Chapter Text
Arkadia University was the most popular university in the state of Polis and Clarke Griffin knew it.
Yet, she could swear she had never seen so many students in the previous years.
Her legs felt heavy as she stepped forward, observing the environment around her. It almost felt like a presentation day, because everyone seemed way too loud and happy hanging around in both outside and inside the many campus. Yet Clarke kept on reminding herself that the semester had kicked off a few weeks before, even if she refused to show up until then.
It felt almost weird to be back.
She had been away for almost a year, after her father’s death. She was on her final year and would soon graduate to follow her mother’s steps when it happened. After Jake Griffin shockingly passed away, though, she couldn’t find the strength to get up straight away.
And, now, after so long, and pressured by all her close friends and family, she decided to return to finish her graduation.
Truth was, after everything that happened, Clarke lost the will to do anything. She couldn’t even be sure if that was what she truly wanted, for her life.
But she knew she couldn’t stay that way for the rest of her life.
She had to move on.
It was harder than she predicted, though, and she could already feel it, as she walked around the several campus. Her father had been a professor, there. He hadn’t been her specific professor, since that could disrupt a conflict of interest her whole family wanted to avoid, but she knew how good he was.
Everyone loved Jake Griffin and he was, together with Marcus Kane, the University’s chancellor, one of the main reasons that place grew so much and had a great influence on the entire state.
And now, returning to that place, she still felt as if she could see him everywhere.
But no.
Clarke would never see him, again.
“Look who’s back!”
The blonde was almost tackled by Raven Reyes, who was wearing her biggest smile at the sight of her friend “Raven” Clarke showed her a smile
“You ok?”
The blonde nodded “Sorry I haven’t showed up until now. I’ve missed a few weeks already”
“Ah, you are Clarke fucking Griffin, babe, you will catch up” She put her arm around her “C’mon, let’s go to the cafeteria before you go to classes”
Raven was graduating in Mechanical Engineering and she, together with Octavia Blake, were Clarke’s best friends, within all the friends Clarke easily made, being the daughter of Abby and Jake Griffin, plus, close to Marcus Kane.
Of course, that made Clarke a popular girl, even if she hated it.
And, even though Abby wasn’t a professor on Arkadia’s University, she was in charge of the Health Science degrees and was the Director of Polis Hospital and an associate of Arkadia’s Academic Investigation Center.
“So, what’s new?”
Raven shrugged, as she sat down in front of her friend, already in the cafeteria “Not much, everything is basically the same, around here. I’m glad now I’ll have you around more often”
“What about Octavia?”
“Oh, probably at the gym. She always goes there now, before classes. Sometimes after!” she exclaimed.
Octavia was taking a Law Enforcement Degree and Clarke had no doubt it suited her. The blonde smiled “And what about it? Bellamy works there, too”
“Oh, there’s this new guy working there. Totally hot. I don’t think Bellamy’s too happy about it”
Clarke smiled “Ah, I get it. Well, good for her, uh?”
“I suppose. Leaves us both lonely, though”
“Don’t be such a drama queen.” Clarke took a sip of her coffee “Better lonely than sharing a boyfriend unknowingly”
The blonde would have laughed at her own joke, yet something caught her eye, in that moment.
On the upper level of the cafeteria, leaning against the balcony with the view for the spot she and Raven sat, was a face she had never seen before.
The young lady seemed chill, even distracted in her own world, but she could observe the whole cafeteria, from that spot.
She stood alone, wearing only black clothes that fit her extremely well, Clarke noticed. She had brown hair, yet her eyes stood out, even if, from that distance, the blonde couldn’t absorb all the details she wanted to.
“Earth to Clark?” Raven snapped her fingers on her face.
“Who’s that?” Clarke immediately asked
Raven turned to observe the young lady, before turning to smile at her friend “I see you already noticed the new girl. She’s hot ain’t she?”
“I had a feeling she was new” Clarke spoke “I mean, I never saw her, before”
“Yeah. Lexa Woods is her name. I’d say she’s our age but she started this year, only. She’s kind of a loner”
“Well, maybe something kept her from starting her degree, before” Clarke looked up at Lexa, again. “What’s she taking?”
“Some health science shit, I haven’t figured out yet. You might, before me. I mean, you’ll see her more often after all”
The blonde followed Lexa as she finally moved to take the stairs down and out the place. She was probably heading towards her classes.
