Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Standing in the wings of the stage, Clarke watched as a clip of the music video she co-starred in played on the big screen for millions of people to see. She never got used to the feeling and she probably never would. The screaming of fans, the never-ending paparazzi documenting her every move, and not to mention the constant social media prodding into her very public life. She was the new upcoming popstar; expected to break record numbers with her first album. It was a stressful feeling to know so many people were banking on your future success.
The crowd roared at the end of the nominations. Clarke felt nothing as the announcers called out her name. She felt a tug on her hand. It was Finn pulling her out onto the stage. Finn was a popular rapper who had featured her in many of his songs on his new album. Her mom -who happened to be her manager- and her record label thought it would be huge for her career to be on the album.
The woman handed them their awards and Finn quickly jumped into his speech. Clarke glanced to the wing, noticing her mom standing there looking beyond thrilled. Her gaze was broken when Finn urged her to say something.
Clarke cleared her throat before starting her rehearsed speech, “I’d like to thank my fans for all the support you've given me, and to Ark Records for giving me the opportunity to making a living out of what I love to do. Um and to my mom thanks for being there everyday of the way. Oh and to the VMA’s for this great award. Thank you.” The audience cheered as they waved and made their way off stage.
“You forgot to mention Jaha! Clarke I reminded you several times to make sure you remembered.” Abby Griffin huffed in anger once Clarke approached her.
Clarke frowned deeply, “I'm sorry, I completely spaced.”
“Your album is to drop next month and thanking him would have been huge,” Abby continued her rant.
“Okay Clarkey time to go,” Raven quickly approached hoping to defuse the situation quickly. Raven was her rock, always there to help Clarke deflect her overbearing momager. “We need to get you changed for the after parties.”
“Right okay,” Clarke nodded in agreement.
Finn kissed her lips, “I’ll see you later.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed for he smacked her on the ass before walking off to join his ‘boys’. Dating Finn had never been part of her plan and hell she really even consider them officially dating, they just hooked up on a regular bases without putting a label on it. That's what happens when you spend months with someone filming and collaborating on several songs together. You tend to get lonely and close.
“Let's go,” Raven took her hand.
“I’ll do some damage control and meet you back at the hotel,” Abby pulled out her cellphone to start her calls as Raven pulled Clarke away.
They met up with Monty and Jasper, Clarke’s trusted makeup artist and wardrobist. Clarke fondling nicknamed Princess 1 and Princess 2. They were fun and goofy, always trying to make Clarke smile. The trio tagged along behind Clarke as she walked out of the building into flashes of lights and people screaming her name. She posed with a few fans as she made her way to the large SUV waiting for her on the street.
A small smile crossed her face seeing Bellamy standing there with the back door open for her, “thanks Bell.” She said softly climbing into the far seat as the others filed in behind her.
Clarke put the award in her lap and reached behind her snatching the bottle of champagne out of Jasper's hands. “Clarke…” Raven warned her.
“Rae, I just won an award I should be entitled to a little it.” Clarke tried not to snap at her friend, but she was getting tired of people controlling every aspect of her life. Her mother kept her on a strict diet including no alcohol or drugs. It was time to live a little.
Clarke popped of the top and took a huge swig of the cool liquid. She tried not to cough at the taste but took a few more sips hoping she’d get used to it. By the time they arrived at the hotel the bottle was half gone and Raven had quit her attempts at getting the bottle away from Clarke.
“Your mom is gonna be so pissed,” Raven muttered as the car came to a stop.
“I don't fucking care,” Clarke answered back before stumbling out of the vehicle.
Clarke ignored everyone in the lobby and headed straight to the elevators with her entourage in tow. Monty already began playing with her hair discussing styles with Jasper. She ignored them completely trying to focus on the number pad. It was a new sensation, the cloudiness in her head. The alcohol cleared her mind, causing her to forget about all the stress and demands that came with rising fame.
It was a relief.
The door dinged and the group stepped out walking down the hall towards Clarke’s room.
“Where’s officer Rhodes?” Raven asked the officer watching Clarke’s door. The same officer had been watching the door two nights in a row, so seeing someone new threw her off.
“I’m officer Woods. Something came up, Rhodes asked me to cover for her.” The woman glanced in their direction, eyes falling upon Clarke briefly. She pulled out her keycard from one of her breast pockets to allow the group in.
“Rae I need a few minutes to myself.” Clarke mumbled lowly.
Raven let out a deep huff, “fine ten minutes then we need to get you ready. Your mom will kill us if you're late.”
“Fine.” The officer unlocked the door or her letting her into the room, “thank you.” She whispered slipping into the room alone.
