Well we didn't make 25 reviews, but those of you who did take the time to drop me a little note are so awesome I decided to give you chapter 2 anyway! Thank you so much for all of the reviews, follows, and favs! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter, and I hope it clears up the questions concerning Clarke's other son… ;)
Chapter 2
Ten Years Later…
Clarke Griffin was sleeping soundly until suddenly a little human being plopped down right on top of her.
"Wake up, Mom!" Ten-year-old Andrew yelled excitedly.
Clarke opened one eye, staring at her son, annoyance and fondness fighting for dominance on her features. His blonde curls were cropped short and his blue eyes were fixed on her face. He bounced once, grinning at the loud oomph that escaped her lips.
"What time is it AJ," she asked, reaching for her phone.
"It's five-thirty," the little boy grinned, "It's the first day of school!"
Clarke groaned, covering her eyes with both hands and then peeking at her son from between her fingers.
"You're not going anywhere are you?"
"Nope! I'm hungry and you promised pancakes," AJ said, his eyes widening.
"Fine, pancakes it is. Hop off, I've got to get your brother up," Clarke said as she crawled out of bed, shoving her crazy hair out of her eyes as she reached for her silky black robe to cover her tank and shorts.
She made her way down the hall, AJ skipping along behind. How anyone could be this chipper in the mornings she had no idea. She stopped at the dark mahogany door, knocking loudly before calling out.
"Lincoln, honey, time to get up! If you still want to get that run in you'd better go now! I have to be at school early for morning meetings!"
Exactly three minutes later her sixteen-year-old son stood before her in a red Rangers baseball cap, gray tee, and black athletic shorts. He slid to a stop on short white socks, his shoes in hand.
"Morning Mom," Lincoln said as he pecked the petite woman on the cheek.
At six feet, he was already taller than his adoptive mother but she was still scary when she wanted to be.
"Morning AJ," Lincoln grinned as he ruffled his little brother's hair.
"Linc, can I go with you," the boy pleads.
"No," Clarke yells from the bathroom.
"Sorry buddy, Mom says no," the teen says before jogging down the stairs and out the door.
Clarke comes out of the bathroom to find her youngest standing with his hands on his hips with the darkest glower he could muster.
"Don't even think about talking back, young man," she warned, "Or there'll be no pancakes in this house for a week."
Clarke watched in amusement as AJ deflated, his hands falling to his sides and his nose scrunching in thought. He sighed, turning to plod down the stairs and into the kitchen where he climbed up into one of the bar stools.
She'd just gotten down the Bisquick when the front door banged open and Dillon came strolling into the kitchen followed closely by his father, Monty Green.
"Morning Dill Weed," Clarke calls without looking behind her.
"Morning Aunt C, where's Linc," Dillon asks as he takes the stool beside AJ.
"He's out for his morning run, but he should be back soon," Clarke answered as she combined the powdered mix with some milk, oil, and sugar.
"Morning Monty," Clarke said, throwing a smile over her shoulder at her old friend as she poured some batter into a hot skillet before turning back to the boys.
"Thanks so much for doing this Clarke," Monty said with a sigh, "Harper is nervous about her first day at the firm, and I have early meetings at the lab this morning."
"No problem! We're always happy to have Dill with us. Aren't we AJ," Clarke said with a smirk.
AJ nodded, "Yep, we sure are Uncle Monty."
Monty smiled, kissing his son on the forehead and then leaving with a wave.
"So, are we ready for our first day of school," Clarke asked after the front door closed.
Two excited yes' echoed in the kitchen as Clarke finished breakfast, and she couldn't help but smile at the boys' enthusiasm. AJ was excited to see his friends, but Dillon was more excited about getting back in the chemistry lab.
"Good, glad to hear it," she said as she dished up their pancakes before pouring chocolate milk for her son and orange juice for lactose intolerant Dillon Green.
Clarke was just pouring her first cup of coffee, her gaze falling on the tiny digital clock that adorned the front of the coffee maker, when her eldest came jogging into the kitchen.
"Hat," Clarke called, not even having to turn to know that Lincoln still wore his Rangers cap.
