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Clarke pulled her jeep into the parking lot of the country club just as they were beginning to unlock the doors. She always clocked in at 6:30, with 15 minutes to spare before her shift started. It was now 7:00 and she was sure her boss was going to have her head. She'd never been late before and she would have been nervous, if it hadn't been for the unusual alibi she had this morning.
"By all means, Miss Griffin, take your time. It's not like there's a pool that needs guarding" her boss called from outside the women's locker room where Clarke was changing. "I'm so sorry, Thelonious, but you are never going to believe my excuse!" Clarke replied as she walked quickly out of the locker room to stand in front of the man. She shifted uncomfortably under the twisted straps of her bathing suit. She'd only had a few minutes to change and she would have to find time to fix those later.
The broad, burly man in front of her tapped his shoe on the floor and his index finger against his lips in rhythm as he gave her a questioning look. "Try me" he said.
Clarke took in a deep breath before continuing to describe the events of that morning to her boss. She only managed to embarrass herself a tiny bit when describing Lexa's appearance, but Jaha didn't seem to notice how her eyes glazed over a bit when she spoke of the mysterious savior in the leather jacket. She did, however, leave out the part about how Lexa seemed bring color to Clarke's fair skin and made her feel a bit breathless with a simple glance.
Clarke rocked back and forth on her heels nervously as Thelonious considered her story. "Alright Clarke, that seems to be too well thought up to be a lie, so I'll let it slide. This time. Besides, you are my best-and dare I say favorite-employee for many different reasons. You're free to go Clarke." She looked at him and smiled warmly, noting the conveyed message behind his words.
It was true, she was his best employee. But their families were also very close, and she had been best friends with Jaha's son, Wells, before he was stationed over seas. The thought of him made her eyes sting and she longed for him to come home. "Clarke? I said you're free to go. As in please report to your station now?" Thelonious broke Clarke's dazed state. She shook her head lightly, "Right, of course. Right away, sir " she responded offering him a playful salute of her hand as she hurried past him on her way to the pool.
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The morning shift was slow, as always. After all, not many people swim in the morning, with the exception of a couple dedicated athletes who show up early to get a few laps in before the boisterous kids and complaining housewives arrived. For Clarke, these a.m. hours were the perfect opportunity to get a little extra sleep.
As Clarke climbed up into her chair, the faint morning breeze raked its way across her body. It was abnormally cold for May in California, but she wasn't complaining. She happened to love a slight breeze. Once situated at her post, she nodded over to Lincoln, the other lifeguard with whom she shared the morning shift. He smiled back at her from across the pool.
"Hey, Linc, do you mind if I take a quick nap? I promise I won't be long" she called over the steady lap of water. Clarke could hear him chuckle slightly before answering "You ask me that every morning, Clarke. Even if I were to say no, I don't think that would stop you anyway. Just don't blame me if Jaha catches you." Clarke didn't respond, but instead waved her hand in the air as if swatting his words away from her.
Then she flicked her shades from atop her head to fall down onto the bridge of her nose. She rested one elbow on the arm of the wooden chair and supported the weight of her head against her hand. She'd had a long morning, and it was barely even 8:00. This day could not be over soon enough. She sighed deeply, feeling herself drift off into sleep.
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"Clarke. Hey Claaaarkkeee. Clarke! Come on, Griffin wake up!" Clarke felt a strong hand on her calf, shaking her leg violently. She inhaled sharply as she awoke, startled. She looked down from the chair to see Lincoln standing at the foot of it, an amused grin on his face.
"Sweet dreams, I take it?" he said with a laugh. She rolled her eyes at him, dismissing his question. "What time is it, even?" she asked, suddenly noticing the brightness of sun. Lincoln glanced down at his watch and said "It's quarter till nine. I would've let you sleep longer, but people are starting to show. Duty calls, Clarkey." He gave her leg one last pat before turning from her, his shaven head gleaming in the sun.
Clarke watched as he dove expertly into the water, sending droplets flying all over her skin. He emerged on the other side seconds later as Clarke was still trying to wipe the water off of her. Lincoln climbed up into his chair just as a small group of people came rushing through the door.
