Moving day
"Earth to Clarke!" Octavia says, shaking Clarke's shoulder slightly.
"Whats going on in your head Griff?" Raven asks.
"Sorry guys I'm just a bit nervous, I've never lived with a stranger before."
"It will be fine, Clarke."
"What if she hates me?"
"Doesn't matter, you'll be busy with classes and you're going to be hanging out at our place most of the time so even if you don't get along with this Lexa you'll hardly ever be here." Octavia says squeezing Clarke's shoulder to reassure her.
"And you know we've got your back if the shit hits the fan Griff but there really is nothing to worry about."
"Yeah, you guys are right, besides she told me in her emails she doesn't talk so it's not like we'll get in a lot of arguments."
"Wait, what?! Like she can't speak or she just doesn't?" Raven asks.
"I don't know, she didn't explain and I didn't want to ask."
"Well that doesn't matter, she still won't hate you, there's no one that could and I'm sure you two will be good friends." Octavia says, determined to make Clarke believe it.
"Thanks guys, I feel a lot better now."
"We're like your personal cheerleaders Griff, whenever you need a reminder of how awesome you are we'll be there for you but I am not wearing one of those tacky uniforms so get that idea out of your head."
"Aww but Raven you'd look so cute in a cheerleader uniform."
"I know you just want to check out my fabulous legs in a short skirt Clarke but it's still not happening, end of discussion."
"I will get you to wear the uniform someday Raven, that's a promise."
"Ok guys, time to get back to work we still got a lot of cleaning to do before this new roommate arrives." Octavia announces, trying to send them back to their separate jobs before things escalate and regrettable bets are made. "And you need to shower before she gets here Clarke."
"What? Why? I had a shower last night."
"Yeah but that was before our movie marathon, have you seen yourself today?"
"No but I can't look too bad we just sat on a couch watching movies, how can I look bad after that?"
Raven walks over to Clarke and pulls something out of her hair. "You've got a whole lot of popcorn in your hair Griff and your necks all sticky from when O spilled her drink on you." She eats the piece of popcorn she pulled from Clarke's hair.
"Gross Raven, did you seriously just eat that?" Octavia gives her a disgusted look.
"What? It's fine, she washed her hair yesterday."
"That's just weird Raven."
"Yeah Raven, even I think that's gross and it was in my hair it came out of." Clarke adds.
"Whatever, maybe you two should focus on cleaning this place up instead of judging me."
"I know you're just trying to distract us from what you just did but I agree, she said she would be here sometime in the afternoon so we've only really got an hour left to clean this place so let's get to work ladies."
Later that day.
Lexa stands frozen in place outside her new apartment. She's running through all the various scenarios that could take place when she knocks on this door.
She tells herself everything will be ok, that she'll just move all her stuff in and then hide in her room for the year, thinking this way takes away all her worries. She raises her hand to knock but before she can a door opens behind her, she turns to find two brunettes standing behind her.
"Hi, you must be Lexa Woods, I'm Octavia Blake and this is Raven Reyes, we're Clarke's best friends. It's nice to meet you."
Octavia extends her hand for Lexa to shake, Lexa obliges hoping that this will bring an end to this interaction.
A long silence drags on, Lexa opens her mouth not exactly sure of what she's going to do but before she can even try to do anything Octavia speaks again.
"It's ok Lexa, Clarke told us you're not a talker, we were just wondering, do you want us to help you bring your stuff up?"
Lexa is shocked by these two strangers offering to help her. She wants to decline their offer but she finds herself nodding her head.
"Ok then, me and Lexa will carry the boxes up, Reyes you get the door and start taking the boxes into her room."
Raven stands up straight and salutes Octavia. "Yes ma'am" she says seriously. She looks at Lexa then and notices a smile tugging at her lips. "Was that a smile Woods?" She asked playfully. "I think me and Lexa are gonna be good friends, O." This time Lexa lets a small smile show.
"Don't encourage her Lexa, her ego is already out of control, we don't need it getting any bigger." Octavia says.
"I'm trying to make a new friend, O. Stop trying to scare her off just because your jealous that Lexa thinks I'm funnier than you." She teases.
"Oh please, you're only funnier than me in your dreams, Reyes." Octavia sticks her tongue out at her friend.
Lexa smiles while she watches the two best friends tease each other.
"I-" Raven begins but is immediately cut off by Octavia.
"Wait, let's not get sucked into another one of our debates until we've got all Lexa's stuff moved in, then we can argue for hours about it, ok?"
Raven agrees.
"Ok, Lexa lead the way."
With that Lexa and Octavia head down the stairs, leaving Raven to deal with the boxes in the hallway. She bangs on the door. "Griff, get your ass out here these boxes are heavy."
The door swings open to reveal a very confused blonde. "You're not carrying any boxes, Raven."
