Chapter Text
Clarke stepped out of the shower and after wrapping a towel around her body used a second to rub her hair roughly, trying to remove some of the excess moisture. She headed through to her room where she pulled on a pair of sweats and an old ACDC tshirt from her high school days that she found at the bottom of her drawers. She loved that tshirt and relished its rediscovery. She dug around in her sock drawer for the fluffiest pair she owned and pulled them onto her tired feet. Staring in the mirror she sighed slightly and then rubbed some moisturizer onto her face. Then she brushed out her hair wishing all the while that it didn't take such a long time. Of course it was her decision to wear it so ridiculously long. She considered using the hair drier on it for about a nanosecond, before abandoning that line of thought in favour of heading through to the living room and sitting in her favourite chair (known as 'the chair') to watch the hockey. Who gave a flying rats ass if her hair dried curly? She'd have to pull it back for the following day at college anyway. She absolutely loathed it when her hair got stuck in her art work.
'The chair,’ everyone's favourite, felt like a piece of heaven enclosed in leather. Technically it was her roommates chair, but Lexa worked lots of evenings at the bar downstairs so Clarke had adopted it as hers arguing vehemently with Lexa that the chair was getting lonely and depressed at not fulfilling its purpose as a place for weary posteriors. Really it was the only piece of lounge room furniture worth anything and it cradled her ass, thighs, back, neck and head as if she were a new born baby. At least Raven and Octavia, her other roommates and friends, didn't get between her and the chair - they'd learned the hard way that that was a bad idea. Only Lexa fought her adoption of the chair every step of the way. Then again it was technically Lexa's chair. Clarke had conceded to co-parenting. Lexa just called her an irritating dork and would squish into the chair beside her. Whatever, Clarke could out last that skinny bint in a sit-a-thon any day of the week. Everyone knew Lexa got antsy if she sat too long.
Clarke made sure to angle the TV just right, ensure the remote was on the arm of the chair, fetch a beer from the fridge and get a blanket, all before sitting. She was no slob virgin - if she was going to slob she was going to do it in style. Fuck the assignments she was meant to be working on, fuck it all. She needed to unwind. Raven and Octavia were out - Octavia was probably with Lincoln, Lexa's hot cousin, and Raven - well that was anybody's guess. With Lexa at work she had the place, and most importantly the TV, to herself.
Clarke briefly glanced out of the window, loving the busyness of the New York street scene. They were lucky Lexa was loaded otherwise they'd be in a ratty student accommodation. Not that they were mooches. Lexa had begged them to live with her. Well maybe beg was too strong a word - the Commander didn't beg - but she certainly made convincing arguments like the good law student she was. Lexa was some kind of heiress. She was a little cagey about where her family money was made but had told Clarke it had something to do with newspapers. She had resisted googling her friend despite her intrigue - it just felt wrong. And she was fairly certain Lexa would tell her more when good and ready so why commit friend betrayal and Google her? Regardless of whether there was begging or not, Lexa had somehow managed to convince them all into the lovely four bedroom, two bathroom apartment, and Clarke was fucking thrilled that she had, because her best friends were fabulous and the apartment was beautiful, the rooms were spacious and most importantly it had amazing light for art work. Lexa had even insisted she have the biggest room, with the most windows, so she could convert part of it into a studio and do at least some of her art work at home. Clarke smiled to herself and returned her attention to the game.
XOXOXOX
Clarke had just drained her second beer and decided to call the evening quits and head to bed, when the door to the apartment flew open and banged into the wall. She was about to yell blue murder at Raven who made a habit of dramatic entrances, when a different storm cloudy brunette stalked into the apartment, boots stomping on the wooden floors in a way that the Petersens below them were sure to complain about.
