Yes, I do realize it's been more than a week, but ever since I returned from Italy it has been family time, job searching, and trying to figure out some kinks in my class schedule for next year. Talk about a fun time, right?
Thanks so much to my reviewers: red08, CheriEstella, moosesammy, heidi1245401, SquidaQdaloo, and Guest.
Guest: Yes, soon we get into more gritty/darker story lines as the characters age, which arguably is a bit more fun sometimes!
Nine Years after Start of Program
As it turns out, Bellamy was correct. Finn and Clarke weren't compatible. They went on a few dates, if you could even truly call it that, but it ended almost as quickly as it began. Clarke realized that whenever she wasn't looking, and she hoped he was looking at her like she was the sun, he was instead looking at Raven that way…and he didn't even know he was doing it. Although she was young, she already knew she wasn't going to be second place to anyone, and she promptly ended it.
In the time since then, six or something months, she'd had two more kisses; one guy and one girl, although she'd argue the girl didn't count since it was during Truth or Dare. And, she told Bellamy about all of them, since they were friends and she felt it to be fair. She also told Wells, because she hadn't been and if her reasoning for telling Bellamy was because they were best friends, logically she told Wells too?
Nothing had stuck though. The one other kiss with the guy hadn't lasted farther than her and Finn had, and truth be told, she wasn't actively looking for a 'relationship' at all. She was nearing fourteen, and her mother still thought she was too young to be liking guys at all, and she seemingly always got a lecture from her about it. Her father was a little less severe, but he did encourage Clarke not to get attached to anyone. She wasn't looking for her future husband right now, for star's sake!
But some were. It was obvious that in their little group, people were eighteen and almost nineteen, almost two years past age of adulthood and therefore eligible for marriage. Some had relationships outside of the group that she knew of and while she didn't talk with the people that old often, she knew a couple was actually beginning to consider such things. It was crazy to think that while Bree was next to her just turning thirteen there were people in her same group considering marrying someone and having their kid. It was frankly mind-boggling to Clarke.
The trouble came mid-September, when Clarke and Wells were walking to group with a plate of apple pies they'd made before hand. Yet, as soon as Wells turned the corner into the room, he froze and began to backtrack.
"I'm sick today, Clarke." He said frantically, trying to cover himself behind Clarke's back.
"What? You're perfectly fine, Wells."
"No, that's what you'll tell them. I got to go." He said, trying to make a run for it. Clarke grabbed him by the back of his shirt collar, and shoved him to the side, out of view of the room.
"What is going on? Do you owe someone money? Did you get in trouble? Is there something going on I should know about?" She questioned. Wells gave her a deadpanned look.
"Jesus, Clarke, no. I just…" He groaned, cradling his head in his hands, "Look in there discreetly…you'll see Marisha has a letter in her hands." He said. Clarke darted her head around the threshold to see Marisha sobbing and clutching a paper.
"Yes…?" She said, still trying to understand how this connected him to anything.
"It has the Chancellor's seal on it. Whatever the hell was in there isn't good news, obviously. Whenever shit goes wrong and my dad signed off on something, I'm the one everyone comes to, like I seriously have any power on him." He groaned, "I've seen that look one too many times before."
"Really?" Clarke questioned, stepping back, "What do they think you can do?"
"Exactly!" He said a little too loudly, and leaned back, hitting his head against the metal walls, "Just…I don't want to deal with it. I don't want to have to come back to another person and give them the same bad news all over again." He said, and Clarke felt sorry for him.
"You're sick. You have a bad case of the flu, nothing contagious or serious, just felt a little under the weather." Clarke said and Wells threw her a relieved smile.
"You're literally the best, Clarke."
"I'll see what it's about. Maybe it's nothing anyone could have ever changed anyway?" She said. Wells scoffed.
"It usually is. But somehow they still…never mind. I'm just going to head home now, see you later." He gave a little wave, going back toward their station with a quick trot.
Clarke stacked his plate of pie on her own, and went into the meeting room.
