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Clarke remembers.
She remembers the first time she saw her, walking into the first-grade classroom. She was wearing clothes that clearly didn’t fit, holding her meager belongings in a plastic bag, and looking oh so nervous. The girl seemed so small, so fragile, so alone. Her hair was pulled back in braids, her eyes were green and shy and searching.
Searching for what, Clarke couldn’t know.
Clarke didn’t know this girl’s story, but those expressive green eyes told her that there was much to learn. From the first time she saw her, Clarke wanted to know everything.
She remembers how their eyes met across the classroom, and Clarke gave her an encouraging smile because that was what you did when you met new people; you made them feel welcome. The girl gave her a shy smile in return, shuffling awkwardly as the teacher encouraged her further into the room.
“Class, this is our newest member, Alexandria,” Clarke remembers the teacher announcing.
More than that, she remembers the look on the girl's face when the teacher said her name. She scowled, and Clarke immediately felt a rush of empathy for her; she wanted to make that scowl disappear.
Clarke remembers waving the girl over to sit beside her and the look of surprise and relief that passed over her features at the gesture. Like she wasn’t expecting it. Like she wasn’t expecting someone to want her near them.
Like that had never happened to her before.
The girls shuffled over and cautiously took the seat beside Clarke.
Clarke remembers the first words they shared.
“I’m Clarke,” She gave her new friend a smile because they were friends now. In first grade, that was all it took.
“Lexa.” The shy girl replied, green eyes looking at Clarke, full of hope and wonder.
Clarke knew that this was the start of something great.
She wondered if Lexa did too.
***
Clarke remembers the first time Lexa visited her house. It was summer, it was a warm day, and they were going to go swimming. She remembers the way Lexa’s eyes widened as she gazed around in awe like she’d never been in a house with two stories before.
She remembers the pure joy in her eyes the first time she jumped in the pool and the tears she tried to hide when Clarke’s mother brought them a tray of sandwiches for lunch.
When Clarke asked her if she wanted to stay for a sleepover, Lexa jumped at the chance. Clarke remembers the way she hugged the pillow and snuggled into the small fold-out cot like it was the most luxurious thing in the world.
Clarke asked Lexa to sleep over as much as her mother would let her after that night.
Lexa never invited Clarke to her house.
Clarke never asked why.
***
Clarke remembers their lunches spent together at school. Clarke would share her treats with Lexa, never commenting on how eager the other girl would be to try whatever Clarke had to offer. But Clarke always noticed that Lexa never had any treats of her own.
She remembered how Lexa would wear the same tattered jeans and shirt every day, and the other kids would whisper about her behind her back. Lexa would pretend not to notice, but Clarke knew she did.
After gym one day, Clarke threw a few of her old shirts and jeans in Lexa’s gym bag. Lexa didn’t say anything, but she was wearing one of the shirts the next day, and Clarke remembers the grateful look in Lexa’s eyes when they first saw each other that day.
Clarke didn’t mention it. She didn’t need to.
***
Clarke remembers the first time Lexa didn’t show up to school.
They were ten, and Clarke was worried. She asked the teacher, but the teacher didn’t tell her anything, just that Lexa was probably off sick and would be back the next day.
Lexa wasn’t there the following day either.
Clarke knew something wasn’t right.
When Lexa showed up the next day, eyes downcast, avoiding eye contact with everyone, even Clarke, Clarke was alarmed. Lexa was wearing a long sleeve shirt that Clarke hadn’t seen before. It was big, far too big for a little girl like Lexa.
Lexa sat next to Clarke, pulling nervously at the sleeves of the shirt. She sat silently, not mentioning anything about her absence or her odd choice of clothing for such a warm day.
Clarke let her be silent.
***
Clarke remembered every single time Lexa would miss school or show up late. Every time it happened, her shoulders would slump just a little more, her eyes would get a little dimmer like the hope was fading, slipping away slowly with the passing days.
But Clarke didn’t push her. Clarke would always be there for her. Because that was what friends were for. Clarke was who Lexa could turn to, her comfort, her safe space.
But Clarke was just a child too.
Clarke remembers the first time Lexa came to school with a black eye.
They were twelve.
Lexa said she fell. Clarke didn’t question it.
Clarke held her while she cried.
***
Clarke remembers everything Lexa told her. She was her best friend.
