Chapter Three

Clarke rolled over in her sleeping bag the next morning. Octavia was already out of the tent, but Raven was still next to her. She was stretching as well, letting a large yawn break free. Clarke chuckled and sat up, stretching her arms up over her head. She rolled off the air mattress and wandered over to her duffel bag. She grabbed a pair of jean shorts and a black tank top, changing before throwing her hair up in a ponytail. Raven was doing the same behind her and handed her friend a bottle of bug spray before they both left the tent.

"Good morning sleepyheads," Octavia brightly exclaimed.

"Morning," Clarke replied. "Where are the guys?"

"They went to the office to see if we can rent a boat for the day," Octavia said. "I'm glad they're gone though because we have to talk sister."

Clarke rolled her eyes and wandered over to the picnic table where a cooler had been refilled with bottles of water. She hoisted herself up to sit on the table as her friends wandered over.

"Please don't even say it," Clarke said before they could respond. "I know how we looked yesterday. But I don't want to loose him."

"Why in the world would you think that Clarke?" Raven asked.

"Everyone I care about gets taken from me one way or another. I couldn't bear it if I lost him too," She replied.

"But why does being with him include loosing him?" Octavia questioned.

"What if it didn't work out? I don't want to take that chance," Clarke replied.

"Clarke, you can't what if life away," Raven said. "If you do you'll end up bitter and alone."

Clarke knew her friends were right. She loved Bellamy with all her heart. But life without him just wasn't possible and she didn't know if she was brave enough to take that leap. To take that risk. Suddenly there was a loud rumbling and a boat came roaring to a stop at the dock. Jasper was standing on the front with his arms straight up and was screaming loudly Titanic-style. Octavia already had her suit on under her shorts so she ran out to meet the boys while Clarke and Raven wandered back to their tent. Raven changed into a bright red bikini while Clarke pulled on her favorite black one. They each pulled their shorts back on, put their sunglasses out, and ran out to the idling boat. Wick reached out a hand to help Raven on while Bellamy reached out to help Clarke. His gaze lingered just a little too long on her breasts causing her to blush.

"Looking good Princess," He replied.

"Thanks," She replied.

Miller steered the boat back and they drove to the center of the lake where they dropped anchor, turned up the music, and passed the beer cooler around. All three girls eventually pulled their shorts off and started dancing. It was easy to forget about her problems with school and her mother when she was with her friends. Her girls were her safety net and she knew they would be there for her no matter what. They also reminded her how to have fun and let loose. She could feel Bellamy's gaze on her back, and while normally she would have ignored it today she decided she wanted to experiment. She didn't want to loose everything, but if she took a chance with him she might get all she'd ever wanted. Maybe it was time to take that leap of faith.

Bellamy leaned against the rail of the boat, sunglasses on and a beer in his hand as he watched Clarke dance with Raven and O. Lincoln, Wick, and Miller were talking around him, but he was honestly not listening. All he could do was stare at Clarke's hips as they swayed in front of him. Every once in a while she would glance over her shoulder sheepishly at him and even though he had his sunglasses on he knew that she knew he was watching her. It was like she was doing it on purpose.

"Hello? Earth to Bellamy," Miller said waving his hand in front of his face.

"Dude why don't you just go over there," Wick replied. "She's baiting you anyway. Take the bait."

He wanted to. God how he wanted to. But he needed her in his life. If things went south or if something happened to her he knew he wouldn't be able to handle it.

"There's too much at stake," Bellamy said. "I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"Why does being with her have to be such a bad thing Bellamy?" Lincoln asked. "You could have everything."

"Yea or I could loose everything," He replied.

Bellamy watched as Jasper and Monty pulled Clarke's attention from the dancing. They were arguing about something and had demanded their friends attention to settle it. Octavia and Raven took the opportunity to walk over. Octavia had her hands on her hips and Raven crossed her arms over her chest as they stared Bellamy down.

"What?" Bellamy grumbled already dreading the scolding he felt coming on.

"You've been having eye sex with Clarke's ass behind those sunglasses," Raven bluntly replied drawing a snort from her boyfriend.

