Chapter 10
The girls had a lot of customers that day. They made out really good for the blood drive, almost everyone who brought a car donated. Clarke's cookies were a big hit and they raised a lot of money for the Red Cross. She was counting out the dollar bills when Octavia threw her shirt at her. It was much cooler now than that afternoon and she needed it. She threw her shirt on setting the money down. "Hey so guess who's hosting a party tonight"? Clarke looked up at her, trying to keep her train of thought on how much she just counted, wanting to double check her numbers. "We are"! Octavia pointed two thumbs to herself. "And you planned on telling me this when". Octavia moved around the table taking the money that Clarke was counting and put it down back in the silver box. "We need to celebrate our vacation, and what better way than a party. It'll be small, just the guys and a couple girls from the house. I promise I'll help you clean up after. Please, Please, Please". Octavia held her folded hands out to Clarke. She knew she didn't need her permission. Octavia was going to throw the party anyway, but she knew she would always be included in her plans, that is why she asked in the first place.
Clarke huffed "Ok, but we are stopping at the store on the way home so we can pick up a few extra things". "Didn't you just go shopping"? Octavia looked at her helping to pack up the signs. "Yes, but I want to pick up some drinks and snacks." Clarke and Octavia worked over the summer and had saved up quite a bit. As much as she didn't want to admit it her mom had been a lot of help too, she sent her money during the school year and that was the only contact she had with her in a while. It showed her mom still cared. Octavia's mom put money in an account for her too. Now that her kids were out of the house and she was alone she had a lot more time to take extra shifts at the hospital and Octavia said she always helped them because she felt guilty about all the trouble she caused them when they were kids. She knew Octavia loved her mom though and held nothing against her.
When they got to the store Octavia went to the liquor aisle grabbing mixes, bottles of rum and whisky, and some disposable shot glasses. Clarke went to the snack aisle grabbing chips, dip, and some fruit. She also grabbed a couple jars of maraschino cherries and toothpicks. She thought she would grab some wings out of the freezer when she got home and toss them in the oven. When they got check out and back to the apartment it was getting close to party time. The sun was going down and Clarke wanted to get inside eager to get things prepped. When Octavia opened the door for her she was welcomed with the smell of pizza. They had driven Murphy's car back home. Octavia tossed him the keys looking at the boys chilling on the floor and couch in the living room all on their phones.
"Did you get her back in one piece"? "Better than she was before, and cleaner too I might add." Octavia laughed. Clarke was thinking she must have met Murphy before in the time that she visited Bellamy at school. They had a fun rapport with each other and her and Murphy was more like strangers. There were several boxes of pizza sitting on the counter in the kitchen making it hard to place anything else there. Clarke had her hands full and she struggled with her bags. Bellamy ran up by her grabbing a couple from her hands. "Let me get those, or did you want me to move something first". He was being oddly helpful. "No, it's fine just put them on the table". Bellamy did as instructed. Looking over Clarke in her wet clothes as she put all her groceries down. Her hair was really tussled now and her bun barely holding. She loosened her elastic shaking out her hair, curls falling all around her and landing on her shoulders. "Can I help with anything else". Clarke looked at him skeptically still unsure of his kind actions. "No, do you guys need extra blankets or anything or did you find everything you need". She peeked into the living room. Wells was on a blow-up mattress on the floor. Murphy had another mattress against the wall that needed to be set up still. Bellamy had his bed all neatly made after this morning on the couch. "No, we got it all, fixed it up while you girls were out and ordered pizza. Octavia said there were people coming over, so I figured you'd need food". She smiled at him. That was out of character for him. He kept his distance in the past, just going along with other people's plans. Not making them himself.
Clarke started unpacking the bags with Octavia. Bellamy wandered back over to the couch returning his face to the screen of his phone. Clarke whipped up the wings popping them in the oven and set some chips up on the table. Octavia was setting up drinks and when she finished, she yelled to Clarke she was going to shower and change. Clarke nodded yelling that she had a couple more things to do, then she would do the same.
Everything was ready and done. Clarke had showered after Octavia and wrapped herself in a towel to walk out into her room. Octavia's bedroom was right by the bathroom, but Clarkes was across the way. She felt eyes all over her but didn't intend to look at her audience. She just closed the door behind her as she got to her room.
Releasing the towel, she threw on a pair of lace cheekies and a strapless black lace bra. She pulled open her drawer to find a black strap top that hugged her chest but flared out at the bottom. The hem of it landing just under her belly button. She picked out a pair of white shorts slightly ripped and worn. She slipped them on and there was a small line where you could see her exposed skin. If she reached up you could see her shirt rise and her belly button stud, but if her hands were down there was enough left to the imagination.
She was happy with her look drying her hair and letting the loose waves fall over her shoulder. She threw on some mascara to her curled eyelashes and some eyeliner. Simple yet sexy, she looked in the mirror, happy with the end result. It was her house, so she opted out of shoes and went barefoot. A small knock on her door made her turn. "Come in" she called out. Octavia doesn't knock so she knew it must have been one of the boys. Wells slid open her door. She smiled seeing him. He left it open, walking over to her. "wow if I didn't know better, I would say I barely recognized you". Clarke laughed pulling him into a hug. "I'm not that different, I'm just more me now then I used to be. Believe it or not."
They both sat down on her bed, Clarke tucking one leg up and letting the other dangle over the side. Wells looked all over her room. "These are all amazing Clarke, you really did it you know". She played with her foot on the bed. "Yea, my dad was the one who pushed me, now I'm just trying to find my own way". She smiled. Her feelings from her dad's loss made her sad but she didn't feel the need to break down anymore. She had accepted that he was always there for her even if he wasn't physically there. Wells patted his hand on her foot and Clarke met his eyes. He was sincere and kind. Octavia showed up in her doorway, "You people ready to party or what". Almost 5 minutes till they told everyone to show up Clarke and Wells walked out into their apartment. Her phone going off. When she clicked the light on, she saw a friend request on her Instagram page. Bellamy Blake wants to add you it read. She looked over at the couch his face buried in his phone. She wasn't sure if he noticed but she clicked the accept button and shut off her phone returning it to her pocket. She made her way over to the kitchen island where Octavia had poured several parties shots and was cutting limes. Bellamy peered over where they stood, his social media alerting him to the change. He clicked off his phone heading toward the girls, ready to party.
Things in Octavia and Clarkes apartment are heating up, stay tuned for some party fun. I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter and continue reading. More to come. As always BE KIND
