Chapter 4
I'm so sorry that this is so late, my muse was being a bitch. At least it's up now! Hope you like it!
It was painful. At first, Octavia had thought, great, finally the guy has actual human feelings for once. It was strange, seeing Bellamy act like the lovesick teenager he never was. But at this point, a drunken make-out session, a hospital trip, more fights than she could remember and a month and a half later, Bellamy and Clarke both remained single. Until they weren't anymore.
So, about a month after Clarke had joined them, her evaluation came around. It was Bellamy's job to recommend to Lincoln if she should get a permanent position on the beach. Even if Bellamy's judgement hadn't been so blinded by his affections for Clarke, she knew she still would have gotten the job (mainly because Octavia wouldn't have let Bellamy get rid of her, but that's a different story).
So, it came as no surprise (to the rest of them, anyway) when Bell told her she got the full (paid) position. Clarke had happily enveloped Bell in a clumsy embrace, grinning like an idiot.
When Clarke pulled back, Bellamy was smiling too, his eyes locked on hers. They stood with their arms still entwined, his arms around her waist and her hands resting lightly on his forearms.
The words "oh, for the love of God," were heard coming out of Monty's (oversized) mouth, muffled groans from Raven and Jasper, and even Lincoln was pinching the bridge of his nose at the sickeningly-sweet scene. Finn was chuckling quietly in the corner, which earned him an evil glare from Raven (who dumped his sorry ass after she found him making out with Roma at Monty's party, which now meant that Octavia was stuck with Spacewalker as a partner, for fear Raven would electrocute him with the wires from the buggy).
It took the pair quite some time to fully grasp the fact that all the people they worked with were staring at them and took them even longer to wrench their gazes away from each other.
So, Finn being Finn, and his favourite hobby being pissing off Bellamy, took Bellamy's blatant fondness for Clarke as an invitation to ask the blonde out.
When Clarke had told Octavia that she was going on a date with Finn, it took all the strength and willpower she had not to bitch-slap her across the face (She did fire off a 'what the hell are you thinking?' a couple of times, though).
It took even more strength not to pick up the phone and call Bell the minute she left the apartment (and Raven, so she could beat both their asses into the ground).
When O called Clarke the next morning to see how the date went, all she got was Clarke gushing about Finn.
"Oh, it was brilliant, O. He was such a gentleman." She had said.
Collins, a gentleman? Yeah, not in this lifetime.
She should have warned Bellamy, in retrospect, because when the pair entered the tower the next day, Clarke laughing maniacally at Finn's jokes, playfully hitting his arm while he whispered in her ear, everyone could quite literally see the steam blowing out of Bell's rapidly reddening face.
When Linc walked into the tower, he did a double take, looking to Finn, to Clarke, to Bellamy and to Octavia. He shrugged, his brow furrowing, a look that said 'what the actual fuck?'. O answered by shaking her head in a kind of 'don't ask' gesture, so he left.
Finn gave Clarke a kiss on the cheek (Bellamy turned noticeably greener) as he asked her, "Hey, do you want to pair up with me for the day? I'm sure O would love to get rid of me." He winked at her across the room while O was using all of her self-restraint trying not to punch him.
Clarke glanced over at Bellamy, asking him, "you don't mind, do you, Bell? You can finally get out on the sand after being cooped up with me here for the past few weeks."
Bell seemed to (somewhat) compose himself, turning to get up. "Yeah, sounds great, Princess." He smiled weakly. "I'll go find Rae. O, you don't mind pairing up with Abe today, do you?"
"Not at all." She replied.
So, as Octavia spent the morning with Linc, stealing glances back at the tower while chatting to him, as if she could actually see (or wanted to see) what was going on inside there.
"Is Clarke actually serious?" she asked him halfway through their morning shift, slumping in her seat.
"You should know, you're her friend." He quickly replied.
"But I still don't know what the hell she's thinking, I can't read minds, y'know." She told him. "She's obviously attracted to Bellamy, although it's a mystery to me as to why, and he's so head-over-heels in love with her...why don't they just stop denying it?"
"Octavia, I can't read minds either." He quietly answered.
"You have a Psychology degree. Same difference." She replied nonchalantly.
"Actually, completely different." He said.
"Mm, not really."
He groaned. "Fine. You want to know my professional opinion on why I think your brother is acting this way?"
"It would help, yeah."
"He's scared. He's afraid to let himself feel anything for Clarke because he doesn't know how to control those feelings. And if there's one thing your brother needs, it's control." He explained.
