A/N: I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who's given me feedback on this story! All your reviews and follows and favourites show me that people actually want to read this and it motivates me to keep writing! So with that being said, please continue to read and review. Enjoy :) xx

Curse him. She thought instantly. Curse him and his confusing personality. Clarke couldn't understand how one minute Bellamy was kind, caring and open and the next he was hot-headed, egotistic and completely stoic. She was drawn to him for reasons she couldn't even fathom but he was constantly pulling away.

There were moments when Clarke found herself talking to Bellamy like the two were best friends. She confided in him the way she had with her father and she trusted him with everything. There were moments when she thought he felt the same way but then, as quick as clicking her fingers, he changed and she felt like he hated her, wanted nothing to do with her.

It was incredibly frustrating, trying to wrap her head around the boy with the freckle sprayed cheeks. She ran a hand over her face and groaned as she remembered that she still had to share Bellamy's tent. She couldn't face him.

Clarke thought about staying in drop ship but she knew that if she had one of her reoccurring nightmares, she might wake Monty up. He needed as much rest as possible and she knew she couldn't risk it, no matter how tempting not facing Bellamy was.

Then she had an idea. She could sleep in Raven and Octavia's tent. They shared with two other girls; Elizabeth and Willow and she hoped it wouldn't be too crowded. Octavia was the only one there when Clarke entered the tent but she welcomed her in, squealing about how a sleepover would be fun.

Octavia laughed and moved over on her makeshift bed to make room for Clarke. It wasn't much, a skin on the ground and a few more as blankets, but comfortable just the same. "I'm surprised you lasted this long." Clarke raised an eyebrow at her in confusion and Octavia clarified, "With the whole tent situation and my brother."

"It was only a few days."

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Yeah but I know what he's like and I know what you're like. You two are constantly arguing. I was pretty shocked when he told me you moved into his place."

"It's temporary." She said quickly. "I just needed a break for a bit."

A frown fell on her lips and she sat cross legged, turning further to face her. "What's he done?"

Clarke sighed. "I thought we were starting to get along. I thought we were starting to see things the same way. Every time I think I'm breaking down his walls he just builds them higher, thicker, stronger! I can't stand it!"

"Do you need me to talk to him?"

"No!" She cleared her throat after her short outburst. "No, thank you. I can deal with it. It's just that with everything that's going on with Monty, I can't handle any more of your brother tonight."

Octavia listened to her exasperated breath. "You sound tired."

"I am."

Clarke felt Octavia's hand on her shoulder, gently pushing her towards the ground. "Get some rest." She pulled the blankets over herself and drifted off.

…

Bellamy burst into Octavia's tent, his voice loud. "Octavia, have you seen Clarke? She never came to the tent. She's not in the-" He stopped abruptly when his gaze landed on the girl curled up next to his sister. The next time he spoke his voice was barely audible, clearly he didn't want to wake Clarke. "Oh well, good."

He went to leave but Octavia's voice stopped him. "What the hell are you doing Bell?"

Bellamy scratched the back of his head. "Huh?"

"You need to talk to her." She said as she looked at Clarke. "If you won't talk to me, please talk to her." She was on the verge of begging. She knew Clarke would help her brother if he only asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

His sister shook her head. She was certain that he was going to stand his ground, even when it was giving way and crumbling around him. "You can't face this alone, Bellamy." She slipped underneath the furs and put her back in his direction.

He got the message and left immediately. He didn't get what Octavia was saying. Was she asking him to confide in Clarke? No. He knew he couldn't do that, he couldn't seem weak, he couldn't show her how broken he was. He couldn't show anyone. He needed to be strong, for the sake of everybody, and if that meant he had to shut himself off from them he would do it.

So for the next three days Bellamy did. He gave orders and then went to chop trees for firewood. He stayed out all day, ate dinner in his tent alone and made himself a new 'bed' out of big leaves and a few blankets so Clarke wouldn't have to share with him. The only time he spoke to her was when he was checking on Monty and never responded when she yelled at him for not sleeping with her. He never replied when she said goodnight to him and he always woke up before her so he wouldn't have to say good morning either.

When Clarke was talking to Miller about going outside the gates again Bellamy gave up his silence and commanded her that she was not to leave.

"It's too dangerous!" He yelled at her inside the tent.

