body and put on a hospital gown for examination. A nurse had given her some pain medication and she was waiting for the doctor to come see her before she went for x-rays. Her breathing was better now, still coming short and fast but she didn't feel winded, but it hurt every time she took a deep breath which they kept making her due. The pain medicine was helping. A staff member came into the room and pulled away Rick and Sheila to sign some paperwork, Beca never left her side, then there was a small knock at the door.
The same staff member popped her head in to tell them that their parents went to the cafeteria to find something for them to snack on. "Also there are two girls out here who claim to be your girlfriends. According to policy we can only let them in if it is proven." Lexa shared a look with Beca and nodded for her sister to speak for her.
"Super-hot redhead with piercing blue eyes is mine. Smoking blonde with sky wide blue eyes is hers." Beca said completely straight faced causing Lexa to laugh and slightly cough causing her pain. Once she calmed down she answered the girl more formally.
"Clarke Griffin is my girlfriend, Chloe Beale is my sister's they are both welcome back here." Lexa breathed out softly. The employee nodded and opened the door wider letting both girls inside.
"Also there are many people here that are your friends we can't allow them all back here." The girl stated from the door as Chloe and Clarke came past her.
"Tell them they can either wait or you can tell them all to go home and we will call everyone later. Thank you." Beca answered again, then the girl nodded and slipped out leaving the couples alone. Clarke sat down on the edge of the bed in front of Lexa and took her hand in her own.
"I was so worried about you, what have they said?" Clarke asked and Lexa could see her pre-med classes kicking in.
"We haven't seen the doctor yet, but they are pretty sure she needs x-rays. They gave her some pain meds and she started breathing better after that." Beca answered for her. "As you might had heard it is a little hard for her to talk for more than a few words at a time." Chloe had sat herself down on Beca's lap and was running her hand up across her back. Lexa caught her sister's eye and gave her a worried look trying to speak to her through their twin telepathy. She doesn't know about you and Chloe! I didn't know if I should tell her because of what you said. Beca did in fact catch on and leaned to whisper in Chloe's ear, she smiled and nodded quickly. "And yes Clarke, Chloe and I really are dating. We haven't told many people…actually the only people who know are in this room right now. We would like to keep it that way for the time being."
"I have a Nazi General for a best friend slash house mate and she doesn't exactly like Beca at all." Chloe laughed out along with Beca and Lexa who started coughing again. Clarke switched hands that she was holding Lexa's with so she could reach around and rub her back slightly. Lexa looked at her and hoped her thoughts would come out through her eyes. Please kiss me? After a moment Beca chuckled. "What's so funny babe?"
"Lexa really wants Clarke to kiss her right now." Beca said as Lexa shot her a glare. Damn telepathy! Clarke only giggled before leaning down and kissing Lexa softly. They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Clarke spoke.
"I can hear your breathing patterns changing. Is it starting to hurt again?" Lexa nodded. That was when her parents came back with refreshments for everyone, including Chloe and Clarke. They had figured that the two would show up eventually, Clarke for obvious reasons and Chloe because that was just who she was. They had no idea of the real reason because Chloe had already moved off of Beca's knee due to it falling asleep. They all snacked in relative silence when the door opened and a middle aged woman in a lab coat stepped in.
"Hello Miss Woods, my name is Dr. Grif- Clarke?" The woman stopped catching sight of the girl perched on the side of the bed. Lexa looked between the two in confusion for a second.
"Mom?" Clarke stood quickly obviously shocked with a slight look of relief in her eyes. "Thank God it's you." Clarke moved to the woman and hugged her. Lexa took in the older Griffin. She was only inches taller than Clarke and her hair was a much darker blonde than that of her daughter's and her eyes were lackluster brown. Clarke must have gotten her dad's eyes. She looked kind and intelligent, like you would expect a doctor to look, though her face wore an expression of confusion and slight anger.
"Clarke what are you doing here?" Dr. Griffin asked. Clarke sighed and squared her shoulders to her mother before answering.
"Mom meet Lexa Woods, my girlfriend. Lexa meet Dr. Abigail Griffin, my mom." Clarke gestured between them during her greeting. "I know it's not ethical but I'm really glad it is you right now, her pain is getting worse and it is getting harder for her to breath." Clarke was almost begging her mother at this point and all Lexa could do was look into the eyes of the woman who brought the most perfect human being into the world, silently asking for help.
"Right, well as I was saying my name is Dr. Grif- oh who am I kidding. Lexa it is nice to finally meet you, I'm Abby. Clarke had told me much about you and I was hoping we would meet soon but never like this." Lexa laughed and coughed again. Abby grabbed her stethoscope and started listening to Lexa's lungs. "Lexa I'm going to need to sit you up and take a look at your injury, do you mind taking the gown off? I'm guessing this is your family?"
