Okay, so let me know what you think. I feel this particular plot is so much richer than my previous Modern AU, because there's so many various layers and possibilities, so I'm super excited about where this can go. Make sure to read and let me know what you think, any critique is beneficial.
I could feel the individual droplets of sweat rolling down my back as I repeated my attack on the crimson hanging bag. I had been at it for three hours now, and I knew I should stop, give my body a break, but I was too into it to really consider that an option.
"Humph," Miller let out a grunt as I landed a particularly hard kick to the side of the bag, "You sure you're okay man? Usually you only get this way when there's something bothering you…" he trailed off waiting for my explanation that wasn't coming.
"I'm fine, Miller, just want to train," I almost growled back at him; why did everyone seem to find it necessary to try to get me to open up?
I threw two more combinations, then spun to end it with a roundhouse kick, knocking Miller off balance and to the floor. The surprised look on his face managed to get a smirk out of me; if he was going to text on the floor, much less while holding the bag for me, he was going to learn real quick how stupid that idea was.
As I stretched out a hand to pull him back up, the solid steel door threw open followed by a high pitched squeal, what the hell? I turned around to find it's source just before she collided with me.
"Bell,' she nearly sang my name, 'I've missed you so much," she said tightening her arms around my neck.
I chuckled, caught by surprise, "Hey, O, I didn't know you were coming to town," why hadn't she told me?
She pulled back, grinning like she always did when she had a secret, "Well, I may not just be visiting," she hesitated, seeming to hope I would catch on.
"Okay," I prompted her to continue her little explanation.
"I may, have sort of, kind of, moved here," she finished, watching me with a hopeful expression.
I could feel my eyebrows rise and mouth drop; since when was she moving here?
"I got a job offer as a nurse in the pediatric ward over in the hospital, and well, I figured it was perfect because then we could be close again, plus I love this place, I mean the beach is a ten minute walk, and then it doesn't get as cold as Virginia either, and-," I cut her off.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I didn't want to get any hopes up before I got the job, plus I was hoping to surprise you, so surprise," she grinned throwing her arms outwards as though she was presenting me with a present.
I gave her a small grin and shook my head, "Wait, so you got the job?"
"Mhmm," she smiled with a triumphant grin on her face.
I pulled her in for a hug, "Congrats, baby girl,' I kissed the top of her head, 'you deserve this." She tightened her arms around me again, and I realized how much I missed having her around. She may be a pain in the ass sometimes, but she's my sister, hell I practically raised her, I'm more like her father.
Pulling away I looked down at her, "So where are you staying," I questioned, wondering if she fully thought this through.
She seemed to sense my doubt, and scoffed, "I'm renting a room in house on the bay with some of the other nurses from the hospital,' she rolled her eyes as though I should've already known this, 'in fact,' she started grinning, 'this is Clarke, she's an ER nurse," she explained waving over a petite blonde.
The girl walked over, though her gaze wandered around the gym, taking in the row of punching bags, the weights, the ring. When she reached us she let her eyes settle on me; I was caught off guard by the depth of her blue eyes. As I studied her I noticed she was more built than most girls, the definition of her shoulders and arms accentuated by her black tank top, the swell of muscle in her legs revealed by her jean short cut offs, the small dimple of her chin, and the mole just above the left corner of her mouth. Her blonde waves seemed messy, though in a strange way it seemed to suit her.
I could tell she was studying me too, her glare almost had a tangible weight to it. She must've found something displeasing, because her lips pursed.
I chuckled, "I'm Bellamy," I said, extending a hand.
"So I've heard," she replied shaking my hand, "I'm Clarke."
"So I've heard," I repeated giving her a small smirk.
"Where's the mud pit," she asked, disregarding my comment. Her question caught me by surprise; how did she know we had a mud pit?
Before I could respond I heard Kane chuckle behind me, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Clarke Griffin," I gave Octavia a quizzical look but she shrugged, so I turned around to give him a look too; how the hell did he know her?
"I thought you would be back in D.C. with your mother, working for the Department?"
She snorted, "Yeah, right, that's the last place I would ever want to be," she squared her shoulders and gave him a defiant look. She was brave, most people avoid confrontation with Kane, he's not one you want to tangle with.
"Still stubborn and self righteous, I see," coming from him it was more of a statement than anything.
"Always will be," she replied with a shrug; who the hell is this girl?
I looked around, noticing their confrontation had caused the few people training to gather around; it was rare to see Kane on the floor, and when he was down here, it was usually to teach someone a lesson. I caught Miller's eye and he mouthed me a question, asking who this girl was, I shrugged, not knowing, though in all honesty, I was dying to know too.
"Too much to handle seeing her after Daddy died," he sneered; her ices iced over, nearly sparking with hatred as she glared back at him, fists clenching by her sides.
Her response seemed satisfying as he chuckled, "So how's your mother," he almost purred, giving her a slight wink.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question, bastard," she snarled back.
The tension before was palpable, but now, it felt unreal; what had happened between these two?
I leaned down to Octavia who was now beside me, "Do you know anything," I whispered, hoping for any sort of explanation.
She shook her head slightly, "I've never seen her this mad though; even when we were roommates up at UV."
