Chapter Text
Ranch life wasn’t for everyone, but it definitely was for Lexa Woods.
She had lived on a ranch with her Uncle Gustus almost her entire life until she moved to San Francisco to go to college. In her freshman year her Uncle sold the ranch when the work became too much for him and Lexa had been devastated.
But that quickly turned to understanding and then to happiness as she realised that moving to a house just outside of Polis was much better for him. And every summer she still returned to visit her Uncle and to work on nearby ranches.
There were large beads of sweat dripping down Lexa’s forehead and trailed down her neck. They tickled her skin but she ignored them, focusing ahead of her instead. But this time the sweat wasn’t from working out on the ranch; it was because of her car, the faulty air conditioning to be exact.
Even with both windows of her old pickup open the light breeze did nothing to cool her down under the strong Texas sun. Lexa’s white tank top was slightly damp and she was glad she had decided to wrap her flannel shirt around her waist before she climbed into the car.
The groceries that she had just picked up were in the back of her truck and they rattled as she drove down the bumpy dirt lane towards the Griffin Ranch.
It was a decent sized ranch owned by Abby and Jake Griffin. There were three other people working on the ranch like her, as ranch hands. Two of them were permanent, Wells Jaha and Bellamy Blake. Lexa had only met the boys two weeks ago when she first started at the ranch but she got along with them well enough. The other like Lexa was only hired for the summer to earn some money for college. Her name was Octavia Blake. She was loud but a good worker and she was Bellamy’s sister. She had been recommended by her brother to try to get a job there and thankfully Abby and Jake had been more than willing to hire.
Finally, Lexa reached the house. The large wooden structure was slightly too big for just the two Griffin’s but the doors were always open and more often than not neighbours were walking through the doors for meal times.
It was why when Abby had found that the pantry was running low on a few items she had sent Lexa to Polis to retrieve a few things.
Lexa climbed out of her pickup, relieved to be out of the metal death box and into the open air. It wasn’t much better but Lexa was still grateful for it. She tugged her hat lower over her eyes to protect them from the sun’s rays then she moved to grab the few bags out of the back.
She was struggling to juggle the three bags in her arms when she felt one being taken from her. It was Bellamy. He had almost black shaggy hair and his nose was dotted with freckles. And if Lexa wasn’t a raging lesbian she was sure she would have found him attractive.
He smiled charmingly at her then and said, “You know you could always make two trips.”
Lexa scoffed, “Two trips is for the weak,” she replied and he laughed, throwing his head back, his eyes squinting shut.
“You got that right.”
The two headed for the front door, which was already propped open to allow a breeze to flow around the house. The only thing in their way was the fly screen to stop unwanted insects crawling inside.
Lexa kicked open the screen and instinctively rubbed the soles of her boots against the rough mat below her feet before moving on.
“What are you doing up by the house anyway? I thought you were mucking out the horses and it’s another hour till lunch.”
“A thank you for helping would have sufficed,” he replied teasingly and Lexa rolled her eyes, after the two weeks of knowing him she was used to his teasing tone, one that he used often. “Abby wanted us all in the house, says she wants us to meet someone,” he shrugged. “Everyone else is already in there.”
“Who we meeting?” Lexa asked, she couldn’t remember Abby or Jake telling her that someone was coming to the ranch today.
“Not sure,” he said. “She just radioed that we were needed.”
Now feeling curious Lexa quickened her pace ever so slightly. She and Bellamy dumped the bags in the kitchen before Bellamy led the way into the large living room.
True to Bellamy’s word, everyone else was already there. Lexa took her hat off as she stepped into the room and held it at her side. Wells was sat on the sofa, he nodded at her. Octavia smiled widely and waved and Jake began his way towards them. Abby was just walking into the room herself, coming down the stairs.
“Thanks for doing that Lexa,” Abby said.
“It’s no problem ma’am.” Lexa told her.
Lexa could tell that Abby wanted to say something about her calling her ‘ma’am’ but she didn’t, knowing that Lexa would still call her by the title even when she insisted that Abby was fine. It was a habit that Lexa had picked up over her years at working at other ranches during her summers, one she found hard to break.
“So the reason we called you all up here is because our daughter is coming today and we thought it would be nice for everyone to be here to meet her.” Jake said.
Lexa’s eyebrows rose slightly because for some reason she hadn’t realised the Griffin’s had a daughter, although she had only known them for two weeks so really she shouldn’t have been so surprised. She barely knew them.
