Chapter 3
"Tell me why we had to get such an early flight." Clarke whines as she follows her best friend onto the airplane. "We could've easily gotten one for later today and still made it for the stupid dinner tonight."
"My mom wants to have some one on one time with us." Octavia explains as she rolls her eyes and shuffles towards their seats. "Believe me, if I could avoid this then it would be the best thing ever. Apparently we're meeting Lexa and her girlfriend."
"Costia, right?" Clarke yawns.
"No. They broke up like five months ago. Apparently she's got someone new." Octavia replies as she drops into the window seat and yanks the blind down. "My mom won't stop going on and on about how happy she is that all of us are finally in stable relationships...even if Lexa and I are dating girls."
"Stable?" Clarke snorts. "You woke me up by crushing my boobs with your suitcase."
"I was actually aiming to throw it at your face." Octavia smirks as she snuggles back in her seat and blinks sleepily. "Thanks again for doing this, Clarke. I'm sure you'd rather be doing something else and..."
"O, you're my best friend. My better half. You're the soulmate who forgot to fall in love with me. I'd do anything for you." Clarke whispers as she nudges her shoulder against Octavia's before she scrunches her nose. "Except sleep with you."
"Aw, so no mile high club?" Octavia pouts.
"Hell no." Clarke sneers. "Lure some poor flight attendant in."
"There's only one lady flight attendant on this flight and she probably pisses dust so I'm gonna go ahead and say no to that." Octavia murmurs. "I think I'm just gonna sleep. Wake me up when we get to hell."
Clarke nods as she digs for her headphones, "See ya on the other side."
Octavia grunts in answer as she leans her head against the window and feels her body drifting as the whirl of activity sounds around. The excitement of the flight starts and Clarke furrows her brow at how happy people were at this early in the morning, it makes her want to punch something. She rolls her eyes as she watches a three-year-old climb into the seat behind hers and she can already feel his feet against her chair. Clarke yawns as she glances over to Octavia before copies her best friend's stance, they're both asleep before the plane even takes off.
-x-
"I met you at the glory hole in the bathroom at your law firm?"
"Raven." Lexa laughs. "No!"
"Fine, fine. How about we met when you came in to get your car fixed and you were so impressed that you had a hot lady mechanic that you tried to be a flirt and I found it endearing and gave you my number?" Raven suggests.
"No. We're going with the story that Monty came up with. We met through them when they set us up on a double date after Costia broke up with me." Lexa recites. "We pretty much fell for each other straight away and haven't been apart since."
"That's such a boring story. And so fuckin' cliche." Raven whines as she turns her head to stare at Lexa as they drive through sleepy streets. "I think that we should come up with something more exciting. Ooh, how about you saved me when I was..."
"Nope."
"You revived me after I almost drown in someone's beer at a bar?"
Lexa casts a look her way, "Um, no."
"You bumped into me and splashed my coffee everywhere so we started fighting and you said something fucked up so I went to slap you but you caught my hand and pulled me into a passionate kiss instead?"
"This isn't General Hospital, Rae," Lexa chuckles as she flips her turning indicator and moves lanes. "We're sticking with Monty's idea. Met on a blind date. Fell in love a month later and have been happy ever since, but I was too afraid to introduce you."
Raven pouts as she crosses her arms, "Boo."
"I wish this was more fun for you, but my aunt is practically my mom and she's kinda a hardass so I need you to be less sarcastic and more of a kiss ass." Lexa pleads as she glances Raven's way. "Please? For me? Just for the next week?"
"It's going to physically pain me," Raven admits. "But I'll do it for you."
"This is why you're my best friend. If I could love you as more than that then I totally would and I'd marry you." Lexa smiles only to be met with Raven's eye roll. "What? I'm serious! I'd marry you if you hadn't friendzoned me so hard."
"We're better as friends, Lex. There's no way I could put up with all the shedding you do for the rest of my life. And cuddling with you is like holding onto a scorching hot log. Oh, and you chew really loudly." Raven complains.
"Oh and you're so perfect?" Lexa sneers. "You never pick up your socks. You'll pick up everything else, but not your socks. You have way too many leather jackets. And you purposely leave empty boxes of poptarts in the pantry to piss off Miller."
Raven laughs happily, "He gets so mad."
