Chapter Text
Clarke closed her eyes and sighed in contentment as she welcomed the cool breeze flowing through the open window of the cab. The familiarity of the buildings passing by as the taxi weaved through the afternoon traffic told her she was probably about 10 minutes away from Raven and Octavia’s apartment. Though it had only been 6 months since she had been home to TonDC, it felt like so much longer. This time it felt different, maybe because she wasn’t just visiting; she wouldn’t have to pack up and say goodbye again in a few weeks; this time, she was finally home for good. After 4 long years of medical school at Yale, Clarke was home.
She definitely missed home and all of her friends who lived here. She even had to admit that she missed her mother a little. Since her father passed in her second year of college, Clarke and her mothers’ relationship had been somewhat strained. When she had first learned of the car accident that had so cruelly stolen her dad from the world far too soon, Clarke felt like her heart had been ripped from her body, like nothing could ever heal the pain. Her anger at the injustice of the situation had been a burden her friends, especially her mother had endured for months.
Clarke had rebelled initially, wanting to change her major from pre-med to art. Her passion for art was something she had shared with her father, he had always supported and encouraged her talent, and now he was gone, it was one of the few things that made her feel closer to him. However, in hearing of this potential change in her daughter’s college career, Abby threatened to cut off her funding. Clarke simply couldn’t afford to stay at college without her mother’s assistance, so she had caved and remained pre-med.
Years later, Clarke had conceded that her actions at the time were made out of grief at the sudden loss of her father, and she apologized to her mother. Abby had also apologized for reacting the way she had, and the two women came to a mutual understanding. Abby now lets Clarke make her own decisions in life without interfering. At the same time, Clarke respects and listens to her mother’s opinion when offered, and now even goes so far as to seek it out at times. The dynamic has worked for them, and Clarke feels their relationship is gaining strength every day.
Clarke’s heart beat a little faster at the thought of seeing all her old friends so soon. They had so much catching up to do, and she couldn’t wait to get started.
The cab finally pulled up out front of a modern-looking apartment building on the outskirts of TonDC’s business district. Raven and Octavia had been living together since Raven graduated college and got a job with a high-profile engineering firm in TonDC. On the other hand, Octavia had joined the police force straight out of school, following in her big brother Bellamy’s footsteps.
Raven had dubbed the apartment ‘the bachelorette pad,’ as they were both very single when they first moved in together. While Raven was still living the bachelorette life, Clarke had a suspicion that Octavia was ready to settle down with long term boyfriend, Lincoln.
Clarke paid the cab driver and dragged her bags over to the entrance of the fancy apartment block. She approached the intercom system by the front door, punched in Raven’s room number, and waited for her to answer.
There was obviously a video feed because straight away, Raven’s voice crackled through the intercom “Clarke! You’re here. Hang on, I’ll buzz you in.” Clarke heard a beep, and the light on the intercom turned green, indicating the door was now open.
“Get up here now, bitch! I have vodka!” and the line went silent. Clarke chuckled to herself, picking up all her bags and making her way into the building. Some things never change. She might get a word in eventually.
She navigated her way up to the second floor, and as she lugged her belongings ungracefully down the hallway, Raven burst out of her room with a bottle of vodka in one hand and yelled -
“Dr. Griffin!” Clarke broke into a giant grin at the sight of her best friend.
“Please, Dr. Griffin is my mother. I’m still Clarke.” Clarke rolled her eyes, still not used to the fact she could now be referred to as ‘Doctor.’
“Dr. Clarke it is then. Get your ass in here; we have booze to drink.” She waved the bottle around to emphasize the point and gestured into the apartment.
“Well, can you give me a hand then?” The blonde chuckled at Raven's enthusiasm; she was still the energetic, lively college kid Clarke remembered. Clarke briefly wondered if Raven would ever grow up and settle down, but then she rationalized, here is her best friend living her best life. Why would she ever want that to change?
“Yeah, yeah, the things I do for you, Griff.” Raven ambled out into the hallway to help Clarke with her bags. She limped slightly with the brace she was wearing on her leg. Still, Clarke knew her friend absolutely detested being treated differently due to her disability and likely would have been more offended if Clarke didn’t ask for help with her stuff.
Before the engineer could pick up any bags, Clarke caught her in a tight hug. “I missed your face, Raven.” Raven squeezed, returning the hug, as they stood there in the hallway relishing in the comfort that could only come from years of friendship.
