Ok, I think I've probably confused some of you and I'm terribly sorry for that. I'm writing it as fast as it comes to me, and probably not taking enough time to plan a I should lol So, I'll take a moment and explain everything. Clarke and Octavia share an apartment, and Bellamy lives in different apartment complex. They all live in the same town, a college town where O and Clarke go to school. In the flashbacks, Bellamy and Octavia live in their childhood home and Clarke eventually moves in with them, after her Dad dies and things become strained with her mom, until they all move into their current living situation in the same town they grew up in. Bellamy is part of a gang that calls themselves the Grounders. He works in a chop shop that fronts as an auto repair shop. He joined because he didn't have enough money to take care of Octavia after their mom died, but now he can't get out. Sorry for any confusion I caused, and I hope this clears things up :)

Chapter 3

Clarke heard the front door open, and the cheerful voices of her roommate and her boyfriend. She didn't know how the two made it. After dating for nearly six months, Octavia still didn't know that Lincoln was a Grounder.

She sat up on the couch, grabbing the remote and switching off the TV. She knew she must look a mess, but she just really didn't care.

"Hey guys", she said with a fond grin.

"Hey girlie! Where'd my big bro head off to? Did you not go to class today ", Octavia asked with concern.

"He went back to his place about three hours ago I think, and no I did not go to class today", the blonde answered.

"I see you two had pancakes without me. No fair", O said with a devilish smirk.

"We felt like pancakes", Clarke said defensively.

"YOU felt like pancakes. Bell can't stand them", Octavia said, brow arched in challenge.

"He can't stand YOUR pancakes. He's rather partial to mine, especially because I have a secret ingredient", Clarke said with a grin.

"The peanut butter is no secret. My brother would eat dog crap if you put it on a plate", O said dryly.

Lincoln laughed at the girls' banter. He had to agree with his girlfriend though; Bellamy had a soft spot for the petite blonde. He'd seen the way they seemed to read each other's minds through a light touch or quick glance. It was really creepy and he and O had discussed it at great length.

"So, what are you two doing tonight", Clarke asked of Lincoln.

Before he could answer, Octavia chimed in. "We're going to this brand new coffee shop on Main! You should come with!"

"I don't know…"

"Come on Clarke, please", O begged.

"Fine", she said with a smile.

"Yes! I've finally succeeded in getting you out of the house!"

Clarke rolled her eyes and made her way to the bathroom. She turned on the tap, the shower coming to life in a steamy spray. She washed away her drowsiness, but her worry for Bellamy lingered.

She shoved it to the back of her mind as she towel dried her hair, staring into the mirror at the exhausted features that stared back at her. She'd seen that face before, but not in a long time.

Clarke was sitting on the couch watching the Lion King with Octavia when the doorbell rang. She watched as O got up to answer it, pausing the movie before she left. It was just about to the Hakuna Matata part, and that was O's favorite.

"Clarke, your mom's here!"

Clarke went to the door and found her mother standing there with tears coursing down her cheeks.

"What happened?"

"Your father's been shot."

"What? How", Clarke stuttered.

"Clarke…", Abby said pleadingly.

Something snapped in the little blonde and suddenly she was hurtling towards her mother. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her, holding her in place.

"You! You told him! You told Jaha what Dad found in those blueprints!"

"Honey, Thelonious didn't kill your father."

"Listen to yourself! Did you honestly think that because Jaha has a 'special' thing for you that he wouldn't retaliate? How stupid can you be", Clarke screamed.

"Clarke, you need to come home", Abby said firmly.

"No!"

"As your mother, I'm telling you to come home."

"You murdered my father. I can't bare to look at you let alone be in the same house with you", Clarke whispered.

She felt the arms around her loosen slightly, and then the tears started. She turned into Bellamy's chest, soaking his shirt with her tears. His hands rubbed up and down her back in a soothing motion.

"Shhh, I'm here."

Clarke clung to him like a drowning person would cling to a life preserver. Soon, she found herself on the couch still wrapped in Bellamy's embrace. She lay against his chest when all her tears were spent, staring into nothingness.

"How do I go back", she asked brokenly.

"I don't know", Bellamy answered honestly, "What I do know, is that you'll always have a place here."

She'd practically lived with Octavia and Bellamy after that. She couldn't bear to be around her mother, and she had the impression that her mother felt the same. They didn't speak, and hardly ever even saw each other. Abby stopped asking where she went or what she did, letting Clarke govern her own life.

