City and Colour/Black

Make sure to follow our characters social media, keep up to date with what they're up to between chapters: Clarke-'thegriff_c', Octavia-'o_blake96', Raven-'solar_reyes'

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PART 1

Lenox Coffee Roaster stood quietly on 129th, Harlem. Its rustic interior allowed visitors an imperturbable environment to work, popular with nearby Columbia University's student body. Though busy during the day, it was often that come 6:00 the coffee shop wouldn't see many customers. This was, of course, much to the delight of Clarke, who would much rather spend the end of her shift talking to a co-worker. In this case, Ava Parker, a fellow student at CU.

"So I wanted maybe a chill evening in the dorm; music, food, a few drinks. Nothing too fancy. But then I don't want it to be like the whole of campus turns up for a free for all, you know?" stated Ava. "Oh, and it was just a black coffee for the girl who ordered."

"You could always book one of the event rooms on campus. There are a few rooms for societies and whatever, I'm sure you could ask to rent one out." Clarke dropped coffee beans into a cup as she spoke.

"You reckon they'd let me?"

"Yeah, why not? If they're not sure on letting you O will fight your case." Clarke answered jokingly, flicking on the machine.

"Anything for a fan." Came Octavia's dry reply, who was sitting at a table across from the counter, sipping coffee and mindlessly scrolling through her phone.

"Have you looked to see if there are any bars with event rooms? Could be cheap if you find a backstreet one. And you could have entry only if you've got an invite." Clarke continued, placing the cup on its dish, then turning for a spoon and sugars.

"That'd definitely stop any gate-crashers. I'll have a look around." said the barista. With that, the door opened, a brunette walking through with books in hand. 6:45, right on cue.

"What's up, losers?" Placing some cash on the counter as she passed, the girl continued over to Octavia, slouching down in the seat opposite.

"The usual, Raven?" Ava called, collecting the change.

"As if you didn't know already."

"Right, Clarke, it's almost 7 and I doubt we'll get anyone else in, so just take that coffee over to the girl in the corner, make Raven's, and get off." said Ava, reaching for a broom.

"That'd be great, thank you. I'll catch you later? Let me know if you find a place to hold the party." Clarke replied as she removed her apron and placed it on the hook behind the counter.

"I'll give you a text if I'm struggling. And I'll drop your tips by your dorm later tonight." Ava walked towards the door to an adjacent room, sweeping after her as she walked "Have a nice night, guys." Finishing making Raven's drink, Clarke picked up the other as she left the counter, making her way over to the girl sitting in a far set of seats.

"One black coffee." Clarke announced, placing the cup down "Mind, it's hot."

"Generally an advantage. Thanks." the girl replies with a half-smile. Clarke turned and continued over to the others.

"And a double shot cappuccino to go for you, Raven." Passing the drink over, the barista sat next to Octavia "What are all these books for? You just took two out the other day."

"Well I was thinking of looking into string theory. I heard the TA talking about it to someone in my Electrical Engineering and Electronics class as I was leaving. Thought I'd check it out."

"Honestly, why do you do this to yourself? I don't think it's possible to get 200% extra credits from these classes." teased Octavia.

"Call it an extra-curricular."

"Whatever you say." Octavia scoffed, sipping the last of her drink whilst Raven cradled her own, smiling.

"Right, movie night." Clarke pitched up. "What are we thinking?"

"I was thinking Some Like it Hot for tonight's feature. A classic black and white." Raven suggested, leaning forward to rest her arms on the table.

"Wouldn't expect less. You're such a sucker for Monroe." Octavia laughed.

"Name me someone who isn't." Neither girl answered. "Exactly. Even Presidents weren't immune to her charm."

"Okay, film sorted. Now food. I'll swing by the store on the way if you two want to head back. I've got my bike, so I won't be long." Octavia stated, standing up and putting on her jacket.

"You'll probably beat us there." Clarke interjected. "I want to drop my stuff back in my room too."

"Oh the race is on." Raven asserted. "You're going down, Blake."

"In your dreams, Reyes." Octavia proclaimed just as competitively, before continuing in a relaxed tone "Actually, if it's Mrs Horowitz serving again I'll probably get caught for a year or two talking. Send in the reinforcements if I'm longer than 40 minutes." She began to walk towards the door, opening it. "See you in a bit."

PART 2

Clarke, now back in her dorm room, wiped the makeup from her eyes. After washing her face, she wandered over to the wardrobe, rooting for something to wear over her pyjamas. I should really do some laundry. Closing the wardrobe she turned, instead reaching for a black 'Columbia' sweatshirt resting on the back of her desk chair. This will have to do. Clarke pulled it over her head, getting stuck for a moment, as her phone buzzed repeatedly on the surface.

From: OCTAVIA

C, hurry up, Raven is getting restless waiting to see Marilyn –sent 19:32

I'm also pretty sure there's this spontaneous combustion of popcorn if it's not eaten within half an hour of being bought, so don't blame me if there's nothing left –sent 19:32

She let out a brief laugh before replying.

To: OCTAVIA

Don't you dare repeat pizza-gate! –sent 19:33

Collecting her keys, ID card, and a packet of jelly beans, Clarke walked towards the door. She owed Raven the candy after last week, when most had ended up on the floor following a competition with Octavia. As she locked her room, the blonde heard familiar footsteps advancing from down the hall.

"Hey! Clarke!" It was Monty, the first year business student who lived in the room opposite. Clarke turned to face him. He noticed the white writing on her sweatshirt, smirking "Columbia represent!". The two laughed, Monty noticeably more awkwardly "I, err, I didn't realise how lame that was till it came out of my mouth." The two looked at each other for a second before Monty continued "Heading down for movie night?"

