from the ashes (she will rise) ➸ octaven

chapter 22

Summer seems to be flying by. Raven and Clarke have been wrapped up in apartment hunting. Octavia's become Raven's personal chauffeur, taking her to college visits multiple times a week. She doesn't mind, though. It's worth being able to see the light in Raven's eyes when she rambles on about her own excitement.

Octavia even tags along on a few, feeling wide eyed and out of place in the expansive lecture halls, surrounded by kids her age who know exactly what they want to do with their lives. It's a bit unsettling. While she sits next to Raven, who goes on and on about all the majors that interest her, Octavia can't help but think of herself. What will she do? Even if she had all the money in the world, she's not sure if college is for her. It comes easy to Raven -- she's smart. But Octavia doesn't thrive in a classroom. While Raven reads books, Octavia hangs upside down and carves trees and vines into the bed posts. While Raven watches long documentaries that Lexa fishes out of thrift store boxes, Octavia's outside, trying to replace the headlights on her car with blue light bulbs. And while Raven lights up at the idea of going to school, Octavia shrinks at the mere mention of a classroom.

Raven tries to talk to her about it, even offering to help her find scholarships, going as far as to leave brochures on Octavia's nightstand. But every time, Octavia changes the subject. That's how she deals with things -- she avoids them at all costs. She goes as far as to snap at Raven, saying how she doesn't have someone to pay the bills for her. Raven doesn't take it personally, but after that incident she does her best to avoid the topic.

All the pent up worry and frustration about her own future is what eventually pushes Octavia to agree to accompany Lexa for three weeks, working as a camp counselor in Nevada. The pay's fine, and she figures three weeks will be enough time to clear her head and keep herself busy. Raven's surprised when Octavia presents her with the news, but Octavia passes it off as Lexa begged her to go, because Indra wouldn't allow her to go alone.

But there's a catch -- the camp starts the day after Raven's birthday, meaning the latest Octavia and Lexa can leave is 3am the morning after. Raven's not too excited at the prospect of them being separated for three weeks, but Octavia promises to write as often as possible. But for the time being, they try not to focus on it.

So, in the long weeks of summer leading up to their departure, Lexa and Octavia team up. While Raven and Clarke begin the final stretch in hunting for apartments, Lexa and Octavia huddle together in Lexa's room, planning Raven's 18th birthday. The girl mayhave let it slip at dinner that she'd never had a real birthday party, and Lexa and Octavia had immediately exchanged knowing looks from across the table.

(Later that night, when Octavia brought it up, Raven had admitted to never even knowing when her real birthday was until she was 14. Octavia burns July 2nd into her brain, promising to never forget it.)

So now, with only a week left until Raven turns 18, things start to pick up. Raven and Clarke finally decide on an apartment, a small 2 bedroom space just outside the city. All four girls drive out to see it, with Octavia and Clarke lugging two sets of thrift store furniture up the stairwell. They all order pizza that night, sitting on the floor and planning the perfect future before they head back to the home.

Around that same time, Raven's invited over to her father's once more. He wants to throw her an early birthday party. She's hesitant at first, not one to enjoy large gatherings focused on her, but when he proposes a small dinner at his house -- just the family -- she accepts. She's surprised when he goes out of his way to ask her for her favorite meal, and whether she prefers chocolate or vanilla cake. She opts for red velvet, feeling uneasy when he chuckles and reveals that it's his favorite, too.

Octavia offers to drive her there, to Raven's relief. She'd much rather avoid the awkward car conversations with her father. When they pull into the driveway, Octavia makes sure they're not being watched before tucking Raven's hair behind her ear and kissing her for good luck.