“I haven’t seen Clarke in two years,” Wells stated.
“It’s seems like longer,” Bellamy added.
Lexa noted Jake and Abby’s sad smiles and she briefly wondered why Clarke hadn’t come back last summer. No one has the courage to ask what Lexa was thinking, even though Lexa was sure she couldn’t be the only one thinking it.
“When is she getting here?” Octavia asked curiously.
“She should have been here ten minutes ago but I think she’s running a bit late,” Jake explained.
As if on cue, the sound of tires could be heard outside and Lexa, like the others turned to the window. Outside a yellow Beetle came to a stop and Lexa held in a scoff, already getting a feel for the girl.
“And that would be Clarke.” Jake said.
“I’ll go help her with her things,” Wells offered.
He stood up from the sofa and Bellamy followed him out, instinctively Lexa did the same even though she figured three people would be a bit too many to help with just suitcases.
Lexa was proved wrong a few moments later. Clarke had four large light blue suitcases, how they all fit in the small car Lexa would never know, but they did, and they were fucking heavy too.
Clarke was quickly wrapped in warm hugs from her parents. And while they got on with their greetings, not wanting to disrupt, Lexa, Bellamy, Wells and Octavia all dragged Clarke’s many suitcases into the house.
When they came back out Lexa had a few more drops of sweat dripping down her forehead. And for the first time Lexa got a good look at the Griffin girl.
Her instant thought was that she was beautiful. She had bright blonde hair, even brighter blue eyes and smile that could probably fix hunger. It didn’t help that she was wearing a skirt that was most likely really uncomfortable for travelling and a low cut shirt that revealed just enough cleavage.
But then Clarke was being wrapped up in another hug, this time from Bellamy and Wells and Clarke laughed loudly as they bear hugged her. Lexa refused to admit how much she liked the sound.
“Looking good Wells,” Clarke winked and Lexa felt like sighing.
She hated girls like Clarke, overly flirty, not hard working and more focused on what their reflection looked like in a mirror than on their personality.
“You too Griff,” he replied with a grin.
“Clarke it’s so good to see you. You’re all grown up!” Bellamy exclaimed.
“I was pretty grown up last time you saw me too Bell,” Clarke said with a roll of her eyes.
He shrugged, “Still.”
“I’m Octavia,” the younger Blake cut in, “This one’s sister,” she said nudging Bellamy’s arm.
“Clarke,” the blonde replied.
“And the silent broody one is Lexa,” Octavia said, gesturing to Lexa with a wave of her hand.
Lexa frowned. She wasn’t broody? She gave a quick tip of her hat but said nothing else, not knowing what to say since she already knew Clarke’s name and the blonde knew hers.
Clarke gave her a look and Lexa wondered what she had done wrong even though all she had done was nod at the girl but before Lexa could do or say anything else Abby spoke up.
“Let’s head inside Clarke, I’ll whip something up for lunch,” she said guiding her daughter towards the door.
“Thank god, it’s fucking hot out here.”
Lexa knew this was going to be a long summer.
Lexa and Wells ended up helping Abby get lunch ready, making a bunch of sandwiches stuffed with various meats while Clarke caught up with her dad and Bellamy, and got to know Octavia. They made way more than necessary, knowing that it was more than likely that a few people would drop by from nearby ranches.
Soon Wells was carrying the tray of sandwiches into the dining room where everyone was already seated, Abby with a large stack of plates in her hands and Lexa with napkins.
“Lunch is served.” Wells announced as he dropped the plate of sandwiches down in the middle of the large wooden table. Abby quickly handed out plates and Lexa did the same with the napkins.
Lexa reached into the middle of the table the same time as everyone else to grab herself a sandwich and she quickly took a bite, knowing this would be her only meal until dinnertime when she got home.
“Is there something that does have so much mayonnaise on it?” Clarke asked, a hint of disgust in her tone, “Or bread?”
Everyone, including Jake and Abby looked mildly surprised before their expressions settled into one of sadness at how different their daughter had become over the past two years.
This time Lexa couldn’t hold in her scoff and she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth after the offending sound slipped out.
Clarke’s gaze snapped towards her and Lexa had the decency to duck her head in embarrassment.
“Is there something amusing about what I said?” she asked coldly.
Lexa swallowed her bite before answering, “No,” she lied.
Clarke’s eyes narrowed, “If you have something to say then say it.”
“Clarke…” Abby warned but her daughter paid her no attention and Lexa couldn’t help but reply.
