A/N: Here's the next chaptwr since you guys have been reviewing and following a lot. I hope you enjoy!
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Cla-arke! Happy birthday to you!" The gathering of people sang as Clarke stared at her birthday cake, a large smile on her face. The song ended with everyone in the room clapping and cheering. Clarke's mom stepped forward and began to cut the cake that sat in the center of the table.
The cake was chocolate, Clarke's favorite, with white frosting covering the whole thing, and the words "Happy 13th birthday, Clarke!" were written in red icing.
Clarke's mom cut a large slice from the corner and set it on Clarke's plate. She received the biggest piece since it was her birthday. She started eating without waiting for anyone else to get a piece. She chewed the first bite slowly, savoring the delicious taste.
After everyone finished their cake, presents were set in front of Clarke. She opened the biggest one first, from her mom and dad, and gasped at what she saw. It was a bow and arrow much like the one that her friend, Octavia, had. She had been asking for one for a while, since hunting with a bow is much quieter and easier than with a gun. She thanked her parents, graciously, and moved on to all of the other gifts. Wells' present was decorating the chess pieces she always used when they played chess together. She gazed at the colorfully decorated chess pieces and smiled.
"This is awesome, Wells!" She thanked him by bringing him into a hug. The rest of the gifts were mostly clothes or sketch pads and drawing utensils. She thanked everyone, looking at the pile of gifts she had accumulated.
The party ended soon after, leaving Clarke and her parents to clean up the mess of their guests. Clarke was in the middle of cleaning off a table when she felt a hand fall onto her shoulder. She turned to see her dad's face.
"Why don't you go practice using your new bow and arrow? Your mom and I will finish cleaning." He suggested, a smile growing on his face. Clarke smiled back and ran to get her new present. She brought it outside and walked quietly into the trees, searching for anything to shoot. She could her the buzzing of the late-night cicadas and the hiss of the blowing wind. She grinned at the beautiful night unfolding in front of her. She looked up at the trees and saw a flock of birds dancing on the tree branches. She lifted her bow and arrow slowly, pulling the arrow against the elastic string. She aimed for one of the small black birds and released the arrow. She heard it zoom past her ear, and watched as it flew through the trees and hit the branch that the birds were on. They all flew away, startled.
Clarke looked up and located her, now stuck, arrow. She jumped up to try and reach it even though it was about ten feet above her. She circled the tree, looking for a way to climb it and found a branch that was about six feet above the ground. She wrapped her hands around it and attempted to pull herself up onto the branch, but her arms were too weak. She could barely pull her chin above the branch.
She sighed and looked at the bow in her hand. The grip on it tensed as she felt anger fill her veins. She had lost her arrow after only shooting it once. She kicked her foot into the tree, sending pain through her foot, but she didn't care. She set her bow back on the ground and attempted to climb the tree again, failing more with each attempt. She continued trying, feeling her eyes fill with tears of guilt. She couldn't lose the gift that she had just received from her parents. She attempted to get up the tree one last time when she heard a laugh coming from a few feet behind her. She quickly turned around and saw the girl that she half-expected would show up.
"Is my help needed?" Lexa asked, stepping forward.
Lexa stepped closer to the frustrated girl, watching as she attempted to pull herself onto the branch. She couldn't help but laugh at her terrible attempts. Clarke turned around and caught sight of Lexa, her eyes widening.
"Is my help needed?" Lexa asked, trying not to burst out laughing at the weak girl in front of her. Clarke glared at Lexa, and the dropped her arms from the branch in defeat.
"My parents gave me a bow and arrow for my birthday and I shot it once and it got stuck in the tree." Clarke explained, her cheeks reddening slightly. Lexa nodded, stepping towards the branch. Clarke stepped out of the way, letting Lexa climb up the tree.
Lexa pulled herself up past the branch with little effort and continued climbing until she was close to the arrow. Lexa reached for the branch that had the arrow stuck in it and grabbed the arrow from the bark. She smiled at the girl below her. She climbed back down the tree, showing off a bit. When her feet touched back onto the ground, she handed Clarke the arrow. Clarke rolled her eyes.
"You are welcome." Lexa said, after not hearing a 'thank you' from Clarke.
"Why do you keep coming to my house?" Clarke finally asked, a bit annoyed. Lexa shrugged at the question.
"My house is on the other side of these trees. You just happen to catch me each time I am near you." Lexa lied, knowing there were many times she had spied on Clarke without her noticing. It had been a while since she last saw the blonde. She was always busy with training to become the best warrior she could be. Her mother had plans for her to become Heda, or commander, of her people.
She had to admit, she did like running into Clarke like this. It was as if fate was bringing them together. Clarke, stayed quiet, staring at the arrow in her hands.
"I could help you with shooting the arrow." Lexa suggested, staring at the blonde's beautiful eyes.
Clarke sighed, picking up the arrow from the ground and walking back towards her house.
"What happened to 'we cannot be friends'?" Clarke mimicked, making memories of the day that Clarke saved her life fill Lexa's head.
"I stay true to my word, but helping you shoot an arrow does not mean we are friends. I am simply preventing myself from having to retrieve arrows from trees each time you try to kill a bird." Lexa said, keeping a straight face. Clarke's face turned red, but covered it with a look of defense.
"I only- I don't-" Clarke tried to defend herself, but she couldn't think of anything to say.
Lexa saved her the humiliation and cut her off by saying, "Aim the arrow head slightly above what you try to shoot. If the wind is blowing left, aim to the right more. If the wind is blowing right, aim to the left." She explained. Clarke let out a sigh and placed the arrow against the string on the back of the bow.
Lexa grabbed a canteen out of the sack she was wearing and backed away from Clarke. She held out her arm, letting the canteen dangle from her fingers.
"Shoot the middle of this. Try not to hit me." Lexa told her, motioning towards the container. Clarke rolled her eyes again, making Lexa smirk. Clarke lifted the bow and arrow up to eye level and aimed it at the canteen. Lexa watched as she tilted the bow slightly upwards and to the right a bit. The smile on her face grew. Clarke released the bow and the arrow flew forward, hitting the canteen exactly in the middle. Water leaked out the hole that was made. Clarke's eyes widened and she started to laugh.
"Good job." Lexa said, pulling the arrow from the container and walking it back over to her.
Clarke took the arrow back and stared at her feet. "Thanks, Lexa," Clarke said, looking back up at the brunette. Lexa nodded, turning to leave the blonde. She started to walk away, but quickly spun around and smiled at Clarke.
"Happy birthday," she said and turned away, running off to her house.
A/N: I seriously love writing this story. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do! Please review and let me know what you think of this chapter! :)