Chapter Text
“It’s gonna be fine,” Bellamy reassures her, rubbing her back.
Clarke shakes her head. “Raven is my best friend. If she doesn’t like you…”
“Stop that,” Bellamy says firmly. “Have a little faith.”
Clarke sighs, glancing over to meet Bellamy’s eyes. “I’m sorry, she just tends to be… picky when it comes to people I date. I’m worried because... I like you,” she pauses, glancing away again. “I like you a lot.”
Bellamy grins, despite himself. “Right back at you, princess.”
A small smile creeps over Clarke’s face, but disappears when the door of the bar opens. “Raven!” she calls, waving her friend over to their table.
Raven sits down across from Clarke, shucking her heavy winter coat. “You must be Bellamy,” she says, cocking an eyebrow towards him.
Bellamy nods. “And you must be the famous Raven,” he responds, extending a hand to shake. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Raven takes his hand, casting a judging eye up and down while they shake. “Not bad, Griffin.”
Clarke grins. “Yeah, I’m mostly dating him for the eye candy.”
“Hey!” Bellamy protests, to Clarke and Raven’s amusement.
“I said mostly,” Clarke teases, patting his shoulder.
The waitress appears, and they all order drinks. Raven and Bellamy each get some sort of craft beer, and Clarke gets a vodka cranberry (for the nerves).
“So Clarke tells me you’re a history teacher?” Raven asks after the waitress leaves.
Bellamy nods, and Clarke somewhat zones out while he and Raven exchange basic information about themselves. She already knows all this information, having known Raven for nearly 5 years now and dating Bellamy for the last 3 months. It’s miracle that the two have gone this long without meeting (well, that and the fact that Raven often bartends at night so Clarke rarely gets to see her these days). Clarke would be lying if she said she was excited for tonight; as much as she wants Bellamy to get to know her friends (and that of course had to start with Raven), she worries that he won’t fit in. Sure, her friends are nerds and so is Bellamy, but Bellamy is the kind of nerd that was probably part of the popular crowd in high school. Clarke and her friends definitely had not been popular, as they have discussed at length. It’s part of the reason they all gravitated towards each other in their freshman year at Ark University. Despite coming from different areas all across the state, they had similar pasts that bonded them together immediately.
But Clarke’s fears seem to be unfounded (at least for now). Bellamy and Raven are already laughing at some dumb joke he told her.
“You didn’t tell me he was funny!” Raven giggles.
Clarke grins. “Because I don’t find puns about the ancient Greeks as funny as he does.”
“Finally, someone who appreciates my jokes!” Bellamy says. “Clarke always groans at them.”
Clarke rolls her eyes. The waitress appears with their drinks, and Clarke takes a healthy sip of hers immediately.
“So, Bellamy,” Raven starts, staring him down. “If you’re serious about being with Clarke, there are a few things I need to know.”
Clarke rolls her eyes, but to his credit, Bellamy seems to take Raven seriously. “I am serious about her. Bring it on,” he tells her matter-of-factly.
Raven grins sinisterly. “When was the last time you got tested for STDs?”
Clarke gasps. “Raven!”
“Last month,” Bellamy replies, as if Raven just asked him when he last took his car in for inspection. “When I went to my doctor for my yearly checkup. They were offering a free clinic. I’m clean, by the way.”
“Acceptable,” Raven remarks. “How many past sexual partners have you had?”
Clarke buries her face in her hands. They haven’t quite gotten to the comparing numbers part of their relationship, and she isn’t sure she wants to know just yet. After all, Bellamy is very attractive and she wouldn’t be surprised if his answer was much higher than her own.
“Three.” Clarke whips her head up in surprise as Bellamy continues. “One serious relationship in college and two one night stands after that ended, which wasn’t long after we graduated. I learned that it wasn’t for me.”
“All women?” Raven asked.
Bellamy nods. “I’m straight, but I try not to be an ass about my straight male privilege,” he smiles at Clarke. “And I’m totally down for going to any sort of Pride event to support Clarke.”
Raven nods, keeping a poker face. “So you’re not threatened by her bisexuality?”
“Of course not. It would be silly if I was.”
Clarke squeezes Bellamy’s bicep. This they had talked about. Whenever Clarke started a relationship (with a man or a woman), she was always nervous to tell them about her sexuality. She worried often about the stereotypical perceptions: men being homophobic or obsessed with threesomes (ew), and women seeing her as “tainted” or “fake” because she was also attracted to men. She was glad that people like Bellamy existed, who wholeheartedly support the LGBT+ community and genuinely don’t change their opinions of her in light of her sexuality. She was even luckier that she was dating one of these people.
“Good,” Raven replied. “Because that would be a total dealbreaker.”
“Duh,” Clarke responds. Bellamy smiles.
“Alright,” Raven gets back down to business. “I have one more important question that might determine the fate of this relationship.”
Bellamy cracks his fingers. “I’m ready,” he responds with a quirk of an eyebrow.
“Have you read the Harry Potter books, seen the movies, or both?”
Clarke stifles a giggle. As silly as this question was, it was pretty important.
Bellamy smirks. “I’m definitely not as obsessed as Clarke is, because I was a bit older than you guys when they came out, but I’ve read all the books and seen all the movies. We’ve already had numerous discussions about which Hogwarts house we’re in.”
“I still firmly believe you’re a Gryffindor!” Clarke protests, as Bellamy rolls his eyes.
“Slytherin all the way,” he responds.
Raven grins. “Then what am I?”
Bellamy regards her for a moment. “Not just because of the name, you’re Ravenclaw. Smart, pragmatic, always believe your answer is right.”
Raven nods. “If you got that from everything Clarke has told you about me, I’ll trust your sorting skills over Griffin’s.”
Clarke protests at this, but knows it’s true. Bellamy has an uncanny ability to know people. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always extend to himself; hence the Gryffindor/Slytherin debate.
“I’m gonna run to the bathroom,” Bellamy says, rising from his chair. “Be right back,” As he leaves, he drops a kiss on the top of Clarke’s head. Raven raises her eyebrows at that, but waits until Bellamy was out of earshot until she says anything.
“Where can I get one?” she demands, leaning forward.
Clarke furrows her eyebrows. “I mean, he has a sister, but I’m pretty sure she’s in a committed relationship-”
Raven bursts out laughing. “I mean I like him, dummy. He’s perfect for you.”
Clarke smiles shyly. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”
Raven gives Clarke an exasperated look. “When have you ever known me to lie about something like this?”
Clarke nods. “True. I was worried you wouldn’t get along.”
Raven takes a sip of her beer. “You really like him then,” she says matter-of-factly, as if it isn’t the hardest thing in the world for Clarke to admit.
Clarke shyly nods, and Raven bursts out into happy giggles. “Perfect. Now all I have to do is start planning the wedding.”