Below The Belt

Chapter 4: New Beginnings

Bellamy's POV

It had been three weeks. Three weeks and five text messages; she had yet to respond to me. I didn't ever apologize, or double text, that wasn't me. I always felt that if I wasn't wanted by someone, then I was better off without them in my life. This time it was different.

I'd texted the kind blonde girl an apology two days after the paparazzi incident. Maybe after she'd calmed down a little, she'd forgive me. She didn't reply. I waited three more days, and then sent her another text, asking her if we could just talk about it. I tried to get her out of my head, I tried to distract myself. I just couldn't do it.

My entire life I'd met so many people, so many different kinds of people. Not a single person I'd ever met could compare to her. She was genuine, she didn't want me for my fame, or money, or title. She had accepted me when she thought I was a nobody, she'd helped a hurt stranger out of the kindness of her heart.

She was genuine, kind, smart, and witty. I felt like a love struck idiot. But logically I knew that wasn't what this was, I wasn't in love with her. I barely knew her. I was intrigued. She was different. She wasn't mean or self-serving or stuck up. I honestly just wanted to get to know her better. Friends seemed the most appropriate.

I'd admit, she was beautiful and I'm sure she had many suitors. I didn't want that, I just wanted her to agree to talk with me, even if it was the last time we ever spoke. I was drawn to her; I didn't know why, or even how it happened, I just knew I wanted her to accept me.

It was the end of the first week she had completely ignored me when I went into surgery. They put five metal splints inside of me, and filled in my cracks and bone structures. I was on my way to healing, I had a temporary cast put on my wrist, but the doctors said after a month or so I could take it off and start adjusting with my right wrist again.

I texted her after my surgery, the second week she'd been ignoring me. I told her that I wasn't completely human anymore, that I had metal shards all over. I told her that the doctor thought I could have my cast off in another few weeks. I didn't expect her to respond, I wondered if she blocked my number.

I'd admit, having my agent call her practice and getting her number from one of the secretaries may not have been my best moment, but so far I didn't have any better way of giving her space, while also showing her that I was trying to make it up to her.

Four days after my surgery I texted her again. Telling her I could use my hand and wrist for small things, like eating cereal. I told her I was getting oddly comfortable using my left hand, but it wasn't always my first instinct. Even though it might not have been the best idea, I told her that I wasn't allowed to train and it was killing me.

And now, the end of the third week, I texted her again. Instead of telling her about my life and updates. I asked her… about her. I shouldn't have been surprised that she replied, but I still felt stunned.

She told me she was good, that things were getting back to normal and that the paparazzi were finally backing off. She told me that work had been busier than normal, she was having longer hours and earlier mornings.

Instead of texting her back, I spontaneously picked up the phone. I called her. The phone rang, and rang, and rang. I paced my bedroom floor. Did I miss-read her text?

She answered.

"Hello." The feminine voice said on the other end of the phone.

"Clarke." I breathed out, "I didn't think you were going to answer." I told her honestly.

"Why's that? Because it's nearly one A.M. or because I've intentionally ignored you for a month." Clarke half snapped, half asked.

"Because I thought you hated me." I answered quietly.

She sighed on the other end of the phone. "I don't hate you. I don't even know you!" She argued persistently.

"Then get to know me, I'm not all bad princess." I tried to lighten up the conversation.

"Look Bellamy, I'm sure you're a great guy, and I truly wish you the best. I just- I don't trust you, not after I put myself out there to help you and was lied too and used." She said with little to no hesitation.

"Clarke-"I said like I was warning a child that was about to do what they weren't supposed to.

"It was nice knowing you Bellamy." Clarke said coldly before she hung up the phone.

I felt my stomach drop at her words. I narrowed my eyes at the wall and growled lowly. She didn't get to decide everything just like that. I'd be damned before I let this all go to hell. Maybe I already was damned, it didn't really matter right now.

I looked at the clock, it was five after one. I dialed Octavia's number. Not to my surprise she answered.

"Bell what?" She asked and sounded irritated.

"I need you to set me up with a physical therapist. The practice is called Healthwise Care Clinic, and I want Dr. Griffin, I won't settle for anyone else. Call the secretary when they open in the morning, and schedule my appointment for the 29th, that's the day after I get my cast off. You got all that O?" I asked with a smirk.

"Yeah big brother. I'll set it up tomorrow. Now go to bed." Octavia snapped in a loving way.

"Aren't you the one who's supposed to be in bed?" I asked half curious as to what she was doing, half teasing.

"Yes, but Monroe was having this big house party and I had to stop by. I'll be home soon." She assured and then hung up the phone.

What was up with females and just hanging up, it's like they think it makes them more empowered or something?! I crawled into bed. Clarke Griffin would have to compromise with me if I was her patient.

