The Interrupting Phone
Lexa contemplated for only a moment. Her head was still pleasantly fuzzy from the wine, and she knew that if she had hard liquor now, it wouldn’t take much to push her from tipsy to drunk. And drunk Lexa may say something sober Lexa would seriously regret later.
“Oh, um, actually… I think I should probably have some water. I don’t usually drink, and my tolerance isn’t all that great.”
“I get that,” Clarke nodded. She set the lime back in the bowl and replaced the vodka quickly.
Lexa opened the fridge to put away the mint. “I have some sparkling water in here. Would you like some?”
“Sure!” Clarke grinned. Lexa poured two glasses and handed one to Clarke as she leaned back against her counter. Clarke’s phone suddenly trilled in the apartment, followed by two more notifications in quick succession. Clarke pulled her phone out with a sigh.
“Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine,” Clarke dismissed as she tucked her phone back in her pocket. “It’s just Octavia being Octavia.”
Lexa nodded before taking a sip of her water. “Is there something I can do? To help?”
“It’s fine,” Clarke grumbled. “I mean, it’s not fine, but it’s fine.”
“You lost me there.”
“Raven is an emotional drunk, and she’s being a handful. I told Octavia to handle it.”
Lexa’s heart sunk to the pit of her stomach because she was far too self-sacrificing not to say what she was about to say even though her heart was begging for her not to do it. “You can go if you need to. You don’t have to stay out of some sort of misplaced obligation.”
“Lexa,” Clarke tsked, setting down her glass on the counter. She took the few steps across Lexa’s kitchen and placed a gentle hand on her arm, squeezing tenderly. “I didn’t come over here because I felt like I had to. I came over here because I wanted to. I like you.”
Clarke’s eyes lingered on Lexa’s lips, and Lexa involuntarily wet them. Clarke started an agonizingly slow lean forward, and Lexa mirrored her. They were close, so close, when Clarke’s phone trilled loudly again.
“Fuck,” she jumped back, before pulling out her phone. “I probably should go help Octavia.”
Lexa tucked the disappointment firmly away, currently concerned with Clarke’s wellbeing. “You’ll be okay? Walking by yourself, I mean?”
“The party isn’t far,” Clarke stated quickly as she pulled on her shoes. “I’ll text you when I get there if that would make you feel better.”
“It very much would.” Clarke beamed at Lexa’s response, and Lexa felt a surge of warmth shoot through her entire body. Clarke’s smiles were like a sunbeam bursting through the clouds on a cold day. They instantly warmed whoever was lucky enough to feel it.
“Expect a text in a few minutes then.”
Lexa pulled open the door, but before Clarke could cross the threshold, she pulled her in for a tight hug. Clarke instantly relaxed into the embrace, tucking her nose in the crook of Lexa’s neck. Shivers ran up her spine as Clarke’s deep breaths tickled the hairs against Lexa’s skin. The farewell wasn’t a kiss, but it was damn good.
“Goodnight, Clarke,” she murmured as Clarke released her. Clarke smirked and waved as she walked down the hallway and into the night.