chapter one

Clarke brushed her messy blonde curls out of her face as she got out of the car, slinging her handbag over her shoulder. It was a bright, beautiful day, the sky clear, the redbrick walls of her dorm building almost glittering in the sunlight.

"I can't believe our little girl is starting university." Abby sighed, trying to fix Clarke's hair.

"Mom, don't-"

"Let me have this much." Abby said, twisting it back off her forehead carefully. "I wont see you until Christmas after today."

"Your mom is a sentimental old goose." Jake said as he lifted Clarke's cases out of the car. "She wont be able to look at a hairbrush until you're home with us again."

Clarke laughed. "You're growing dreadlocks then mom, yeah?"

"I think I could rock them." Abby laughed. "What floor are you on?"

"Third." Clarke checked the letter. 'Arkoses University, North Carolina' was emblazoned across the top, all the details of her dorm, roommate and where to go underneath. She couldn't believe she was actually here, a freshman in university. It had felt like it would never happen when she was in high school, suffocating under the strict rules of the private school she had spent her life in.

She was looking forward to being independent, for once. Clarke loved her parents more than anything, but they were protective. Her mother was one of the top doctors in the state, her dad worked as an engineer with the military, and they had friends in high places - namely Senator Jaha. They were constantly worrying that something would happen to Clarke, and it had taken a lot of convincing for her to be allowed go to college in North Carolina, rather than in Washington DC where she grew up.

"Clarke, honey?"

"Sorry." Clarke shook her head. "Just taking this all in!"

"I'm jealous." Abby admitted. "I would love to be starting university all over again. They were some of the best years of my life."

"Mainly because you met me on the first week." Jake said, grabbing a hold of most of Clarke's bags. "And we had the best fun."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Boys are not the only thing that make college fun Clarke. There's all the friends you're going to make - and the classes!"

"The parties." Jake grinned.

"Don't you dare encourage her Jake!" Abby said. "You are underage Clarke, you are not going to be going wild."

"Don't worry mom." Clarke laughed. "I'm not much of a partier anyway."

"You should join some clubs." Abby said as they entered the busy dorm building, heading for the elevator. "Its how I made some of my best friends. I met Thelonius when I joined the debating society."

"You were in the debating society?"

Abby shook her head. "I never went back after the first meeting - it clashed with something else. Thelonius and I stayed friends though!"

"Your moms point is Clarke, that branching out and joining things is the best way to meet new people." Jake said. "You don't get to talk to people in your classes a lot, and it can be daunting to anyway. You should join the art club or something!"

"Art club dad, really?"

"I know you teenagers have to be aloof about your talents, but you're in college now Clarke. You can acknowledge that you have a talent."

"Haha dad. I'm going to miss how hilarious you are."

"Yes you are." Jake beamed. "My jokes are something special."

"They're definitely something dad." Clarke laughed, taking in the view as they stepped out of the elevator. The floor was bustling with life, bags, and parents and new students everywhere. It was busy, and crazy, and Clarke couldn't help but think that she was going to enjoy being surrounded by so much life.

"You look excited Clarke." Abby said, squeezing her daughter's shoulder.

"I am." Clarke admitted. "I really am."

"What number are you?" Jake said, struggling under the amount of luggage he was pulling.

"11." Clarke said. 'I'm rooming with someone called Octavia."

"Unusual name." Abby said.

"Its interesting." Clarke shrugged. "Her parents were probably really into mythology."

"Well, I'm sure you'll find out soon." Abby said. "Get to know your roommate honey, they could end up being your best friend."

"You guys know I'm literally just starting college, right?"

"Yes?"

"You're giving me a lot of advice about best friends forever." Clarke said. "Let me enjoy this, okay?"

"I keep forgetting our baby girl is all grown up now." Abby sighed.

"We'll butt out sweetheart." Jake said.

"But only a little."

Clarke rolled her eyes, reaching for the door of her dorm room. She stepped inside, looking around the room with interest. It was pretty evenly spilt, two single beds, two desks, and one very large wardrobe.

