Chapter Text
The heavy downpour pelted the bus as it slowly navigated narrow New York streets. It was dark out, the artificial streetlights illuminating the faces of the passengers every once in a while.
‘How much further?’
‘Not long’ chimed back the driver as he maneuvered a particularly tight turn.
It was uncharacteristically quiet between the group of friends in a bus often filled with activity: their attentions focused on the windows, eyes following the familiar city as if they had never seen it before.
The bus slowed to a crawl before it was gently parked outside of an old brick apartment building.
‘We’re here.’
The group made to move out, gathering belongings and filing out of the vehicle into the downpour, hands clutching laptops, backpacks and instruments as the driver went to unlock the door.
‘Feels weird.’
‘I know right? Still: hasn’t changed a bit.’
‘Somehow not surprising.’
Seemingly unbothered by the rain they made their way up into the building, closing the door behind them and setting down their luggage at the base of the dark staircase leading up.
‘Holy shit we have a lot of mail.’
‘Can we deal with that in the morning Jasper? I’m exhausted and I kinda want a really long hot bath.’
‘Amen to that.’
Jasper stood up from his position over the mountain of letters resting on the floor, shrugging at the two girls who had spoken before addressing the driver.
‘Hey Monty, wanna share again?’
‘Hell yes: we got dibs on third floor.’
‘Hey no way that’s the biggest apartment. You two get the first floor: Octavia and I are getting that one.’
‘Bell if you think I’m sharing with you you’re dead wrong: I’ve had to spend the last year cooped up in tour busses and hotel rooms with you there’s no way I’m sharing. I’ll take one on the second floor.’
‘I’m with that. I’ll take the other second floor one: neighbours for life O.’
Bellamy glared at Octavia but the effect waned slightly considering she was already making her way upstairs with Raven at her side, the two barely containing their excitement at the thought of their first bath in two months.
‘Fine. I’ll take the top floor.’
Sighing in defeat, Bellamy made his way to the stairs before glancing back.
‘Lexa you okay with that?’
‘Go for it,’ the girl replied, not in the least bit interested which apartment she got though her spirits lifted at the thought of the open plan space the third floor offered her.
As Bellamy climbed up the stairs satisfied with the answer Lexa remained where she stood, taking in the familiar surroundings mixing with the somewhat unfamiliar smell of damp: a reminder of their absence.
She would deal with that tomorrow just as she would tackle the mail and the bills and food and the record label that wouldn’t get off their backs but for now, she wanted to appreciate New York.
They were home and for one night, that’s all that mattered.
The clock had barely turned 11:03 when there was a knock at Lexa’s door. Sighing she removed herself from underneath her laptop, placing it on the other end of the couch before padding towards the door and swinging it open. She waited for her visitors to speak.
‘Morning.’
Lexa waited.
‘Do you have any Fruit Loops?’
She stepped aside, inviting Octavia and Raven into her apartment as they wandered in still half asleep, swamped in hoodies far to big for them in an attempt to shelter themselves from the elements.
They slid over the wooden floor to the kitchen space as Lexa pulled out the cereal from a cupboard and pushed it over to them before handing them a couple of bowls.
‘Thanks.’
She passed them the milk and watched as the two dug in.
‘Coffee?’ questioned Raven as she scooped up the colourful dregs of starch.
‘What is this: a hotel?’
‘You’re the only one who would’ve gone shopping Lex come on.’
She raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she started making coffee for the three of them.
They migrated to the couch, Raven flicking through the TV as they sipped their drinks.
‘So what’re we gonna do?’ asked Octavia huddling close to her warm mug.
‘I don’t know. Probably have to find someone new.’
‘It’s not like bassists grow on trees Lexa and we need to find someone good who knows their stuff.’
‘I know.’
‘Finn may have been an asshole but he was fucking good.’
‘Before he fucked us over for good.’
‘And me.’
‘He was a douchebag Raven and you deserved way better.’
‘Yeah well I didn’t think that at the time. If I ever see him again I’ll shove a fucking drum stick right where you don’t want one I swear to God.’
‘You better not be sticking my drum sticks anywhere inappropriate Raven that’s seriously not okay’ called Bellamy as he let himself into the apartment, Monty and Jasper tailing behind.
‘Oh sure yeah come on in that’s fine.’
‘Thanks Lex, I know you love us’ teased Monty as he grabbed a fistful of Fruit Loops and jumped onto the couch.
‘So why are we sticking drum sticks up people’s backsides?’
‘Finn’s backside’ clarified Octavia.
‘Oh yeah he definitely deserves it: can I join?’
‘Totally.’
‘Not with my sticks Jesus.’
‘You’re no fun Bell seriously.’
‘I have to play with those!’
‘Nobody is sticking drumsticks anywhere okay?’
Octavia pouted but said nothing.