And Clarke should do the same.
“I should go”
Raven nodded at her “Alright. Watcha doing later?”
“I don’t know, probably study…”
“Oh c’mon Griff!” She rolled her eyes “You’re the best student in the state. You have plenty of time to do everything you want. And you should hang out more.” She stood up, following the blonde outside.
Clarke sighed “I’ll think about it, ok?”
“I take that as a yes let’s hang out later on”
And with that, she moved for her own classes.
The day turned out to be a lot more boring than she initially expected. Most of the classes were on topic’s Clarke was familiar with, plus she found herself constantly distracted.
It was if her mind forced her to be everywhere except in that auditory.
And eventually, during her last class of the day, she simply stood up to leave. She knew no one would bother to say something and hoped it would be eventually forgotten by the professor. After all, being her and walking out of a classroom, usually led to professors asking to talk to her, later on.
The halls were almost empty, at that time. There were only a couple of students here and there, most making their way out of campus.
“Clarke!”
The blonde was surprised to see her mother there, walking alongside Marcus Kane, who smiled at her.
“It’s good to have you back, Clarke” he greeted her, with a smile.
“I thought you were in classes?” Abby looked at her, surprised
“I thought you were at the… hospital?” Clarke stared at her.
“I told you I would come for a meeting, Clarke. You would have known if you listened to what I usually tell you” Abby showed her a small smile
“Oh… right.” She sighed “Well, I was in class, yes”
Kane chuckled “Are classes that boring, Clarke? Or should I just try and get you a spot on the labor market, already?”
Abby chuckled, as well “She’d make it, already”
“I don’t doubt” Kane nodded “Though there are a few spots for a few hours of extra academic internship in a few places. You should think about taking one. Get yourself some extra occupation”
“Extra occupation?” Abby stared at him “She has all the time in the world. You should definitely try something”
Clarke sighed “Yes, right…”
It was the second time she was hearing those words, that day “I’ll think about it”
“It’ll be good for you” Kane smiled “To keep your mind into other things”
Clarke showed him a small smile, after all, he was only trying to be helpful and, truth was, they weren’t so wrong.
She would go crazy, like that, anyway.
Even if there was no big will to do anything.
“Thank you, Kane” Clarke nodded at him, then turned to her mother “I’ll see you at home?”
“Yes, darling” she leaned to kiss her cheek, then left with Kane.
Clarke sighed, watching them walk away in the corridors, before turning to continue her way out of campus.
And, just as she turned, she noticed no other than Lexa Woods, sitting on the floor, in the corner of the empty hall.
The blonde wasn’t sure for how long she had been there, but she didn’t notice anyone as she talked to Kane and her mother, so she was probably there, already.
Thought, she seemed distracted, with a pencil in her hand, writing down on a notebook she leaned against her knees.
It was so odd, yet for some reason it drew the blonde’s attention more than it should. Now she was closer, she could definitely see her better. Though Lexa kept her eyes focused on the notebook, Clarke observed the slight neckline of her black shirt, emphasizing what seemed to be the softest of skins, glowing all the way up her breathtaking jawline, to her cheeks and beautiful lips.
Maybe I should just go and talk to her. I mean… Clarke thought.
She has done it a lot before. To help new people feel welcome and ease their adaption. Some hated it, but some actually enjoyed her willingness to help.
Plus, Raven said she is a loner, so maybe she just needs some… The blonde’s thoughts were interrupted when Lexa suddenly stopped her doings and stood up.
She was taller than her, Clarke noticed, immediately.
Lexa turned to stare at Clarke, whose insides immediately exploded.
Green. Clarke’s mind yelled, above the whirlwind of thoughts, as she noticed her green beautiful eyes.
The brunette had quite and intimidating stare, but the blonde could only feel her insides burning even more. She found it a lot more sensuous than she definitely should.
It last only a few moments, though, because then she turned to walk away.
Oh boy, she’s fit. Her eyes wandered around her backside. Walking like a fucking queen.
Clarke sighed, when she disappeared from her sight, then internally slapped herself for looking so foolish. The brunette might have thought she was staring way too boldly and, after all, there was no one else in that hall. “Ugh, you are an idiot, Griffin” she sighed, letting her mind wander to Lexa’s image once again.
Why the hell am I thinking too much about it, anyway? She screamed at herself.