"No but I will be and I already know they're gonna be heavy. Your roommate thinks I'm hilarious by the way."
"Wait, how do you know that?"
"I met her a minute ago, she's just gone to get the rest of her stuff, O's helping her carry them up, we have to bring them to her room." She gestures towards the boxes beside the door.
"You met her? What's she like? I hope you two were nice to her."
"Jeez Clarke have a little faith in us. Of course we were nice we're helping her move in. How much nicer can we be?!"
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry and thank you for being nice to her, now answer my question, what's she like?"
"Ridiculously hot" Raven gets a slap on the arm from Clarke. "Ouch!!! What the hell Griffin?!"
"I'm serious Raven."
"Ok, she's seriously hot." She says, earning herself a slap on the back of her head this time. "Damn it Clarke!! I don't know what else to say she didn't say anything, I don't know anything else about her."
"Alright fine, I'm sorry."
"Good, now unless you want your roommate to know we've been standing here talking about her I suggest you grab as many boxes as possible and start getting them into her room."
"Oh shit you're right, let's move our asses."
Meanwhile outside
Lexa and Octavia arrive at the car. "Holy shit Lexa, your car is beautiful. Raven's gonna lose it when she sees this." Octavia walks around the car inspecting every inch of the blue 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. She's so distracted that it takes a moment for her to notice the questioning look on Lexa's face.
"Surprised that I'm interested in cars?" She already knows the answer from the curious expression on her face but she waits for Lexa to nod before continuing. "Well me, Clarke and Raven have been best friends since we were kids and Raven's a total car nerd and an engineering genius, so we spent years listening to Raven gush over cars and we ended up sharing her interest in them, we're all car nerds really but Raven is the queen of all car nerds. This is one of Ravens favourite cars. She's never seen one up close though so prepare yourself for a lot of excited squealing when she spots this." Octavia chuckles.
Lexa smiles again which is both confusing and surprising to her. She had been so adamant that she would not make friends and spend all her time alone yet here she is enjoying the company of her roommates friend before she's even met her. Of course she still won't speak to them but she can't help but feel happy to spend time with someone that doesn't know her, doesn't know what happened to her and someone that's not judging her for not speaking.
"Uh Lex, you alright?" Lexa nods slowly. "Ok so this should be quick with all four of us working together, you'll be settled in before you know it." Octavia gives her a warm smile.
Lexa can't believe how easy this has been and how considerate her roommate's friends have been. Not once did they push her to talk. Her previous roommates had called her a 'bitch' the day they first met her and continued to do so almost every time they saw her, despite Anya taking the time to explain to them that she had been through a lot and just couldn't speak to anyone until she's sure she can trust them.
These people though are the complete opposite to them. They're patient and kind. They've only asked her things that she could respond to with a simple shake of her head. She's beginning to realize that these people are the right kind of people to have in her life. She feels oddly excited to meet Clarke, after meeting Octavia and Raven she had no doubt that Clarke would be just as great as they are.
30 minutes later.
Octavia and Lexa had been carrying the boxes up to the hallway outside of the apartment for Clarke and Raven to carry into Lexa's new room. She knew that Octavia had been the one helping her carry the boxes because of the brace she noticed on Raven's leg, she figured it would be too much for Raven to have to make the three trips up and down the stairs. She guessed that Clarke was helping Raven just in case carrying all the boxes got to be too much for her. She felt relieved that someone was looking out for Raven despite only knowing her for no more than 5 minutes, Lexa really cared for Raven.
Strangely both groups hadn't run into each other on any of the three trips up to the apartment.
"Reyes, Griffin, we're finished." Octavia shouted into the apartment.
Raven was the first one to appear in the room dropping herself down onto the couch. "Thank god." She let out a sigh of relief. "Hope you're hungry Woods we just ordered some pizza it'll be here soon, we didn't know what you liked so we got one loaded with cheese and one pepperoni, that alright?" She looked to Lexa who nodded enthusiastically, Raven laughed at the excitement she showed at the mention of food. "I like you already Woods." she happily stated. "Griffin hurry your ass up and get in here."
"Raven, has anyone ever told you you're very impatient?" Clarke called from somewhere in the apartment, Lexa notices she has a raspy tone to her voice which she hadn't been expecting but she likes it.
"Just about everyone I've ever met."
Clarke chuckles as she approaches the room the three girls are gathered in and Lexa thinks it's the most beautiful sound she's ever heard.
Then she's there standing only a few feet away from her. Lexa's breath hitches in her throat when she sees her. The blonde is wearing light grey sweatpants and a white v-neck t-shirt with a pair of worn black converse, Lexa thought she had never seen someone look so beautiful in casual clothing.
Clarke has the very same reaction seeing Lexa for the first time. Lexa is wearing a pair of tight black jeans, a loose grey tank top with a leather jacket over it and leather boots. Clarke now sees that Raven wasn't exaggerating when she said that her new roommate was ridiculously hot.
