Chapter 2: With Darkness Comes Light
It was a dreary, cloudy day. Laying in bed Clarke stared out the window, raindrops were already starting to hit the glass. Focusing on two droplets of water she was surprised she had stopped crying. She wasn't sure what time it was, she didn't care. All she knew was today was the day they were burying her father.
Ever since she found out he had been killed Clarke had been in a daze. She had been vaguely aware of her family bustling around. From making the arrangements to trying their best to comfort one another. The house had been crowded every day. People were coming by to pay their respects, they brought food and whatever else they hoped could be useful.
Thelonious and Wells had been over every chance they could. One time Clarke saw her mom and Thelonious talking in a corner. Abby was crying while Thelonious tried his best to comfort her. They still didn't know the whole story of how her father was killed, only bits and pieces. From what she heard he and Thelonious were checking out a warehouse, it wasn't in the best part of town but they were going to be in and out. Jake had said he wanted to check out upstairs, see if they would be able to make locker rooms for the gym. He hadn't been gone five minutes when a shot rang out. Thelonious said he ran to him as fast as he could but it was too late. No one outside saw anyone run from the building, the police had no suspects or any leads. For all Clarke knew the person who killed Jake was never going to be found.
"Clarke? Honey, are you awake?" She heard her mom ask as she entered the room.
"Yeah," Clarke croaked, pulling her quilt up to her chin.
Abby frowned. "Its time to get up. I'll let you have the shower first."
Sitting up on her sofa bed Clarke nodded. "Ok, thanks mom."
"Its going to be a long day." Abby sighed walking away back to the bedroom she used to share with her husband.
"I just wish it was already over." Clarke muttered wrapping her arms around her legs.
Later on that morning Octavia was finishing up her hair when she saw her brother enter her bedroom. To her surprise he was dressed in his nicest button down and pants. "Why are you so dressed up?" She questioned.
"I figured you needed a ride to the funeral home," Bellamy mumbled.
Octavia sighed. For the past few days Bellamy hadn't been himself. He mostly stayed in his bedroom during the day, barely even saying two words to her or their mother. Whenever she tried to speak to him he would shut her out and then leave at night and come back early the next morning. "Ok, well I'll be ready in a few minutes. Just meet me in the living room."
Nodding once Bellamy left without a word. Smoothing out her dress Octavia found her boots in her closet and finished up her outfit. Grabbing her purse she hurried out of the room to find her brother. "Why are you even going to this? You've only known Clarke for almost a week." He scoffed.
"Don't be an ass, Bell. She lost her dad, she needs all the support she can get right now." She told him, tossing him his keys.
"No one supported us when our dad left."
"Yeah well, you don't really want to say 'sorry your piece of shit father left your family for a brand new one.' Its better to just keep your mouth shut."
"Whatever, come on lets go."
Since Jake was some sort of a hometown hero the parking lot was full as they pulled up to the funeral home. Everyone knew the Griffins, even if they didn't known them directly they knew the name. Jake's death was all the town had been talking about since it happened. Their first concern was who had done this? Who could have been capable of committing such a heinous crime? They all had their suspects. There had been a few sketchy residents that had moved into town the townspeople had been pointing their fingers at but so far there was no evidence to support their claims.
Parking his truck in a small patch of grass Bellamy sighed. He hadn't said a word since they left and Octavia couldn't take it anymore. "Bell, what's wrong with you? I know you can been in a pissy mood every now and then but you've been like this for almost a week."
"Don't worry about it, O." He mumbled turning the truck off.
"I'm your little sister, of course I'm going to worry."
"Just drop it." Bellamy snapped, opening the driver's side door and climbing out without another word.
Rolling her eyes Octavia followed. Inside the funeral home she spotted almost every store owner and upper class citizen in town. She wondered if this was a funeral or some sort of social gathering for the elite. Feeling out of place Octavia stood close to Bellamy as he talked to a few of the guys he graduated with. She sighed in relief when she saw Clarke make her way out of the viewing room. "Hey there's Clarke, I'll see you later." She whispered to her brother before walking away.
Seeing Octavia coming towards her calmed Clarke down. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand being around people she barely knew as they tried to hug her and offer their condolences. Of course she appreciated their concern and she knew they meant well but it was too hard standing next to the casket she knew her father lay in. "Clarke, hey, how are you holding up?" Octavia asked giving her a warm hug.
"I'm holding in there," She sighed.
"I wish there was something I could say or do..."
"I know, Octavia," Clarke frowned. "I just appreciate you coming." She said, holding onto her arm. Looking behind her Clarke saw a familiar face. "What's Bellamy doing here?"
Octavia shrugged. "I don't know, surprised me too. Maybe my big brother has a heart after all."