FOUR DAYS LATER

Clarke's POV

"BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEEP BE-"I slapped my alarm and thankfully it shut up. I groggily rolled over and stared up at the black ceiling. I glanced at my alarm and saw it was six am. I had to get up and get ready.

I turned on the shower, all the way on hot. I got in the steamy water, and slowly adjusted it to a more comfortable temperature. I sighed in relief as the warm water soaked my body. I began rinsing myself off and putting shampoo in my hair.

After I was completely clean I stepped out of the blissful shower and onto the cold tile floor. I grabbed a fluffy towel and started drying myself off. With a big yawn and began putting on my clothes. I pulled on my black slacks and white dress shirt. Finally I pulled on my mid-thigh length doctor's coat that had Healthwise in the left corner.

I pulled my wet hair out of the towel and began blow drying it. When my long blonde hair was primarily dry I put it in a long braid. I applied just a little bit of black mascara to my eyelashes, just enough to make the blonde lashes noticeable.

I applied a lip gloss and then grabbed my phone, charger, and purse. I grabbed my cup of coffee and a banana before I went into the garage and got settled in my car. I took a deep breath, thinking today was going to be a long one.

It didn't take long to get to my practice. The work rush wasn't a problem until seven thirty. I had a fifteen minuet head start today. I was the first one there, I went in the back and began turning on lights, the coffee machines, and all of the machines. I went to the secretary desk and glanced over the times I would have real patients today.

My first patient was at eight fifteen. I went into my office and set all my stuff in the appropriate places. I then went to the room across from my office, my physical therapy room. I moved the dumbbells to the correct station. I grabbed the stretchers and hung them up properly. I'm going to kill Monty when he got in, he always forgets to reset my room.

I closed the door behind me and went to unlock the front doors and turn the sign on. Raven was already working on the sign when I walked into the front of the building.

"Oh hey, didn't hear you come in." I commented as I started opening the doors.

"I wasn't very subtle. Maybe you were in your office." Raven said as she looked at her phone. I nodded.

"First patient should be coming in soon. He's got an hour and a half appointment, and scheduled for everyday this next entire week!" Raven said in surprise.

I hadn't looked at my patients for the day, just their times. "I wonder why Maya scheduled me with the same patient for an entire week." I stated and looked at the few details she had about my patient.

Though if I hadn't been reading the unclear notes, and had looked up, I would have gathered every distinct detail of the real patient. Instead I heard his deep voice. My head snapped up and standing just two feet in front of me was no other than Bellamy Blake.

I didn't even comprehend he'd said anything, I was too shocked that he was standing here, in my practice, in person.

"B-Bellamy…" I coughed out. I'm sure I looked like a fish out of water; my eyes wide, my mouth dropped open, and my hands gripping the edge of the counter like I was going to fall any second.

"If I'm not mistaken I'm your eight fifteen appointment." The brunet clad in a tight red muscle shirt and black nike basketball shorts said.

"Y-eah, right this way… sir." I responded and gave Raven a 'help me look,' in response she gave me a smirk and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

I lead him into my room and held the door open for him. He was quiet, but I was sure he'd talk soon enough. I told him to sit in the chair by the glass desk. He did as he was told. He turned around to face me. I slowly walked over to where he was seated.

I kept my eyes locked on his. What the hell was he thinking, did I not make it clear that I wanted nothing to do with him?

"It was nice knowing you? Really Clarke?" He asked as I sat across from him. His eyes darkened and I looked away.

"What are you doing here Bellamy?" I asked him, avoiding his anger.

"I need the best of the best if I want to regain my title. Right now, no one knows how badly I'm injured. The media has no idea that I can't tour. I don't feel like taking the chance that a physical therapist I don't know would sell me out before I'm ready. I trust you, and I want you to be my doctor." Bellamy ranted passionately.

"They're going to figure out soon Bellamy. Isn't it better you have a press conference and just release the information?" I stated more then asked. He shook his head at my idea.

"No." He growled at me.

Personally I didn't think he was accepting his injury, but what was I supposed to do, argue with the persistent ass? I just let it go.

"I will be your physical therapist. But that is it. I am your doctor and you are my patient. I'll help you get better, and then you'll leave me and my life be. Got it?" I more than snapped at the arrogant man in front of me.

"Who knows Doc, maybe you won't want me to leave you be when you're done fixing me up." Bellamy said with a cocky grin. I narrowed my eyes at him in a threatening manner.

"Fine, Fine, I got it. Just business." Bellamy grunted out as he held up his left hand in mock surrender.

"Now, let's get started. How long have you had the temporary cast off for?" I asked him and moved to crouch in front of him. I took his arm in my hand and carefully held his wrist.

"I got it off yesterday." He responded and I gave him a deadly glare.

"Your wrist is still raw you idiot!" I growled and went to the cabinets on the left side of the room and searched for a protective brace. I walked back over to him and began sliding his hand in the brace.