“Aw, you big baby. Hurry up and get inside so we can get drunk telling each other about all the stupid stuff we’ve done lately,” Raven replied, returning the hug with gusto before adding quietly, “I Might’ve missed you a bit too, Griff.”
The two women set about moving Clarke’s belongings into the apartment. The blonde still marveled at the opulence of the place, high ceilings, 3 decent-sized bedrooms, an elegant open-plan kitchen with gorgeous stone benchtops, and stunning floor-to-ceiling windows with a view toward TonDC. Clarke knew Raven had some money. She had received a substantial settlement from the accident that had caused her leg injury when she was a teenager. Raven, being the forward-thinking genius that she is, invested a portion of the money wisely, resulting in significant gains over the years. Add that to the well-paying job she had earned by graduating top of her class at college, Raven wouldn’t need to worry about finances any time soon.
Once all Clarke’s bags had been placed in the spare bedroom, Raven poured a couple of drinks and sat down with Clarke in the living room. Clarke relaxed on the couch and took a deep breath, relishing in the knowledge that she was starting the next phase of her life, and she was finally home again with her best friends.
“Octavia should be home in a few hours; she’s still on shift till six,” Raven informed as she passed Clarke her drink. “So, how’s it feel to finally graduate?”
“Kind of surreal, you know,” Clarke replied contemplatively, taking a sip of the vodka soda Raven handed her. “I was starting to think I’d never make it to the end. Well, it’s still not over, really; I still have my surgical residency to get through now.”
“True, when does that start again?” Raven inquired.
“Six weeks. But at least I’m home now.” Clarke sighed. She had applied to do her residency at TonDC general, the same hospital her mother was head of cardiology. It hadn’t been an easy decision to make, as the last thing she wanted was to live in her mother’s shadow or be accused of special treatment. But her desire to come home won out in the end, and the fact that TonDC general was one of the best hospitals in the country. Her mother was ecstatic when she heard the news.
“Yeah, we’re all glad your back Clarkey, we missed you. We need to do a night out with the gang soon” Raven lifted her bad leg up onto the coffee table and started to remove the brace that helped her walk. The nerve damage in her leg was permanent, so the brace was the only way she could move around relatively normally.
“Yeah, that’d be awesome,” she really had missed everyone. “Thanks for letting me crash here till I find a place,” Clarke added sincerely.
“Don’t mention it. There might even be a room available here soon if Octavia ends up moving in with lover boy,” Raven hinted while massaging her thigh.
“Oh, so they are looking at moving in together.” Clarke assumes she’s talking about Lincoln. She hasn’t heard about any changes in Octavia’s life, and those two were made for each other. Clarke knows the rent Raven charges Octavia is far less than the area average. Still, considering she owns the place, the engineer can charge whatever she wants. Clarke also knows that Raven simply loves having someone else around, especially her best friends. The only reason Octavia is paying rent at all is because the police officer insisted that she didn’t want to be a freeloader.
Clarke can’t deny that she would relish the opportunity to move in with Raven.
“Yeah, looks like it; O has been scoping out real estate websites. She hasn’t said anything yet, but I reckon it’ll happen soon.”
“Good for them; I know he makes O happy,” Clarke added wistfully, lamenting her own miserable love life.
“So, what about you Clarkey, anyone making you happy lately?” Raven not so subtly probed.
“Haha, Raven, you know there isn’t. Not since--”
“That was 2 years ago Clarke, Finn is long gone. Time to move on,” the engineer interrupted, waving her hand dismissively.
“I know, maybe. I just wanted to focus on school,” it was an average excuse, and Clarke knew it.
“But school’s done now. Time to get back on the horse! Time to brush away the cobwebs down there.” Raven crudely gestured towards her crotch.
“Raven!” Clarke admonished.
“What? It’s been 2 years Clarke, I want to help.”
“Raven, I don’t need your help to get laid.”
“Well, clearly you do. I’m an awesome wing-woman. Remember our days at TonDC U,” Clarke and Raven had both done undergrad at TonDC U, Clarke in pre-med and Raven in engineering. They had spent many nights out together and had played the role of wing woman for each other many times.
“Those were some great times, Raven, but I’m past the days of drinking and one-night stands.”
“I know, Clarke. I really do want to help. You’ve been so distant since Finn.” Raven trailed off, looking like she wanted to say something but having an internal struggle.
She must have decided to just say whatever was on her mind because she looked up at Clarke at that moment and said, “So, look, don’t be mad.” That got Clarke’s attention. She sat forward at met Ravens eyes.
