Chapter Text
Alex sighed as she closed her laptop. This wasn’t working out at all. She’d spent hours looking at spreadsheets, searching for the mistake, but she couldn’t find it. She buried her face in her hands, trying to rub the tiredness out of her eyes. That also wasn’t working out.
Maybe if she had her glasses her eyes would hurt less but she couldn’t remember where she’d put them or if she had even packed them this morning.
She looked around for a moment, trying to decide if she should order another cup of coffee or if that would potentially risk getting an overdose.
The sound of her phone ringing ripped Alex out of her thoughts. It was Kara trying to reach her once again. It was probably the fifth time today and Alex felt bad about not answering the phone. She was her sister after all but lately it had been hard to talk to her.
After about two seconds of arguing with herself, Alex felt too guilty to simply ignore it and answered the call with a hopefully joyful “Hey Kara.”
“Finally! I’ve been calling you all morning.” Kara’s voice came through the speaker way too loud.
“Yeah, I know. I was at the lab and couldn’t answer it.”
“You’re always at the lab. Your girlfriend has probably already forgotten what you look like.”
Alex let out a nervous chuckle. There it was again. She’d come up with a girlfriend to get Kara, and their mother, off her back and it had worked… for about five minutes. Alex would never have thought that these two would be so invested in her relationship. They wanted to know everything about this girlfriend and Alex tried to give them as little as possible. It hadn’t been like that a few years back. They never really cared about Alex’s boyfriends as if they knew that they were only temporarily. But ever since she’d come out as gay, Kara and her mother were her biggest fans and wanted to know every single detail of her love life.
It had all started a few weeks ago with a small lie that had definitely gotten out of hand. Kara had been calling and complaining that Alex didn’t have time for her anymore and that she didn’t visit often enough. Alex could basically see Kara’s pout through the phone so without giving it a second thought she said, “I have a girlfriend. That’s why I don’t have much time lately.” And then Kara had let out a happy squeal and everything else was forgotten.
Kara had been so happy at the thought of Alex being in a happy and healthy relationship (something new for a change) that Alex couldn’t tell her the truth. She couldn’t tell Kara that she spent most nights at work and if she wasn’t at work then she was sitting alone at a bar or at home with a bottle of wine. She didn’t want her little sister to believe that she was a failure. It was hard enough that she knew it about herself.
“I don’t think so,” she finally answered. “We’re having lunch right now.”
The lie came across her lips easily, so easily that it made Alex feel even more guilty.
From the corner of her eyes, she could see someone’s eyes on her but the second she looked, the woman hid behind her book again. They were the only two people in the back area of the café and Alex was relieved that not more people were listening to her pathetic lies.
“Earth to Alex!” Kara shouted and once again, ripped Alex out of her thoughts.
“What?”
“I said hand her the phone so I can talk to her.”
“I’m not giving her the phone, she is eating.” She could see that the woman in the back was lowering her book once again. Alex sighed; this stranger could think whatever she wanted as long as Kara would believe her for now.
“Then at least tell me her name. You said you would if it got serious and it’s been too long for it not to be serious. And then you can hand her the phone.”
It was silent for a second, Kara was clearly waiting for an answer. Alex had to think fast. Her eyes fell onto the coffee cup in front of her. Karma’s café – since 1981 it read in happy pink letters.
“Uhm… her name is Karma, okay?” Alex cringed internally. Great, now her fake girlfriend was a hippie, too.
“That sounds so nice! Look at you making progress with sharing!” Kara laughed out loud and Alex joined her with a concerned chuckle.
“But that’s all you’ll get for now, okay? Not more until it’s really serious.” Saving this situation seemed hopeless but Alex had to try for the sake of her own mind.
“Then at least send me a picture of you two later!” Kara was almost whining into the phone and so Alex couldn’t help but promise to do so. Kara seemed to be content with that because she moved on to another topic, quickly telling her about her last job interview before she said goodbye.
“Tell your girlfriend I said hi,” she said and hung up.
Alex lowered the phone and let out a deep sigh. Then she buried her head in her hands and groaned quietly. It was her own fault. She was lying to her family and that was what she would get for it. Now she just needed to find out what to do. Finally come clean about her lies or make up another one as to why her “girlfriend” didn’t want to take a picture together.
Alex sat back to think for a moment, but no solution to her problem magically popped up out of nowhere. When she looked around, she saw that the eyes of the woman in the back were still on her. She’d lowered her book and was looking at Alex with what could be considered a curious smile. The stranger didn’t look away when she caught Alex’s eyes so the redhead decided to do something stupid.
She leaned over enough to fully catch the woman’s attention and smiled. “Hi, I’m really sorry to interrupt your lunch but would you take a photo with me?”
Within a second the woman’s smile turned into a confused look.
