It's been a while, but this year was crazy busy. Finally got to do some writing.
This chapter was hell to write. I LOVE Bellamy, but his voice is hard, guys. So I hope I did him justice.
The next and final one is already half written (it's the first thing I wrote for this fic, actually), so the delay shouldn't be as long.
Oh, and slightly reducing the age gap between Clarke and Bellamy for story purposes. Sorry if it bothers some people.
She looks like sunshine and Bellamy already hates himself for coming here today.
On his day off, no less.
"You're a bit of a masochist, you know?" Raven smirks when he joins her behind the counter, and he shoots her a death glare.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Wildly." She pours milk into the mug of freshly brewed coffee. "If you'd listened to me earlier and oh, I don't know, told Clarke how you felt, that could have been you sitting over there with her, making those heart eyes you do so well." She sidesteps him and hands the mug to a customer, thanking him and wishing him a good day. "Would you get back on the other side? You're getting in my way, and you're not even working today."
She's right, because Raven is always right.
Doesn't mean he has to like it - or heaven forbid, acknowledge it.
Plus, he likes pissing her off. Brutal honesty is the starting point and the foundation of their friendship.
"No, I'm good." A pretty brunette approaches the counter, and he puts on his winning smile. If he's going to make himself suffer today, he might as well get some fun out of it. "Hi, welcome to the Bean Grounder."
He hates that name so much. That's what you get for wanting your business to fit in with college kids.
The brunette smiles. Very pretty. (He's in love, not blind.) "Hi, can I get a double expresso, please? To go."
"Sure." He grabs a paper cup and gets busy. "Haven't seen you around. Newcomer?"
"Not really. I'm pretty regular actually. Gina." She sticks out her hand.
Waiting for the coffee to brew, he grabs her hand and shakes it. "Bellamy, really nice to meet you. Regular, huh? Weird how I haven't seen you before."
She sets her forearms on the counter and leans forward conspiratorially, still grinning. "I know why you haven't seen me around, Bellamy. You're usually too distracted when Clarke Griffin's here to properly notice any other girl that comes in."
A shout of laughter behind him snaps him out of his shock. "Damn, G. Well played, indeed."
Seriously, Raven? Not cool. He turns to his 'friend' with a glare. "Did you tell everyone?"
"I asked, actually. I thought you were cute," Gina shrugs, looking apologetic, "and Raven told me you were...taken, sort of. Then the whole Clarke thing sort of came out."
"She's a good listener, sorry," Raven unhelpfully supplies. She doesn't sound sorry.
The Clarke thing. Bellamy can't help but think there's no better way to put it.
He doesn't believe in love at first sight - no one falls in love at twelve anyway, he thinks. But when skinny, shy, eight-year-old Octavia stumbled home on the first day at their new school, babbling about how her 'new, older friend Clarke' stood up for her during lunch break - he was already grateful for this stranger's presence in his hot mess of a life.
Getting to know and befriending this serious blonde with the most regal eyebrow raise a ten-year-old could muster was the smartest thing he thinks he's ever done.
He realizes now that falling in love with her was only a matter of when.
He tried to resist, he really did. They told him being in love with your best friend sucks.
But four years ago, Clarke decides to take them hiking along the Pacific Crest. As they get ready to cliff jump off the Mound, she grabs his hand, blinds him with a smile that rivals the scorching sun and whispers 'together'. He doesn't remember taking the jump; it's all intense blue eyes one second and the next, his feet hit the warm water and his heart explodes.
He's been fighting a losing battle ever since.
She's never shown him anything more than platonic interest, however, so he tries to suck it up and deal with it.
And stalk her on her dates with other people, it seems. Super healthy, Bell.
"You know," Gina's voice breaks through his thoughts. She's staring at Clarke, head cocked to the side, "I'm pretty good at reading body language. That girl's definitely had better dates. Hell, I've seen her look more interested in class than she does right now. We had art history together last year," she adds, seeing Bellamy's questioning look.
He sneaks a glance at Clarke and at that moment, she turns. Catching his eye, she flashes him a tiny grin. It feels like an elephant is sitting on his chest. He swallows and diverts his gaze.
Gina grabs her coffee and nods. "Oh, yeah. Don't give up yet, dude." She pats his hand in comfort, waves goodbye to Raven and leaves.
"She was too good for you," Raven teases.
He lets out a humorless laugh. "Yeah."
Raven grabs him by the shoulder and spins him around. "Oh, come on, Bellamy." She crosses her arms and scowls. "You know that's not what I meant. It sucks to want someone who's in love with someone else. I'm just saying Gina doesn't deserve that. No one does."
She sighs. "The thing is, that's not your case, okay? The whole world knows you're in love with Clarke. Well, except her - because when it comes to you, her common sense goes out the window. And for someone so smart, she's remarkably obtuse when it comes to her own feelings. Now, you-" she jabs him in the chest, "- you make yourself out to be the villain in your own story; you don't think you deserve to be happy. Well, newsflash, Bellamy. You do. You're not perfect, well guess what? No one is. Yes, you're reckless and a little confrontational - not to mention a tad touchy sometimes. But, Bellamy. You care so much for other people, with so little regard for yourself. You deserve to be happy."
Bellamy blinks.
Like he said. Brutal honesty.
"She's right, Bell." Octavia joins them, leaning across the counter. "Great speech, Raven. Didn't think you had it in you to be all touchy-feeling with big bro here."
Raven shrugs. "Desperate times," she quips, and whacks Bellamy's shoulder lightly with a dishtowel. Unlike her words, that won't leave a mark.
Octavia smirks, then looks over her shoulder. "They're leaving."
The three of them turn their attention to the couple. Finn says something that makes Clarke smile and nod, and he helps her put on her sweater. The elephant on his chest has now decided to lie down and roll around.
"Thanks for the coffee, Raven." Clarke comes up to them, as Finn stays behind, shooting them curious looks.
"No problem. Leaving so soon?" There's a question in the question that makes Clarke smirk and Bellamy's jaw clench.
"Just going to walk around. It's been...nice, I guess." Her slight hesitation is accompanied by a swift glance in Bellamy's direction. Oh, god, are his palms sweating? Get your shit together, Bell. "We'll see what happens."
As she walks away with a wave, Bellamy's mouth grows a will of its own and he finds himself calling out, "I meant what I said earlier, Clarke."
She pauses and looks back, blue eyes wide. "I know," she says after a second, and her lips curve into a shadow of that scorching smile, like a whisper. Or a promise.
He isn't sure of anything anymore.
What he does know - although he can't remember when it happened, exactly - is that it seems the elephant on his chest decided to take up residence somewhere else, because it suddenly feels like he can breathe again.