Lexa told her how she liked running and how she loved to play sports. She described how she loved to write, to put her thoughts on paper, how it helped her relax and get things off her chest. She told her she wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up because she wanted to help people. She wanted to make a difference in the world.
Clarke remembers when Lexa told her that she thinks she likes girls the way she’s supposed to like boys.
Clarke remembers squeezing her hand and telling her she was normal, no matter what anyone else says.
Clarke told Lexa that she wanted to be a doctor, like her mom. Her dad wanted her to follow her dreams, whatever they might be.
Clarke’s dad said the same to Lexa. Clarke remembers the far-away look that Lexa would get whenever her dad would say things like that to her. Like she never heard it before. Like no one had ever believed in her.
Lexa never told her anything about her home life.
Clarke never pushed her.
***
Clarke remembers the last time she saw Lexa.
They were fourteen.
It was a normal day. Clarke was sitting with Lexa out in the schoolyard at lunchtime, talking about everything and nothing like they always did, mindlessly picking at blades of grass as they whiled the minutes away.
They were best friends.
Then there was noise, yelling coming from the main building. Clarke ignored it.
Lexa looked over to the entrance to the building, where a bald man Clarke didn’t recognize was stalking in their direction, their teacher close behind.
Clarke will never, ever forget the look in Lexa’s eyes when she looked back at her.
Fear.
Lexa was petrified; she was shaking.
“No.” it was barely audible, but it was there.
Clarke wanted to protect her friend. Whoever this man was, Lexa was afraid of him.
Clarke stood up in front of Lexa, shielding her from the approaching man.
“Clarke, please, don’t,” Lexa begged, gripping Clarke’s wrist and trying to move her out of the way. Clarke wasn’t going to move. If he wanted to hurt Lexa, he would have to get through her best friend first.
The man was close now. The teacher still chasing him, trying to hold him back.
Something was very, very wrong.
The man locked his evil eyes on Clarke and stopped just before her. His bald head was covered in sweat dripping down his face. He was snarling like a rabid dog, and Clarke hated this man.
“Get out of the way, you little bitch.” He growled in a voice that still haunts Clarke to this day. But Clarke didn’t move; she stood her ground, protecting Lexa.
She would always protect Lexa.
But she was only fourteen.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her aside like a ragdoll. She heard Lexa scream, “Clarke!”
But she couldn’t see her; her face had landed in the dirt. She heard screaming, and by the time she lifted her head, she was too late. The man had Lexa in a headlock and was carrying her off into the distance.
Clarke’s head was spinning.
“Lexa!” She called out.
But she was too late. She wasn’t strong enough.
She couldn’t save her.
After Lexa disappeared, everything was a blur.
She remembers being tended to by the school nurse. Her mother was there too after the school had called her in.
She remembers talking to the police.
But all she could think about was Lexa.
It was weeks later that her mother told her that it was Lexa’s stepfather that had come to the school that day.
He had been hurting her for years.
The police had found him.
And Lexa.
He was in jail now, and Lexa was safe.
Clarke felt numb. She should have done more to protect Lexa. She was her best friend. She failed her, and now she was gone.
Clarke had tried to call her, but Lexa’s phone was disconnected. She tried to find her on social media, but all her accounts had been disabled.
Abby told her Lexa was safe now, but Clarke couldn’t see her again. For both their safety.
It didn’t make sense to Clarke. It never would.
She just wanted her best friend back.
The years passed in a blur, with Clarke praying every day for her best friend to return. She would look longingly at the classroom door in the hope that Lexa would walk through again, looking shy and nervous like she did on that very first day they met.
But she never did.
Clarke graduated High school without Lexa by her side.
There was a permanent hole in Clarke’s chest that would never be filled. She longed for her best friend, and she knew she would never forget her.
***
Clarke’s memories were still as vivid as the day they happened. It had been six years since she last saw Lexa, but she still thinks about her every day.
Every time she saw a flash of green eyes, or braided hair, or lean, tanned skin, she’d do a double-take. Hoping that it might be Lexa.
It never was.
She never felt the same connection to another person again as she had with Lexa. What they had was special, and Clarke would give anything to see her just one more time.
To hug her, and hold her, and say sorry over and over and over for not being there when she needed her, for not noticing that anything was wrong, for not acting when she knew something was.
