Thanks for all of the reviews, follows, and faves! Here's another update for you! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 17
Clarke woke to Bellamy's gaze, warm and loving. She had always loved his eyes, the dark brown orbs reminding her of two identical pools of dark chocolate- sweet and tempting.
"Morning", she mumbled.
"Morning, Princess", he said, his voice utterly delicious and groggy.
"Mmm, how are you feeling this morning?"
"Like I got whacked on the head with a 2x4", Bellamy said with a chuckle.
"I'm glad you find it humorous! Nearly gave me a heart attack", she grumbled burying her face in his chest.
As she breathed in, her senses came alive with Bellamy Blake's scent. He always smelled good, woodsy and masculine. She sighed, her lips curving in a grin.
"Do you think we should make them wait, or should we just go and get it over with", Clarke said, her voice muffled.
"Might as well get it over with", Bellamy said quietly.
They both got up- Clarke pulling one of his sweatshirts over her t-shirt, the hem hanging nearly to the tip of her shorts, before making her way out into the living room.
She found O and Lincoln sitting on the couch, both of them turning to stare in her direction. She breezed by them without a second glance, knowing that if she and Bellamy were going to dig up the past then they needed coffee.
Clarke measured the dark grounds, spooning them into the filter, adding the water, and flipping the switch. Soon, the happy gurgling of the coffee maker filled the kitchen as she put some frozen biscuits in the oven.
She heard her bedroom door shut, and then saw Bellamy disappear down the hall. She grinned to herself, remembering that the eldest Blake was not human until he'd had his morning shower.
She continued to busy herself in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess from supper the previous night. Her thoughts wandered to the first morning she'd spent in the Blake house after moving in.
Clarke had taken over the guest bedroom at the Blake residence, her door parallel to Bellamy's. She woke up, expecting to be disoriented but the room had long ago become familiar.
In the past two years she'd spent more time in this little bedroom than she had the room at her mother's house. She'd filed the paperwork to be emancipated two weeks after her father's murder, convincing the judge that she could handle her life on her own without the needless parenting of her mother.
So, now she found herself here. Employed at a local diner and driving a junky little white car she'd purchased just last week at a used car lot. Bellamy had gone with her, inspecting every vehicle until he finally gave her the ok on the tiny bucket of bolts.
"She may look rough, but she won't leave you stranded", he said.
Technically, Clarke had been living with them since the day after Jake Griffin's death, but the fight with her mother solidified the fact that the move was permanent. She would go and gather any necessary belongings later in the afternoon, officially becoming a member of the Blake household- as if she wasn't already.
She lay there for a moment, listing all of the things she needed to get done when her stomach rumbled. She'd eaten little at dinner the previous night and now she was starving.
Clarke got up, throwing on one of Bellamy's old high school hoodies over her tank top and sweats before making her way down stairs. The first floor was quiet, Bellamy and O still asleep upstairs.
She got a pot of coffee started, knowing that Bell would want a cup before he headed off to the shop. She tapped her forefinger on her chin as she leaned against the counter trying to decide what to have for breakfast.
She finally decided on Bellamy's favorite, quiche with peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, ham, and cheese. She got all of her ingredients out, chopped up the veggies, mixed it all together with some eggs, and then placed it in the oven.
Clarke heard Bellamy's footsteps long before she saw him, the heavy thuds on the stairs a clear indication that he was tired. She nearly laughed out loud when he came into the kitchen shirtless, barefoot, and hair sticking up at odd angles.
"Morning, Princess", he said as he sat down at the worn oak table.
"Morning", she said with a grin as she placed his coffee before him.
She sat down next to him to wait out the oven, watching him as he went about his morning routine. He reached for the paper, searching first for the sport's page and handing the comics to her.
They sat in companionable silence, him reading and her peaking at him from behind the funny pages. A smile curved her lips at his expression, his eyes roving over the page and his nose wrinkled slightly.
It was in that moment that Clarke realized that mornings spent with Bellamy Blake were the best. No matter what her day might entail, at least she had a calm and pleasant breakfast with the man beside her.
Clarke was pulled from her thoughts when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her middle. She leaned back against the rock hard chest, sighing as his lips grazed her jaw.
