"Mom!"
Clarke lugged her suitcase through the door of her house. It was a well-sized house made for a bigger family, but her grandparents owned the house, so they passed it on to them. Clarke didn't really like big houses-there was always too much space. Now that her dad passed, she hated the house even more.
Clarke didn't hear anything except the sound of her own footsteps on the tiled floor. It was six o' clock when Clarke finally made it home. While dealing with her obnoxious headache, Clarke packed enough clothes for a week into her suitcase before taking off from campus. Her house was usually only an hour away on a good day, but today was not one of those days. Clarke, unfortunately, got caught in traffic during rush hour adding an hour. Then, she had to pass through a construction site which had the loudest drills in the world which certainly didn't help her hangover. After almost getting hit a couple times and groaning every time she heard a car beep, she finally made it home. She, honestly, wasn't in the best mood.
Abby, Clarke's mother, was always home by six (or even earlier) to make dinner and watch TV with her daughter and husband.
Clarke sighed. Considering her mother was not dealing well with the situation, she must have been working longer in order to get her mind off matters. Clarke didn't really blame her. Since she was at college and her dad was gone, it should be extremely lonely at their house.
Clarke considered calling her mom to remind her that she was home for the week, but she decided against it. Things had started to become tense between her and her mother ever since she started college. Clarke wanted to be a doctor, but her mother seemed to want to make sure she did by pushing her. All she ever talked about with her was her classes and work. They never talked about boys or friends-just her future.
Clarke decided to head upstairs to her old bedroom, so she could set her suitcase in there. Walking up the stairs felt foreign to her because she didn't hear her dad yelling at the TV.
Her room looked exactly the same. Her walls were bright green with her artwork hanging from the walls, framed. Her bed was neatly made up with her bright white comforter and her heart-shaped pillows Octavia got for her on her birthday last year. And her art kit was exactly where she left it on her desk.
Clarke considered grabbing a clean sheet of printer paper and drawing something. She was an artist before she could talk. She loved mixing colors on paper and drawing different things whether real or make-believe. But her phone rang before she could. It was her mom.
"Hey, mom."
Clarke was about to tell her she was home, but Abby interrupted her.
"Clarke, you need to come down to the hospital right now."
"What? Why?"
"Octavia's apartment building caught on fire. Her mom's in the hospital."
Clarke fumbled as she tried to take her car keys out of the car. She fought back tears as she ran into hospital. Octavia's mother, Aurora, was like an aunt to Clarke. She had grown close to her as much as she has Octavia. She was family.
The automatic doors slid open as Clarke walked through. She found Octavia curled into her brother's side in the waiting room. There was an influx of people there. Clarke could see their building on the news as the firemen were still trying to put out the flames. It was a catastrophe.
"Clarke!"
Octavia ran into the blonde's arms and sobbed into her shoulder. Over her shoulder, Clarke saw Bellamy staring at the floor with glassy eyes.
"What happened?"
Octavia, however, choked up every time she tried to talk.
"They don't know what caused the fire yet," Bellamy started, "but it spread. Octavia and I just arrived and were in lobby when the alarm went off. I couldn't get to mom, but the firemen did but they said she inhaled a lot of smoke and maybe had some second or third degree burns."
Clarke noticed the two duffle bags sitting at their feet indicating they didn't even make it to their apartment. She looked around noticing there were no available seats and decided to sit on the siblings duffle bags.
They waited for hours listening to the cries of the people around them. Doctors rushed in and out with a new patient coming in every for minutes. The influx grew making the waiting room crowded and hot. Clarke noticed her mother come in and out giving news to family and friends but she never came over to them.
Bellamy huffed, "These damn people need to calm down."
Clarke looked over to him. He was rubbing his temple and running his hand through his hair. He was fidgeting. Bellamy glanced back at her. He was never one to share his feelings, but Clarke knew him well enough to know he wasn't just worried-he was guilty.
"She's going to be ok, Bellamy. It's not your fault."
"I could've went to help her!"
"Then you would've been dead!" Octavia chimed in.
Clarke glanced back to find her mother walking towards them.
"Is Aurora okay?"
Abby crouched down almost eye level with her daughter, "She inhaled a lot of smoke, so she's coughing a lot and having trouble breathing. She got out with second degree burns, but there's no long-term effects so she's going to be just fine."
Octavia sighed in relief and thanked Abby before almost toppling her to the ground with with signature bear hugs.
"We are going to keep her overnight for observation, so she should be released tomorrow," Abby said once Octavia released her, "Why don't you guys head home with Clarke?"