"You need to where this at all times, aside from showering. It will help keep your wrist straight and protected from careless accidents and bumps." I told him and looked at him seriously before I continued velcro-ing the straps together.

"I'm sorry, for lying to you." Bellamy told me softly. I stopped and stared at his wrist, and then tenderly looked up at him. His brown eyes were soft and sincere. I nodded my head thoughtfully.

"I know you are." I said as I got up and sat across from him.

"Does that mean, you'll forgive me?" He asked, and looked down at his wrist before his eyes flashed to my own. He took a deep breath and released it.

"I forgave you a little while ago Bellamy." I told him honestly, and offered him a small smile.

"Then why did you never text me back?" He persisted, his eyes let me know that he didn't truly believe me.

"Just because I forgave you didn't mean it still didn't hurt. I still felt used, upset, manipulated." I told him in all honesty. "Bellamy, you're a very famous and loved boxer. That's amazing. I'm a skilled and well known doctor. I already have had some of my 'hirer ups' complain about those magazine articles that, and the bad publicity." I said and looked down at my hands.

"I can't lose my practice because of silly rumors that the press make up. I can't lose my patients because the paparazzi sit outside and wait to talk to me. I've worked so hard for all of this." I motioned to around me and gave him a sad frown.

"Could we have been friends if there weren't those problems?" Bellamy asked in a curious manner.

I gave him a once over, and nodded my head. I supposed if those weren't problems then yes we wouldn't have any issues. But they were problems, and we had issues.

"Don't worry about it Bellamy. Let's just focus on getting you healed up and back in the ring." I told him with a genuine smile. He stared at me for a moment and then nodded.

I gave him a two pound dumbbell and told him to do a rep, he struggled a little, but finally pulled it all the way up, and even brought in his wrist at the end.

"Good." I said with a small smile, Bellamy looked upset though.

"You know Bellamy. I'm sure you've lifted hundreds before, I don't doubt that. But most people that come in with a broken wrist of a month, can't even hold the dumbbell for more than five seconds." I told him and gave him a little smirk.

"I'm not most people." The man in front of me said. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his new found confidence.

"No you're not." I commented and then grabbed the stretching band. "This is a stretching band, we are going to gently stretch your wrist, and then I want to see you write a sentence with your right hand." I told him and wrapped the band around his knuckles.

Bellamy slowly moved his fingers into a fist and then dropped his wrist under his arm. I saw the stressed look on his face. I moved my left hand and grabbed onto his big wrist and slowly moved it back upwards.

"Let me help, it'll feel better." I soothed and kneeled in front of him to stretch his wrist with him. I barely noticed the light pink dusting on his cheeks. Was Bellamy Blake blushing? Or was he just really struggling? The latter seemed more likely, but when his eyes took my own captive, I had to wonder if he was feeling that little tingle in his hand as well.

With only fifteen minutes left of his physical therapy session and having done the casual check list, we both sat down on the padded floor and took sips of water. Bellamy gave me glances every once and a while, I pretended not to notice.

"I don't mean to be overbearing with you Clarke." Bellamy said, his voice was gentle and his eyes staring at me with a softness I hadn't seen before.

"I know." I answered and gave him a delicate smile.

"No you don't." Bellamy told me, and I stared at him with a confused expression. "I'm overbearing with you because I've never met someone like you. I've met superficial person after superficial person, and when I was younger I met selfish-mean disgusting people. I've never met someone who's so kind, and caring. I didn't- I don't want to just let you go." Bellamy said and gave me a heart-breaking look.

He continued. "Clarke, I shouldn't have ever lied to you. I'm really sorry. I should have known I could trust you from the instant you helped me in the alley. I'm just asking for a second chance, a chance for us to be friends." Bellamy finished and I looked at the ground for a moment.

"I would like that… but I can't risk the clinic-"I started to explain when he cut me off.

"You won't have to worry about the paparazzi. I'll take care of it. A wise- blonde doctor gave me a good idea today." Bellamy said with a devilish smirk, I didn't know whether I liked that smirk, or was terrified of it. Never less I nodded at him.

"I don't deserve your trust, but will you give it to me? I promise you, I won't disappoint you ever again princess." Bellamy said passionately as he got up from the padded floor.

I took the hand he extended for me. I planned on helping him pull me up, but he was more than capable. I nearly crashed into him on my way up. I looked up at him, his face was inches away from mine. I could see the hazel outline his eyes held.

"I trust you." I whispered; half of me felt like I'd just signed a contract with the devil, while the other half of me thought I might have just made the most interesting and life changing decision of my life.

Authors Note: Hope you enjoyed chapter four! PLEASE REVIEW! It makes writing worth it so much more when I get positive feedback from you guys! I hope the time skip didn't confuse anyone! Don't forget the 100 Give Away in your review; it's a great and easy way to be entered to win free fan-gear. Well thanks for being great readers guys! Please REVIEW!

Until tomorrow!