"Clarke!" A teary voice said before she'd gotten a food in. Clarke withheld a sigh, turning to see Marisha behind her. How did Wells know this was going to happen? Clarke was fairly sure the girl wasn't here to try her mother's famous Cinnamon Apple Crumble Pie.
"Yeah?" Clarke was almost afraid to ask.
"Where's your friend, Wells?" Marisha questioned, wringing her hands, "When will he get here? I really need to talk to him." She said, wiping her nose and trying not to start crying all over.
"Erm…he's feeling a little sick today. He won't be coming in." She said. By now, people had stopped pretending to continue what they were doing while listening in, instead turning toward the two females with curious expressions.
"But it's really important." Marisha clutched the paper tighter. Clarke forced a smile.
"Perhaps you can tell me, and then I'll tell him?" She offered. Marisha seemed a little dubious, but in the end gave a vacant nod.
"Okay…" She coughed a little, and unwrinkled the paper she had, offering it out to Clarke with shaking hands. Clarke took it, looking down. It was a marriage request, and across it was a big fat 'Denied' stamp.
"It says on the form that we weren't suited for it-," Marisha began, and Clarke winced.
"Maybe?"
"No! Clarke, we…we were ready! My boyfriend, Harry…he's…we're…" She composed herself, "We've been dating since we were both fourteen. He's from my station so it's not like we'd be making an upset of things, you know? We're both in perfect health and have jobs that we're both doing very well at, according to our employers. We want this so badly. How could this make us unsuitable?" She questioned, and Clarke didn't know how to answer. By all means, she was correct.
"I'll talk to Wells." She whispered, licking her lips, "Sometimes…they're mistakes." She said hopefully, because on occasion, there has been known that there was. Relief flooded Marisha's eyes, and she nodded, pushing the paper to Clarke.
"Take it…so he can see it. I just don't understand, I just don't understand."
"I'll make sure he looks into it." Clarke said, and looked up. Everyone who had once been paying obnoxiously close attention went back to whatever they had pretended to be doing. Clarke gave Marisha an awkward pat on the back, and folded he paper into her pocket.
She sat down at her table by her friends, moaning into her arm and putting her head on the cool metal.
"That's a rough verdict." Monty said, looking back at her, "Poor M…"
"Do you think there's actually anything that could be done?" Raven asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"I wasn't lying. Jaha has made mistakes, you know…late at night he does these…" Clarke swallowed, but didn't say the rest of her thought, that it was so rare that it was silly to think so.
"There could be something else, you know? Maybe her blood work showed something." Jasper offered up.
"Why wouldn't they just write that down, then?" Harper said, "It's not like they've ever been fearful of hurting feelings, especially if there was a legitimate reason."
"Maybe dear old Harry didn't really want it, and he went and intervened." Murphy suggested, ever the pessimist.
"Why couldn't he just be honest, if that were it? That doesn't make a good relationship to lie to someone…" Monty frowned.
"Well, if he's avoiding marriage I don't think they have a great relationship at all." Murphy laughed.
"This is all just speculation." Clarke reminded them, "I'm sure there is a perfectly logical reason behind it." She said, but no one looked convinced and truthfully, she didn't think so either. But Marisha looked so relieved now, almost happy, and for a moment she understood why Wells had reacted so violently against dealing with this. If she had to do this all the time…she frowned, at least she knew she'd never be right at politics.
Bellamy appeared a little later, just dropping by between shifts to scarf down some bread and cheese, and by this time Marisha was still lightly sobbing in a corner.
"What's wrong with Mar?" He asked, beginning to abandon his lunch to comfort her, despite having precious time before he was due back.
"Oh, her." Benny hardly looked up from the book he was reading, "Marriage application was rejected."
"What?" Bellamy startled, "Her and Harry didn't get accepted? That's…crazy!"
Benny finally looked up, dog-earing his page (which made Bellamy flinch inwardly) and giving a sympathetic look in her direction.
"I know. Makes me concerned when anyone else wants to try. Not that I'm shacking up yet-,"
"You kind of need a girlfriend, or a boyfriend for that." Bellamy interrupted with a grin and Benny flipped him off.
