Is There Somewhere?

Bad Intentions - Niykee Heaton

A/N: Send me your thoughts on these chapters, I'd love to hear them :) ~TGF

Clarke was just getting ready to head out of the coffee shop when she saw them. She was sitting in her own little corner, minding her business as she went through the paperwork Marcus had sent over about the art studio. She had been promoted to manager nearly four months ago after the gala. She was in charge of paperwork, finding artists and designing anything new inside of the studio. It was a difficult job that took up most of her time.

She leaned back in her seat, finally finished scanning over an email about a potential part-time employee had sent. It was sometimes annoying when they continued to pester by calling and emailing, but Clarke had to admit that it was helpful with keeping her mind in order. She opened the little notebook she always carried to jot down that she needed to get back with the girl as soon as possible before shutting it.

Leaning back in her chair she grabbed her coffee and took a sip before examining her surroundings for the first time in about an hour. This place was where she went every Thursday afternoon when the studio was closed early so she could get work done outside of her office. Sometimes it just helped to be away from the place that she was constantly at to clear her mind and think properly.

Clarke's phone buzzed and the screen lit up with a text message before she got a good look at the coffee shop and its inhabitants. She unlocked the screen and opened the message.

Lexa [3:42 pm]: Meet me Sunday?

With a smile, Clarke picked up her phone and tapped the message bar to pull up her keyboard. Her fingers hesitated over the letters as she tried to figure out if her schedule was open. They normally met up during the day when Lexa didn't have work and Costia was busy doing something.

At the thought of Costia, Clarke's smile fell and she put her phone down. Suddenly the coffee wasn't settling well in her stomach. She felt sick. She was being a homewrecker again and she knew it. But she still wasn't stopping it. This time was different.

After Finn she'd been so lost and heartbroken and self-loathing that she needed to find some sort of outlet. That outlet happened to come in a drunken decision to sleep with Lexa the night of the gala and then continue to make the mistake of seeing her when she knew it wasn't smart.

But God, Clarke couldn't resist. It was like a magnet that pulled her to Lexa and whenever she promised herself that she wouldn't go again, her resolve crumbled the instant Lexa texted her. Or maybe it crumbled the instant she had a too stressful day and she texted the infuriating brunette in a sudden lapse of judgement. But damn did that lapse pay off once they were together.

It was like every switch was turned off except for one. Every thought she had was drowned out by the feeling of Lexa's lips and the tension from her day was swept away wherever Lexa's fingertips brushed her skin. And sometimes she was just too exhausted afterwards to think, which really didn't make it a bad thing.

Clarke was drawn out of her thoughts by the ding of the entrance bell and her head jerked up to see who it was. Speak of the devil, she thought as her heart began pounding in her chest. Lexa was there, dressed in one of her tailored work suits with her hair cascading down her back in loose tendrils.

Clarke had the sudden image of running her fingers through it and yanking on it. But the image was quickly wiped away when a head of curls followed behind her. Costia.

Clarke sucked in a sharp breath, along with a gulp of piping hot coffee that went scorching down her esophagus. The heat sent her sputtering and coughing loudly from her corner and drew the attention of over half of the shop—including Lexa. Clarke still hadn't taken her eyes off of her, even while choking and making a fool of herself.

Lexa didn't show any signs of recognition besides the sudden raising of her eyebrows that could have passed for passive concern about a stranger's wellbeing. Of course she didn't, Lexa had a mask she hid behind. One of those looks that was carefully controlled and could be considered bored. Nothing really seemed to surprise her when she was like that.

Costia stood just behind Lexa who had stopped in her tracks when her eyes had fallen upon that dazzling blonde hair shining in the light filtering through the floor length window. She raised an eyebrow at Lexa as if wondering if she'd gone completely daft and forgotten how to walk. Costia was a small, dark and curly haired woman with an attitude—from what Clarke knew, she'd never met her. But Clarke didn't like her, for multiple reasons, some of them being the way she treated Lexa.

Even if the two weren't an item and never would be, Clarke still cared about Lexa's wellbeing. They didn't do too much talking when they were together, too intoxicated with the other to really do anything remotely related to speaking. But whenever Lexa did mention anything about Costia it was with a sadness tinged with bitterness that implied things weren't going too well. Who really cheated when they were in a good relationship anyway?

Lexa turned away finally, after a jab in the ribs from Costia. They moved to the counter and closer to where Clarke was sitting. The blonde averted her eyes, afraid that if she kept staring Costia would some how managed to connect the dots she hadn't been able to connect in months.

Guilt twisted in Clarke's gut, but she pushed it down with the thought that Costia was a bitch and Lexa deserved better. She unlocked her phone and reread Lexa's text message, clenching her jaw at the impure images of the two of them together as she mulled over her options.

If she didn't go see Lexa she would be forced to wait another week or two before either of them were free. Clarke didn't have much time in the coming weeks because of a show she had been working on for the last couple of months. Her time would be taken up working on the finishing touches. If she did, her feelings would get all fucked up again like they always did. But, a part of her liked the confusion even if another part just felt guilty and depressed over what she was doing.

When she looked up again, she found both girls heading back towards the exit, two fresh coffees in their hands. Lexa held the door open for her girlfriend, who ignored her with her face plastered to her phone screen. Costia's free hand moved quickly over the keyboard, typing a text or email.

Clarke [3:57 p.m.]: Always

The blonde glanced up once the message had sent and watched as Lexa let the door close behind her. She tried to catch up to Costia before pausing and pulling her phone from her pocket. Clarke caught the hint of a smile as she opened it, before her head came up and she glanced back in through the window, searching.

Lexa winked once her eyes met Clarke's and typed a quick response the blonde couldn't help but grin at even if she'd wanted to.

Lexa [3:58 p.m.]: See you then.

The brunette was a woman of few words, Clarke knew. But she knew those three meant more than just what they were. Maybe looking forward to it or even can't wait to see you. At least, that was what Clarke hoped for.