"No, we wouldn't want to-"
"Bellamy, you're staying at my house and that's final," Abby stated getting a nod in response.
Clarke drove in the dark with Bellamy and Octavia rode behind her in Bellamy's truck. Clarke considered calling Bellamy to tell him to get off her bumper, but decided against it.
Sure their mom was okay, but they were now homeless. They lost a lot of money. Their furniture and clothes were burned. Well Octavia and Bellamy still had most of their clothes on campus but as for Aurora, her clothes were gone. Aurora had a job; she worked as an accountant at the local bank. But it would take months-even years-to earn enough money for the essentials.
Clarke parked her car in the front with Bellamy parking behind her.
"The princess's castle." Bellamy always heard Octavia gush about the Griffins' mansion but never been there.
Ignoring his comment, Clarke led the siblings into her house-or castle as Bellamy referred it to.
Even though their house was humongous, there were only two guest rooms. Clarke knew Aurora would be staying once she was discharged, so that left Octavia having to stay with Clarke in her room. She loved the girl to death, but she kicked, tossed, and turned making it utterly impossible for Clarke to sleep. She never had the heart to make her sleep on an air mattress, but it would be necessary for tomorrow night.
"There's only two guest rooms, so I figured one would go to Aurora-"
"I'll sleep on the couch," Bellamy cutted in.
Clarke climbed the stairs, "Don't be ridiculous. That couch is the most uncomfortable couch in the world. You and Aurora will have your own rooms and Octavia will sleep in mine."
"See, no problem, Bell."
"But Octavia," Clarke stopped at the top of the staircase, "You're sleeping on a mattress on the floor."
"What? Why?" Octavia exclaimed.
"Because you kick like you're running a marathon in your sleep," Bellamy chimed in.
"And how would you know that?" Octavia glowered crossing her arms.
"You made me sleep with you so I would protect you from the 'monster under your bed'."
Octavia told him to shut up in response before heading into the guest room that would belong to Aurora when she got there. This guest room was more fancy than the other one. It had a queen sized bed, a closet, a polished dresser, and small TV. It was painted royal blue with vertical white streaks. The girls said goodnight before parting ways. Clarke led Bellamy down the rest of the hall before turning to him.
"This is yours."
The room contained a twin sized bed, a three-shelf dresser, and a small TV. It was painted a dull baige and only contained a few pictures of famous landscapes on the walls. It wasn't as fancy as the other because they never had to use it until now.
"It's boring, but it's all we got."
Bellamy nodded setting his duffle bag on the bed.
"We won't stay long. Mom will probably find a new place-"
Clarke waved her hand, "Stop."
Bellamy stayed silent as Clarke continued, "I know you feel like you guys don't need help, but you do. You're going to be grateful and not worry about 'intruding' on us. It's okay to have a little help from time to time."
Bellamy nodded in response, "Goodnight Clarke."
"Goodnight, Bellamy."
Clarke closed the door behind her. What she hated most about Bellamy was the fact he's never grateful for what he has. He's too caught up in his self-righteous act that he thought he could do everything by himself and didn't need any help at all. And when he did get help, he tried to reject it.
Forgetting about Bellamy, Clarke changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth before climbing into her own bed. She didn't realize how tired she was until she snuggled up in her covers. She would've fallen asleep unless her phone didn't ring.
Please tell me I didn't do a strip tease last night, because I can't find my boxers. -Jasper
Clarke wouldn't have known it was him if he didn't have his name at the end.
I honestly don't know. I don't even remember giving you my number. -Clarke
Oh, you wanted me to call you so you could show me how you are definitely my type ;) -Jasper
Oh, I bet I totally did -Clarke
Well, how was your day -Jasper
Sucky and not worth discussing -Clarke
Booooooo :( -Jasper
Tell me about it -Clarke
Well, I still have a hangover so I'm going to sleep some more. If you happen to find some boxers with Darth Vader on them let me know -Jasper
Will do -Clarke
Those boxers are very special to me, so you better -Jasper
Trust me I will -Clarke
Better not keep them as a souvenir -Jasper
Oh yeah, having a guy's Star Wars boxers are every girl's dream -Clarke
They're limited edition -Jasper
Goodnight -Clarke
Night. Just reminder, those are very important boxers -Jasper
Clarke smiled for the first time that day before falling asleep within seconds.
Thank you to all who reviewed! I was asked by AlexandraF if Finn will be making an appearance. He will eventually. I don't know if it will be during their spring break or after when they return to college, but he will.