"Shut up. But as I was saying, they're like…the poster child for good marriage, pretty kids. If they didn't get accepted, is there hope for any of us?"
"Maybe it's just because they're young?" Bellamy offered. Marisha was his age, and he couldn't imagine settling down with someone now at all, despite the fact he didn't have someone to do such things with. Even if he did, he couldn't imagine in his right mind wanting to tie the knot with so much life left…
"I was down near the wedding hall yesterday fixing a flickering light and there was a girl who was 17 and getting hitched. Age isn't an issue. Besides, you know what they say, a marriage makes you more 'responsible' and they'd just love to yank my childhood right out from under me as soon as possible."
"Then what?" Bellamy said, still staring at her, "Why could this have happened?"
"Beats me." Benny took a piece of his cheese; "She gave the notice to your BFFL Clarke, though."
"We're not…whatever the heck that is. Just friends." Bellamy rolled his eyes, correcting Benny on his relationship with Clarke for the umpteenth time.
"I'm pretty sure you like her more than you like me." Benny said, which of course was true, but in a very different way then Benny understood currently, "Which makes you BFFLs- Best Friends for Life."
"Where'd you pick that one up?" Bellamy guffawed, "That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"An old slang book from early 2000s." Benny chuckled, "I like it. So, do you think she knows what's up or has a say? Maybe I should become better friend with her…it sure must be nice to have friends in high places…"
"I can't imagine. But, maybe." Bellamy said, and saw the time. He had to get back, and therefore any questioning of Clarke's involvement in Marisha's denied application was put aside.
Clarke, who stayed just long enough to be socially acceptable, carefully tucked the document in her jacket pocket and pounded on Wells door.
Wells answered, looking a little embarrassed.
"So I take it I was right to hide?" He asked.
"Maybe." Clarke said, waltzing in and noticed Bree sitting on the couch, "What are you doing here?"
"Apparently you really convinced them. Bree came by to see if I needed anything."
Clarke gave a smile. She was glad that Wells had found another really good friend, someone that had the thought to come to an Alpha to see if he needed something else. In a way, it reminded her of Bellamy, except Bree was much quieter, unless they were in solitary situations like now.
"You could have told your friends he was fine." Bree said, looking red and not turning back to pale anytime soon.
"And risked someone overhearing? I didn't think much of it, anyway." Clarke admitted after a second, "It was a nice thought though."
"Yeah, and now I look like the total idiot." She face-palmed, "I might as well get back."
"Oh, don't leave on my account." Clarke said but she gave a shake of her head anyway.
"I told my mom I'd help prepare dinner. See you tomorrow, Wells!" She waved and he gave a lighthearted smile.
"See ya, Bree."
Once the door closed behind her, he turned, raising an eyebrow.
"It was about a marriage application. Marisha…she and Harry, well you've seen them! She just wants to know if there's any chance at all that maybe there was a mistake or…" Clarke was fishing the paper from her pocket when Wells interrupted her.
"Marisha? From our group?"
"Yeah, her. You know her, Wells."
"It wasn't." He said a little too quickly for Clarke to believe that he didn't know something.
Once she pointed this out, his face went stricken, but he recovered quickly, "I just…I heard my dad debating with some of the council about whether to approve her. I mean, I sort of tune in whenever someone I know is being discussed…I don't always mean to."
"And you didn't think to warn her?" The paper fell on the coffee table, forgotten, "And she had to get that today and she's hardly holding it together!"
"I wasn't sure what they'd choose! And what would it do? A sobbing girl won't change my dad's mind. He has a heart, but his decisions aren't to be questioned."
Clarke studied him. She wasn't sure if she believed his tale that he'd heard his father accidentally, because Thelonius Jaha had been careful about such matters since his son could understand what he was saying to keep it behind closed doors, but on the other hand why would Wells have motive to lie? He seemed sincere, the way he forlornly looked at the paper, and Wells had never been known to be malicious in his entire life. To destroy someone's whole future just didn't make sense. Likelihood is that he did overhear his dad.
