11.

Octavia stared into the horizon by the beach, thinking about everything and nothing, meanwhile trying to ignore the obvious that was lingering heavy on her mind. Most of the time it worked, but somehow the memory she desperately tried to erase kept coming back and made her feel things she wished now she was without.

Last night she had gone on a date with newcomer in town, Lincoln Woods, who she felt immediately connected to in a way that she has felt for no man before. The date itself had gone wonderful; they talked and laughed a lot, and he had been so chivalrous and escorted her home to the apartment where she stayed with her brother. So basically everything had gone just perfect and they had been standing outside the door and had just been about to lean in and kiss each other for the night when his phone rang abruptly.

Both had groaned in frustration over being interrupted, but nevertheless he answered the phone with his usual calm and stoic demeanor. However the calmness immediately evaporated, especially when he clutched the grip on his phone even harder as he tried to get the information from whoever was calling, and hung up afterwards with pissed manner. Then he turned to look at her.

"What's wrong? Who called?" She had asked, almost scared to learn that the guy she liked a lot was in fact cheating with her like Finn had done back in high school with Raven. Lincoln sighed heavily, almost defeated that didn't do much to lessen her fears at the moment.

"Your brother called to tell me something that happened to my friend and want me to pick her up since she's being her usual stubborn-self and wouldn't leave."

Wait? What? My brother? How the hell did he know about my brother, especially when I make it a point to not mention him on my dates because every guy would run when they learn about him? Could it be he's a stalker or something? No, I'm a fairly good judge of character and I would have picked up something like that if he was a creep, but how else could he know something like that about me?

"How do you know about my brother? And why would he call you about your friend unless your friend has done something illegal." Octavia asked, skeptical about the whole thing even though sort of glad that her brother didn't seem to know that Lincoln had been with her the entire evening when he called.

"You're not totally off with the whole illegal issue." Lincoln mumbled quietly, with a hint of exasperation in his voice. "And as for my relationship with your brother…well, it was accidental and right now situational acquaintance at best. Besides, my friend is a former friend of his."

Octavia tilted her head confused. "Okay…the who…" Oh my God, it can't be her. But there can't be anyone else because my brother doesn't have many friends. And the closest person to being his only former friend is Clarke. "You mean Clarke? Clarke Griffin? She's back in town?"

Lincoln's silence answered her question perfectly, which she could only respond to by staring at him with shock and disbelief over the fact that the guy she liked was closely connected to her ex-best friend. Lincoln, however, looked like he wanted to explain and comfort her, but he had to go and save Clarke apparently from whatever mess she has done this time. Still he apologized like it was his fault that he knew Bellamy and Clarke and just as he was about to leave he said soft and sincerely, "Look, Octavia. I like you. I like very much and I want to continue seeing you, but understand that I'm not going to choose between you and Clarke since she's my friend and I don't want her to be alone anymore. So it's your choice whether you want to continue to see me or not. I hope you make the right one." Then he left, with her standing in front of her apartment with painful and heavy thoughts.

She sighed heavily. Despite Lincoln's confession she still didn't know what to do and there weren't anyone she could talk to either, especially when her friends were either too busy or too emotionally broken to actually have a conversation about romantic feelings and broken friendships. And besides, she was far too independent and stubborn to allow anyone even her own brother tell her what she was supposed to do in these kinds of situations. Hence why she finally knew what she was going to do.

Screw Clarke. As far as I'm concerned her relationship with Lincoln has no saying with his and mine. I mean, I like Lincoln and I'm not going to be like her and walk away from everything. I'm trying to live my life as freely as I can, and also living without regrets that will tie me down for the rest of my life. So yeah, I'm going to jump on the potential to have a relationship with Lincoln until further notice.

She took her gaze away from the horizon and pulled up her phone and dialed Lincoln's number and waited for him to answer. A couple of seconds later he answered with his calm and polite tone in his voice, obviously not recognizing or realizing it was her who was calling him, but that only made her chuckle playfully. "Hey, Lincoln. It's Octavia. I'm wondering if you might be able to have another date with me. We're kind of interrupted last night."

He replied in agreement and asked if she was available right now to go and grab a cup of coffee with him since he had just finished his errands. Not wasting time accepting his proposition, they agreed to meet at the local and town's only coffee shop in a couple of minutes. The conversation ended shortly after that and Octavia left the beach and headed straight for the coffee shop, while feeling for the first time since last night happy and relaxed. She couldn't wait to see him again.

