Chapter 2
Raven guided Octavia to her bed. Octavia threw herself down on the bed, giggling loudly. Raven raised her eyebrows at the younger girl and Octavia slapped her hand over her mouth knowingly. Raven shook her head, trying to fight the smile growing on her face.
“Go to sleep,” Raven told her before turning to leave the room.
“Raven!” Octavia whined. Raven knew this was going to happen, it always did. Whenever Octavia got drunk, she refused to sleep on her own and Raven could never say no to her. Raven spun back around and gave the girl her best confused look. Octavia pouted, patting the side of the bed beside her. “C’mon Raaaven.”
“What?” This was always the way. Raven would play dumb, but in the end the younger girl would always get what she wanted. Octavia looked up at her with wide eyes. And there they were, the puppy dog eyes Raven could never say no to. She rolled her eyes, Octavia was like a small child. “You’re such a baby,” Raven sighed, giving in and making her way towards the bed. She sat on the edge to remove the brace from her leg.
“You love it,” Octavia said wrapping her arms around Raven’s neck and resting her head on her shoulder.
Raven turned her head to look at the other girl. “You’re drunk.” she stated, neither confirming nor denying Octavia’s statement.
Octavia thought for a minute. “I know.” She had a huge grin on her face and Raven couldn’t help but smile back at her. Their faces were so close. If Raven leaned in slightly, their noses would touch. She felt the hot breath from the other girl brush across her face, it smelled like a mix of vodka and beer, not the nicest of combinations but Raven wasn't bothered. She had to turn her head away to stop herself from doing something she knew she’d regret later on. Once Raven had removed the brace from her leg, Octavia unwrapped her arms from around her and shifted to the other side of the bed to make room for the older girl. For a moment, Raven didn’t move. She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing in an attempt to control her heartbeat, which was currently racing.
“Hey.” The sound of Octavia’s voice caused her to eyes to fly open and her head to turn to look at the other girl. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine” Raven lied. The truth was she didn’t know how much longer she could keep messing around with Octavia.
“You sure?” Octavia asked in a high pitched voice, she was still very drunk. Raven nodded as a response, that wasn’t very convincing. “Is it your leg?” She tilted her head with a frown forming on her face.
“I’m fine, O.”
Octavia seemed to get the message. Either that or her drunken mind couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. Her frown transformed into a mischievous grin. “Come here then.” She opened her arms wide and Raven gave in and allowed herself to sink into Octavia’s embrace. Octavia squeezed her arms around Raven, pulling her as close to her as physically possible. Raven couldn’t describe the feelings she was having in that moment with words, she had never felt that way before. Raven knew nothing could ever come of her feelings though. Octavia was her best friend and she could never risk losing that friendship. She was also pretty certain the younger brunette didn’t feel the same way.
“Hey Raven?” She breathed in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
“What?” Raven sighed, wanting to get some sleep.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Raven closed her eyes, desperately fighting the urge to turn around a kiss the girl. “Me too,” she whispered. “Now go to sleep.”
Raven didn’t sleep straight away, her heart rate refusing to steady. It didn’t take long, however, for Octavia’s breaths to even out. Relaxing her muscles, she closed her eyes and waited for sleep to claim her.
*
Raven awoke to the all too familiar pain in her leg. She had already woken several times during the night and she was unbelievably tired but she needed to get up. She attempted to untangle herself from Octavia’s hold, trying her hardest not to wake the girl in the process. She winced at the pain that shot through her leg as she tried to sit up. The sleeping girl beside her stirred, her eyes flickering awake. She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to the light.
Raven turned to her, a small smile playing on her lips, despite the pain in her leg. “Cue the ‘I’m never drinking again’ speech.” Raven laughed, earning a playful slap on the shoulder from Octavia.
“It’s not funny,” She groaned, rubbing her temples. Raven chuckled, shaking her head and attempting to put her brace on. She grimaced at the pain as she adjusted her leg. Raven hoped that Octavia didn’t notice her discomfort, although she knew she probably had. “You’re in pain?” Raven stayed silent at Octavia’s question, which was more of a statement, not wanting to worry the girl. The pain wasn’t anything new, she often woke up with her leg hurting. Once she took her painkillers she’d be fine, she just had to get back to her own room.
“Hey, let me help you,” Octavia said when Raven stumbled to her feet.
“You don’t have to, I’m-” Raven protested but Octavia cut her off.
“You always do this.”
“Do what?”
