Chapter 2:

After hours of walking and only finding limited resources, Clarke felt defeated. The muscles in her legs were starting to ache and she felt like her feet were rubbed raw by the inefficient footwear supplied by the Ark. The boots she once considered a blessing weren't designed for the complicated terrains of Earth. On the Ark, the only thing they had to worry about was distance. The surfaces were completely flat and with the restricted access locations, there wasn't a lot of "ground" to cover in the first place. In summary, Earth was kicking Clarke's ass at the moment and all she wanted to do was sleep.

Forever.

Abby seemed jilted when Raven explained the situation, leaving out some of the key details—or the main one concerning Clarke sharing a tent with Bellamy instead of her. Apparently, Octavia really meant that she was going to surprise Bellamy because after Miller's dad assisted everyone with pitching their tents and Raven set up a stable communications area in her own, Clarke opened the flap to "their" tent and sighed heavily, "Do you ever wear a shirt?" Clarke wasn't a loose-kneed girl, constantly swooning over his body—however beautiful it was. She was Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake could not affect her. She could maintain her demeanor throughout this entire night—or nights, how long is this trip again?

His chuckle caused her heart to quicken, "You're in my tent, remember?" She noticed the exhaustion seeping through his smart-ass question, his tone low as he nearly whispered the question. His tan skin dripped with sweat, moving down to the band of his pants.

Oh my god…this is the beginning…I'm delusional because of the lack of water. I need a drink.

Clarke crossed her arms over her chest, biting the inside of her cheek as she searched around the tent. It was nice but she could see the beginnings of a few holes. Of course, her mother would assign him the less fortunate supplies. She wondered what her mother would think about this whole arrangement, before deciding that Abby could think whatever she wanted. Clarke wasn't going to do anything with Bellamy, even if she could if she wanted to—they were both adults. "Octavia really didn't tell you?"

"Tell me, what?" Bellamy gritted his teeth as if he were half-expecting Clarke to tell him that Octavia finally ran off with Lincoln and wouldn't be back until she was pregnant. The sick part of Clarke wanted to pull a practical joke on him like that but she was tired and recognized it wasn't the time to develop a sense of humor. He watched her scan down his skin with those curious eyes once more before she brought her head up to meet his gaze. A little smirk played at the corners of his lips as he found pleasure in her stares.

She swallowed hard before she shifted her weight uncomfortably under his penetrating eyes, "First off, don't get mad but Octavia doesn't want to stay with you…" She put her hands up in defense as his face fell, "So, she asked me to stay with you instead. Apparently, I'm the only person that can tolerate you." She faked a laugh, "Shocker."

Bellamy frowned before he went back to straightening out the blankets on the floor of the tent, "And you agreed?"

Clarke shrugged and nonchalantly answered, "I don't want to stay with my mom."

Stop looking at him like that…it's Bellamy…

"Well, uh, I guess that's fine."

"Are you nervous?" She giggled in response to his stammering. Bellamy looked over his shoulder again, giving her a death glare. She attempted to overlook the faint amount of a color in his cheeks, tallying it up to the heat floating around them.

"Why princess? You have other plans for the night besides sleeping?" He countered before standing up to rifle through his bag. Clarke watched him pull out a full canister and smiled because he was conserving water just like her. Her eyes continued to follow his bare chest around the tent as if she were one of those swooning girls.

After regaining herself, "Seriously, this is just a favor between two friends." He looked back up at her and smirked suggestively at her again. "Octavia and me." She clarified with a raised eyebrow, taking a step forward to establish that she was staying for Octavia.

"What does your mother think about this?" He found the humor in the situation, bringing up her mother's dislike for him. He pretended it didn't bother him and on some level, she respected how he never lashed out at Abby when he had the right to do so.

Clarke opened and closed her mouth like a fish before she came up with a lame response, "If she walks in here in the middle of the night, I'm going to pretend I'm lost."

Bellamy laughed, "That's a really good plan, Princess."

The yawn building up in her chest erupted and she said, "I think we should rest. You never know when they'll decide to pick up the search tomorrow." Bellamy nodded his head in acceptance before he turned his head towards the small pallet on the floor. Clarke knew the space was going to be confined but she was ready to sleep. Eventually, he followed her lead and moved down beside her—his back almost touching her own.

Minutes of silence passed and Clarke stared up at the moonlit opening. She thought the night would send a chill through the air but she found herself disagreeably hot. Her clothes stuck to her skin in that excruciating way damp fabric attaches itself to things like glue.

He's not wearing a shirt… why should you?

She leaned forward, pulling her shirt over her head before moving her nimble fingers down to the button on her pants.

"What are you doing?" Bellamy asked, clearing his throat in the process.

"I'm burning up." Clarke explained as she tore off her clothes. He turned over on his side, his hand holding his head up as he looked at her. "Stop staring." She scolded him with one of her signature disapproving frowns.

"I can't." He claimed, continuing to follow the curves of her exposed skin. There was something too enticing about the way he looked at her. His eyes were filled with lust and he could tell that she was the subject of his thoughts. She wondered what was going on in his head…

"Whatever." She furrowed her eyebrows and tried to stare straight up towards the netted material. Don't be an idiot…do not be an idiot. Clarke attempted to steal a glance in his direction, only to find him still looking at her. This time, she stares back. Her lips part when she notices that he's leaning forward and her heart completely stops. What the hell is going on? He continued to move until he was on top of her, waiting for her to say something. "I-I don't think we shou—" He cut her off with a brush of his lips, his thumb touching her bottom lip to part her mouth.

She doesn't stop him.

He breaks the kiss only to capture her lips again, this time fiercer than before. Clarke's half-inclined to let it happen. In a way, she doesn't want his roaming hands to stop pressing into her red tinted, ivory skin. He was provocatively probing her mouth with his sweeping, swirling tongue. She could feel his erection against her leg and she wanted him…

She really did but she had to be responsible. "I can't." She whispered after she pushed at his chest for him to stop, "Octavia is one of my best friends…and you're my partner…" Excuses, excuses, excuses…

"Yeah," He shook his head, rolling off of her. "You're right. Can you do me a favor, Clarke?"

"Uh, yeah…apparently I do favors for your family as a career now."

He sighed, "Let's just forget this ever happened."

"No problem."

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I know this isn't the best chapter in the entire world but I promise this is going to get better!

Let me know what you think,

-Brooke.