The Bet

They just stood there gazed and at each other for a moment and didn't say a word. It was an intense silence until Janet finally spoke.

"Come here, I wanna show you something." She couldn't help but to notice Clarke's constant eye contact. It was intimidating, but she liked it. Janet took her hair down from the loose ponytail, fluffed it out a bit, looked at Clarke and held out her hand.

Clarke's senses were going crazy as she took her hand. Skin, fingertips, fingers, palm and wrist. She could feel it all. Her body was thumping and the room was getting warmer by the minute.

Janet could feel it too. She could hear her own breathing and the heat radiating from Clarke made her squeeze her thighs tightly together. They both giggled nervously.

Clarke looked down at the control panel. "Now that's a lot of damn buttons." She said and they both laughed. "How do you remember what they all do?"

"Well," Janet giggled, "First off, they are all labeled. So reading is very important." She teased. "Secondly, this is home for me. This is my work, my playground, my therapy and my release... you know what I mean?" Janet said and looked over the place, letting a few memories flood in.

"It must amazing being able to do exactly what you love. I know that kind of life must come with a price though."

"You don't know the half of it. I've tried my best not to lose myself in it. I try to stay as true to who I am as I possibly can and hope that my fans still support and understand my art." Even after Janet stopped talking, Clarke just gazed on. "You look at me so intensely. It's a bit intimidating actually." She said blushing.

"I'm sorry, I just..." Clarke stopped for a second. She reached for Janet's hand. "May I?" Janet nodded. Clarke too her hand and placed it over her heart. "Do you feel this too?" She asked.

The look on her face made Janet feel breathless. Clarke's heart was like a drum beneath her palm. Janet cleared her throat and reclaimed her hand. Her phone buzzed. She picked it up and smiled.

"A friend just invited me out for a late dinner. Would you like to join us?" She asked.

"I'd love to." Suddenly feeling the hunger pains in her stomach. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. She looked down at her shirt. "Can we swing by my place so I can change first?"

They both began to laugh. Janet had forgotten all about the Penny shirt. She tugged at it playfully. "It really is adorable." She said flashing her beautiful smile. Clarke shook her head. "What?" Janet asked curiously.

"Thank you letting me hang with you tonight, this feels unreal for me right now." Janet took her hand, squeezed it and smiled.

"I'm going to call my driver. Let get the light off and lock up."

The car ride seemed shorter than earlier as they were already pulling up to Clarke's building. She looked over at Janet and smiled. "I'll only be a few minutes."

"Hurry back." Janet said softly and smiled.

Clarke nodded and hurried up the stairs. She struggled with her key a bit before the door finally opened. Clarke jumped, startled for a moment.

"Emory?"