Lexa was the most important person in her life, and she let her suffer in silence.
Clarke was in her second year of college, drowning in pre-med studies, but she would never let herself forget the greatest mistake of her life.
She sat alone, under a tree in the courtyard, as she did every day at lunch. It was her time to reflect. To remember all the good times she had with her best friend. It had been six years, but the loss was still fresh, like a void that Clarke could never fill, a pain that would not dim, a wound that even time could never heal.
She had made other friends over the years. There was Raven, the ridiculously intelligent engineering major. Octavia, the outgoing, loud nursing major, and her equally loud brother Bellamy. Then there were Jasper and Monty, partners in crime, Murphy, who, to be honest, gave Clarke the creeps sometimes. They were all good friends. They would hang out, go drinking together, tell stories and do stupid things college kids did. They were close.
But never as close as Lexa.
Clarke opened up one of her textbooks to flick through while she waited for her next class but was really just watching the people walking by.
She had no reason to believe today would be different from any other day. No subliminal signs that today was going to change the course of her life, no tingling feeling that she couldn’t explain.
It was just another day at college.
“Clarke?”
A voice disturbed Clarke from her reading and her contemplations of life, causing her to look up to seek out the source.
It took her a moment to process.
She was taller.
Her face was leaner with age, her cheekbones more prominent, and her jawline sharper. Her eyes had not changed. They were as bright and as green, as expressive as she remembered only now the color was accentuated by a thin layer of eyeliner. Her hair was tied back in the same braided style that she wore as a teen, but her clothes were so very different.
Gone were the tattered hand-me-downs and ill-fitting rags hanging of a far too thin frame. She wore a leather jacket, worn with age over black skinny jeans and leather boots.
She looked sleek. She looked good.
She was older, but it was definitely her Lexa.
Her best friend.
Clarke stood, her books tumbling to the ground, forgotten in her haste.
“Lexa?” she reached out and touched her cheek, just to make sure she was real. She saw tears forming in those green eyes she had not seen in six years, and she knew there would be tears of her own flowing down her cheeks.
“You grew up.”
“So did you.”
Clarke couldn’t stop the tears. Seeing Lexa here, right in front of her after missing her for six years, was too much.
She fell forwards.
Lexa caught her.
They stood in silence, hugging and gripping each other as though letting go would mean losing each other again.
“I missed you so much,” Lexa whispered into her hair as they held each other tight. Clarke responded by pushing herself further into Lexa’s hold.
“I’m so sorry, Lexa.” Clarke sobbed into Lexa’s shoulder. The grief, the pain, and sorrow that she had been holding in were being unleashed. “I should have tried harder.”
Lexa leaned back to silence her. she brought her hand up to wipe the stray tears from Clarke’s cheeks.
“We were kids, Clarke,”
“I should have done more. I should have—” Lexa put her finger to Clarke’s lips to silence her.
“Clarke, you can’t be responsible for something grown-ass adults couldn’t even manage. It was never your fault. You were perfect. You were exactly what I needed; you were my reason to keep going. Even after they took me away. I had to keep going, so one day I might be able to see you again.”
When the tears subsided and the reality of being reunited set in, the two found a bench to continue talking.
Lexa explained how her stepfather, Titus, was in a religious cult and treated her like garbage. When he found out she was gay, that was the day he stormed the school in a fit of rage.
That was the day he almost killed her.
But that was also the day she was rescued by police.
Lexa explained how they took her away to a new foster family. Changed her name and gave her a new identity, hiding her from Titus and his cult.
Her name was now legally Lexa Woods.
She always hated Alexandria.
Clarke missed her next class.
They talked for hours.
Clarke told Lexa how she ended up following her mother’s footsteps into medicine.
Lexa had followed through with her wish to study law and earned a scholarship at the same college Clarke was studying pre-med.
They met by chance.
The law school was on the other side of campus. Lexa was only over this side to meet a friend.
Seeing Lexa again felt like a part of Clarke had been returned. Like she had been missing a part of her soul, and it was now settling comfortably back into place after its long absence.
They exchanged phone numbers and e-mail and every other form of communication they could think of and promised never to lose contact again.
