Chapter Text
Lexa was so bored. American history had always been her least favorite class and right now, she could not pay attention for the life of her. Anya was seated next to her, her head in the palm of her hand, dozing off. Lexa was trying her hardest not to follow her example. It wasn’t like she was a terrible student. In fact, despite being a popular jock, Lexa had always taken her grades seriously. Straight A’s with the occasional B was something she had worked hard for. But two weeks into senior year, in the most boring class with the most boring teacher was taking its toll.
Finally, the bell rang, shocking Anya out of her peaceful sleep. Lexa snorted at her friend when she nearly fell out of her chair.
“Fuck off,” Anya grumbled.
That only made Lexa laugh as they gathered their things and made their way to the lunch room. They took their usual table as the others started to join them. Echo, Emori, and Nylah took a seat with them and nodded at Anya and Lexa. The five of them were the core of the varsity soccer team at Polis High. They were all seniors and had all been playing together since freshman year resulting in the close bond that they shared now. John Murphy approached the table and took his seat next to his girlfriend, Emori. This had been a new addition as well as Bellamy Blake who was trailing beside him with a couple of the other football players. They all began to chat quietly as they ate lunch. Lexa chose to stay out of the conversation for the most part.
Bellamy and Murphy had begun to argue the validity of some play in football that the others had begun to chime in on and Lexa could not contain her chuckle at their stupidity.
“You got something to say, commander?” Bellamy questioned.
Lea shook her head, “You guys are just stupid.”
The table burst out in laughter at Lexa’s honesty which Lexa chose to ignore. Her gaze had suddenly made its way across the lunch room. At a table on the far side, her gaze settled on a blonde who was laughing at something the only other person at the table had said. Clarke Griffin kept to herself most times, she had a bit of a nerd stigma due to this and her artistic flare. Truth be told she was also quite the athlete, she played varsity softball. Lexa knew this because she could see the softball field from the soccer field and Clarke had been on her radar for some time now. But even though Clarke was the star pitcher for the team (Lexa had heard about her victories over the announcements), most people ignored her feats due to their preordained opinions. Lexa found this absurd. Clarke was beautiful and sweet. She had only spoken to her a handful of times but each time she had, Clarke had been nothing but nice and welcoming, if not a little shy.
Lexa watched as another joined Clarkes table. Octavia was also a varsity soccer player and Bellamy’s sister, which made her a friend of Lexa’s as well. Her and the girl already seated there, Raven Reyes, were the only two who had befriended Clarke since her mysterious arrival at their school halfway through their Freshman year. This was another reason most of the school disregarded Clarke. She had shown up mysteriously and less than a week into her arrival had suffered a huge panic attack that took her out of school for days. Half the school had witnessed it and the entire school had heard about it, since then most avoided her like the plague.
Lexa had witnessed the event herself and remembered how much she wanted to help. No one had seen what caused the event, but Clarke had suddenly let out a horrible scream and fell to the ground writhing. Everyone in the hall scrambled away from her as she had convulsed on the floor. Lexa had attempted to rush towards her to help but her then girlfriend, Costia, had pulled her away.
Lexa was pulled out of her thoughts by Anya punching her on the shoulder.
“What the hell!”
“Sorry, nobody could get your attention. What were you so distracted by?”
Lexa tried really hard but could not stop her eyes from flitting to Clarke. Anya followed her gaze to Clarke and she groaned.
“No way, Lexa. Clarke Griffin?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lexa denied.
The others jumped in all shouting about how she had been staring at her.
Lexa silenced them with a glare. “I was just spacing out, leave it alone.”
Anya shook her head, “Come on Lexa. I know you. You’ve always had some interest in her. What do you want to be her friend? Befriend the poor weirdo spaz?” Anya sneered.
Lexa actually growled as she turned on her friend. “Shut the fuck up Anya, I don’t know anything about her and neither do you. How dare you say such disrespectful things about something you know nothing about.”
Lexa stood up abruptly and stormed away from the table. Her friends watched in disbelief. She had heard those rumors about Clarke but put no stock in them. Kids would say anything to hurt someone or create drama. Personally she found it disgusting and shut it down anytime she could. Hearing her friend say it was even more shocking. Clarke had a panic attack obviously because of a trauma and if she did have a mental illness, that was no cause for derision.
Her angry departure from her table had caught the attention of many of the students in the lunchroom. As Lexa made her way towards the exit her eyes caught on Clarke again as she had turned to see what the commotion was about. Their eyes locked and Lexa caught sight of a figure approaching. Just on the other side of Clarke a hulking football guy, Max, Lexa thought his name was, was quickly approaching with a glint in his eye. Before Lexa could shout out a warning the football player had dumped his entire soup all over the poor girl. Clarke’s eyes widened in shock as she whirled around to face her assaulter. Lexa was already yelling before Clarke had even really registered what happened. Lexa was nearly sprinting towards Clarke when suddenly Clarke sprung up and sprinted out of the lunchroom. Lexa reached Max, full force and shoved him backwards. He flew onto the ground as she shouted at him, “what the fuck is wrong with you?” He stared at her with fear in his eyes. She spared him one last disgusted look before she ran off after Clarke. She stopped at her locker quickly and then made her way to the bathroom closest to the lunchroom. She shoved the door open and was greeted with the sight of a shirtless Clarke frantically trying to clean the hot soup from her body.
“Clarke?” She spoke softly in the hopes of not scaring the girl. Still she jumped, throwing the towel that was in her hand into the air. She spun towards her quickly, taking in the intruder. Lexa’s eyes widened at the sight before her and she visibly gulped, Clarke was so beautiful.
“Lexa?” Clarke spoke, a confused hint in her tone. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to help,” she spoke firmly. “That guy was an asshole.”
Clarke shook her head and turned back towards the mirror. “You’ve spoken to me like twice. You don’t need to help me. I don’t need your pity.” Her voice was curt and Lexa could sense the hurt behind it.
Lexa approached her slowly, reaching for the paper towels.”This isn’t out of pity Clarke.That guy was an asshole and you did not deserve that. You have never been anything but kind and I would just like to help you out.” Lexa laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort.
Suddenly, Clarke squeaked and tried to cover herself up obviously realizing that she was standing in just her bra. Lexa chuckled lightly and held up the sweatshirt she had grabbed from her locker. “I thought you might encounter this problem so I brought you this. Put it on.”
Clarke shook her head, “I can’t take this from you. It’s yours.”
Lexa shook her head in return. “Please. It will make me happy if you do.”
Clarke smiled shyly and pulled the hoodie over her head. Lexa opened her mouth to speak when suddenly the door was shoved open by Raven and Octavia. “Clarke there you are.- captain? What are you doing here.”
Lexa regarded Octavia silently and then nodded at Clarke. “I was just leaving. Goodbye Clarke.”