The E.R.
Clarke sat there, pressing the gauze to the cut on her forehead, looking expectantly at Lexa. She knew she was just supposed to tell Clarke which hospital they typically sent athletes to. She knew that Clarke’s injury wasn’t all that serious, just a superficial wound that needed a little help healing properly. So she couldn’t explain the burning desire pulsing through her entire body at the moment.
Lexa sighed and placed both her hands on the training table for support. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Really? Doesn’t Nyko need you here?”
Lexa was fairly certain that Nyko wouldn’t mind if she left with Clarke, so she just shook her head and offered a hand out to her. “Up we go, Griffin. Go grab your stuff, and meet me by the front entrance. I’ll be right there.”
Clarke obliged and left the training room. Lexa then quickly explained to Nyko that she didn’t feel right letting Clarke head to the E.R. alone, and with a sly little smirk, Nyko patted her back and told her to get out of there.
Lexa grabbed her things and hurried to the front entrance of the Wellness and Athletic Center. Clarke stood against the wall by the door, gazing up at the impressive indoor rock climbing wall on the other side of the massive foyer.
“Have you ever tried it?”
Lexa’s voice startled Clarke from her daydream, and she jumped slightly before relaxing. “Rock climbing? Not yet,” she grinned. “I’m signing up for the class next semester though. I have this crazy fantasy of jumping off that landing and swinging from the ropes like Lara Croft.”
“That’s not really how it works,” Lexa chuckled. “But if you ever want to try before next semester, I’d be more than happy to be your belayer. Show you the ropes, as it were.”
“The commander has jokes!” Clarke beamed. “The ladies will never believe it.”
Lexa let out a nervous little laugh and decided to ignore the commander nickname for now. She pushed open the door and led Clarke through the parking lot, stopping in front of her little Kia Rio. “I usually walk from my apartment, but, lucky you, I was running late and drove today.”
Lexa opened the passenger side door, letting Clarke slide in before closing it and making her way around her car. She slid in and before shifting her vehicle into reverse, glanced up at Clarke. A fresh trickle of blood ran slowly down her forehead. Lexa reacted quickly, pressing her hand to Clarke’s head. Clarke’s eyes widened with the sudden contact.
“You should keep pressure here. Head wounds bleed. A lot.”
Clarke gave a small nod and pressed her warm palm against the back of Lexa’s hand. The touch radiated from her arm straight through her chest, catching the breath in her lungs. Lexa slowly let her hand slide from under Clarke’s giving her enough time to replace the lost pressure from Lexa.
“Okay, let’s get you to the hospital before you bleed out in my car.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Woods,” Clarke playfully teased. “It’s just a cut.”
The E.R. was surprisingly slow, and Clarke was seen within an hour. The cut was deemed simple enough that butterfly bandages were sufficient, causing a wave of relief to flow through Lexa. Stitches were way scarier than little bandages.
They handled Clarke’s paperwork quickly and were back in the car less than twenty minutes later. Lexa turned her car over, but before she shifted into reverse, she smiled over at Clarke. “I think this calls for ice cream.”
“Huh?” Clarke questioned, adorably confused.
“You can’t sit there and tell me that ice cream doesn’t sound good right now,” Lexa reached over from the gear shift and placed a gentle hand on top of Clarke’s. “Ice cream after a trip to the E.R. is mandatory.”
Clarke’s eyes fluttered down to their joined hands, but after only a moment of silence, she met Lexa’s warm gaze, enthusiastically shouting, “Take me to the ice cream, Woods!”
Lexa grinned as she drove them out of the parking garage. They were almost to the little ice cream shop when Clarke suddenly adjusted the volume in the car. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful profile?”
Lexa’s cheeks heated with the compliment, and she kept her eyes trained on the road ahead. “Can’t say that’s one I’ve heard before.”
“Well, you do. You’re beautiful. Omigod! You have to let me. Please?” Clarke suddenly exclaimed.
“I’m not sure I know the question.”
Clarke placed a warm hand on Lexa’s thigh, and it was a good thing she had both hands steadying the wheel, because she nearly jumped at the soft contact.
“Will you pose for me? My midterm drawing project. We have to sketch a figure from life. Let me draw you. I promise I’ll do your killer jawline justice. Be my muse, my model, my Lexa. Please? Please let me draw you?”