***
Clarke met Lexa’s girlfriend, Costia, and she felt a pang of something when she shook the woman’s hand. She was gorgeous. She had dark skin, long curly hair, and was very, very smart. She was in law school with Lexa, and Lexa looked at her with such adoration that Clarke couldn’t be mad. Anyone who made Lexa this happy had to be a good thing.
Clarke tried dating. She met a boy, Finn, at a party and they had some fun. It lasted a few months before she found out he was sleeping with Raven as well. He had tried to keep the two a secret from each other, not knowing they were good friends in real life. When they figured out they were both seeing the same guy, they both ended it with him and made sure to tell anyone that would listen what kind of guy Finn was. Raven had other means of revenge, however.
Rumor has it that they still can’t get the fish smell out of the frat house air conditioning to this day.
Her second year of college came to an end, and Clarke went home to visit her mother. She told her all about Lexa and how good it was to finally see her best friend again.
When she returned to school for the new semester, she decided to move out of the dorms and into a small apartment close by. She had been saving while working a job at a local café and was looking forward to the peace and quiet of her own space.
Her apartment was small, but it became the hub for their friendship group. Where they would meet before heading out, or where they would regroup after a long night. She didn’t mind at all and was happy to open her door to anyone who needed it.
Lexa was around frequently, sometimes with Costia, sometimes without. Sometimes they would just watch movies late into the night, and sometimes they would study till they fell asleep. Whatever they were doing, Clarke was grateful for. She would never take a moment with her best friend for granted again.
Now she had her back; she was never going to let her go.
***
It was nearing Thanksgiving when Clarke was sitting in her apartment, watching a movie on a freezing and rainy Tuesday night. She was startled from her relaxation when she heard a frantic banging coming from her front door, someone calling her name.
“Clarke!” The voice sounded desperate as Clarke threw her blanket off, not having time to be embarrassed by the flannel pajamas and warm fuzzy socks she was wearing.
She pulled open the door to reveal her best friend, soaked from rain, shivering with her arms wrapped protectively around her body, eyes red raw from crying.
“Oh my god, Lexa, are you ok?” Clarke waved for Lexa to come inside, pulling the door closed behind her to stop the freezing air from getting into the warm apartment. “Lexa, you’re freezing! Let me get you a towel—no, you need a hot shower.” Lexa just nodded, seeming detached, and followed Clarke into her bedroom, still shaking from the cold.
“Take a hot shower, put these on,” Clarke pulled some sweat pants and a hoody out of her drawer and put them on her bed. “Then we can talk, ok?” She said softly as she cupped Lexa’s cheek, feeling how cold she was under the palm of her hand. Lexa closed her eyes, sniffling, but nodded again. Clarke closed her bedroom door to give Lexa some privacy as she retook her spot on the couch.
She was worried for her friend, but she would be there for her, whatever she needed.
The pipes in the walls creaked and groaned as Lexa started the shower, so Clarke waited patiently for her to finish.
Sometime later, after the pipes had gone silent, Lexa emerged out of Clarke’s bedroom, looking small and fragile, but at least she was warm. Clarke hated seeing her like this.
She lifted the blanket covering her in a silent invitation, which Lexa accepted by climbing onto the couch beside Clarke, leaning into her side as Clarke drew the blanket around them both, creating a cocoon of warmth.
They sat in silence, the movie playing mindlessly in the background. Clarke wasn’t going to push Lexa to explain her situation. She would wait as long as her best friend needed her to.
Clarke was rubbing soothing circles on Lexa’s arm when she finally broke her silence.
“She left me.” Lexa sniffed as she seemed to burrow deeper into Clarke’s side. Clarke remained silent, waiting for Lexa. “She was waiting for me to get home from class,” Lexa’s voice was quiet, vulnerable, “when I opened the door, she was waiting for me… She told me it wasn’t working anymore, and I have two weeks to move out.” Clarke was speechless. How could somebody be so cruel to such a beautiful soul?
Lexa buried her face in Clarke’s shoulder and sobbed. Clarke rubbed her back soothingly.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know where else to go.” Her muffled voice broke Clarke.
“You are always welcome here, Lexa.” Clarke kissed her on the top of the head. “Stay as long as you need.”
They stayed on the couch all night, Lexa falling asleep after crying all her tears, Clarke holding her through it all.
Clarke would always be there for Lexa.
***
Lexa stayed with Clarke for a while. They both seemed to enjoy living together; they knew each other so well, even after so much time apart.
