Hello Fanfiction Friends! I am SO very new to the world of Fanfiction! This is my first time ever writing it, so I hope that I don't let you all down! I'd really appreciate any Constructive Criticism that you might have for me. My main reason for posting it (other than the fact that I am a HUGE Bellarke fan) is to improve my writing. Reviews are very appreciated! Thank you for dropping by!
"How are you doing so far?" Maya appears in the drink-making station.
"Fine. I've only been groped twice and the tips are less lousy than usual." Clarke and Maya laugh, "What about you?"
"Same. Cage is back, though." She adds the last part reluctantly.
"What?! Maya! Tell Bobby!" Clarke tries to find a solution.
"No. I don't want to make a big deal out of it." Maya says, filling her drink orders.
"You're not making a big deal.. If you won't tell Bobby, then just let me pick him up. What's he drinking?"
"Clarke, I don't want to drag you into this."
"Too late. I'm your friend and this is what friends do."
Clarke's tray is full as she heads back out onto the casino floor. She makes her rounds through her section first, collecting her tips, and then heads over to Cage.
"Jack and Coke." She says, holding the drink out to him.
"I actually gave my order to Maya." He says, confused.
"You may have given the order to her, but I'm the one with your drink." She says with a forced smile, the drink still suspended between them.
"Okay." He says, taking the drink from her and slipping her a couple bucks.
Clarke shoots him a dirty look and makes another round, collecting more drink orders from the hopefuls on the machines. She eyes Bobby and walks casually over to him.
"Cage is here. On the machine behind me, to the left- Maya's section. Maya doesn't want to make a big deal about it, but will you keep an eye on him?"
"No problem, sweetie." Bobby replies, staring Cage down.
"Thanks Bobby." Clarke heads back to the drink station and gets her new orders.
The rest of the night is fairly uneventful as far as customers go, however it is FILLED with girl-talk. Harper glides around the casino floor all night on Cloud 9. She corners Clarke and Maya in the drink station and tells them all about the "A-MAZING" night she and James had last night. The conversation consists of A LOT of TMI. But, they love Harper and indulge her.
"He is seriously the sweetest!" Harper squeals, "I just can't get over it! I think I'm in love!"
Maya and Clarke share an "Oh geeze" look with each other and carry on a silent "it's your turn, no it's your turn" discussion while Harper is distracted. It comes down to rock, paper, scissors- Clarke wins, Maya has to bite the bullet.
"Harper, honey, James really does sound like a nice guy but don't you think it's a little soon to be talking about love?" Maya asks softly.
"I know." Harper says, looking distressed, "I always do this, don't I?"
Clarke and Maya nod slightly.
"It's just that he's so PERFECT! Ugh! I can't help it! I just know- he's the one." And they've lost her again. Maya looks at Clarke, desperate for back-up.
"Harper, we're not saying that he's not 'the one'. We just want you to take it slow, sweetie. We don't want to see you get hurt, that's all." Clarke hugs her.
Harper is the queen of diving in head-first and throwing caution to the wind. She's been in love so many times they've lost count. She's definitely taken the role of baby sister, while Maya and Clarke hover somewhere between protective big sister and ferocious mama bear. They've had to pick up the pieces of her optimistic, naïve, loving, precious heart too many times.
"Julie's here." Maya informs Clarke hours later as they pass each other out on the floor.
"Thank goodness, I am so tired. You get off in an hour, right?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, make sure to let me know when you get home."
Clarke and Maya have lived together for five years now. They've been friends since high school. After graduation, Clarke tried her hand at the dorms, but really wasn't enjoying it there. The following year, Maya was struggling due to her roommate moving out and the timing worked perfectly for Clarke. Maya mentioned it to her at work one day and Clarke was packing up and moving in.
Clarke arrives at home a little after one in the morning, she grabs a yogurt drink from the fridge and downs it on the way to the bathroom. She showers quickly and then plops into bed- instantly asleep. The only time she stirs that night is when Maya comes into her room to tell she's made it home.
"Do we have an identification?" Bellamy asks, arriving at the scene.
"Detective Blake, yes. Her name is Harper Morris. She works at a casino downtown called Violets. I'll text you the address." Detective Martin pulls out his cell phone.
"Appreciate it. We'll head over there right now." Bellamy says, walking over to his car and forwarding the address to his partner.
Bellamy and Jasper arrive at Violets thirty minutes later, they show their badges to the security guard and he informs someone on the radio that they're here.
"Mr. Kane, thank you for taking time to speak with us." Jasper takes the lead.
"Of course Detectives. What can I help you with? And, please, call me Marcus."
"When was the last time you saw Harper Morris?" Jasper asks.
"She came in for her shift last night- that was around nine, and she got off around three. Her shift tonight doesn't start for another hour, but she's usually about fifteen minutes early."
"She won't be coming in tonight, Marcus. We're here because we found Harper's body."
Marcus' eyes widen as he fumbles for something to grip, "Marcus, is there somewhere we can talk in private?" Bellamy asks.
