Archive of Our Own

"10 o'clock incoming," Veronica mutters, and Lena shuts her locker with a sigh. She turns begrudgingly, a wave of exasperation already clouding her emotions. Then, as expected, she strides down the hall, her trusty smile glued to her face. She, as in Kara Danvers. Captain of the basketball team and Lena's neighbor of five years. Absentmindedly, she tightens her hold on her textbooks, waiting almost patiently for Kara to approach her. 

And she does. Her signature wavy ponytail stops swaying as she comes to a stop, rocking on her feet, her eyes never leaving Lena's. 

"Hi." The blonde says almost breathlessly, even though she hadn't been running.

"Hi," Lena parrots, though it sounds more like a question than a response. Kara seems to catch this because she chews her bottom lip before asking the question of the week.

"Will you go to prom with me?" There it is. The other students don't even stop to hear her response anymore because everyone knows it most likely hasn't changed from the last few times she's been asked. 

"I'll.. think about it," Lena replies, skimming the crowd behind Kara for any of her buddies with a camera of sorts. Could anyone blame her? It's common knowledge that Sam, Veronica, and Jess are well-liked around school. Sam plays on the soccer team, Veronica.. is well her, and Jess is down to earth, never afraid to say something as it is. Then there's her. Lena Luthor, not actively in any clubs and spends all her time with her head stuck between a book. 

There have been constant rumors about how she planted herself in the small group. The most popular one being her paying them for hanging around her, which she believes to be such a cliche. The biggest cliche, she thinks, though, is Kara asking her to senior prom as a huge joke. This is precisely why she continues to be cautious about her answer because if she's being honest, she would've accepted without a doubt. To her, Kara is, well.. perfect.

She's never without a smile and always has one to give to others. She's the kindest and the most genuine person Lena's ever met, which means something considering the crowd of sharks and snakes the town is crawling with. And she never seems out of place, well, her appearance at least. But, despite the grace she shows, Kara also happens to be the clumsiest person Lena knows, from tripping over her own feet to knocking down a group of sophomores with a book cart on her to the library. 

Which is why she shouldn't have a problem accepting Kara's prom proposal because she knows the girl doesn't have a mean bone in her body, and the offer being a joke seems unreal. But then there are the voices in the back of her head, telling her to stay cautious. Voices being a voice, a voice being Veronica. Sam and Jess don't seem to have a problem with Kara. In fact, they find her just as lovely as Lena. But how can a group be complete without a rational one? And that just so happens to be Veronica in this case.

If Lena's being one hundred percent honest with herself, she's had a crush on the girl since she moved in with the Danvers at thirteen, introducing herself to everyone with a smile despite her current predicament. She was their paragon of hope, and whenever you're around her, you can't help but feel at ease, any dark thoughts pushed to the back of your mind, lurking in the shadows, waiting until she's gone. But that's who Kara is, so it makes sense for Lena to try not to feel so special.

Because surely, Kara doesn't light up every time she sees her because she's that excited to see her. But it's hard not to think that when she's standing before her asking her to prom for the nth time. It's definitely hard not to believe maybe Kara likes her too when she constantly answers with a vague answer, and the girl takes it with a smile, coming back a week later to ask the same question. 

"Alright then. Same time next week?" Kara asks with a tilt of her head, and she can't help but gaze. However, she returns to reality when she receives a rather painful shove from Veronica, who she definitely didn't forget was still standing there, watching the awkward encounter with a stiff expression.

"Oh! Uhm, yeah, sure. I'll.. be here." She responds, gesturing to herself and her locker, and can't help but cringe at her incapability to talk to pretty girls. Or, well, just Kara. Kara, though, doesn't seem phased and laughs, to Lena's surprise. 

"Alright, see you around, Lena." She sends another smile and disappears with a wave of her hand, leaving Lena staring at the empty spot that, if anyone asked, she would say belonged to the love of her life. She sighs as Veronica takes her arm, dragging her to their shared class. She's already dreading the upcoming lecture she knows is brewing in the girl's head. However, she can't seem to care enough because she's just been asked to prom by Kara Danvers again. And if she's thinking straight, she's nearly positive she'll accept the proposal next time.

"Let me guess. Kara asked Lena to prom again?" Sam says as they reach their basically assigned lunch table. Lena nods, taking a seat on the bench, Veronica following beside her. "How'd you know?" She asks, opening up her salad and glancing up at her friend. Sam sighs, "Because Veronica's doing that thing with her face." She voices, and Veronica gasps, "What thing?" Lena takes a bite of her lunch, watching the strange interaction play out.

"It gets all wrinkly because of your frown. What is so wrong with Kara? She's literally perfect for Lena, a bonus being Lena's basically already in love with her." The topic of conversation choked on her meal, taking a desperate sip of her water. "She isn't in love with her. She barely knows her." Veronica points out, sipping her own beverage. Then, someone else falls down beside Sam. She glances between the three girls and sighs.

"Are we talking about Kara?" Jess asks, barely containing a yawn. Veronica rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "I don't get what you guys see in her. She's just a big goof with pretty hair and knows how to throw a ball in a hoop. Her parents must be so proud!" She praises mockingly. They all turn to glance at the said girl sitting at her customary table with her group of friends. Without looking, Kara slides her drink down the table to who Lena learned is Nia, a new addition to the group. 

The junior takes it with a smile, happily taking it for herself. Kara's supporting her head with one hand, staring at James, who seems to be going on about something. Then, as if she felt them staring, her eyes slowly roam over to them, lighting back up from what Lena assumed was boredom. She sends them a wave, and Lena does a double-take behind herself before sending back a less sure one. Veronica scowls, and Kara must seem to notice because she averts her eyes back to James. 

Sam and Jess turn back to them with unamused looks. "Must you always intimidate the poor girl?" Sam asks wearily, biting a few of her fries. Jess turns to Veronica, her mouth turning up into a sly grin.

"What?" Veronica all but bites out at the girl's expression. Jess shrugs, plucking an apple off of Veronica's tray. She bites into it, eyes never leaving Veronica's. 

"It's just that I'm beginning to think it's you who has a crush on our dear Kara." Lena and Sam share a look because as loyal and protective as Jess is, she's just as irritating. Kara has always been a sore topic for the group, considering she's never shown any real indication of sharing Lena's feelings, which always disappointed her but never quite enough to shake the silly school crush. 

"As if, she wishes." Veronica counters with an eye roll, and Sam sighs.

"What she wishes is to bring Lena to the prom, but you have it out for her," Jess remarks. Lena sets her fork down with more force than necessary, attracting the attention of her friends and maybe some other students as well.

"Can we please drop it?" She pleads, staring between the guilty expressions her friends are wearing. She loves them. She really does, and she gets they're trying to help, but sometimes it just makes her feel like shit. Is it really so hard to believe that there could be a possibility that Kara actually likes her, and that's why she's inviting her to prom? Was she so out of the girl's league that the entire thought proved to be that preposterous? 

They nod silently, Jess quickly changing the topic, much to Lena's appreciation. She sighs in relief, and across the room, she catches familiar blue ones. She blinks a few times before Kara sends her a wink, standing to follow her friends out of the cafeteria. She stares at the now empty seat, her heart beating a hundred miles per hour. 

She's definitely going to prom with Kara Danvers.

"Get your foot off of the table," Sam scolds Jess, slapping her feet down as she passes her to sit on the couch. Jess sits up, rolling her eyes, and grabs a handful of the popcorn Sam just arrived with. They squabbled on the small couch in Lena's room while she finished her extracurricular homework, used to tuning out her friends. Then the door opens, and the intruder is hidden behind the board, rolling inside. They all hold their breath as Veronica finally makes an appearance from behind the whiteboard.

"I've got the perfect idea." She announces, and they have to stifle a laugh at her serious expression and matching plaid pajamas. She sets it up, taking the marker in her hand. 

"Well? What is it?" Jess asks, swatting at Sam one last time as she successfully shoves a bunch of the girl's popcorn into her mouth. Veronica points at Lena, who just blinks at her, not a stranger to her outbursts. 

"Lena's all about facts, right? So why don't we make a chart to help her decide whether or not she should go to prom with Kara?" She suggests, making Sam and Jess stare at her questioningly. 

"A.. chart?" Jess repeats slowly as if trying to wrap her head around the girl's words. Lena pulls away from her desk with a sigh, glancing out her window to the familiar blue house. She perks up when she sees Kara walk up the sidewalk, her eyes glued to her phone. Unsurprisingly, she walks straight into her mailbox and grips her stomach in pain. Lena really should be used to this by now, but she can't hold back a wince at the girl's lousy luck.

"Yes, a chart. A pros and cons chart." Veronica declares quite loudly, bringing Lena back to the conversation even if she wasn't one hundred percent listening in the first place. Unintentionally, her eyes skim back over to the window where Kara walks up the stairs to her house and fumbles with her keys until the door swings open, revealing an exasperated Eliza. She steps aside, letting in her daughter, and kisses her cheek before closing the door.

"Lena, did you hear me?" She drags her eyes away from the window to Veronica. She's standing with her hands on her hips, all but glaring at her. Lena glances at the others, but it seems they're awaiting an answer from her as well, an answer she isn't sure what for.

"Um, pros and cons charts have easily been proven inaccurate. And it's more of a list, if anything.." Veronica sighs while Sam and Jess turn to her with a smirk. 

"I feel like this is going to blow up in your faces." Sam comments, staring as Veronica splits the board in half, labeling one side pros and the other cons, and writes Kara at the top.

"It's a really shitty idea, Veronica. She's an actual person, not some juvenile game topic." Jess's words seem to fall on deaf ears because Veronica pulls Lena out of her chair to push her down on the couch between Sam and Jess, the board standing tall in front of them. She shifts in her seat uncomfortably. 