That made so much sense to her. She knew he was a control freak, she'd witnessed that every day for the past eighteen and a half years.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're a genius?" She asked her partner.
"Just you." He smiled at her, and she felt her stomach turn itself inside out.
"I've got to fix this." She said to herself.
"You can't, Octavia. You just have to let them sort it out themselves." He told her. She knew he was right.
But she sure as hell could give them a nudge in the right direction.
"Dear God." Raven huffed as she set down her binoculars. "Would you stop torturing yourself for one second?" She grabbed the phone, opened to Clarke's contact page (which had a picture of her smiling maniacally as Bell took the picture) out of his hand.
"Hey!" He shouted, flailing his arms wildly after the stolen device. "Give it back!"
"Are you talking about the phone or Clarke?" She challenged, shutting Bellamy up.
She raised an eyebrow at him; he shied away from her knowing gaze, twiddling his thumbs.
"Bellamy Blake, I have no words for how idiotic you're acting." She told him.
"Dunno wha' you mean." He mumbled, almost inaudibly.
"Sweet Jesus. You're hopeless." Raven said, suddenly coming up with a plan.
She grabbed Bellamy, pulling him close and kissing him roughly.
That sure snapped him out of his daze. "What was- uh- that?" He asked, running a hand through his salt-damaged hair.
"I'm trying to stop you from thinking about Clarke for one minute!" She exclaimed before seeing Bell's pained expression. "Jesus, you've got it bad."
"You think?" He said, smiling weakly, glancing back at the tower. "And you're okay with this? Finn and Clarke?"
"Nope. But it's not my place anymore. If it was, I would punch them both so fast-" She had a scowl on her face that made Bellamy feel a slight bit of pity for Collins. The feeling dissipated fast, though.
Raven's face lit up suddenly, a mischievous look in her eye (Bellamy never liked that look).
"We have to mess with their heads." She said, grabbing his forearm excitedly. "Make them jealous."
"You really want to make Spacewalker come crawling back to you?" He questions, intrigued by the woman's sudden excitement.
"Hell no! I just want him to see how much he's lost." She smirked. "And you want Clarke to notice you. Which means; we make them jealous."
"You're kidding, right?" He asked, unsure.
"This is the most serious I've been in months." She answered, deadpan.
Bell raised an eyebrow at her, making her burst into a fit of laughter. He laughed too, the first time all day.
"So we're doing this?" She asked. "Pretend to be a couple?"
"I don't see why not." He smiled. "You're a good friend, Reyes." He told her, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
"The best. And don't you forget it."
They had their plan thought out by the end of shift. They would 'get caught' in the locker room after they 'thought everyone had left'. Word would spread quickly, mainly because none of their co-workers could keep their big mouths shut.
They would say that this 'thing' had been going on for weeks, ever since Rae and Finn broke up, but they had only been sleeping together at first, and had only just decided to make it official. (It was plausible, right?)
They had established ground rules; no actual sleeping together, no telling anyone (not even Octavia, Bellamy), and absolutely no falling in love with one another (he had laughed at that one).
He was tempted to type up a mission plan at lunch (you're such a dork, Bell, Raven had said).
He thought it was a bit of a bad idea, he was afraid it would backfire, afraid it would end up hurting someone. Then he realised that he didn't care. He didn't want to think of the consequences, he just wanted Clarke. And he was willing to try anything to get her (when did she become so important to him, again?)
He tried to relax as they finished up their shift, but he kept fidgeting (he never fidgets), dropping the boards he was carrying back to the storeroom.
Raven shot him an 'act cool, for fuck's sake' look, and he mentally cursed himself, and Clarke (for walking into his life).
The locker room was empty as he walked in, Raven behind him. He turned on the signature Blake charm and tried to visualise his princess in front of him, rather than Raven.
(Did he really just call Clarke 'his princess'? Jeez, Blake, you're so screwed).
Raven shot him a smile, one that actually seemed genuine (when did Rae become such a good actress?).
He decided that, if this was going to work, he was going to have to apply every piece of knowledge that was ingrained into his brain after that drama class he was forced to take senior year. (Maybe that lead role he got in 'High School Musical' was worth it, after all).
So he kissed her, hands roaming up and down her back as her fingers curled in his hair, tugging lightly.
They didn't have to make out for long before someone interrupted them.
"Woah." Octavia said, holding her hand over her eyes. "I didn't see this, I didn't see this." She repeated, turning her back to the both of them. "Are you two freaking kidding me? I thought she was only a 'one-night stand', Bell! And you said he wasn't even that good!" She shouted, pointing at the both of them.