"I would be too! You know how much he loves poptarts." Lexa snickers and as their laughter calms she throws Raven a smile full of her usual charm. "Thank you for doing this, Rae. I really do love you."
"I love you, too." Raven whispers with a soft smile. "But I'm hungry."
"Alright, alright. Next gas station we find I'll buy you some Milky Ways and a coke."
Raven beams at her, "Now I really love you."
-x-
"Octavia!"
"And here we go." Octavia hisses through a false smile. "Mom!"
Aurora Blake sweeps across the room to gather her daughter in a hug and Clarke muffles her laugh as she pinches her mouth into a thin line; the woman frets over her daughter and tugs at her dark locks while she takes in her small frame. Clarke can hear as Aurora loudly complains about Bellamy not being there and how she wishes Anya could be there too but wedding plans have her busy all the while Octavia simply nods with a smile that is more fake then Aurora's tan.
"Look at you," Aurora breathes out. "Still so beautiful."
"Um, thanks. You uh you look good too." Octavia offers with a small nod as she glances over her shoulder to see Clarke as she lingers a few steps back. "Mom, this um...this is my girlfriend. Clarke, this is my mom."
"Ms. Blake," Clarke grins as she steps forward to offer her hand. "It's so nice to meet you."
Aurora takes her in with a lift of her eyebrow as she nods and accepts the hand Clarke gives her. Clarke smiles softly as the woman continues to scan her over and Octavia steps closer to her and looks to Clarke with a smirk. She can see the way her mother is staring at her best friend and she knows that her mother is far from satisfied by the person that Octavia has apparently picked to be her girlfriend; the thought makes her smirk just a tiny bit.
"Clarke," Aurora nods. "Please call me Aurora. It's nice to finally meet you."
"Where's Lexa?" Octavia demands.
"Oh, they ran into a little trouble with their hotel but she texted me a few minutes ago to say that they'd be here any minute." Aurora assures her with a wave of her hand as she gives a fake smile. "Come along, our table is ready."
Clarke playfully arches her eyebrow at Octavia and settles a hand on her lower back as they trail behind Aurora through the fancy little restaurant; they finally reach their seats and Clarke is quick to pull Octavia's chair out as Aurora eyes her. The trio sit in silence as the waiter wonders over to collect their drink orders and once he's gone the quietness causes Octavia's jaw to clench; she hates the quiet, always has, and she especially hates it when her mother is involved.
"Aurora," Clarke begins. "Octavia told me your a lawyer."
Aurora nods as stares at her for a long moment, "I am. Criminal law. It's a wonderful profession and I was hoping one of my kids would follow in my footsteps so I was thrilled when Alexandria and Anya did but Bellamy has always been good with numbers and Octavia apparently can't resist a gym."
"Being a trainer is awesome." Octavia scoffs. "I love it."
"I'm glad to hear that, dear. I just wish you would've considered something more fulfilling. You have a business degree." Aurora reminds her with a tilt of her head. "Your father always hoped you and Bellamy would try for med school."
"Anytime she sees blood she just about passes out. I don't think having Octavia around a hospital or anything medical related would be a good idea." Clarke chuckles. "She can barely stomach helping her clients when they get hurt. That's why I'm the med student."
Aurora simply hums as the waiter appears with their glasses of wine and Octavia is quick to sip at hers as she glances over her shoulder. She needs her cousin here, besides Bellamy Lexa is the only one who makes these dinners anywhere close to bearable. She drowns out the sound of Clarke and Aurora's painful small talk in favor of keeping her attention on the swirls she makes around the top of her wine glass, her chin balanced in her hand as she sighs and pouts her lower lip.
"Alexandria!"
Octavia perks up excitedly at the sound of her cousin's name and turns to catch sight of her but she feels the breath all but leave her as she catches sight of the woman that hangs off her cousin's thin arm. Brown hair. Black dress. And those eyes. Octavia feels like the world has disappeared around her as she stares and she can only imagine what she looks like, wide eyes and a jaw that hangs close to the floor.
"Who is that?"
Octavia jumps as she looks to Clarke's wide eyed gaze, "Huh?"
"Octavia, that's your cousin? Why haven't you ever showed me a picture of her?" Clarke hisses as she elbows Octavia hard in the side but Octavia simply shakes her head as she continues to stare. "Holy fuck, O."
