Chapter Six

"Where'd you get that one?" Indra asked Raven as they sat on the ground at lunch the next day. Raven's arms were almost covered in scars and tattoos—reminders of a life full of accidents and rebellion. The burn scar Indra was pointing to was about an inch above Raven's left wrist and shaped like a star.

"I was twelve and my Uncle Sinclair had just bought me a new robotics set. I was playing around with a few wires on the toy car that I built, trying to give it a little A.I. or something so it could drive itself and I accidentally electrocuted myself."

"Accidentally electrocuted yourself?" Lincoln snorted, stealing one of Octavia's fries. She slapped his hand, but gave him a flirty grin. It immediately fell off her face when Bellamy looked over at them from a nearby picnic table.

"It's was only a small shock. I didn't even pass out. Besides, I got this awesome burn tattoo. I never accomplished my A.I. goal, but you better believe I bragged to all my nerdy robotics bros."

Indra laughed and Clarke snorted. She'd heard that story before—too many times, probably—but it still made her laugh. She pictured nerdy little Raven Reyes, with braces and glasses and pimples galore, showing off the many burns and scars she'd gotten from fixing the appliances all around the tiny apartment she shared with her mother. Little Raven sitting on her uncle's shoulders as he toted her around the robotics museum in nearby Polis, her eyes wide open as she learned how things were made and her tongue poking out when she went home and designed even more machines, using forests full of papers, her walls littered with pictures. Little Raven who lost 25% of the use of her leg in a freak fall, but never felt sorry for herself. Raven Reyes, now, who had kicked the shit out of her ex and become one of Clarke's dearest friends, despite how their acquaintance began.

Clarke sometimes wished she could be as strong as Raven Reyes.

"How have you survived this long?" Lexa asked, from her spot next to Clarke. They were sitting in a circle and Clarke and Lexa were directly across from one another, though every time they locked eyes, Clarke could swear they were no more than two inches apart. It made her face flush and her chest stutter.

"Pure dumb luck," Octavia answered before Raven could utter so much as a syllable.

"And great survival instincts," Raven added, glaring at her best friend. Octavia stuck her tongue out and Raven flipped her off, looking back to Lexa. "Wait until I tell you about the time I was attacked by an ostrich at the zoo and narrowly escaped with my life."

"He was in an enclosure, Raven," Clarke laughed. "You weren't in any danger."

"I have scars."

"He didn't even touch you!"

"Mental scars."

Lexa let out a laugh that was half snort and she immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. Clarke grinned at her and flared her nostrils, teasingly. Lexa glared at her, but it was half-hearted.

"Okay, I have to hear this one," Lincoln laughed, leaning towards Raven.

"Okay," Raven said, readjusting her position so that her bad leg was stretched out in front of her. "So, I—"

Before she could get another word in, there was a horn blaring over her voice and all of them jumped as they turned towards the sound, eyes wide at the sight of the marching band stepping onto the lawn, all dolled up in their uniforms as they played their instruments. All the students eating on the lawn and at the picnic tables turned to look at them; Bellamy and Harper, especially. Harper's eyes widened at the sight of them coming straight at her and Bellamy was grinning right next to her, his arm slung around her hip.

Clarke watched as the marching band stopped right in front of them and continued to play what she soon realized was Taylor Swift's "How You Get the Girl" and she snorted as Bellamy stood and turned to face Harper, who must have realized it, too. At his signal, they immediately stopped playing and he reached out his hand to her. Harper took it and was pulled to her feet, her mouth still gaping open.

"Harper Eleanor Smith*," Bellamy said, loud enough for everybody around them to hear, "will you go to Homecoming with me?"

Harper seemed to be speechless (Clarke wondered why; it was no big surprise that her boyfriend would ask her to Homecoming. The fact that he even had to ask was a bigger surprise, actually) but she nodded furiously, giggling as Bellamy wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight as he spun her around and she let out a pealing laughter that echoed across the lawn. People applauded and Harper's friends took pictures and cooed over them. Even Clarke had to admit that it was a cute sight, her own hands coming together a few times for the captain of her squad.

When she turned back to her small circle, Lincoln was eyeing an oblivious Octavia, who was chatting idly with Raven, whom had oddly caught the attention of Indra, whose cheeks flushed slightly when she met Clarke's gaze. Clarke gave her a small smile, then turned to Lexa, who she was startled to find was staring straight at her, unblinkingly.

Clarke felt her face heat up and quickly looked down at the sandwich at her knee, picking it up to take a large bite of turkey and Swiss on rye, trying desperately to ignore the flutter in her chest and the hope that was starting to build up right alongside it.

Just friends, just friends, just friends, her mind supplied in a mantra, keeping in time with the rapid beating of her heart.

Just. Friends.

O_O_O_O_O

Clarke tried her best not to avoid Lexa for the rest of that day. Especially not after she'd promised things could go back to normal. As much as Lexa made her heart pound and her palms sweat and that tiny smile appear on Clarke's lips every time she saw her, Clarke was certain that she was not yet ready to risk having her heart broken for the second time in as many years—as ridiculous as she knew that was.