"Come on, Lena. Do you like her or not?" Veronica's wearing that expression that means she wants you to go along with whatever she's thinking, and frankly, Lena doesn't want to this time. But being the coward she is, she shrugs hesitantly. Veronica lights up, uncapping the marker, ignoring the disapproving stares from the other two girls. 

"Okay, let us start off easy then. What's something you positively like about Kara?" She chews her bottom lip, a thousand traits inhabited by one Kara Danvers threatening to shoot out all at once. Instead, she starts with something simple, eyeing the blank board dubiously.

"Her eyes. They're blue, but I swear they change depending on her mood. It turns a beautiful baby blue when she's talking about basketball. I still have no idea the concept of the game, but I can't help but listen to her go on about something so passionately.." Her words come to a slow stop as she watches the expressions on her friends' faces, ranging from amusement to irritation. Veronica, of course, was the odd one out. 

"Okay.." The girl says, writing the words eyes under the section pros. Sam sighs loudly, raising her feet underneath her on the couch. 

"Alright, what's next?" Veronica asks, clapping her hands, seemingly happy that her new idea is making headway. Jess props up her feet, returning to her earlier abandoned homework with a sigh.

"I still think this is a shitty idea." She comments, flipping through the chapters of the textbook. Veronica waves her off, turning to the last two girls.

"Come on? Sam?" She urges, tapping on the board with her fingers. Lena shrugs, not really caring much for the current activity, and turns to Sam, who looks at her with a shrug of herself. 

"What about her smile?" Sam says slowly, sounding unsure of the words falling from her mouth. Lena sighed wistfully at the suggestion, an image of the perfect smile attached to the cutest blonde passing through her mind. The Kara Danvers million-dollar smile is such a contrast to her adoptive sister, who seems only to have a smile reserved for Kara. The same smile Kara flashed at Lena when she moved here, selfishly stealing her heart right there on the sidewalk covered in rainbow chalk. 

"I think she smiles too much. It's kind of unnerving, to be honest. I swear to God I saw her smile at a portrait of the founding fathers, like seriously, who does that?" She rambles on as she writes 'smile' under the section cons, not even bothering to await a response from Lena. Sam glances between them, offering another trait from the top of her head.

"Alright, then what about.. her eating habits? I'm honestly impressed she stays so fit despite always having food on her.. huh, I wonder if it's genetic." She finishes with a dreamy look they all choose to let fly over their heads. Lena can't help the small snort that escapes her as she thinks about the suggestion. True, Kara Danvers refuses to step outside without at least a granola bar on her, but it just so happens to be one of her most endearing traits. 

Read: She looks like one of those adorable chipmunks from Alvin and the Chipmunks when her mouth is full, but she just smiles and nods, cheeks bulging with whatever sugary sweetness she's indulging herself with.

Veronica scoffs, leaning on the board slightly, "I think it's kind of gross. Does she need to be eating all the time? Even her friends point it out." She chastises writing out 'eats a freakish amount of food' under cons, much to the annoyance of Lena. However, she crosses her arms, sitting back sulking, how she almost always is when Veronica does something she disapproves of, and it never fails to make the other girl stop to evaluate her actions and apologize.

Until now, because she barely spares her a glance and goes back and forth with Sam, filling up the board with insolent scribbling. She rolls her eyes and scoots closer to Jess, deciding to give in to the girl's request to help her, and blocks out the suggestions Sam throws and the screeching from the marker clashing with the whiteboard. Throughout it all, she misses the looks Sam throws her way, almost pleadingly.

"Lena?" She and Jess look up, breaking from their bubble of math equations. Veronica stands, shoving the cap on the marker, and Sam stares at them, her legs crossed under her. Lena frowns and feels the way her forehead tightens as her eyes roam over to their assumingly finished project. She doesn't even try holding back the loud, exasperated sigh that exits through her mouth.

Pros:

• Eyes
• Has great hair
• Smart 
• Friendly
• Has a hot sister
• Always has snacks
• Good teeth

Cons:

• Always smiling  
• Always eating
• Laughs loud
• A clutz
• Can ramble for hours
• A complete dork
• Always at practice (Wouldn't have time for you)
• Suspiciously friendly with everyone
• Flirted with the entire school (?)
• A jock (Really, Lena?)
• Easily distracted (Dog behavior)
• Guarded by her sister 
• Plays basketball (Should've been the first red flag)

She stares at the once-blank board in incredulity, unable to form a coherent sentence at the moment because her brain is using all the words in her vocabulary to prove why this entire list is bullshit. Thankfully, Jess comes to her rescue.

"Are you like stalking her something? Why do you even know all of this?" Jess asks pointedly, staring at Veronica, her finished homework thrown to the side haphazardly. She rolls her eyes in response, staring back at Jess unamusedly.

"We've all been going to school together for years, Jess. It would've been pretty weird if I didn't know at least this much about our golden girl." She says it mockingly, her tone full of malice. Lena glances at the two girls, seemingly caught up in a staring contest, and sighs.

"Guys, just forget it- this stupid list, all of it. I'll decide if I want to accept Kara's proposal myself; this entire thing was useless." What she wants to say is that she also disagrees with over ninety percent of the 'chart,' but because she's in no mood to argue with Veronica, she keeps it short and hopefully direct enough for them to understand.  

"Lena, it's literally been a month now. I'm surprised her sister hasn't tracked you down and intimidated you into going with Kara." Veronica remarks, dropping into one of the nearby bean bags. Sam's the one who scoffs at this.

"Alex wouldn't do that." Both Lena and Jess spring up at this, Lena just being happy for the new change in conversation. Sam glances at them and shakes her head as if telling them not to start.

"How would you know Alex wouldn't do that?" Jess inquires, lounging across Lena's lap to be closer to the brunette. The said brunette swats at Jess' forehead, causing Lena to hold up a hand to her mouth, hiding her giggles. 

"Because.. I talk to her when you guys aren't around." They all fix her with a sharp stare because it's as if they're all attached at the hip, never without one another. She shrugs, sinking further into her chair as Jess lights up.

"Is she the unknown 'partner' for Ms. Grant's class? The 'partner' you've been blowing us off for?" She asks, accompanying the word with bunny ears, her smile never faltering. Lena raises an eyebrow as well, awaiting a response from the- blushing girl? 

"She is my partner. And I haven't been blowing you guys off for her. We've really been doing our project." Veronica makes a noise from where she's sitting and sips her lukewarm lemon water. 

"And getting to know each other too, I bet." Jess hints and earns a pillow to the face. Lena ducked out of the way before it hit her, and now she's thinking about Jess' words. Sam has, in fact, been MIA a few times these past weeks and definitely seems out of it when she returns. Her eyes roam back to the defective board, and zones in on the fifth pro with a scoff.

"She's who you're bringing to prom?" Lena asks before anything can be processed. The two girls stop arguing and turn to her. She squirms a little, aware of Jess still lying across her lap. 

"Don't know. She hasn't asked yet." Sam answers shyly, chuckling when Jess slaps her shoulder.

"You bastard! You're dating one of the hottest, coolest, and most mysterious girls at school, and you didn't tell us?" Sam laughs at Jess' enthusiasm and ducks her head. Lena shares a look with Veronica, and they shake their heads.

"We aren't dating. We're just.. hanging out." She punctuates it by dragging a piece of hair behind her ear, and Jess jumps up from Lena's lap.

"Sam and Alex sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-" She's cut off when she yelps because a pillow flies at her head, and she evades it by a near inch. Sam stands, dragging another pillow with her, and chases after a running and chortling Jess. Lena laughs, allowing herself to relax in her friends' presence. 

"Pick it up!" Sam yells from one end of the coffee table. 

"You threw it!" Jess screeches from the other end of the table in an attempt to avoid Sam's physical advances. 

Lena rolls her eyes, the pros and cons list catching her eye. Her stomach churns, and she makes a mental note to erase it and put it back in her father's study later. She instead glances at Veronica, who's already looking her way. She gives her a smile before standing and dropping down beside the girl on the tight-spaced bean bag, but Veronica wraps an arm around her, and she fits nearly perfectly. 

Once again, and totally unintentionally, her attention lands back at the house across the street, the red and blue curtains shielding the starring actress in her daydreams. 

She watches as Sam sends Alex a wave and, to everyone's surprise, receives one back. However, the wonder quickly wears off when Alex nearly bumps into another student because she'd rather stare at Sam than make her way to class, which is nowhere near this particular hallway.

"You're both so gross." Veronica jokes, making a gagging noise, and gets shoved by Sam in return. Lena clutches her bag, straining a hopefully genuine-looking smile. She's yet to comprehend why Veronica's so quick to tease Sam or even Jess about possible crushes but spews fire out her mouth and steam out her ears when anyone brings up Kara. Speaking of Kara..

She jogs down the hallway, giving her sister a playful shoulder punch. Alex winces, elbowing her grinning sister away. Lena let out a sigh of contentment, leaning back on her locker; she had at least fifteen minutes before her next class. She turns when someone nudges her shoulder.

"Hey, I'm going to run to the bathroom real quick. Be right back!" Veronica announces before running off into the crowd of students. She shakes her head and jerks it back when she hears Sam, honest to God, giggle. To no one's surprise, the Danvers sisters make a beeline to their close-knit group, sporting matching goofy smiles—an anomaly for the redhead sister.

"Good morning, ladies!" Kara greets, staring at Lena while Alex blatantly stares at Sam. Sam quickly fixes her hair, smiling like a lunatic, much to the annoyance of Lena, who rolls her eyes at the revolting scene before her. 

"Hey, Alex!" Sam quips, elbowing her friend, who holds back a groan and smiles sweetly at the sisters. Kara doesn't spare the other two a glance, hell-bent on talking to Lena. 

