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Bellamy

I don't know why, but I'm nervous about this meeting. Their vote decides if we have a chance at an alliance or not. After what I've seen, I don't want us to not have an alliance.

I also don't want to lose Evelyn.

She's changed, and is wearing a simple blue shirt and black pants, and much to my appreciation, my jacket. She claimed it was warmer than anything she had when I made fun of her for it, but in truth, I think she looks so cute in it. I hope I don't get it back from her.

We're sitting in a theater-like setting, open under the sky. There are rows of wooden benches that slant up a slight hill and all face a wooden stage in a half-circle manner. We are sitting on the edge of the stage casually, waiting for Ty to call the meeting to order.

The people in Shalom are unlike anything we've seen on the ground yet. It's refreshing. They are courteous, they laugh, they play music and games, and they welcomed me like a friend. They're like the people we read about in our books; like the people before the bombs went off. They're a little more ritualistic on some levels, and have adopted parts of the ground into their daily lives. But they thrive with their technology, their order, and their jobs. If Arkadia ever hopes to make it long-term on the ground, we will have to do the same. Right now, we all kind of muddle around for food and drink and other jobs until things get done. There isn't much order outside of people like Abby and Kane. The night people have teachers, scientists, trainers...everybody has a job. I hope once the madness is over, we too can settle into that sort of routine.

Ty and Aaron are off to the side with a couple other people in all black...guards I assume...casually talking while everyone takes their seats. Ty looks like he's trying to convince them of something, but I can't hear of what. After a few moments, when most people seem to have found their seats, the other guys nod and Ty jumps up on stage, smiling. The people get quiet.

"Hello everyone!" Ty's voice booms across the amphitheater. "Thank you all for coming out on short notice, I assure you I won't be taking up too much of your time. Before I get started, I would like to point out our guest tonight; some of you may have already seen him mulling around earlier. This is Bellamy of the sky people, and I trust you will make him feel welcome while he is here." There are some murmurs and some applause in the crowd as he motions to me. I just smile and give a small nod. "Now, onto the reason that this meeting was called. As you may have also noticed from the shouting earlier, Evelyn has returned," more applause and cheering interrupts him. He laughs. "Yes, I'm just as happy about it as you are. Evelyn comes to you tonight with a proposition. Something for our people to take action against those who have lit fear in us for years. As you well know, we don't take major actions without our people in agreement, and we will hold a vote after she speaks. So, without further ado…" With that, Evelyn carefully stands up and nods to me to stand as well.

"Hello! It's good to be back," the crowd cheers. The people look at her and Ty like they are the godsends to their world. And maybe they are. There has to be a reason they are so respected and so well-liked. I could probably take a few notes from them. I led the original hundred as well as I could, with Clarke's help, of course, but I made some major mistakes. Clarke was always there to correct them. Thank goodness for that. "The details of my absence are in part, gruesome, but you need to know what happened," Evelyn's voice carries over the amphitheater without any need for amplification. She is strong and confident in her speech. I admire that. She continues: "I saw Bellamy in the woods while scouting, he was attacked by a member of Trikru. I intervened in hopes of saving him, and then was attacked myself by Trikru," boos in the crowd. She holds up a hand. "This is not a speech to promote the dislike of Trikru, but rather how this event brought a new hope. After I was injured, Bellamy and his people took me in and saved my life, more than once. They took care of me while I recovered, and without him and his people, I wouldn't be standing here right now," it's funny to me how something so automatic to one person can make such a difference to someone else. I wouldn't have let anyone die in the woods like that; it was an automatic reaction to bring her back to Abby. Yet if I didn't, she would be dead, and I probably wouldn't have cared. I shudder at that thought and turn my attention back to her. "During my days in their camp, I learned that their people are kind, and helpful. We've heard stories of their bravery, but none of their kindness. I assure you, it matters more than their anything else. As it turns out, we have something in common with them. Obviously, Bellamy doesn't need a hazmat suit to be out here," she points over at me. "Mount Weather has also figured this out, and has taken some of their people captive. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm just about over living in fear of them, I'm over losing people to them, and I'm over them thinking they own this ground! We're the ones that can live out here, we own the ground!" Cheers, so many cheers. Even I'm clapping. "And we have tried, time and time again to get our people out, and we have failed. We put it on the backburner out of fear of losing more people. But the people of the mountain have not forgotten about us, and they're taking our people, and others around us. And well, I say it's about time to change that, for good." She looks at me to speak.

