Chapter Text
Raven POV
Raven breathed heavily as she struggled to carry the last of the cardboard boxes up the stairwell to her new home. She internally cursed Clarke for picking an apartment on the fifth floor as she rounded the last flight. ‘We’ll be less likely to get robbed if we live higher up’ the blonde had argued. Raven knew her best friend was right but that wasn’t exactly a comfort to her in this present moment as she stumbled on the top step, nearly dropping her lamp.
As she made her way to apartment 34, she passed the elevator, its ‘out of order’ sign scrawled in black sharpie silently mocking her. She scowled at the steel doors and vowed she would fix the damn thing herself if the landlord hadn’t bothered within a week. It had been in the same state of disrepair when they’d come to view the property nearly a month ago.
Then what could they expect really. The apartment had been a steal and living in New York was ridiculously expensive, it was an opportunity two students such as themselves couldn’t afford to pass up. Sure, parts of Brooklyn might not have been the nicest but it was close to their campus in Greenwich Village and the subway was practically on their doorstep.
Raven nudged the apartment door open with her shoulder and dumped the boxes in the hallway, making her way to the living room. She looked around the apartment which was still mostly bare and set her hands on her hips, wearing a satisfied smile. If you ignored the slightly faded wallpaper and damp spot on the ceiling it actually wasn’t bad. It had a certain lived-in charm and was rough around the edges, a bit like Raven herself.
“Is that the last of them?” Clarke asked, appearing in the hallway and inclining her head to the abandoned boxes.
“Yeah, finally,” Raven said, wiping the sweat from her brow. “Only took an hour. I can’t believe you have so much stuff, Princess,” she added with a grin.
“Hey, you knew what you were getting into when you agreed to move in with me. Last year living in halls should have been a massive indication, I could barely see my room half the time for clothes,” Clarke defended, rummaging in one of the boxes on the kitchen counter.
Raven had to agree. She’d know Clarke Griffin since Middle School. They’d been enemies at first after both discovering they had a crush on Wells Jaha, the principal’s son. However, they soon got over that fixation and became fast friends, their shared love of sarcasm and fierce loyalty bonding them together. Here they were eight years later, about to start their second year at NYU.
“Can you believe we’re here?” Raven asked, half to herself. “I never thought I’d make it to college, let alone pass with a high enough grade to make it to second year.”
Clarke looked up from the cardboard box she had been searching and frowned. “Don’t give me that rubbish, you nerd. You’re practically a genius. I know for a fact you passed last year with 90% and that’s over double the requirement.”
Raven felt her cheeks burn at the compliment and turned to look out of the window down at the bustling street below. New York was beautiful and ugly all at once. There was beauty in the architecture and the sheer variety of people who lived here. The ugliness stemmed from the fact that all those people, each one different from the last, seemed perpetually busy. No one ever bothered to make eye contact with a stranger, let alone strike up a conversation. God forbid you make eye contact with someone on the subway.
“Yeah but you know what I mean. I just struggle to apply myself. My Mechanical Engineering course isn’t exactly the most interesting subject in the world, it’s just a necessary requirement to get me where I want to be. Speaking of which, I definitely need to land myself a part time job to pay the rent,” she said, turning back to Clarke. “What are you looking for anyway?”
A triumphant look came over Clarke’s face as she pulled two plastic cups from the bottom of the box. The blonde smiled widely and turned to open the fridge door, emerging with a bottle of champagne. Raven’s eyebrows shot up and she let out a low whistle.
“My Mom got us this to celebrate moving in. I think it’s only right that we crack it open.” Clarke said, struggling with the cork.
“God bless Abby Griffin,” Raven said with a smile. “Though I don’t know if my pauper student pallet can cope with a taste of the high-life. How can I go back to off-brand vodka after this?” She joked, moving to stand next to Clarke.
With a final twist of the cork from Clarke it was released, shooting out of the bottle with an impressive pop, zooming upwards and becoming firmly lodged in the ceiling. The two of them stared at it for a long moment. How fucking typical.
“Well there goes our security deposit,” Raven sighed. “Nice going, Griffin. All the grace of a bull in a china shop as usual.”
“Its fine,” Clarke reassured, paying her no mind as she poured the fizzy liquid into the cups. She was used to Raven’s teasing by now. “Who’s going to be inspecting the ceiling? Now shut up and drink your wine, we’ve earned this.”