"Hey, Lena, heading to class?" The blonde asks quietly, talking just loud enough for only Lena to hear, ignoring the wandering students around her. Lena glances at the girl's empty hands and shakes her head slowly.

"No, class just ended. I still have at least ten minutes left until I'm required to attend hell." What she thought was a weak attempt at a joke earns an angelic laugh from what she deems an angel. "Come on, Lena. Ms. Grant isn't that bad." She's right, Lena considers. Ms. Grant is a hardass, of course, but who'd expect anything different from the intimidating woman? Her class is barely passable, and the way Kara takes all the assignments thrown at her in stride demonstrates how intelligent she really is.

"You only think that because she actually likes you." Lena retorts smartly. If there's one thing all students here can agree on, it's that Cat hates everyone equally. But, on the other hand, they can tell the older woman has a soft spot for Kara, the bumble of joy who hangs onto every word that falls from her lips with pure admiration. Lena, however, believes that Kara happens to be the woman's favorite simply because she does anything Cat tells her to do. 

Kara chuckles, shaking her head, "She doesn't even know my name! She still thinks it's Keira, even after all these years together. I've even had some freshmen call me that!" She groans, pouting at her own misfortune, and Lena's chest does a cartwheel at her expression. God, she wishes Kara would ask her to prom again right now because there's nothing that would make her say no. 

"I'm back!" Veronica announces, planting herself at Lena's side once again. 

Well, maybe that might. 

Lena's brilliant- a genius, most might say. She's excellent in every subject, excelling in math and science. Of course, the tutors and lessons from six to fourteen, when she was old enough to hold her own, played a big part. The majority of the time, she'd breeze through a topic within four days, always quick to fully grasp the concept. Growing up, she was often dragged along to prestigious events her parents were invited to, and that's where she learned how to read people.

Despite being skilled in these topics, the one she flourishes the most in is Kara Danvers. From the first day they met, it was like a box appeared dedicated to just Kara. Everything and anything she did or said around Lena was instantly stored in that box, and as the years went on, the box just kept filling up.

Inside the box sits vital information, according to Lena. Like how Kara gets a crinkle when she's thinking particularly hard on something, a physical tell to show she's upset. Or how she ducks her down adorably when she receives a compliment or praise of any kind, and Lena loves it. She loves how Kara walks her home when her friends have to stay late at their clubs, loves how she leaves class early to snag chocolate milk for Lena, knowing it's her favorite and is always gone when she finally reaches the cafeteria. 

She loves how she rambles on about an upcoming basketball game or a notably interesting project Cat gave her. Lena especially loves how she refuses to engage in conversation with anyone else when talking to her, even hell-bent on ignoring her own sister until it's time for them to part ways again. Thinking back on this, Lena silently wonders why she hadn't accepted Kara's first promposal and not for the first time. 

So when Veronica arrives, it's damn near impossible for Lena to miss how her jaw clenches and her body stiffens. Despite that, Kara manages to give the girl a smile that would've been believable if Lena wasn't well-versed in the world of Kara Danvers. Veronica barely spares her a glance, and Lena's overwhelmed with the urge to smack her. "Hey, class is about to start. We gotta run if we're going to get there before the bell." With that, she grabs Lena's hand, leading her down the hallway and away from Kara. 

She looks over her shoulder, softening at the sight of Kara watching her. "Cya around, Keira!" She shouts, ignoring the stares from her sudden outburst. Sam and Alex turn, watching the scene. Kara smiles, tucks one hand in the pocket of her jeans, and uses the free one to wave her goodbye. Lena keeps her eyes on her until the wave of students becomes too much, blocking her view, and turns forward with a sigh. 

She groans and switches her phone to mute. Sam finally admitted to having a crush on Alex, yet she's the one suffering with hourly messages. She looks at the clock, pushes herself out of bed, and stumbles over to the window to let light into her room. She sighs, mentally berating herself for allowing that one action to take so much energy out of her, but she'd rather continue blaming it on being sick. 

Lena runs a hand through her hair and watches a group of students pass by her house, making their way home from school. Then, she drops her phone on the desk and makes her way to the bathroom to make herself look like a somewhat living person. When she's done, she throws on a t-shirt and shorts, letting her wet hair drop water on the old tee because she's too lazy to actually dry it, and she's already sick, so what's the harm?

Someone knocks on her door while she's walking toward the desk under the window. She calls out for them to come in, not all that concerned about who it could be. She's scrolling through her messages when the door opens, the lights turn on, and she looks up into a pool of blue. 

"Hey! Veronica told me you were sick today, so I just thought you'd need something to eat. Not that you don't eat. I mean, you do sometimes forget when you're using that big brain of yours." Kara explains and awkwardly holds out the bag when there's no response from a gaping Lena. Then, like on autopilot, she walks over to the girl, gingerly taking the bag that smells a lot like her favorite soup from the restaurant a block away.

She glances at it and back at Kara, "Thank you, Kara. You didn't have to; I would've been alright with a cup of tea or something." She says, turning to place it on the desk. She can hear the girl walk further into the room humming.

"I know, but being sick sucks. So what's better than you're favorite food on a snotty nose day?" Lena lets out a raspy laugh, overly conscious of her sore throat. 

"I can assure you I don't have a snotty nose, and when are you ever sick?" She asks, removing the container from the bag. Kara chuckles behind her, and it's like Lena can feel the shrug she's probably giving her right now. 

"I guess that's good because I think I ran out of tissues at home. And, of course, I get sick, doesn't everyone? I literally missed an entire..." Her words trail off, and Lena's eyebrows furrow. She opens up the soup and lays the plastic spoon down beside it. 

"Missed what?" She asks, spinning on her heel to a gut-wrenching look on Kara's face. Her eyes widen, and she desperately tries to find the reason for the heartbroken look on the blonde's face. Slowly, she follows Kara's attention, and her heart drops at what's standing tall and daunting in the corner of her now light-equipped room. 

The list. 

The same list she wanted nothing to do with and strongly voiced so. The list she hoped would never make it long enough to see the light of day. The list Veronica wrote up herself in a fit of hysteria alongside Sam. The list that's now being read by the one person on God's blue earth she hadn't wanted to see it. It feels as if time starts moving in slow motion from the way Lena hears her heart beating in her ears. 

Slowly, Kara turns to Lena, and she watches her world collapse right there as the person she's utterly enchanted by stares at her with a mixture of sadness, disbelief, and disappointment, all threatening to fall with the tears filling her eyes. Lena reaches a hand out and freezes when Kara steps back, shaking her head. To Lena, everything played out at a snail's pace. Kara apologized for bothering her. Whether about right now or about prom, Lena isn't sure.

She then spun on her heel, ducking her head and all but running out of the room that felt like it was closing in on Lena. She hadn't known why she couldn't speak up or say something- anything to make her understand, to make her stay. Instead, she watched in horror as Kara ran out and dropped to her knees from the impulsive surge of emotions mixing with the exhaustion from her being sick. Already feeling like death, she crawls over to the desk, moving her hand around on the top to find her phone. 

She grabs it and clutches it in her hand, already typing in Sam's name. Then, when a few silent tears escape, she wipes her eyes with her arm, uses her shirt to dry her phone screen, and hits call. She holds it up to her ear, her other hand muffling her cries. It only rings twice for her to pick up.

"Hey, Len-"

She doesn't even wait for greetings before breaking down, "Sam, she saw! She saw it and ran! I never wanted to make it, and I didn't, so why does it hurt so much? She looked so- so sad, and it was because of me, Sam!" 

"Hold on a second, Lena, what did who see?"  Her friend asks, her voice urgent. She positions herself with her back to the wall, lifting her legs to her chest, desperate to make herself as small as possible. 

"Kara! She saw that stupid fucking list! It isn't true, Sam. None of it is! I like her so, so much. How could I possibly think anything about her is a con? She's amazing the way she is, and now she's gone, gone because of me. I never should've indulged Veronica. I should've just listened to Jess, to myself!" She sobs into the phone, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She hears a defeated sigh on the other end.

"I'll be right there. Just sit tight, okay? Kara will understand. If not, we'll make her understand, alright? " She figures she's saying that to make her feel better, but it doesn't work because now her eyes are leaking like a broken faucet, her throat is throbbing, she feels ill, and now she feels as if she could really go for a tissue. 

A tissue Kara offered her just a few minutes ago when she stood there grinning, delivering a bag of Lena's favorite soup to her when everything was right in Lena's world. The soup that's been sitting on the desk, abandoned, the familiar warmth fleeing from the dish as it gets attacked by the cool breeze coming in from the open window. It's withering out almost barely there, just like Lena's relationship with a certain blue-eyed beauty. 

Lena was in and out of sleep from her position on the floor when her room was invaded. She didn't even bother lifting her head from the darkness of her legs when footsteps made their way over to her, if not a little forceful, dragging her up. Instead, she's met with comforting brown eyes staring back at her in concern. "Why the hell are you moping around on the floor, sick at that?" Sam asks, walking her over and pushing her down into her bed. 

By now, she probably looks terrible. Her eyes feel dry, and she knows they look puffy and red. Probably not as bad as Kara's is right now, though. Her throat feels scratchy, her hair's sticking to her forehead uncomfortably, and her limbs feel heavy. Sam runs a hand through her hair, unsure whether to stare at Lena or the window. Instead of deciding, she pulls up a chair beside the bed and sits.

Lena groans, squeezing her eyes shut, "You make it look like I'm on my deathbed!" Sam chuckles at that, relaxing her posture, "Yeah, well, it looks like it." She points out, gesturing at the less-than-savory sight of her sick and, might she add, broken-hearted friend. Lena rests her hands on her stomach and stares at the girl. 