“I’m sorry, you don’t know me and this is so inappropriate,” Alex said. “My sister thinks I have a girlfriend and I told her we’re having lunch right now so could you please take a photo with me to get her off my back?”
The woman stared at her as if Alex was a maniac but after a few seconds her face loosened up and she let out a chuckle.
“And here I thought you were talking to a jealous boyfriend. Not that I was listening of course.”
“So, is that a yes?” Alex asked hopefully and the woman let out another soft chuckle before she nodded. She set down her book and got up from her chair to sit down next to Alex.
“Thank you so much,” Alex said and pulled out her phone.
When she held it up for a selfie, she could feel how the woman was leaning against her. A soft arm came around Alex’s back to rest on her hip. Their shoulders were touching, their legs pressed together and Alex gulped as she felt the warmth her body radiated. She snapped a few pictures and handed her phone to the woman to show them to her.
“We make a cute couple,” she said with a smirk.
“Thank you so much! I really owe you one,” Alex said and slipped the phone into her pocket.
“Always happy to help a damsel in distress,” the woman said and winked at Alex before returning to her own table. Alex forgot how to breathe for a few seconds and she hoped nobody could see her blush. The lab work had kept her so isolated that even a woman winking at her made her knees weak.
Later that day, when Alex was back at work, she sent one of the pictures to Kara without giving it a second thought. Within seconds she got a reply.
Oh my god Alex!!! She’s gorgeous!!!
Alex opened the picture again to look at it once more. She herself wore a shy smile on her face while next to her the brunette was beaming like the sun itself. Kara was right, she was gorgeous. Even more than that but Alex didn’t have the right words to describe her. Dark silky hair and striking green eyes that could stare right into her soul.
Her heart beat quickened as she thought about everything once again. There was no way Kara would believe this lie longer than a minute. The coffee shop woman was way too beautiful. In real life Alex could never score a date with her let alone be her girlfriend.
For now, she tried to breathe. Kara believed her right now and in the a few weeks the coffee shop woman would dump her for someone who was hot and successful. Yes. That was a believable story. Everything would be fine. Or so she thought.
After that day Alex swore herself that she would leave her lab more often and actually spend her lunch break outside and not at her desk. Maybe it would help her brush up her social skills, which clearly needed a lot of work.
She walked down the street, not having any destination in mind and somehow ended up in front of the tiny café again. Her stop here yesterday had been a coincidence. She’d never been there before but the coffee shop around the corner from her apartment had been closed for renovation and this one was the closet she had been able to find.
In need for some coffee and maybe a bagel Alex stepped into Karma’s café once again. She placed her order and then went to find a table. This time she sat down near the window and started to observe the people around her. A couple sitting arm in arm, a teenage girl on the phone while she was stuffing her mouth with cookies. Somehow, she reminded Alex of Kara and the redhead had to smile. She turned her head and almost spit out her coffee again.
There in the corner, in the same seat as yesterday, was the same brunette woman. She was focused on her book, intensively staring at it. Alex leaned back in her seat and raised the coffee mug to her lips. She was debating whether or not she should talk to the woman again. But she didn’t have anything to say and also, she didn’t want to interrupt her. The brunette seemed completely lost in her book, as if the world around her didn’t exist. Even looking at her was somehow relaxing for Alex as if the positive energy was captivating her as well. She slowly drank her coffee and ate her surprisingly tasty bagel while she kept glancing at the woman.
Even if she was to talk to her, what would she say? Thanks for not calling the police and having me arrested for harassment?
Suddenly, the woman put her book down and by that also ripped Alex out of her thoughts. She slid further back into her seat, hoping she wouldn’t be caught creepily staring at strangers.
The woman put the book into her purse and pulled out a hair tie. In a quick motion she had her hair in a perfect high ponytail. She put on a black blazer that had been resting on the chair next to her, swung the purse over her shoulder and within a minute she looked like a completely different person.
Without a second glance she walked out of the café, confident, determined and somehow still relaxed. Alex looked after her for a few seconds not knowing how or why this woman seemed so fascinating to her. But one thing she knew for sure: she needed to stop being creepy.
Alex saw the woman two more times before she actually talked to her again. During that time, she found out that she came here every day on her lunch break, took off her business attire and read a book for an hour before she would leave again. Alex didn’t know if she should feel bad for basically stalking her but on the other hand this was a café close to her place of work and their cake was to die for. At some point Alex even started bringing her own book so she could read while she would throw glances at the coffee shop woman.
The only problem she still had was Kara. After the first photo she had asked again and again to finally meet Alex’s girlfriend. Her sister would come down to National City to visit her soon, which, in Kara’s eyes, was the perfect time to meet the new woman in Alex’s life. Alex had thought about telling her that they’d broken up but then she’d made a mistake.
