Chapter 18

Bellamy was having a bad day; his coach was pushing him on the last days of practice before the seasons end. He was yelling at him on the field in front of the others and with all the things that Bellamy had on his mind that was the place he wanted to be the least. He held his head down staring at the grass on the field. "Do you hear me Blake! I'm talking to you". Bellamy looked up. "I hear you coach, I'll try harder". "These guys are counting on you to lead them, shape up son or get out". The offer sounding pretty good today. Yet, Bellamy knew that the season was almost over, and it would be a nice break, allowing him to finish catching up on school. He ran over to the team to run some more drills, pushing some of the guys and pinpointing the problems that came and went throughout the plays. The coach clapped his hands as he watched. "Better, much better"! It was time to hit the showers. Bellamy retreated next to Wells to the locker room. "Heard from Clarke yet today. You look like you could use a pick me up". Bellamy laughed as he began to undress. "Yea you could say that. We've been chatting over the phone, but she's been pretty busy. I'm falling behind a little bit in some of my classes and If I want to keep the scholarship, I think I need to hunker down tonight and get studying". "So that means no drinks tonight"? Murphy entered their conversation, clearly ease dropping from nearby. Bellamy shook his head, "Not for me at least".

They had finished washing up and grabbed their stuff driving back to their house. Bellamy walked in his room pulling out his phone, it was later than he expected, but the guys stopped on the way to get a bite to eat. 5:30, he could either pull out his materials now and get to work or just give in to a minute more and call Clarke. He really missed her and he thought clearing his head might have a benefit on his studying later that night. He clicked the video call button, most of the time they texted or chatted over the phone. This time he wanted to see her, thinking maybe she was already home, covered in paint and deep in a project.

Clarke picked up after a couple rings, music blasting over the other end, he had to adjust the volume a bit so he could hear her clearly without blasting his ears. "Hey Bell, I miss you babe". Bellamy was relieved to hear her voice, and that she was thinking of him. "I miss you too. You out with Octavia. I don't want to ruin your night, just needed to hear your voice". "Octavia is busy most of the night, either with Lincoln or with classes, she didn't specify. Everything ok"? He could always count on her to be there for him. She was concerned and it felt nice to know someone was looking out for his well-being. Any of his other friends would have bypassed the comment. "Yea babe, just a rough day. A lot on my mind with the end of the season and I'm falling behind in some of my classes, I just…" He could hear someone on the other end. Not that it bothered him, but if she wasn't out with Octavia then who was she with? Suddenly Finn popped his face over her phone, Clarke laughing at something he said. What the hell was Finn doing there. Usually he had only hung around them if Lincoln joined, and still it was a group. Not the two by themselves. "Hey Bellamy, your missing out on some great tacos". He bit into one watching as he chewed over the screen before leaving. Clarke moved her phone up as she pushed him back in his seat.

"I ran into Finn earlier between classes, we decided on getting a bite. Now tell me what I can do to help. You said your falling behind. Maybe we can figure out a way to adjust your schedule." Bellamy cut her off. "You know what don't worry about it, I am putting in some extra study time tonight, just wanted to call and wish you a good night. Have fun and I'll talk to you sometime tomorrow". He reached for the end button before Clarke had a chance to answer. He threw his phone on his bed, rubbing his arm with his other hand. "Dammit" he yelled. Wells opened the door to his room; he didn't know they were still there. "Hey everything ok"? Bellamy looked up at him grabbing his jacket from his chair, "Yeah, fine. Now how about those drinks". Wells looked at him suspiciously, he thought he was studying for the night. Whatever it was Bellamy's mind was made up. They were going out for drinks.

Clarke checked her phone; Bellamy had hung up abruptly and she didn't even get a chance to say goodbye or love you. It wasn't something she did or said was it? She pulled up her texts, "Love you". She hit send putting her phone down and returning to their conversation. "So, what is the boyfriend up to tonight"? "I'm not sure actually, he said he was having a rough day, and he was going to go study, but I can call him later". She shrugged her shoulders. "Yea, I'm sure everything will be ok. He's really a good guy you know. When I first met him, I was…." Finn laughed a little bit to himself. He rubbed the back on his neck. "What, you were what". Clarke feeling a little defensive of her boyfriend. "I was a bit jealous actually. I was told that you were single, by Lincoln, and well when I had figured out that Bellamy already knew you so well. It kind of put a damper on my plans". "Your plans"? Clarke had never been the object of a man's desire, or at least not that she could see. "I wanted to ask you out, I thought maybe we could have hit it off". She raised her glass, chuckling to herself. "Well here we are out, and I would say we are hitting it off. As friends". Finn smiled at her choice of words, raising his glass to her "Friends".

