Hey Princess

I'm Ok, Just Not Feeling Well

Lexa POV

I rush through the crowded halls to get to where Anya is waiting for me. I am always slightly late nowadays since I accompany Clarke to her bus every day, so Anya and Aden are kind of used to it. As I am walking, I see an elbow jut out in my direction. I sidestep it and try to keep moving. It seemed intentional but I need to get home, so I give the person the benefit of the doubt. I feel someone behind me, stalking me, following my every move. Soon the crowd thins until the hall is empty and I finally turn around and see that Bellamy kid. He's mildly annoying even with Clarke around to keep him on best behavior, so I'm not excited to see what this is about. 

"Can I help you Shaggy?" I ask exasperatedly.

"Yeah Raccoon Eyes, you can stay away from her," he replies boldly. I sigh.

"What are you on about Mop Head?"

"Clarke. She clearly doesn't like you in that way and it's just pathetic, you following her around like a frickin' guard dog or something," he spits out.

"And you know this how? Did she tell you when you were fucking in the janitors closet during 4th period...? Oh, wait, no that was just your dream last night because she doesn't like you, so back off just because I have the chance that you've always wanted," I spit back aggressively. Today has been too much. I walk past him, unceremoniously shoving him as I pass. He grabs hold of my arm and I immediately tense. I rip my arm away from him, leaving deep scratch marks where his fingernails took root.

"I've been doing a little digging about you. Found out all about that dead family of yours. Dead mother, dead father, dead girlfriend, poor Anya forced to take care of two whiny brats when she should've been out enjoying high school parties. And a certain young Lexa Woods found right in the middle of all of those deaths, constantly questioned and always held as a suspect. Is that something Clarke knows about you, Miss. High and Mighty?" he sneers, using a gloating tone because he clearly knows he's won for now. 

It's almost like a chest of memories I kept locked far away has just burst open. My body shudders as memory after memory slices through my skull. The edge of each thought acts like a match, each new thought striking against my brain and igniting a fire inside my head. Bellamy struts past me and this time he's the one who slams into my shoulder. I have nothing to stop the momentum so I just fall to my knees staring blankly through the empty hallway. 

Minutes or months later, I feel strong hands picking me up. Anya is there, followed by Aden who grabs my bag and follows us out to the parking lot. The whole world feels black and white, like a silent film with no depth. Anya says nothing. Aden says nothing. I say nothing. Anya's strong grip is comforting and disconcerting all at once. She guides me to the car, opens the back door for me, and even helps me maneuver myself in. Aden slides in the passenger seat and Anya takes the wheel. She and he both make frequent glances towards me as if they're worried that I'll jump out into oncoming traffic otherwise. 

I start to calm down towards the end of the ride, my brain unfogging and the edges of my thoughts softening. I walk upstairs and take two Advil. I check my phone and I have several messages. Three from Clarke, the first saying hi to me after school, one where she apologized that she had to cancel meeting me tonight due to a Raven crisis, and the last one where she voiced concerns that I didn't respond to her first two texts. I had a few from Aden and Anya teasing me to stop hanging out with my gal pal and spend time with them instead. And the last one was from an unknown number with a picture of a news article. I would know that news article anywhere. I quickly delete that message. I text Clarke to let her know I was ok.

I take out my headphones and lay back on my bed while jamming them in my ears. I scroll through my songs until I find my go-to sad song, "Sadness Is Taking Over" by Flora Cash. I press play and let the first few notes wash over my body, allowing me to relax.

Clarke POV

"...So you see, this is why it's 100% necessary for you to ditch your little make-out session with Dark and Broody and instead help out your best friend," Raven concludes, smile in place as if she just presented the most convincing argument in the world. 

"You want me to ditch my incredibly hot girl- well I don't know what exactly we are but she's hot and she wants to kiss me... that's beside the point... you want me to ditch Lexa just to analyze how Anya looked at you today?" I ask, my voice going up in disbelief.

"Yup!" she says as if it's the most logical thing in the world.

"No!" I cry out, almost laughing in her face. I love her to death but this is ridiculous. 

"It'd be pretty embarrassing for you if Lexa somehow got a hand on those fifth-grade pageant photos..." she throws out mischievously. 

"You wouldn't," I growl.

"I don't know. That pink tiara was pretty precious. And that tutu? To die for..." she laughs as I charge at her and tackle her on the bed. 

"Well if that's how you're gonna play it, Anya might love seeing a small Raven at the science fair. Did I say at? I meant after, as in after your project blew up literally in your face and your hair defied gravity to stand on its own," I taunt back. She just laughs and shrugs out from under me.

"I won that science fair! Go ahead and show her how smart I've always been."

"finei'llhelpyou" I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" she teases, lifting a hand up to mockingly cup her ear.

"I'll help you with your stupid analysis," I grumble.

"Atta girl," Raven laughs. 

I glance down at my phone. My brow furrows when I notice they Lexa hasn't even read or responded to my previous text, an hour after I sent it. I send the second text anyways just to let her know our plans are off. Something about this is giving me a weird feeling but I try to push past it for Raven. 

"Ok, so what do you want to talk to me about?" I ask her.

"Well ok, today we had AP Chemistry together and we were actually partnered up together for the lab," Raven starts excitedly

"So what? Did your hands magically touch while passing the beaker?" I ask sarcastically.

"Well no, but she did say a total of seven sentences to me and I remember them all," she rushes out, genuinely excited about this number.

"And let me guess. Before I even try to stop you, you're going to bulldoze through my complaints and tell me everything she sai-" I start, but before I even finish my sentence the prediction comes true.

"Number one," Raven interrupts, "when we got over to the lab table she said 'Can you pass me that test tube?' but she didn't demand it like she usually does with other kids. She was actually being polite and considerate."

"Oh god, here we go," I groan under my breath.

"Number two. When I pointed out that our lab would be more effective if we did multiple trial runs she said 'Good idea, thanks' and I almost melted," she rambles on. 

I glance down at my phone, while periodically muttering "mhmm" and "yeah that's definitely a good sign." I type a text to Lexa, my worry getting the best of me, asking her where she is and why she isn't responding. Raven is already on sentence number six when Lexa texts. It's a simple text, just "I'm ok. Just not feeling well and I was lying down to try to sleep it off." She seemed perfectly fine the last time I saw her, but I don't want to overthink it too much.

"...what do you think?" Raven asks. 

"That she's definitely lying- oh wait never mind" I answer, still consumed in my own world of issues. Raven looks up at me with a concerned expression. 

"What's up, is something bothering you?" she asks sincerely. Behind her jokey exterior, she really does care a lot about her friends. 

"I'm fine," I say, flashing a quick smile. She looks like she doesn't buy it but she also doesn't comment on it.

"So, what do you think. She's totally into me right??" Raven continues joking.

"Totally," I laugh with her.