Well, at least she’s definitely not boring.
And definitely not depressing either.
Maybe a little weird?
Stop it, Griffin!
The next couple of days passed by equally calm and almost boring, for the blonde. However, she had decided that, this once, people around her were right and started trying to keep up with a relatively normal life.
Again.
She took Raven and her mother’s advice to keep herself more occupied so her own mind wouldn’t drive her crazy.
She spent more time with Raven and Octavia in the last few days than in the past months.
She even agreed on a few nights out, which was definitely not her thing. But, at least, she was trying.
Her father would have wanted her to.
She knew so.
“Sup, Clarke?”
The blonde turned to see Octavia approaching her, after the last period of classes in the morning.
“Hey, O” Clarke smiled “Finished for today?”
“Yeah, you?”
Clarke shrugged “I suppose so. If I get myself in that auditory again, I’ll freak out”
Octavia smirked “It’s not like you’ll have a problem with it later, uh?” she said as both walked together
“Jeez, O, you make it sound like I benefit from missing classes”
“I meant you are good enough to go through the exams even missing classes. For god’s sake, Griff, I don’t usually compliment people, just take it”
The blond threw her hands in the air “Alright, alright” she sighed “How does lunch sound like? Raven has left me on my own”
Octavia nodded at her “Sure, something light though, I’ll head towards the gym after.” She spoke “And you’re coming with me”
“What? Hell no…”
“C’mon Griff. You don’t have Raven today and it’s Friday.” Octavia spoke “I heard they’re looking for someone to be around and help in case of injuries”
“I don’t care” Clarke frowned “I wanna eat, now”
Octavia rolled her eyes “You are coming with me”
Clarke suddenly stared at her, with a smirk “Do I get to meet lover boy?”
The brunette stared at her as if she wanted to kill her “One day I will cut Raven’s tongue off”
“C’mon, is it serious?”
“It is nothing, Clarke” Octavia took a seat, noticing there was a considerable row for the on the main refectory.
“For now, uh? You want it to be”
Octavia stared at her, for a few moments, then showed her an honest yet small smile “It’s good to see you like this again”
The blonde stared at her, surprised.
“I’m glad you’re trying. I missed you”
Clarke gulped “I’m sorry I haven’t been easy to deal with”
“You were never easy to deal with, Griffin. You will never be”
“Piss off, O”
“So, what’s up with Raven?”
The blonde smiled at her friend “I think she’s into something. She mentioned Professor Sinclair has been asking for her work on some kind of project. This could be a good opportunity for her. Though I don’t know details yet”
Octavia nodded “Raven’s a real genius though. I’m happy for her”
“I know, me too”
“I can’t believe you actually brought me here” Clarke sighed, entering Arkadia’s University Gym alongside Octavia.
“You actually want to train? I can get you a few clothes to…”
“Are you crazy? No…” Clarke spoke
“Alright then, wait a little for me, then, I’ll change”
The blonde sighed, watching her friend leaving her to go to the changing rooms.
“Do I see Clarke Griffin at the gym or do I need to get my eyes checked?”
A smile came up to her lips once she saw Bellamy Blake walking towards her. “Actually, your sister dragged me here”
“That I do believe, she spends a lot of time here, now”
“So I’ve heard” She smiled “Show me around? She said something about you guys needing someone to be around for eventual injuries?”
“Indeed, wanna apply?” he asked, motioning her to follow him.
The blonde shrugged “I don’t know. Still, it’s a spot that should be a lot more productive”
Bellamy smiled “I’d be surprised if you hadn’t anything to say about it”
“I mean it. You know, to be around just to act in case of injury is not a very effective plan. Prevention is always the key”
“Yeah. You’ll get the spot, I’m sure”
“I didn’t say I want it!”
“So that’s the famous Lincoln” He pointed at the tall muscular man, who was helping a younger man with a few weight lifting exercises.
“Well, you can’t blame your sister, uh” Clarke smiled “And you shouldn’t mess with him, he’s bigger than you”
“Shut up, Clarke” he frowned
Clarke laughed “Let her be, Bell”
He nodded at her, showing her a smile “I’m glad to see you around, Clarke. I’m so sorry for everything that happened”
The blonde sighed again, wishing people would just stop mentioning it. Even if she knew they meant well.