And one very, very attractive guy sitting on the edge of the unclaimed bed Clarke could only presume was hers. He was sitting down, but he was definitely tall - his long legs stretching out in front of him. His hair was dark, and his features were even darker, a smattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks only taking away from the dark, smouldering, moody look slightly.

Clarke shook her head, trying to pull herself together. Her parents were right next to her, for godssake.

"Uh, hi?" She offered an awkward greeting.

"Bellamy." He said, staring at her intently. "Bellamy Blake. I'm Octavia's brother."

"Clarke Griffin - Octavia's roommate. But you probably already knew that, right?"

"Right." He - Bellamy - laughed.

"Roomie!"

Their not so conversation was interrupted by whirlwind of dark hair and skinny jeans pouncing excitedly on Clarke, giving her a tight hug.

"I'm Octavia." The girl greeted brightly. She shared the same dark features as her brother, but she was more excitable. And smiley.

"Clarke." Clarke smiled. "Good to meet you - roomie."

"We are going to have so much fun this year." Octavia reassured.

'You might want to do some work too O." Bellamy piped up.

"Bell's so overprotective, you'd swear he was my mom." Octavia rolled her eyes. "Mr and Mrs Griffin, you really wont need to worry about Clarke. She's basically getting her own bodyguard rooming with me."

Abby laughed. "Thats honestly reassuring to hear Octavia."

"Don't ruin my reputation O." Bellamy said, standing up. Clarke dug her fingernails into her palm, trying not to move an inch. He really was gorgeous - she could see the muscles of his shoulders move underneath the thin material of his t-shirt, his strong arms crossed across his broad chest.

Clarke was stupidly attracted to him.

"I better go." Bellamy said, moving towards the door. "I need to get to unpacking before classes start. Text me if you need anything O."

Clarke watched as he left the room without a backward glance, not acknowledging her presence in the slightest.

"We should probably get going too honey." Abby said, looking at her watch. "I have a surgery this evening I have to get back too…" She trailed off, looking apologetic.

"Mom." Clarke gave her a reassuring smile. "Its okay. Why would you guys be hanging around here anyway? We're just going to be unpacking."

"I love you honey." Abby hugged her tightly. "Keep in contact with us, I mean it! You're always on your phone, so put it to good us and call us every once in a while."

"I love you too mom." Clarke said. "And I'm going to be fine. Promise."

"Thats my girl." Jake said, stepping in to give her a hug. "Love you."

"Love you too dad." Clarke said. "Safe trip home."

"We'd better go before your mom tries to find a dorm for herself here." Jake knew the look on his wife's face all too well.

"Love you guys!" Clarke called, watching as her parents reluctantly left.

"Your parents seem great." Octavia said.

"Your brother seems.. protective?"

Octavia shrugged. "I'm his responsibility, I guess. Anyway! I ran into this guy Adam on our floor when I was going to the bathroom, and apparently there is a crazy big party going on tonight in one of the frat houses. The semester hasn't technically started yet, so they can't get in trouble for hosting a party before rush -"

"Rush?"

"When people join fraternities or whatever. Its kind of stupid, too much testosterone in one house if you ask me." Octavia said. "The point is, I think we should go! This party is meant to be some big campus tradition, and its supposed to be beyond crazy."

"I don't know, I'm not much of a party person…"

"Come on Clarke! This is college, everyone is a party person in college." Octavia said. "And its going to be craaaaaaaaaazy."

"Thats not really convincing me Octavia."

"But there's going to be loads of cute college boys there." Octavia pouted. "I need my new roommate to be my wing woman!"

Octavia's enthusiasm was kind of infectious. "Okay. Lets go to this stupid party!"

"Yay!" Octavia beamed. "I already like you Clarke. We're going to have a great year."

"I hope so."

"College is what you make it Clarke." Octavia said. "And I plan to have a lot of fun."

"What about classes, and everything?"

