I've never done a fic before inspired by a song, but I swear every time I hear Ed Sheeran's song "Happier" I see Finn standing outside a bar looking in at Bellamy and Clarke and he gets all weepy about how happy she looks and it makes me happier too! This is also a way for me to practice my hand at something that doesn't really include much dialogue or interaction with Bellamy and Clarke. It'll be a lot more descriptive and be from the perspective of a character I don't normally include in fics. Hope you still enjoy despite that because even though they won't be talking in the fic, there will definitely be a lot of fluffy descriptions of them! Comments are welcome and encouraged!
Finn Collins rushed down the sidewalk from where he'd parked his beat-up Corolla towards the bar on the corner. It was a casual place that Clarke had introduced him to when they'd first started dating. She and her group of friends would go there, grab a table in the back and either hang out, play pool or darts. He knew if he found her anywhere in this dump of a town it'd be there.
Sidestepping a drunk college kid who was swerving on the sidewalk with his buddy, Finn approached the hulking wood door for Grounders. The bar had brick walls and two levels of booths and tables. The higher level was only a few steps above the other and had mostly intimate booths that usually housed couples as it did tonight along with one threesome of girls who'd immediately looked him over upon his entrance. Not that he cared. The bottom floor had tables and a few booths mixed in along the walls which is where Clarke and her friends usually spent their evenings. There was a booth in the middle of the first floor section that was the largest in the bar and gave the group plenty of room to spread out. Plus it was close to the bar.
The bar was impressive as well. It was a solid piece of oak and cut jaggedly along the edges to enhance the atmosphere of the bar. The bartenders owned it together and knew their customers well, the regulars at least, and would often have another round ready before it was even asked.
A roar of laughter rose up from the crowd and Finn knew the origin of the loudest voice. Clarke Griffin - the love of his life. A year and a half ago he'd had a chance meeting with her and he'd fallen at first sight. They'd been together for 6 months before his past had come back to bite him in the ass. Clarke ended up walking away and hadn't spoken to him since. He missed her desperately.
The entire group was there it seemed like. Monty was standing behind Harper's chair and to his surprise had his hands on her shoulders. They'd been doing a lot of flirting with each other during the six months he'd spent with Clarke and it looked like they'd finally figured things out. Jasper was next to his friend and was nursing a beer while Miller and his boyfriend Bryan were laughing with Murphy. To his further shock, Raven was sitting next to a large blond man who had his arm wrapped snugly around her back. She was the past he'd been running from and it had collided with his life with Clarke.
Finally, his eyes found Clarke and his heart immediately plummeted. She was sitting in Bellamy Blake's lap with her left arm draped around his neck and her hand resting on his opposite shoulder. The look of complete bliss on her face was one he didn't think he'd ever been able to put on her face while they were together. Bellamy was currently whispering in her ear and whatever the man was saying was obviously pleasant because Clarke was smiling and gently running her fingers along his jaw. On her left hand was a ring, sparkling in the night and ending any hope he'd had of reuniting.
"You're not fucking serious right?" A distinctly familiar voice said from behind him. Turning he saw Octavia Blake, Clarke's best friend and Bellamy's sister, standing with her hands crossed over her chest and a scowl on her face. She had on dark jeans, boots and a leather jacket. "You're pathetic you know that? Move on."
Finn turned away from her piercing gaze. She'd never really warmed up to him. Looking back across the room he saw Clarke press her lips to Bellamy's and his hand slide across her thigh. After pulling back she laid her head gently against his shoulder and he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"She looks happy," Finn replied. He watched as she threw her head back as the musical laughter he'd come to love tumbled from her lips at something Bellamy had said.
"That's because she is," Octavia's voice had softened. "They both are. I'm not going to let you ruin their happiness."
"I never made her this happy," Finn realized and sighed heavily. Bellamy seemed completely oblivious to anyone but Clarke. Their group of friends were talking all around them yet he simply sat with Clarke on his lap gently running his hand up her back and whispering softly to her. "How long?"
"About a month after," Octavia said. She smiled at the memory. "They've known each other a long time. Bellamy wanted to beat the shit out of you after what happened, but she wouldn't let him. They were attached at the hip after you fucked up. Thank you by the way. All of us knew they were meant to be, but you helped get them there and gave us Raven too. We got a great deal."
Clarke and Bellamy stood and went up to the bar together. As they waited patiently at the other end of the bar, Clarke leaned against the wooden top. Bellamy leaned up against her back and engulfed her petite body from top to bottom. He had his arms wrapped around her waist and was pressing his lips against her neck.
"Leave her alone Finn," Octavia said harshly. Her arms were still crossed over her chest, but her jaw was set.
He knew her well enough to know that she was seriously holding back her anger. Both Clarke and Bellamy meant a lot to her. He'd learned that the hard way one night when he and Clarke were dating. It had been Bellamy's birthday, but he hadn't wanted to spend his night celebrating Clarke's friend. He'd always felt like there was something more going on. He'd tried to pull Clarke away from the party, but when she'd said no he'd started yelling at her and had grabbed her arm in a tight grip which he'd instantly regretted. Not just because this woman in front of him had jumped to her friends' defense, but because her brother had jumped in as well. Bellamy shoved him against a wall while Octavia glared at him from behind her brothers' shoulder. The alcohol in his system that night had fueled his displeasure for Bellamy and he'd shoved him which had caused Octavia to take a swing herself. She wasn't shy and she'd kicked him out. A week later Raven had shown up and everything changed.
"They're engaged. They're happy. Move on and leave her be," Octavia said.
Finn finally turned away from Clarke and faced her fierce protector. He didn't know what he'd truly expected by coming here tonight. He'd missed her since the day he lost her, but for some reason tonight he'd thought he could change her mind. Enough time had passed that he'd thought he could convince her that he still loved her and cared about her. He'd probably never get over her, but he could finally see that the look on her face when she looked at Bellamy was something he couldn't replicate. He could finally see that she was happier this way. With Bellamy Blake. As much as he hated that thought.
He nodded and replied, "I will. I'm sorry Octavia. You won't see me again."
"If I do I can't promise what will happen," Octavia narrowed her eyes at him with complete venom in her brown orbs. "I will not hesitate to beat the shit out of you if you interfere. My brother has waited his whole life for her. Literally for her. Not just someone like her. She means everything to him as he does to her and if you fuck with them again I will mess you up. I promise you that."
"I swear I'm gone," Finn started for the door then hesitated when he heard her voice one more time.
"That goes for Raven too by the way," Octavia had finally unwound her arms and grabbed the hand of the large black man who'd entered the bar. Finn recognized him to be Lincoln, Octavia's longtime boyfriend. "You don't get to hurt her again either."
Finn nodded then pushed his way out the door. It had started to rain lightly outside. As thunder rumbled in the distance he made his way back to his car. It was finally time to move on and leave this town. He'd never really felt like he'd fit in here and Clarke had been his only reason to stay. Looking back at the bar one last time, he bid the love of life a final goodbye then climbed into his car and drove off into the night.