A few days ago, her mother had called to inform her about the new town gossip and everything like that and of course Kara had already told her the news.
“I’m so happy for you, Alexandra,” she’d said and Alex could only sigh.
“I’m happy, too, mom. I couldn’t feel any better right now.” And she was being honest in that minute.
It didn’t happen often that her mother had only nice things to say to her and so yes, Alex was happy and her mother could hear that. Breaking up with your fake girlfriend right when your mother thinks you’re getting your life together for once doesn’t seem like the best idea.
It was a Friday around noon. Alex was early at the café, hoping that the coffee shop lady would already be here.
Alex took her coffee and looked around. The woman was sitting at the same table as always, a new book in one hand and a coffee mug in the other. Alex felt bad disturbing her peaceful little world but she needed her help after all. She walked over to the table and cleared her throat. The woman lowered her book and expectantly looked up at Alex.
“Hi, can I sit for a moment?”
She nodded and put her book down.
“Do you remember me? I was here two weeks ago and-“
“Of course, you were the woman with the photo,” she said with a smile spreading on her face.
“Yes, exactly and that’s also why I’m here.”
Alex looked down at her hands so she wouldn’t have to look at the raised eyebrow and the confused look that was thrown at her.
“My sister is coming to visit me this week and she still thinks we’re dating and I can’t tell her that we broke up because she’s already so invested in this and I got my mother off my back for once. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now. I can’t just tell them that I lied.”
Alex finally forced herself to look up. She was meet with a still confused look but a sympathetic smile.
A few seconds passed before she spoke again. “I know this is crazy, I’m just a stranger to you but… would you pretend to be my girlfriend in front of my sister?” Alex rushed to get her last sentence out and the moment the brunette’s brain caught up to what Alex had said she spit out some coffee across the table and coughed loudly.
“Oh my god I’m so sorry,” Alex said and hurried to get some napkins. “I’m sorry this was such a bad idea, I’ll just… I’ll just go.”
“Please wait,” the woman said and wiped her chin with a napkin.
Alex looked at her apologetically. Her face was burning with embarrassment. The woman slowly put the napkin down and looked at Alex with something that could almost be seen as a smile. Alex stared back with her, a blush still present on her cheeks.
“Did I get this right,” she slowly started, “your sister thinks the two of us have been dating and now you want me to meet her?”
“Yes?”
“But you don’t even know me and I don’t know you.”
“I’m aware.”
A few moments passed. Both women simply staring at each other.
“Okay, I think I’ll help you,” the woman eventually said. Her face clearly showing that she wasn’t sure what she’d just said.
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
It took a second for the information to reach her brain. Alex stared at her, with her mouth hanging open.
“Thank you so much! No pressure, though. You can still say no or you can have some times to think about it,” she waited a second but there was no ‘no’ so she kept on rambling. “I have to get back to work but I’ll give you my number so we can talk this over, okay?”
The woman smiled and handed Alex her phone. “Are you going to tell me your name at least?” she asked.
“Oh right! I’m Alex… Danvers. Alex Danvers,” she answered and her cheeks started to blush again. “Your name isn’t Karma, is it?”
“Sadly, no,” she answered with an amused smile on her lips.
“Because that’s the name I gave my sister, but I’ll think of something.”
“It sounds like I’m a stripper. Or a hippie,” she said and raised her right eyebrow in an accusatory way.
“I had to think fast and I couldn’t come up with anything normal.” Alex started nervously fidgeting with her hands as the brunette started to chuckle lightly.
Then she smiled at Alex, “I’m Lena,” and when Alex clearly waited for more she added, “Just Lena for now.”
Alex handed the phone back and Lena accepted it with a smirk.
“Okay just Lena. I hope to hear from you,” Alex said and got up. She smiled as she walked away. It was probably the first sentence she’d gotten out without stuttering and blushing. Maybe this wouldn’t go as badly as she imagined.
It took Alex a few hours to realize what exactly she’d done. An when she did, she buried her head in her hands and groaned loudly. She’d talked a poor stranger into playing her girlfriend. And the stranger had said yes.
Chances were high that the woman was a criminal or a psychopath and would rob Alex or kill her in her sleep. Even though that didn’t sound that bad right now. But a normal person would’ve never agreed to this, right?
She was probably never going to call anyway and Alex would never see her again and then she had to tell Kara and her mom about her lies. Alex sighed, how much worse could it get? In that moment her phone rang and Kara’s name popped up on the screen. Speaking of the devil…
“Hey Kara,” she tried to sound normal but Alex herself was surprised by the tiredness of her voice.
“Hey Alex!” Kara yelled back. “Are you excited for a whole week of the Danvers sisters reunited?”
“Yep, and-“ she sighed again. She was really doing this. “-and my girlfriend is excited to meet you.”