from the ashes (she will rise) ➸ octaven

chapter 20

Within a week's time, Clarke, Raven, and Octavia are all officially high school graduates. They tease Lexa about it, knowing she has one more year to go. But however lighthearted they may appear, all three girls are terrified to be thrust into the real world. As much as they may hate high school, it's still a shelter for them. However unprepared they may be, the real world is approaching faster than ever before.

Most of Octavia's time has been spent working on her car, thanks to her suspension. It's a bit difficult with a giant cast on her hand, but she's determined to make their road trip go over without a hitch.

They've split their duties, Clarke and Lexa planning the route, and Raven and Octavia in charge of fixing the car and compiling a "bomb ass summer playlist" -- according to Raven, who's somehow managed to rig up a speaker system in the car, tapping into the old radio.

Raven, also, has been avoiding an onslaught of phone calls to the house. But Indra had finally made her answer, which resulted in an awkward 5 minute conversation with her father. Long story short, she had no choice but to accept his invitation to attend an awards dinner for his business, along with the rest of his family. She's not looking forward to it, to say the least.

The dinner just so happens to fall on the Friday they'd planned on leaving for their road trip. It's also the day of their graduation ceremony, which they're all happy to skip. Good riddance.

Currently, it's Friday afternoon, and Raven's a bundle of nerves. Clarke had helped her get ready for the dinner, pulling her aside, giving her a pep talk, and helping her braid her hair back into a more formal version of her usual ponytail. However, Raven draws the line when Clarke tries to get her in a dress, refusing to wear anything but her jeans. So she settles for a dark purple shirt that Clarke lends her.

She finds Octavia outside, her feet sticking out from underneath her car. With a heavy sigh, Raven sits down in the driver's seat, her the tips of her shoes just barely touching the asphalt. Octavia quickly slides out from underneath.

"Nervous?" she asks, her eyes scanning Raven as she rises to her feet. "You look good."

Raven just mutters a "thanks" and shakes her head. Octavia frowns. Compared to Raven, she's dressed for anything but a fancy dinner. She's clad in jean shorts and a white t-shirt, a rag hanging out of her back pocket. Her shirt, hands, and face are covered in smudges of dark grease. Earlier, Lexa had teased her for looking like a dalmation. Her hair is down, but sections are still wavy from her braids. And of course, there's still a faint purple mark around her eye.

"When's he get here?" Octavia asks, leaning against the car and studying Raven's face.

"Any minute now."

"If it makes you feel any better, we leave as soon as you get back," she nods softly. "Oh, and I found an air mattress in the basement. Figured that would help."

"Do we even have any more room in the car?" Raven raises an eyebrow.

"We'll make it fit," Octavia shrugs, slapping her palm against the roof of the car. "Clarke can sit in Lexa's lap or something."

"What if I embarrass them?"

Octavia lifts her head, taken aback by Raven's sudden question. Sighing, she looks around to make sure the coast is clear before leaning down and kissing Raven's forehead. "Stop worrying. Just talk comics with Jonah." She flashes the girl a hopeful smile.

Ten minutes pass, and Octavia winds up back under the car, tinkering with something and dramatically narrating what she's doing, in hopes it will keep Raven's mind off of things. When she hears the rumble of tires in the driveway, she moves to scoot out from underneath, but she's stopped by Raven, who nudges her foot.