“Thanks, Bellamy”
“Griff, I see you met a familiar face” Octavia joined them, already fully equipped for her training “You’ll show her the rest of the place while I warm up for a bit, right?” she poked her brothers shoulder “She’ll be the one you guys need in here”
“Seriously?!” Clarke rolled her eyes
“C’mon, I’ll show you the rest” Bellamy motioned for her to follow
“My girl, Lexaaa!”
Clarke’s ears automatically turned to the sound of that name.
The blonde often saw Lexa, in campus, for the past few days. Though she was still a bit embarrassed for their first encounter, she couldn’t help but not stare at the brunette.
Technically, she couldn’t even call it an encounter. Both had never shared a word and Clarke was almost sure she was pretty invisible, to Lexa. After all, everything she did was to stare at her, intimidatingly, and take off. Not that Clarke blamed her, after all, she had been the rude one, to be petrified in a hall without taking her eyes of the brunette.
Yet Clarke had grown to know Lexa’s natural posture was exactly like that. Almost intimidating even if she never said a word.
Now that Clarke thought about it, she never heard her voice.
Lexa was incredibly and willingly isolated, but there was something in her that fascinated Clarke and she didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing.
In fact, the blonde couldn’t even explain why.
And, right there at the gym, it was stronger than her. She needed to turn and see Lexa, because she knew it was the beautiful brunette.
After all, there aren’t many Lexa’s.
Her ocean eyes spotted Lincoln greeting her with a high five, which she returned even if her expression remained completely blank.
However, the blonde put that thought to the very end of her mind, at the moment, because she was too stuck with Lexa’s outfit. She was wearing black leggings that evidenced every bit of her breathtaking legs and butt, showing off the perfect muscles on her abdomen. Then she wore an equally black sports bra and Clarke swore she never saw anyone who looked as good as Lexa Woods.
And when her eyes caught the sight of the tattoos, the air got stuck in the blonde’s throat. There was a tribal one around her right bicep and definitely another one all the way down her spine, which Clarke couldn’t fully see.
It looked perfect, on her.
Why does everything look so good on her?
Why is she so god damn gorgeous?
“Clarke?”
Bellamy called for her attention and she finally zoned out of her trance “Hmm?” she gulped, finding extremely difficult to deviate her eyes from the brunette.
“You ok?”
“Oh…” she took a deep breath “Uh, yeah… hmmm, yeah, sure, let’s go”
Bellamy raised an eyebrow at her “Alright… this way”
“Does she come here often?” Clarke blurted “The new girl?”
“Lexa?” Bellamy nodded “Yes, since she first moved. She’s a beast”
“A… beast?” Clarke whispered
Bellamy nodded “Yeah, I don’t think there’s anything she cannot do. For real, I wouldn’t dare to challenge her into a fight, I’d probably get my ass kicked”
Clarke chuckled at the thought and her insides only burn, even more. She couldn’t help it.
Everything about Lexa Woods was fascinating and interesting and the blonde was almost giving up trying to fight it. She couldn’t deny her interest.
And her thoughts remained with the brunette for the entire trip around the gym, with Bellamy. She took every opportunity to glance at Lexa, who seemed to be completely focused on her workout.
“So this is Lincoln” Bellamy finally reached him
The tall young man smiled at her “Clarke Griffin, is it? Octavia has mentioned you”
The blonde smiled at him “Good things, I hope. Nice to meet you, Lincoln”
He nodded at her “So, wouldn’t you like to train with us?”
“Oh no… I am really not into… exercise”
He chuckled “Well, if you ever change your mind…”
“Ow!”
The three turned around to see Octavia pulling the emergency button of the treadmill, limping her way out of it “Jeeesus!” she cursed
Lincoln was next to her in a second and both Clarke and Bellamy followed.
“What’s wrong?”
Octavia was groaning, now sitting on the floor, holding onto her thigh.
“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard, Octavia” Lincoln whispered “Breathe…”
“Argh…” she groaned in pain “It’s almost like a fucking cramp but up here. Fucking hurts like hell”
Clarke looked at her “Alright, let’s try to stretch that better. Lay down” she held her friend’s thigh as she laid down, knowing there were only a few stretching movements she could do, but feeling almost useless.
After all, she was more than capable to deal with a wide range of wounds and every kind of injures, but simple and muscular or joint injuries in sports were not much hers nor any general doctor’s expertize field when not working on the area on a daily basis.