“So...couldn't jump at the chance to meet Clarke Griffin, huh?” Raven questioned the new woman officer.
Officer Woods shrugged her shoulders, “I owed Rhodes a favor nothing more.” She didn't like people questioning her motives.
The officer ignored the chatter around her as she stood guard of the popstars door. “Why are you standing out here?” A sudden voice brought her out of her day dreaming.
“Clarke wanted a moment by herself Mrs. G,” Raven answered quickly, “told her ten minutes.”
“Well she needs to get ready. We have a schedule to stick to.”
“Don't worry the boys have everything planned out and will have her ready in minutes.”
“We don't have time for her games tonight,” she sighed heavily looking at her watch. “Let me in please.”
“I'm sorry ma’am I told miss Griffin ten mins, it's only been five.”
Abby grew annoyed, “look I know you are doing your job but I’m her mother and have a right to enter that room.”
“I’m sorry ma’am.”
“I'd hate to file a complaint against you,” she leaned in to get a better look at her name, “Officer Woods. I’m sure the press would love to hear about it as well.”
With reluctance the officer pulled the card from her pocket and let the woman in. She was the type to take threats from anyone but the last thing she needed was a scandal for her department. “As you wish, ma’am.”
“Wise choice.” Abby slipped in the door shutting behind her.
“Only her. You have three more minutes.”
Raven rolled her eyes. “I think I liked officer Rhodes better.”
The officer was about to snark back when a scream coming from the room rang out. “Stay here!” She entered the room quickly, hand on resting on her gun not knowing what type of situation she was approaching.
=*=*=
“Clarke what do you think your are doing?!”
The officer followed the frantic voice to the balcony. The minute she stepped through the glass door she noticed Clarke perched on top of the railing, sitting with her feet over the edge looking down at the ground, several stories below her.
“Get off from there right now!”
“Ma’am step back. I just need you to stand back, this is very important,” she pulled the woman back away from Clarke when she noticed the blonde pitch forward slightly when her mother approached.
“She need to get off.”
“I know. Let me just talk to her for a second.” She remained calm, keeping her voice as steady as possible to not show the nerves pumping through her veins.
“Hey Clarke. Can I call you Clarke?”
She didn't answer.
“What’s going on Clarke?” She questioned getting no response. “Can you look at me for a second? Please.”
She took a few steps closer keeping her hands out. “Look I don't know what brought to do this, but we can get you some help.”
“I don't need help.” Clarke glanced in her direction, tears streaming down her face.
“There are so many people around you who love you.”
Clarke stayed silent for a second. “Do you know what it's like to be molded and objectified? Everyone expects so much of me. I feel like the world is crushing me...I’m suffocating.”
“Trust me you aren't the only one that has people expecting great things from.” One more step, that's all it would take for her to grab her around the waist and pull her back onto the balcony.
Clarke let out a soft sob, “no one sees me.”
Everything happened so fast.
Clarke was dangling above the street holding onto the officer's hand. “Grab my other hand! Come on grab my hand!”
Clarke looked below, closing her eyes preparing herself for the fall as she felt her hand slipping from the officer’s grip.
“Look at me! Clarke! Hey! Shit!” She started panicking. “Listen to me. I see you.” Her voice soften. Clarke slowly opened her eyes glancing upwards. “I see you,” she repeated. “Grab my hand...please.”
Clarke reached up with her other hand taking the woman's offer. The officer pulled her up over the railing falling back to the ground, Clarke falling on top of her. It was the first time she noticed her piercing green eyes filled with worry as she stared back at her. The moment seemed to last a lifetime; each of them not wanting to be the first to break the eye contact as they clung together.
“Oh Clarke!” Abby rushed over kissing the top of her head urging her to get onto her feet. “Come inside.”
Clarke reluctantly removed herself from Officer Woods arms, though their eyes remained locked until she was ushered through the door. Officer Woods continued to sit there on the concrete balcony, watching Clarke’s friends be let into the room by her mother, who immediately started ordering them to get her ready.
It took her a few minutes to stand up, leaning against the building allowing her legs to stop shaking and the adrenaline to leave her body. The minutes ticked by. Hearing the sliding door open broke her out of her daze.
“Supposed to be easy money huh? Babysitting these rich kids.” The gruff voice broke the silence.
“Anya asked me to cover for her,” she pushed herself away from the wall to approach him.
“Are you hurt?” He asked lifting up her shirt slightly, seeing the bruise already forming there.”
“Dad, I'm fine.” She pushed her shirt back down. “Can I talk to her for a minute? See if she's alright? Her mom is like a hound dog.”
“Lexa there is going to be a press conference in twenty minutes. She wants to thank you publicly.” He let out a light chuckle.