“It was simply amusing.”
“Bread is fattening,” Clarke stated.
Lexa tried to hide her smile but she didn’t try to do a very good job of it, and the sight made anger simmer inside Clarke.
“Of course it is,” Lexa said sarcastically.
Clarke snapped, “What the fuck is your problem?”
“Clarke language,” Jake scolded.
“I’m almost twenty two years old dad, and it’s her fault!” Clarke huffed and Lexa felt a smirk appear on her lips.
Lexa stood up then. She plucked another sandwich off the pile and pushed her chair out. “I think I’ll get back to work now.”
“Fine, run away,” Clarke muttered.
Lexa ignored her, “Thank you for lunch and I apologise for my behaviour, it was unprofessional and inappropriate.”
Before anyone could reply Lexa made her leave.
She ended up finishing her lunch next to the tree by the house under the protective shade from the leaves. She leaned up against the trunk with her hat in her lap and while she would never admit it, her mind kept drifting back to the fiery blonde inside.
It didn’t take Lexa long to see the blonde again, it was early the next morning as she parked her pickup outside the Griffin house. Clarke was sat on the steps next to her father looking like she was ready to murder.
Unlike Bellamy, Wells and Octavia, Lexa didn’t live on the ranch with the rest of the hands, instead she stayed with her Uncle who lived nearby. But that just meant that Lexa was able to enjoy her favourite time of the day as she drove in to work, when the sun had only just risen making the sky various shades of pinks and oranges.
But the sight of the blonde and her father send a jolt of apprehension through her.
The blonde was dressed much differently from yesterday, in just a simple pair of denim shorts and green V-neck t-shirt that was tied at the waist. Unlike Lexa who was wearing a similar variation to what she had on yesterday.
Lexa took a deep breath as she got out of her car and slipped her keys into her pocket, preparing herself for whatever was about to come. Clarke may be undeniably beautiful, but no beauty was worth a terrible personality.
Once Lexa is nearer Jake stood up but Clarke remained seated, her elbows on her knees and her chin resting on her hands.
“Morning Lexa,” Jake greeted.
“Sir,” Lexa replied.
“Clarke here wanted to say something about yesterday lunch,” he prompted looking at his daughter.
Clarke glared at him, no doubtingly hating being treated like a teenager rather than the twenty one year old that she actually was.
“Sorry,” she huffed unconvincingly. Jake looked exasperated at Clarke’s weak attempt of an apology but didn’t say anything.
“That’s perfectly fine,” Lexa replied with a casual shrug. Clarke rolled her eyes but only Lexa caught it.
And then Jake said something that felt like a punch in Lexa’s gut and she honestly didn’t know what she did to deserve it.
“Clarke will be working with you this summer.”
Apparently Clarke hadn’t been informed of this either and she loudly exclaimed, “WHAT?!”
Lexa’s response was much more calm but equally surprised, “I’m going to have to agree with your daughter.”
“You already woke me up at this ungodly hour to apologise to this fucking stable girl and now you’re telling me I have to work?! This is summer dad.” Clarke said as if the season was a reason not to work.
“This will be good for you Clarke.”
“Well I’m not doing it.”
She crossed her arms firmly over her chest (Lexa forced her eyes not to drop to the girls chest).
“Yes you are.” Jake said firmly, “You’ve been here for less than 24 hours and your mother and I have already seen enough to know that we don’t like how you’ve changed over the last two years.”
Lexa shifted from foot to foot, feeling uncomfortable listening to a family dispute and she almost left, but then Clarke stormed back inside before she could take even a step. The door slammed shut behind her, clattering loudly against the doorframe.
“I’m sorry about her Lexa,” Jake said, as he rubbed the back of his neck. “She used to love the ranch,” he said sadly, “Then she went off to college and I think she found that city life suited her more.”
Lexa nodded like she understood but really she didn’t understand at all. She loved ranch life, she loved the hard labour and the feeling of accomplishment that she had at the end of every day.
“Sir I know you said she was going to work with me but…”
“I know it’s a lot to ask. Don’t tell the others but you’re one of the best ranch hands we’ve had for ages, I just know that this would be good for her. You could be good for her.”
Lexa desperately wanted to disagree, to argue that this was a terrible idea. But Jake’s kind eyes and earnest tone make it impossible for Lexa to do so. So instead she just nods and lets her fate for the rest of the summer settle on her shoulders.