"Can you please be useful and get me some medicine or something? I feel like shit. More ways than one." She adds, rubbing her temple. She hears rustling somewhere in her room, and she doesn't have to look to see who entered because a response comes quickly, "It's fine. I'll get it! Just.. stay there." She hears Jess say before leaving the room. Another wave of shame overcomes her because she could've avoided this so easily. Jess was right when she said Kara was a real person with feelings, and she knew it should've never even happened. 

She threw an arm over her eyes with a self-deprecating chuckle, "God, I'm so stupid. She must feel terrible- I would feel absolutely humiliated, Sam! Imagine a list with everything people dislike about you displayed out in front of you.. All she wanted was to bring me to prom, and she gets that in return." She can feel her eyes burning, tears already beginning to form. Sam sighs, and Lena knows she's staring at her disapprovingly. 

"I only helped Veronica with the list because I figured you'd eventually get sick of us picking at Kara and speak up.. you didn't, of course, though." Lena chooses to ignore the comment, "Speaking of Veronica, where is she?" Sam rubs the back of her neck and looks away, guilt written all over her face. "I kind of thought she wouldn't be much help now. Hell, she'd probably even throw a party!" Lena nods slowly, taking a needed breath.

Veronica's the reason she's in this mess anyway, and Lena hates that she can't blame her. From the second she even suggested such a wretched activity, Lena should've shut it down. But she didn't, and now she's lying here wallowing in the consequences of her actions. She flinches when a bowl is placed in her hands and instantly sits up before she can spill it—gazing down into the reheated soup, a tear slips. She turns to her friends with a frown.

"What do I do?" She asks, her voice hoarse and shaky. Sam and Jess share a grim look before shaking their heads. "Well, for right now, you can focus on getting better and have a talk with Kara when you're.. in the right state of mind," Jess suggests and hands her a pill, which she swallows down. Then, reading the room, she takes the spoon in her hand and lifts a spoonful of the warm delicacy into her mouth. The spoon falls from her grasp, small portions of soup splashing as it drops into the dish.

Sobs wracked her body, cries that were desperately waiting for an opening so they could strike. In less than a moment, the dish is being moved to the nightstand, and two pairs of arms are wrapped around her from each side. She clings to them, afraid they'd leave too, deserting her with her thoughts that were once bright when she had Kara, now upsettingly contaminated with the darkness that's been left behind.

Taking a grateful breath of air, she scans the classroom, deflating when she finds Kara's regular seat empty. It's been four days since she's been sick. Four days since Kara ran out on her, rightfully taking her heart along with her. It's her first day back to school, and unfortunately, Ms. Grant's class is the only one they share. She keeps her attention on the door, waiting for the ball of light to stride in and take her seat because she never misses a class of Ms. Grant's.

To Lena's confusion, the bell rings, and Kara's chair is still abnormally empty. She leans over, watching as Ms. Grant empties her bag on her desk, "Hey, have you seen Kara?" She whispers to the girl sitting beside her. The girl eyes her warily, "Uh, she switched out of this class. She's taking some extracurricular history class now." She answers with a shrug. Lena blinks in bewilderment at the response because Kara loves this class and absolutely loathes history, the only subject that she has to put extra effort into. 

"Do you know why? I didn't even know you could switch classes this late in the year." Lena finds herself asking, though she isn't sure she wants an answer. Her desk neighbor shrugs, "No, I don't know why. I think they allowed her to because she said something about just wanting a change. Her grades probably won't count for much since we're graduating soon anyway." They settle back in their chairs when the teacher begins talking, but Lena's eyes never stray too far from the seat in front of Ms. Grant. 

"Maybe she's taking drugs; a lot of athletes do, plus she's still in high school," Veronica comments at the trio of girls looking around the cafeteria for Kara. Lena barely resists the urge to roll her eyes and side-eyes the other girl. "What the hell are you talking about?" She asks almost exasperatedly. Veronica goes to take a sip of her soda, and Lena swears she saw her refrain a smirk. 

"She's been acting all weird lately. Everyone's talking about it. She hardly smiles anymore; she started wearing her basketball sweater instead of her jersey, can barely hold a conversation, and doesn't eat in the cafeteria anymore." She punctuates the last bit with a light shove at Lena, and the three girls resume their lunch defeatedly. Lena stares at the empty table Kara and her friends usually sit at solemnly, her stomach twisting in knots. It's because of her that Kara's acting like.. well, not Kara.

She stares down at her lunch tray, teary-eyed, flinching, when a miniature-sized milk carton is placed beside her meal. "You're Lena, right? Kara scored this earlier, which made no sense because she isn't even supposed to be drinking chocolate milk, but she said it wasn't for her, which made a lot more sense, but then I was like, who's it for then? And she asked if I could bring it to Lena- which is you, and now I'm rambling.. sorry." 

They all gape at the junior, who seems to have lungs more powerful than Adele's, and Lena barely musters a polite smile at the girl who's bouncing on the heels of her sneakers. Then, with one more smile, the girl- Nia, turns to walk away, as Lena stares at the milk yearningly, and her friends stare at her with looks of sympathy. Then, with a surge of confidence and longing, she all but jumps out of her seat to grab Nia's wrist. "I'm sorry. Do you know where she is?" 

Nia stares at their hands, and Lena quickly retracts hers, resting it on her other arm awkwardly. Nia nods, "She took off earlier. She said something about.. oh, hoops! She's probably in the gym, passing time." Lena takes the information with stride, spinning on her heels to go after Kara, though she stops when her wrist is the one being grabbed this time. Nia stares at her grimly, and there is no sign of the amusing girl from a few moments ago.

"She's out of it. Can you just.. if you can figure out what's going on with her? We're worried about her." Lena swallows, nodding as another attack of shame and guilt strikes her because she knows what's wrong with Kara. She's the reason Kara's out of it, the reason why her friends, family, and even strangers are worried about her. All because she couldn't speak up when she should have. 

Lena's never been good at speaking up for herself. The way her friends are always defending her is a pretty good example of that. It's always been this way. In fact, it's the sole reason she has such a tight friend group. Some kids tripped her in first grade during her first week there, and all three girls came over ready for a fight, and so they did. Three girls, four boys, and Lena sat sullenly in front of the principal's office that day, and the rest became history. Since then, there hasn't been a day Lena hasn't been around them. 

They were quick to welcome her into their group with open arms, especially Veronica. She was always so protective over her, and that's probably why Lena has a hard time going against her because she knows the girl has her best interests at heart- or, well, had. What she did to Kara was horrible, and Lena's just as bad for not speaking up. Sure, it's never been one of her best traits, but this was about Kara. 

The girl who brings over her favorite food when she's down or sick. The girl who always makes sure she isn't the one walking beside the road when they're walking home. The one who still fights her way through the crowd of students to secure chocolate milk for Lena even after everything. Lena snaps out of her head when Nia walks away and grabs the milk carton before taking off toward the gym, ignoring her friends' stares and missing the fierce one from Veronica.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

It doesn't take long for Lena to get there, even with the in-between breaks of her wondering about what she's even going to say when she sees Kara and trying to catch her breath. The sound of balls bouncing against the wooden floor grows louder as she approaches the large door separating her from the person she accidentally screwed over. Taking a deep breath, she pushes open the door, a few surprised and confused eyes meeting hers. 

One of the guys inside holds his ball and shoves Kara, leading her attention to Lena. Her blank expression refuses to falter even as Lena crosses the gym to her, hesitating with every step. When she finally reaches the small group of friends, Kara looks down, twirling the ball in her hands, and it's like Lena's been punched at being so blatantly disregarded. The captain's friends look between them, confused, and one even whistles awkwardly. 

"Could we have a second alone, please?" Lena asks the prying eyes, and they quickly scatter away, excuses of lunch almost being over flying left and right. Lena refuses to roll her eyes and, as patient as she can, waits for them to make themselves scarce. The sound of the padded gym doors closing is what makes Kara begin to walk over for her own bags and only stops when Lena grabs her hand. There seems to be a lot of that going around today. So she thinks as Kara stares at her hand being held hostage.

"Can we talk, please?" Lena chews on her bottom lip as she awaits an answer from the girl. Kara stares intensely at their hands, looking a great contrast from the sunny person she usually is, and Lena wonders briefly if she even acknowledged her request. She receives confirmation when dull blue eyes meet hers, and Kara says, "Fifty seconds. I wouldn't want to bother you." The words are spoken with such resentment and insecurity that it makes Lena loosen her hand on Kara's long enough for her to rescue her hand. 

She's seen Kara through all emotions. The ecstasy she'd feel when she won a game or was able to get all her friends to hang out past the school gate. The sorrow she'd gain when her parent's anniversary came around or when her cousin couldn't make time for a visit. The disgust she'd display whenever she was offered or forced to eat something that had less than a hundred calories by her sister or mother. 

And, of course, she's seen Kara angry, whether it was because she saw an act of mistreatment or when a team from another school attempted to intimidate her teammates into submission. However, this one was new. Insecurity was a pesky thing Lena would know, and she was always relieved it seemed to spare Kara. She always appeared comfortable in her skin, laughing and joking around with anyone and everyone. And to no one's surprise, everyone ate up her offered friendship and kindness.

Lena was one of them, greedily indulging herself in her bubble of Kara and loved every second of it. It took this drastic occurrence of miscommunication for her to acknowledge just how long she'd been taking advantage of everything Kara selflessly offered her. She clenches the carton in her hand and musters up the courage to fix their lousy excuse of a friendship. 