Time seems to slow down around her as brown eyes snap to her and she barely restrains herself from drooling as she continues to eye the woman. Octavia gives a hard swallow as Lexa calls her name and moves to sweep her from her chair. For a moment, brown eyes disappear from memory as she folds easily into Lexa's thin arms. It's been three months since they saw each other and she can feel from the way that her cousin's arms tighten around her that she agrees it was too long.
"Look at you," Lexa scoffs as she pulls away from her to scan her over. "You look good, O."
"Well, that's kind of what happens when you're a personal trainer. I wish I could say the same for you, I think yelling objection all day is making you lose your figure." Octavia teases as she pinches at her stomach.
"Hey now!" Lexa laughs as she swats her hand away. "Not nice."
The two continue to trade playful pinches and pokes before they take notice to their dates that are quietly introducing themselves while Aurora moves back to her place in the center of where the couples will be sitting. The woman looks on with a slight frown and Octavia can see the way her gaze jumps around to see if any of the other guests of the restaurant are staring at the two couples; she rolls her eyes and huffs and silently wishes her mother would just grow the fuck up.
"Who is that?" Lexa demands with a scowl.
"That's my girlfriend." Octavia replies as she licks her lips. "And who is that?"
"That's my girlfriend." Lexa mocks as she steps away from her cousin and moves to press a hand to Raven's lower back as she offers her hand to a gaping Clarke. "It's nice to meet you, Clarke. I've heard a lot about you, though my cousin swore up and down she wasn't dating you."
"Well, you know how she is," Clarke laughs as she accepts the hand. "She was nervous about telling people about us."
"I hope that you're taking care of my cousin out there in that big city." Lexa mutters and she shoots a quick glance down at the hand that still lingers in her own. "I know that she may seem tough, but she's little."
"I have a feeling she can take care of herself, but I'll do what I can to make sure that she eats healthy and takes a shower weekly." Clarke teases as she finally pulls her hand away from Lexa's with a hesitant frown.
"Raven," Lexa coughs, her cheeks burn red as she looks to Raven. "This is my cousin, Octavia."
Octavia simply blinks as she stares at the woman before her and she swears her heart flutters in her chest whenever Raven blesses her with a smile. A soft nudge from Clarke shakes her from her stupor and she frowns before she catches sight of Raven's hand. She accepts the extended hand and tries to ignore the way a bolt of shock goes through her, tries to remind herself that this isn't a fairytale and that this girl standing before her is her cousin's supposed current girlfriend.
"Octavia," Raven smiles. "Nice to put a face to the name."
"You have a nice face." Octavia mutters.
Raven arches an eyebrow as she pulls her hand away, "Thanks."
Octavia feels her eyes widen as she realizes that the words had been said out loud instead of in her head and with once glance at Clarke she knows that she's never going to hear the end of her little mistake. Raven and Lexa easily scoot around the standing couple and take their seats and Octavia stands with her back to them as she squeezes her eyes shut and smacks Clarke in the arm when she hears her soft snickers.
"Smooth, O." Clarke chuckles.
-x-
"You have a nice face?" Octavia exclaims. "I told her she has a nice face!"
"I know, O. I was there." Clarke reminds her for the tenth time as she pulls back the sheets of the hotel bed. "It really wasn't that bad. You did good for the rest of the dinner, you only got caught staring at her a few times."
"Clarke, why is my cousin dating someone so hot?" Octavia demands as she paces through the room. "Why is my cousin dating a fuckin' angel? What did Lexa do in a past life to deserve someone so perfect?"
"I don't know, O," Clarke smirks. "She's pretty damn perfect herself."
Octavia pauses as she looks to Clarke, "Excuse me?"
"Your cousin." Clarke mumbles as she ducks her head and slides onto the mattress. "She um she's really good looking. I kind of wasn't expecting that. I figured you never showed me a picture of her because she was ugly."
"First of all, she's from my bloodline and none of us are ugly." Octavia scoffs as she crosses her arms over her chest. "And second of all, keep it in your pants. My cousin may be good looking, but she's got a girlfriend. A very, very hot girlfriend."
"Why didn't you tell me about her?" Clarke demands.
"I have? I've told you about her a million times and you just block it out." Octavia points out as she shoots her best friend a frown. "But back to my problem! I want to fuck my cousin's very attractive girlfriend."
Clarke shakes her head in amusement, "You don't wanna go there..."