"We came to the ground for a second chance at life," I say without missing a beat. I don't know where the words come from, but they keep flowing. I pace across the stage slowly. "We came with fear of what was waiting here, but we also came with hope. Hope of a new life, one where we could live in peace. And so far, all we have had is war and fear. Until we met your people. For the first time since we've landed, hope has surfaced. Your village has shown me everything that me and my people have hoped the ground would be like. And it seems that we both have skills to benefit each other. It's time we harness that for the greater good," Hey, even I'm getting some cheers. "Our people want nothing more than to get our people out of the mountain, and to live at peace on the ground. We can't do that alone. Together, we are stronger than we are alone." Evelyn smiles as more cheer and agreement rises from the audience.

"The sky people have technology beyond ours. They have skilled people as well. With their technology, medicines, and skills combined with ours, we can take this mountain down. Our proposition tonight is for a discussion of an alliance between our people and theirs," Evelyn says, people start to murmur. "If you vote yes, Ty and myself along with a few others will travel to the camp of the sky people tomorrow and negotiate a truce, an alliance to work together. Should you vote no, we will remain on our own. The choice is yours."

"Any questions before the vote?" Ty asks, standing back up with Evelyn.

"Is it not true that you have an alliance with Trikru as well?" a man in the front directs his question at me. I nod.

"More or less, it's in progress."

"The last time we joined forces with Trikru, we lost fifty people." He isn't rude, but stating a fact. I know this is a difficult ground for them to stand on.

"It's a risk we would have to take," Evelyn says before I can answer, not that I knew what to say. "Every alliance has it's risks. We are already in alliance with Trikru. And I trust the sky people. We will not let our people be lost when we all work together." The man seems satisfied with this, because he nods.

"Is it true you burned 300 Trikru members in a battle?" A younger girl asks. I turn to look at her. She's probably only 15 or 16, and has bright green eyes that shine in the dim light of the sunset. I nod slowly.

"It was the only way to save our people." I stand by that decision until the end of time.

"Do you intend to do that in the mountain?" She asks innocently. I pause.

"I...I have no intention of killing anyone more than necessary to save our people. No innocent lives need to be lost." But the question catches me off guard. What happens if that's the only way to get our people out? Can we do what it takes? Can we live with that much blood on our hands?

"But are any of them innocent? Really?" Another woman asks, this time an older lady.

"We have reason to believe that not everyone in the mountain knows what's really going on," Ty says carefully. "We have no intention of harming innocent people if we don't have to."

"But if it comes down to it? Will you?" She asks, her eyes begging. I have to assume based on her desperate tone that she's lost someone to the mountain.

Ty and Evelyn exchange a quick glance. "We will do what we have to to get all of our people out," Ty says.

"Do our people come above theirs?" She points at me. I look between her and Evelyn.

"When we form an alliance, our people are their people, Felicity," Evelyn says coldly. Her tone is intimidating, and enough to shut anyone down. Her eyes have gone dark and she stares down the woman. She nods, and says nothing else.

After an awkward silence for a few seconds, Ty nods. "Alright, time to cast your votes. All in favor of negotiating an alliance with the sky people to save our people from Mount Weather, raise your hands."

It's nearly unanimous. I hardly see anyone keeping their hands down, although, I notice Felicity didn't raise hers. I ignore it. You can't always please everyone. I look at Evelyn, who's grinning widely. Ty smiles too.

"Well, I don't think we've had that unanimous of a vote since we voted on the chocolate cake at village dinners," he laughs. "Okay. Tomorrow morning we leave for their camp. Tonight, we feast! Meeting adjourned!" And with that, people get up to start shuffling out.

"Come on," Evelyn says, taking my hand as we make our way off the stage and into the crowd. "The best part is going to start."

"What's going on?" I ask as I see everyone congregating in the center square. There's a large bonfire in the middle and the smell of food filling my senses. I'm starving. Evelyn leads me towards it.

"Well, the village kind of typically eats together...every night. It didn't start out as intentional, but so many of us shared food as it was, that it just kinda turned into a thing. At any rate, it's really fun." Her eyes sparkle even more in the firelight.

"Alright I can get on board with that," I say. Their community reminds me of the days on the dropship. Even though so many bad things happened there, it was also where we all became such good friends. Without that time, we wouldn't be where we are now. Sometimes I actually miss those days.

"Evelyn and honored guest, here you go," Aaron appears out of nowhere with a few metal mugs in his hand. "To new friends!"

"New friends!" We both respond and clink the mugs together. I take a swig of the liquid. Holy crap, it's beer. I've had beer exactly one time. I loved it. But on the Ark, we didn't really have the ability to make it.

"No beer in space?" Aaron asks, noticing my reaction. I laugh.