“I’m going to go talk to Clarke, just…try and have some patience with her?” Jake begged, “She’s a good person.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Thank you Lexa.”
Jake went to head back inside but Lexa surprised both of them by speaking up.
“Maybe I should go talk to her,” she said.
Jake looked at her incredulously, “Really?”
Lexa gave a one-shouldered shrug, “If we’re going to be working together for the rest of the summer, I might as well try and get along with Clarke.”
Jake nodded, “Good idea,” he agreed. “Her room is on the second floor, third door on the right.” Lexa moved past Jake and he placed a grateful hand on her upper back as she passed. “You’re a good person Lexa, thank you.”
As she stepped into the house Lexa took her hat off and placed it by the door. She kicked the small amount of dirt of the bottom of her boots and onto the mat before heading to the stairs. The wood creaked under foot and the rail was cool under her palm.
Third door on the right, Jake had said. Lexa spotted it easily, but her pace was slower than usual, already regretting to speak to the blonde who was no doubt still in a bad mood.
All too soon she was outside the white door, mentally preparing what to say to Clarke, the girl she was going t be working with for the reminder of her time at the Griffin’s, the girl who definitely didn’t want to be here.
She rapped her knuckles against the wood, short and sharp.
“Go away dad,” came a muffled reply.
Lexa wasn’t Clarke’s dad so she figured she technically could still go in. She did just that, before she could change her mind.
“I said go- oh…it’s you.”
Clarke was sat on her bed, the sheets were light purple and unmade, her back was against the headboard and she was hugging a pillow to her chest.
“Morning to you too,” Lexa said, her tone sarcastic.
“What are you doing here?”
Lexa shrugged, “Don’t know really.”
“Then get out.” Clarke said plainly.
Lexa chose to ignore her, deciding she should try to talk to her a bit more and instead she stepped further into the room. Her eyes wandered to the various frames that lined the walls, pictures of Clarke with her parents on the ranch.
“Or come in, whatever,” Clarke grumbled.
“Your father is adamant that you work on the ranch.” Lexa reminded.
“My father isn’t in charge of me anymore.”
“You are also under their roof.”
“What are you?” Clarke snapped.
Lexa frowned, “Excuse me?”
“You’re what nineteen? Twenty?”
“Twenty,” Lexa muttered, as if it mattered.
Clarke continued like she hadn’t heard her, “Yet you act like a fucking 40 year old, you’re just like my parents.”
“I simply know the value of hard work and your parents are good people Clarke and you should respect them.”
“I know hard work. I go to college remember?”
Lexa held in her comment about not having to actually work hard at college if you didn’t want to, deciding that wouldn’t get them anywhere in this already train wreck of a conversation.
“I was told, yes.”
Clarke stared at her for a second, then she stated, “You’re so fucking weird. You’re like a robot.”
Lexa’s gaze hardened. She ignored Clarke’s comment, knowing that she didn’t have the most welcoming personality, especially to strangers. It had taken the first week at the Ranch to say more than a few words to Bellamy, Wells and Octavia.
“We are going to work together no matter how you feel about the matter, you might as well get over yourself.”
“I will be out fixing the fencing today, you can join me or you don’t, that’s your choice.”
When Clarke didn’t say anything else Lexa let herself out of the girls room and shut the door quietly behind her. She figured it could have gone worse.
Lexa made her way downstairs, surprised to see Jake waiting at the bottom. He looked to her hopefully, and the blue of his eyes reminded her of Clarke’s.
“How did it go?” he asked. “There was no shouting so I assume it was ok?” he joked.
Lexa chuckled quietly, “Not quite sir. Clarke still seems unwilling to work.”
He sighed but nodded like it had been expected. “Have you had breakfast yet, Lexa?” Jake asked next.
“No sir-“ but before Lexa could say that she had brought something with her to eat as she was working Jake was already guiding her towards the kitchen.
“Abby made omelettes,” he told her.
“I have work-“
“I don’t want to disturb your work, but this is the least I can offer since I’m making Clarke work with you.”
Eventually Lexa relented, once again unable to say no to Jake Griffin.
Lexa took a seat at the table while Abby made her a plate, and once it was placed in front of her, along with a tall glass of orange juice, she smiled gratefully.
“Thank you ma’am.”
She ate reasonably quickly, putting her omelette on top of a piece of toast and grinding a large amount of pepper on top, then dipping her cut pieces into a pile of ketchup. Lexa had just polished off her juice when the kitchen door opened.
