AN: Sorry for the long hiatus. My work and school schedule was crazy for awhile. I should be back to writing now.

Clarke awoke early the next morning to find her roommate sitting at the window again, staring sadly at the campus below. Her green eyes were glazed over, and she appeared to be far away. Her arms wrapped themselves around her knees, and her whole body hunched over. Clarke wondered what it was that made her look so sad. Could it be she missed her aunt and uncle? Or perhaps it was related to her parents?

Clarke grunted as sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Today, she planned to show Lexa around the campus, along with Raven and Octavia. It wasn't a particularly large campus, so it wouldn't take long. Clarke also hoped to find an activity that the other girl would enjoy.

Her mysterious roommate glanced at her in surprise. "You're up early," she said.

"So are you," Clarke replied. "What's wrong?"

Lexa bit at her lip nervously. "I was just thinking about my parents."

Clarke nodded in understanding. "I was ten. My dad died in a car accident."

Lexa's eyes darkened. "My parents accidentally got caught in a shootout," she admitted.

Clarke's stomach tightened in horror. She felt as if the breath had been sucked out of her. "I-I'm so s-sorry," she stuttered awkwardly.

"Polis is a dangerous city," Lexa said. "My parents knew that. Some of the gang from Azgeda was hanging around, and they got into an argument that ended badly."

"That's awful," Clarke whispered. "How old were you?"

"Four," Lexa replied softly.

"No wonder you wanted a fresh start," Clarke mused. "Echo was from Azgeda. Maybe that's why she was so rough."

Lexa shrugged. "People cannot control where they are born. They can control who it makes them become."

A loud knock from the bathroom door interrupted the girls' conversation. "You almost ready to go?" Octavia asked.

"Just a minute!" Clarke yelled back. It seemed that she was surrounded by early birds. She pulled her shirt off, not missing the way Lexa blushed and abruptly shifted her gaze. "Sorry," she murmured. "Habit." She dug a clean shirt out from her drawer and pulled it over her head.

"It's fine," Lexa replied. She faced the wall away from Clarke and took her own shirt off. Her clothes had already been picked out and lay folded on the bed. Clarke tried not to stare at her toned muscles and tattooed arms. She had to admit to herself that her roommate was very attractive.

Clarke was out as bisexual to all her friends, but she anxiously worried about how her roommate would take it. Echo had made a few tasteless jokes about it, but she was mean to everyone and didn't treat Clarke any differently. Arkadia was a very liberal place, and she worried that her Polis roommate would be disgusted to find out that she shared a room with a girl attracted to girls.

Clarke shook her head and reminded herself that Lexa had called Nathan and Bryan a cute couple. Lexa had been nothing but nice to Clarke, so she deserved the benefit of the doubt.

After a quick breakfast, the four girls walked slowly around the campus grounds, allowing Raven to keep up with them on her crutches. Lexa didn't say much, but the sad look in her eyes faded as Clarke acted as a tour guide.

Clarke smiled to herself, happy that she could ease Lexa's unhappiness. She had always been the motherly type, and making friends came naturally to her. It was in her nature to want to take care of people, and her new roommate was no different.

The four students stopped in the courtyard to rest. Raven sat down and stretched her injured leg out across the bench. "Is it bad today?" Octavia asked, concerned. She sat up on the table to look down at her friend.

Raven nodded. "It's extra stiff today."

"What happened?" Lexa asked curiously.

"Spine injury," Raven answered. "When I was little, I was playing in the street and got hit by a car. My loving-" her voice dripped with sarcasm "-foster mom wouldn't even take me to the hospital. I had to walk over to Finn's house and get his mom to take me."

Lexa's eyes lit up in disgust. "That's awful!" she exclaimed. "How was she allowed to become a foster parent?"

Raven shrugged her shoulders. "Beats me. All I know is that she was more interested in the money she got from the government than in raising a child. At least I had Finn."

From her perch on the table, Octavia suddenly stiffened. "Don't look behind you," she murmured. "It's Ontari."

Ontari Ice was well known as the campus bully. After being expelled from her previous schools for fighting, she had ended up in Arkadia. Last semester, Clarke's friend John Murphy ended up in a horribly abusive relationship with her. Her knuckles felt sore as she remembered the actions she had taken to protect her friend back then.

Beside her, Lexa gasped and stiffened. Instinctively, Clarke moved to block her from Ontari's view. She stood close behind Lexa, her hands gently resting on her roommate's arms. "Do you know her?" Clarke asked.

"Ontari Ice?" Lexa asked for clarification.

"Yes," Clarke responded.

"We met when she was studying at Polis. It was not pleasant," she explained. "What is she doing here?"

"She got kicked out of Polis University for fighting," Clarke answered. "Before that, is was Azgeda University."

Raven smirked. "She almost got kicked out of here too. Right Clarke?"

Clarke grit her teeth angrily. "If only collages weren't so quick to turn a blind eye to abusers," she hissed. "I had to fight her myself to keep her away from a friend of mine."

"She's gone," Octavia informed them.

"Would you like to go back to the dorm?" Clarke asked.

All Lexa could do was nod.