"Yes, my office." Marcus takes them to a large office on the main floor, "I don't understand." He takes a seat in the chair behind his large desk, "She was just here last night. When did she die?"
"Sometime between four and five this morning."
"I know she lives about twenty minutes away, I don't remember her saying she was going to do anything other than go home but you can talk to the other employees."
"We're going to need a complete list of your employees and we're going to need to know who was working last night." Jasper says.
"Done."
After getting the lists, Jasper and Bellamy head out onto the casino floor to talk to the employees. Bellamy is scanning the area again when suddenly a very familiar blonde appears. Her smile lights a fire in him, bringing back so many memories. But there, never far behind the guilt floods alongside them. He had been such an idiot.
Clarke's working the floor just like any other night, there are a few regulars sitting at their machines- eyes so focused she doesn't know how they see her coming. She heads back to the drink station, feeling as if she's being watched. She stops just short of the entrance, scanning her section to see if she's missed someone and then her eyes meet his… Bellamy..
She makes her drinks and walks out onto the floor, extremely aware of every move she's making. The last thing she needs is to trip over her own feet and wear this tray of drinks in front of him. Her heart skips a beat at the thought of his name. Damn it. Why the hell was he here? She fumbles while handing an older gentleman his drink, but makes a quick recovery. She passes out the rest of her drinks, tray now empty, and looks up to see Bellamy still watching her. Well, she's not going to run off and hide. She marches straight over to him, not breaking eye contact as she goes.
"Bellamy." She stops when they're a foot apart.
"Clarke."
"What are you doin.."
"Clarke!" Maya ambushes her with a force that almost knocks her flat on her butt.
"Maya, what's wrong?" Clarke squeezes out as Maya locks her arms around her so tight she can hardly breathe.
"Harper." She sobs, "Harper is dead.."
"Clarke, that's actually why I'm here." Bellamy says, "I'm one of the detectives working her case."
"I.. I didn't know you were a detective." Clarke stammers, her anger towards him gone momentarily as she tries to wrap her head around what was just said.
"I am. I know this is hard, but can I ask you some questions?"
"Yeah."
Maya wipes her eyes and turns to Clarke, "I'm going to go fix my face and I'll cover your section. I already spoke to the other detective."
She nods and they share a brief hug.
"Did you know Harper well?"
"Yes, we were friends." Tears spill down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry.." He pauses for a moment, "Were you working last night?"
"Yes. I got off around twelve-thirty.. What happened to her?"
"It appears that she was murdered." He says slowly, "Did you go anywhere after work?"
"Just home."
"Do you have anyone that can confirm that?"
"Maya and I live together. She didn't get home until a little after two."
"Okay. Did Harper have any enemies?"
"No, Harper's a sweetheart. Everyone loved her."
He nods, "Any boyfriends?"
"James, that's her current boyfriend. He works at Neman's, as security."
"James have a last name?"
"Reegan.. Harper did have an ex that was infatuated with her. They broke up a while back and I don't think he would hurt her, but his name is John Murphey. That's the only serious ex that I know of."
"I'm really sorry, Clarke."
She nods, fresh tears threatening to spill over.
"If you think of anything else, here's my card. It has my cell and office numbers on there."
Clarke takes it and walks away, unable to speak.
At the end of Clarke's shift, she's feeling numb, she says goodbye to the girls and gets ready to leave, "Hey Bobby, will you walk me out?"
"Of course, Clarke."
They walk out to the parking lot together, talking about Harper, when she sees a figure standing by her car.
"Clarke." Bobby says, moving in front of her and gesturing for her to stay back, "Can I help you?" He calls to the figure.
"I'm Bellamy Blake, a friend of Clarke's. I was here earlier."
"Clarke?" Bobby turns.
"It's okay Bobby, I know him. Thanks for walking me out." She gives Bobby a hug.
"Let me know when you get home. If I don't hear from you, I'll come looking." Bobby says loud enough for Bellamy to hear, and heads back inside.
"Forget something?" Clarke unlocks her car, but Bellamy leans against the driver's side door.
"I just wanted to make sure you got home safe."
"How very chivalrous of you, but I'm doing just fine on my own." She doesn't need his sympathy now.
"I can see that."
"What is it really, Bell?" She's exhausted. She looks up into his deep brown eyes, cursing herself all the while. You would think, after all this time and everything that's happened, she wouldn't still respond to him like this..
"I really just wanted to make sure you got home safe. After your friend.. I just don't want anything happening to you." He finishes.
"I'm fine, Bellamy. You don't owe me anything. We're just two people that knew each other a long time ago."
"Really, Clarke?"
"I haven't heard a word from you in three years. Now you want to make sure I'm okay?"
Bellamy's lips tighten.
"Just go, Bell. Go back to this new life you have and forget about me."
Bellamy moves out of the way and Clarke gets into her car. She turns, so torn with what she's just said, but shakes it off and drives away.