"I have no idea what I want to major in." Octavia shrugged, opening up one of her suitcases. "I figure that I'll find that one out by immersing myself in college and seeing what I enjoy the most."

"I don't think you can major in frat parties."

"Pity." Octavia laughed. "Its not like you know what you want to do, is it?"

"I'm pre-med." Clarke admitted, starting to unpack her own suitcases.

"My new bestie is a smarty pants." Octavia teased. "Thats cool though, you can cure my hangovers."

"I don't think medical science has advanced that far yet."

"So maybe you'll be the one to do it!" Octavia said, smiling widely. "God, I am so excited about college. Aren't you?"

"I am." Clarke nodded. "I'm mainly excited to get away from my parents. They're kind of.. overbearing, sometimes."

"I lived with an aunt before college." Octavia said. "She was as far from overbearing as you could get - woman let me do what I liked. My problem is that Bellamy is the overbearing figure in my life, and I've just ran straight to him."

"Is he that bad?"

"He threatened my prom date." Octavia said. "With a fake gun. My date did not know it was fake."

"Oh, wow."

"He does it because he cares, I guess." Octavia said. "But he goes too far sometimes. Sometimes being all of the time. I honestly think he just needs a girlfriend."

"He doesn't have a girlfriend?" Clarke was honestly surprised.

"There's a steady stream of girls in and out of his bed, sure, but I don't think Bell's ever had an actual meaningful relationship." Octavia said. "If he had someone else to pour his energy into, he might leave me live my life for once."

"Thats a pretty logical assumption."

"Enough with the serious talk." Octavia said. "Thats for mid-terms when we're stressed, and sharing our live stories. I've got an important question."

"Yeah?"

"What are you wearing tonight?" Octavia grinned.

Clarke looked at her jeans, and shirt. "This?"

"Nope." Octavia shook her head. "You want some cute college boy to fall at your feet, right?"

"I guess so."

Clarke wanted that, right? She wanted to have a fun night with her roommate, maybe make out with some cute freshman. That sounded like something high school Clarke would have passed on to marathon TV shows on netflix, but college Clarke was definitely into it.

"Do you have any cute dresses?"

"Define cute."

Octavia laughed. "I like you Clarke. You're really great, so lets flaunt that tonight."

"You seem to know more about this than I do, so I'll let you guide me."

"I just had a lot of time on my hands growing up, and fashion magazines and weird reality TV taught me a lot." Octavia said. 'This would be way easier if we were both unpacked. I don't know where anything I own is."

"Unpacking is the worst part of going anywhere."

"I can't say I've gone many places." Octavia said, unzipping yet another suitcase. "I've lived with Bell, and my aunt in Arkansas for most of my life. We took a trip to Georgia once, but its hardly a great adventure. I bet you've been lots of places, rich kid."

"Rich kid?"

"Oh come on." Octavia gave her a pointed look. "Clarke Griffin? I'm not an idiot, your parents are Washington bigwigs. I bet you had summers in the Hampton's with Senator's kids."

"The Hampton's isn't as fun as movies make it out to be." Clarke said. "Everyone's so uptight, and boring. All they do is talk politics - even the kids."

"Oh, woe is you Clarke. I bet you stayed in an an amazing house to make up for the boring conversation."

"I've never been comfortable with the whole 'rich kid' thing. Its my parents money, not mine, and I don't want to be known for my parents money." Clarke admitted. "I was hoping college would be a fresh start."

"Provided you bring me with you to the Hampton's the next four summers, I'll quit the rich kid jabs!"

"Deal." Clarke laughed.

"Now, seriously. What kind of party clothes have you got with you?" Octavia said, leaning over Clarke's shoulder to snoop at her suitcases. "Oh, thats cute."

"I don't know…" Clarke's fingers brushed over the soft material of the dress. "I've never really worn it. Its kind of short."

"Correction - its cute." Octavia grinned, holding the skater style dress up to Clarke. "And you're definitely wearing it!"

Before their conversation could continue, a loud bang from the hallway drew their attention.