"I'm so so sorry, Kara. I never meant- wanted to hurt you, never you." To her gratitude, Kara doesn't dismiss her and walk out but instead crosses her arms as if giving her a chance at absolution. "The entire thing was stupid and should've never happened, and I'm disappointed in myself for letting it. You are such a lovely soul who never deserved to see that-" She knew she messed up the second the words escaped her mouth, and Kara frowned and took a not-so-subtle step back.

"Never deserved to see that? Jeez, Lena, well, allow me to apologize for finding out what you really think about me. Look, I'm sorry for nagging you about prom. You kept going on with the innuendos, and I figured you would eventually say yes, but I clearly misread everything." Before Lena could even get another word in, the bell rang, informing the continuation of classes. This time, she does roll her eyes as she follows Kara, who's rapidly shoving her things into her bag.

"Kara, just listen to me plea-" Kara zips it up abruptly, cutting Lena off and turning to her with distress clouding her emotions. "It's been more than fifty seconds, Lena." She mutters, shrugging the bag over her shoulder, concluding the conversation as she leaves Lena to stir in her emotions of guilt and self-pity. And thinking back on it, there were probably a million different ways Lena could've used the fifty seconds to explain herself properly. 

Instead, she watched the door shut behind the blonde, liquid trickling through her fingers as she held the milk carton in an unintentional death grip, blindly soaking the side of her outfit and shoes. In a fit of irritation and grief with the entire situation, she kicks the ball nearest to her and winces when it flies through a window, glass flakes dropping in its wake. 

Not one to wait and find out what happens next, she speeds walks to the door Kara fled through and decides she'll try her luck again at another time, one where Kara's preferably in a good mood. However, that seems unlikely at the moment from what Veronica told her and the concern of the girl's friends. She slumps into her chair nearly ten minutes late after cleaning up the dried milk to the best of her abilities in the bathroom and maybe washing her face repeatedly to give her red-rimmed eyes some reprieve. 

The class continues, and the clock ticks, displaying the passing of time, but she can't acknowledge anything other than her thoughts, the thoughts that fuel the dark cloud hanging above her head, oblivious to everyone but her. Their only mission is to break her down, forcing her to succumb to the darkness of the night. Now, she's just being dramatic, one of her lesser qualities, according to Veronica. The only thing her thoughts are doing is forcing her to recognize the amount of mental hurt she and her friends brought onto Kara. 

But they might as well be the same because both alternatives make her want to dig a hole for her to throw herself into. God, her therapist, would have a field day with her. 

Sammie Boy 🤠: "Hey, I know you went after Kara earlier, and it clearly didn't go as you expected from the radio silence. But Coach decided to call a practice today, but if you need company, we can totally skip it." 3:15

Uncle Jessie🧓: "God knows I'd rather be anywhere than on the humid ass field today; they're scolding the basketball team for a ball that's on the field and most definitely came from the gym window." Just Now

Lena cringes at Jess's text and sends them a message dismissing their desire to ditch practice to indulge her and shuts off her phone before she can change her mind. Then, taking in the spring air, she leans back on the brick wall building, students passing by, and others playing around in the parking lot. This is usually one of those days Kara would accompany her home, but given their recent friendship status, she might as well stand there for hours alone. 

Though it might also have to do with the fact she and her team are getting yelled at for a stunt, Lena pulled in a fit of hysteria. Another reason for her to completely cut Lena from her life and the thought alone has Lena ready to yank her hair out. Thankfully, something- someone saves her from her reverie with a hand on her shoulder, and she opens her eyes to see the last person she secretly hadn't wanted to see. 

"I meant to see how everything with Danvers went, but I couldn't reach you," Veronica says, her dark eyes sparkling with worry or amusement, and even after all these years, Lena can't really tell. Ignoring the voice telling her just to go home, she continues the conversation, if only not to be rude. 

"Yeah, my phone was off, sorry." She isn't really, but she says it because Veronica would've gotten upset otherwise, and it seems to work because the girl only huffs instead of fitting Lena with a stare and scrunching her face up. "Alright, I guess it didn't go over too well, then.. Here, I'll bring you home." The hair on Lena's neck stands up as she's led to Veronica's sports car of the month. She hadn't even asked where Sam and Jess were, Lena notes as she pulls on her seatbelt and Veronica starts the car.

They begin driving, and Lena can't help but stare in the direction of the field where Kara's doubtlessly standing, getting yelled at for something she couldn't possibly know anything about. She chuckles under her breath at the possibility of the captain standing tall with a frown and a crinkle between her brows. Unfortunately, she misses Veronica's sour expression as she takes her eyes off the road to glance at her. 

Everyone has thought about starring in a movie at least once in their life, whether it's as a child or as a divorced, middle-aged, depressed woman. And Lena most certainly wasn't an exception to such an outlandish thought. Unfortunately, she still sometimes wonders if maybe that's why her life continues to suck because it was written, and she's following the script. However, these sober thoughts only show when she, in fact, isn't sober. 

During the drive, Veronica decided to bring them to her house instead of Lena's, with the argument of having everything she needed to uplift her mood. Which mainly included booze, comfy matching pajamas, and more booze. And who was Lena to turn down such a well (not) planned-out evening? So, long story short, that's how she ended up in one of her dearest friend's bed, taking a long swing of the wine Veronica took from her parent's bar, claiming they wouldn't notice.

"It's not like I wanted to hurt her because I didn't. It was something stupid you suggested, which I totally ignored. I like her so much, Veronica. It hurts me to see her hurting- even more, because it's my fault she's hurting!" She groans into her arms, regarding the girl's silence as understanding than what it really is, irritation. She passes the bottle off and rests her head on Veronica's shoulder, sighing defeatedly. 

"I think you've had enough 'uplifting' for the night," Veronica says lowly, places the nearly empty bottle on the side table, and gently shifts them until they're lying side by side. It's moments like these that remind Lena how she's so close with Veronica anyway. They're simple reminders of how gentle and compassionate she can be, though Lena can't deny that they're occurrences that happen less and less and ones she only sees when they're alone. And that should've been the first warning sign.

"She doesn't deserve you." The words were almost enough to bring Lena back down to earth, but with the way Veronica was caressing her arm, she was about ready to fall asleep. What was enough for Lena to regain awareness was the feeling of Veronica's lips on hers. It took a total of three seconds for Lena to sit up abruptly and slap a hand over her mouth, staring wide-eyed at who she once considered a friend. Veronica follows foot, looking just as shocked as Lena, like it wasn't her who prompted such a reaction.

Even while feeling like her mind is riding a rainbow while fighting off alligators with wings, everything clicks. Lena feels like kicking herself because if this hadn't happened, she would've never thought to guess what Veronica's problem was. Her hot and cold attitude toward people, especially Lena, always trying to dictate her life, the physical touches, and the one Lena probably should've thought of first, her everlasting issue with Kara. 

Sweet, kind, and compassionate Kara. Lena drags the duvet off her and throws her legs out of bed, ignoring the pleas from Veronica. And suddenly, she's hit with an emotion she hadn't been ready to confront, rage. Rage that's directed toward Veronica and her only. She could see from the expression on the girl's face she hadn't been expecting it either. 

Then, sobering up from the adrenaline running through her and with sleep entirely off the table, she points a finger that would've been way more threatening if the room wasn't slightly spinning at Veronica. 

"How could you, Veronica? I trusted you!" She asks, hurt, bleeding into every word. Because, despite Veronica's vile nature, Lena really did believe that she had some good in her. It turns out Lena felt that way because that's what Veronica wanted her to believe. Veronica wanted her and, therefore, decided Kara was a threat, an obstacle in the way of getting what she wanted. 

If Lena were to choose Veronica's biggest con, it would be the girl's sprouting God complex, and she's surely mistaken if she thinks Lena will stick around to watch it flourish. 

Veronica chooses this time to jump out of bed, cradling Lena's hands with hers. About ten minutes ago, this would've been normal. It would've been comfortable, but now her touch makes Lena's head spin in all the wrong ways. "Please, Lena. What do you even see in her? I could give you whatever you want. I know you better than anyone else. Can't you see that?" Veronica pleads, looking the most rattled Lena's ever seen her. Lena shakes her head, retracting her hand slowly so Veronica gets the message.

"What I want is Kara, Veronica. It's always been Kara. And no, I'm not going to apologize for what I think, for what I feel! You say you can give me whatever I want, but you can't give me Kara because she's a person! With feelings and emotions! You say you know me more than anyone else, but you make me feel worse than anyone else ever has. I'm not sorry for not wanting you in that way. I'm sorry because I let you slither your way into my head, dictating my every move- my very judgment!"

Veronica seems to genuinely be on the brink of tears, but Lena's on a roll and can't seem to stop. "You know what I think? I think you already knew how far gone I was for Kara, and that's why you constantly tried to make her seem less in my eyes." She takes a step forward, jabbing a finger in the girl's chest, "You're manipulative, Veronica. You might think you know me better than anyone else, but it doesn't matter because I know nothing about you."

The words are meant to damage, which works from how the girl flinches. "I think you want me because you think I'm something that's meant to be protected, to be confined. You still see me as that new terrified, upset little girl from first grade, don't you? You still think I need to be shielded from everything and everyone, and that's why you've been trying to remove Kara from the picture, haven't you? Well, news flash! I'm eighteen fucking years old, and liking Kara has probably been my smartest decision because she would never do the shit you do.. would never make me feel the way you do."

She knows what she means, and Veronica's smart enough to catch it, too. Veronica's the opposite of Kara in every way, and hearing that she would much rather choose the latter over her must sting her and her overinflated ego.

"I'm not stupid, neither am I naive, Veronica. Well, maybe just a little because I totally should've called you out on your shit about that list. It was spiteful, childish, and highly uncalled for, especially about a girl who has shown you nothing but kindness despite your one-sided vendetta with her.." Lena blinks a few times, stumbling back in bafflement. She holds up a hand to prevent Veronica from rushing to her aid and processes her thoughts until a coherent one forms.