"Hey Lex," she murmured without looking at her properly, just standing and ambling sleepily into the kitchen to dump the beer bottles into the recycling and get a glass of water. If she were forced to choose, which she hadn't yet been, she'd have to say Lexa was her closest and best friend out of her three roommates, even though she'd technically known both Raven and Octavia longer - the three had gone to school together their whole lives. With Lexa friendship was easy - despite the fact that she was all opinionated and stoic - she hadn't earned the nickname Commander by accident. Lexa was so in control of her life - determined to do everything by the book. College students work Clarke, she'd claimed, taking a bar job despite not needing the money. Exercise is good for the mind Clarke, as she'd stared at Clarke ensconced in bed, cocooned in a ridiculous onesy as she headed out to play soccer for the college team, where she was rather predictably captain. Friendship with Lexa was effortless for Clarke - she wasn't intimidated by the stoic surliness, and she was just about the only one who could make the girl loosen up - the only one ever able to convince her into drinks and a little relaxation.
"Grrrrr," Lexa stomped into the kitchen and Clarke clocked what she was wearing for the first time - tight black pants, some sexy black halter top that was wonderfully low cut, and new heeled boots. She was rather surprisingly wearing earrings and a necklace as well. She also had her hair down and flowing in soft waves over one shoulder and her make up was immaculate - eyes lined and lips a burnt red. She looked like a fucking goddess. Clarke's eyes widened slightly at the departure from her normal, jeans, boots and band shirt attire.
"Woah Woods, you have a date or something?" she leant back against the counter causally admiring her friend - she was incredibly stunning, and sexy, really sexy.
"Stare much?" Lexa growled grabbing an old bottle of white from the fridge and pouring herself a mug full. Clarke smirked unperturbed and muttered,
"Classy," while tossing a causal glance between the mug in Lexa's hand and the shelf of wine glasses.
"I need your help," Lexa stated after downing the mug of wine and then turned her large green eyes on her, her lids heavy from what was clearly not her first glass of wine that night.
"My help?" Clarke stared at her looking from her drunken eyes to the cleavage revealing top, to the heels on the new boots that made Lexa's legs ridiculously long, "you don't need my help," she shook her head with a small chuckle and stalked back to her nice peaceful, comfortable chair.
"You don't even know what I'm asking for help with," Lexa pouted sitting on the coffee table in front of her and blocking her view of the TV. Lexa didn't pout for anyone but her, knowing full well that it always weakened her resistance for that very reason. Besides which, Lexa had an extremely cute bottom lip.
"Lex, you're kind of in the way," she huffed in spite of the uncharacteristically desperate expression on her friends face. When Lexa didn't move she switched off the television with a loud sigh. Lexa brightened instantly.
"You're the best Clarke," she leaned towards her, apparently to give her a hug but landed with a bump onto her lap, everything awkwardly crashing together. Apparently Lexa really had been drinking because the lack of coordination was unusual.
"How drunk are you?" Clarke slid her arm around the girl as she shifted into a more comfy position on her lap and then attempted to ignore the rather impressive view she had of her cleavage. Lexa being utterly, drop-dead, pantie drenching gorgeous was nothing new - Clarke had decided upon first sight, back when she entered her dorm room freshman year, that Lexa was without doubt the sexiest woman she'd ever seen. Quite literally the most beautiful and the sexiest. That hadn't changed. She was honestly surprised they hadn't hooked up during her rather hedonistic first year, but Lexa was too serious for hooking up with anyone - let alone her friend and roommate. It was only a passing comment three months into first year, about some hot girl on her soccer team, Costia, that had resulted in a conversation during which Lexa had casually mentioned she was a lesbian.
"How drunk would you be on a terrible second date?" Lexa asked making absolutely no effort to move but shifting herself into a more comfortable position.
"A second date with whom?" Clarke wondered rather absently why her heart had chosen to hammer so wildly. Lexa hadn't mentioned a date, or even a girl. Unless it was that girl Echo from the library. Fucking Echo. When she was serving Lexa it was all 'Someone else wanted this book but I kept it for you' and stupid giggles and laughs, and with Clarke it was all sour looks and 'there's paint dripping down your arm.' The flirting with Lexa wouldn't be so bad if Clarke hadn't seen other girls getting the same treatment. Echo especially played on Lexa's aloofness, teasing her and Clarke considered that her job and no one else's, especially not Echo's.
"Fuck Clarke - this gorgeous girl," Lexa sighed and Clarke just knew it was the fucking library girl who was admittedly gorgeous.
"You had a date and decided not to tell any of us? That's sly Lexa!" she admonished but Lexa just sniffed,
"Echo is beautiful Clarke. She's nice and funny and cool..."