"Come on, just tell me already." Miller asked, after what seemed like the hundredth times just today he asked him the question about what happened between him and Clarke. Something that Bellamy most definitely didn't want to talk about with his partner or anyone for that matter. "Besides, the little you told me and the stuff I heard about Mt. Weather…I just don't see how her role in that incident took such a dark turn with you and everyone else here in town."

Bellamy sighed, thinking how much he wished he had something stronger to drink than the coffee that had already gotten cold and always tasted like dirty old socks. The walk really hadn't helped him that much to clear his mind, not that he sincerely believed it would have, but he was once again facing the fact that the case was going colder for each minute and there was nothing he could do about it. And having Miller question about Clarke and the Mt. Weather massacre didn't exactly ease his problems any further either.

"I know something more is going on, especially with you and Clarke. I mean, I see the way you acted when you first saw each other back at the first crime scene and the eyes she's trying to hide from you whenever you are looking at her and not…"

That's it. I can't listen to this anymore. "Shut up!" Bellamy exclaimed loudly, making the few people left in the room stop and go totally silent including Miller, who stared at him with huge eyes that screamed with concern and regret. Which made him feel extremely for his outburst and instantly calmed himself down and said, "Please…Miller don't ask about me and Clarke. It's just too complicated."

Miller nodded silently, which everybody else in the room took as a sign to proceed whatever the hell they were doing. "All right, I'll stop. Promise."

Bellamy gave him a small and soft smile. "Thank you." And he honestly meant it and finally thought that the conversation was completely over when Miller continued saying, this time more sheepish and awkward. "But I may have called up Clarke, hoping she might have something on the case since we both know she's working on it too."

Bellamy stared at him. His mind was debating whether to get extremely pissed or weary over the fact that his partner had just gone behind his back to gain information on a murder case from his ex. Honestly, I want to punch his brains out, but it might not be the best idea to do that in a room that's filled with cops. And besides, as much as I hate to admit it, Clarke is dependable and smart so she might actually have at least one possible lead to follow. Especially since she's not here sniffing after information herself.

So he leaned back in his seat, preparing himself for the worse that was coming his way, and asked, "So what did the Princess tell you?"

If Miller were awkward before than that was nothing compared to how he was after the question was raised. His gaze was going to the floor, desperately avoiding directed eye contact with him, which in Bellamy's experience meant that something was going on and he's not going to like it.

"Um…she didn't pick up. And before you ask I called her gallery as well and she still didn't pick up."

Oh no. No, no, no, no. She won't do that, not after what I and everyone else told her not to several times before. Please let Miller be wrong and me too paranoid for my own good. Anything is better as long as it doesn't involve Clarke going off on her own doing undercover work.

He didn't waste time interrogating any further. Instead he rapidly fished up his phone and called her cellphone, which went straight to her voicemail. His concern only increased as he tried to call once again with the same result, and then began calling the gallery and then the rest of her friends. He might be overreacting, but while he knew that Clarke is smart and dependable, she can also impulsive and make bad judgments. Which he suspects she was doing right now. Please Clarke. Don't be out there, doing something incredibly stupid.

Like every other small-town, there was bad and dark part of town where dangerous people associated with crime had control over. Of course, most people in Arkaida know each other or at least know each other on a first name-basis and general reputation. So everyone in town is mostly aware of who exactly is safe and who is not safe to associate yourself with, but nevertheless going to the dark part of town is a bad idea. And those who do go there are either stupid or have a death wish.

I guess I'm both in this particular case. Clarke thought as she walked further and further into the barely-lit streets of the bad parts of Arkaida. The sound of her high heels moving against the pavement caught the attention of those few who was on the street, yet none of them paid any specially attention to her. Why would they since she perfectly blended into those other young women who have been seen working around?