"Yes. Beca- sister, Uncle Rick- legal guardian, Aunt Sheila- married the legal guardian, Chloe- close friend. I'm good to take it off they let me keep on my sports bra." Lexa breathed out the introductions hoping it would actually help Abby to hear how she was speaking. She shed the ugly blue backwards robe and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
"Oh God Lexa, that looks awful." Clarke sat down beside her again gesturing to the huge purple bruise across her right side. Abby began to examine her then listen to her breathing again. She of course ordered x-rays and then was gone to check on more patients saying she would be back with the results. The x-rays were taken, a total of three front, back, and side, then she was told to rest until Abby came back.
She had put her gown back on when they took her down for her x-rays and as she was doing so she caught Clarke watching her body closely. She might have flexed her abs a little more when she caught her. Abby came back a short while later with the results, nothing was broken, there was no internal bleeding, but her ribs were badly bruised. She wrote her a prescription for pain medication and discharged her. She gave Clarke a hug and shook Lexa's hand, not wanting to injure her further, as they walked to the lobby.
Lexa's breathing had returned to normal but she still couldn't take deep breaths without their being excruciating pain, she was glad lacrosse was over and she wouldn't have to miss any games. Once they stepped into the lobby they were greeted by the sight of more than a dozen college age students, half of them still in uniform, waiting patiently to hear any news. Octavia was the first to notice them, followed by Anya and Raven.
"Bruised ribs, I'll be fine in about a month or so. Lucky for me lacrosse is over now." Lexa explained. "Thanks for coming everyone but I'm really tired and I still have to get my prescription filled tonight. I'll message you all tomorrow if you want more details." Lexa squeezed Clarke's hand that she was holding to get her attention. "Did Anya give you my keys?"
"Yeah I brought the jeep and I promise I was careful." Clarke answered pulling the keys from her pocket and holding them out for Lexa to take.
"Beca should drive, I don't know if I can right now." Beca reached across and took the keys before heading toward the door. "Come with me?" Clarke nodded and they followed Beca and Chloe out the door. They stopped and filled the prescription before taking to a drive-thru for food they all four desperately needed. Beca was about to turn toward the Bellas' house when Chloe told her to just go back to the dorms.
The four of them filed into Lexa and Beca's room together each couple going to a bed. Lexa laid her head in Clarke's lap as her girlfriend ran her fingers through her hair. They all sat in silence before Lexa spoke almost asleep. "Stay tonight?" She asked no one in particular. "Both of you. I want you hear Clarke, and Bex may look fine but she is putting up a front. She is worried more than she will ever say out loud, she needs you tonight Chloe."
"I will stay as long as everyone else who is sleeping here is okay with it." Clarke said.
"She's right. I am scared shitless right now I don't know if something can happen while she sleeps and you will so you need to stay. Chloe please stay with me?" Beca sprouted off.
"Of course Bec." Chloe answered and kissed her cheek. "Take me back to the house so I can get some stuff?" Beca nodded and they left. Clarke insisted that she would be fine, she stood up and walked to Lexa's dresser taking out two pairs of shorts and two tank tops, a set of each of them.
"Are you trying to get in my pants Clarke?" Lexa teased, she couldn't help it Clarke made it to easy.
"Only literally." Clarke winked. She changed out of sight behind Lexa's closet door and being as tired as she was Lexa didn't even attempt to look. Lexa changed while Clarke did and was back in bed before her girlfriend came into view. Lexa had never thought her clothes looked better, she was shamelessly turned on at the sight of Clarke.
"God you're so hot." Lexa mumbled out sleepily, not meaning for it to come out at all.
"No so bad yourself Commander." Clarke taunted. "Yeah Beca told me your nickname today, I kinda like it…so your contact name in my phone is now Commander Sexy." Clarke said sitting on the edge of the bed again like she had at the hospital.
"Yours is Dr. Hot Pants in mine. I'm working on your ringtone now with Beca." Lexa added. "Lay down with me Clarke, I promise I will behave, I don't want anything but to hold you tonight. I know we haven't done this yet but please?" Clarke nodded and laid down facing Lexa slipping under the blanket. Once she was close enough Lexa kissed her soundly but didn't heat things up. "Goodnight Clarke." She slipped her arm across Clarke's waist and pulled her close feeling her breath hitch. Clarke moved her head to rest against Lexa's shoulder and pressed even closer to Lexa.
"Goodnight Lexa." Clarke kissed her collarbone that was under her head before finally closing her eyes. Lexa marveled in the feeling of Clarke being so close, she was soft and warm and they fit together perfectly. Lexa sighed in relief and they were both asleep before Beca and Chloe came back.
A/N: Love hearing how you all are feeling towards the story at this point! In the movie time starts to jump extremely fast at this point. I have some ideas that I want to throw in so we wont be jumping right from on Bellas performance to another. Seriously let me know if you have anything you would like to see incorporated in! (Those secretly in search of mild angst...it will be coming. Like I said MILD angst.)
S.C.
Songs used in this chapter: Love Like Whoa by The Ready Set and Bulletproof (by La Roux) vs. Release Me (by The Anges) by The Outfit