Bellamy gave Raven an 'are you kidding me?' look ('cos, let's face it, he knew he was freaking amazing in bed).
She waved him off in favour of trying to calm Octavia down before she had a full-blown panic attack.
"O, calm down. Shit, we didn't want you to find out this way, oh God, I'm so sorry sweetie, we should have told you."
Bell stood behind Rae, amazed at the way she was handling the situation. Raven hit him in the leg, telling him to say something.
"Jesus, Octavia, I'm so sorry. I feel like a total dick." He said.
"You are a total dick. Sleeping with my best friend, really? That's a new low." She sniffled.
"We aren't just sleeping together, O." He lied, putting an arm around Raven's waist. She responded by wrapping a hand around his waist, pulling her body closer to his.
Octavia raised her eyebrows. "Really? You two? Dating?" She said, her surprised tone evident.
"Yep." Raven replied, nestling herself closer to Bellamy's chest. He kissed her head affectionately.
"Wow. Okay. That's...great." Octavia smiled (her fake smile, Bellamy noticed). "I mean, if you two are happy, then I'm happy."
"We are, O. We really are." Raven grinned convincingly, a look which Bellamy mirrored.
"Great. Then, don't let me get in the way. I'll just grab my stuff and you two can go back to- whatever." Octavia finished, rushing over to her locker to retrieve her gear. "Bye." She said, practically sprinting through the door.
Bellamy let go of Raven as soon as she left, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Now all we have to do is-" Raven began, interrupted by Bellamy's phone signalling a new incoming message. "-wait for that."
He looked at the screen.
Mon;
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YOU AND REYES? WOAH MY BRAIN JUST IMPLODED
Ravens phone bleeped seconds later;
Goggles;
YOURE FUCKING BELL? FUCKING HELL, RAE
And another message;
Dipshit;
Really? Bellamy? Rae, your standards have gone way, way down ;)
Raven gripped her phone so tight it threatened to crumble in her hands.
Their phones continued to beep as they grabbed their stuff. Lincoln texted both of them the same message;
I hope you know what you're doing.
Trust Abe to be critical.
Raven received texts from her old roommate and another friend from college (both of whom she was pretty sure had slept with Bellamy) as well as a friend of Finn's.
Bellamy neglected to look at his texts until he got home.
Miller;
I thought you were into that other girl, the princess?
Roma;
You and Raven deserve each other :/
Harper;
I'm happy for you, Bell. :)
He even got a text from his grandmother;
Granny;
Finally! I keep telling Octavia to find you a nice girl. I like this Raven. Just be safe, honey, I'm too young to have grandchildren yet.
He hated that Octavia taught her how to text.
The inevitable text from Clarke came at eleven pm, just as he had resigned all hope that she even cared.
Her picture flashed up on the screen, illuminating his darkened bedroom.
Princess;
I would suggest that we all go on a double-date, but I'm pretty sure that would end in murder. :)
He felt sick. He had thought that she might have actually cared, might have been jealous, but she was just brushing it off like it was nothing.
He told himself that he shouldn't care, that he shouldn't be resisting the urge to call her right there and then and confess his feelings for her.
God, what was this woman doing to him? He wasn't the gushy, romantic boyfriend type, in fact, he had been called a commitment-phobe on more than one occasion. But yet, here he was, trying to convince himself that he shouldn't care what the Princess thought, when he knew he did.
He decided to send her a quick text back, trying his hardest to sound even remotely confident.
Me;
Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea :)
He threw in the smiley face for good measure.
She texted back minutes later.
Princess;
We have enough trouble trying to keep those two from killing each other at work :) Anyway, I'm happy you're happy. Night, Bell :)
A lump formed in the back of his throat. He replied as he tried to ignore it.
Me;
Night, Princess.
Princess;
I told you to stop calling me that.
Me;
And I told you I didn't want to :)
Princess;
Goodnight, idiot :)
Me;
Night :)
He didn't sleep well that night.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. She shouldn't be getting so damn emotional over the fact that Bellamy was dating Raven. No, she should be curled up in bed with her boyfriend, not standing over the sink in her small bathroom, trying her hardest not to punch the mirror.
She wasn't even sure why she was so worked up. She was dating a great guy, Bellamy was her partner, her friend. Nothing more (At least, that's what she tried to tell herself).
She should be having breakfast with Finn, not furiously punching the shit out of the punch bag at the gym.
She should be cuddling with Finn on their day off, not binge-watching sappy rom-coms, alone.
She should be happy, but she's not.
