Clarke shifted her head as she tried to snuggle deeper into her pillow and she curled her body in closer for warmth; a small frown forming as she slowly came to realize that her pillow was much more firm, and generated more warmth than it had the night before. Still fighting the exhaustion that made lifting one eyelid such a gargantuan task, with a slow glance up, and several moments for her tired mind to process the information, she came to the startling realization that she had fallen asleep on Bellamy, who had also succumbed to his weariness, albeit in a less comfortable position with his head lying on the crest of the couch. She gazed up at her sleeping host, free to drink in his features without the risk of being caught in her observations; her artist's eye memorizing every detail- from the smattering of freckles dusting his cheeks to the frown lines between his brows that her fingers were itching to smooth away, she couldn't deny that he was very easy to look at, his handsome features not doubt catching the eye of many admirers. Torn between wanting to let him rest and not wanting him to wake up feeling worse; she decided to err on the side of caution and rather than shake him awake, decided to softly call his name.
He looked so adorable as he scrunched his nose, clearly obvious he was beginning to wake. She felt horrible at disturbing him, but knew he'd rest better in his own bed than on the sofa, although she'd definitely miss his warmth once they went back to sleep separately.
He looked at her with heavy lidded eyes, his usually messy hair even more unruly with sleep and she felt her breath catch in her chest.
"Hmm"
"Hey, sorry to wake you. But I think we'd sleep better in a bed..." He suddenly looked more awake. "I mean- You'd sleep... our beds... Separate! You in yours, and, and me in mine!" Clarke could imagine the flushed look to her face, feeling the heat rise from her neck up, grateful for the muted glow of moonlight hopefully hiding the effects from Bellamy's gaze. She watched as he smirked at her, that sight lift at the corner of his mouth, dangerously igniting a flutter in her belly, but with her verbal filter letting her words flow unhindered like water through a sieve, it was like the night they met all over again.
He could see from the grimace on her face from where she was feeling rather embarrassed at her unintended innuendo and chose not to loose a less veiled innuendo of his own; but that didn't mean he wasn't going to gonna let her off the hook so easily either. "Either way, I'm glad you woke me. My neck's starting to ache, I'd hate to think of what it'd be like if we'd slept all night together." Perhaps, before time comes for her to leave...
Clarke managed to get her thoughts together, a coy smile forming at the realization that he was flirting with her! She felt giddy inside, who'd have thought that a chance meeting on the side of an empty highway would result in what was becoming the best part of her summer adventure. She was optimistic that perhaps, their budding friendship might become something more? "Well, I never said I was uncomfortable. You do make quite a nice pillow." She turned to head to her bedroom, a cheeky smile lighting her features, "Maybe we'll do this again sometime?" she called out as she flounced out of the room, the smile reaching to her eyes as she placed the ball firmly in his court.
Bellamy was left standing with a grin on his face, joyful at the word play and the hint of, well, the hint of more than companionship in the future. He was pleased that he had someone that he could speak with, she listened and didn't pass judgment, gave her honest opinion rather he agreed or not with her point of view, he liked arguing with her when debating little topics, watching the flush to her cheeks and fire in her eyes. He hadn't really connected with a girl like that. He'd had a few dalliances in the past with girls from near by Mount Weather, certainly not anyone here in town since he was in high school, and well, people talk. He raised his arms in a lingering stretch and strode to his bedroom. Cinnamon. She smelled of cinnamon, not exactly what he'd expected, since most girls go for something floral. He grabbed a pair of pajama pants, needing to shower away the day's grime before crawling into bed, still smiling at the joyful possibilities the future would bring.
Clarke woke up the following morning, making her way to the shower, energized and with a spring in her step, she was still riding the buzzing energy that came with the promise of a new romance. She never would have guessed that she'd have a summer fling, but there was something about Bellamy Blake that made her want to stay and linger. When he offered the use of their home for the remainder of summer, part of her was elated, they'd managed easy conversation the night they met, and he was unbelievably kind. Too many people back home play with their cards so close to their chest, weighing and measuring how you would benefit them, advance them in society, but with Bellamy, what you see is what you get. The day he took her to Kane's just reinforced the tender spot in her heart that got mushy for him. He'd listened and shared, and when they played in the water, she shocked at the desire to lick the droplets clinging to his jaw.
She'd been so lost in thought that she hadn't realized she neglected to bring fresh clothes until she was standing in a towel having bumped into the man muddling her brain.
Bellamy wasn't paying attention to his surroundings, trying to think of the best way to ask Clarke on a date, when he'd bumped into said female. Fresh from the shower, wrapped in only a towel, hair dripping into a puddle on the hardwood floor of the hallway. They'd bumped hard enough that she'd almost slipped in the water flowing down her body, one hand holding the towel in place the other reaching for anything to steady herself, finding his bicep and clamping on as he hands caught her elbows to assist her with maintaining her balance.
Clarke was startled at this chance meeting, but the heat of his muscled arm under her palm and the hands that cupped her elbows grounded her to reality almost as if he were summoned by her very thoughts. The feel of the rougher texture of his hand at the brush of his thumb against her skin. The puff of his breath at her temple, the rise of his eyebrows as he realizes her state of undress, his gaze travels upwards and as their eyes meet once again, there is a heat to his gaze that must surely match hers.
Bellamy watches the shift in her features, her lids partially lowering, the upward tilt of her chin, to the slight hitch in her breathing, his right hand shifting from her elbow to the center of her back as he lowers his head to seal his lips to hers.
A/n: I'm hoping to maintain every other week updates to this fic until we reach the end, I'm writing and editing this without a beta and we all know what it's like being your own harshest critic. Any errors are completely mine. Let me know what you think! Reviews are like chocolate! :)
