The Compromise
Lexa navigated to the movie with practiced ease, smiling as Little Gracie Hart peeked over her copy of The Invisible Intruder. Lexa would never admit it out loud, but this film most definitely instigated her love and near obsession for Nancy Drew novels as a child.
Her favorite movie so transfixed Lexa that she wasn’t aware that Clarke was slowly scooting closer and closer to her. It wasn’t until tentative fingers brushed up against her leg that Lexa even paid Clarke any notice.
Lexa peered down to Clarke’s hand pressed right up against her thigh, and her gaze rose to Clarke’s face. She kept her eyes trained on the screen in front of her, but Lexa couldn’t miss the way her mouth twitched upwards. Clarke’s fingers gently traced up and down on her leg, and the motion caught Lexa so off guard that she nearly jumped right off her couch.
Luckily, she quickly regained her composure and didn’t startle the second time Clarke drew a small pattern on her jean-clad thigh. Lexa trained her gaze back on the movie, but it couldn’t hold her attention any longer. Every single neuron in Lexa’s brain was preoccupied with Clarke’s proximity and the thought of what her hand would feel like clasped within her own.
Gracie Hart had just strutted out after her makeover when Lexa, emboldened by the head bop worthy beat of Mustang Sally, let her hand slip from her lap down to her side. It didn’t take long after that for her fingers to intertwine with Clarke’s, and when she felt Clarke squeeze her hand in reassurance, she sighed happily.
They spent the rest of the movie just holding hands and only let go when the credits rolled through the end, and the title screen appeared once more.
Clarke stretched her arms over her head, and Lexa tried her damnedest to not peer down to the little bit of exposed skin that was suddenly on display at her waistline. She failed miserably.
“Well, I should probably be getting back.” Clarke rose from the couch and grabbed her coat, slipping it on quickly. “Thanks for letting me hang out with you.”
“I’ll walk you home.” Lexa stood quickly and made her way towards her front door, jacket and keys already in hand.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.”
Clarke smirked and tilted her head. “But then who will walk you home?”
Endeared by that question, Lexa couldn’t help the smile that erupted across her face. “Halfway?”
“What?”
Lexa opened her front door, stepping just enough to the side to allow Clarke to walk through. “I’ll walk with you halfway to your dorm. We’ll part at the library.”
“Seems fair,” Clarke chuckled.
The weather had recently begun to cool and the brisk autumn air tickled Lexa’s cheeks. They traded stories of their favorite music and books as they walked, and Lexa suddenly wished they lived farther away from one another if only for the excuse to keep walking with Clarke.
As they approached the designated halfway point, Clarke pulled up to a stop. “Well, goodnight, Lexa. Thanks again for letting me hang with you.” She looked like she wanted to say something more, but she didn’t, and Lexa felt her heart pang with regret. Clarke just offered her a smile and turned down the path towards her dorm, leaving Lexa standing there like a fool.