Lexa and Finn were exact opposites. For one thing, Lexa was incredibly honest, from what Clarke had seen. As aloof as she could be sometimes, Clarke knew that any question she asked the girl would be answered as factually as possible and that fact alone made Clarke grin a little bit. Sometimes, Lexa was just a little too literal, but she could crack a joke that left stitches in her side and her sarcasm was spot on when she wanted it to be. And despite how cool Lexa had come off when she first arrived at Arcadia, her hugs were some of the best Clarke had received, and she was always so sweet—especially to you, her asshole brain reminded her and Clarke shook her head.

Lexa was no more affectionate toward her than she was toward Indra or Lincoln. Even thinking it, though, Clarke knew she would never truly believe that.

At cheerleading practice, Clarke tried to cheer for all of the players in equal measure as they ran through plays, but she still found herself calling out Lexa's name as she tackled Murphy or Lincoln or even Bellamy to the ground, laughing a little as Lexa jumped to her feet and raised her fists in triumph. She could see the smile through the mouth guard and felt oddly proud of her gi—friend. Her friend. Just friends.

Ignoring the butterflies in her stomach, Clarke continued to do cheers and bounce around and do her thing; spelling out "Grounders" and clapping her hands to the beat as the girls came up for cheers for each player individually. Her favorite—obviously—was for Lexa.

"L! E! X! A! Lexa, Lexa, she's so great!" It was stupid and simple, but it was catchier than Lincoln's and not nearly as typical as "Blake! Blake! He's our man! If he can't do it, no one can!"

When practice was over, the new members of the squad received their special Home uniforms for the upcoming game and Clarke, who'd already received hers in freshman year and still hadn't grown out of it, sat on the bleachers as she watched Lexa receive her official jersey number and letterman jacket.

She was number 13 and the jacket fit her very well, Clarke noticed with a slight blush. The guys cheered as Coach Titus slipped it onto her shoulders and congratulated her on officially becoming part of the team. Then he told the rest of them to rest up and keep themselves fit and healthy for Homecoming week, which would consist of a school carnival, a special dinner for all the fall sports teams and the cheerleaders, the homecoming game against Azgeda, and the homecoming dance, which Clarke had yet to shop for. Or find a date to.

She felt that swell of hope rise up in her again when she looked at Lexa in her new football jersey and letterman jacket. It would be such a cliché, she thought; a football player and a cheerleader going to the homecoming dance together. But still her heart fluttered at the thought of her walking, arm in arm, with Lexa into the school gymnasium, which would be decorated with the school colors: red and black. Slow dancing with her head on Lexa's shoulder, arms wrapped around her waist, swaying, with their chests pressed together…

"Clarke?"

Raven's voice snapped Clarke out of her thoughts and she turned to see the girl sitting next to her, a rather large grin on her face. She was holding a red rose close to her face, copper brown eyes alight with happiness. Clarke lifted one eyebrow at her.

"What's got you looking all cheery?" she asked and Raven's smile widened as she pulled a small index card out of her red leather jacket pocket, handing it to Clarke. Clarke plucked it from her fingers and read the card once, her eyes widening. She read it again.

And again.

Then she turned to Raven, unable to keep the shocked grin off of her face. "Indra asked you to the dance?" she asked. Raven nodded, practically glowing with excitement as she pressed the sweet rose to her nose. Clarke laughed and wrapped her arms around her friend, squeezing her tightly. "Congrats!" she said, then pulled back. "Wait, you said yes, right?"

"Duh!" Raven huffed and Clarke laughed, squeezing her again.

"Just checking," she said. "I'm so happy for you. I didn't even know you and Indra…"

"We're not," Raven said, pulling back. "I mean…we weren't." She shook her head. "I don't know. I guess we'll see? It's worth the try at least, don't you think?"

Clarke nodded before she even knew what she was doing, then felt immediately like a hypocrite. Still, she smiled for her friend and squeezed Raven's hand, looking out towards the field, where Lexa was already gathering up her things. Looking back to Raven, she nodded again.

"Yeah," she said. "Definitely."

So what do you guys think?

Firstly, I have no idea what Harper's middle and last names are because I'm pretty sure we never got them in the series. When we do, then I'll change it. Until then, her middle name is Eleanor and her last name is Smith because…because.

Second, how are the colors? I went with black and red because blood and nightblood. That's the only reasoning. Azgeda will have blue and white because Ice Nation.

Third, THE INDRA AND RAVEN THING WAS NOT PLANNED, OKAY?! IT JUST CAME OUT. I DON'T CONTROL MY HANDS WHEN I WRITE; THEY CONTROL ME. I'm pretty sure these characters have never spoken, but I think Indra would like Raven if she knew her (because who wouldn't love that little ray of sunshine?).

Lastly, I think you're all aware of where this is going, but I have a couple questions. One: who asks whom to homecoming? Is it Lexa being an awkward little lesbean or Clarke deciding to finally get over Finn and take a chance? Two: will Lexa wear a suit or a dress to homecoming?

Thanks for reading!