"Yeah, just looking forward to relaxing. It's been a long day, you know how it is. What are you up to?" she answered.

"Same here. Just got this assignment in I've spent weeks on. Me and the boys planned a celebratory Battlefield tournament. You should have a game with us sometime; it's been ages."

"I'm not sure the others can handle me. Last time I annihilated Jasper. I bet he's still sore from it." Clarke joked.

"He'll want a rematch for sure. Let me know if you fancy it." Monty said, unlocking his door and sliding it open with his foot.

"Yeah, I will do. You have fun. Make sure to watch your 6 this time."

"Thanks for the tip." Monty laughed. "I'll catch you later." With that, he disappeared into his dorm room. Clarke's phone buzzed again as she headed along the hall.

From: Raven

Did you get lost on the two flights of stairs you have to walk down? –sent 19:36

To: Raven

I'll be there in 2 –sent 19:36

From: Raven

I'm timing –sent 19:36

Clarke left her set of dorms, following the hall to the building's staircase to make her way down to Raven and Octavia. Sure enough, she soon stood outside her friend's shared set of dorms. Turning to her phone again, Clarke text Raven to let her in, who then-almost miraculously immediately-appeared from one of the rooms. The door opened.

"19:38, right on time." Clarke announced.

"You were lucky this time. A second later and I might've locked you out forever." She moved aside to let her friend into the dorm, making her way back to the room from which she appeared.

"But then you wouldn't have got these." Clarke pulled out the packet of jelly beans, waving them in front of Raven.

"Alright, well I'll let you off this time. But only because they're my favourite." They entered the room, letting the door shut behind them.

"Ah, the wanderer returns." Said Octavia, opening a can of soda "Drink?"

"Please."

"Are we all finally ready?" Raven asked, slumping down on the bed.

"Yes, you can let the love of your life act now." Octavia said sarcastically, passing the can to Clarke as she rolled her eyes.

"I thought that was Jason Mamoa?" Clarke questioned.

"You can't compare them. Sit down, I'm playing it." As the titles began to roll, Raven shushed the others; staring intensely, as she always did, at the screen.

PART 3

As the film entered its final scenes, Octavia nudged Clarke, then glancing at Raven who was lying on her stomach further down the bed. Octavia picked up a piece of popcorn, nodding at Clarke to do the same. They threw both pieces simultaneously at Raven, looking around the room as she flipped over to face them.

"Octavia, oh my god." Raven said irritably, throwing back the popcorn which had landed next to her.

"Why do you assume it was me?" came a defensive reply "Could've been Clarke."

"Alright." Raven said certainly, snatching the bag of popcorn and retreating to the end of the bed. "It was both of you." She launched the popcorn repeatedly at both other girls, who deflected as well as possible.

"So I guess we're done watching then?" Octavia laughed through deflections.

"It was over anyway." Raven replied, throwing the empty bag down. "I was just thinking about who would be who if we were the characters."

"Oh well Clarke would be Sugar." Octavia suggested.

"Why? You want to be Josephine?" Clarke replied cheekily.

"You're both wrong, I'd be Josephine, Octavia would be Sugar, and Clarke you'd be Daphne." Raven stated.

"So you two have been men this entire time, and I'm only just finding out about it? You're both trying to pick me up by becoming my friend first, aren't you?"

"So it's working, Sugar?" Raven replied with a wink, putting on a deeper voice and leaning forward.

"Oh, Mr Shell Oil Jr., you do know how to woo a girl." came Octavia's reply, her tone one of a Monroe-type damsel.

"Well doll, it's just a gift you see. Young man like me needs a gal like you."

"Should I leave and let you guys have some privacy, or is this going to turn into a group thing?" Clarke interrupted, motioning towards the door. "Because I can come back?"

"Whatever you fancy, doll face. Enough of me to go around." Raven said giving an arrogant look, raising her eyebrows.

"You ever wonder what people would say if they heard half of these conversations?" Clarke asked, chuckling.

"I'm sure they'd just be jealous." Octavia answered. Opening another can of pop.

"Probably why we're all single then. Everyone else is just too intimidated by our presence."

"I thought we were entering a polygamous relationship right now. Was that not what was happening?" Raven questioned, looking between the two others, as she reached for her own can.

"As great as that'd be, I don't think we could provide for O's needs." Clarke stated.

"I could always have a bit on the side." Came Octavia's reply as she looked on thoughtfully.

"What? That guy you met at the frat party?"

"As if! I'm never going out with him again; he wouldn't stop going on about his black book." She sat up.

"That's not an actual thing." Said Raven, almost choking on her drink. "Don't play with me."

"No, for real, brought it with him when we went out." Octavia continued. "He thought I'd be impressed or something." The two others looked at one another in disbelief.

"Why is every guy on this campus a tool? I met this one in class the other day who thought I wasn't just as capable as him in the lab because I'm a woman. Needless to say I proved him wrong." Raven stated, a smug grin growing on one side.

"We'll just have to sit in bed and watch movies together for the rest of our lives." Clarke suggested. "Or you can date Monty, Octavia?"

"From your dorm? I'm pretty sure he's scared of me, Clarke." She laughed. "He's sweet though, bless him." The three sat there for a moment sipping their drinks, before Raven broke the silence.

"You want to watch something else?" she said, getting up and moving over to her collection of DVDs in the corner of the room.

"Yeah, whatever. What have we got?"

END OF CHAPTER 1

Make sure to follow our characters social media, keep up to date with what they're up to between chapters: Clarke-'thegriff_c', Octavia-'o_blake96', Raven-'solar_reyes'

Also follow us on tumblr at 'cityandcolourfic'