When her hair wasn't wringing wet any longer, Clarke pulled it up in a messy bun before putting on a tiny bit of make up. She made her way into her bedroom and threw on a pair of jeans, a pair of tennis shoes, and a gray sweatshirt.

It wasn't until she was out the door that she noticed Octavia's smug grin.

"What's that about", she asked in a slightly agitated tone.

"Did you get dressed in the dark or something?"

"I don't look THAT bad", Clarke said with a snort.

"Clarke whose sweatshirt is that", O asked sweetly.

Clarke glanced down at the garment and felt her cheeks warm. In faded black letters the font read "Silver Fox Body Shop". She raised her head, defiance shining in her blue eyes.

"It was in my dresser, that makes it mine."

What Clarke didn't mention was the fact that it still smelled like Bellamy, she just marched ahead. She ignored the chuckles behind her and jogged down the stairs. She opened the double doors, the cool night air soothing her burning cheeks.

She waited for the lagging couple, her hand gripping the handle of Lincoln's SUV. She heard the locks pop, and then climbed into the backseat crossing her arms over her chest.

Clarke heard Octavia laugh, the girl staring at her in the rearview mirror with a fond expression.

"Are you going to be grouchy all night", she asked.

Clarke huffed, and averted her gaze.

"You've been spending too much time with Bell."

This brought Clarke's eyes back to O's, a blush creeping up her neck.

"I never said it was a bad thing, Clarke", Octavia said with a soft smile.

At her best friend's quiet words Clarke smiled, "I promise not to be a grump."

"Good."

The threesome arrived at the Mount Weather Coffee House, going inside and ordering their coffee before grabbing a booth. The atmosphere was warm and a band was playing on a small platform.

Clarke looked around, her eyes floating about the room and taking in every detail. She heard the bell ding telling them their coffee was ready.

"I'll get it", she said motioning for O and Lincoln to stay seated.

She made her way to the counter and picked up the tray of coffee, turning around to walk back. However, a man ran into her at that moment. The three hot beverages spilled down the front of her, or rather Bellamy's, sweatshirt.

Clarke raised her angry gaze to stare at the man, his mouth agape and an apology on his lips.

"I'm sorry. Here let me…"

The man said beginning to dab at the dark stain on the front of her shirt. Clarke dropped the tray, slapping his hands away and yanking the napkins out of his hands. She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice Lincoln approaching, a slight frown painting his features.

"Is everything alright, Clarke", he asked sternly.

"Yeah, everything's fine. This idiot is just a klutz, and Bell is going to kill me", Clarke mumbled.

"I am sorry miss, I'll gladly buy your coffee. Just tell me what you and your friends are having and I'll take care of it."

"Well it is the least you could do", Clarke snapped before rattling off their order once again.

After paying for the coffee, mystery man turned to her with a smile and an extended hand.

"I'm Finn. I'm sorry we've gotten off to such a rough start", he said with a kind smile.

Clarke found that for some reason she couldn't be too angry with him, "I'm Clarke. It's nice to meet you Finn."

She watched as he turned to go, and then for some reason she invited him over.

"Why don't you sit with us, if you have time I mean", she stammered.

Finn's features lit as he nodded enthusiastically. He followed her back to the table and took the seat beside Clarke.

Octavia gave her the strangest look, and Lincoln didn't look happy either. She could only imagine what Bell would have done. The thought made her blush, which in turn caused O to grin like the cat that got the cream.

They talked, slightly strained but enjoyable nonetheless. Soon, Clarke checked her watch and decided it was time for her to go. She wanted to check on Bellamy before she headed back.

"Well, I think I'm going to head home. I've got class tomorrow", she said with a sigh.

She quickly stopped her friends from getting up, "I'll get a cab. Don't worry about it."

"I could drive you home", Finn offered with a smile.

Clarke stared at him for a moment, wondering if she should accept help from the kind stranger. Then Bellamy's voice popped into her head, the same speech he'd always given her and O about stranger danger, and found herself grinning.

"I'm not exactly going home. I've got to look in on an old friend first, but thanks for the offer", she said as she rose to leave.

Octavia grinned, giving Lincoln a wink. "Pay up, mister."

"Why did I even bet against you", Lincoln asked with a huff.

"Because you're too sweet to tell me no. Besides, I've known that Bell was Clarke's real best friend for ages. You've got a little catching up to do."

"So, this guy is just her friend", Finn asked hopefully.

Octavia smiled, "For now."

Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think! :)