"No, not really. I've had it once."

Aaron puts a hand on my shoulder and looks at me seriously. "From the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry for your loss." And he laughs. And I laugh, And Evelyn laughs. And it doesn't stop for hours.


Later, we are lounging around on the ground in the square against some trees. The square is more of just a clearing in the village surrounded by trees. It looks manmade to me, and has benches and a large fire pit in the middle where the remnants of the large boar we just ate remain. I'm stuffed to the brim; I haven't eaten that well...ever. I'm also swimming in the beer. Okay, that's a lie, but I've had my fill. There's music playing from a few people with instruments...real instruments...in the square, and everyone is just relaxing. Evelyn is sitting next to me, and Aaron and Sal and a couple other people who's names escape me are sitting around us. It's so casual, so normal. I didn't think this was possible on the ground. I never want to leave from here.

"Is this normal?" I ask Evelyn. She looks at me and nods.

"More or less, yeah. Again, it wasn't intended, it just sort of happens. Some nights it's much shorter, but it's a weekend for the kids, so they can enjoy it too. That usually makes it last longer."

"I just can't remember the last time I had this kind of fun. The Ark was so strict all the time, so suffocating. And here we've been constantly worrying, even on the days we did have fun," I stare thoughtfully into my beer.

"We adopted a mindset a long time ago about that," she says, eyes shining in the dim light. "You can't live in the grief of what you've lost or the fear of what you might lose. All you can do is celebrate what you have. You have to take advantage of the moment you're in, because you might not get to live the next one."

"Nice attitude," and I mean it. I could use more of that in my life. I'm always worried, always afraid. One day, it could destroy me. What is living if it's always worrying about the next bad thing to happen? These people live with what they have to the fullest, and they still manage to be badasses.

"Evelyn!" The guy playing the old-looking piano stands up. "One song, NightQueen?" He asks hopefully. Others join in, asking for one song. I raise an eyebrow at her. She's a musician too? I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

"Oh, come on Ev. They've been worried sick about you. Give them this one," Ty says grinning. She smiles.

"Alright, alright!" She puts her hand up in surrender and hands me her drink to hold. "Be right back."

I've listened to music before. Quite often on the Ark. But nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to what Evelyn played and sang. Her voice is flawless, and her playing is even better. She was born to play and sing music; there's no doubt in my mind about that. It's too bad we live in a world now where that isn't appreciated as it used to be before the bombs.

But maybe we can change that. Maybe together we can make this world at least a glimmer of the glory it used to be. I sit back and listen to her; it's a song that sounds familiar to me but I can't quite place it. It's definitely one that everyone seems to know well, as they have their mugs in the air and arms around each other, singing along:

And love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Halleluuujjjahhh

I don't know the lyrics, but it's beautiful nonetheless. I didn't think it was possible for this girl to be any more perfect, and here it is.

When she finishes, there is a long round of applause.

"You're incredible," I say as soon as sits back down and someone else takes the piano to start playing a much more upbeat and jazzy tune. Even in the dim light, I can see her blush.

"Well thank you," she looks to Ty. "I think it's time for me to turn in. Early day tomorrow." I notice that others have started dispersing as well. He glances at his watch.

"Yes, yes, we leave at first light," he says, standing up. She nods, and looks to me.

"Are you ready? I don't want to rush you."

I drain the rest of my beer in one long swig and nod. "I'm ready."


"Seriously, you were born to play music," I say. We're back in her little cabin getting ready for bed. The bed she has is a little bigger than my cot, so that's nice at least. It looks comfy, and I'm so ready to sleep. I'm exhausted from our day.

"Well, thank you," she smiles as she pulls her hair out of the braid it's in. It's beautiful; dark brown and falling below her shoulders in waves formed by the braids. "My father could play well. I got it from him."

"It was breathtakingly beautiful, I mean it. That kind of stuff...it's rare in my world," She smiles at me again.

"Well I really hope it becomes less rare to you, and your people, Bellamy." I smile as I rustle through my bag for a shirt and see the bandages Abby had given me. I had almost forgotten.

"Here, let me take a look at your wound before we go to bed. I was given strict instructions to change the bandages. Not that I know anything about that," I grin as I hold up the wad of white. She rolls her eyes and smiles.

"Yes, Mr. Nurse, have at it." She sits on the edge of the bed and pulls her shirt up. I try not to stare too much at her perfectly shaped stomach and abs, but it's difficult not to. I gently pull the bandage away and she gasps a little in pain.

"I'm sorry," I say softly, cursing myself. "I'm being as gentle as I can."