“Usually that statement is followed up by something that will most definitely make me mad,” Clarke said carefully, wary of what her best friend was going to say. Raven had done many crazy things in their time as best friends, so Clarke never quite knew what to expect next from her genius, if slightly unhinged at times, best friend.
Raven fidgeted in her seat, looking like she was trying to find the right words to confess whatever insane thing it was she had done.
“Just spit it out.” Clarke encouraged warily.
“I Signed you up for a reality show,” Raven spoke the words so fast Clarke almost couldn’t understand.
“YOU WHAT.” The blonde stood up in shock.
“I said don’t be mad!” Raven threw up her hands defensively before the impending argument was interrupted by the apartment door opening and Octavia barging in, yelling excitedly.
“Clarke! Oh my god, your back, how are you? Are you staying here long? When does your residency start?” While dropping her gear by the front door before launching herself towards Clarke and engulfing her in a tight hug, utterly oblivious to what she just walked in on.
Clarke was stuck hugging Octavia and trying to answer her barrage of questions while still reeling at the information Raven had just let slip. “I, yeah… Good, I guess,” she managed to mumble out distractedly.
Octavia realized something was amiss and leaned back from Clarke and asked, “Is everything OK?” her voice concerned.
“No, Raven just told me she signed me up for a reality show without asking me!”
Octavia grinned conspiratorily, “Oh, so you told her about the bachelor thing then.” Octavia said to Raven, relaxing now she knew the cause of Clarke's odd behavior, moving to sit beside Clarke while smiling widely.
“Well, I was in the middle of explaining--” Raved started before Clarke interrupted.
“Wait, you’re in on this too.” Clarke looked at Octavia with a betrayed look in her eyes before the other thing her police officer friend had mentioned registered in her brain. “The Bachelor? What?” Clarke’s mind was reeling, “You think sending me on some show where a bunch of ditzy women fight each other and try to bang some dude they only just met is a good idea?” Clarke was pacing now, “You thought a good way for me to get over a cheating ex would be to set me up with one guy who’s trying to bone like, 10 other girls? What the hell, Raven?”
“Well, when you put it that way,” Raved added, looking away thoughtfully.
“I have my residency coming up Raven, I can’t just leave for weeks for a reality show!” Clarke exclaimed. She was having a hard time coming to terms with why her friends would do this to her.
“Didn’t you say the application form was looking for lesbian or bisexual women, Raven?” Octavia interjected, seemingly enjoying the drama. She had gone to the kitchen, got herself a beer, and was now leaning against the door frame, smirking and sipping her drink.
“Oh yeah! So, it won’t be a dude trying to bone you all. It’ll be a chick!” Raven latched on to the deflection Octavia had provided.
“I’m not sure that makes a difference, Raven.” Clarke retorted.
“Just give it a go Clarke, it could be fun! It’s not like you’re going to find the love of your life. It’s just a show. A chance to get out there, look hot on TV and make Finny boy realize what he missed out on!” Raven tried to justify.
“Raven,” Clarke said warningly.
Octavia was openly laughing now, clearly loving the drama.
“Griff, you’re hot, I know Finn made you feel like shit after what he did, but you need to remember how hot you are. So many people will see you on this show and see how smoking you are. When you come back, I’ll be fighting them off you whenever we go out!” Raven continued.
“I’m not sure this is a good idea, and there’s still my residency.”
“Oh, you’ll be back well before your residency starts,” the engineer reasoned.
“Wait, when is this thing?”
“Next week.” Raven scratched behind her ear awkwardly.
“WHAT?” Clarke’s mind was reeling again. How was this possible? “Wouldn’t they need paperwork signed and releases and other legal stuff? How can I get all that done in a week?”
“Well, about that…” Raven looked down at her lap guiltily.
“You forged my signature, didn’t you Raven?” accused Clarke
“Only a couple of times, and maybe a phone interview or two… but look, this will be great Clarke!” Raven deflected
“Octavia, you’re a cop! Arrest her! This is identity theft!” Clarke cried dramatically, turning to Octavia for help.
Octavia laughed. “I told you she wouldn’t like it Raven!” she choked out between laughter.
“Oh, so you’re on her side then.” Clarke glared at Octavia
“I think you could have a great time Clarke, don’t take it seriously. Just go and have fun. Drink the free booze, go on the fancy dates, make fun of the Instagram influencers there just to get a few more followers. It’ll be an experience.” She rationalized, “and it will be so much fun to watch it when it airs!”
“You guys will be the death of me.” Clarke said dramatically as she collapsed back into the couch.