"Yes mam," Lincoln said as he sat down beside his little brother.
Clarke served up a plate for the teen, setting it before him lathered with peanut butter along side a tall glass of milk.
"AJ," she said turning to the little boy, "Run up stairs and get your bath, it's 6:15."
"Yes mam," the ten year old saluted as he ran for the stairs.
Clarke shook her head, popping some bread in the toaster before taking a sip of her coffee. She nearly groaned as her sleep-deprived brain received the much-needed caffeine.
"Good coffee there Ma," Lincoln said with a smirk.
Clarke rolled her eyes, setting down the syrup and hitting the button to eject her toast. She smothered it with butter and strawberry jam, chewing slowly as she listened to the two boys discuss their first day of sophomore year.
She cleared her throat rather loudly when she heard her son mention a girl he planned to ask out, his dark eyes darting to her face and then skittering away as a blush began to creep up his neck.
One well shaped brow arched, her blue eyes sparking, "What did I tell you, no girls until your thirty."
At her son's crestfallen expression Clarke laughed, watching as Lincoln's dark eyes widened and then his features morphed into a scowl.
"Not funny Mom," he whined.
"Oh I don't know, I thought it was pretty humorous," Clarke winked before taking another sip of coffee.
Just then AJ came slipping and sliding into the kitchen, his blonde hair damp and his Spider-Man t-shirt on backwards.
"Andrew Jacob, what on earth are you doing," Clarke asked shrilly as her son came to a sudden stop.
"I was in a hurry," the boy muttered.
"I can see that, but in a hurry for what?"
"The Snorks come on in two minutes," AJ said as if it explained everything before scampering off to the living room.
Clarke shook her head, smiling at her son's zeal for the strange little sea creatures with the little blow horns atop their heads. She turned back to the two teenagers, downing the rest of her coffee before placing the mug in the sink.
"I'm going to go get ready. Linc be showered and ready to head out by 7:15," Clarke called before making her way up the stairs.
Forty minutes later she came down dressed in a white sundress with yellow roses dotting the bodice and skirt. Her white sweater was thrown over one arm, while her purse hung limply from the other.
"Alright boys," she yelled, "Time to go!"
In three seconds flat all three boys assembled in the entryway, rushing out the door and climbing into the waiting truck. She locked the door, dew soaking her feet as she made her way to her vehicle.
She threw her stuff in the back with AJ, then took her seat behind the wheel. She turned the ignition, praying the old fellow started. The hum of the engine greeted her ears, the radio blaring an old country station as she pulled out of the driveway.
Clarke glanced at the teen beside her, his Mohawk induction cut making her smile. It'd taken her forever to find a barber in town that would cut his hair just the way he wanted it, and she had to admit it worked for him.
"Are you ready to meet the new coach today," she asked him, drawing his attention from the quickly passing Texas landscape.
"Yeah, I guess," Lincoln said quietly.
Clarke sighed, Coach Kane had made a huge impact on her son's life and she knew he was going to miss the older man. She reached over, squeezing his hand.
"It's gonna be ok, baby. You'll adjust," she said quietly, a smile of reassurance curving her lips.
"Thanks Mom," Lincoln said squeezing her fingers lightly before shifting his gaze back to the window.
Clarke put both hands back on the wheel, her eyes moving to the rear view mirror where she saw her youngest with his nose stuck in a book. Both of her kids were avid readers, something she'd drilled into them from the beginning. However, AJ took his literature far too seriously. She never would forget the day he zip-tied her to one of the kitchen chairs after reading a story about a kid who kidnapped his own parents.
"Whatcha reading buddy," she asked, watching as AJ's head popped up and a grin split his features.
"I'm reading about the Spartans," the little boy said enthusiastically.
Clarke groaned inwardly, smile still in place. She shared a look with Lincoln, both of them knowing they would be reenacting Greek battles for the next week at least.
Finally they came to a stop in the school parking lot. Clarke took AJ's hand, pecking Lincoln on the cheek before sending the two teens off on their own.
"Have a good day! Be safe," she called after them, her eldest shooting her a grin over his shoulder.