"You.. It was you, wasn't it? You left the board there and fucking told Kara to come over! Of course, I didn't think much of it then, but why on earth would you ever talk to Kara, much less about me? God, you suck, do you know that?" Veronica takes a deep breath, shaking her head, a tear finally escaping her eye.

"Lena, I did it for you! Look how easy it was for her to just walk away, to abandon you!" Veronica explains as if her actions were honestly reasonable. And if Lena felt any sympathy for her before, it's all gone because all she sees is red and maybe some other colors, but that's probably the alcohol. 

"You thought you were doing me a favor? But, of course, you did, and someone got hurt because you clearly don't give a shit about anyone else but yourself! And don't come with your contriving bullshit because I never not once asked for you to do that, nor did I want you to! Kara walked- ran out because you made a list of everything you loathe about her, which is actually just her entire being! But of course, she wouldn't know that because it was my board in my fucking bedroom!" This time, she punctuates it with a light shove, which she's sure would've been more effective if she were in the right state of mind. 

Now that she's thinking about it, not properly, but like seventy percent, she's sure this is the longest Veronica's gone without trying to turn the conversation in her favor, soaking up the control people give her in fits of exhaustion. And it incites another rush of fury within Lena. 

"You know what? I can't do this anymore. I've tried Veronica. I really have, but you haven't changed, and I doubt you ever will." She treads over to the couch and grabs her bag, shoving the clothes she wore over inside, trying her damn hardest to block out the apologies she knows are insincere from the girl beside her.

"Lena, come on, let's just talk about this. It's late, and you're drunk." Then, spinning on her heel, she pins Veronica down with a stare. Sure, she's drunk, but that's not making her delusional. On the contrary, she knows exactly what she's talking about and means everything that already loosely fell off her tongue—even feeling grateful for the alcohol that's made her bolder, brave enough to finally speak up. "That's what you wanted, isn't it? To get me drunk in hopes I'd simply surrender to your desires, telling you what you wanted to hear, huh?" 

She scoffs and sidesteps by the girl to head downstairs. But, to her exasperation, Veronica's hot on her tail. She clutches her bag while she hops on one foot, all while aggressively shoving on her boot. It's when she's flinging the door open and prepared to make a run for it that Veronica tries her luck once more. "Come on, Lena. Are you really about to ruin an eleven-year friendship over this? Over her?"

Taking a deep breath and staring over her shoulder, she studies the girl for one last time, from the bulk of her piercings and the sinister snake tattoos to her name-brand matching pajamas, and all it does is serve as a reminder for Lena. A reminder of exactly what she doesn't want in her life, and right now, that's Veronica. She's utterly exhausted from constantly going back and forth with the girl, and she's so close to ending their toxic relationship she can taste it, can see it. 

She can easily imagine a scenario of her with Sam, Jess, and Kara. Doing something as simple as homework together or attending the city's annual carnival. Kara invites her every year without fail, but she always politely declines in favor of going with her friends. Doing all the things Lena wished they could do, like sharing popcorn or Kara winning a bunch of souvenirs at the basketball booth because Lena couldn't score a basket to save her life. But, to Lena's disappointment, the vision fades as she refocuses on Veronica.

And she knows. She knows that the imaginary fantasy can never be true if she continues this confusing dance with Veronica. And so she must choose between the two, and at the moment, being with Kara has never felt so right. So she tightens her hold on the doorknob and gives a brief nod. 

"Fuck you, Veronica." 

She throws her bag over her shoulder, shrinking at the thought of what today will bring. She ended up calling Sam to pick her up, and from hearing the slur of her words and the hysteria in her friend's voice, she hadn't hesitated to drive over so late alongside a concerned and half-asleep Jess. Lena explained everything as best as possible to both girls in her slightly lucid state while sobbing in the back seat when reality finally settled in. Sure, she's upset at Veronica, scratch that, absolutely fucking furious, but her words did have little truth.

It was easy to walk out on her, so fueled up with such emotions Lena couldn't possibly think straight. But now, as she's being driven home by their other two best friends, she's hit with a moment of nostalgia—memories of unsupervised road trips, late-night runs, and last-minute getaways. Lena grew up with these three girls, and together, they found themselves with unconditional support from each other. This all makes Veronica's betrayal all the more painful because there was no one Lena trusted more.

Veronica, like her, took advantage of a beautiful thing, and because of that, what they had all ended in ruins. While Sam and Jess were always there, making sure she felt content and pleased with their friendship, Veronica hung back because she knew Lena couldn't give her what she wanted because the thing she desired already belonged to another. So why should Lena feel guilty for putting herself and her feelings first? Her therapist's going to be thrilled during their next appointment, more so about the outcome than what was said.

Lena shakes her head when a car horn makes an announcement and rushes downstairs, wincing during every thump in her head after every step. The aroma of her mother's cooking invades her nostrils, and she feels like being sick even after all the throwing up she's done. "Lena, honey? You need to eat something. I'll pack it to go!" Then she hears shuffling in the kitchen, and she swears if her mother actually comes out here with a container of breakfast, she'll empty out whatever's left in her stomach.

So she picks up her pace, stopping right before the door, "Sorry, Mom, no time! I'm not hungry anyway!" She cringes at the volume of her voice and quickly closes the door behind her before hopping into the awaiting vehicle that takes off the second she shuts the door. 

"You alright?" Sam asks, eyeing her from her role as driver. Lena shrugs, nodding, "I will be." She mutters back. Whoever said trying positive self-talk hurts? Certainly not her therapist.

Lena rubs her temple after her fifth attempt at avoiding Veronica and drops down in her chair. "You look like shit." She risks opening one eye to glare at an apathetic Jess, who's silently sipping her strawberry milk. She was always the weird one. It's Sam who swats her arm and spares Lena with an apologetic stare. She shakes her head and continues her soothing.

"Wow, Jess, thank you so much for such an imperative observation." She doesn't need to see to know there's a shit-eating grin on her friend's face right now. "You're welcome." Lena's incoming sigh switches to a groan at the sudden burst of noise, and she drops her head in her hands. The sound of chairs screeching and items being dropped onto a table is what catches her attention. She spreads her fingers so she isn't harshly attacked by the brightness of the cafeteria and glances at the table.

Kara's table. 

And it's like Lena can hear from under the water she's been drowning in since the day she got on Kara's bad side. Sam and Jess catch it, too, and turn their heads to stare at the thankfully rowdy group. Kara's smiling, not as wide as everyone's used to seeing, but it's there. Lena blinks once and twice as she holds out a seat for Nia and takes the one beside her. Kara then reaches into her bag and hands the junior two granola bars, rolling her eyes fondly at the chaste kiss on the cheek she receives. 

The trio's staring comes to an end as the rest of their group takes their seats, blocking their view. Lena had just emerged from drowning but now feels like she's been dunked in freezing water. "Damn, Kara doesn't share her food with anyone.. other than you," Jess states, lamely chewing on a fry and flinching as Sam swats at her again. Lena decides to ignore the stinging at the back of her eyes and shifts her attention.

"Forget about me for a second. What's going on with you guys lately?" They stare at her, looking for reassurance, and deflate when she raises an eyebrow, refusing to let them sway her. Sam sighs wistfully and leans in, making the other two follow foot. "Alex asked me to prom!" She whisper-shouts, and Jess jerks away, scowling at her. Lena smiles, not because she feels obligated to but because she's genuinely happy for the girl.

"And I assume you said yes?" She asks, toying with the straw that's been swishing in her bottle of water for the better part of their lunch break and forcing herself not to look at the table nearby. Sam fixes her with an unimpressed stare, and Lena chuckles, "Alright, sorry, of course you did.. I'm happy for you, Sam. You're both absolutely smitten with each other." Jess flicks a fry at her, feigning repulsion.

"It's honestly disgusting, and how would you know that? You aren't the one stuck with them at practice." Jess asks, ready to send another fry flying before Sam shoves her. Lena smiles, shaking her head at their familiar antics. "I know because Alex hasn't stopped looking over here." To Lena's horror, both girls whip their heads around to the older Danvers, and true to her word, Alex is already looking their way.

However, she flushes and turns back to her sister after being caught blatantly staring at Sam. Said girl is grinning from ear to ear, and Jess can't help but gag at her expression. "Like I said. Disgusting." They both share a laugh as Sam rolls her eyes and mutters under her breath. However, their enjoyment is cut short when she sees Veronica storming over, and Lena shoots up from her seat. "Lunch is basically over. I'll go and get a head start on Ms. Grant's class."  

The reason for their friend's actions isn't lost on Sam and Jess, but they stare down anyway. "But.. you haven't eaten yet?" Lena shrugs and grabs her water with a pained smile, "I'm fine. I'll have a catch-up later, alright?" She knows it's a long shot, mainly because Sam's basically their second mother. Veronica picks up speed, and Sam nods begrudgingly, "Alright, go on, but you better eat something, Luthor." Lena stands up straight and gives them a faux salute before spinning on her heel.

By the time she reaches the door, the bell goes off, and she's never been more grateful for perfect timing. She pushes the door open to leave, but not before catching sight of Kara laughing alongside Nia. Her heart clenches uncomfortably where it sits in her chest, and she forces herself to tear her gaze away. Unfortunately, the box she labeled Kara all those years ago now decides to make an appearance, and the interaction between the two girls is stored, much to her irritation.

It's not like Lena even has a right to be annoyed. She isn't dating Kara- hell, they're barely even friends at the moment! Maybe that's why she's annoyed. They aren't friends, but Kara and Nia are, or in the worst-case scenario, they're dating. Lena scorns the thought and takes a deep breath, remembering her friendship with Veronica and how suffocating everything was. 