"What the hell?" Clarke yanked open their dorm room door, looking outside. One of the people she had seen wandering around the floor was leaning against the wall, crying with laughter, another guy - presumably his friend - was trapped underneath a heavy looking suitcase. "Oh my god, are you okay?" She rushed to help him, grabbing a hold of one of the handles.

"I'm fine." He replied, smiling at her from underneath a mess of dark floppy hair. "I'd be better if Jasper could stop laughing and maybe give me a hand?"

"Sorry man." Jasper laughed, offering the other boy a hand. "It was kind of funny, you have to admit it."

"His sense of humour is questionable." The other boy said. "I'm Monty by the way - this is my best friend Jasper."

"Clarke." Clarke smiled. "And this is -"

"Beautiful." Jasper gaped at Octavia.

"I prefer Octavia." Octavia said. "You guys live on this floor?"

"Yeah, we're a few doors up." Monty said, elbowing Jasper to try and get him to snap out of his daze. "You guys are freshman too?"

"These are freshman dorms." Octavia laughed.

"Right. Of course." Monty shook his head. "What are you guys studying?"

"I'm pre-med."

"Major-less, with no intention of changing that anytime soon." Octavia said.

"Bio-medical sciences." Jasper said. "I might see you in class `Clarke."

"I'm honours engineering." Monty said. "So if you have any old phones, I'm open to donations for tinkering purposes."

"He's going to invent something amazing someday." Jasper beamed, giving Monty's shoulder a squeeze.

"Speaking of amazing, are you guys going to that frat party tonight?"

"The big rager Sigma Delta organise at the start of the year? That party is supposed to be legendary!" Jasper looked excited. "You guys are going?"

"Of course we are! I didn't just come to college to study." Octavia grinned. "Meet us out here at nine, we'll head over together?"

"Sounds good." Monty nodded. "Nice to meet you guys."

Jasper nodded furiously. "See you tonight Octavia!"

Octavia simply grinned, her and Clarke disappearing back into their dorm room.

"He's already in love with you." Clarke teased.

"Who? Jasper?" Octavia shrugged. "I mean, he's cute, but he's not my type."

"You have a type?"

"You don't?"

"Guys don't like me that way - so my type is anything with a pulse."

"I like badboys." Octavia smirked.

"I'm sure your brother is really happy about that."

"My brother doesn't get a say in who I date, and don't date." Octavia said. "He can advise all he wants, but I have no intention of ever listening."

"He has your best interests at heat…"

"You don't know my brother Clarke. Its his life's aim to drive me crazy." Octavia said, grabbing a hairbrush and dragging it roughly through her long, dark hair.

"I wish I had a sibling." Clarke said wistfully.

"You can have Bellamy, if you want." Octavia said.

"I don't think he'd appreciate you trying to pawn him off on someone else." Clarke joked.

"What he doesn't know wont hurt him!"

"Just like this party tonight?"

"Exactly like this party tonight."

Clarke took in the scene in front of her nervously, the backyard of the frat house heaving with people. Octavia wasn't lying when she said that it was going to be a crazy party - there was people everywhere, and no room to breathe, let alone move.

"Come on." Octavia grabbed her hand, starting to push her way through the crowd. "Lets get a drink."

Grasping her roommates hand tightly, Clarke allowed herself to be dragged through the crowd, toward the makeshift bar, Jasper and Monty following behind them.

"What can I get you two beautiful ladies?"

"Four vodkas." Octavia beamed.

"Coming right up."

"He hardly thinks we're 21 Octavia." Clarke said quietly.

"Like he cares." Octavia rolled her eyes, passing her one of the red cups. "You don't get ID'd at frat parties. Just, drink up and lets dance. Theres some cute guys here, and I plan to have a very good time."

Clarke took a sip of her drink, the vodka stinging the back of her throat.

Octavia laughed at her expression. "You don't drink it for the taste Clarke."

"Thats an understatement." Clarke said, taking another generous gulp.

