Chapter Text
In the crowded halls of Arkadiapolis High, an all girls school, Raven and Zoe were walking down the hall trying to find room 220-B because where the hell was this room again? They both were going to take a Theater class, not that they wanted but it was either that or choir, and neither of them could sing.
"So how are things going with Octavia?" Zoe asked quietly so only Raven could hear.
"Eh," she just said.
"Eh? Explain."
"It's not going anywhere," Raven admitted. "Not especially since she met that boy," she spits. "Lincoln, I think was his name? Yeah, she's like head over heals for him. It's like I don't exist anymore."
"Have you even told her you like her?"
"Liked. And no. I don't want to talk about this anymore," Raven ducked through some girls who were standing still in the busy hall and she curses at them under her breath. "How are you and Harper?"
"Well I'm still gay and she's still straight," Zoe said matter-of-factly and Raven nodded with understanding.
"I swear we're the only gay girls here," Raven scoffs.
A year ago, when Zoe came out, they tried dating because they were both gay, so why not? But they figured out they weren't really each other's type so they decided to stay friends. Nothing had really happened between them, they came to that conclusion pretty early on their relationship so things never really got awkward between them.
The girls finally reached the classroom and after a quick scan, Raven noticed many new faces. Some were upperclassmen and others underclassmen. Only a some were sophomores like Raven and Zoe. Either way, Raven started to get nervous that she might have to act in front of so many people. Both girls sat down somewhere in the front, and the teacher started to roll call.
Mrs. Cartwig started by asking simple questions about theater and acting, most to which Raven had no idea what she was talking about. At least there were people eager to raise their hands to answer. Usually, Raven was the one who had all the answers and wasn't ashamed to speak up, in fact she loved being the center of attention, especially if she's right. Mrs. Cartwig was telling the class of different types of acting, and Raven was making a mental note to look stuff up, so that next time she can come more prepared for class.
"Raven Reyes, is it?" Mrs. Cartwig asked after looking at the roster.
"Yeah?"
"Please stand up, you've been quiet. You're going to help me with an example," the teacher smiled.
Raven gulped as she stood up. She was paying attention but in the last few minutes her mind drifted elsewhere, so she had no idea where this was going.
"And also..." Cartwig searched the roster again. "Lachman, Anya Lachman."
A girl who has also been quiet the whole class slowly stood up. Raven felt her jaw drop when she saw the girl. She was beautiful and Raven couldn't help but stare. She had to be an upperclassman, maybe even a senior. The older girl looked kind of intimidating too, but instead of scaring Raven away, it just lured her closer. Raven had to compose herself before the other girl reached the front of the class. Zoe was smirking at Raven knowing how hard Raven just fell for the girl. Raven sticks out her tongue before the teacher spoke up.
"So a very classic form of acting, is impromptu acting, which is the art of acting on the spot," Mrs. Cartwig said, and Raven started to get really nervous and Zoe's smug face wasn't helping at all. "In this scenario Ms. Lachman you're a wife who has been working from home all day and in comes in Ms. Reyes, your husband, and he says he'd like a glass of milk." Mrs. Cartwig stepped back hoping the girls would take it from there, but they both stood awkwardly looking at each other.
"Uh," Raven started. "Honey I'm home?" she looks at Mrs. Cartwig who's motioning for her to keep going. "Can you, uh, get me a tall glass of milk for me? It's been, um, a long day."
Anya stares at Raven for a second before finally speaking up. "Can't you get it for yourself? Honestly, it's been a long day for me too."
"What did you do? Mop the floors? I work at – wait, where do I work at?" Raven turned to her teacher.
"I don't know, make it up, that's why it's called impromptu!"
Raven groaned before continuing, "I worked at the, uhh, factory all day, and I actually have to pick heavy stuff up."
"And you don't think I don't? Don't you think carrying a bucket of water around isn't heavy? How about taking your dirty ass clothes to and from the laundry room all the way in the basement? Honey, I don't got this body by just sweeping." Anya's voice was slowly getting louder and more confident.
Raven smirked, she was enjoying this now, "Honest to God, woman. What's one glass of milk then? Can't I ask you for favors?"
"Favors? I clean the whole house, I cook for you every damn day, and some nights I even let you sleep with me, even if I'm not in the mood!" Anya's eyes widened at that last part surprising herself, and accidentally turning Raven on.
"Fine, fine. I'll get my own glass of milk," Raven absentmindedly took a step forward. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much you actually do for me."
"No, I'm sorry," Anya also took a step forward. "I have so much time to myself that I overthink too many things. I'm grateful for the work you do at the factory picking up heavy things," The class laughed at that. "If it wasn't for you, we couldn't afford the house I clean and the food I make."
Raven took another step in, and they are only inches apart, "And the bed we sleep in," she smirked.
"Great example, girls!" Mrs. Cartwig interrupted. "Class give it up to our volunteers."
The class applauded as Raven and Anya found their seats. Zoe poked at Raven once she sat down.
"Watch it, Monroe," Raven warned.
"Oh come on, you were practically drooling up there."
After the bell rang and dismissed the students, Raven walked up to Anya ignoring whatever Zoe was saying. Zoe decided to wait for Raven outside.
"Hey," Raven said to which Anya barely even looked up.
"Yeah?" The older girl zipped up her bag.
"You made a good wife up there," Raven was quickly getting really nervous, so she was holding her hands still.
"Thanks," Anya started to walk away. "I guess you made a good husband as well." Anya exited the room, leaving Raven standing there in her nervousness.
"Rae," Zoe pokes her head in the now-empty room after a few minutes. "Come on, we're going to be late for English."
Raven shakes her head, "Damn, that girl."