Shrieking kids with towels and floaties ablaze were charging towards the pool, followed by their spray-tanned, hair-sprayed mothers. Working at a country club had its ups and downs. One of the ups was definitely getting a glimpse of high-end life and seeing just how many times these "Real Housewives" rejects could complain in a day. It was a little game Clarke and Lincoln liked to play together to entertain themselves throughout the day.
Lincoln caught Clarke's eye and held up one finger as a lady in a stark white bath robe held her phone in her hand, pointed towards the sky. She grumbled about something being wrong with her service, and how was she supposed to make reservations for dinner if she couldn't call the restaurant?
Clarke giggled to herself as Lincoln mimicked the woman, holding his hand up high and hooking his left index finger and thumb to form a ring around his earlobe, representing the woman's inappropriately large hoop earrings. Lincoln was forced to return to acting professional, though, as he quickly blew his whistle at two kids who were attempting to jump over one another into the pool, leap-frog style.
Clarke's laughter faded and she was reminded again how boring her job could be at times. She grumbled to herself as she pressed the home button on her phone to check the time. 9:15. This meant only 2 hours and 45 minutes until her lunch break. She would be able to last until then, although the children shrieking and splashing dangerously close to her would definitely say otherwise.
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Clarke sat at a table in the staff break room, taking small bites of her sandwich. She was exhausted from the morning's shift, and she still had three hours to go. "Are you hearing anything I'm saying?" her friend asked from across the table. Octavia was one of Clarke's best friends, and she could tell when something was up with her.
Clarke knitted her eyebrows together. "Yeah I'm sorry O, I'm just tired" she said quietly. Octavia sighed, disregarding the story she was just telling "Okay Griffin, what's up?" Clarke exhaled slowly, puffing out her cheeks "Nothing. Well almost nothing. I guess I'm just still a little caught up with what happened this morning. It was pretty scary, but I'm lucky that girl showed up. I could be, like, dead right now or something."
Octavia bit the end off of a chip as she eyed Clarke carefully. "I can understand how being held up would be a bit scary, but have you thought maybe that isn't exactly what's got you all distracted?" she asked. Clarke gave her a confused look. "She had this gorgeous long brown hair with killer legs. O, you should have seen how brave she was!!" Octavia said dramatically, imitating her co-worker's previous description of Lexa.
Clarke tossed a chip at Octavia, who had broken into laughter. Clarke rolled her eyes, waiting for her friend to calm down. Her watch beeped from her wrist, signaling the end of Clarke's lunch break. She quickly gathered her things and stood from the table. "Octavia, don't be so childish. I told you, I'm just tired. Okay?" she asked, slightly beginning to laugh herself. Octavia raised her eyebrows and put her hands up in surrender "Ookay, Clarke. Whatever you say" Clarke rolled her eyes one more time before making her way out of the break room and into the lobby.
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"Sir, like I said, we aren't sure how she got in, all we know is that she's been in here all day without a pass." Clarke heard a voice drifting down the hall from the country club lobby. She heard her boss speak next, "Well who was the idiot who let someone in without a membership? She's been using our facilities all day without paying!" Oh no, Jaha was angry. He wasn't usually quick to anger, so whatever was going on was probably serious. Clarke made a mental note to sneak past him and out to the pool as quick as possible to avoid coming in contact with him.
She stopped in her tracks as she came to the end of the hall and finally got a look at who was in the lobby. "Look, Sir, if you would just give me like two minutes to explain myself I'm sure you'd see that this is all a big misunderstanding!" a familiar smooth voice spoke anxiously. Clarke stared at the tall, dark haired woman standing at the front desk with Jaha and another worker. Thelonious opened his mouth to respond, but Clarke beat him to it. The three, including the brunette, turned toward her as she spoke.
"Lexa?"
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AN: Let me know what you think! I should have another up soon, maybe even over the weekend if I have time. Thanks for reading and, like I said, lmk what you thought. I love feedback!
Sincerely, Sarah