"Am I thinking of the same Echo? Because Lex, I just don't trust her..."
"Only because she pointed out your dripping paint and ignored you to flirt with me!"
"I'm happy she was flirting with you, the thing is... she just, I don't know, I get a bad feeling, ok?" Clarke attempted, miffed at Lexa's gooey eyes.
"She's nice Clarke. Clever and interesting and into me," Lexa insisted. "But..."
"So why was the date so awful?" Clarke asked when Lexa failed to finish her sentence.
"Well she went to kiss me..."
"And?" Clarke was beginning to feel a little frustrated with all of Lexa's long pauses.
"Well, the thing is..." Lexa trailed off yet again.
"The thing is what? Cos I was kinda on my way to bed..." she prodded Lexa's hip with her index finger and Lexa squirmed. Truth be told she had little interest in hearing about Echo's many wonderful attributes. Clarke didn't think she actually had any, well except for a killer smile and pretty eyes - personality wise Echo was absolutely not good enough for Lexa.
"Well..." her friend looked uncharacteristically nervous her hands fidgeting together.
"What? Just tell me already. She tried to kiss you so the date clearly wasn't so bad..." she prompted impatiently.
"She's experienced," Lexa admitted and turned her large eyes back to her. Clarke waited for more but Lexa just stared at her expectantly.
"So?" she looked at her blankly.
"So?" Lexa stared at her incredulously. "So? When she tried to kiss me I turned away!"
"Why?" Clarke was confused.
"Well I'm me," apparently Lexa thought that explained everything.
"I am entirely aware of that – you are still sat on me you know…" Clarke gestured to the slim form that was currently nestling on her lap.
"You're comfy," Lexa waved a dismissive hand. "Clarke… can I tell you a secret?" she looked around as if to make sure no one was in earshot.
"You can tell me anything," she encouraged because Lexa was her best friend and she had to admit that she was an little bit intrigued as to what the girl was actually getting at.
"I'm not very experienced," Lexa leaned towards her and whispered the words into her ear causing all the hairs to stand on end and little electric pulses to shoot down to her tummy, and then Lexa lost her balance a little and a hand landed on Clarke's boob as she caught herself, increasing the swooping sensation those damn little electric pulses were causing.
"Dammit Lexa," she muttered, pushing her away, miffed at her body's unexpected reaction - Lexa was her friend.
"Sorry," Lexa gave a sheepish, drunken little shrug, and shifted her hand, fingers trailing over the swell of her boob as she did so. Clarke burned, but was determined not to let Lexa know it. Instead she focused on Lexa's ludicrous statement,
"You really want me to believe that you," she gestured to the perfection perched on her lap, "aren't experienced?" she couldn't quite believe that. Sitting up straighter Lexa shook her head defiantly, before tilting that well constructed jaw up in the air.
"Really," she confirmed.
"So you've never…" Clarke widened her eyes theatrically, trying to insinuate the word sex with a bob of her head,
"Never what?" Lexa looked at her blankly, eyes blurred by the booze. Clarke sighed with a wry chuckle,
"Never done it?"
"Oh no," Lexa shook her head and Clarke was sure her eyes had bugged out, "but that's not the worst of it," she leaned back down towards her to whisper in her ear and without quite knowing why, Clarke stopped her,
"We're alone Lexa - you don't need to whisper."
"But I can't say this and look at you," her friend explained and leaned in again which Clarke allowed this time. When soft lips brushed against her ear drunkenly and the damned electric sparks shot a little lower this time she kind of of regretted it. Clarke found Lexa attractive - she hadn't ever really hidden that fact. It would have been stupid and pointless to pretend otherwise given Lexa's obviously stunning appearance and their close friendship. Clarke thought Lexa was beautiful, sexy and kind of wonderful. But it was platonic. It was. Well ok, she could admit she'd turned her on from time to time, but never when she was this close and able to realize it if she only assessed her closely, and not for a long time - friendship had taken precedence over any attraction she may have felt. Once Lexa had shown herself to be uninterested in anything more than friendship, Clarke had pushed attraction aside and learned to simply appreciate her friends rather wonderful appearance. They were just friends. So what if her brunette friend occasionally crawled into her fantasies (naked and between Clarke's legs) on occasion - that was just because she was a gorgeous girl - it was nothing to do with their friendship. The fact that Lexa looked good meant she could turn her on, but the fact that she was her best friend meant that she didn't think of her that way, well not much. Therefore the unexpected rapid beating of her heart, the sparks, the swoop on her belly all resulting from Lexa being so close was new and unsettling. Clarke blamed the low cut top, Lexa's drunken tactile behaviour and the girls warm breath on her ear. Her ears were really very sensitive.