‘Speaking of Finn, what are we going to do about replacing him Lexa?’
‘Don’t ask me. Octavia, you know anyone?’
‘Not really: like I said, bassists don’t just grow on trees.’
A phone vibrated and Lexa rose to pick it up from her bedroom.
‘Shit.’
She padded back through, the group awaiting explanation.
‘Kane wants us in the office in an hour.’
Octavia audibly groaned, burrowing into Raven’s arm in an attempt to hide.
‘Alright let’s go. Monty and Jasper, come up with a way to find us a bassist; Raven, help them.’
‘Aye aye Captain’
‘And everyone get out of my apartment.’
‘Okay so Jasper had this idea-‘
‘Well it was Monty really-‘
‘Nope I think you’ll find it was mine boys.’
‘Right. Yeah Raven’s idea. Anyway so we thought about it and-‘
‘We were like ‘where do bassists grow?’ because you’d said earlier ‘oh bassists don’t grow on trees’ so we thought well where do they grow?’
‘And so we put out an ad and we’ve been getting calls all morning for people to audition and so-‘
‘Basically starting tomorrow we have about 60 people auditioning like all day.’
Bellamy, Octavia and Lexa sat in Monty’s apartment listening to their self-confessed exciting news though struggling to exactly follow what had transpired.
‘Hold up. What ad and where?’
Raven took the helm.
‘Okay Octavia you remember this girl we knew in first year at NYU? Blonde, medium height?’
‘Um…no?’
‘Well I knew her. Can’t remember her name but she definitely played bass and so it got me thinking: NYU is bound to have loads of musicians and there’s got to be someone there who can play for us!’
‘So you put an ad around campus?’
‘Yeah. We booked around 60 people for auditions tomorrow and also managed to get The Warehouse booked all day so we can try them out, jam along with them and see whether they fit.’
‘Sounds like a plan. When do they start tomorrow?’ asked Bellamy
‘Uh…9am?’
‘9am? Are you fucking joking? Fuck.’
‘Sorry O. it was the only way we could fit everyone in. We’re kinda famous you know and everyone wanted to try out.’
‘I’m just having images of really gross teenagers who can’t play for shit at 9am grating my eardrums.’
‘We filtered as best we could,’ supplied Jasper, ‘checked out that they could play at least. But yeah, there are bound to be some bad ones.’
‘I’ll call Kane,’ declared Lexa standing up and heading for the door. ‘He’s been on our backs for two days now.’
Not waiting for a response she left the group and headed upstairs.
‘Bye Lexa’ waved Jasper; Bellamy shrugged.
Boots hit the slush that littered the wet sidewalk as Clarke Griffin sipped on her coffee, letting the steam warm her face as she pulled her scarf a little tighter. Her long time friend Wells Jaha jogged to her side, pulling his backpack safely onto one shoulder.
‘How was Trig?’
‘Boring as usual: I still don’t get why they make us do it.’
‘You’re working with computers Wells. Computers, math: it’s all linked.’
‘Sure, you’re just saying that because you don’t have to do it.’
‘Nope. Instead I get ridiculous Chem modules that make me cry just a little inside.’
‘You got that right.’
The two wandered into a nearby campus building, shaking off the cold and grabbing a couple of seats in the lobby.
‘Damn it’s cold.’
‘I kind of like it: it’s sort of beautiful in a way.’
‘Yeah brown sludge. Stunning Clarke.’
‘You just don’t appreciate it: I got some great sketches the other day of the snow falling and it was sort of magical. I get why people like it.’
‘Whatever you say Clarke. You spoken to your mother yet?’
‘No,’ disbelief lining her voice, ‘she doesn’t even know I play music let alone that I’m minoring in art.’
‘She’ll find out eventually you know.’
‘Yes I know I know just…not yet okay? Soon.’
‘Sure. Well let me know how that goes…’
‘Thanks, your support really means a lot Wells.’
‘You love me.’
‘You wish.’
The two grinned at each other whilst Wells fished out his laptop.
‘Oh did you apply for the audition thing that I told you about?’
‘Yeah…I’m so not ready though I have no idea what to expect.’
‘Just go in there and do what you do Clarke: you’re amazing and you’ll be fine. Just don’t forget me when you become part of this world-famous band.’
‘That’s never going to happen there are thousands out there better than me.’
‘So then why are you even going?’
‘I don’t know…just to check it out I guess. If it’s a shot to get out of here then why not take it?’
‘And not just because you wanna meet them?’
‘Okay… yeah that too.’
‘I can’t believe the bassist left though, it seems so random.’
‘Yeah though I never really liked his technique you know?’
‘Are you…criticizing a world famous band?’
‘No no I mean a little: I just mean they’re so easy to play like wow sure another root note that’s original.’
Wells laughed as Clarke defended herself looking sheepish.