Raven picked up her cup and clinked it against Clarke’s, savouring the taste of the bubbles in her mouth. They had earned this. Raven had damn near exhausted herself completing her first year of university and she knew Clarke had struggled too. The blonde was undeniably an excellent artist and Raven looked forward to many of Clarke’s creations making their way onto the apartment walls. She excelled at the practical side of her Fine Arts degree. It was the theoretical side of the course that had thrown her, essay writing really wasn’t her thing.
“I’m gonna go and sort my room out but later I’ll set up the TV for us,” Raven called as she made her way out of the kitchen. “Don’t bother cooking, we’ve got nothing in and I don’t have the energy or willpower to go shopping. I’ll order us a Chinese. My treat,” she added, looking back at Clarke.
“Yes!” Clarke shouted, fist-pumping as she grinned. “You’re too good to me.”
“You’re goddamn right,” Raven muttered with a smile, closing her bedroom door.
An hour or so later Raven was nearly done unpacking her things, there was only one box left to go. She liked what she’d done with the room so far. She had won the bigger room in a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors against Clarke, the blonde pouting when she lost, demanding best three out of five. Raven had won that too. Clarke was far too easy to read.
Her walls were now decorated with various posters and her pride and joy, a red Fender bass guitar, sat in the corner. She had formed a band with Monty, Jasper and Niylah last year and hoped they would start practicing again now that they were all back in New York.
She smiled at the thought and pulled the final box towards her, tearing away he packing tape. It was full of bits of old projects, odd pieces of wire and batteries. Digging deeper into the box she found a handful of photos and leaned back on her bed as she shuffled through them.
There was one of her and Clarke, grinning in their bikinis on a beach in California. Another of her band, Teenage Revival, at the end of a show last year. Raven grinned as her eyes scanned the photo. All four of them looked sweaty and elated, high on life. Raven couldn’t even remember where the band name came from now, it had been the product of too many beers and simply stuck.
She came to the final photo and paused, the smile sliding from her face. It was one of her and Finn at her 17th Birthday party, looking very much in love. She was kissing his cheek as he smiled into the camera. Raven felt an ache in her chest as she looked at the photo, tears forming in her eyes. She sniffed and held them back. There would be no more tears over Finn Collins.
They had been together for 3 years when she left for college, the distance putting a strain on the relationship. He’d chosen to study in Florida. She had thought Finn had loved her, and maybe he did at one point. However when she turned up to surprise him in his dorm after an incredibly long journey, she had found him fucking some random girl. He had tried to explain, but there was nothing to be said. They were through.
Screwing up the photo, she got to her feet and strode back into the kitchen, throwing it pointedly into the bin. She hadn’t noticed Clarke sitting on the couch.
“You ok?” Clarke asked, peering over the top of her magazine.
“Yeah, fine,” Raven sighed, flopping down heavily on the sofa. “Just some old photo of Finn that I no longer had a use for. How’s the unpacking going?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.
With Clarke there was no such luck. They were best friends for a reason and Clarke never let Raven off the hook with anything. Raven both hated and loved that Clarke was able to read her like an open book.
“I thought you were over him?” Clarke asked softly, setting the magazine down. “I thought after last year you’d...you know, moved on?”
Raven knew what Clarke was getting at, even if the blonde had enough good grace not to say it. When her relationship with Finn had ended she’d gone on a bit of a rampage involving lots of casual hook-ups and one night stands. Guys, girls, it made no difference as long as they were attractive and halfway intelligent. In Raven’s opinion that was the best kind of sex. Gratifying with no strings attached. ‘Sampling the local talent’ Clarke had called it. Raven had laughed at that.
“I am over him, trust me. It’s just...it still hurts sometimes, you know? You think you know someone and then they fuck you over. I think it’s going to take a long time to get over that,” Raven admitted with a frown, picking at a stray thread on her jacket.
Clarke shot her a sympathetic look and moved to pour them some more wine. She would have hugged Raven but that wasn’t really the dynamic of their friendship. They didn’t really do displays of emotion except in extreme circumstances.
“I know it’s hard for you but it will get better,” Clarke said, pushing Ravens glass towards her. “We should go out this weekend. You know the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else?” she added with a wink.
Raven smirked at her and took a long sip of wine. “You’re one to talk, Princess. How long has it been now? Six months? Seven? We need to get you laid, is what we need to do,” she said, regarding Clarke with scrutiny. “Maybe we could try something different with your hair,” she added, letting her eyes linger over the currently unruly blonde mane.
“I’m fine!” Clarke protested, her cheeks growing red. “Six months isn’t that long anyway. I’m coping fine,” she lied.
