Love Hate Relationship

Chapter 90

The following afternoon Clarke was out in the backyard combing Oliver. She brushed and brushed, creating a mountain of hair that clumped and blew around the yard. Oliver would pull away and chase his own hair, coming back to Clarke with wisps of golden fur sticking out of his mouth at comical angles. He was the clown that always managed to make Clarke laugh, even in these darkest hours.

Clarke was sporting some heavy circles under her eyes this morning. It took hours to fall asleep last night. Hours of rehashing the conversation with Aden. The minute and a half conversation. How she could analyze that short chat for hours upon hours was beyond her. But she knew this, there was no way she could go to Lexa and ask for another chance now. It wasn't fair. Lexa deserved a chance with Costia. Who came with less complications she was sure.

Then when sleep finally came, it brought the cruelest of dreams. Lexa and Clarke at the beach. With two young children. One golden-haired little girl with devilish blue eyes and a happy-go-lucky boy with curly brown hair and an infectious laugh. And they were all so happy. And Lexa looked at Clarke with such love. All too soon the dream was over, and Clarke was waking up to the reality of losing her baby and losing the love of her life.

Before she could wander precipitously down the path of depression, Raven and Octavia burst out of the back door.

"Yo Clarkie! We brought fucking lunch!" Raven called.

Clarke had been so antisocial for the past three weeks that she hadn't seen her besties. They chatted on the phone and texted, but that was about it. Finally, they made plans to get together today for lunch, and Clarke was looking forward to hanging out with them. This is what she needed. Some F bombing and good times with her friends.

Raven and Octavia walked onto the porch waving takeout bags. "We got Chinese. Nothing like a little MSG to perk you up," O said triumphantly.

"And rot your insides," Raven added.

"And cause brain damage," O explained.

"And make you go blind," Raven concluded.

"Well, sign me up." Clarke went over to give them each a hug and a kiss. "Hey girlies, thanks for stopping over and bringing some poison."

Raven opened the bags and started putting boxes on the glass top table. "How you feeling?"

"Not too bad. I think I'm getting through it. Every day is a little bit better."

Raven looked around. "Where's Phil?"

"Ugh. I chased him away. He's golfing. He's been hovering over me like a mother hen and driving me nuts. You guys wanna beer or something?"

"I will," O said.

Raven groaned. "No."

Clarke did a double take. "No beer for you? Since when do you turn down a beer with your Chinese food?"

"Since I'm hung the fuck over, that's when."

"Why are you hungover?" Clarke went into the kitchen to get beverages and plates for everyone.

"We were at the bar last night..." Octavia stopped herself from continuing, getting a warning look from Raven. Clarke was inside and didn't notice.

"You got hammered at the bar?" Clarke asked, coming back out and setting the table, placing a bottle of water in front of Raven.

Raven shrugged and tried to change the subject. "Guess how we spent our Saturday?"

Everyone dug into the various boxes and doled out food onto their plates.

"Pass me the egg rolls please," O said.

Clarke passed O the egg rolls and a cup of lo mein. "Uh...I don't know. How did you spend your Saturday?"