‘I’m not saying I’ll be any better-‘
‘But you will be. You’ll nail it. Just go along tomorrow and play like I’ve seen you play: passion and skill.’
‘Thanks Wells. Yeah, I’ll try. If I don’t die of embarrassment first.’
‘You’ll be fine.’
‘Yeah. It’s fine. It’s only Drain Down. No big deal.’
‘Seriously Clarke: you’ll be fine. I’m promise.’
‘Right.’
‘Please no more Jasper. I can’t. This is like some form of fucking torture’ moaned Octavia hanging off her microphone in despair, guitar swinging low.
Her band mates were not fairing any better: Bellamy sat frowning over his drum kit whilst Lexa looked a slightly more intense portrayal of her usual distaste.
‘Sorry O. we’ve got two more and then it’s over I swear.’
‘Can’t you make us drinks?’
‘I’ll get them ready for the end of the auditions.’
‘Now Jasper.’
‘No O. not till the end of the tryouts: at least be sober for them.’
Octavia pouted but said nothing more on the matter.
They stood on the small dimly lit stage, Raven lounging at one of the tables beneath it whilst Monty and Jasper frantically juggled papers behind the bar. The Warehouse was a small but popular bar they had once frequented often and it had given them some of their best first shows. The owner had handed it over for the day as they struggled to find a bassist to fit with the group, a challenge greater than anticipated.
‘I thought they just plucked some strings how hard can this be?’
‘Lexa says they’re not right O. and Lexa’s usually right about these things.’
Lexa looked up from the light melody she was picking out on her guitar registering her name but made no move further to contribute, returning her attention to her instrument.
‘I know but Lexa will say that about everyone. She’s impossible to please: we have to lower the bar Bell.’
‘’Lexa’ is right over here’ she called though still not giving them full attention.
‘If we don’t find anyone today it’s not the end of the world: we’ve still got the Internet and worst comes to worst, Kane can find us someone.’
‘No.’
‘Lexa we might not have a choice’ pointed out Raven, eating olives.
‘It won’t come to that.’
‘You hope.’
‘Okay I’m gonna call in the next person in guys’ called Monty, heading out the swinging doors.
‘Please Jesus let this one be okay at least. He doesn’t have to be The One but at least decent. Please.’
‘She, actually’ interrupted a voice.
Octavia snapped her head up to its source, eyes widening slightly as she swiftly untangled herself from her microphone stand and straightened up.
A blonde haired girl stood holding a bass case almost as tall as herself in front of her body, hiding behind it slightly.
‘Um, hey. Sorry.’
She gave a little wave, awkward and timid as if she wasn’t entirely sure she was meant to be here and Octavia chuckled slightly.
‘No: my bad. Okay, so what’s your name? You wanna get your stuff out and hook it up to the amp?’
‘Sure.’
She began unpacking her bass, leaning the case against the bar before heading up to the stage eying her surroundings carefully. Octavia and Raven shared a look not entirely sure what to make of her: the timid appearance and the pastel coloured outfit didn’t exactly give off the right vibes.
Lexa watched.
Bellamy stood up to help her find a cord and plug in.
‘Thanks. I’m Clarke? Clarke Griffin.’
‘Okay Clarke Griffin, can you play?’ asked Raven, feet up on the table still spearing olives with a cocktail stick.
‘Uh, yeah.’
‘Do you know any of our songs?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Alright come stand over here.’
Octavia pointed to the space on her right and Clarke shuffled forward, though she hung back to the shadows of the stage not quite standing in line with Octavia.
‘Do you know ‘Amen’?’
Clarke nodded in the affirmative, fingers sliding up and down the frets of her instrument as her right hand plucked absent-mindedly, occasionally twisting dials as she fine-tuned her sound.
‘You good?’
Clarke nodded, looking back up at the lead singer with a small smile. Octavia turned and nodded slightly to Lexa, who had long ago diverted attention back to her guitar, strumming softly.
At the signal she began a shrill riff as Bellamy joined in and Octavia focused on nailing her power chords. Clarke didn’t really have to think much: the music was fast but deceptively simple if you knew what to do and she soon found her rhythm with the group, using Bellamy as a cue and following Lexa’s capable lead.
And Clarke felt a space develop: the group were accommodating, something she was unused to and she found herself getting lost in what she was playing. Even Lexa, seemingly so intent on her own playing was aware of everything, always being precisely where her band needed her to be in the music and a giving player.
For someone she had seen for barely two minutes Clarke felt like they were in sync as the rhythm bounced off the melody, Bellamy keeping careful control as Octavia punctuated his beat, working in tandem.
It was over too soon, the last distorted note ringing out in the hollow space as Octavia’s heavy breaths settled. Lexa’s gaze was fixed to Clarke who was oblivious to that fact gazing out over the empty bar as Jasper and Monty grinned likes idiots.
Raven clapped.