Raven arched an eyebrow in challenge. She knew Clarke was lying if the buzzing sound that came from her dorm every night last term was any indication. She wondered how many batteries Clarke had gone through and whether she secretly had shares in Duracell. Raven decided now wasn’t the time to make that comment.
“You are not fine, Griffin. Six months is too long and frankly, I have never seen anyone so thirsty in my whole life. I’m starting to worry about your wellbeing. Seriously, you’re like a fourteen year old boy. Every time a hot girl walks past I can practically see your boner,” Raven teased, waggling her eyebrows.
Clarke glared at her from the opposite end of the sofa, her eyes burning through Raven. After a minute she let out a wail of frustration and threw her head into the cushions dramatically in defeat.
“Ugh, I know but it’s so hard to meet someone decent,” Clarke complained, sitting back up again. “If I wanted to meet someone at a sketchy club and bring them home to fuck their brains out then that’s easy. No offense,” she added.
“None taken.”
“I don’t know, I just want something more than that. I want to meet someone who I have a real connection with. Not just someone I kick out of bed the next day,” Clarke said with a faraway look. “Sorry, that sounded really gay, didn’t it?”
“Very gay,” Raven agreed with a nod of her head. “Tell you what Griffin, if it’s your dream to find a girl and get a big lesbian U-haul then I’m gonna help you. We’ll find you a lady and I’ll help you woo her. You are after all, tragic at flirting. I’ll be your wingman,” she said, flashing a trademark smirk.
“Really?” Clarke asked, hope shining in her eyes.
“Scouts honour,” Raven said, giving a salute. “Now where’s that takeout menu? I’m starving.”
The first two weeks of term passed in a haze of lectures and band practice for Raven. She was glad to be back at College amongst her friends and honestly, Professor Sinclair was up there with the best of them but three hour seminars were boring no matter which way you looked at it. Sure, having Monty and Jasper by her side, making ridiculous comments did make the time pass quicker but she longed for the weekend.
She’d not long gotten home on Thursday afternoon when Clarke burst into the apartment and flung her gym bag onto the floor. Raven looked up from her laptop, pausing the current episode of Orange is the New Black. Piper and Alex were just about to get it on. This had better be good. She sighed audibly and turned her attention to Clarke who was still stood in the middle of the living room.
“What?” Raven deadpanned.
“I think I’m in love,” Clarke declared dramatically, falling onto the couch and closing her eyes.
“A little theatrical, but I’ll bite,” Raven said, her curiosity piqued. “Who’s got you so flustered?” she asked, sitting up a bit straighter.
Clarke turned over to face Raven and leaned on her elbows, smiling and biting her lip bashfully.
“There’s this girl at the gym. God Raven, she’s absolutely stunning. She’s got gorgeous brown hair and perfect tanned skin. I don’t understand how anyone could be so attractive, it shouldn’t be possible” Clarke said breathily. “Seriously, she’s got these muscles, and these tattoos and these lips that just...” she trailed off, closing her eyes and smiling at the mental image.
Raven sat there staring at her, mouth set in a smirk, totally amused.
“Okay Casanova, let me just go ahead and pretend like that isn’t the gayest thing I’ve ever heard,” Raven drawled, closing the laptop. “So this is why you’ve been spending so much time in the gym. I should have known there would be a girl involved. You hate exercise. Does this girl have a name or what?”
Clarke sat up straight and frowned. “I don’t know her name, actually. I haven’t talked to her yet,” she said, teeth worrying her lower lip.
“Wait, wait wait, let me get this straight. Ignore the pun, Griffin, it wasn’t intentional,” Raven said, causing Clarke to roll her eyes. “You’ve been obsessing over this girl and you haven’t even spoken to her. What’s wrong with you, are you five?”
Raven eyed Clarke with disappointment. She had taught her better than this.
“It’s not for lack of trying,” Clarke defended. “I planned to talk to her but every time I freeze up, she’s kind of intimidating. She always looks so focused and serious...it’s kinda hot.”
Raven rolled her eyes yet again. Clarke was terrible when it came to flirting and despite Raven’s helpful suggestions over the years, none of it stuck. Clarke was like a helpless gay puppy. Raven could see that she was going to have to step in.
“Ok let me process this for a second,” Raven said, chewing the inside of her cheek in thought. “Do we know if she’s gay at least?”
“Raven, I haven’t even talked to her. How am I supposed to know if she’s into girls? Ask her telepathically?!” Clarke cried, throwing her hands up.
Raven started blankly at her. Jesus. This was like getting blood out of a stone. A completely clueless stone.