Costia’s name was dirt amongst the friendship group. It was revealed soon after the breakup that she had been sleeping with someone else for months and needed Lexa to move out, to move the new girlfriend in. Raven offered retribution, but Lexa declined, stating that what was done was done and there was no point dwelling on it.
Lexa spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with Clarke. Abby was over the moon to see Lexa again,
Lexa was devastated when she learned Jake had passed. The three spent an evening retelling stories about the man from when Clarke and Lexa were children.
Clarke cried herself to sleep that night, but Lexa held her close all night, stroking her hair and whispering soothing words.
She woke in the strong arms of her best friend, and nothing had ever felt so right.
***
For the rest of her college days, Clarke didn’t date. She told herself that it was because she was waiting for the right person, but deep down, she knew it was because she was in love with her best friend.
It took her years to figure it out, but once she did, mainly due to Raven’s unfiltered observations, it was clear as day.
Lexa was perfect.
She was stunningly beautiful; she was intelligent and loyal. She fiercely protected those close to her and treated Clarke like a queen.
Clarke simply couldn’t ruin her friendship with Lexa, so she buried her feelings deep down to continue to be the greatest best friend she could be.
Clarke graduated pre-med, and Lexa graduated pre-law, both accepted into their school of choice for post-grad.
The only problem was they would be on opposite sides of the country.
For four years.
They talked long into the nights before they left for the next adventure, promising to call and visit each other as much as possible.
Clarke thought the distance might be a good thing. Perhaps it would help her get over her feelings for her best friend and help her move on.
They hugged each other desperately at the airport, neither wanting to let go.
They had been apart before. They could do it again.
They would always find each other in the end.
***
Clarke and Lexa called as much as they could, but they were both busy with school, and they didn’t get to talk near as much as they wanted to.
Sometimes it was days; sometimes, it was weeks that went by without a word. But they both understood, and every time they spoke, it was like no time had passed at all.
Clarke cherished every moment she got the talk to Lexa, even if they were just discussing the weather or some professor they didn’t like. It didn’t matter what they were talking about; she just loved hearing Lexa’s voice, seeing her face, even if it was only through a computer screen.
Lexa came back home for Thanksgiving; she spent it with Clarke and Abby. Clarke held on for dear life when she hugged Lexa at the airport.
It felt like Lexa did too.
Abby gave them knowing looks but didn’t say a word.
***
When she finally graduated medical school, Clarke had been offered a residency in the local hospital.
She was so happy when she told Lexa.
Lexa was even more excited because she had accepted a position at a law firm back home and would be coming back for good after graduation.
They talked and laughed and planned long into the night, excited for this next phase of their lives to begin.
They decided to get an apartment together, as the hospital and the firm were relatively close.
Everything was turning out just the way it was supposed to.
Almost.
***
It was Raven, again, that pushed Clarke to see what was really happening. With her usual directness.
“Go home to your wife.” She’d said for no particular reason.
“She’s not my wife,” but oh, how she wished she was.
“You’ve been in love with her for years, Clarke. I don’t know why you keep torturing yourself by being around her all the time. You’re some kind of masochist.”
The words bounced around in Clarke’s head. Did she enjoy the pain of unrequited love? No, she just wanted to keep Lexa in her life, in whatever way Lexa would have her. They were best friends; they were meant to be close.
Right?
When Raven pointed out that Clarke had never had a real romantic relationship, that was Clarke’s breaking point.
She had to say something.
It had been years. She couldn’t keep lying to herself.
Lying to Lexa.
***
It was a Tuesday, and it was raining.
Lexa was curled up on the couch watching a movie. She invited Clarke to join her.
It was a familiar scene, and Clarke’s heart lurched in her chest. She faltered as her body so desperately wanted to curl up next to the warmth of Lexa and soak in the comfort she provided.
Her mind was begging her not to.
In her mind, she knew she was just pretending. That Lexa didn’t love her in the same way that she loved Lexa. That this would only end in heartbreak for her.
She had to start setting boundaries.
She had to leave.
Clarke choked on her words before she managed to whisper, “I can’t, I’m sorry,”
A tear fell down her cheek.
Lexa looked alarmed and rose from her spot. “Clarke, what’s wrong?” She asked, voice laced with concern.