"But doesn't it make you want to dance!" Octavia teased, giving her hips a slight wiggle in the tiny space the four of them had found themselves standing in.

"I love college already man." Jasper commented, his eyes fixed on Octavia as he knocked back his drink.

"You love to party." Monty said. "Lets not get that mixed up with loving college."

"College, parties. All the same." Jasper shrugged.

"Lets dance!" Octavia said, tossing her cup aside, grabbing onto Clarke and Jasper, pulling them deeper into the crowd, Monty mooching behind them. The music seemed to be louder where they were, Octavia throwing her head back, her hips swaying to the beat.

She looked so alive, so at home in the midst of all the shouting, and drunk students. Clarke couldn't help but grin, trying her best to follow Octavia's lead - her eyes fluttering shut, the music washing over her.

When she opened her eyes again, Clarke's view locked onto a guy standing a few feet away from them. He was her height, maybe a little taller, with dark floppy hair and eyes she could get lost in. He caught her gaze, offering her a bright smile.

Clarke smiled back, her cheeks flushing as their gazes stayed connected, the cute guy trying to push his way through the crowd, towards her.

"He's hot." Octavia practically yelled into her ear. "Dibs on him if he doesn't come over to you."

"I"m not interested!" Clarke tried - and failed - to deny.

"Suuure." Octavia said. "And Jasper totally doesn't want to have sex with me."

"I don't even know him!"

"So?" Octavia shrugged. "Arkoses is a big university. You'll probably never see him again after tonight. Go crazy."

Before Clarke could reply, the cute guy arrived.

"Hey."

"Hey." Clarke smiled at him.

"You having a good time?"

"Yeah, I guess. We just got here." Clarke said. "Its kind of crazy out here."

"Aren't all college parties?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Freshman?"

Clarke nodded. "You?"

"Transferred here from community college." He said. "Kind of had a taste of college life, but everything here is bigger."

"Clarke! Don't just stand there and do nothing. Dance!" Octavia yelled, winking at her not so subtly.

"Want to dance?" He offered before Clarke could die of embarrassment.

"Sure."

He grinned, and tried his best to imitate Octavia's moves, his arms flailing exaggeratedly around.

"You're going to take someone's eye out." Clarke laughed, her eyes bright as she watched him dance.

"Then maybe you can show me how to dance." He said, looping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

"You think you're so smooth, don't you?"

"I like to pretend I am anyway." He grinned. "I'm Finn by the way."

"Clarke."

"Nice to meet you, Clarke."

"You too." Clarke replied. She was finding it hard to tear her gaze away from his, his dark eyes smouldering in the dimly lit backyard. Despite the crowd, despite the noise, he was all she could see. However cheesy that statement was.

Her stomach flipped as he wrapped another arm around her waist, their bodies now flush against each other. Resting her hands on his shoulders, Clarke looked at him carefully for a second, before pressing her lips to his.

Something came over her, and confident Clarke was here to stay, making her kiss the cute guy with the gorgeous eyes and the strong arms wrapped around her lower back. And boy, was she glad confident Clarke had shown her face for once, and taken initiative.

She hadn't kissed many people in her life. Three that really counted, she guessed - but kissing Finn was something else entirely, his soft lips moving against hers, making her knees weaken and her body press even more closely against his.

Not a bad start to her college partying career.

"Octavia?"

A somewhat familiar growl caused Clarke to break her and Finn's kiss. Octavia was still with Jasper, and Monty, but a new face had arrived - Bellamy.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Bellamy said. "Octavia, you're barely eighteen. You're not old enough to be drinking."

"Oh, come on Bell. Its not like I'm the only underage person here." Octavia rolled her eyes.

"You're the only underage person I give a shit about." Bellamy said, grabbing his sister's arm. "I'm taking you back to your dorm."

"I'm not a child Bellamy!"

"Yes Octavia, you are!" Bellamy said angrily. "And I expected better from you, princess."