To her surprise it was Clarke, she would have thought the blonde would have gone back to sleep after she left.
Clarke quirked an eyebrow at her, “I thought you were going off to work?”
“Jake was kind enough to offer me some breakfast first.” Lexa explained. She glanced at Abby then before asking, “Are you coming to build the fencing with me today?”
Clarke glared at her, knowing exactly what she was doing. And as Lexa anticipated, Abby cut in before Clarke could reply.
“Yes she is, aren’t you Clarke?”
“Mom.”
“Clarke.” Abby mimicked. “You will eat your breakfast and you will go with Lexa. Do you understand me?”
Lexa let out a short laugh, not bothering to cover it this time. Clarke glared at her all the same.
Lexa knew she was being childish, something she never ever was. But somehow the blonde in front of her brought it out of her. She wanted to get a rise out of her. She wanted a reaction. But she wasn’t sure why.
“Shut up.” Clarke snapped and Lexa raised her hands in defence.
Abby dropped a plate in front of her daughter, who looked at it with slight disgust but ate it anyway.
She ate slowly, probably just to annoy Lexa and she knew she was going to have to stay later than normal to get the work she had planned done. Finally Clarke was finished eating. Lexa had been tapping her foot impatiently for the past few minutes and that had made Clarke eat even slower.
“Let’s go,” Lexa said.
When Clarke made no move to get up Lexa just exited without her. She strode over to her truck and started up the engine. Using the heels of her hands she rubbed at her eyes, somehow already exhausted when normally that didn’t set in until the afternoon.
She didn’t notice Clarke storm out of the house until the passenger door opened and Clarke climbed in. She slouched in the seat and with that Lexa reversed and began the short drive to the barn.
Once they had loaded up the back of the truck with as many wooden fencing parts as they could and the equipment (and by they, it was mostly Lexa) the pair climbed back into Lexa’s pickup and they were off again.
It took exactly five minutes from then for Clarke to start to complain.
“Why the hell is it so hot?” she grumbled as she reached towards the controls.
“This is Texas and that,” she nodded to the a/c control, “is broken.”
“Broken?” Clarke’s jaw dropped.
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you get it fixed?”
“That costs money,” Lexa stated.
“Still, this heat is disgusting,” she groaned.
Lexa kept her eyes on the track in front of her, “Well it’s what we have, unless you want to walk to the fencing site?” Lexa asked.
Clarke didn’t reply and Lexa smirked.
The sun was blaring down on Lexa’s shoulders; she had long ago abandoned her flannel shirt, tossing it into the truck.
As expected, Clarke refused to work, instead sitting with her back against the faded blue truck on the side that provided shade cover. Lexa didn’t mind, she had originally expected to be doing this alone anyway. It was harder alone, but not impossible.
Clarke was more focused on her phone rather than talking to her and for that she was grateful.
Once Lexa had dug the small hole she placed the stake into the ground, making sure the three holes for the planks were facing the correct way, then she grabbed her hammer from next to her feet.
At first she used more gentle taps to get it to stay in the ground by itself and then she raised the piece of equipment above her head to hammer the wooden stake into the ground with several strong strikes until it stood firm.
She didn’t notice the blonde behind her look up from her phone to stare at her toned back and muscled arms. She didn’t notice how Clarke’s cheeks flushed, and not from the heat. She didn’t notice how the girl’s jaw went slightly slack. And by the time she looked at Clarke again, the blonde had her eyes focused on her phone again.
Lexa struggled with the next part, placing the three planks into the holes on the stake and then getting them into the next stake along. She had been fine for the last four panels of fencing, but the slightly uneven ground underneath her feet was making it slightly harder.
What she hadn’t expected was for Clarke to suddenly be standing next to her, taking the weight of two of the planks.
Lexa gave Clarke a surprised look but she didn’t say anything, so the two women worked in silence until the panel was complete.
Finally it was Lexa to break their silence, “Thanks,” she said quietly.
“It looked like you were having trouble,” was all Clarke replied with.
To her surprise Clarke continues to help. They work mostly silently and even more to Lexa’s surprise, they work incredibly well together, moving quickly from panel to panel.
Lexa found herself staring at Clarke on more than one occasion, and whenever she realised what she was doing she would quickly snap her eyes away and chastise herself for doing so.