"Good morning, Princess", Bellamy said huskily.
"Morning", she answered, handing him a cup of coffee.
They both turned when they heard a throat clear, Octavia standing in the doorway of the kitchen her hands on her hips.
"You promised me answers, big brother, now spill."
Clarke felt more than heard Bellamy's groan as he pulled away from her, the sound rumbling in his chest sending a tingling vibration through her back.
"Fine, O. Ask away", he said as he sat down at the island.
"Who is this Cage guy and what does he have against you?"
"Cage used to be a captain in the crew, but he got caught embezzling by yours truly. I alerted Lynx, and Cage was kicked out. He was picked up by the Sky's, but he never forgave me for ratting him out. I was rewarded with his position at the Silver Fox only six months after I joined the Grounders. After I made a name for myself, Cage tried to get me to shift my loyalties. That's why he sent Finn after Clarke; he hoped to use her against me. Collins botched the job, and now he's going to be desperate to get back in good standing with his boss. That's why Miller is driving you to school today, Princess", Bellamy said turning to face Clarke.
She stared at him for a minute, her blue eyes wide and her mouth hanging open.
"I can take care of myself", she said finally.
"I know, Princess, but it would make me feel better if you let him go with you."
Clarke deflated, smiling softly, "Alright, I guess I can't argue with that."
"Thanks, Princess. O, you're spending the day with Lincoln", Bellamy said turning back to his sister.
"I definitely won't complain about that."
"Good, now that that's settled, I've got to get a shower and get out of here. I've called a meeting tonight, so I need to get down to the shop."
Clarke watched him place his coffee cup in the sink, and then raised her cheek for his feather light kiss. He was out of the apartment not twenty minutes later, and she was on her way to class not long after.
Miller picked her up at ten-thirty sharp in his burgundy Mustang. She crawled into the passenger seat with a smile.
"Hey, Miller. I'm sorry you got stuck babysitting", Clarke said as she put on her seatbelt.
"I don't mind. I do what the Boss tells me", he answered dramatically.
Their playful banter flew back and forth until Clarke caught something out of the corner of her eye. Bellamy's truck was parked at the curb near a side alley.
"Miller, that was Bell's truck. What's he doing on this side of town, this is Sky territory", Clarke said.
"That wasn't his truck, Clarke", Miller said quietly.
"Yes it was, Miller. I would know that truck anywhere. Go back", she said, her voice becoming frantic.
"I'm telling you Clarke, that wasn't him."
Clarke stared at Miller, fear wrapping its icy fingers around her heart. She waited until his car came to a stop at the stoplight before flinging her door open and running back to where she'd seen Bell's truck.
She could hear Miller calling after her, but she just kept running. Dread spiraled within her when she heard angry voices coming from the alley. She made it to the dim backstreet in time to see a man in a dark hoodie raise a gun, pointing it at Bellamy's chest.
"This is it for you, Blake", a voice said before the gun went off.
Clarke felt like her heart was shattering into a million pieces as she watched Bellamy fall. She ran towards him, falling on the dingy concrete at his side, her hands moving to where blood spilled from his chest.
"No, not you too", she begged, tears falling down her cheeks.
She placed her fingers against his neck, but felt nothing. She leaned over his body, violent sobs tearing from her chest. His blood coated her clothes and hands, her desperate screams filling the air.
Clarke felt hands pulling her away, but she jerked lose refusing to leave. She rocked back and forth, Bellamy's hand in her own. Her lips tasted of salt, and a dull ache had settled in her chest.
Soon sirens sounded, paramedics rushing forward. She refused to leave, even after they said it was too late. She screamed at them, begging them to save him. Miller pulled her close, burying her face in his chest.
He took her home, finding Octavia and Lincoln sitting white faced in the living room. They both stared at Clarke, her face white and her eyes lifeless.
"What happened", Octavia asked.
"He's gone", Clarke whispered, "He's gone."
Thank you so much for reading! Please review and tell me what you thought! :)
Wright: Thanks for the review! You are most welcome for the double updates! I never thought I could do it, but I'm proving myself wrong every day! I just hope I can keep it up! I figured giving the kid a job would be a very Bellamy thing to do, so I'm glad you liked that! :)