Zoe laughs, "You've already got it that bad, huh?" The girls walk down the hallway to their next class. "Hey, Harper just texted me that Jasper is throwing a party this Friday, you wanna come?"
"If that girl's there then yeah."
"I'll make it happen," Zoe winked.
The next day Raven was excited to get to theater class. She stayed up the night before just reading about Shakespeare and other play writers. She wanted to impress both the teacher and Anya. Raven's face instantly light up when the older girl came in.
"Hey, wife," Raven tried to keep her cool.
"Oh, hey. Husband," she chuckled and Raven almost slipped out of her seat. "Did you get your milk?"
Raven let out a series of nervous laughter, "yeah, no biggie."
"Hey, Anya," Zoe almost pushed Raven off. "Whatcha doing Friday night?"
Anya had her back turned to the girls to set down her bag, and Raven used that time to swat Zoe multiple times.
"Probably studying, why?"
"Boo, you should come with Raven and me to this party going on," Raven pushed the other girl off her desk.
Anya and Raven made eye contact before the older girl answered, "I'll think about it," and sat down.
The rest of the week, Anya and Raven kept bumping in the hallways, and Raven couldn't help but try to talk to the girl each time.
"So are you a senior?" Raven asked on a Wednesday.
"Yeah."
"Must be nice."
"Not really."
"Why?"
Anya shrugged. "Too much pressure to get good grades and graduate. Plus I'm new so I don't have friends. Well, except you and that other girl, I guess. You're the only one's I've talked to."
Raven, of course didn't hear anything after 'except you.' "You consider me your friend?" she smiled.
The older girl groaned. "Don't make me take it back-"
"No!" Raven instinctively grabbed Anya's hand.
They stood there like that for a second too long, with both their faces with a slight blush. "I was kidding, silly," Anya retrieved her hand and Raven had concentrate really hard on not reaching out for her hand again.
The next day Raven saw Anya at her locker so she decided to approach her. "Nice locker."
"Are you stalking me now?"
"That's classified information. But I should mention that I didn't know where your locker was until now," Raven winked.
Anya shook her head and chuckled, "boy, you are quite the character, aren't ya." The older girl closed her locker and Raven followed her when she started walking.
"You have no idea."
"You're so annoying," Anya rolled her eyes.
That night Raven layer sprawled her bed, just thinking about Anya and her nice hair and pretty eyes and the way she covers her mouth when she laughs. And she definitely tried not thinking about being in bed with the girl, or the fact that that's one of the first things they talked about to each other. Even if they were acting. Raven grabbed the script that Mrs. Cartwig gave the class earlier that day, but after reading through it a couple of times, she noticed that she wasn't really reading.
With a groan Raven sat up and picked up her phone. She wished that she had Anya's phone number to text her but instead she calls Zoe.
"Heyo," Zoe picked up.
"What's up, Monroe?"
"Not much, just playing some GTA, why did ya call?"
Raven grumbled for a while and Zoe asked again. "I can't get her out of my mind, Monroe! Ever since Mrs. Cartwig made her do that silly impromptu thing, I can't stop thinking about her."
"You're acting like I don't know this."
"Shut up. I just don't know what to do. What if she's straight? Do you think she's straight?"
Zoe was quiet in thought for a few seconds. "Hm, I don't have the most polished gaydar, but I can tell she likes you. Whether is romantically or just platonically is beyond me, sorry. She doesn't talk much, does she?"
"She talks enough. She's not shy she's just," Raven searched for the right word.
"Quiet?"
"I mean yes, but more like, she doesn't bother trying to be cool. She just... Is. To me, at least."
"Will you ever try asking her out?"
"No!" Raven quickly answered. "Actually no, maybe. Yes. No wait. No, no, no. I can't. She's way out of my league. She's a senior and she's super mature and-"
"Rae, Rae listen. You're overthinking. You're freaking yourself out, you know."
Raven sighed and willed herself to calm down. To take her mind off Anya and her feelings, she started rehearsing the script with Zoe, and then they talked about other things until it was late.
On Friday, Raven stood by 220-B's door waiting for Anya.
"Hey, dude," Zoe said when she saw Raven. "What... Are you doing?"
"I'm gonna ask her for her number," the brunette said, her eyes still scanning the hallway.
"You're so weird, but okay. See ya on the inside," Zoe laughed and they fist bumped. "Good luck!" She screamed as she entered the room.
"Good luck for what?" A voice came out of nowhere.
"Ah!" Raven had stopped scanning the halls when Zoe walked past her and into the classroom, so she didn't see when Anya approached her. "Anya! Hey! What's up?"
"Going to class?" Anya scoffed, and was about to go around Raven, but the girl stopped her.
"Hey, so have you thought about the party tonight?" When Anya gave her a confused look, Raven kept on talking. "I'm just asking so you can have my number so I can text you the directions and stuff."
Anya just laughed. "Is this the best you've got?" She shook her head and chuckled at the younger girl's confused face. "How about this, I'll give you my number, when you ask in a more creative way," and with that she winked and walked in the classroom.
Raven stood in the middle of the hallway not sure how to even breathe. She looked at the clock on her phone and bolted to the bathroom since she had just a couple more minutes before the bell rang.
Zoe Monroe: yooooo wtf what happen!?!? Where'd you go??
Zoe Monroe: Raven.
Zoe Monroe: RAVEN
Raven Reyes: I think she flirted with me?
Zoe Monroe: What do you mean??
Raven Reyes: I quote and unquote "I'll give you my number when you ask in a more creative way"
Zoe Monroe: Holy schnitzel!!! She was totes flirting with you, Rae!!!
Raven Reyes: Let's hope. Also another thing
Zoe Monroe: what????
Raven Reyes: How the fuck do I ask for a girl's number "creatively"?