“Better?”
“Not really no…” she sighed, taking her hands to her face
“Fuck” Clarke cursed, turning to Bellamy “I am definitely not the best one for the spot. A physical therapist or an osteopath are”
He nodded at her “So… is it a cramp or not?”
“Yes, on her quadriceps…”
“I feel a fucking knot here” Octavia groaned
“Can I…?”
Everyone turned to see Lexa kneeling next to them and in front of Octavia. Clarke stared at her, moving from her spot as the brunette’s hands found her friend’s thigh.
Her green eyes stared at Clarke, for a few moments, and the blonde thought how easily she could get lost in them.
She had never been so close to her and she could already feel her stomach feeling weird and her temperature rising.
“Where exactly does it hurt?” she asked Octavia.
Her voice was sweet, even if demanding, and Clarke noticed herself petrify, again. She watched as Lexa firmly touched Octavia’s thigh, as if searching for specific muscles. Truth was, at some point, Octavia jumped in pain “Fuck!”
“Alright” Lexa quickly pulled her back down, again “Relax, it’s your lateral vastus, let’s put it in place” she spoke
“No it’s not” Clarke immediately spoke, incapable of containing her words “Looks like her quadriceps femoris…”
Lexa’s green eyes turned to Clarke, again, intimidatingly “No, it’s the lateral vastus…” she suddenly bent Octavia’s knee and stretched her thigh all the way up and to the opposite side, simultaneously. She was almost on top of Octavia, keeping her back fully on the floor as she forced her thigh to stretch.
“Ah!” She suddenly snapped “Fuck, I felt that…”
“Good.” Lexa slowly relaxed “It’s back into place, then”
Octavia stared at her, surprised, then slowly moved to touch her own thigh “It’s… actually better now”
Lexa nodded at her “It’ll still be sore in the next few days. You should be careful with that”
The brunette then stood up and returned to her routine, leaving the group dumbfounded.
Particularly Clarke Griffin.
The blonde was still shocked by Lexa. How could she know so much about this? Was something escaping her? And why on Earth did she try to deny her immediate diagnose? She knew thigh musculature was so tricky, she shouldn’t be so sure about her first guess.
“I have never seen someone outsmarting you like that, Griff” Octavia sighed, slowly moving to a sitting position.
The blonde stared at her, still surprised “Who is she?”
Lincoln giggled “C’mon ladies, it’s past now. And you should rest” he turned to Octavia.
Clarke stood up as the men still surrounded Octavia and helped her back to the changing rooms. Her eyes found Lexa, sitting near a compact leg sled and, that one time, she found the will to move.
“How do you know so much about this stuff?” she asked
Lexa stared up at the blonde, keeping her expression blank and, for a moment, Clarke thought she was going to ignore her. Yet, after a few seconds, Lexa shrugged “I’ve been doing this for a while. Injuries are part of it”
The blonde stared at her, trying to keep her eyes from wandering on Lexa’s body. She was truly beautiful and Clarke had no idea when was the last time a girl had awakened this much interest on her.
Yet, she was now talking to her. Which was a first. So, she couldn’t have Lexa noticing she was staring, again.
However, she realized that was a particularly difficult task.
“They are looking for someone to help in these kind of situations.” Clarke spoke
Lexa then stood up and stared at her. Clarke gulped, feeling her way too close “Are you not interested?”
“Oh…” Clarke shrugged “Not really”
“Throwing it at me, then? Something you don’t want”
The blonde was taken aback with those words “Of course not, I was just suggesting. It seems like you can handle these situations very well. I mean…” she smiled at her “That was pretty impressive”
Her green eyes stared at her, for a few moments “I’ll give it a thought, Clarke Griffin”
Clarke’s eyes widened and she felt her insides bursting into flames.
So, she knows my name.
Maybe I am not that invisible?
“You know my name”
“Everyone knows your name” Lexa spoke
“Right…” Clarke sighed, feeling her sudden enthusiasm collapsing just as fast.
Lexa moved to adjust the weight on the machine, before turning to Clarke again “I’m Lexa”
The blonde gulped, already feeling more content with the new words. She showed her a smile “Nice to meet you, Lexa”
Her green eyes stared at her and, for the first time, Clarke saw a softer expression on her features “Nice to meet you, Clarke Griffin”