from the ashes (she will rise) ➸ octaven

chapter 25

Octavia doesn't even remember falling asleep, all she knows is that one minute she was peppering sloppy kisses down Raven's jawline, and then she wasn't. When she wakes up, she's half on Raven, her hair splayed across the girl's bare chest. It takes her a moment to remember the previous night's events, and when she does, she's blinking rapidly and letting her eyes rake over the girl's sleeping figure.

Entranced, and still filled with disbelief that last night actually happened, Octavia props herself up on one elbow. She ghosts her fingertips up Raven's abdomen, leaving goosebumps in her wake.

Octavia doesn't think this could be any more perfect. It's peaceful, quiet except for their soft breathing. Complete silence is a rarity for Octavia, but now it's just them, white sheets tangled around their legs, the sun leaking in through the windows and casting a soft pale glow across the bed. There's no worry of interruption or missed appointments. It's just an impenetrable now , and Octavia thinks she could lay like this forever. She could drown in it.

"Take a picture. It lasts longer."

Raven's words startle Octavia, snapping her out of her daze. Her eyes flutter down to meet Raven's, who's looking at with the faintest of smiles on her face. Octavia's expression softens.

"Did I wake you?" Octavia's voice is raspy from sleep. Her fingers curl and uncurl absentmindedly, her hand resting on Raven's hip.

"I don't mind," Raven half shrugs, rolling onto her side and mimicking Octavia by propping herself up with one elbow, now facing the girl. Reaching out, Raven combs Octavia's hair out of her face, brushing it past her shoulder. She mumbles a "that's better," not missing the flush in Octavia's cheeks that follows.

"You got freckles," Raven notes, her voice gentle. Octavia just nods softly.

"From the sun," Octavia mumbles, her gaze following Raven when she traces a thumb over the soft skin under her eyes. "Got it from my mom."

"S'cute," Raven whispers, wetting her lips. Her eyes flicker down to Octavia's own, leaning in just seconds later. Octavia's hands find her way up the curve of Raven's shoulders, her fingers threading themselves into the hair at the nape of her neck. Kissing her back softly, Octavia submits rather easily, letting Raven take the lead.

When the kiss breaks, Octavia looks wide eyed up at the girl, who remains lingering inches above her face. Something flashes in Raven's eyes, something that causes her to fail at fighting back a smile.

"I have something to show you," Raven nods, pushing off the bed and rolling over so she's within reach of the nightstand. Octavia watches curiously as Raven digs something out of her drawer. When she turns back over, she slaps and envelope onto Octavia's chest.

"Read it," Raven urges her when Octavia raises an eyebrow in question. She drums her fingers against the envelope, giving her a slight nod of the head. "Go on."

Now intrigued, Octavia sits up, tugging the sheet around her shoulders. Raven's eyes follow Octavia's hands as she slips the letter from the envelope and unfolds it, leaning in closer and squinting to read the small print.

Octavia half-mumbles the words as her eyes scan the letter. It takes her a few beats to realize what she's reading, but when she does, she scrambles to grab the envelope again, eyes skating across the return address. The letter falls from her hands.

"Stanford?" She whips her head to look at Raven, her mouth agape. "You got into Stanford?"

Raven, failing to hide her own excitement, just nods softly. Octavia can only stare at her in disbelief for a few seconds before looking at the letter again, reading it twice over.