"I know, it's okay," she puts a hand on my arm while I work, and my stomach flutters. Thankfully, as I pull off the bandage, while the bruising is still bad, the wound itself is healing.

"Well NightQueen, it seems your stubbornness to push yourself didn't affect your healing too much. It looks good, aside from the bruising."

"Good analysis, nurse," she smiles. "That would be last thing I would need."

"Well," I say as I gently put the new bandage on. "Next time, don't get stabbed and we can avoid this whole thing."

"Don't get yourself attacked by Trikru first, and I won't get stabbed. Problem solved," she gives a little laugh as I finish up. I look up at her.

"Not that I'd want you to be hurt and sick again, but I wouldn't want to have avoided all of this," I say. I get up to throw the old bandage out in her little metal can in the corner and sit next to her on the bed. She takes my hand and softly traces over my palm.

"I'd take getting stabbed and sick again if it meant that otherwise we would have avoided all this."

I look at her and tuck her hair behind her ear. My heart is practically in my throat. No girl has ever made me feel this way.

"I would have died in the woods that day for you too, you know," I say softly. Her eyes sparkle.

"I know."

I pull her gently towards me, and our lips touch, and it's suddenly as if the whole world has disappeared and we are the only ones here. Electricity and passion shoot through me as we kiss deeper, and everything else has melted away. Within just a moment or two, we are kissing fiercely; all the feelings we've both been pushing away the past few days come rushing in a flood of passion. I want everything about her; physically, mentally, spiritually. But I know I have to be careful. I pull away reluctantly and look at her. Both of us are breathless.

"Evelyn, you should know something," I take her hands. Her eyes sparkle as she gives me her attention. "When we landed on the ground, I was a different man. I was a jerk, and I slept with girls for fun. I was empty inside, and for some reason I thought that would help. But it didn't, it never did, and I knew it wouldn't. And Evelyn, you've been in my life for less than a week and have made a bigger impact on me than anybody has. I just...I don't want this to happen this quickly unless you know that you are different to me. And if that means that this doesn't happen for a long time, then so be it, because I'm not going anywhere. I just can't lose you, or lose this, and I don't want this happening so fast to ruin it. I just...I need you to believe how important you are to me first."

She smiles at me, so genuinely and places her hand on my cheek. "I already do, Bellamy. Because I feel the same way." And she pulls me towards her and kisses me. And I kiss her. And we melt away into passion and electricity that overtakes us.

It isn't sex, but rather it's intimate, genuine, and true adoration and care for one another. It's unlike anything I have ever experienced. It's absurd, because every other time this has happened, every other girl, it was nothing. It was empty physical fulfillment that left you lonelier than you were before it happened.

But this...this is how it was meant to happen; not as an excuse to fill a void and take your mind off of the rest of life, but rather as an addition to life, to be in such unison with someone that you feel able to do anything if they're next to you.

This was fulfillment in every sense of the word.


Everything had been perfect. I lay awake staring at the ceiling as Evelyn is fast asleep, laying across my chest. I listen to her rhythmic breathing and watch her back rise and fall as I gently run my hand up and down it. It's early morning; I can see the sun creeping through the window in the bedroom. I've barely slept, but I don't think I could possibly care any less.

I think this is what euphoria feels like. I'm not really sure if there is possibly a better feeling than what last night was. Yes, we were intimate, but more than just physically. We talked, we laughed, we shared things that few people know about. I've never been so open with anyone, or felt so...so good about it.

And it's euphoric. And terrifying. So terrifying.

I've known her for a week. A week.

It seems ridiculous. Is it normal to feel this way this fast about someone? Because I'm not so sure it is. You shouldn't be this terrified to lose someone after just a week of knowing them.

But I think I'm starting to understand now, the risk of feeling this way. It's worth it. Of course, I say that because she's currently as close to me as possible. I'm not sure what would happen if she got up and walked away now.

We are both guarded people. She puts up more of a front than I do, but deep down, she's just as fenced-in as I am. We both put our people first, put our survival first, before any of our own feelings about anything.

"Fear has to come after action," she had said last night. "Leaders cannot falter under chaos and fear. They have to rise to the occasion and take action...then they can freak out later."

I laughed at this, because I know it all too well. Whenever our people were in danger at the dropship, I snapped into action mode. I took action to protect them and later I worried about what happened. Although usually it was such a turnaround to the next crisis that I never did freak out.