She reached out for Clarke, but Clarke shrugged away from her advance. The hurt look on Lexa’s face tore at Clarke’s soul.
“I have to leave, Lexa. I can’t keep doing this.” Clarke sobbed, the look of fear and sorrow in Lexa’s eyes was ripping out her heart, but she had to do this.
“Don’t go, please, Clarke,” Lexa was pleading and in pained Clarke to see her like this. “I can’t lose you again.” Those words pulled at Clarke’s very being.
I can’t lose you again.
Clarke saw a young Lexa being dragged away by Titus.
She saw an older Lexa stepping onto a plane to move a thousand miles away.
I can’t lose you again. Clarke let out a hollow laugh. You can’t lose me when I’ve already lost myself.
“Lexa, I have to,” Clarke implored, desperately needing Lexa to understand before she blurted, “I’m in love with you.” She locked eyes with Lexa, noticing her best friend freeze, eyes going wide and breath hitching at her confession.
In that moment, Clarke knew she had ruined everything. She closed her eyes, willing her heart to slow down, her tears to abate, her feet to move so she could leave Lexa to grow and move on without her.
Lexa would be better off without Clarke holding her back.
Now she could be free.
“Clarke, stop.” Lexa’s fingers wrapped around Clarke’s wrist, halting her movements and drawing her eyes back to brilliant green.
Tears were brimming at the corners of those beautiful green eyes that Clarke loved so dearly. She hated that she had caused them to be there.
Lexa opened her mouth to talk, but no words came out.
“It’s ok, Lexa, you don’t have to say anything. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Clarke said softly in apology.
What she didn’t expect was Lexa to laugh.
It was a loud incredulous guffaw that caught Clarke off guard. She stared, open-mouthed, at Lexa, seeing her tear-stained eyes being contradicted by the huge smile adorning her face.
“Clarke,” she said, regarding her intently as she gripped her wrist, tugging her slightly closer. Lexa brought her other hand up to cup Clarke’s cheek, the show of affection leaving Clarke a little light-headed.
“That day Titus came to the school….” Lexa started, before pausing to gather her thoughts, “It was because he found my diary. My dairy where I wrote about how much I love you.” Lexa’s eyes shone with unshed tears, her thumb grazing tenderly across the apple of Clarke’s cheek. “I’ve loved you since I was fourteen years old, Clarke.” Her eyes looked deep into Clarke’s soul, “I still do. I think I always have.”
Clarke let out a sob. She brought her hand up to hold Lexa’s against her cheek as she leaned into the touch.
Her mind was catching up.
Lexa was in love with her too.
How had she not known?
“You do?” Clarke’s voice was soft, vulnerable like she expected everything to crash down around her. But Lexa was holding her steady.
Lexa was always there to keep her steady.
“I do,” Lexa had moved forward, so her nose was touching Clarke’s.
It was Clarke that moved first. Crashing her lips forward, seeking everything she had denied herself for years. She felt Lexa return the kiss as their hands gripped each other tightly. Their movements went from desperate and devouring to languid and intense to slow, loving, and sweet.
The feeling of finally being able to kiss Lexa and to have her kiss back was intoxicating.
Like a simmering flame had ignited into a raging wildfire.
Like waking from slumber and finally seeing the world in color.
It was freeing and safe, and it felt right.
This was where she was meant to be.
They pulled apart, still holding each other desperately, neither wanting to break contact yet.
“We wasted so much time,” Clarke murmured as she traced the lines of Lexa’s face with her fingertips.
“Did we? I wouldn’t trade a second I had with you for anything.” Lexa closed her eyes and leaned into Clarke’s touch.
“Even for two seconds?”
“No. because then I’d have to choose a second to give up. And I couldn’t, I could never do that.” The earnestness in Lexa’s voice nearly brought Clarke to tears.
In a moment, everything had changed.
But everything was still the same.
“Stay,” Lexa whispered in her ear as Clarke gripped her tightly.
Clarke could do nothing but nod her head into the soft fabric of Lexa’s hoodie. Lexa nudged her gently towards the couch, pulling her down on top as she lay back.
Lexa rubbed soothing circles on Clarke’s back as the tears slowly abated. Clarke’s head nestled comfortably in the crook of Lexa’s neck.
It felt like home.
“It’s you and me, Clarke.” Lexa whispered, “It’s always been you and me.”