"Who, me?" Clarke couldn't help but be offended, ripping herself away from Finn. Bellamy was different looking when he was angry, his face creased in an irate expression, his tall stature imposing rather than admirable. "You barely know me Bellamy Blake. You don't have the right to expect anything of me. And I'm nobody's princess, least of all yours."

"Great, Octavia's roommate has anger management issues." Bellamy rolled his eyes. "Lets go Octavia."

"I'm not going anywhere!"

"We can walk her home later-"

"And how much have you had to drink?" Bellamy interrupted Jasper.

"I haven't been drinking." Monty said. It was a blatant lie, but he seemed to be able to hide it better than Jasper. "We all live in the same dorm building, I'll walk them home tonight."

"You're leaving now Octavia." Bellamy said. "I'm taking you back to your dorm now."

"God, I hate you Bellamy." Octavia said. "At some point, you're going to have to let me grow up."

"Say what you like O, I'm not letting you stay at this party."

"We'll all leave now." Clarke said, looking at Monty who nodded. "Happy?"

"I-"

"If you're going to make me leave, I'm leaving with my friends. Not you."

Bellamy didn't look happy about it, but he didn't argue. "We'll talk about this tomorrow."

Octavia snorted. "Yeah, sure we will. Come on Clarke." She grabbed Clarke's hand, Jasper trying to subtly knock back the rest of his drink.

"Sorry." Clarke tried to say to Finn, Octavia already pulling away.

"It's okay." Finn said. "Another time, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Despite Bellamy's dramatics, Clarke couldn't help but smile as the four of them pushed their way out of the party, and out onto the busy pavement. The campus was party central today, the loudest one being the one they'd just left.

"I hate my brother sometimes." Octavia grumbled. "He never lets me have any fun. I should have gone to college in Outer fucking Mongolia."

"Ah, but then you wouldn't have met us." Jasper grinned. "And it just so happens that Monty and I have a bottle of vodka stashed in our room. For medical purposes."

"Vodka and a family sized bag of chocolate pretzels." Monty grinned. "Lets just continue the party in the dorms. Its not like your brother is going to come barging into your room, is it?"

"I wouldn't put it past him." Octavia said. "But you know what? Fuck my brother. Get the vodka and the pretzels, and come over to our room. I refuse to stay in, and be in bed by ten on my first night in college."

"We have to set the tone for the rest of our college careers, right?" Jasper grinned, slinging an arm around Monty's shoulders.

Octavia linked her other arm through Jasper's, nodding in agreement. "We are not going to have a boring four years at college."

"If we can't go to the party, we're just going to have to bring the party to the Connelly dorms." Jasper beamed.

"You know what guys?" Octavia looked between the four of them. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

"Casablanca. I love a girl who can quote old movies." Jasper quipped.

"Casablanca?" Clarke raised an eyebrow.

"Only the greatest love story of all time!" Octavia said. "My mom used to love watching all these old movies, so I am well versed in the cinematic history of the 20th century. You seriously haven't seen it?"

Clarke shook her head. "No, never."

"Thats it. We're going to get drunk and watch Casablanca." Octavia said.

"Who needs a frat party, right?" Jasper joked.

"I do." Octavia said. "And at the next big frat party, my brother is not getting in the way of my fun."

'Its not like movies and vodka is a bad idea though." Monty piped up.

"Its bonding." Jasper said. "Us floor threes have to stick together in this crazy world of frat parties and lectures."

Clarke couldn't help but smile as the four of them headed back towards their dorm building. So it wasn't the all night party Octavia had promised her, but she had got the cute guy, and she was even getting the netflix binge high school Clarke would appreciate.

College was definitely going to be fun. Interesting, even.

author's note : so yeah, the college AU was something that had to be written at some point, and I just finished a three week binge watch of Greek so I felt inspired. My only knowledge of the US university system comes from Greek (and google in general), so I do apologise for any inaccuracies. also, i know college AUs are done to death in every fandom, but i'm kind of putting a twist on this setting it pre-cataclysm, so yeah. feedback is much appreciated, and i hope you enjoyed the first chapter!