“Griffin, there is such a thing as gaydar,” Raven sighed, shaking her head. “Do you at least get a vibe from her? What else do we know about this mystery brunette?”
Clarke took a moment to think over her answer before speaking again, Raven growing more and more impatient as the seconds passed.
“Well I kind of get a vibe and we’ve made eye contact a few times but that could just be me being hopeful,” Clarke admitted. “I do know that she goes to study in the library after she leaves the gym,” she added, avoiding Raven’s gaze.
“I can’t feed my children on eye contact, Clarke. How would you possibly know that she...oh my God...have you been stalking her? I’m calling the cops on your ass, Griffin. This is some Fatal Attraction shit if ever I’ve seen it,” Raven said, eyes widening as she shook her head in disbelief.
Clarke looked scandalised and blushed as she tried to defend herself. “Can you be serious for once in your life please? I’m not stalking her, no. We usually leave the gym around the same time and I always see her heading to the library. Last I checked, noticing something wasn’t a crime,” Clarke said haughtily, crossing her arms.
Raven considered this information, the cogs in her brain whirring rapidly as an idea formed. She smiled wickedly and locked eyes with Clarke. She knew exactly what to do.
“Have you just come from the gym now?” Raven asked, taking in Clarke’s dishevelled appearance.
“Yeah...why?” Clarke asked apprehensively.
She recognised the look on Raven’s face. It was the same look Raven wore when she managed to get to the bathroom in the morning before her and get first dibs on the hot water.
“Good. Get dressed into something hot and try to do something with your hair,” Raven said, eyeing Clarke’s unkempt ponytail with disapproval. “We’re going to the library to get your girl!”
“Raven no,” Clarke protested, but Raven was already on her feet and ushering Clarke down the hall.
“Raven, yes. Do you want my help or not? Trust me, this is going to work,” Raven said, dismissing Clarke’s argument. “Do as I say and everything is going to be fine. You remember that episode of The L Word where they try to work out if the chef is gay?”
Clarke nodded. Any queer woman worth their salt had watched The L Word, even if it was god-awful.
“Well this is going to be a bit like that. Only slightly more subtle and waaaaay less lame,” Raven proclaimed, giving Clarke a final shove into her bedroom. “Get dressed, Griffin. You’ve got ten minutes and then operation gay is a go.”
Half an hour later they were walking into the campus library. Raven detested the library and avoided it at all costs. It was nigh on impossible to access a computer because it was always so busy. Students could bring their own laptops but really, who wants to walk through central Brooklyn with an expensive piece of equipment. Not Raven Reyes, that’s who.
After scoping the computer room and finding no trace of Clarke’s mystery girl, they took the elevator to the third floor where the quite study section was based.
“I hate this place,” Raven said sourly as they took a seat at an empty table. “Any sign of your girl, Griffin?”
Clarke scanned the room, her eyes flitting from desk to desk until she spotted her.
“There she is,” Clarke whispered, pointing to the far left corner.
Raven followed her gaze and her eyes settled on a brunette hunched over a desk, deeply engrossed in whatever she was reading. She was wearing a snapback that kept her hair out of her face and Raven could tell even from this distance that she was pretty.
“No bad, Clarke. I’m impressed,” Raven said, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
Clarke grinned to herself, flashing a row of brilliantly white teeth. “So what do you think? Is she on our team or what?”
“Hard to tell from this far away,” Raven mused, eyes raking over the girl. “Though that snapback is not exactly screaming ‘heterosexual’ let’s be honest. What we need is to get a closer look without being obvious.”
Clarke looked mortified at the suggestion but at that moment another girl joined the brunette, pausing at the edge of her desk. Raven looked at her and felt as though her world was moving in slow motion. Time itself may have stopped.
Everything else faded away into obscurity as she took stock of this new addition. The girl had poker straight brown hair, thrown effortlessly over her shoulder and a jaw line that Raven swore could cut glass. Absolutely breathtaking, was Raven’s first thought. She couldn’t decipher much else due to the distance but from the way the girl was standing, bent slightly over the desk, Raven couldn’t help but admire the way she held herself. This girl was something else.
Suddenly the girl’s head shot up and she locked eyes with Raven. She threw a smile that could stop traffic and then waved in her direction. Raven was totally confused. She looked behind her to see if the girl was waving to a friend. When she turned back she saw that Clarke was waving back with a grin on her face.
“Do you know that girl?” Raven asked, trying not to sound too interested.