"Spit it out," she grumbled annoyed at her traitorous body.
"I've never even kissed a girl," Lexa whispered and then buried her face in Clarke's neck. It felt incredibly nice to have Lexa's face tucked into her neck but that was overshadowed by her utter disbelief at the craziness coming from the girls mouth.
"Don't believe you," she shrugged at once which made Lexa sit upright again indignantly.
"I think I would know if I had," she stated rather haughtily.
"What about Costia?"
"No."
"No?" her brows rose up sharply.
"No," Lexa confirmed with a small shake of her head.
"Some other college girl, surely?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Yes really."
"Costia?" she double checked.
"No."
"Really?" Clarke shook her head trying to reconcile this new information with her drop dead gorgeous friend.
"I've never really felt comfortable with the idea of kissing anyone…" Lexa attempted to explain, clearly uncomfortable despite her inebriation, "but I'd really like to kiss Echo."
"Oh yeah, Echo," Clarke had forgotten about her, "well kiss her," she suggested a little huffily.
"But Echo is like you," Lexa grumbled, offhandedly playing with the fabric of her ACDC tshirt.
"In what way?" Clarke asked, unsure whether she was supposed to be flattered or offended.
"She's been with a lot of girls," Lexa answered but Clarke felt irked and protested,
"I have not been with 'a lot' of girls."
"You have! And guys! And so has Echo. Well not the guys. She's so sexy and she so obviously knows what she's doing - I mean she's confident and flirty and I just can't embarrass myself by getting it all wrong when it comes to...you know...sex stuff...I can't, Clarke."
"You're not going to get it all wrong," Clarke said comfortingly, rolling her eyes, still not quite sure she believed Lexa. But she kind of had to believe her because Lexa was her friend and why would she lie? It just seemed both implausible and improbable, mainly because Lexa was beautiful, sexy and confident. Why wouldn't she have had her choice of girls?
"No, I'm not going to get it all wrong," Lexa agreed, "because you're going to help me."
"Sure I can give you some pointers," she agreed. "Happy to."
"Well yes pointers would be great, but I'm talking about practice. I need to kiss you Clarke," Lexa had a fiercely determined look to her that said 'don't even think of arguing with me.'
Clarke stared at her best friend like some kind of gaping fish. Well she wasn't entirely sure fish gaped, but baby birds sure did when they were waiting for the worm from their mother, and she was right along side them, mouth dropped open and utterly speechless. It wasn't the first time Lexa had rendered her without the power of speech and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. The first time was when Lexa had oh so nonchalantly told them she was going to play soccer despite a broken arm. And that her team would win. Clarke had even called in her mom to try and talk Lexa out of it but for every 'Lexa you can't play,' Lexa would just respond with a, 'yes I can!' She did play, and she won. This particular silence however, was outlasting all previous ones.
"I can't do that," Clarke shook her head vehemently pushing at Lexa as she made to stand up.
"Why not?" Lexa was pouting again and being resolutely unmovable. Damn her and her athletic, ridiculously strong physique.
"You're you," she pointed at her somewhat helplessly.
"You've slept with girls you didn't know the name of, surely you can give me a kiss!" Lexa's attempt to convince her was met with more head shaking from her because no. That opportunity had passed. She and Lexa were friends and kissing would surely fuck that up.
"That's different. I could do it because I didn't know them…." she flustered and tried to get up again this time successfully pushing Lexa off her lap.
"So you can only sleep with a girl if you don't know her? If there are no feelings?" Lexa accused glaring at her.
"No, that's not it at all," she practically yelped, anything but relaxed now.
