Then: August 30, 2008

12:38 pm

"Okay so can you go through that checklist you made again?"

Clarke huffed and laid back on the dark green comforter. They had been packing for two days straight and she wasn't even bothering to hide her annoyance for the whole process anymore. "We've been over this like three times."

"I don't want to forget anything."

"If you forget something you can just come home."

"It's a two hour ride" he said giving her a look from across the room. "Please just go over the list one more time?"

Her face changed into a slight glare but it didn't seem to intimidate him, instead a wide smirk spread across his freckled face. "Thanks princess."

"Deodorant"

"Check"

"Shampoo"

"Check"

"Soap"

"Check"

"Axe that doesn't smell bad."

"What's wrong with my Axe?" He looked up from the suitcase lying across his bedroom floor with a puzzled expression across his face.

"You changed it. It's gross." Clarke told him pointedly not turning away from the list.

He scrunched his brows together. "Yeah when I started dating Bree I did. How did you even notice that?"

"I notice weird smells, Bellamy. Plus you and Bree broke up months ago. Maybe even because of the Axe. Change it back." She knew she was being slightly irrational, in fact his new Axe wasn't that bad, it was just different. Still there was something about this whole packing process that was bringing out the worst in her. Maybe it was because she was an artist. She was pretty sure there was some stereotype out there about artists not being organized so she must be frustrated from the process of organization.

Yeah that was it.

Bellamy stood up and walked over towards the bed sheepishly. He pulled one of the pillows out from under Clarke's head and she gave him a dirty look as her head plopped a little further towards the mattress.

"Push over." He said with a sigh. "And Bree and I did not break up because of the Axe I use.

She gave him a look. "You're supposed to be packing. Also you don't know that."

"What I do know is that you are in a rotten mood today now push over."

She shifted over to the right making room for him to put down the pillow he stole and lie down onto the bed next to her. Her turned sideways to face her but she had gone back to staring at the list in order to avoid any eye contact with him.

"Why are you upset?" He asked pulling the list out of her hands and tossing it across the room.

"I'm not." She stated finally facing him.

"Yes you are. I know when you're upset Clarke." He picked a strand of fallen blonde hair and moved it behind her head. "Talk to me."

She stared at him for a moment feeling slightly flushed. The truth was she wasn't exactly sure why she was feeling the way she was and in a way it embarrassed her. Change had never been something that scared her. Most of her childhood had been spent working around her mother's ever changing work schedule so there was never a set routine to her life that lasted long. So she was used to change. Change was fine.

But this. This upset her in a way she wasn't sure she quite understood.

"Clarke?" He gave her a nudge and his ever so famous smirk.

The corner of her mouth inched up as she couldn't help but smile back, even if it was a small one. "I'm fine."

"Is it because I'm leaving?"

That hit a nerve and she turned away from him to face the ceiling. It wasn't as though Bellamy leaving for college was sudden news that she hadn't been prepared for. It was just before when they spoke of it it had seemed so far off, like the day that he had to leave wouldn't actually come.

But it had.

"Ahh so it is." He wrapped one of his arms around her waist and turned her back towards him. "You're sad cause you're going to miss me."

She rolled her eyes but didn't make direct contact. "You know if anyone saw us in this position they would think we were together. We're practically cuddling."

"Naw they know I couldn't get someone as pretty as you." He winked but there was an underlying seriousness to his tone.

She laughed seeming to miss the subtle implication. "You're so stupid. Go make sure you're all packed, you have to leave soon."

"No you're still upset."

She shrugged and picked at a tear in his old gray t-shirt. She was pretty sure she was making the rip bigger but he didn't complain and it was easier to focus on anything but his face when she spoke. "I'm fine I just don't understand why you decided to go so far."

"Two hours is far?" It was innocent enough but the look on his face was teasing and was starting to make her heart race.

She sat up figuring their close proximity was radiating too much body heat for her and she just needed some air. "It's far when I'm going to have to deal with Octavia's shenanigans all by myself."

"Why can't you just say you'll miss me?"

