Everything's Changed

41

"Ah, Lexa!" Her mother said in a polite manner.

Lexa had lived in a mansion from a very wealthy family- she hated it. Her father, a director, and her mother, book writer. They had sent her to Arkadia with her long-time best friend Anya so Lexa would, maybe, socialize.

"Mother, I brought a friend," Lexa said.

"Why hello, I'm Indra." The woman smiled.

"Clarke Griffin."

Once Clarke had said her name, the woman seemed to flinch a bit. She had most likely heard the name 'Griffin' before.

"Aden and Anya are next door." Lexa said. "Sorry we weren't here for Thanksgiving."

"It's fine dear." Indra gave a fake smile but glared at Lexa with her cold brown eyes- one Clarke would never notice.

"I'll tell you more about it later." Lexa said. "We're going next door. Is father there?"

"Your father missed Thanksgiving for a film shoot." Indra said. "I'll be at Nia's soon."

Lexa nodded and then went up the stairs, Clarke following, with their bags. She wandered around the long hallways until she got to her bedroom. She opened the door, which creaked slightly, and revealed a completely white and modern looking room. There were professional photoshoots of Lexa all over the walls. There were some paintings and posters that were hung around some places- not many really though.

Lexa sat their bags down next to her bed, which had a black and white stripped bedspread. "Sorry for my mother, my family's pretty strict about a lot of things."

Clarke had been looking at the photoshoots of Lexa and she was astonished by the coloring and lighting. "It's fine." Clarke grinned. "I love these photos."

"I protested about putting them on my walls." Lexa sighed. "I'd much rather have posters and paintings."

"I think that it makes the room complete." Clarke shrugged. "Anyways, this house is too bright and my eyes are starting to hurt. Can we go to Anya's?"

"Sure, but Anya's house is vibrant and colorful."

"That's fine."

The girls walked back down the stairs and caught Indra in a pretty intense phone call with a client, most likely. They snuck past the kitchen and then to the front door. "Like a ninja." Clarke giggled as they exited the house.

"Damn right." Lexa nodded. "Anya's house is the one across the street."

Clarke saw a beautiful yellow brick house. Her mouth agape at the beauty and how unique the house was. She had loved the idea of a yellow brick house. "I might move in."

Lexa crossed the empty street, Clarke running to catch up. Once they got to the giant front porch, Lexa opened the front door like she lived there. Well, she did most of the time. Her parents were too busy so Lexa would go to Anya's to entertain herself.

"Lexa!" An older woman smiled as she greeted Lexa with a hug. "ADEN!"

Lexa smiled at the woman's humbled side. "And this is Clarke."

"Nice to meet you darling." Nia smiled. "Ignore my son if he gets all batshit crazy. He's at that stage, sneaking out and girls."

"You don't have to tell everyone that." The blonde boy groaned as he came down the stairs.

"He's sixteen." Nia rolled her eyes. "Anya was much worse at his age."

"WAS NOT!" Anya's voiced boomed from behind them.

"Come, have some coffee." Nia said as she headed through the skinny hallway and into the kitchen.

Clarke followed Nia with astonishment. She had never seen a house with such extraordinary walls and decorations. She really felt comfortable in this house and not to mention the positive vibes it gave off to Clarke.

When Clarke entered the kitchen, it was like a beach theme. The walls were sky blue with white clouds. The counter looked like wood and the cabinets looked like straw. Clarke took a seat in on of the straw material seats at the island and so did Lexa.

"How do you like your coffee?"

"Iced is fine." Clarke said.

"Black I guess." Lexa shrugged.

"Stop being emo." Nia scolded. "I'll give you black coffee because you're never around and I missed you along with Aden."

"So what's up with Aden?"

"We're sending him off next year for his junior year to Wayward Private Academy." Nia sighed. "He's smart enough but he needs discipline- which the school offers to help with- and he needs to learn to grow up."

Just then, Aden sprayed silly string in Lexa's hair who turned around swiftly and glared at him. It was the kind of 'I'm going to kill you' glare and then he bolted. Lexa got up and went to the bathroom.

"So, where are you from?" Nia asked as she put Clarke's coffee in a plastic cup with ice.

"Born in New Orleans and raised in New Jersey." Clarke said. "We just came from New Orleans."

"You must be pretty important to Lexa if she went with you." Nia grinned.

"I guess." Clarke shrugged. "I don't really know."

When Lexa returned, Anya did as well. They all sat at the island, talking about school and stories from their past. It felt like home in Anya's house and no one had the slightest clue why the house was so humble and homelike. Maybe it was because of the decoration and walls or how unique it was.

//

Lexa had been in the bathroom and Clarke had passed out on the air mattress in her room. Lexa walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen for a late night snack. She hadn't realized her mother was awake and in the kitchen, on her MacBook, with a cup of coffee.

"You doing some late night writing?" Lexa asked.

"Something like that." Indra responded. "How was your Thanksgiving?"

"Enjoyable." Lexa grinned as she took a seat across from Indra at the round table. "There were a bunch of boys and we played video games. Although, uhm, Costia was there with Clarke's stepbrother."

"I'm sorry, what?" Indra said, looking up from her screen.

"It's fine. Her stepdad took care of her because they had realized she was in a gang." Lexa shrugged.

"She didn't try to assault you or anything?"

"No, it's all good." Lexa said.

"Get some rest. Your father should be home tomorrow before you leave." Indra said.

"Good night." Lexa said and got up, hoping to hear the words back. But they never echoed back to her.

Lexa walked up the stairs and into her room where Clarke was asleep, or so she thought that Clarke was. Lexa closed the door quietly, hoping not to wake Clarke up.

"Hey." Clarke croaked.

"Thought you were asleep." Lexa murmured.

"No, I'm just resting my eyes." Clarke sighed.

"Hey Clarke, is it okay if I took you on a date here in San Fran?"

"Sure, I've never been to San Fran."

"Now you have."