They both stand staring at each other, they make eye contact. Raven and Octavia glance between them and then at each other, neither of them have ever seen their friend react like this when meeting someone for the first time, usually she would have introduced herself by now.
"Oh right you two haven't officially met yet." Octavia breaks the silence. "Lexa Woods meet Clarke Griffin, our best friend." Octavia says before Raven appears next to the blonde. "Clarke Griffin meet Lexa Woods, our new friend." Raven finishes the introduction.
It takes Clarke a few seconds to pull herself out of the staring contest they seemed to be having, she extends her hand to Lexa who shakes it and holds on for just a moment longer than necessary, they both drop their hands to their sides immediately after. "Um, Hi Lexa it's so great to meet you." Lexa gave her a blinding smile in response. "I'm sorry these two ambushed you before we got to meet."
"Hey!! We did not ambush her we didn't plan on walking out of the apartment at the exact moment she arrived but when we did we welcomed her and offered our assistance, any decent neighbour would do the same." Octavia tried to defend their actions.
"I'm sure that's what happened O, tell me, why was it that you both left the apartment together at that exact moment?" Clarke asks in an accusing manner.
She knew they hadn't planned on her asking that when she saw Octavia give Raven a look pleading for her help.
"Milk!!!" Raven blurts out. "We needed milk, we were going to have cereal but we were out of milk so we were coming over here to get some from you when we happened to find Lexa in the hallway."
"It's the middle of the afternoon Raven, why would you be having cereal now?" Clarke gives her a smug look that says she has her trapped and she should just confess their true intentions.
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day Clarke, regardless of what time it is, you should never skip breakfast." Raven has a proud expression on her face after coming up with an answer.
"Ok then, lets pretend I believe that and move on to another question, why would it take the two of you to get some milk?" Clarke raises an eyebrow challenging Raven to come up with an excuse.
Ravens proud expression falters for a moment before a wide grin appears on her face. "The world is a dangerous place Clarke what if I had been attacked in the hallway? No one would know and poor O would wither away from starvation because she never got the milk for her cereal, I asked her to come with me for her safety and mine."
"There's something else that's very strange about that excuse, I seem to remember you buying enough milk to last the rest of the week when we went grocery shopping yesterday." Clarke knows all the tricks to catch Raven in a lie.
"That is strange...." Raven trails off trying to think of a response, luckily there was a loud knock at the door providing her with the perfect way out of this interrogation. "Well i guess that sound means the Q&A session of storytime has ended, thanks for coming along, you've been a great audience." Raven waves at Clarke and Lexa as she races off to the door with Octavia sniggering alongside her.
Clarke turns her attention back to Lexa "Sorry about them, I would say they're not usually like this but they always are." Lexa waves her hand as if to say 'don't worry about it' and then gives Clarke a warm smile.
The two become locked in another staring contest. Clarke wonders how it could feel so good to stare into someones eyes, especially those of someone she has only just met. It didn't make her uncomfortable to do this, she likes this girl's eyes, she's actually quite fascinated by them, she has never seen green eyes that were this interesting, the shade of green reminded her of a forrest.
"If you two want pizza I suggest ye get over here quickly, Raven didn't get to eat her cereal and there's a good chance she'll devour both these pizzas in seconds." Octavia says with a curious look having just witnessed the intense staring match the two were having.
"Well roomie, you hungry?" Clarke asks.
Lexa nods enthusiastically again. They join the other two on the couch. They spend some time talking, making sure that Lexa feels included in the conversation. At one point they discuss watching a movie together and they look to Lexa to see if she's ok with that, ordinarily Lexa would have retreated to her room by now, she's never been this comfortable with strangers before but she knows she likes these people so she agrees.
They watched three movies before Octavia and Raven went back to their own apartment, leaving the two roommates alone together for the first time. Their eyes locked for the third time that day. Neither of them made an effort to look away.
Lexa was accustomed to silence but not like this. Silence had never felt as comfortable to her as it did with Clarke. Just sitting there looking deep into Clarke's sky blue eyes she felt safe like Clarke would protect her from everything that could hurt her. She scolded herself for thinking this way about someone who was still a stranger to her.
The moment only ends when Clarke yawns, she hadn't been able to get much sleep the night before because of how worried she was about meeting Lexa. "I think it's time for bed." She looks to Lexa who nods in agreement. "If you need anything come get me, ok?" Lexa nods again, a soft smile on her face. "Ok, goodnight Lexa."
Lexa waves slightly, the only way she can think of saying goodnight without actually saying it. Clarke smiles again before walking away to her bedroom. Lexa goes to her own room and unpacks only what she needs at that time before falling into her bed, she hadn't realized how tired she was. She fell asleep as soon as she lay down.