“Yeah that’s Octavia. She works at Grounders coffee shop. I got talking to her last year, she’s a nice girl,” Clarke said, tearing her eyes away from Octavia to look at Raven. “Why are you pulling that face? Do you need to go to the bathroom or something?” Clarke asked, furrowing her brows at her best friend.
“What? No,” Raven said, flustered. She composed herself before she continued. “Wait, you know this girl? Clarke, this is your way in! They obviously know each other. Just go over to talk to Octavia and she’ll introduce you.”
“Okay, fine but you’re coming with me,” Clarke said, rising from her seat.
“Clarke, you don’t need me to hold your hand. You can do this on your own,” Raven countered, staying firmly in her seat.
There was no way she was going to put herself in close proximity to this Octavia with her heart racing a mile a minute. What the hell was wrong with her? This was just one more attractive girl, they were a dime a dozen on campus. Even as she thought it, she knew it was a lie. Pull yourself together, Reyes.
“Please Raven?” Clarke half whined. “I’m so nervous in front of this girl I know I’m going to say something moronic. I need you to back me up. You promised you’d be my wing man,” Clarke pleaded, jutting her bottom lip out.
Raven couldn’t say no to that.
“Fine, I’ll come with you,” Raven said pushing herself up from the desk, adamant not to return Clarke’s grin.
They walked over to the far end of the room where Clarke hovered awkwardly by the desk, waiting to be noticed. Raven delivered a light kick to the back of her leg, spurring Clarke into action.
“Hi Octavia,” Clarke said brightly. Perhaps a little too brightly.
Octavia looked up and smiled warmly. “Oh hi Clarke, it’s good to see you. I think this is the first time I’ve seen you outside of Grounders. I’m just here studying with my roommate. This is Lexa by the way,” she said, gesturing to the other brunette.
“Hi,” Lexa greeted, looking up from her book and sending Clarke a ghost of a smile.
“Hey,” Clarke returned, grinning goofily.
Raven coughed, she still hadn’t been introduced and was standing there rather awkwardly with her hands in her pockets.
“Oh, this is my roommate Raven, we’ve known each other since we were little,” Clarke offered. "She studies mechanical engineering."
"Hi Raven, pleasure to meet you," Octavia said, turning in her direction.
Raven’s eyes found Octavia’s and her breath caught in her throat. This girl was absolutely flawless up close, Raven didn’t know why she would have expected anything different. She forced her mouth to work and forced out a quick ‘hey,’ nodding her head at the brunette. ‘Fuck, she’s gorgeous’ Raven thought to herself, still staring at Octavia.
She furrowed her brow as all eyes at the table slowly turned on her. Octavia was blushing, ducking her head and looking at the ground. Lexa looked thoroughly amused, the beginnings of a smirk on her lips. And Clarke...Clarke looked like she wanted to reach out and strangle Raven. Fuck. Had she spoken that last comment out loud? She must have. Smooth move, Reyes, she chided herself. Subtle as ever.
“Don’t I know you?” Lexa asked looking at Clarke. “I feel like I’ve seen you around?”
Raven was grateful for the distraction. Her cheeks were burning and she was looking anywhere but at Octavia.
“Uhh maybe,” Clarke answered awkwardly. “I’ve been spending a lot of time at the gym recently so maybe you’ve seen me there? You look like you work out...Uh- I mean, you look like you stay in shape,” she babbled, a blush spreading rapidly up her neck.
Lexa looked like the cat who’d got the cream as she arched an eyebrow at Clarke. Raven was embarrassed for the blonde. She had literally no chill.
“Yeah, that must be it. I’m in there most days,” Lexa said. “I’m on the college hockey team so it’s a pretty brutal training regimen I have to follow.”
At that admission, a light bulb lit up in Raven’s head. Wingman to the rescue.
“What a coincidence. Clarke was actually hoping to try out for the hockey team. Maybe you could give her some training tips, help her out with some cardio? Put her through her paces?” Raven suggested casually.
She felt Clarke freeze next to her. It was a total lie. Clarke had zero interest in hockey, Raven doubted she had even seen a game. Clarke was so slight and soft she’d probably get eaten alive on the hockey pitch but this was a way in and a good one at that. Why shouldn’t she have some fun at Clarke’s expense?
“Really?” Lexa asked, turning back to Clarke with a bemused expression. “I wouldn’t have guessed you’d be into Hockey. But sure, I train Monday through Thursday at the gym from four so just swing by whenever you want and we’ll go through some drills.”
“T-thanks,” Clarke stuttered. “That’s really nice of you. I really appreciate it.”