Staring at the older boy Clarke couldn't help but feel drawn to him. Yes he was attractive but there was something else. Clarke had never felt like this towards any of her previous boyfriends and she didn't even know what she was feeling. She should feel nothing, she didn't even know the guy. From the one interaction she had with him she knew he was nothing like the guys she had been with. Crossing it off as nothing but a schoolgirl crush Clarke turned her back so she couldn't look at him anymore.
"Honey," Abby whispered placing her hand on Clarke's shoulder. "Its time to get started."
Nodding her head Clarke turned to Octavia. "I'll see you later."
Clarke was thankful at how the funeral service went. The preacher had been Jake's minister when he was young, he even married him and Abby when they were both twenty four years old. There were emotional speeches and tears shed by everyone in the chapel. She tried to focus her attention on whoever was speaking but it was hard for Clarke to take her eyes off the black casket sitting in front of her. They had been told the damage was too gruesome to show making them have a closed casket service. Some of her father's friends had told her it was for the best. "You need to remember your dad for the man he was, not the body laying in that coffin."
Snapping out of her gaze Clarke felt her mom tug at her sleeve telling her it was time to leave. Clutching onto Abby's hand Clarke stared at the casket as it was rolled outside to the waiting hearse. It still felt like a dream, she wasn't really here. She wasn't really going to say goodbye to her dad. As the door slammed shut Clarke felt herself wanting to cry until she fell into a deep sleep.
Later on that day Bellamy sat in his bedroom, still wearing the clothes he wore to the funeral, when Octavia barged in. "Hey, can you drive me downtown?" She asked.
"Why?"
"Clarke just texted me and asked if I would meet her at this address she sent me." Octavia explained.
Not wanting to put up a fight Bellamy agreed. "Let me change first." He mumbled pulling on the black tie that hung loosely from his neck.
"Fine but hurry. I don't want to keep her waiting."
As the door closed Bellamy walked over to his dresser to find a shirt to wear. Throwing a few to the side he found the small brown box he had stashed ever since he started fighting with Joe. Opening the box he saw the three thousand dollars in hundred dollar bills neatly rolled up. He used to have more but whenever they needed help with their bills Bellamy would pay and shrug off his mom when she asked where the money came from. Octavia knew he fought but their mom was still in the dark about his 'job.' Grabbing a grey T shirt Bellamy covered the box with his other clothes and finished changing.
Downtown Clarke was anxious to see what her friends would say about her plan. She knew it was a long shot, it was hard enough to stand in this building. An eery feeling of dread crept over her as she looked over the space her father spent his last moments. She avoided the second floor at all costs, knowing she wouldn't be able to handle it, but she knew what she had to do. "Clarke!" She heard someone call from the door.
She smiled seeing Wells, Octavia, Jasper, Monty, Raven and to her surprise Bellamy walking towards her. "Isn't this...?" Wells questioned, his eyes wide.
"Yeah...it is. This was the building my dad and Thelonious were looking at when my dad was shot." Clarke told everyone.
Octavia frowned. "Clarke...we shouldn't, you shouldn't be here."
"I know but hear me out. My dad wanted this place to be something. His dream was to open a gym and that was taken from him but that doesn't mean it can't still happen."
"What are you going to do Princess? Open it yourself?" Bellamy scoffed.
"If I have to." She countered. "Wells, your dad still likes the idea right?" When her friend nodded she continued. "If we clean this place up and helped him see what it could be then maybe it will convince him."
"I don't know Clarke, my dad is still shaken up." Wells sighed.
"Please, for my dad." Clarke begged, something she never did.
Ever since Wells met Clarke he was sure about one thing, she would never stop until she got what she wanted. She was the most determined person he had ever met. It was one of the qualities he admired most about her. "Ok, I'm in but we're going to need more than to clean it up. I mean for a gym we're going to need people actually interested in coming here."
"You're not gonna have to worry about that." Bellamy said. "I'll be your first and best boxer here. If I'm here I'm sure others will follow."
"For once I actually appreciate your cockiness." Clarke smiled. "So what do you guys think? Will you help me?"
Jasper and Monty glanced each other, small smiles on their faces. "We're in, if you let us be the announcers at the fights."
"Deal, Octavia? Raven?"
Octavia grinned. "Of course."
"With you looking at me like a sad puppy how could I say no?" Raven chuckled.
"Thank you, all of you, now come here and let me tell you what I'm thinking." Clarke instructed guiding them around the big room.
While everyone was distracted Bellamy slipped outside. There was one thing he knew he had to do first. Pulling out his phone he called Joe. When he didn't answer Bellamy left him a message. "Joe, its me. Look you told me I had to do one favor for you and I did. So I'm done. Consider me out, you can find someone else to take my place. Never call me again."
Hanging up he let out a huge sigh of relief. It was over, well he hoped it was over.
