Stacking drawing pads and organizing charcoal sets was not Bellamy Blake's idea of a good time. In fact after the worst morning of his life, two early morning classes, and a car wreck, all Bellamy wanted to be doing was sleeping. Instead he was sitting in Grounder Art Supply Store waiting on his little sister to drop of some late lunch.

A total of two people had come in to the store since he had started his shift. Neither had purchased anything, just looked at the stores art display and perused the aisles. He didn't even have anyone to talk to because Roma was "sick." Bellamy assumed she was most likely hung over, but management had bought the excuse. So, Bellamy was left to stare at the wall alone. With two hours down and four more thrilling hours before he could go home. Just in time to shower and get ready for his bar- tending shift tonight. This day was becoming a nightmare.

For the past thirty minutes Bellamy had been rearranging the front counter. He had already swept the floors, restocked the displays, and cleaned the store windows. With a huff he pushed away from the counter and began to pace the store. As if this would make the time go by faster. He was going out of his mind. While he was pacing he caught himself staring at the assortment of paintings on the wall. Anya, the owner of the store, had quite the art collection. Some pretty impressive names hung on the wall. Anya also held a town wide art competition each summer; and the winners got their painting up on the wall.

Bellamy's eyes ran from one painting to another, until one caught his eye. It was a painting of a meadow that started off bright but the trees in the background grew dim and dreary. On the edge of the clearing there were two dark silhouettes, that seemed to be walking into the forrest. One of the shadows seemed tall and mature, while the other look younger. Bellamy shivered. The painting was unnerving. He had no idea why it was affecting him so much. Normally art didn't interest him that much at all. He appreciated the historical value of art, but that was as far as his appreciation usually went. He only took the job for the extra cash. But there was something about this painting. It was just so mournful. It made him want to know what the author was thinking about when he painted it. He wanted to know what tragedy inspired such a sad scene.

"Excuse me!" A female voice boomed from behind him causing him to jump.

"Jesus!" Bellamy cursed under his breath. "The hell, you can't just go around sneaking up on people like that!" He added as he turned. He assumed it was his sister, but to his surprise it wasn't his sister standing behind him. Instead in front of him was a frustrated and pretty blonde. Bellamy looked her over. She looked around 20 or so. She had golden waves that fell around her face and a sophisticated look about her. This looked like the kind of girl who could get whatever she wanted. Her entire look spelled trouble.

"Um, Im sorry. I'd just been trying to get your attention." The blonde said with an annoyed tone. She glanced down at her, obviously pricey, watch.

"Look, I didn't mean to curse but there is no need to get huffy." Bellamy said. He regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth, no snobby rich girl was going to like his attitude.

"I just assumed if you worked here you might be helpful instead of being rude. I don't know if you are aware or not, but the staff here are usually supposed to be friendly. You might want to-"

"Are you done?" Bellamy asked cutting her off. The look of rage that covered her face amused him. "If you are I'd love to be helpful."

The girl took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them she shook her head and flashed Bellamy a fake and exasperated smile.

"You know what never mind." She said as she started to walk away. "I'll just come back another time when Anya is working."

Bellamy groaned. Of course the one time he was rude to a customer who knew his boss.

"Wait! Come back." Bellamy hurried after her. "I'm sorry I was a dick, I was just out of it, because I was trying to figure out this depressing painting. Look, whatever you came in here for I can help you with!" He tried to sound as convincing as possible. He needed this job.

The blonde turned and gave him an analytical look. Her brows furrowed as she searched his face, as if trying to figure out his sincerity. Her eyes then traveled form his face to the wall where he had been.

"Which one?" She asked. Her attitude shifted from frustrated to curious.

"Which, what?" Bellamy asked a bit confused. The blonde walked over and pointed up at the painting on the wall.

"Which painting did you find so confusing?" She asked with a smirk.

"Hey now, I never said I was confusing." Bellamy said. He glared down at the blonde. She kept her eyes on his. Bellamy felt a warm flush go through him. He was right this girl was trouble.

"I'm sorry if I bruised your ego by suggesting that you were." The blonde said rolling her eyes. "I'm a second year art student at Ark University. I was just going to try and help." For some reason that comment set him off. Of course this girl was like most of the snots that lived in this town.

"Of course. Should have known." Bellamy rolled his eyes at her.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" she asked, taken back by Bellamy's comment. Bellamy grumbled. Hell he had already pissed her off to the point where he knew she was going to complain to management so he figured he might as well go big.

"Pretty rick girl like you? Art major seems about right. Parents paying for an easy degree? Look princess I'm sure Art History 101 has taught you a lot but I think I'll pass on your expertise." Bellamy said with a challenging grin.

"For your information I'm on a scholarship, asshole." The blonde puffed. "And I don't appreciate the blatant judgment based on my appearance. You know nothing, and I mean nothing about me. So, if you are just going to be an ass I'll pick up my pencils another time. And you can go to hell." The girl's eyes gleamed. Bellamy looked down at fierce blonde in front of him. She was standing quite close to him, her finger pressed into his chest. There was something about her being so close that made his throat tighten. He took a deep breath. His mind racing, going over their encounter. This tiny art student had backed him up into a corner, threatening him with damnation all because he had been a dick. And if he was being honest, the reason he and lashed out had nothing to do with her. That's when he started laughing.

"What the hell?" she said, which just made Bellamy laugh harder.

"I'm sorry princess." Bellamy said as he tried to catch his breath. "This is just the most ridiculous fight I have ever been in. I'm sorry…"

The girl eyed him with suspicion. As he caught his breath.

"Honest, I'm sorry for being an ass. I am way out of line. There is just something frustrating about you." Bellamy said with another chuckle. "But you're right I don't know you. And to be honest my day has absolutely fucking sucked and I may be taking that out on you." The blonde had kept her hard gaze on him throughout his explanation.