Raven wore a self-satisfied smirk. Mission accomplished. Now if she could just get out of there without embarrassing herself further in front of Octavia, everything would be set. Unfortunately for Raven, Clarke was about to throw her under the bus.
“Hey O, you said Grounders is hiring, right?” Clarke asked.
Octavia turned her attention to Clarke. “Yeah we are on a part-time basis. Why, you know someone who’s interested?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
“My good friend Raven here is actually looking for a part time job. Raven, how convenient is it that we’d run into Octavia at just the right time?” Clarke said, throwing Raven a smile that said ‘two can play this game.’
“Yes, how indeed,” Raven muttered darkly before forcing her features into a neutral expression and addressing Octavia. “Do you think you could get me a job there? I love coffee,” she stated rather redundantly.
Another lie. She hated coffee. Why had she said that? She was losing her cool around this girl and it had to stop.
Octavia laughed sweetly and it was like music to Raven’s ears. “Sure, I can get you a trial shift to see how it goes. Can you make three o’clock tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” Raven said as casually as she could. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. We should probably get going, Clarke, we’ve got a busy evening,” Raven added, pulling the blonde away by her wrist. “It was nice meeting you both,” she said, locking eyes with Octavia one last time before turning to leave.
“Bye O, Bye Lexa,” Clarke called over her shoulder as Raven led her away.
Neither of them spoke until they reached the lobby of the building.
“That was certainly a quick exit,” Clarke remarked suspiciously. “Almost like you couldn’t wait to get out of there,” she said, eyes scanning Raven’s face.
“I told you I hate the library,” Raven snapped. “Anyway, why are you complaining? You got your way in with Lexa. Who, by the way, you were throwing serious heart eyes at the entire time. It was sickening,” Raven teased, poking her tongue out between her teeth as she smiled.
“I do not have heart eyes,” Clarke defended. “Anyway, let’s talk about you. What the hell was that back there? You pretty much went into meltdown as soon as Octavia opened her mouth. It was like watching a turtle on it's back...You like her,” Clarke sing-songed, poking Raven in the ribs.
Raven swatted her hand away irritably. “For the record, no, I don’t like her. Anyway, it wasn’t even that bad,” she said, holding the door open for Clarke.
Clarke stopped in her tracks. “Raven it was like a car crash,” she deadpanned. “Just admit that you like her. I can tell. You’ve got that look in your eye. Plus I’ve never seen you more nervous in front of a girl before. Or a boy for that matter.”
Raven rolled her eyes. There was no use keeping this from Clarke, the girl had a way of finding everything out eventually. She had felt an undeniable attraction to Octavia before she’d even spoken to her. Clearly Clarke wasn’t going to let this drop so she gave in.
“Fine, I like her, she’s stunning but that’s all there is to it, ok?” Raven said, pulling her jacket more firmly around her.
Clarke hummed in agreement and they continued walking down the street towards the subway. A long silence settled between them and all Raven could think about was Octavia and her steely blue eyes. From the little Raven had seen she was unreadable. Raven shoved her hands into her pockets as they waited on the subway platform.
“So...Octavia...is she...you know?” Raven asked quietly, glancing at Clarke.
“Straight? I don’t know, honestly. She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” Clarke said, smiling knowingly. “Though she is always flirting with this cute guy at Grounders. He’s gorgeous, like a big muscled teddy bear.”
The flicker of hope that had surfaced in Raven’s chest was extinguished. She had assumed Octavia was straight but that pretty much confirmed it.
“Maybe you should get to know her,” Clarke offered. “She’s a nice girl so you’ll probably gain a new friend if nothing else. Though if she does turn out to be not strictly heterosexual, please don’t treat her like one of your usual conquests. I don’t have so many friends that I can afford to start losing them,” she said with a wry smile.
Raven did her best to look offended whilst trying to bite back a grin. “Clarke Griffin, I don’t know what you are trying to insinuate but I assure you I am nothing if not a perfect gentleman,” she drawled.
“Hmm, tell that to the trail of crying girls you leave behind,” Clarke muttered as they stepped onto the train.
Raven knew exactly what Clarke meant and felt guilty for a fraction of a second before pushing the feeling to the back of her mind. Sometimes sex was just sex; it wasn’t her fault if some people couldn’t accept that. She was methodical in her approach. Her outgoing nature and natural charm meant that finding someone to take home came easily. It was like going through the motions, almost like muscle memory. She was bored of it. Maybe she would get to know Octavia – what could it possibly hurt?