Chapter 3:

Lexa Fucking North was sitting opposite me. No 'Fucking' isn't her middle name, it's actually Dangerous...it's a long story.

I smiled, probably too broadly. "Hi, I believe you owe me an apology."

Her lips turned up a little at that, yet her eyes were in mild disbelief. "You weren't joking were you?"

I raised an eyebrow, leaning back in my seat. My voice going super serious. "I never joke Ms. North."

She leaned forward, eyeing me in a deadpan sort of way. "I expect nothing else Ms. Griffin. After all, your reputation proceeds you. Now tell me, how ever did you kill Bellamy Blake? After all, a little bird tells me he's back from the dead."

My eyes went wide, as I chocked on my astonishment, "I haven't heard that name in awhile, have you heard from him?"

Lexa smiled, leaning in further rather conspiratorially. "I heard he's back in town. Thought you and Octavia would like to know."

I looked to the side, smile faltering. "I...I'm glad to hear he's still around, but Octavia. She's rather he'd stay far away."

That only made Lexa frown. "Why? I mean he's her Brother-"

I had to cut her off. "Let's not talk about it. I mean, this day, this dumb cafe. It's meant to be about us, and that story...it's a shitty one. I, thanks for telling me. I missed Bel. He's a good guy."

Lexa just smiled a little forcefully, "Sure, and your right. He is. I'm meant to meet with him tonight, if you want, you can tag along."

My eyes lit up at that. "Kind of like an extended date?"

"Sure, why not?" Her eyes got just as animated as mine.

"So, what do you think of those discos?" Dumb question, but I had to know the answer.

"I love them." I couldn't believe her answer. "But it's too bad it's all we get in town." Yep, perfect answer.

So my reply? "It's the fucking tourism."

She laughed at that. "Well, it is in the only draw, that and the wine."

I nodded, it was true. "Yeah, too bad I don't drink."

She took out her mobile, showing me a picture of a tall man, in a black suit, her and a beautiful Asian woman. "That's my dad and sister. He owns and runs one of the local wineries, and yet, I don't drink either."

I was staring at the picture a little too long. "I don't see the resemblance. You don't look like your dad, or your sister."

She took the phone back, putting it into her satchel. "Yeah, well, me and my sister were adopted. He took me in when I was nine. My sister when she was six, even if she's like a decade older than me. I...he always wanted children, so he took us in."

I paused. She was looking off into the distance, her green eyes dulling. I never even knew that. I guess Octavia might be right, there was so much I was yet to know about this beautiful woman. I just knew that I wanted...needed to know everything.

"He sounds like a good man, you must love him." I really did mean that, it was probably obvious, because I couldn't look Lexa in the eye.

Lexa just reached forward, grasping my hand, I looked up into her eyes. She was just grinning, with her lips perfectly in place. "I do, but he's always been quirky."

I smirked, "Just like everything else in this town."

It was at that moment the waitress appeared with my order. I was more than happy. Lexa ordered a burger, fries and salad. I liked the fact that she actually ate food.

She looked up from her food, licking perfect lips. "What about your mum? How's she?"

I guess I should explain. My mum is the town doctor. She runs the local hospital, it has fifty beds and is run by twenty-five people, fifteen of which are doctors. So yeah, she's a regular town celebrity. Gets interviews, advises the major. Yeah, she's hot shit in this town.

But, why did she have to ask me in the middle of swallowing my muffin? I was about to choke, before I grabbed a glass of water. Drinking quickly, before meeting slightly concerned eyes.

"She's good, you know, saving lives." It was true, at least to me. I wanted to be a doctor, until I was eighteen and my mum let me watch a surgery. I fainted, and thus my dreams were lost.

It's for the best. I'd have made a terrible doctor.

It was then that the waitress came back with Lexa's meal. I couldn't help but wonder then, what took them so long to get my meal? Jeez.

Lexa smirked, picking at her fries. First thing she picks? Awesome. "Yeah? Well, I should hope so."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Well, she is a Griffin."

"Do all Griffins save lives?" Lexa was just daring me now.

"No, but we're all remarkable." I'm very humble you know.

Lexa had a mouthful of fries, when she reached over to my hand. God was her hand greasy.

She must've noticed my wince, because next came a perfectly timed. "Sorry." Followed with her quickly grabbing a napkin and wiping both her hands...and mine. Hmm. I could really get used to her holding my hand.

"Prove it."

Was she daring me? A Griffin. Hah. That's all I have to say to that.

"Sure." I pulled up my sleeve, revealing a tattoo on my left arm. A tree, naked from winter, filled with ravens. It was as drawn as though you were staring at a silhouette, at the night, from a distant road.

"This," I said, pointing to the black mark, "represents life and death. A tree, stripped of its life giving green. Clinging on for the spring, with these ravens pulling it into shadow. I got this the day after my dad's death. I've never cried since, because this reminds me, that into the world we come, and once more we must leave.

"I will see him again, and that's what's so remarkable. The fact that I knowjust that."

Lexa stared at me, maybe from shock, or from the blow of my words. I always was of the blunt sort. She hesitated, with her lip caught between teeth.

She pointed to the mark, just a breath away from touching. "May I?"

I simply nodded.

She traced the mark, my mark, with her finger. Idle in thought. "Yes Miss Griffin, you certainly are remarkable."