"Is that your apology?" she asked with a quick of her eyebrow. "Because I am pretty sure having a bad day is no excuse for being a dick."

"You're right," Bellamy said.

"What?" she asked, taken back by his agreement.

"You're right." He repeated. "I acted like an ass. I shouldn't have done that. Sure you come across kind of pretentious," The girl's glare returned at that, "but that's not a good excuse either. I'm sorry. And I am not just saying that because it seems like you know my boss." Bellamy said with a smirk.

The girl in front of him sighed. This time when she looked up at him Bellamy noticed that her eyes were the purest blue he had ever seen. And while eyes that bright should shine, hers seemed sad. As if they had known too much sadness for someone so young. She shook her head made a groaning noise.

"Okay I may have been a bit snappy early on. Finals are coming up and I am a bit sleep deprived. Not that that excuse is any more valid than yours was. And I admit boasting about my expertise was a bit much. So, I'm sorry too." She said. "But you deserved that last part." She added.

Bellamy chuckled again.

"Yeah, guess I did." For a second they both just stared at each other. Each sizing the other up. Bellamy stood by his earlier estimate, this girl was no good. But she was captivating. He leaned down a bit. Since they were so close, their faces were almost touching. "I may accept your expertise after all." The air between them seemed electric and thick. Bellamy thought he saw the girls eyes flash to his lips. He could feel the heat between them. He reached forward for some reason, and pushed golden wave away from her face.

The girl flushed. As if just realizing how close they were to one another. She backed away with as she cleared her throat.

"My expertise?" She asked. Her voice shaking.

"About the painting." He prompted. Scratching his neck trying to push the previous moment out of his head.

"Oh, yes of course. Well you never even told me which one it was!" She said looking up at the wall.

"It's that one." Bellamy said pointing at the painting of the meadow, ignoring the accusing tone she had used.

"Really?" the girl asked. She looked back at Bellamy with genuine surprise. Bellamy inwardly groaned. It was probably a simple painting and this girl was going to think he was an idiot all over again. Although he wasn't sure why he cared what this girl thought.

"Yes," He said as he cleared his throat. "'May We Meet Again' By Clarke Griffin."

The girl looked up at him with a smile. It was bright and shining and for some reason Bellamy felt he was getting a rare teat. This girl didn't seem like she gave genuine big smiles away all the time. It was such a change from the ice cold glares he had been receiving moments ago that he couldn't help but smile back.

"Looking to you, princess" He said waiting on her explanation.

"Well…" The girl glanced at his name tag. "… Bellamy, this piece is about loss. Saying goodbye to the people you love, and accepting the fact things don't always get better. And sometimes letting go means losing the things you love most. The coloring and the shading show the light turning to dark, and the people… Well they represent people you lose in life… Yeah um that's what this piece says…"

The girl's big sad eyes looked up at Bellamy. Her explanation, while simple, was so genuine. He could see genuine emotion was behind it. Her eyes seemed to be rimmed with tears. The room got intense again as she waited for him to respond to her explanation. She turned her head back to the painting, snapping Bellamy back to reality.

"Wow…" Bellamy breathed. "So I was right… It's a fucking depressing painting."

The girls head snapped up at him and for a moment he thought he had offended her again. But the she started giggling, it bubbled over turning into a full fledge laugh. It was the most beautiful sound Bellamy had ever heard.

"Yeah," the girl choked out between giggles. "You are absolutely right, it is a really fucking depressing painting." Bellamy stood their dumbfounded while she continued laughing. Once again he felt like he was seeing a side of this stranger few people where privy too.

Once she had calm down she glanced down at her watch.

"Damn, this has taken longer than I thought. I have to get to work!" The girl said in a panicked tone. "Look did you get any packages in today?" She asked as she rushed over to the counter, Bellamy in hot pursuit.

"Um, I don't think so…" Bellamy said. "But I could go check in the back?" He offered. For some reason he wanted to keep this girl around for a bit.

"Ugh, No time. I need to be halfway across town in like 15 minutes…" The girl said with a groan. "I knew I should have waited until tomorrow to drop by."

"Well look," Bellamy said, "Write down your number and I'll text you when it gets here."

"Oh my god, thank you." The girl pulled out a pen and piece of paper from her bag and scribbled her number on it. She handed the paper to Bellamy.

"Thank you so much, I needed that order yesterday for classes. So this is a big help. I have to go!" She turned to leave as Bellamy read over the number.

"Wait!" he called. And rushed across the store to the exit. She stopped halfway through the door and gave him a questioning look.

"I need your name for the order!" he said with a grin. "I doubt the order is under Princess."

"Oh yeah," The girl said matching his smirk. "It's Clarke, Clarke Griffin."

Bellamy's shock must have been evident on his face, because once again Clarke burst in to giggles.

"Thanks again Bellamy." She laughed as she turned to leave. "It was interesting meeting you!" She called over her shoulder as she left the store.

He watched her leave the store with utter astonishment and then he looked back over at her painting hanging on the wall. His mouth still hanging open.

"Bell!" He turned around as his sister walked in carrying two fast food bags. "I come bringing burritos and my affection." She stopped and looked at him with quizzical eyes.

"What's up Bell?" She asked, her voice filled with suspicion. He must still look a bit dumbfounded. He sighed his mind lingering on Clarke Griffin.

"Trouble, Octavia. Trouble." He said.

"Ooo! Does that trouble have anything to do with that Blonde that I just saw laughing her way out of here?" Octavia asked with a grin on her face.

"Oh yes. I'm going to need to steer clear of that one." Bellamy said as he went over and hugged his sister. But even as he said it, he knew it was impossible. Because all he wanted was to make that girl laugh again…