She looked behind her shoulder at him. He was her best friend, of course she was going to miss him. She didn't understand why it was so important that she said it out loud. He knew how much things were going to change by him leaving. No more late night car trips. Or forcing him to drive all around the state on weekends so she could find new places to sketch. She couldn't just take off to his house whenever she and her mother got into a fight about med school…well she could but Octavia was only fifteen and didn't have the same understanding of the pressures of choosing what she was going to do with the rest of her life as Bellamy did.

The reality was Bellamy knew how much her life would change without him, and how much she would miss him.

Still the intensity on his face let her know that he did want to hear it.

"Fine. I'm going to…"

The door slammed open and while Clarke nearly jumped out of her skin, Bellamy remained motionless on the bed seeming more annoyed than surprised with the interruption.

The brunette standing in the doorway had her arms crossed and seemed to be tapping her foot impatiently. She was small but there was a fierceness to the girl that let everyone who came across her know that she was not to be taken lightly. "I'm sorry but are you two done making out yet? Mom is yelling that if you and Miller don't take off within the next half our you won't make it to check in on time and will be charged for being late."

A larger figure appeared next to her in the doorway with his hands in his sweatshirt pockets and looking much calmer than the girl standing next to him. The concern of a fee for a late check in didn't bring as much of a concern to him as the girl to his right. Instead a smirk peeled across his face at the sight in front of him.

"Shut up Miller," Bellamy said with a look that told Miller not even bother saying what was on his mind.

"We were just making sure Bellamy had everything." Clarke explained hopping off the bed and zipping up Bellamy's suitcase for him.

"Well there's still one thing he doesn't have," Miller replied glancing over to Clarke and back to Bellamy who was shooting daggers at his friend with his eyes.

"Wait what?" Clarke looked up confused but Octavia just gave her an eye roll and told the boys they'd bring the suitcase down stairs for them but to 'hurry up' with the rest of their 'crap'.

"Dude shut up!" Bellamy shot back the minute both girls had left the room.

Miller shrugged with an eye roll as he grabbed one of the plastic bins filled with pre-ordered books off of the floor. "Listen if she hasn't caught on from my jabs that you're in love with her after all these years she isn't going to pick up on it now."

"I'm not in love with her." Bellamy replied firmly. "She's my best friend that's all."

Miller nodded unflinching under the weight of the bin. "Yeah that's what I told myself about Bryan too."

That comment didn't even gain a response as Bellamy went to pick up the second plastic bin that contained his bedding for the college dorm. "Let's go before we're late."

"Fine."

The headed down the creaky wooden stairs of the small apartment and out into the tiny driveway meant to supply all four families of the small complex. Aurora was waiting by a worn down black nissan from the 90s that Bellamy had saved up for while working at a local pizza parlor.

Octavia and Clarke were already loading both Miller and Bellamy's luggage into the car. Miller's car had broken down only a couple weeks before and since he and Bellamy were attending the same college they had decided to carpool on their way up to the University.

Octavia felt this was a terrible idea due to lack of space in the car to fit both their luggage and she was making her thoughts clear on the matter while trying to stuff another suitcase into the trunk.

Miller went over to help her while Bellamy walked over to Clarke. "We didn't get to finish our conversation earlier. Are you feeling okay now?"

She looked up at him and gave a shrug. "Yeah it's stupid. I guess I was just feeling kind of bummed that I don't know when I'll see you again."

He stepped closer to her putting his hands onto the sides of her arms. "Hey. Listen, I'm not that far. You need me at all and I'll be here in a second."

"Well two hours." She joked but smiled knowing he meant what he said.

"Two hours." He agreed pulling her in for a hug. She wrapped her own arms around him tight.

"I'll miss you Bellamy." She whispered into his ear before letting go. It felt surreal to watch him walk away knowing this would be the longest time she had ever gone without seeing him.

After she had watched his car drive off she said her goodbyes to Aurora and Octavia and took off in her own to meet some friends at a local coffee shop. Maybe she didn't like change after all, but life went on.

Besides.

The ride was only two hours.