Clarke had gotten in a little later than she expected, putting her take out bag on the counter. "Octavia you home"? Octavia held a hand up from the couch where she was crashing. "Barely able to move, classes killed me today and I am whipped". Clarke grabbed the bag handing it over to her. Looking down over the couch. "I brought you some food". Octavia propped herself up, happily. A complete mood change. She grabbed the bag opening to the tacos. "Omg you are my savior; I feel bad though knowing you were out on your own. I would have cut class early if you called me". Clarke walked to the fridge to get a bottle of water for her before rejoining her, now sitting next to her on the couch. "I wasn't alone, Finn joined me". Octavia stopped mid bite looking over Clarke. "Finn, that's new. Anything you wanna tell me about there"? Clarke laughed kicking her with her foot. "No, nothing interesting. I spend all my time with either you or the girls. I figured when I ran into Finn today on campus, that I take advantage of the opportunity to make a new friend". Octavia smiled at Clarke, "It's not like you to put yourself out there. But I'm proud of you, I can tell you that". "Why thank you for your approval. I'm going to shower and get ready for bed, then call Bell again. I know he said he was busy but I wanna ring him just in case".

Octavia waved her off, her mouth full with food. Clarke showered, and got ready for bed like she said pulling out her phone and calling Bellamy before she called it a night. He didn't text her back after she sent him the last text and she wanted to make sure he was ok. No answer on the other line, just his voicemail. He's probably studying and doesn't want to be bothered. She put her phone on the charger, settling into her sheets. Ready to fall asleep content that tonight, enough stress was off her mind where she could get a good night's rest. Clarke was awoken by the repetitive buzzing of her phone. It must have been going off for a while now. She looked down. 3:10am, who the hell was calling her at this hour. She squinted her eyes at the lit-up screen. Sliding over the green answering button. "Hello". It was Bellamy on the other end, and he was clearly wasted. "Why hello Princess". She assumed he must be out with the guys, they could usually rope him into a night out, when she knew he wanted to study. That wasn't going to help him when he was falling behind. It didn't matter though; she wouldn't bring that up tonight. Not when his head was not in the right place. "I can tell someone is having a good time, are you just getting home. You didn't drive right"? He laughed on the other end. "No, no, no. My sweet Princess. I didn't drive. I'm not that irresponsible. Wells called a car for us".

Yea he definitely went out with the guys, she would have to call Wells tomorrow and scold him for his irresponsibility. "Well as long as your safe and feeling better. Listen it's late why don't you get some sleep. I can call you tomorrow, presumably after your hangover is done". "You want me to leave you alone, so you can get back to him don't you". Clarke didn't know the him that he was referring to. "What him, I'm home alone Bellamy. Like always". "You sure you didn't invite him home, or maybe he weaseled his way in just like he did when I left, to have dinner with you". Now she was catching on. "You mean Finn, Bell it was a friendly dinner. I've been sleeping like crap lately, and it was a nice night to just get my mind off things. I don't know why I have to explain this to you it's not like I did anything wrong".

She was getting a little worked up, how could he think of her like that. He knew her better than anyone, like she would ever hurt him in that way. "You say that now, but soon enough he'll make his move". Clarke cut him off sitting up in her bed, she was wide awake now. "And I can make my own choices regardless of who makes what moves. I am my own person, and I have a boyfriend, or did you forget". Bellamy must have fallen asleep on the other end, only making her more mad. She didn't know if he heard the last part or if he drifted off before then. She hit the end call button. Throwing her phone on her bed and running her hands through her hair. She had done nothing wrong; it was just a fun night out. Even if she wanted to look at it from his perspective there was nothing to be worried about because Clarke was not that type of girl. She threw herself back on the bed, thoughts reeling. If she wasn't going to get any more sleep, she might as well blow off some steam. She got dressed, moving through the apartment. She decided on a run. Quietly leaving and grabbing her house key. She needed to clear her mind.

Lots going on for Bellarke but nothing that they cant fix. I hope you enjoyed the read and will continue to read on. Stay tuned for more and I would appreciate the review if you have one. Thanks again and as always BE KIND