Lexa frowned, “she should be in a hospital getting some help not in front of cameras.”
“She's okay. Just had a little bit too much to drink and slipped.”
“Wait what?”
“Look Lexa it doesn't change what you did. And they are very grateful,” he pulled out a check made out for ten thousand dollars towards the LA fallen officer fund.
“So you want me to lie?” This didn't feel right to her.
“Look she's playing her part, you need to play yours.”
Lexa frowned deeply. She hated to go along with this stunt. It didn't feel right.
=*=*=
“Things got a little out of hand while I was celebrating,” Clarke was all smiles as she spoke to the press gathered. She was all dolled up; her makeup and hair redone to perfection.
Lexa stood there stoic near the pop star, flanked by her father. Her hair was nearly fixed into its tight bun, her uniform showing no wrinkles. This didn't feel right. Seeing Clarke speaking to the press, joking with them when less than an hour before she was dangling above the street ready to drop.
“And that's why you don't mix champagne, a balcony, and four inch stilettos.” Everyone laughed at her joke.
“How does one fall over a four and half foot railing?” A sudden question rang out.
Abby quickly stepped forward, “she's just here to make a statement.”
“Officer Woods was this a suicide attempt?”
“Murphy you aren't going to hijack this conference for you tabloid bullshit.” She growled at the young reporter sitting at the front.
“She can't answer a simple question?” Murmurs of agreement rang out in the room.
All eyes turned to Lexa. She glanced at Clarke who motioned for her to approach the podium. She kept her face neutral, “I was summoned into the room where I found Ms. Griffin hanging from the balcony. I pulled her to safety, it was clear she was intoxicated.”
She turned to walk away and felt someone grab onto her arm. “Truth is I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Officer Woods. She’s a hero.” Lexa felt a pair of lips meet her cheek, sending a warmth throughout her body.
Clarke waved sweetly to the reporters blowing them a kiss before walking off the stage, brushing past Lexa who turned to follow her out. Lexa stayed a few steps behind watching Clarke stop just inside a conference room. “Have any plans for your fifteen minutes?”
Lexa looked at her puzzled, “fifteen minutes of what?”
Rolling her eyes Clarke pulled herself up onto a table, “of fame.”
“Nothing.”
“You could get all the guys,” she noticed the Officer make a small yet noticeable face, “or girls.” Clarke smirked slight.
“Will you stop that,” Lexa snapped.
The smirk on Clarke's face disappeared quickly, “excuse me?”
“Just a little bit ago you were dangling stories above the street.”
Clarke stared at her for a second, “what do you see?”
Lexa crosses her arms, “nothing.”
The door whipped open revealing Clarke's mother. “Clarke let's go.” She glanced between the two, “now.”
Sliding off the table Clarke glanced over her shoulder at the woman before slipping out of door, her mother quickly following.
Lexa let out a deep breath that she didn't realize she was holding, “shit,” she mumbled.
=*=*=
The crowd standing outside of her small LA house caused Lexa to sigh deeply as she slowed her truck down. The tabloid reporters had already beaten her home. They parted allowing her to pull into her driveway. The minute she stepped out of her truck she was bombarded with flashing cameras and voices throwing out questions.
“Officer Woods!” She noticed the man named Murphy from the press conference approaching her.
“I have nothing else to say.”
“I know something isn't right with this story,” he pulled out a card handing it to her. “When you're ready to give an exclusive. The money will be worth your while.”
She fingered the card before walking to her front door unlocking it; there was a small yap and a sudden scramble of paws towards the door. Lexa smiled seeing the fluffy light brown puppy with the black face and semi floppy ears come dashing around the corner running at her.
“Hey little man,” she tossed her duffle bag down and scooped up the puppy up who immediately started licking her face. “Did uncle Lincoln come by and feed you?” She carried the three month old Belgian Tervuren into the kitchen where she found the note from her cousin Lincoln that he feed and took out Nyko a few hours earlier. Lexa ignored the flashing number on the answering machine; probably of calls from reporters looking for interviews and acquaintances now looking to be her friend.
She set the puppy down and grabbed a beer from the fridge before heading into the living room turning on the tv. Flipping through the channels she noticed Clarke suddenly on the tv and stopped. It was E! doing a report on the pop star. She rolled her eyes when they showed a clip of the press conference.
“Your mom looks like a hot mess,” she muttered to the puppy laying next to her, chewing on his tail. Even though she noticed her appearance, her focus was on the blonde who looked bubbly and at ease. It was hard for Lexa to imagine how quickly Clarke went from sobs to smiles. There was something troubling her and Lexa wanted to know what it was.