Haha! I have returned! And exams are finally over thankfully. Eugh I'm so exhausted it was nonstop stressville. So now I can get back to this. The Ink is a Souvenir should be up soon, probably closer to Monday cuz I've been spending all my time writing chapters to this.

Disclaimer: I do not own The 100

Chapter 10

Lexa's P.O.V.

The days since the super moon flew by and its already Halloween day. Conveniently today was also the day that Octavia got the okay to start doing things like normal, however she does have to keep going to physical therapy for her leg, which she is not happy about. She, Raven, and Clarke have been alternating between our dorm and theirs getting things ready. They really are excited about this, and it's only 8:45 in the morning, usually only Raven and I are the only ones up at this time for our classes. They have the whole day to prepare.

I watch them in amusement occasionally glancing away from the book I'm only half reading. It's pretty amusing to watch the hustle and bustle of Halloween preparation. I never really celebrated the holiday that much-I mean, I would go trick or treating as a kid, and pass it out once I got older but that's about it. I never saw the appeal of it that much but I enjoy seeing other people freak out over it.

I announce that I'm going to get ready for class after about fifteen minutes of that chaos. Raven, realizing the time, decides to do the same. As we both head off to get ready, Clarke offers to us to come to Wells' café afterwards since they normally do something for Halloween, a small party of sorts. She already knows Raven's answer and looks to me for mine. I reluctantly agree. I want to go out and have fun with them, of course, but the thought of how many people are going to be there-as well as tonight at Bellamy's party that I also agreed to-has got my kind of on edge. I just can't seem to say no to Clarke. Especially when she looks at me with those glistening blue eyes.

I take a quick shower and start to get ready, putting on some makeup (A/N: As mentioned before, I'm no good at describing makeup) and getting dressed. I grab my glasses, hoodie, and beanie and I'm out the door by 9:30. The social justice building isn't too far so it gives me some time to take in the weather change that I seems to have noticed being in my dorm so often. Red, yellow, and orange leaves have started to cover the ground, seeing all the soft, calm colours that nature provides us this time of year makes me at peace. Autumn has always been my favourite season because of this.

The class goes by quickly and I head out, greeted outside the doors by Raven leaning against what seems to have been deemed "our tree". Sometimes the classes end at different times, so normally one of us will wait for the other before going off somewhere. I nod to her and she nods back and we begin walking side by side to Jaha's. When we get there I see their decorations for the first time. The exterior and interior are all pimped out in black and orange.

Over in our usual corner of the café we see Clarke already there waving to us to which we wave back before ordering our drinks. Once we are provided with them we head over to where Clarke sits with Bellamy, Jasper, and Wells. After we exchange greetings and pleasant small-talk, we fall into a peaceful silence, which I relish in. Despite being able to call these people my friends, anxiety still washes over me and I get uncomfortable.

After a few more minutes of the quiet I had been enjoying so much, the rest of our posse fill in to the shop and take the leftover seats at the table. Discussions start about the upcoming events tonight and can feel my throat close up a little bit as anxiety starts to take over a little. Lincoln seems to sense as much and discreetly leans over to me.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to you know. Either me or Anya could make up an excuse for you." He suggests. I smile back at his thoughtfulness. He and Anya have always been patient when it came to this, and I'm grateful for that, but I do need to face this on my own, and I tell him as much.

"I already told Clarke I'm coming and I'm not going to retract that." I tell him. Both of us knowing anyway that if it gets too bad that I will leave if need be. This seems to satisfy him and he straightens himself back up and grins at Octavia who lets her head fall onto his shoulder.

I look over at the two of them and smile. Despite my initial thoughts I'm kind of glad they ended up together. Lincoln looks happier than he has in a while. He'd try to deny that though- that he wasn't happy- but I can always see through him, even when I was in my own funk.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by someone unabashedly bursting into laughter, drawing the other patron's attention to our corner. Making the rest of us join in.

"Oh hey, Clarke." A spiteful voice pulls us out of our mirth and takes us by surprise. It seems to hastily sober up Bellamy, Octavia, and Raven while the rest of us remain confused. Clarke remains frozen in her place it seems. I'm unable to see who the person who brought this revulsion to us because he stands right behind me but based on Clarke's reaction, I really don't like him myself.

I continue to gauge Clarke's reaction, worry clearly etched on my face when the voice speaks up again.

"BTW, Wells, I didn't get a chance to thank you for the job you helped get me. I've been so busy working that I haven't seen you." He says to the man who now looks slightly uncomfortable at the situation. I am finally able to put a face to the voice when I finally turn around to face him. I come face to face with sinister brown eyes and an impish smirk of the man with his hair pulled back in one of those man buns that only assholes have, crouched down so he can be at eye level with most of us.

"Oh hey Lexa, hey Anya!" Finn says as if just now noticing our presence. "I didn't get a chance to thank you guys either, your uncle and his friend have got me so busy lately. Thank you guys so much." He exaggeratedly says. His face is so close to mine at this point that the only air I can breathe in is that of his stench. The smell of cigarette smoke radiates off of him. How had I not noticed it before?

Finn finally steps back and waves to us with a grin. "Well, I just wanted to stop by and say thanks, Wells. I should be on my way." Before he leaves he leans down and whispers something in Clarke's ear that makes her tense. I grit my teeth at this, he makes me want to punch him in the face. I don't get a chance though as he is escorted out by Bellamy. When he came back he rested his hand on her shoulder.

"You okay there, princess?" She stiffly nodded in response.

"Okay, what the hell was that?" Jasper voiced a few minutes after the silence, but no one answered.

Octavia looks over to Anya and then me. "I can't believe you guys gave him a job. That guy's an asshole!"

"Well it's not like we knew anything about him." Anya responded. "He just came in with Wells and him being a friend of yours, Clarke, we assumed this Finn guy was as well." She said as she faced Clarke, who was starting to look less tense, however now she looked exhausted.

"And it's not like we just gave him the job." She continued. "They came in on a day where we were really busy, on top of the fact that it was lunch rush and my father was sick, we gave him a trial run, then when he was able to, he had a job interview with Nyko, who ended up hiring him."

"If he's a threat to you though, don't hesitate to tell any of us and we will have him fired. Grounders is a peaceful place where any and everyone is welcome so if Finn can't meet that standard with you he shouldn't work there." I assured her. She gave me a weary smile in thanks and stood up.

"I think I'm gonna head back to our room, maybe try to sleep a little before tonight." She announces, I get up after she does.

"I'll walk you back." I tell her. "I have some work I have to finish anyway." I say as we say our goodbyes and walk out the door.

I said all I needed to at the top.

So, until next time, peace

-Ted