"What is the damn deal with the both of you?" Octavia asked. "You both obviously have feelings for each other why won't you just do it already?"

"It's not about knowing whether she has feelings for me or not and vice versa. I know she feels the same as I do O," Bellamy replied. "What if something were to happen to ruin it? I can't loose her. She means too much to me."

"Bell, the both of you will live your lives completely miserable and alone because neither one of you will take that leap," Lincoln argued.

"Are you really that much of a chicken shit?" Raven asked.

"Look big brother," O said reaching out to grab his hands. "You know her better than any of us. Better than me and Raven even. It wasn't us she let come in while she was arguing with her mom - it was you. It's not us who she wants to curl up with and have a scary movie marathon - it's you. You don't date anyone because they never measure up to her and she does the same. Especially after Finn. Don't throw away the chance to have everything because you're scared."

After that declaration both women left, pulling their boyfriends behind them. Miller left as well, leaving Bellamy lost in his thoughts. He was startled out of his thoughts when Clarke stepped in front of him, her beer dangling from her fingers. Her other hand drifted to his shoulder as she watched him through her sunglasses.

"What'd you do to them?" Clarke teased.

"Nothing. I was my wonderful and charming self," He replied. He couldn't stop his hand from wandering to her hip and sliding around to her lower back. "Having fun princess?"

"I'd have more fun if you'd stop sulking over here and join us," Clarke said leaning into him as his arm slide all the way around her waist.

"Only if you get to be my dance partner," He replied boldly.

"Deal," She quickly replied.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the group. Miller, Monty, and Jasper had all joined them as well and soon they were all laughing and having fun. Clarke downed her beer, trying to gain courage, and tossed the bottle aside then turned to find Bellamy had done the same. She beckoned him closer with her finger, hope building in her chest when he wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her flush against him, feeling the bulge in his swim trunks against her hip. She wound her arms around his neck, running her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck. The music, their friends, everything seemed to fade away as they swayed together. The effect her nails were having on his neck were sending chills down his back and in turn his warm hands on her back were causing butterflies to build in her belly. Soon his forehead drifted to hers and his right hand slide down to her butt pushing her closer.

"Clarke," Bellamy whispered huskily his lips barely brushing hers as he spoke her name.

"Shhh," Clarke replied placing a finger over his lips. The smile she sent him was brighter than the sun. "Not here. Not in front of everyone. Later, when we're alone ok?"

"Whatever you want Princess," Bellamy said.

Not long after they took a break to make lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon swimming. Octavia and Raven screamed as they were pushed in by their boyfriends who followed them in. Jasper and Monty followed along with Miller. Clarke and Bellamy opted to lounge side by side on the deck. They'd settled on the other side of the boat away from their friends and Bellamy was taking full advantage. He was still scared, but after their dance earlier he decided he didn't want to spend the rest of his life wondering what life with Clarke would be like. He wanted to know.

"What are you thinking about?" Clarke asked as she flipped to her side and ran a finger down his jaw.

"You," Bellamy replied pressing a kiss against her wrist. "I care about you Clarke."

"I care about you too," She smiled as her heart started to beat faster.

"I want to be with you. I'm terrified, but I want to be with you so much it hurts," Bellamy admitted.

"We can't let fear rule our lives Bell," Clarke settled her hand on his heart. "I want to be with you too. Take this leap of faith with me?"

Bellamy nodded. He sat up and rolled her to her back until he hovered over her. When he kissed her for the first time it felt like he'd finally found what he'd always been searching for. How he'd denied himself the pleasure of kissing Clarke for so long he'd never know. She kissed him back with an equal amount of passion, sliding her hands through his dark curls. They were lost in their own world, not paying any attention.

Octavia climbed the ladder of the boat, Raven following close behind. Neither of them had seen their best friend in a while and they were determined to push her in the lake one way or another. Octavia started towards the back and stopped in her tracks, Raven bumping into her back at the sight of her brother hovering over Clarke with their lips fused together. Raven slapped a hand over Octavia's mouth before the girl could let out a happy squeal and snapped to get the others' attention.

"They finally stopped playing games it looks like," Lincoln replied as he came up behind Octavia.

"They definitely did," Raven agreed.