Chapter 1:

"It's not like I'm pining away for sex or anything." Clarke explained in a hushed voice while she moved around the kitchen with her aunt. Okay, there are a few things about Aunt Stella that one must know before she speaks. Her name is Stella Isabella Owens and she absolutely hates her parents for naming her that. And, Stella isn't her biological aunt. Stella was the only person Clarke agreed to "watch" her while Abby Griffin worked in Haiti. Why? Because they could have open conversations about her sex-life over McMuffins and Starbucks Frappes. Plus, when it came to semi-parenting Stella had always been accountable unlike Abby Griffin. "It's just ridiculous."

"What did you expect?" Stella snorted, "You're dating a law student."

"He doesn't even want to be a lawyer…" Clarke trailed off, thinking about her previous conversation with her boyfriend; Bellamy Blake. "He's just doing it because his dad wants him to." That situation was completely fucked up in the first place because Bellamy's "dad" only got involved once he got accepted into College of Charleston. His father was an alumni and supported the school so he pulled a few strings to get his "son" into the pre-law program. Bellamy's plan was to become a history teacher and write books on the cultures of the world… Clarke didn't understand why it was so easy to let go of a dream like that but Bellamy was a big boy and could make his own choices.

Speaking of choices, Bellamy had made the strict choice not to consummate their relationship until her 18th birthday because of the law. "Marcus is a douche bag." Stella said, "I would know."

"Yes, please remind me how you had a fling with the Attorney General again because it's not enough when we're having a family dinner or something." She said sarcastically, "You're going to burn that pretty brown hair if you don't stop lighting your cigarettes over the stove." Abby would flip if she knew about Stella's bad habit of smoking in the house.

"I hear footsteps." Stella explained, "I don't know Clarke you could always try masturbation!" She said as loud as she could before settling down in her seat. She giggled at Clarke's bright red face when Bellamy entered the kitchen. "Hey stud muffin, got you a McMuffin." She greeted him with a smile before taking a drag from her cigarette.

"Six minutes." Bellamy mumbled as he took a seat by Clarke with a devilish smirk on his face. He always took the opportunity to inform Stella that she was taking six minutes off her life every cigarette she smoked.

"I'm an adult." Stella would always counter. "I do what I want. Speaking of adulthood…Clarke."

"Birthday plans." Clarke said, dropping the leftover pieces of her McMuffin on the paper before brushing her hands off. "Okay, I have the best idea since the Kardashians."

"Those are really big shoes to fill." Stella said skeptically, "Go on."

"Strip club. Real club. Another club and then birthday cake." Clarke said, "Then the next morning we're going to breakfast at Waffle House because I haven't been to Waffle House in god knows how long."

"Last Monday if I recall." Bellamy said, stuffing his face. Clarke rolled her eyes before running a hand through his hair to straighten out his bed head. "You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?" She mused, running her fingers through his hair again with an arched eyebrow. She usually didn't know she was doing the thing. Definition: Thing: Looking at him like he's the best thing in the entire world. She would take in his brown skin and perfect jawline, stare at those freckles on his face and get lost in his pretty eyes until he called her out on it or brought her back to reality.

"The thing you do when you just stare at me." He said, "I know I'm good-looking, charming and amazing in every single way but seriously…take a picture." He leaned down at kissed her pouty lips. She desperately wanted to deepen it but Stella cleared her throat.

"Still single over here." She nearly sung.

Clarke rolled her eyes, "That's a personal choice. I can name seven guys that have asked you out in the last three months that you've rejected."

"They weren't my type."

"Because they wanted to commit?" Clarke asked. "Anyway…what are your views on the birthday plan?"

"School?"

Clarke snorted, "Who goes to school on their birthday?"

"Right." Stella said, "I forgot that high school attendance is unimportant. You right your paper on U.S. Government or no?"

"Didn't get to it yet." Clarke said, "I got accepted into the pre-med program at John Hopkins." Her tone was nonchalant because she didn't want to hype it up. She thought it was the perfect time to slip it in before Stella had to switch to "tough" guardian and get on her about her academics. If anything, Abby Griffin was extremely involved in Clarke's grades.

"When?" Bellamy asked, his hand extended to her lower back. "That's really good."

Stella smiled proudly, "Look I'm not a complete screw up!" Clarke could really see her features when she smiled. Her full lips and high cheek bones made her this attractive woman that everyone wanted to be with. "And as for your birthday plan…I'll think on it. Seeing as your birthday is on a Wednesday, I really don't think the club is going to be pumping and Abby said something about coming home."

Clarke started to choke on Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino. "My mom's coming home." She groaned. In her mind, she knew this wasn't the appropriate response to the news. She should be estatic… she hadn't seen Abby in seven months. Abby just didn't know a lot of things. She didn't know Clarke lost her virginity three months before Clarke started dating Bellamy… yeah, Abby didn't know about Bellamy either and Bellamy and Clarke had been dating for a year. Even when Abby was in town last time, Clarke didn't say anything. She would never approve. Bellamy was 22. Clarke was 17. Abby would have something to say about the age difference. She always had something to say.

Bellamy always got uncomfortable when Abby was mentioned as if he didn't know what to say. "What are your plans for the day?" He changed the subject even if Abby coming home was an important conversation that Stella and Clarke needed to have…they let him do it.

"Lingerie shopping." Stella said, "Oh did I say that out loud? I meant birthday present shopping."

Bellamy swallowed hard and snuck a glance over to Clarke. Clarke never helped the situation, she winked at him. "Fun."

"Always fun." Stella leaned on the counter, "Now tell me, Bells… what are your preferences? I know what Clarke likes but you…" Stella turned around because she didn't want him to see her laughing so hard at his facial expression. Clarke put her hand on his knee, causing him to look over at her.

"…Clarke, you're a tease." He whispered lowly, "Seriously."

"I'm not saying anything." Clarke told him with a smile before her hand started easing up his leg. "Are you excited…" She let her words linger a little before completing her sentence, "About my birthday party?" He placed a hand over her hand and exhaled loudly.

"More excited about your birthday in general." He kissed her jaw before standing up from the table. "I have to meet Marcus at 11 for brunch—whatever the hell that is." He headed towards her bedroom so he could get dressed. Clarke wondered if she would have to take all of Bellamy's clothes out of her closet that he kept there when he stayed the night when Abby came home.

"Nothing compared to the fine meal you just ate!" Stella said, finally turning around and silently laughing with Clarke. "Are you excited?" She mocked Clarke, "Where the hell did that come from?" Stella's face was lined with this approval and humor of the entire situation. "I should be scolding you for being a temptress…but I can't. I remember 17 unlike your mother, I made 17 my bitch. But 18… damn."

Clarke cleaned up her and Bellamy's mess before heading into her room. Clarke's room was identical to the master bedroom except for the marble countertops…the master bedroom didn't have marble countertops in the bathroom. Abby's career brought in a lot of money—even if Abby was currently volunteering with her boyfriend Samuel in Haiti—they had a lot of money. Clarke heard the shower running and thought momentarily about climbing in with him.

She'd never done that before.

Besides some heavy touching they'd never done anything because Bellamy had this self-control that she couldn't understand. He could be completely reckless with everything in his life but her. He was never reckless with her. She didn't know if that annoyed her more than it made her smile…

But her constant suffering over the last year while she dated him was about to come to an end. Her 18th birthday was fast approaching and she had more plans that a few shitty night clubs and possible strippers. She was going to have sex with Bellamy Blake.

A lot.