She sighed deeply, closing her eyes for a moment just to embrace the awkwardness and embarrassment she felt, while ignoring the tiny fact that her choice for disguise was her idea. Her normally blond hair was hidden underneath a long dark-haired wig; her make-up was attention seeking with smoky eye shadow and red lipstick. And don't get her started on her clothes, because her outfit consisted of a tight black skirt, a blue dress-shirt that was showing off her black lacy bra. So in other words she looked like a hooker that Octavia, if they were still on friendly terms, would have been ecstatic and teased her for looking illegally hot that her brother would have to arrest her to keep men from drooling all over her. Not that she would say that to me now, because if I have to guess how she would respond to my appearance right now then she most probably either insult, punch, spit in her face instead or all the above, probably the latter knowing Octavia, but her former friend's reaction would actually be a blessing compared to Bellamy's if he was ever to find out. So for everything good and beautiful in the world, let's hope that Bellamy never sees or hears about this particular undercover mission of mine. Otherwise he might actually try and kill me with his bare hands, but then again he's going to actually kill me when he discovers who I am on my way on meeting anyways.

Ignoring the uneasy and warning thoughts that told her that this was a bad idea, Clarke walked down the end of the street and in to an alley with a single backdoor that had a warning sign that warded off intruders. She opened the door that she knew was unlocked and entered inside, once again ignoring the warnings signs that this was most definitely a bad idea.

The room she stepped into was even darker than outside on the street, but she wasn't worried of the dark. She was far more worried about what or who was hiding in the dark. And just as soon as her concern struck her mind the light was suddenly turned on and she found herself standing frozen in the middle of the messy backroom, with one hand on her neck and a cold knife tip to her throat.

"Well, well, well. The princess of Arkaida in all her glory, must have gone insane if she's willing to come here to my lair." A young man's voice spoke into her ear, bringing her shivers up her spine that she forced herself not to react to in his presence. Geez, he's like a pop-up book from hell.

His voice was snarky, but not mean intended. At least not for now anyways, which was an amazing feat itself considering that her relationship with him have always been mutual hatred towards one another.

"Murphy." Clarke said, trying desperately to keep her voice calm and even since she would rather die than give John Murphy the pleasure to see her scared and weak. "We need to talk."

Murphy chuckled into her ear, but gave no indicated to remove his arm and knife away from her throat. "Oh, what kind of evil are you accusing me of doing now? The crime of simply living on this earth?"

Clarke wasn't amused by his snarky attitude, not that she ever was or will be amused by it, but she didn't say anything and only rolled her eyes annoyed. "Unfortunately, I'm not here because of something you have done, although there's nothing that will make me happier, but simply because I need your knowledge and expertise."

Murphy went quiet after hearing her purpose for her visit, actually considering whether he should help her or not, which in itself was unusual for him since they hated each other and his loyalty was more or less towards Bellamy if he had any loyalty towards anyone that is. However after what seemed like forever he finally asked the important question, "Why would I help you?"

Maybe you should help me because it's the right thing to do? Nah, if he was interested in that he would have gone to Bellamy and not to me. So what reason would he have to help the woman he can't stand?

"Honestly, you don't have to help really. I'm trying to find out whoever is out there killing women, who I suspect are all prostitutes that I'm sure that with you knowledge can at least confirm my suspicion or not, and put his sorry ass in prison where he or she belongs. That's it. No other reason. And if you don't want to help me I wouldn't force you, but I have other methods if you don't help me with this."

That got him real quiet, because the message that was really a threat was perfectly clear. They both knew it, even though he wasn't going to admit it out loud, least of all to her anyways, but she had stuff that could incriminate him and most likely get him locked up for the rest of his life if anyone were to find out. And she knew that Murphy was willing to do anything to survive and protect himself, so it was no surprise that he removed his hand and knife and said with the fakest politeness she has ever heard in her entire life. "I'm at your disposal, Princess. Let's see how I can be of assistance to you."

Clarke rolled her eyes in exasperation. One day I'm going to do the world a favor and get him locked up.

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Thank you guys so much for the reviews, favorite and followings, and I'm glad so many of you got interested in my story. So I hope you guys like the this chapter, and the next one will be out next week.

Also I like to add that there are and will be grammar errors in this story, I had forgotten to mention before, and not a perfect writer and I don't have a Beta to fix it for me (which I have no intention on getting anyways), so if people have issues with that then you just have to live with it, okay? I write and release this mainly to entertain you guys as well release some of my creativity.

And for those of you who requested to have more Clarke/Lincoln moments, Clarke/Monty moments and Miller/Monty moments, then it will come when it will come. Although I can promise there will be a slight interaction of Clarke/Monty in the next chapter.

Review, favorite and/or follow.

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