"You look like you're going to think yourself to death," Wells teased.
"I'm just…" She waved her hand, "I believe you, Wells. Now I have to go back and give her more bad news." Clarke fell backward onto the couch.
Wells sat next to her.
"I can. She'll believe it more from me. I could say I asked my dad, say he thought about it. People like to think that it could have been different, that their matters are cared about. It's a lie, which I don't always endorse, but it might make her feel better." His voice was loaded with something akin to guilt.
"I agree. It's kinder to say those things. Maybe it will deter her from going after your dad to demand he re-check her form." Clarke sucked on her lip, "I hope it doesn't stop them from trying again. People have a better chance if they apply again like two or three years, right?"
"Yeah, sure." Wells seemed a little far away with his answer. Clarke nudged him, "Hmm?"
When Wells looked up, Clarke had a mischievous smile on her lips. He didn't like that look. "What?"
"Bree, huh?"
"What do you mean?" He asked, frowning.
"Oh, come on! She came over with soup, Wells." She said, pushing his arm.
"And?" He craned his neck, "Am I missing something?"
"Yes! She's cute, you know."
Wells gave her an aggravated glance. "Are you saying that as the Clarke that likes guys or the Clarke that likes girls?"
"Both! I mean, she's not my girl type, but I could see what guys would think is adorable about her. On the other hand, I think she's sort of like a kitten."
"It's not like that Clarke." Wells said softly.
"Well, maybe not for you. But I mean, she wouldn't be awful as a girlfriend…Wells, I've just never seen you date anyone. I sort of got excited! Have you even had your first kiss?"
Wells shook his head slowly.
"Exactly! You don't have to marry Bree, but maybe a date or two with her wouldn't hurt?" When he didn't say anything, Clarke continued, "You're young! You should be out dating around, finding that one person or whatever that people croon on about, you know? And-,"
"Drop it, Clarke." His sharp tone scared Clarke. She'd only ever heard him use that tone with his father or when he was arguing with Murphy, but never had he used it on her.
"I'm sorry." Her voice was small, "I just…" She felt tears welling in her eyes. She was so ashamed she was crying over this, but he'd never spoken to her like this and she didn't know how to respond.
"Oh, shit." Wells swore under his breath, "I just…I like someone else, okay? Bree is nice, really, but I just don't…I can't like her like that now."
"Why don't you try to ask this other girl, then?" Clarke found her voice, hoping it was less teary, "Worst she'll say no, and then maybe you can move on."
Wells gave a wry smile.
"I wouldn't even try. She already has someone else." He said.
"Wells, I'm so sorry." Clarke's eyebrows knit, "Maybe they'll break up?"
Wells gave a short laugh, "They're going to end up together. I just know." He said, meeting her gaze. Of course, at this time Clarke had little idea he was speaking about her and Bellamy, and wouldn't realize until years later, and currently assumed he was speaking of general gut feeling instead of insider knowledge about her impending marriage. In this moment, though, Clarke clenched her fits, ready to beat up whoever (even unwittingly) hurt her second best friend so much.
"Who is she?"
"I'm not going to have you harassing her!" Wells threw up his hands, "I know you would, Clarke. It's fine, I'm fine."
"If you're sure…"
"I am." There was a quite moment, "Do you really think Bree might like me?" He sounded a little relieved, although Clarke couldn't imagine why if he didn't have an interest in her. She shoved it aside, though, because perhaps he was warming up to her as well.
"For sure! Casual friends don't just bring sick friends soup, you know."
"I didn't," He said, sounding amused, "But thank you for informing me. Since you are such a relationship expert, and all." He nudged her good-naturedly.
"I never claimed to be an expert, but I do have you on kisses and dates. You need to catch up, bud."
Wells rolled his eyes, "Sure, Clarke. Whatever."
Clarke chuckled. A week later, Wells asked Bree out. To no surprise of Clarke, she happily accepted.
So, obviously I didn't win in the Bellarke fanfiction awards. I was just happy to be nominated though. I also now have a list of Bellarke fanfiction to read about a mile long... XD
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