I opened up to her about my fear about our people. It's not like everyone isn't worried about our people, but I feel responsible. They were my responsibility at the dropship. And I let them be captured while I got away, more or less. I know that's irrational; it was an unavoidable consequence, but I still feel guilty. When I saw Clarke the other day when we she returned...I couldn't explain my happiness. It had been grueling to wonder what happened to them. But when she said she was the only one who made it back, my stomach dropped again. Never a break. Never a rest. And now my friends are going through more than I can imagine, and it's my fault. Even though I'm thrilled Clarke made it out, and it's a miracle that she did, I can't help but be a little irked that she didn't try to get anyone else out. It probably would have been impossible, but the irrational and guilty side of me still holds a little bitterness.

Evelyn understands that. She's responsible for her people too. She opened up about her parents, admitting that she feels guilty for their death. She feels that she should have at least been with them. And now she will never know what truly happened to them. She's torn at a crossroad now; to risk more people to try to get to the mountain, or leave those stuck in the mountain to their fate, if there's even any left. Neither one is a good option, and I can see it tearing her apart inside. I tighten my grip a little on her. At least neither one of us is alone anymore. Clarke has been my co-leader since we landed...well, since I stopped being an ass...and we made the tough calls together. But right now, she's blinded by what happened to her and is so obsessed with getting our people out that I worry she's not thinking clearly. Evelyn also has Ty, but Ty is colder than her; more calculated. He doesn't strike me as the 'let's talk and share our feelings about this' type of person. So it's nice, to know that someone else understands what I'm going through. We're not alone, and today, we will try to solidify that with our people.

I look back out of the window to the sunlight streaming in. We should probably get up and get moving to head back to Arkadia. And I certainly don't want Ty or Aaron to come barging in to wake us up. I hate to wake Evelyn though; she looks so peaceful asleep.

"Hey," I say softly, nudging her slightly with my arm around her. She grunts in response and buries her head deeper. I laugh. "Hey, time to wake up sleepy head."

"No thanks," she responds sleepily without looking up. "Waking up means we have to get out of bed. Have responsibilities. No thanks."

"It's either we get up first or your brother comes knocking on your door," I tease. She begrudgingly looks up at me with her chin on my chest. Her long hair is flowing freely and covers part of her face. Her eyes are heavy with sleep but still sparkling. I love her eyes. They radiate across her whole face. She looks radiant.

"Fine," she says, and tries to shake a piece of hair out of her face without much success. I smirk and tuck it behind her ear for her.

"Last night was -"

"Perfect," she finishes for me. I lean forward to kiss her on the head.

"Perfect."

"I would very much like to not have responsibilities today," she traces patterns on my chest while she talks. It's a simple gesture, but it still brings me goosebumps. "Do you think they'll notice if we play hookey? I'd much rather stay in bed with you for the rest of day….or the rest my life, really," she shrugs. My stomach flips at her statement and I laugh with her, running my hands through her long hair.

"They might notice, unfortunately," although I too, couldn't imagine anything better than staying in bed all day. I don't think I've stayed in bed all day unless I was sick, and sick meaning like, really, really, deathbed-like sick. This would be a nice change. "But I mean we could always try…" I lean forward to start kissing her, and we kiss for a few moments before she reluctantly pulls away at the sound of footsteps around cabin.

"Three...two...one…" she counts quietly. On cue, there's a bang on the door. "Yeah, Ty, we're coming, we're coming. Don't get your britches in a bunch," she shouts out the door.

"Well get a move on! Daylight is wasting," Ty's voice comes from outside. The footsteps go back down the porch steps and disappear. I look at Evelyn.

"Don't get your britches in a bunch?" I can't help but laugh at the ridiculous-sounding nature of that phrase.

"It's a saying," she laughs. "I don't know, I've read it in books. It sticks around here. Alright," she squeezes my hand as she sits up and swings her legs over the bed. Her bare back faces me, and I run my fingers over the tattoo from her arm that finishes at her shoulder blade. She looks over her shoulder at me. "You're sure we have to get up?"

"Yeah I don't feel like Ty chasing me down today to kill me so…" I don't put it past him. She rolls her eyes and stands up, taking one of the blankets to wrap around her bare body. Something about her messy flowing hair and the blanket wrapped casually around her, leaving her shoulders bare, puts me beside myself. Suddenly, being chased down and killed by Ty doesn't seem like such a big risk. I'm on fire for everything about this girl, and want nothing more than to stay in bed with her.

But, duty calls. Responsibility and the weight of the world awaits us when we walk out the front door. Responsibility to our people, to our lives. As much as we may want to live in our euphoric land of each other, the harsh reality is that we can't. But hopefully the euphoria won't disappear; I'm grateful that we at least get to still be around each other.

As she shuffles around the cabin getting her things together, I reluctantly force myself out of bed, and follow suit.