"Because this'll be no different," Lexa attempted to convince her. "There are no feelings like that here either."
"Lexa, it's just different," she huffed pretending not to be a little hurt at that as she headed to the fridge for another beer, because like hell she was going to be able to sleep after Lexa's sexy pouting and 'let me practice kissing with you Clarke!' The girl was crazy. They were friends and it would be weird and even though Lexa was beautiful and her best friend, they were just friends and kissing would only mess it up, make things weird. Yep, weird was her word choice for the entire situation.
"Please Clarke," wide green eyes beseeched her. "I can't be the inexperienced idiot."
"You wouldn't be," her voice was softer now because Lexa really looked stressed.
"Maybe it won't be that bad," Lexa took a step closer, her self doubt written all over her face.
"I'm sure it wouldn't be bad at all," she rubbed the skin on her friends shoulder momentarily distracted by how soft it was - Lexa must bathe in moisturizer.
"But what if I don't like kissing? What if I do it all wrong? What do I do with my tongue? What do I do with my hands?" Lexa stared at her and her heart beat furiously in her chest as she realized that inevitably she was going to help her best friend because how could she not? Lexa was her closest friend, her favourite person on earth and she was asking her for help and with those ridiculous puppy eyes. What the hell was she supposed to do when Lexa turned the full power of them on her - sly little imp.
"If I say yes it can't be when you're drunk," she told the tipsy girl who was practically bobbing on her toes. Her voice surprised her because it came out low and all fucking soft and intimate.
"But I have another date tomorrow night," Lexa's eyes were huge with wonder as she suddenly realized Clarke might be going to give her what she asked for. Clarke sighed deeply. "And I'm at college all day." Clarke sighed again,
"Ok, so meet me in my room in the morning and we'll practice then,"she said her voice going all stupid and husky which made her cheeks burn red because this was about kissing an inexperienced Lexa not anything else. Clarke let her eyes rove over the girl and wondered how on earth she'd reached twenty two without someone pressing a kiss to those wonderfully pouty lips. They were so damn inviting.
"Before or after breakfast?" Lexa looked so serious that Clarke couldn't help but chuckle,
"After breakfast, after teeth and after you tell me how come you're at this point," she ruffled Lexa's pretty hair affectionately. "I've really gotta go to bed. I have to start work on my painting first thing in the morning." Before she could turn to leave Lexa caught her in a tight hug,
"Thanks Clarke," she breathed into the warmth of her neck causing those ridiculous sparks again.
"Sure Lexa," she muttered and cursed under her breath before she headed to her room.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXXOOXOX
"What the hell is up with you?" Raven grumbled at Lexa who was flitting around the kitchen like a caffeinated fly. She had drunk far too much coffee and was thus fiddling and tapping and being generally busy.
"Oh um…" she glared at Clarke who gave an admittedly cocky chuckle into her coffee mug, clearly feeling smug that the Commander was a nervous little butterfly over the thought of a kiss with her. Lexa felt a blush burn her cheeks as her eyes caught Clarke's and the smug smile fell from the blonds lips.
"Coffee," Octavia interrupted with a mumble as she emerged from her room looking delightfully rumpled.
"I'll get it," Lexa jumped up and headed to the coffee machine, fixing Octavia a black coffee and handing it to her before she'd even reached the table.
"So?" Raven drew out the word, "what's got you so fucking fidgety Lexa?"
"Well, Clarke's going to kiss me after breakfast," Lexa announced bluntly to the breakfast table, amazed at her own bravado, her chin raised to indicate no shame. Clarke squirted coffee from her mouth in surprise. Octavia actually dropped the mug she was carrying on the floor and Raven bashed her mug down on the table so hard the contents sloshed over the side. Between the three of them, the kitchen was covered with coffee - and it was all Lexa's fault.
"What the fuck?" Raven stared between the two of them like they'd lost their minds. Clarke thought that wasn't so far off the mark.
"Lexa," she protested the revelation even if she did secretly admire the girl.
"Was it a secret?" Lexa gave her a faux abashed look, and a wink, "you'll still do it right?" she sat down, smirk gone and anxiety clearly in its place, as she mopped ineffectually at the coffee spill with a cloth.
