Clarke spends the rest of the afternoon laying in bed, and I try not to hover over her like a shadow. I know she is going to be fine, but I still worry that she thinks she has to suffer alone. But in a way, I don't know if I can be around her. Cause god. God, I still have to process my feelings for her, and I'm not sure if I actually want to. I know she doesn't feel the same, and damn I don't know if I can marry her when I actually...have feelings for her.
So instead of hanging around Clarke, I find myself talking to her step-dad. "You really like her?" Marcus asks. I smile. "She's everything to me." I falter a little at the almost reality of that statement. He nods.
"But why get married so soon? Abby and I are worried that you are moving too fast." There is actual concern on Marcus's face. He actually cares about Clarke, even though he might take a more tough approach.
"We love each other, and we know we don't want to be with anyone else. There's no reason to wait." I breathe out slowly as I answer. Marcus almost smiles. "I can tell you both are in love. But young people can make reckless decisions, and I don't want you to jump into something and then regret it." I smile, but heart drops a little. I don't know how I can do this to her parents.
As our conversation is coming to a close, Abby walks in. "The Jaha's are going to come over for dinner tonight before you guys leave." That name sparks something in my memory. "Jaha? Wells Jaha was Clarke's best friend, right?" Abby nods. Meeting someone who knows Clarke possibly the best: this will be the real test. Abby looks around real quick. "Is Clarke still upstairs?" I nod slowly. Abby sighs. "Would you try to talk to her? Tell her to get up and take a shower?" I nod.
I knock slowly on the door. "Clarke, honey, can I come in?" I hear a muffled noise, so I open the door. Clarke is still lying in bed, but she's just reading thankfully, not moping. I slowly walk over to her.
"Clarke," I rub her back slightly. "Clarke, your mom invited the Jaha's over for dinner, you should probably get up. They'll be here soon." Clarke mutters noncommittally.
"Clarke." I kneel at the side of the bed. "You gotta get up, take a shower." She sighs. "I know." "Come on." I grab her shoulders. "I just want to wallow a little." She grumbles.
"Clarke, I know that he hurt you, but you are worth so much more than that. Look at you now, you are confident, and beautiful, and talented, and that goddamn bastard doesn't deserve you." She looks me in the eye. "Thank you, Bellamy." She hugs me quickly.
Thelonius and Wells Jaha arrive at a little after 6, and Clarke immediately greets them excitedly. I hang back a little, simply watching her interact. This is what she looks like when she is truly happy. "Wells, I want you to meet my fiance, Bellamy."
"Bellamy! It's nice to finally meet you!" Wells surprisingly pulls me into a hug. "You too." I reply, a little thrown off.
Us three sit in the living room for a little bit while Marcus finishes cooking, and Wells asks us the typical questions. "So you are getting married in 5 months?" "Four and a half, actually." Clarke smiles. "Do you have everything planned out?" She nods. "Yeah, we have a basic idea of what we want, and we have a possible venue lined up." She grabs my hand. "We are thinking something small, intimate."
Wells smiles, and then shakes his head. "I can't believe you are about to get married, Griffin." She smiles brightly. "It's all been a whirlwind."
Dinner progresses fairly normally. Thelonious asks me about my work, and Abby and Marcus seem pretty content for once. Even Wells seems really to like me, and approve of Clarke and I's relationship.
At the end of the night, he pulls me aside quietly. "Look, Bellamy, I wasn't very sure of you at first. But I can tell that you're a good guy who'll treat her right. Finn, Finn really fucked her up and messed with her perspective on relationships, but you make her happy again. I can tell. Thank you."