By the time it was almost lunchtime, most of the stakes and planks were gone and both girls were drenched in sweat. Lexa pulled off her gloves and tied her hair back into a messy bun to get it off her neck. Without thought, she quickly tugged her white tank top over her head and used the damp material to wipe the sweat off her face and the back of her neck.
It was only when she heard a quite ‘oh fuck’ behind her that she remembered she was in fact, not alone like normal.
Clarke was staring at her obviously. Lexa knew she had a good body; she was proud of it and worked out during college to maintain it. In the summer the ranch work was enough to maintain her toned abs and muscled arms.
Lexa couldn’t help but smirk, this was an interesting discovery, she had quickly assumed Clarke was straight when she first saw her but now she was thinking she may not be.
Just to be cruel, instead of pulling her tank top back on she tucked it into the back pocket of her jeans, leaving her in just her black sports bra.
“Staring is rude Clarke,” Lexa stated and Clarke had the decency to look embarrassed.
“Shut up,” she muttered.
Lexa chuckled as she moved to the back of the truck, “Lets do one more then get back for lunch.”
She picked up another stake, but almost just as fast as she had lifted it, she dropped it and it narrowly missed hitting her foot.
“Fucking shit,” Lexa swore, grimacing at her thumb.
“Lexa?”
“It’s just a splinter, god I hate these things. I can’t believe I forgot to put my gloves on,” she spoke, mostly to herself.
Clarke was in front of her in seconds, gently taking her hand in her own and inspecting the small wound.
“That’s a big one, but it will be easier to get out.”
Lexa nodded and pushed past the blonde to open the truck door and reach into the glove box to find her small first aid kit. But the plastic box was quickly snatched out of her hand.
“I can do it,” Lexa assured.
“I’m sure you can but I’m a doctor, so…”
Lexa couldn’t hide her surprise if she tried, “You are?”
“Well almost, I’m going to be after next year, then I’ll be doing my residency. I’m sure I can handle a splinter.” Clarke explained as she quickly plucked the splinter from Lexa’s thumb.
“Your parents never said…”
“I know you probably assumed I was some dumb blonde college sorority chick or whatever.” Clarke dismissed.
“…I didn’t-“ Lexa started, but she cut herself off when she realised how much of a lie that was.
She winced as Clarke swiped an antiseptic wipe over her thumb then wrapped a Band-Aid around it.
“It’s fine. I get that a lot.”
Clarke dropped Lexa’s hand and Lexa felt her shoulders deflate, “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice sincere.
Lexa had always thought that she wasn’t one to snap judge. In the past she had been proud of that fact. But that’s exactly what she did to Clarke and it made her feel terrible.
“Like I said, it’s fine,” Clarke shrugged. “My parents probably didn’t help, the way they treat me. It’s like I’m still fourteen, when I’m clearly not.”
“They love you,” Lexa stated. That was startlingly clear to Lexa from the moment they had mentioned their daughters return. Lexa wondered if Clarke knew how lucky she was.
“I know.”
“It’s not really,” Lexa replied, “I insinuated that you don’t work hard when you obviously do.”
“Ranch labour and getting a medical degree are two entirely different kinds of work,” Clarke excused for her, seemingly unaffected by how Lexa had treated her. “And to be honest, I should be apologising to you too, for how I acted yesterday and this morning. I was acting like a child.”
“You were,” Lexa agreed.
Clarke frowned, “You’re supposed to say something like, ‘oh it’s fine Clarke I forgive you’, not agree with me.” Lexa just shrugged, “You really are the grumpy, broody one, aren’t you?”
“I don’t remember Octavia saying grumpy.” Lexa crossed her arms.
“I added that one myself.” Clarke winked.
Lexa rolled her eyes at the comment and ignored the wink. “Let’s just get back for lunch, ok?”
“Fine. And Lexa?”
“Yes?”
“You might want to put a shirt back on.”
Clarke let her eyes linger on Lexa’s abs for a second before she climbed into the pickup leaving Lexa to quickly pull her shirt back over her head and follow Clarke into the truck.
Lexa wouldn’t say that she got on with the blonde. She was still lazy and their personalities definitely clashed. But they were talking more and that was something (even if the only thing so far that they had in common was their taste in movies).
They tolerated each other for the rest of the day and it made constructing the fence with the blonde that much more bearable. Maybe it was even enjoyable.
As they drove back at the end of their workday, Lexa was exhausted, but at least she wasn’t dreading the rest of summer anymore.
She wouldn’t admit it, she didn’t even realise it, but she was actually kind of looking forward to the days to come.