"Yeah, ok, I guess," she grumbled, though her commitment to help Lexa hadn't wavered. Of course she would help - Lexa had actually asked for help, something she'd never done before - Lexa was a "doing it solo" kind of girl and she hated having to rely on others - group projects were literally her nemesis.
"What did I miss here?"Raven looked between the two. "Have you finally accepted that you two would be awesome together?"
"No, it's not that," Clarke flushed but gave a nonchalant roll of her eyes regardless, as if it might detract from her burning cheeks.
"What about Echo? I thought you were into her?" Octavia was certainly awake now despite her lost coffee. She took a seat at the table, ignoring the brown puddle and smashed mug on the kitchen tiles, and merely dragged the remains of Clarke's coffee to her lips.
"Well Echo is why," Lexa explained.
"Why you need to kiss another girl?" Raven look confused. "If you like Echo, kiss Echo."
"S'what I said," Clarke put in and Lexa shot her a dirty look before looking at Raven and Octavia again,
"The thing is, well...fuck, who cares...the truth is I've never kissed a girl before," she admitted boldly, a glint of defiance in her eye. "Or anyone before!"
"Are you still drunk?" Clarke asked amazed at her blatant honesty, gaping at the tall brunette along with their other two roommates.
"I may have had a little vodka in my coffee," Lexa admitted gesturing a smidge with her thumb and forefinger.
"I said not drunk," Clarke admonished. No way was she kissing Lexa if the girl was drunk. Recriminations came with sobriety.
"I'm not drunk – it was Dutch courage, that's all," Lexa sent the smallest of pouts in her direction and Clarke sighed. Fucking cinnamon roll. Looked like a hard nut but was ridiculous gooey.
"What about Costia?" Octavia asked still looking stunned and slightly thrilled at the unexpected gossip that had come her way so early in the morning.
"No," Lexa shook her head.
"Really?" Raven couldn't believe it. Because it was truly hard to believe - one look at Lexa, sexy, sultry Lexa and it was scoffable to declare her unkissed. Ok, so sure they'd never seen Lexa kiss a girl but surely she had kissed one.
"No."
"Really not Costia?" Raven asked again shaking her head in bewilderment. Costia was a girl Lexa had been into back in freshmen year. They'd all assumed it was a relationship.
"What did you all miss about that horrendous saga? I thought I was in love with her, not the other way round. She was into another girl!" Lexa harrumphed. "We were never together and no we never, ever kissed!" she added.
"Huh," Clarke gave a shrug, "I mean I always figured you were hooking up and when you said she didn't want anything, you meant on the emotional side of things."
"Well I didn't," Lexa answered curtly.
"So no college girl?" Octavia asked.
"No."
"I'm done," Clarke gestured to her cereal bowl and stood to rinse it, before plonking it in the dishwasher and with a wink at Lexa, headed for the bathroom she shared with Raven.
"Shit," Lexa practically squealed.
"Lexa, aren't you worried this is going to mess things up between you and Clarke?" Octavia asked at the same time Raven said,
"Why didn't you ask me?"
"It won't mess things up O," Lexa rolled her eyes. "I'm a practical person and Clarke is definitely the right person to help - she's a very, uh, sensual person. We're best friends, so she's not going to judge me and she'll be able to tell me what I need to improve to be more sexy to a girl, unlike you Raven," she smiled at them, just a hint of nerves visible.
"I could tell you!" Raven frowned.
"You're not into girls," Lexa frowned too.
"Yeah, well a kiss is a kiss."
"No it's not," Lexa shook her head, "a kiss is a moment between two people that can say an awful lot about who they are and what they want from each other."
"How much vodka did you have in that coffee?" Raven and Octavia exchanged a look, smirking a little.
"Maybe I'm a little drunk," Lexa held her finger and thumb apart to show a smidge again, "but don't tell Clarke else she wont kiss me."
"Well I guess, go get your girl," Raven shrugged.
"She's not my girl she's my practice girl," Lexa clarified.
"Well, go have fun practising," Octavia grinned impishly.
"I intend to," Lexa smirked and stalked off for the bathroom she and Octavia shared and the toothbrush she planned to use thoroughly.