Thanks for all of the reviews, follows, and faves! You guys are absolutely amazing! :)
Chapter 25
Clarke was discharged from the hospital after one week, and she swore she was going crazy. She was moved back into she and O's apartment, but Bellamy rarely ever left. She knew he slept on the couch, but she decided if that made him feel better then she would allow it.
She got up her third morning being home and made her way into the kitchen. The apartment was dark, and Bellamy's soft snores echoed in the quiet room. As she passed, she could see his mop of dark brown curls sticking out from under the leopard print blanket.
Clarke grinned to herself, the sight too adorable for words. She finally stumbled into the kitchen, winded and starving. She began to rifle through the cabinets looking for her cereal when she accidentally overreached.
She winced as the sharp pain that tore through her midsection, bending forward slightly with a gasp. Then she felt gentle hands on her shoulders, and looked up to find Bellamy- a very shirtless Bellamy- standing in her kitchen.
"What are you doing, Princess", he growled as he led her to one of the bar stools.
"I was trying to fix some cereal. I'm not completely helpless", Clarke whined.
"I know you're not, sweetheart, but you have to be more careful", Bellamy said, his voice low and raspy.
Clarke gulped, "You can't say stuff like that."
"Like what", Bellamy asked in confusion.
"You can't be so sweet this early in the morning", she said, leaning over to lay her forehead on his chest.
She could faintly hear the beating of his heart, and the sound reminded her of the time while he was gone- a time she was trying desperately to forget. She felt his hands on her back, the warm seeping through her this t-shirt as he began to rub slow, soothing circles up and down her spine.
"Mmmm", she hummed in contentment.
"I love you, Clarke Griffin", Bellamy whispered in her ear, causing her to shiver.
"Who knew you were such a softie at seven o' clock in the morning", she mumbled, her voice muffled.
"I'm a softie at all hours when it comes to you, Princess", Bellamy chuckled.
Clarke sighed, a smile curving her lips.
"I love you too, Blake, now make me cereal", she said, raising her gaze to meet his chocolatey brown orbs.
"Yes ma'am", he smirked, "But you have to let go first."
Clarke pulled back, laying her hands in her lap demurely. She watched him as he went to the cupboard, reaching up to grab the box of frosted flakes. Her face tinted pink at the sight of his toned back, muscles rippling at the simple action.
When he turned and found her staring, she ducked her head to hide her flaming cheeks. At the sound of his deep, rumbling chuckle, Clarke glanced up with a frown.
"Hey, don't look at me, Princess. I wasn't the one caught admiring the view", Bellamy said with a smirk.
"Cheeky", Clarke muttered under her breath.
Soon, she was situated on the couch and a her favorite cereal bowl rested in her hands. The skin on her forehead still tingled where Bellamy kissed her as he handed her her breakfast.
"Thanks Bell", she said sweetly.
"You're welcome, sweetheart. I'll leave you to your cereal. I've got to get to the shop."
She watched him go, and then an idea popped into her head.
"Hey, babe", she called after him, enjoying the way his cheeks flushed at the term of endearment, "Can I go too?"
"No!"
"Why? I feel fine and there's no more danger! I miss the guys", Clarke groused.
She grinned inwardly as he shifted from one foot to the other in annoyance.
"Fine, but we come home when I say, got it?"
"I promise to do exactly as you say", she said with a flutter of her eyelashes.
Clarke giggled as Bellamy rolled his eyes before stomping off to the bathroom, his dark mutterings humming in her ears.
An hour later, Clarke was settled in Bellamy's truck. The vehicle was finally beginning to smell like his cologne again, much to her relief. They stopped outside the shop, and she waited for her knight in shining armor to open her door.
She took his proffered hand, and followed him inside. She was greeted with a chorus of cheers and well wishes. Then something clicked, like she was back to work after a long vacation.
"Murphy", she yelled, "Get me a cup of coffee! Miller! I want that supplies list on my desk in thirty minutes!"
Clarke made her way to the office, barely cognisant of the fact that Bellamy was standing in the middle of the garage with his mouth hanging open. She sat down on the worn leather chair, and pulled out the ledger.
She'd been running over the columns of numbers for a good ten minutes when the door opened.
"Murphy, that'd better be my coffee", she said without looking up.
"Sorry, Princess, it's just me", Bellamy said quietly.
"Oh, sorry. I had to get some work done. Please, take a seat", she said gesturing to one of the two chairs.
"Uh, Clarke. This is my office."
"You're not using it at the moment. You never liked the business side of this place, just the cars", she answered incredulously, "So, I don't see why I can't continue to take care of the mundane number crunching while you handle the automotive side of things."
"Clarke, you don't work here", Bellamy argued.
"Yes, I do. I quit college for this place. Although technically giving up on my mother's dreams for my life has turned out to be the best thing I could have done."
"Princess, you don't honestly think this place can support both of us", Bellamy asked in astonishment.
"This place doesn't have to. I have six of the other shops, that brings our total to seven", Clarke said, her gaze moving back to the ledger on the desk.
"You can't be serious about this", Bellamy said, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration.
Just then a knock sounded on the door.
"Go away", Bellamy yelled.
However, the knocking persisted.
"Come in, Murphy", Clarke called.
"Here's your coffee, Boss. Cream, sugar, and Miller's list."
"Thank you", the blonde said, taking a sip of her hot beverage as she watched the other man go.