Turning my attention back to the conflict I noticed Clarke clenching and unclenching her fists.
"You know Marcus, you've always been a coward. That's why you're here now isn't it," she gave him a mockingly sweet grin, "You ran away because you knew Jaha would make you pay, he knew that you had some part in the plot, and so you ran. You ran like a scared child; though that's not surprising, not in the least bit."
No one had ever confronted Kane like this, much less called him a coward. He bristled at her words.
"Watch yourself, sweetheart," he warned her.
"I can take care of myself," and with that she spun and walked out, leaving Octavia and some other boy I hadn't even noticed, scrambling after her.
As the heavy door banged shut we all turned our attention back to Kane, his face was flushed with anger, the muscle in his jaw twitched. He noticed our attention, "Get back to work," he snapped then stormed off for his office.
Once we heard his door slam shut, Miller let out a low whistle, "That was intense," he nearly whispered, still fearful of Kane's fury.
I nodded, still wondering about who this girl was.
"Who is she," one of the other guys questioned.
"I don't know, but that was fucking hot," must've been his friend who replied; though for some reason, his response unsettled me.
Deciding I needed to know more, I yanked off my tape, and followed out the door, hoping they hadn't gotten far.
I hadn't found them in the hall way or the lobby of the warehouse, but I noticed the familiar black haired boy who chased after her, pacing in front of the doors.
Walking outside I had to squint as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sun. Turning to my right I saw the blonde and Octavia talking forcefully, as Octavia cradled the blonde's hand. Getting closer I saw the cuts a smeared blood coating Clarke's hand, then noted the smattering of blood on the concrete wall behind her.
"What was that all about," I asked, not wasting time with making sure she was alright.
Her head whipped to the side, glaring at me, "It's really none of your fucking business now is it?" She was feisty, I'll give her that.
"It is when you come into my gym and nearly start a fight with one of the other owners," I say calmly.
She scoffs at the thought, "Kane owns this place?"
"Part of it," I reply, "You going to explain what happened back there?"
"Why should I," she gave me another icy glare.
"Because, I repeat, it's my gym, and you did interrupt my training," I shrugged, giving her a small smirk.
Though when she returned the grin, I was caught off-guard, "Must not have been training too hard if you got so easily distracted," she quipped.
Shaking my head, my grin widened, "And what might you know about training?"
"More than you think," she said giving me a sly look.
"Well if you know so much then-," I was cut off by Octavia.
"Clarke, we need to get you an x-ray, I think you may have broken your hand," she looked genuinely worried about the blonde, though clearly, Clarke didn't feel the same way.
Withdrawing her hand from Octavia's she shook her head chuckling.
"It's fine Octavia," she said flexing and curling her hand, "I've broken this hand eight times, one more won't kill me."
We all must've had a look of shock because she chuckled more.
"H-how?" the raven haired boy asked from behind me.
"Because Jasper, I used to be a gym rat," she said, like it should've been obvious. And I have to admit, it did make sense. She was clearly toned and muscular, her hand didn't seem to bother her at all, despite its rapid swelling, but more than anything, it should've shown in the way she squared off whenever she was confronted. How had I missed that?
"You mean you used to box," Octavia trailed off, looking at her with a confused expression.
"Mostly MMA, but boxing wasn't bad," she shrugged.
I must've had a bemused look on my face because she turned to me, "What are you so cheeky about," she asked.
"The princess can fight," it came out as more of a question than a statement.
"Princess?"
"It seemed fitting," I gave her a small smirk.
"Mmm, well I don't like it," she gave me a withering look.
"Well that's too bad," I liked the feisty blonde, "Princess," I smiled at her this time, earning me an eyeroll.
"Right, well, I gotta go get ready for my shift," then she turned and left without more explanation. I studied her more as she walked away, there was something about her that set her apart from any other girl I'd met before, and I was slowly becoming more hell bent on getting to know more about the tenacious Princess.
My thoughts were interrupted again when Octavia punched my arm, "Bell, I wouldn't go there if I were you," she seemed to warn.
Turning my attention back to her, I grinned, "I don't know what you're talking about," giving her a look of fake innocence.
She laughed, "Bell, I'm warning you, she's not one you want to mess with."
I scoffed, offending mock hurt at her assumption I couldn't handle the Princess, "I think I can take care of myself little sis."
This time she just shook her head, "Must you always be stubborn," she said with a small chuckle.
"Would I be me if I were any other way?"
This made her laugh harder again, "I suppose not. But I have to go get ready too, I'm supposed to be at the hospital in two hours," she explained as she gave me one last hug, "But hey, you should come over Saturday, we're having a small get together, and I've missed you."
I grinned at her, "I'll be there," I replied.
"Good. C'mon, Jasper, we gotta get going," she beckoned to the scrawny kid engrossed with his phone.
"See ya," he said without looking up.
As the two wandered off towards the parking lot around back, I found my thoughts wandering back to the Princess, there's something about her, something that makes me want to know her, know her secrets, know her past, know her life; hell, I even found myself wishing I were part of it.
Shaking my head to chase away the unusual thought, I headed back into the gym, hoping to chase away any outrageous thoughts of the certain little blonde.
What do you think?