It doesn't matter how she feels about Kara and Nia. Her first priority is getting back in the girl's good graces, her feelings be damned. She refused to make her- and she hates to say it, but she refuses to let her jealously blind her like it had the once kind and thoughtful Veronica, corrupting her and turning her into something unrecognizable.

She's almost home after deciding to walk because her friends have practice and thought the fresh air would do her some good. What she really meant was that she needed a good amount of alone time to come up with a plan to make up with Kara. It's when she's dragging her feet up her block that her vision begins flickering, and her head starts spinning. She shifts her body so she tumbles on her ass rather than anywhere else. 

Forgetting to eat was probably a stupid decision. Well, non-decision since she didn't decide to do it, she forgot. She opens one eye when the impact doesn't come and is surprised to be met with concerned blue ones. "Hey, it's alright, you're alright." Lena's still gaping helplessly as Kara slowly lowers them onto the pavement. Her expression never varies, even as Kara rummages through her bag and shoves a small stack of granola bars in her arms.

"Eat.. please." She requests, eyeing the treats she's just given away. When Lena fails to respond, Kara huffs, grabs a bar back, and rips it open, handing it back. "Lena, you have to eat." When her brain finally catches up, she nods dumbly, takes the bar, and bites into it. It's more chocolate than granola, but she doesn't mind as she chews it and takes another needed bite. Beside her, Kara sighs in relief, rubbing her hands together. Another tick, Lena supposes. The girl only ever does it if stuck in an uncomfortable situation and needs something to do.

Lena internally berates herself for being the reason the girl feels the need to soothe herself. Not really sure of what to do now, she glances around until her attention lands on the pile of calories in her arms. Kara clears her throat and rubs her neck hesitantly, "Uh, my friend.. Nia, you probably know her. She's a junior?" Lena nodded slowly, pleased Kara hadn't caught her dismay at the mention of the girl. Kara nods, satisfied with the response.

"She's uh hypoglycemic? But, yeah, anyway, she's just so happy and excited about everything, especially the new journalism class, you know, the one taught by Ms. Grant? Anyway, she's just so eager, and usually, that wouldn't be a bad thing because I'm a hyper person, or so I've been told, and so I would never bring someone else down for being the same, but she's hypoglycemic." She emphasizes the word by flailing her arms around, and a few kids across the street quicken their pace, glancing at her weirdly. 

Lena knows what that means. She grew up with a borderline obsessive interest in medical shows and movies that had her family convinced she'd at least be a surgeon when she got older. Eventually, the appeal wore off, and Lena never once looked back at her Grey's Anatomy phase. However, she silently thanks younger her because now she understands that Kara's explaining that Nia suffers from low blood sugar, which is what prompts her to glance back at the snacks in realization. 

"And so she's always forgetting to eat, even with all the alarms I set on her phone. So, like the good citizen and friend I am, I walk around with snacks for her. I don't even like that brand.." It's as if she's hit with a memory because she tenses up again, non-discretely shifting her body from Lena, who's watching with a tight throat. And Lena knows exactly which memory because it's the same one that's been replaying in her head since Kara ran out. 

"Guess you'll have to remove that from the pros section," Kara says out of the blue, eyes instantly widening like she hadn't meant to actually voice the thought aloud. She sounded so discouraged that it took Lena everything in her not to wrap the girl in a hug and apologize profusely. Instead, she finishes her snack, crumbling the wrapper in her hand, and turns to the inattentive blonde.

"It was Veronica." Pulled from a daze, Kara turns to her, forehead crinkling and looking as confused as she should be with zero context. Lena sighs, toying with another chocolate bar. "The list. Veronica made it, Kara. I played zero part in it- well, maybe a tiny bit because I truly do love your eyes, but either way, I should've stopped her." She takes a deep breath before risking a glance at the girl beside her. Said girl was, staring at her impassively, scanning her face for something Lena wasn't sure of. 

"There is absolutely nothing about you I believe is a con. You're really a wonderful person, and I enjoy every minute of our time together, even if it's just a few minutes in the hallway before class.." Kara's expression softens, and she looks away, thinking of something before meeting Lena's eyes once more. "So what are you saying?" She asks, and Lena hears the subtle implication toning her words. 

"I'm sorry, Kara. For what I didn't do and for what she did.. You genuinely mean a lot to me, and I'm sorry I took that- our friendship for granted." She can feel the sting behind her eyes, but she refuses to let them drift from those ocean-blue ones. Hell, she doesn't think she could even if she wanted. "I understand you're hurt, and that's something I would never want for you.. could you forgive me? I promise I'll do better, Kara." She sounds whiny and oh so desperate, but God, what she wouldn't do to make up with her again.

To her confusion, Kara smiles, nodding, "To be honest, I already forgave you when you told me it was Veronica. It hurt when I thought that's what you thought of me, but I could give a rat's ass about what Veronica thinks." And she shrugs. The laugh that escapes Lena's throat is strangled and filled with delight for the anomaly beside her. "But if you need it in words, I forgive you, Lena. And I'm sorry that I didn't give you a proper chance to explain earlier. Also, please eat another bar." 

Kara Danvers really is a weirdo, Lena thinks, and not for the first time, either. She's apologizing to Lena for being upset, hurt and unapproachable when Lena and Veronica gave her every right to feel and behave that way. Lena's lingering sentiments for Veronica increase even more, and she strains a smile as she bites into one of the sugar-induced treats. Kara huffs, seemingly content, and turns her attention to the squirrel clambering the tree before them.

They sit in comfortable silence, with Kara watching the animals within a visual distance and Lena watching her. Today's windy, a welcomed change in weather from the usually warm temperatures. Lena licks her bottom lip, crumbling the second wrapper slowly. "Veronica told me she liked me." Kara doesn't even flinch from the disruption in stillness, and Lena wonders if she isn't as absentminded as she assumed. 

She observes with interest as Kara raises her head, squinting at the sun, barely obscured by the few clouds floating around. Her face scrunches up adorably, and Lena struggles to hold back a chuckle. "Though I told her I didn't feel the same way.. well, for her at least." That catches Kara's attention because she whips her head back to Lena, who's shocked it didn't break. "Oh." Is all she says, and then Lena really does chuckle.

"Yeah, what a shame.. for her." That reels a laugh from Kara, and Lena's heart soars because she hasn't heard it in too long. By now, they've been sitting on the curb for over an hour, and students have already started making their way home from their afterschool activities. Then, a thought hits Lena, and she glances at the walking students and Kara. "Don't you have practice today?" The girl hums an affirmative, running a hand through her hair.

"Uh yeah, but I promised Jeremiah I'd help with the graduation decorations I'm supposed to know nothing about." Lena snorts, shaking her head, missing the tender look on Kara's face. Kara knocks their shoulders together with a playful smile, "Well, be grateful I agreed, or otherwise, you would've been on the sidewalk spread like a starfish. Could you imagine what someone would think if they found you?" She laughs at her own joke, and Lena tosses her wrappers at her in feigned annoyance. 

What a sight they probably made. A tall, grinning blonde in her basketball uniform holding up a chocolate bar and a smaller blushing (basically) brunette grabbing for the said chocolate bar. The sight probably resembled one from when they were younger, from the time they met to the times they sat there doing jackshit together. Before Lena literally threw herself over the girl's lap for the stupid treat she didn't even want that much, she shot up, smiling at the frown on Kara. "I've got an idea. Wait here." 

And with that, she runs the few steps to her house and rummages in a cluttered drawer her mother refuses to organize. She grabs what she was searching for with a sound of satisfaction and heads back to Kara. She drops her loot on the ground in between them, her heart clenching at the sight of Kara's confused smile. "Remember how we'd always get bored and paint the sidewalk?" Kara glances at the chalk in her hands, looks back up, grinning, and stretches blue chalk to Lena.

"You were never really good at art. How about I draw, and you color in the sky?" She suggests, laughing at the scowl settled on Lena's face. She rolls her eyes, muttering under her breath, and together, they spend their time drawing themselves. Somewhere along the line, with little dispute, Kara decided their stick figures (because Lena truly couldn't draw for shit) should be holding hands. Both girls ignore the coolness of the wind and the curious stares as they continue with their portrait. 

Kara even decided to split the last chocolate bar as a show of reconciliation but quickly changed her mind and gave her piece to Lena as well when she bit into it and remembered why she hadn't liked it in the first place. Once they finished, they stood, beaming at their work proudly. Kara's stick figure is taller than Lena's; it has yellow string hair and peach-colored skin, wearing a white dress. Lena's figure is wearing terribly drawn overalls, black hair spilling down her shoulders, and her skin is colored with white chalk (Because Kara's actually an asshole).

Together, they tilt their heads and quickly turn their heads to stare at each other with realization. They burst into a fit of knowing laughter, Kara wrapping an arm around Lena's shoulder. They drew their first encounter. Kara had been wearing her white dress, the one her biological mother bought her before she passed, and Lena in overalls because she thought dresses were scratchy at the time and just really wanted to piss her mom off. 

"If you girls are done canoodling over there, I'd really like some help before Eliza comes home, Kara!"  They both whip around to an unamused Jeremiah holding a ladder. Kara slaps her head, "Duh! Totally forgot there was a reason I left practice early." Lena shakes her head and pushes her forward playfully. Kara turns to her, walking across the street backward. "I'll see you tomorrow?" Lena searches the road for incoming cars, "Yeah, sure, get out of the street. A car's coming!" 