Clarke was furious. He had no right to say that; to act like he was now the caring Bellamy again. "You're not the boss of me! You haven't acknowledged me in days, why should you be bothered by whether I go or not?"

Miller sensed a 'heated discussion' coming and exited. "Clarke, you're the only healer we have!"

"And I'm also the only person who knows what plants we need besides-" Her sentence stopped as she thought of her still ill friend. "Besides," She cleared her throat, "You can't keep using that excuse. You say that every time I try to leave and I always come back."

Bellamy's fingers curled, balled into fists and turned white as he squeezed hard. "Last time, you were so close to not coming back." He sat on the bed, the one that had now become Clarke's.

As annoyed as she was she calmed herself down. "But I did. Bellamy, I came back. I'll always come back." Clarke sat next to him and grabbed his hand without thinking. "I can take care of myself. You don't need to worry."

Bellamy ripped his hand from her grasp and stood up, a mask over his features. "Worry? I'm not worried, Princess." He said the nickname with a tone of mockery and disgust that made her hate it again.

"Why do you do that?"

Bellamy spun away from her. "I didn't do anything." He had the same sound in his voice and she wished he'd stop hiding the fact that he had a heart.

"You just did it again." She pushed her legs straight and walked behind him. Bellamy could feel her palm press to his shoulder. "You put on this façade that you're some cold-blooded, mean-spirited man but I see right through it."

"Stop it." He warned.

"No. I know who you really are Bellamy."

"Clarke, please." His eyes watered but he pressed them together hard and forced them not to form tears. "I can't do this."

"I'm here for you." She echoed words she'd only spoken to him a few weeks ago but they took on an entirely different meaning. "Don't shut me out."

He moves under Clarke's touch to face her but her hand didn't move, instead it finds refuge over his heart. He's hurting and she can see it. She is stunned by the fact that seeing him this shattered could affect her as much as it did.

Clarke reached her other hand to his cheek and wiped a single drop that Bellamy had hoped wouldn't fall. "I'm here for you." She repeated before she dragged him to the bed. Reluctantly, he climbed in, pulled her into his arms with ease and rested his chin on top of her head.

"I'm not ready." He mumbled, almost too quiet to be heard, clearly fighting with himself over whether or not he should even be talking. "I can't. Not yet."

She didn't say anything but she didn't need to. The two always said more with actions than they could with words. The silence between them was safe and as Bellamy slid his hands tighter around her waist, Clarke felt safe too.

…

Bellamy knew Clarke was awake the minute she rolled over. "I still don't like the idea of you leaving." He removed his hands from around her waist and she felt the absence of warmth straight away.

"You can't stop me." She sat up and pushed the blankets off.

Bellamy put a shirt on, covering his tanned, scarred chest. "But I could come with you. We could leave Miller in charge instead."

Clarke laughed at the memory of him complaining about the smell of a plant she had him carry last time they went out together. "I guess that would make Miller happier. I don't think he likes me too much."

"He respects you, Clarke."

"That's not the same thing."

"Sometimes it is." He regarded. "Come on, if we want to do this, we need to leave now."

Clarke looked back at him and smirked. "Are you sure you want to spend the entire day with me? Alone?"

Bellamy mirrored her expression. "I've got nothing better to do."

"Way to make a girl feel special, Blake." She became serious. "Okay. Grab the biggest bag you can. I want to get as much as possible."

He bowed, maintaining eye contact with her. "As you wish, Princess." Clarke realized that this time, when he used her nickname, there was a hint of mischief and humour in his voice. "Any other demands?"

"Make sure you rug up." The wind howled outside. "It's gonna be chilly."

He put on a long sleeve top over his shirt and then pulled on a hoodie. Clarke couldn't help but think about how young it made him look. A blush crept onto her cheeks and she turned away to chuck her jacket on.

Bellamy's hand gripped her elbow as she walked past him, intending to leave. "What?"

His head fell down. "You haven't got shoes on." He said matter of factly and smiled smugly, a glint of cheekiness in his eyes.

"Oh." She picked up her boots and tied the laces messily.

"You're distracted."

Clarke was certain her whole face was red by now and she attempted to look away from him but it was no use. She also tried her best to keep her mind steady; to not think about the creases in his forehead when he was concerned or how hard his shoulder had felt underneath her hand or the way he'd murmured her name in his sleep. But it was pointless. "I'm fine."

He shook his head slowly and pulled the tent door back for her. "Whatever you say."