Author's Note: This might be the last update for a few days. I work a pretty busy work schedule but I'll TRY for sooner. No promises though. Please continue to show your love though! I read everyone's comments and try to reply to them all in a timely manner.

(CLARKE)

She felt a blush creep into her cheeks at Octavia's question. Nothing exactly had happened between her and Bellamy. They barely had touched!

Yet every glance from him felt like a touch.

Almost like he was slowly claiming her in the most sutble way. At least that's how she felt when he gave her that intense look of his. Like she was his and his alone. That Finn didn't even exist.

"I don't know what you mean. We're just...". Friends didn't seem like the right word and they certainly hadn't done anything to warrant something more."...partners" she finished lamely. She knew she didn't sound connvincing, especially with the full-on blush she was sporting but it was the best that she could come up with.

"Uh huh" Octavia seemed skeptical at her answer.

"I don't know what you think you saw back there but Bellamy was just...he was trying to...", she paused, not quite sure WHAT he had been doing exactly. Yet she knew she had to say something or his sister wouldn't let it go but nothing came to mind.

"Marking his territory for Finn's benefit...and your's." Octavia finished for her. Not even making it a question. She stated it like it was a known fact.

"What? No! It's not like that."

Bellamy's sister raised an eyebrow at her. Gave her look as if to say that she didn't think Clarke was that stupid.

"Seriously Octavia! You're seeing something that's not there. He has girls coming and going from his tent all the time. He's not interested in me like that."

"You forgot the part that you weren't interested in him either" Octavia smirked. It was the same smirk that her brother often wore. It was like a Blake trademark or something.

Clarke took sharp intake of breath when she realized that she HADN'T said that. It should have been the first thing she thought of. God, what was happening to her? Was she actually interested in Bellamy Blake? The guy that had been nothing but a headache for her since they arrived?

She tried to cover her tracks as quickly as possible. "I didn't say it because it should be obvious."

"Hmmmm. Well then, it wouldn't interest you to know that he hasn't had a girl in his tent for a few days now...right?"

With that bombshell dropped, Octavia walked off; chuckling at the expression on Clarke's face.

She didn't know what to do with that tidbit of information. Though, she did wish that the siblings were still not talking to each other so they would stop messing with her head.

Clarke turned and went to pack for her trip. She had bigger issues to worry about. Like not making a fool of herself in front of the entire camp with her sudden obsession with their Rebel Leader.

(BELLAMY)

Dealing with his sister was a pain. If she wasn't hounding him about that freaking Grounder then she was butting her head into his business.

She had interrupted his conversation with Clarke when he had been trying to make a point but away from prying eyes. Octavia was like a bloodhound, hounding away at him for information till she got what she wanted out of him. Not everything but enough for her to put the pieces together in regards to Clarke and about how he was feeling towards her.

Bellamy put their conversation out of his mind and went to gather some supplies for their trek into unknown territory. He was feeling unsure about his decision but he couldn't go back on what he said. And the reasons were still valid.

Get Clarke away from Spacewalker. Check. Get much needed supplies. Check.

He gathered a few of his most trusted people and told them the plan. That he and Clarke were going on a scavenging mission and that Monroe was in charge while they were gone. He laid out a few ground rules, especially about keeping everyone close to camp and not letting his sister near the prisoner.

One of the more outspoken kids was whispering to his friend about Clarke having an "accident" on their trip and Bellamy gave him a warning look. The boy wasn't paying attention and continued on that that the royal bitch has it coming. Bellamy couldn't hold back after that and he punched the kid in the face sending him flat on his back.

"No one talks about her like that. I...we...need her; certainly more than we need you. Got it?" he glared down at the boy.

The group all gaped at him, not understanding, but no one said a word. He gave each of them a final look before turning to the gate to wait for Clarke.

Bellamy knew that he had revealed too much but he couldn't stand to listen to them talking about her like that. It only reminded him how far he still had to go to earn a place in her life and heart. Yet, he knew he needed to keep status quo for the sake of the camp.

He was so screwed.

(CLARKE)

She met up with Bellamy at the gate and neither said a word, both consumed in their thoughts. Clarke didn't know what he was thinking but she noticed him rubbing at his hand and flexing it several times yet she couldn't, wouldn't, ask him about it.

She was afraid of the answer. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

They spent the rest of the day in silence. It should have been awkward but strangely it wasn't. She knew what he wanted without him having to say it. When to stop for a break and when to continue on.

There was a moment when she tripped over a branch and stumbled. She thought for sure she was going to fall but Bellamy was there to catch her in mere seconds. He had his hands on her arms, holding her steady. It brought her body flush against his and all she could do was stare at him.

Clarke had never felt so safe then she did at that moment.

He lifted a hand towards her face and moved a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. Her breath caught and she bit her lip at the contact. She felt lightheaded and nervous causing her to blurt out the first thing that came to mind.

"You're not Finn"

Bellamy immediately dropped his hand and stepped away from her. His face hardened into something cold and dark. The mask was back on.

Without saying a word, he turned and continued walking towards their destination.

It came out completely wrong but it was too late. Damage was done. She had only meant that he wasn't like Finn and that she trusted him to be honest with her about whatever was going on between them.

I'm an idiot, was all she could think as she followed behind.

(BELLAMY)

He hadn't known Clarke could hurt him like that. Not till she compared him to Finn and found him lacking.

Didn't she realize that he wouldn't hurt her like that Spacewalker had? That for all their history, he was always upfront with her? Even this morning, when he had purposely pissed her off in front of everyone, he had set off to explain it to her.

Bellamy hadn't hid the girls that he had slept with at camp from her. While he was not proud of it, it was from before he had started to care for her. Since the night that Octavia had disappeared, he hadn't touched any of them.

He had thought that she was finally coming around to him. That they were becoming more...more than just mutual leaders.

That maybe for once in his life, he could be someone's knight in shining armor. That he could be the good guy. But maybe it was too late for that. Maybe it was better that they stopped before they started.

He had failed Octavia and she was put in jail for the last few years.

He had failed his mother and she was floated.

He had failed all those people on the Ark and they died for his mistake.

He would probably just fail Clarke too.

Okay, so I'm not going to lie. Writing that last part was really hard for me emotionally. I really feel for Bellamy. I think all his decisions and mistakes weigh heavily on him and that he's hurting. He's like a lost little boy, taking his hurt and turning it to anger, striking back at everyone and everything. But he still yearns for all the things that he doesn't think he deserves. Oh god...I have to stop before I lose it. Let me know what you think!