"I'm already there, Clarke!" Octavia whines as she tosses her head back and runs her fingers through her dark locks. "I'm in the middle of there. Whatever there is. I'm smack dab in the middle of it."
"O," Clarke smiles. "Calm down."
Octavia heaves a long breath as she trudges her way to the bed and falls face first into the mattress with a groan. Clarke rolls her eyes as she leans over to scoop up Octavia's legs and pull the sheets over her small form. The two sit in silence and think about the couple that is staying only a few floors above them; Clarke licks her lips as she pictures Lexa's smiling face while Octavia groans as she remembers Raven's laugh and the way she scrunches her nose.
"My cousin has a hot girlfriend." Octavia whines into her pillow.
"Yup." Clarke nods. "And you have a hot cousin."
"Fuck off." Octavia grumbles.
-x-
"So, your cousin?" Raven smirks.
Lexa swipes the water from her face as she turns in the shower to watch Raven as she scrubs shampoo into her dark locks. Her eyes narrow as she takes in Raven's stance before she scowls at the hint of a smile on Raven's lips. She knows that look and there's no way she's letting Raven near her cousin; she and Octavia have always been close, she was only four when her mother died and Octavia was three so the two had been attached at the hip growing up.
"No."
"Oh, come on," Raven laughs. "It's not like I'm dating anyone."
"So? She's here with Clarke for a reason. I don't know why yet, but there has to be a reason." Lexa points out as she gives a small frown. "And on top of that, she's my baby cousin. Stay the hell away from her."
"Something tells me that you need to be having this conversation with her." Raven sighs as she nudges Lexa from under the hot spray of water. "If you didn't notice, your cousin could barely keep her eyes off me tonight."
"Yes, I noticed." Lexa hisses as she grabs the shampoo.
"Wanna know what I noticed?" Raven giggles as she shakes the last of the shampoo bubbles from her hair. "I noticed that you couldn't seem to keep your eyes off her roommate. Does someone have a thing for her cousin's roommate?"
"She was hot." Lexa shrugs as she slaps the shampoo onto her head.
Raven grins as she reaches up to scrub the shampoo into Lexa's wavy locks, "So you think her roommate is worth boning and I sure as fuck think your cousin is so I think this is going to be a fun week, Lexa."
"No. You don't get to do anything with my cousin." Lexa scolds.
Raven rolls her eyes as she finishes with the shampoo before she spins to push Lexa under the spray of water. Lexa's wavy locks hang freely in her face as the pair climb from the shower with a silence surrounding them. The two dry off and dress while they trade glares and frowns that borderline between playful and dangerous. As they slide into bed, Raven rolls over to prop her head in her hand as she stares down at Lexa.
"So, do you think Clarke is actually gay?" Raven asks.
"I don't know and I don't care. It's not any of my business." Lexa huffs.
"But you'd like for it to be your business?" Raven questions and she beams when she notices the way Lexa's gaze shifts away. "Lexa, this is perfect. Come on, it'll make these few days so much more bearable."
"Raven, I don't want you messing around with Octavia. These few days might be fun for you, but she falls hard and fast. I don't want her getting her heart broken." Lexa snaps as she glares up at her.
"I'm not going to break her heart." Raven mutters.
Lexa sighs as she catches the hurt on Raven's face, "She lives in New York. We live here in Flordia. If you guys just happen to want to make something out of it then it's going to be impossible. It's not worth it, okay?"
"Are you telling me this or trying to convince yourself about it?"
"Shut up." Lexa hisses as she rolls onto her side. "Just stay away from my cousin."
"Fine." Raven pouts as she collapses onto her back. "You suck."
"No, you suck." Lexa corrects with a smirk.
Raven sits up slowly with a smirk, "Do you think Clarke sucks?"
Raven's cackles fill the air as she throws her head back and claps her hand in appreciation of her own comment. Lexa heaves a long breath before she grabs her pillow and rolls over to pin it against Raven's face till the younger girl stops laughing and begins to squirm in protest. Lexa giggles as she lets up for a moment and sees the laughter that returns to Raven's face before she pushes the pillow back down on her face and waits for the brunette's limbs to flail before she lifts it once more.
"Shut up, alright?" Lexa demands.
"Fine!"
Lexa draws away with a smile, "Thank you."
"Fuck you."
"Nah." Lexa shrugs as she rolls back onto her side. "Maybe tomorrow."