“Pretend like you’re fine when you’re not,” she explained. “You don’t have to pretend with me,” she added, her tone soft but serious. Raven knew she was right, but she hated showing weakness in front of other people. She’d never talked about her past, not even with Octavia. But Octavia had never talked about hers either. They were close and they talked about everything, just not their pasts. It was a difficult subject for them both, so they just didn’t talk about it.
Octavia put her arm around Raven and helped her out of her bedroom and across the hall to her own room. Once inside, Raven shrugged off Octavia’s arm and opened the drawer next to the bed. She grabbed the orange container and twisted off the cap. Popping a couple of the pills in her mouth she swallowed them dry, before taking a seat on her bed. She shot a small smile at Octavia as her way of thanking her without actually saying the words. She didn’t want to admit she needed help sometimes. Octavia nodded, knowingly.
“Got a couple of those to spare?” Octavia joked, trying to calm the atmosphere in the room. “My head’s killing me.” Raven laughed.
“Here.” Raven tossed her a box of aspirin she also had in the draw. She only took her prescription when she was in a lot of pain, otherwise she just took regular painkillers.
“You’re the best,” Octavia smiled.
“I know.” And just like that the tension was cleared and forgotten, they were back to being them.
Around an hour later, the painkillers had kicked in and Raven made her way into the kitchen. Lexa was making coffee and Murphy was sitting at the table with a piece of toast hanging out of his mouth.
“You want coffee?” Lexa asked her as she approached the counter. She held out the mug in her hand, which Raven gratefully accepted.
“Thanks Lex,” she smiled.
“Guess what!” Lexa said excitedly as Raven added cream to her coffee. Raven raised an eyebrow, urging the other girl to continue. “My mom’s coming to visit.” Raven had to resist the urge to roll her eyes because Raven knew Lexa’s mom would not be coming to visit, she never did. Raven didn’t want to give the girl false hope, but at the same time she didn’t want to be the one to put her down.
Clearly Murphy didn’t give a shit. “You’re mom’s not coming,” Lexa spun around to glare at the boy. “How many of those letters have you gotten?” Murphy questioned and Lexa shrugged, her bright smile had turned into a sad frown. Raven wasn’t sure how many letters Lexa had received. Too many, Raven thought. “How many times has your mom actually showed up?” Lexa’s mom had never showed up. It baffled Raven, this women had let Lexa down so many times, broken so many promises, yet she still wants her to walk back into her life.
Lexa ran off in the direction of her room with her coffee, avoiding eye contact with the other two teens in the room “Why’d you have to be such a dick Murphy?” Raven shot at him.
“You know I’m right, Reyes.” Murphy rose to his feet, heading off up the stairs before Raven had the chance to think of a witty comeback, even though she knew he was right. Lexa really should stop getting her hopes up because it only ever ended one way.
“Hey,” she was interrupted from her thoughts by the gloomy voice from the kitchen. Jasper, who had clearly just woke up, was fixing himself so coffee.
“Hey,” she smiled at him. “You okay?” He shrugged, without replying. “Dumb question, sorry.” Raven felt sorry for the kid, he had lost so much in one day. Everyone had their coping methods, weed was obviously his. Raven partly agreed with him, she enjoyed a smoke occasionally, it helped with the pain.
Silence filled the room, only the feignt sound of the TV in the background could be heard. Raven rose to her feet to approach the younger boy. “You got anymore weed?” She asked him from behind. He glanced back at her with a half confused, half shocked expression on his face.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “You wanna…?”
“Yeah.”
*
“Raven you gotta come.” Octavia said in her baby voice as she stared into her closet, clad in just her underwear.
“To a party?” Raven shook her head in disbelief, still slightly high. Jasper had good weed she’ll give him that. High school house parties were definitely not her scene. She’d gone to a couple with Octavia, Miller and occasionally Murphy, but she didn’t particularly enjoy them. She didn’t drink, which instantly made her the odd one out.
“Come on, Raven,” Octavia pleaded. “We haven’t been out together in ages.” She turned her head to look at Raven, who was lying on Octavia’s bed with her eyes half closed. “Are you high?”
“No,” Raven lied, turning her head to glance at the half naked girl. She tried to keep her expression serious but failed when Octavia raised her eyebrows. She bursted into a fit of giggles.
“You’re so high.”
“You’re so hot.” Raven hadn’t even realised she’d said it outloud until Octavia lifted an eyebrow and grinned. Raven shrugged off the comment, even though inside she was mentally slapping herself for being such an idiot.
“C’mon Reyes,” She said clicking her fingers to bring Raven back to reality. “I need to pick out an outfit for tonight.”