‘Well that was awesome as hell: well done Clarke,’ she praised, catching Bellamy’s eye as he smiled. She spun her gaze to Lexa who remained fixated on the blonde girl, studying her with a unique intensity.
Clarke followed Raven’s gaze, meeting Lexa’s eyes and staring back. It was intimidating: disconcerting to be studied and deconstructed in someone’s gaze but she wasn’t about to back down now.
Lexa broke eye contact first, giving a sharp nod to Raven who grinned in response.
Clarke looked a little lost.
‘Alright Griffin: well done. You’ve moved on to Stage 2 of the challenge!’
‘Stage 2?’
‘Jamming: we want to see your improv skills. Don’t worry about it. I’m going to start a beat on the drums, Lexa will hash out a riff and you just join in whenever you feel comfortable.’
Clarke nodded, shifting her bass slightly on her shoulder in nervousness as Octavia pulled off her guitar and leapt from the stage, sitting beside Raven and stealing an olive.
‘You ready Lex?’
She nodded and watched as Bellamy started a simple beat before fixing her attention to her fret board, fingers playing near the top as she worked on a jazz infected riff that Clarke found herself enjoying. She watched Lexa’s fingers work smoothly, occasionally hitting a wrong note until she settled on a tune.
Clarke turned her attention to her own instrument, hitting a few experimental chord progressions before settling further down on her fret board, contrasting the lower tone of Lexa’s powerful, simple melody.
A bit of trial and error and soon the trio had worked something out: something solid as Lexa began experimenting a little further afield as the music built. Clarke found herself following effortlessly, feeling the music resonate as she moved in time with it.
She glanced up at the other two. Bellamy grinned and she offered a hesitant smile back before fixating on Lexa, whose gaze had rarely left Clarke. She nodded slightly eyes filled with fire and Clarke took that as a smile, grin exploding on her face as she focused back on her playing. She was enjoying herself in the moment: she hadn’t played like this in a long time.
Bellamy slowed the rhythm back down again and it naturally petered out, leaving two grinning musicians and one slightly happier musician on stage as Octavia and Raven gave a polite clap.
‘Okay Clarke.’
Octavia shared a short glance with those around her. All seemed fairly satisfied, all grinning with the exception of Lexa who now spoke:
‘Welcome to the band Clarke Griffin.’
‘Seriously?’
She looked towards Bellamy for confirmation and he grinned in response. She let her gaze drift to Lexa who graced her with an affirmative nod.
‘Um…seriously?’
‘Yeah! If Lexa approves then we all bow down and follow’ joked Jasper, who was making his way to the stage as Monty went to send the waiting applicant home.
‘He’s kidding, but we all loved your playing and we’ve had a really long day and you’re the best we’ve heard. I mean you’ve got some skill Griffin.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Okay so, formal introductions: I’m Octavia Blake, lead singer, rhythm guitar extraordinaire and the one who started this thing. On the drums is my brother, Bellamy, and Lexa Trigadakru over there is our lead guitar and the musical mastermind behind all this,’ Octavia indicated her head to the right, ‘next to me is our band tech and occasional keyboardist Raven Reyes-she’ll take care of your stuff like nobodies business- and Jasper and Monty are in charge of merch, publicity and bus driving.’
‘Uh…right: nice to meet you all.’
Clarke grinned at them all barely able to contain her disbelief or the feeling that this maybe wasn’t happening because things like this just didn’t happen to her.
‘Okay okay introductions over: let’s make this official.’
Raven brought her feet down from the table as the others pulled over chairs and dragged another table to where they sat.
‘Monty, now can I have a drink?’
‘Boilermaker?’
‘Just bring over the whiskey and shot glasses.’
Clarke’s eyebrows shot up and Raven grinned teasingly.
‘What Griffin? Not a drinker?’
‘No no, I just planned to be able to walk home’ she shot back not missing a beat, to which Raven laughed.
‘It’s been a long day Griffin trust me; I swear to god if one more hormonal teenage boy came through those doors attempting to hit on me I would’ve fucking punched him.’
‘Well we can’t all have your stunning good looks O.’
‘She speaks truth!’
Monty set down the shot glasses between them, pouring a generous measure of Jack Daniels in each glass.
‘I’m sorry there’s not anything better but hey, all the best nights start on Jack.’
‘Or the nights you don’t want to remember,’ muttered Clarke, earning her a grin from Octavia.
The group reached for their glasses.
‘Alright, here’s to our new member Clarke Griffin who despite wearing an astonishing amount of knitwear and pastel this fine day surprised us all with her kickass riffs. Even Lexa. And for that, she deserves a drink. Fuck yes!’
They all raised their shot glasses to their lips.
‘DRAIN DOWN BITCHES!’
Clarke barely even noticed the burn of the whiskey, smiling at the small rag tag group of people that had welcomed her into the family.