Chapter 8:
Then: May 12, 2000
3:34 p.m.
"I don't want to go" Bellamy pouted on the old rundown couch in Aurora's apartment. He kicked off his shoes and folded his arms glaring at the floor. "Actually I'm not going. There."
Aurora sighed as she continued to pick through the laundry basket on the chair from the other side of the small living room. She pulled out a black leotard with relief flooding her face. "Oh good I did wash it. Look Bellamy I don't have time for this right now, you're going to your Boy Scout meeting. You were the one who begged me to sign up because of how cool Nate said it was and I paid all that money for that uniform, which I had to work overtime for by the way, and I also need to take Octavia and Clarke to dance class and I'm certainly not dealing with you sitting in the waiting area whining about how bored you are…" She took a deep breath as she at last found the tights in the laundry pile.
She turned towards Bellamy with one hand on her hip and the other with the leotard and tights. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she had a spaghetti sauce stain on her shirt from their dinner. She was exhausted.
The small living room was already filled with Barbies from Octavia and Clarke who had run into Octavia's room to practice dancing before class instead of cleaning them up. The laundry was piled up in the bathroom and the small amount she had managed to get done was sitting on the only living chair in the room.
But this was a normal day for her as a single mother. Abby had helped her so much and they had come up with a schedule where Abby would watch the kids during Aurora's late shift on Friday's and she would take them on Tuesday's so Abby could pick up a later shift at the hospital. The arrangement had worked quite nicely and allowed Aurora to make some extra money on Friday nights at the restaurant she was currently working at. Friday's were the busiest night after all.
Octavia and Clarke were in the same dance class on Tuesday's so she would take them after dropping Bellamy off at his cub scouts meeting. Fortunately for her, Bellamy's best friend Nathan's father was the leader of their troop and offered to watch Bellamy and take him home after the meeting.
Except tonight Bellamy was refusing to go.
"I'm. Not. Going." He said stubbornly kicking one of the barbies on the floor.
"Bellamy what's going on? You love cub scouts."
"No it's stupid."
"Bellamy Blake I told you not to use that word. Now put your shoes on. I'm going to go get your sister and Clarke ready. When I come back we're leaving do you understand me?"
"Whatever" He grumbled continuing to glare at the floor until he heard someone coming.
He looked over his shoulder to see Clarke skipping down towards him in her own dance uniform. She smiled and plopped down on the couch next to him. "Why aren't you wearing your uniform?" She asked.
He shrugged. "I don't want to go."
She nodded. "Sometimes I don't want to go singing class but mom says I have to."
"Why don't you wanna go?" He asked curiously looking up at her.
Clarke shrugged. "The teacher is mean. She gets mad whenever I mess up. I don't like her."
Bellamy nodded in understanding and unfolded his hands picking up his uniform jacket on the couches arm.
"Why don't you wanna go?" Clarke asked tilting her head while looking at him. "Is your teacher person mean too?"
Bellamy continued to focus on the jacket as he talked. "There's a camp out this weekend and tonight's meeting is getting ready for it. I don't wanna go on it."
"Why? Camping's fun! Member when we went last year and we went swimming in that big lake! And you caught that fish!" She spoke excitedly. "Plus there's smores! Only I don't like the marshmallow so much just lots of chocolate."
"Yeah but this trip is for dads and sons…I don't have a dad." Bellamy frowned still not looking at her. "I'll be the only one there without someone cause mom can't go cause of Octavia."
Clarke scrunched up her little face in concern. Even at nine she had the heart of a lion and was always worrying about others.
Her blonde head perked up and a smile came across her face. "I know Bellamy! My daddy can take you! Then you'll have someone there too!"
Bellamy's face visibly perked up. "Really? You'd think he'd go?"
"Yeah!" Clarke squealed as Aurora and Octavia entered the room. "I'll call him. Aurora! I need to use the phone!"
Aurora looked at them confused. "The phone? For what?"
"I gotta call my dad!" Clarke exclaimed with urgency. "Please!"
"Okay okay" Aurora said heading into the kitchen to grab the phone.
Octavia scrunched her face at Bellamy when she saw him sitting on the couch."You're not dressed. We're gonna be late."
Aurora walked back in with the phone. "Is there something wrong hunny? Do you not feel good?"
Clarke shook her head, "No just gotta ask him something!"
"Okay" Aurora said laughing slightly as she dialed for Clarke who took the phone quickly after. The phone rang twice before her father's voice came on.
"Hello?"
"Daddy! It's Clarke" Clarke exclaimed. "This weekend Bellamy's going on a camping trip and he needs you to go with him because it's a daddy and son trip and he doesn't have anyone to take him. Huh yeah you can talk to her." Clarke handed the phone to a visibly shocked Aurora who was looking over at Bellamy, "He wants to talk to you; he says he needs to make sure it's okay with you."
Aurora took the phone still clearly surprised by Clarke's plot. "Hello? Yes I'm sorry I didn't even know about this. Are you sure? That would mean so much to him."
Clarke skipped back over to Bellamy and Octavia as Aurora spoke to Jake over the phone. "See all settled."
"Get ready" Octavia replied looking at Bellamy impatiently. "I don't want to be late".
Aurora hung up the phone and came back over, looking down at the children with a smile on her face. "Well Bellamy it looks like Jake's going to take you on your camping trip. How does that sound?"
"Yes!" He said excited. "I'm gonna get dressed. Thanks Clarke" He smiled brightly as he ran out of the room.
Aurora smiled at the little blonde as Bellamy ran off. "That was very nice of you Clarke. Thank you." And seeing her son's happy face she had never been more appreciative of that little girl in her life.