The Invitation

 

Lexa’s life changed after that one Instagram post. Clarke’s sprain had turned out to be miraculously (or magically) minor, and the time spent caring for her injury had been bittersweet for Lexa. On the one hand, Clarke was injured and seeing a woman who she was in love with suffering caused her own heart to squeeze with remorse.

 

On the other hand, Lexa got to spend part of every single day with her. Clarke turned out to be everything Lexa had assumed she was and more. She was funny and caring and so damn smart and beautiful, and best of all, she was easy to talk to. Lexa was constantly in awe with how well they played off each other. It was a rare feeling for her, and she was terrified that would go away the second Clarke was no longer required to be in her company.

 

Which was why on the night of Clarke’s triumphant return to the field, Lexa was feeling a little depressed.

 

Clarke played the best game of her career on that Friday night. She got subbed on in the second half, and Lexa may have let out a loud whoop as the announcer reported her name over the PA. Clarke gave her a little wink, and Lexa’s cheeks immediately flushed.

 

Clarke made the most of her time on the field, making superbly timed tackles, and with less than a minute left, she intercepted a pass and took off down the sideline. Lexa’s gaze flicked from the quickly counting down scoreboard and back to Clarke.

 

Clarke cut the ball back to her left foot and executed the most beautiful cross Lexa had ever witnessed. Time slowed down. The scoreboard ticked down into the single digits. The ball soared over the entire opposing team’s defense. Raven leaped in the air, her head making perfect contact with Clarke’s cross. The header shot just beyond the goalkeeper's fingertips, and time finally corrected itself as the ball slid down the back of the net.

 

The roar of the crowd drowned out the final whistle, and Lexa was cheering wildly with them. The goal turned the tied game into a win.

 

Lexa’s smile was beginning to ache when Clarke locked eyes with her. Lexa gave her an enthusiastic thumbs up, and before the team swarmed Clarke in hugs and celebration, Clarke winked and pointed right at her as if that assist was dedicated to her. Lexa’s clapping faltered as their gaze turned heated, but before Lexa could work out what was going on, Clarke’s teammates reached her and just like that, the moment fluttered away.

 

Lexa cleared her throat and urged her mind and heart back to a reasonable pace. She grabbed her bag and quickly made her way to the training room to prep for the inevitable onslaught of post-game care.

 

Clarke was the last to arrive, most of her teammates were done and gone, and Lexa couldn’t help but wonder if it was on purpose. Clarke wore a proud smile as she stood in front of Lexa, cheeks still a little flushed from the game.

 

“Congratulations, Clarke,” Lexa couldn’t help but smile. The pride and glee Clarke sported was positively contagious. “That play was brilliant.”

 

“Thanks. It felt good.” Clarke hopped up on the table closest to Lexa, her legs swinging back and forth nonchalantly.

 

“How about your ankle?”

 

“That feels good too.”

 

“Really?” Lexa exclaimed. She instinctively looked down, expecting to find a slightly swollen joint or bruising or some indication that Clarke was putting on a brave face. However, there was nothing.

 

“Yep, Nyko said it looks great.”

 

“You already saw Nyko?” Lexa blinked rapidly at that revelation. What was Clarke still doing here if she already received the all-clear from Nyko?

 

“Yeah,” Clarke chuckled. “You kinda get in a zone when you’re doing the whole ice and stim thing. I’m not surprised you didn’t notice me over there.”

 

“I…” Lexa followed Clarke’s gaze to the table nearest the door, slightly baffled that one, she did not see Clarke come in and that two, Clarke paid enough attention to her to know that she tended to forget the world around her when she was working. Lexa cleared her throat, willing her mind to stop. “What are you still doing here then? Shouldn’t you be off showering and getting ready for a party?”

 

“What makes you think there’s a party?”

 

“You just won, there’s no game on Sunday, and I heard your coach give you all the weekend off. Which means none of you would be breaking the 48-hour rule if there was a party tonight, so… there is definitely going to be a party tonight.”

 

“All very astute observations.”

 

“So…” Lexa trailed off leadingly.

 

“So what?”

 

“So, why aren’t you off celebrating?”

 

“I will be soon enough,” Clarke waved off the question. She hopped off the table to stand just in front of Lexa, her hand needlessly smoothing down the collar of Lexa’s polo. “I just wanted to see if you would come with me.”

 

“Oh,” Lexa murmured as Clarke stepped back. “It’s not really my scene.”

 

It was a pitiful excuse, and she knew Clarke would be able to see right through it. But she really wasn’t prepared for the invitation. She wanted to spend time with Clarke outside of the training room, hell, she wanted to spend every waking moment with Clarke. Lexa was just terrified that Clarke would realize that she was a giant dork who liked to study far too much. Self-preservation at its finest.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yeah,” Lexa squared her shoulders and mustered up a genuine smile. “Thanks for inviting me, but I think I’m just going to wrap up here and head home.”

 

“Okay,” Clarke’s eyes dropped to the floor as she kicked at an invisible ball with her toe. “Well, I guess I’ll see you on Monday?”

 

“Yep, I’ll be here before practice.”

 

“See you around, tiger.”

 

Lexa sighed as Clarke walked out of the room. She wiped down the tables and put all the supplies away before turning out the lights. The walk to her apartment was rife with regret and what-ifs. By the time she got home, she had convinced herself that it was a cruel joke that whatever powers that be created a world where there was no redo button.

 

Lexa was curled up on her couch, half a bottle of wine down when her phone trilled with a message.