The girl doesn't seem phased and tilts her head, "And you'll eat a big dinner to make up for today?" Lena rolls her eyes, panic starting to swell up in her. "Yes, Kara! Now for fucks sake, get out of the road!" Kara shrugs and does a little hop onto the other side of the sidewalk, and the car passes where she was previously standing. Completely unphased, she winks and finally turns to help her adoptive father, who smacks her head and shoves the ladder in her arms. 

Lena laughs at the display and turns to look back at their spur-of-the-moment work. Then, reaching into her back pocket for her phone, she snaps a picture of it, staring longingly at it for a few more moments before grabbing her bag that's been abandoned since she basically fell in Kara's arms and making her way inside. She leans back on the door, dropping her bag where she stands. 

"Ahem."

She whips her head to the kitchen doorway where her mother's leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed, wearing a smug expression. "Looks like you had.. fun." Lena throws her head back on the door in annoyance because, of course, her mother saw them. The older woman holds her arms up as a show of resignation, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Dinner's almost ready; go wash up." And she plants a kiss on her daughter's head when Lena walks over. Then they go their separate ways, a thought occurring to Lena halfway up the stairs. 

She walks back down to the kitchen, blinking at her mother. "Hey, mom?" The woman hums in response, and Lena shifts to her other foot. "How did Dad ask you to prom?" She pauses and turns to her daughter questioningly. Then, wiping her hands with a cloth, she gestures for Lena to sit at the island, and so she does. She lowers the fire under the pot, and Lena prepares herself for the overly-explained story that's coming her way. 

She takes a deep breath in her seat between Sam and Jess, an acting barrier against Alex Danvers. It wasn't long before Alex got the truth about Kara's behavior from her sister, and since then, Lena's been actively avoiding her, which would've been a lot easier if the redhead weren't dating one of her best friends. The two girls clearly couldn't wait to indulge themselves at prom and decided to begin their gross relationship from now.

Like now, Alex's eyes are about ready to shoot lasers at her, and Sam interlaces their hands, diverting her attention completely. They turn into blushing messes as they look anywhere but at each other, and Lena has to thank the gods above for her self-determination not to make eye contact with the girl. Alex hadn't wanted her at her sister's game, even if it was their last game before graduation, and Lena had every right to be there.

Even if Lena showed no interest in sports until Kara began talking to her because, by that point, Lena was the biggest fan.. of whatever sport they were talking about at the time. Jess clears her throat, elbowing her out of her head. She barely winces before she realizes there are only a few seconds left on the clock- of the game. By now, the bleachers were quiet, and even Alex had relinquished her glare at Lena to stare at her sister, who was running across the court, ball dribbling in her hand.  

Lena's breath halts, and she can't determine if it's the beat of her heart she's hearing or the beats of the drums below the bleachers. She's on the edge of her seat as the clock resumes ticking down to zero. Then, halfway across the court, Kara comes to a stop, and before anyone can even blink, she's throwing the ball through the air. With Lena's dignity put on hold, her head follows the ball all the way into the opposite basket. Huh, well, she was declared captain for a reason.

Her side of the bleachers spring up, erupting into cheers, and Lena's heart soars as Kara's teammates run over to congratulate her. Then, nodding contently, Lena stands and makes her way through the euphoric crowd. Her heart never wavers, even as she enters the deserted hallway; everyone's behind her in the gym. On shaky legs, she walks to the nearest storage closet and wheels out the board that, barely a month ago, could've ruined her life. She pushes it (With much-needed effort) to the main door of the gym.

To her annoyance (And exhaustion; she really isn't an athletic person), the board bumps into something. Well, someone, it seems, because Veronica steps out from behind it, eyes trained on the board's contents. Then she turns to Lena, who's trying to steady her breathing, refusing to show weakness to the brunette. Veronica just sighs and steps out of the way, seemingly admitting defeat, and Lena barely resists the urge to smirk as she rolls the board through the door.

As planned, the people who have Kara hoisted up on their shoulders nod at her before carefully lowering the blonde. Then they all step away, leaving a confused Kara in their wake. Reality finally sets in as Lena takes a deep breath. But by now, there isn't anything to do about it because she literally planned this whole thing, and it'd be a complete waste to wuss out now while Kara is currently standing there by herself in utter bewilderment.

For the past two months, Kara has repeatedly asked her to prom and has been patient when given the same uncertain response. Lena's indecisiveness hasn't once come in the way of their friendship, but what did was that stupid list. The same list that hurt the one person she'd run a guy over to prevent from being anything but happy. Finally taking pity on the winning captain, she steps onto the court, the board rolling shakily beside her. A wave of hush rolls over the crowd as their attention lands on her.

She's a few steps away when Kara finally spots her and smiles, not even bothering to ask for an explanation. Lena glances down before she stares at Kara for a second too long, and her conviction wears off. She rolls the board between them with a shaky breath, gesturing at it uselessly. What she was about to do seemed a lot simpler and way less nerve-wracking in the generic romcoms she watched the night prior to this moment. 

It should be easy. Apologize, explain your part, and ask the big question.. easy, right? Not. She shakes her head and grabs the microphone shoved at her before it drops. Clearing her throat, she unscrews the marker that was peeking from out of her pocket and draws a line down the middle of the once clear board. 

"I know you said you couldn't give.. a rat's ass about what Veronica thought, was it? But what she said- what you thought I said still hurt you. I'm sure no one believes whatever was on that list was true, but you did, and it clearly had an influence." With a deep sigh at the puzzling look on Kara's face, she turns to the board. In all actuality, it probably took three minutes, but it felt like an eternity to Lena, who couldn't quite stop shaking and block out the hushed whispers from the crowds.  

Once finished, she caps the marker and spins on her heel to find Kara in the same spot, her gaze so soft and patient Lena might just collapse on her already weak legs. She soundlessly steps aside, the room respectively going mute. 

Pros:

• Intelligent
• Valedictorian
• Decent teeth
• Responsible
• A great listener
• Patient
• Also a dork
• Loves jocks
• Rich

Cons:

• Has mediocre hair
• A social pariah
• Does not have a hot sister
• Never has snacks
• Has a therapist
• Really pale skin
• Can't do sports
• Forgets to eat
• Can't draw
• Not a jock
• Loves dogs
• Not a fighter 
• Has no idea how basketball works (sorry!)

Kara's silent, her face unreadable as her eyes scan the board. Lena would be ready to run away by this point, but the sparkle of amusement in her favorite blue eyes reminded her it was worth it. 

"Kara Zor-El-Danvers, will you go to prom with me?" That's what makes Kara's head snap to her, her mouth falling open in surprise. Lena shifts awkwardly to her other leg as she sees the matching expression on everyone else's face, excluding Alex, who looks like there's steam shooting from her ears. 

"I don't really know where that would go on my list." Lena trails out, gesturing lamely at the list. Taking a leap of faith, she steps forward, holding out the marker, her bottom lip held captive by her teeth, a trait Veronica never found quite as appealing. Kara, who must pick up on her discomfort, takes the offering and steps up to the board. Then, she tilts her head thoughtfully, "I might have to think about this." She admits, and Lena feels her heart drop and her hands begin to shake. 

Then, the cap's out the marker and Kara's scribbling under a section Lena can't see. Standing unsurely, she glances up at her friends in the bleachers and chuckles at their shared thumbs up and looks of encouragement. 

"Okay! Thought about it," Kara declares loud enough for everyone dangling off their seats to get a better look at the display. Then, she steps aside to reveal the new addition to Lena's Pros.

• Gets the girl

If Lena didn't know any better, she'd say that the cheers from both crowds were even louder than they were for the actual game. But she isn't thinking now, no, she's only beaming at the girl of her dreams because- she got the girl of her dreams. Then, without any warning, Kara picks her up by her waist, spinning her around in circles, all while she laughs in absolute delight. 

When her feet touch the ground, she finally regains awareness and looks around giddily at the overjoyed room. 

"I'll have you know that you don't have a single con, not to me, not ever." Kara declares solemnly, cradling Lena's face in her hands. Trying not to cry, Lena lets out a teary chuckle instead.

"Well, good, because I definitely can't win a fight against your sister." Lena feels as if she could fly when the Danvers crinkle makes a long-awaited appearance. 

"Why would you need to fight Alex?" She asks genuinely, an adorable pout marking her face. Lena leans into her touch, holding the girl's hands on her face in her own. 

"For your hand, of course." The second it leaves her mouth, she wants to die. She winces at possibly the corniest line to ever cross her lips when she feels Kara's lips against hers. 

Well, Kara was a dork, after all. 

They stand there for what feels like forever, wholly lost in a world of their own. It's all Lena's been dreaming of since she met Kara. She'd seen her beautiful smile, heard her infectious laugh, and felt her abs through her tank top when they'd hug, so all that was missing was her taste. Up until now, she supposes, as her arms hang loosely from Kara's neck, the other girl's hands encircled around her waist.  

"Ahem." A weary voice announces, and Lena begrudgingly moves to pull away. However, Kara has other ideas and instead tightens her hold, flushing their bodies together, staring completely uninterested at the arrival. Lena feels the blonde's scowl against her cheek and laughs freely as she tugs at her baby hair. 

"That was absolutely disgusting. Like, I like Sam, like really like her, but that was really revolting to watch." Alex chides, shaking her head like a grumpy old lady. It's when Sam reaches for her girlfriend's arm that Alex deflates and wraps an arm around the brunette instead. 

"Were you bullying them?" Sam asks knowingly and receives a faux scoff in return.

"Of course not! I was just granting Luthor here my blessing." She lies straight through her teeth, kissing Sam's cheek shamelessly.

"Good thing Sam's a fighter," Jess jokes to Lena, completely disregarding Kara's burning glare toward Alex. Lena turns to Kara at this, grinning with childlike glee. Kara softens instantly, leaning forward to knock their foreheads together. Then, utterly wistfully,

"Yeah, good thing."