"I am serious, Bellamy. You were gone for nearly two months. This place became my life, and I actually enjoyed it! I'm not giving it up."
Bellamy stared at her for a moment, and must have realized that the argument was pointless.
"Fine, we can share. I'm going to go get lost in a motor somewhere", he threw over his shoulder.
Clarke smirked as she watched him go, and then turned back to the work at hand. She went over their budget, and ordered the parts and supplies on Miller's list. She would have to get in touch with the managers of the rest of the shops and look over their books. She was going to make this a legitimate business if it killed her.
Around lunch time, she heard the door open. She looked up to find her aggravating boyfriend leaning in the doorway.
"Alright, Princess, it's time to get you back home."
"But…"
"You promised", Bellamy reminded her.
"Fine, I'm getting hungry anyway!"
When she was finally settled in the truck, Clarke turned to stare at the man beside her. With a smirk, she remembered all the fights they'd had over the years as well as all of the fun times they'd shared. Then her thoughts turned more amorous.
"Bell, did I ever tell you about the time I realized I loved you", she said suddenly.
She watched as his dark eyes widened, "Nope, I don't think so."
"Well, it all started the summer I turned fifteen…"
Clarke sat on the Blake's front porch, nose stuck in a book. She looked up when she saw Bellamy's truck pull up. He jumped out, and sauntered up to the house in his famous white t-shirt and blue jeans.
The summer sun glinted off his hair, and his dark eyes were warm. He made his way over to where she was sitting, and plopped down beside her.
"Hey there, Princess. What are you doing out here, you've got a key."
"I just wanted to sit out here. Mom and Dad are both at work, and O is at Jessica Dennison's pool party", Clarke said, peeking at him through her eyelashes.
"Were you not invited?"
"Nope, and O wasn't going to go but I told her there was no reason she should miss out on my account", she answered.
"So, you thought you'd just hang here at home", Bellamy replied with a grin.
Clarke smiled. She was probably the only person who when asked, didn't reference the house she lived in as home. The Blake residence had been home for her since she was nine years old.
Aurora Blake had always been kind, letting her stay over often and for extended periods of time. During the summer, she'd always spent more time here than she did at her own place of residence.
"Yep, thought I'd get caught up on my summer reading assignments."
"Princess, it's summer! You can't just read all day long", Bellamy said with a grimace.
"You love to read", she retorted.
"Yeah, but I also like to have fun which is why you are coming with me tonight."
"Where", Clarke asked.
"Some of the guys wanted to go see that new horror film, so why not come with", Bellamy asked with a smile.
Clarke soon found herself in a dark movie theatre sitting at the end of the row, and crammed in between two burly football players. The movie started, and she regretted coming. She could see Bellamy sitting just below her, his arm wrapped around a leggy brunette.
She was about thirty minutes into the movie, completely engrossed and not paying any attention to anyone around her. She watched as a young girl ran across the screen being chased by a man in a mask.
Suddenly a loud shriek sounded right in Clarke's ear. She startled, her popcorn flying in all directions. Then with a little squeal of fright, she jumped from her seat ready to run. However, she didn't take into account the steps and she tripped, falling on her back in the aisle.
As she lay staring up at the dark ceiling, she could hear raucous laughter coming from the row of seats she'd just vacated. Then a shadowy form loomed over her, but the deep voice was soothing.
"Are you ok, Princess", Bellamy asked concernedly.
"Yep, nothing bruised but my pride", Clarke mumbled.
She took his offered hand, coming to her feet with a wince. The jocks were still laughing, but not for long. Bellamy turned on them with a snarl, his shoulders rigid and poised to strike.
"Who started it", he growled.
"Oh, Blake, we were just having a little fun", one of the guys said between chuckles.
"Well, I don't find it funny."
"Bell, it's fine", Clarke tried.
"No, it's not. Which one of you bozos did it", he said, his tone growing in menace.
"Come on Bellamy, they were just having a little fun", the leggy brunette said with a giggle.
Bellamy turned on her then, "She could have been hurt!"
"But she wasn't. Just put her back in her seat and watch the movie."
"Mathis, get down here", Bellamy barked.
One of the guys towards the middle of the row came charging down to where Clarke and Bellamy stood.
"Here, take my seat and my date. Neither are of interest to me any longer", Bellamy said coolly.
He then took Clarke's hand, and led her back to her seat. He motioned for all of the guys to scoot down, and he took the now empty chair beside her.
Clarke spent the rest of the time with Bellamy's arm around her shoulders sharing his popcorn. There were a few times she buried her face in his jacket, only to feel his hand rubbing soothing circles on her shoulder.
After the movie was over, Clarke walked back to the truck with Bellamy in silence. When they were both buckled up, she turned to him in confusion.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what", he asked, his eyes glued to the stretch of highway before them.
"Have a conniption", Clarke said with a raised brow.
She heard Bellamy sigh, and then found his warm gaze upon her.
"Princess, you and O are all I have. It's my job to take care of you, and part of that means that no matter if I'm on a date or not, you two are always my first priority."
Hearing him say that she was a priority in his life, caused a warmth to bloom in Clarke's chest. A strange feeling enveloped her, and she couldn't help but think that something had changed between them.
"So, that's when I knew", Clarke said as they pulled into the parking garage of her apartment complex.
"Fifteen, huh? You carried a torch for me for a long time, Princess", Bellamy said with a grin.
"Oh shut up, Blake", the blonde snorted.
"Just for the record, Princess, it happened for me sooner."
Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you thought!