Chapter Four

After returning the boat, they all wandered to the showers at the campground to wash off the lake water. The showers were not that spectacular, but they did the trick. Clarke pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, throwing her hair up into a messy bun. Octavia and Raven had already left, but she knew Bellamy would be waiting for her outside. She dropped her shampoo in her bag and left the showers finding Bellamy exactly where she expected him to be. He smiled and reached for her hand, twisting his fingers with hers.

"We're really doing this right," Clarke asked suddenly needing the reassurance. "Giving us a try?"

"Yea," He replied his hand tightening around hers. "I've wanted this for a long time."

"Me too," She said. "I'm scared though Bell. We have to be careful. I don't want to loose you and if we mess this up I don't think I could bear not having you in my life."

"I'm scared too Princess, but you know what?" He came to a stop and wrapped his arms around her waist. "The only way I see for me to be separated from you is if I were dead in the ground. Now that I've got you I'm not ever letting you go without a fight."

Clarke smiled and met his lips with hers. They were the last back to their campsite and by the time they got there the guys had already started on dinner and were passing it out. Clarke and Bellamy separated when they got there and went to their tents to drop off their things. Octavia and Raven grabbed her as soon as she left their tent and dragged her away from the guys who'd gathered around the fire pit.

"Did someone take our advice?" Raven asked.

"I might have," Clarke smiled. "I don't want to let fear keep me from him. I'm pretty sure he's the love of my life and that's worth the risk."

"God I'm so happy for you," Octavia exclaimed and threw her arms around Clarke's neck.

After dinner that night, Jasper brought out the makings for s'mores and passed around the stakes and bag of marshmallows. Clarke grabbed one of each for herself and Bellamy who had claimed a seat on one of the logs. She handed them to him and then sat down in front of him between his legs. She started to reason with herself that she was cold and her arms weren't long enough to reach the fire from the log, but eventually stopped trying to justify it. She wanted to be close to him. He stuck the marshmallow on his stake and held it in his left hand over her shoulder. He leaned forward and placed a kiss against her temple, his lips wandering from there to her ear where he placed another kiss.

"I love you, Princess," He whispered in her ear placing a kiss against her neck.

She leaned her head back against his left bicep to look in his eyes, a smile gracing her face.

"I love you too," She whispered back.

He smiled and leaned down placing a kiss against her lips. Their friends politely ignored them, going about their conversations as if nothing had happened. They laughed and ate s'mores until they were stuffed. As they all trailed off to bed that night Bellamy walked Clarke to the girls tent along with Wick and Lincoln. He kissed her gently and hugged her tightly before following his friends to their tent.

"I'm proud of you my friend," Lincoln said with a pat on his shoulder.

"I've never seen you smile so much," Wick agreed as they stepped into the tent.

"Thanks," He replied as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it with his things. Next he changed into a pair of gym shorts then crawled into his sleeping bag. "You guys were right. I need her in my life. As more than just my best friend."

"It's about damn time Bellamy," Jasper chimed in.

As he fell asleep that night he couldn't help but smile. He was in love with his best friend and he couldn't be happier about it.