“O, it’s 4pm,” Raven stated, not understanding why Octavia needed to pick her outfit so early. “Come here,” she extended her arm, holding out her hand and wiggling her fingers. Octavia sighed, taking her hand. Raven pulled the girl towards her so she fell on the bed beside her. Octavia glanced at Raven, confusion painted across her features.
“What are you-”
“Shhh” Raven breathed, interrupting her and settling her head next to Octavia’s, resting it on the other girl's shoulder. She wrapped herself around Octavia’s semi-naked body. Blaming the pounding of her heart on the weed, Raven closed her eyes and it wasn’t long before she was sound asleep.
She awoke to the sound of her own name and a gentle tapping on her shoulder. Raven stirred, opening her eyes. Octavia was standing over her, fully clothed, a bright smile on her face. “Dinner’s ready.”
After Dinner, where Octavia managed to convince Raven and even more surprisingly - Lexa - to go to the party with her, the three girls retired to their rooms to get ready. Indra had allowed them to go out that night as long at they were back by midnight. However, with Octavia that was unlikely. When Raven had finished getting ready, unsurprisingly way before the other two girls, she wandered into the Kitchen where she found Jasper. She was wearing a simple tee and jeans.
“Hey,” she greeted happily and Jasper nodded as a response. He was raiding the fridge, having skipped dinner again. “You wanna come to this stupid party tonight?” Raven asked him, considering no one else had and if she was honest she could do with some company while Octavia was off getting drunk and Lexa was messing about with Clarke, the only real reason she was going. Clarke Griffin was Abby’s daughter, who they’d all met a few times, mostly at parties, she was cool and they accepted her as part of the gang. Lexa had a huge crush on the girl though even if she wouldn’t admit, everyone knew.
“No,” Jasper responded simply, without offering her an explanation. But Raven understood. “Maybe next time,” he added as an afterthought.
*
The party was already in full swing by the time they arrived. They were greeted by Clarke, who was smoking a cigarette in the front yard. The house was huge, maybe three times the size of the house they lived in and there was six of them. The house belonged to the Jaha family. It was Wells Jaha who was throwing the party, much to the surprise of everyone. Wells was a quiet kid who always did what his father told him. But Clarke, who was his best friend, had managed to convince him.
Octavia went over to her friends, who were playing beer pong. She had told Raven to join them but she didn’t want to be the only one out there drinking so she opted to hang out with Clarke and Lexa for a while. Lexa went off to get them all something to drink, leaving Raven and a tipsy Clarke alone.
“When are you gonna tell her?” Clarke asked slurring a little.
Raven was confused. “Tell who what?” Clarke didn’t reply, she just nodded to where Octavia was standing. “Is it really that obvious?” Raven asked unable to lie to the blonde girl.
“No,” she replied simply. “I’m just good at reading people.”
“She doesn’t see me like that anyway.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t talk to her.”
“When are you going to tell her?” Raven changed the subject and motioned to the girl with three cups in her hand approaching them. “Everyone knows she likes you and you obviously like her back.”
“It’s not that simple,” Raven opened her mouth to argue but was stopped when Lexa reached them. Lexa handed a drink to Clarke and another to Raven, before sipping her own. Raven’s was non-alcoholic.
“Remind me to never get you to make the drinks again,” Clarke said sarcastically to Lexa. “Did you even put any booze in this?”
“Yes,” Lexa replied seriously. “I just didn’t want to see a repeat of last time.” Raven just laughed and saw this as her cue to leave. She wandered out into the back yard where she found the group of stoners
*
Hey you,” Octavia greeted, jumping over the back of the couch to sit beside Raven. “Twice in one day, huh?” She referred to Raven’s slightly red eyes that were half open and the stupid grin that was painted on her face at the sight of the younger girl. Octavia giggled, clearly drunk. “You a stoner now?” Raven shook her head, her fingertips gently stroking Octavia’s thigh, causing the younger girl to giggle. Raven glance up at Octavia, her own brown eyes meeting green. She couldn’t describe the unbelievable urge she had to lock lips with the girl in that moment. Get it together Reyes. A small voice in her head was telling her.
“We should get out of here soon,” It was Lexa’s voice that snapped Raven out of the moment, making her jump away from Octavia instinctively. Raven took a look at her watch and agreed with her. They had fifteen minutes to get home before Indra lost her shit and grounded them for a month.
They said their goodbyes to Clarke and made their way back home. Octavia linked her arm with Raven’s to steady herself as they made the short walk back to the house. Raven smiled to herself all the way, knowing she’d be waking up to Octavia in the morning. She couldn’t worry about anything in that moment, all she knew was how badly she wanted the girl beside her.