Clarke took AJ to his classroom, smiling when his teacher came to greet her.
"Good morning Miss Lewis," AJ greeted.
"Good morning Andrew," the young teacher said with a smile, "Why don't you go pick out a desk."
Clarke watched her son scamper off before turning back to the woman before her, "Thank you so much, Jessica. I have a meeting with Principal Wallace and then I have to get my room in order, so there is no way I could have kept him with me this morning."
"It's no trouble, Clarke," Jessica said with a warm smile, "I'm happy to help."
"Bye Munchkin," Clarke called, receiving a smile and a wave from her little boy, "Bye Jess, and thanks again."
Clarke made her way across campus to the larger high school building, walking through the large double doors and hanging a sharp right into the office.
"Morning Fox", she greeted, "I have a meeting with Dr. Wallace this morning."
"Ok, I'll buzz you in", Fox said with a smile.
Clarke leaned against the tall counter, her fingers dancing over the wooden surface. She heard the door jangle, turning to watch as the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen walked into the office.
He was tall, probably close to six feet, with ebony curls, dark expressive eyes, and a bone structure that had her itching to grab for a pencil so she could capture all of the attractive angles in her sketch book.
He came to a stop beside her, smirking as she stared up at him. This close she could make out the smattering of freckles that dusted the bridge of his nose and the apples of his cheeks.
"Hi," Clarke said lamely, kicking herself for the breathiness of her voice.
"Hi," the stranger said, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin.
"Miss Griffin, Principal Wallace will see you now," Fox said with a knowing smile.
"Uh thank you," Clarke croaked, trying to walk to the office adjacent the lobby without taking her eyes from the handsome stranger.
She bumped into the door, her cheeks reddening as she grabbed for the door handle. She breathed a sigh of relief after the door was firmly shut behind her, the principal staring at her as though she'd gone mad.
"Take a seat Miss Griffin", Cage Wallace said, his voice smooth and his blue eyes cold.
She'd never liked the man, always believing him to be a bit of a snake. She took her seat as directed, folding her hands primly in her lap. She was forced to listen to his lecture on self-expression and the kind of art she was to teach over the next two semesters.
"And furthermore, Miss Griffin, the students should be introduced to more European influences to broaden their horizons and subject them to a little culture," the man said as he reclined slightly in his high-backed leather chair.
"I'll do my best sir, but I believe the students would also benefit from meeting local artists. People they can relate to and speak with," Clarke pressed.
Principal Wallace huffed, shaking his head, "If there is time at the end of the school year you may bring in a few guest speakers."
Clarke nodded, knowing that if Cage had his way there would be no time. She watched as the man gave her a dismissive wave, thanked her, and then called for his coffee.
The blonde fumed as she made her way to her classroom at the end of the hall, entering through the brightly painted door and flipping on the light. She inhaled the familiar scent of oaken cabinets and Elmer's glue.
She busied herself for the thirty minutes before first period rearranging art supplies and taking a quick inventory. She grabbed the humanities book she used for her Humanities I class, skimming the pages until she found where she wanted to start.
At exactly eight o'clock students began to pour noisily into her classroom. Clarke watched as her son entered with Dillon, taking a seat at one of the back tables. Other students occupied seats around them, but it was a young girl who drew her attention.
The teen had long black hair and bright expressive blue eyes. Her features were fine, delicately shaped and framed by wisps of dark hair. She wore a par of denim shorts and a Texas A&M shirt with a pair of black flip-flops.
Clarke grinned when her son spotted the pretty girl, his eyes going wide and his mouth slightly agape. She turned her back to compose herself, grabbing her roll sheet before calling out one name and then another.
"Octavia Blake," Clarke said loudly to be heard above the first day chatter.
"Here".
The blonde art teacher looked up to put a face with the name, her gaze locking with the girl she'd seen earlier. She gave Octavia a warm smile, and then continued with her attendance sheet.
"As most of you know, I'm Miss Griffin and this is Humanities I," Clarke said as her gaze swept over the faces of her pupils, "Before I begin, is everyone in the right class?"
After a chorus of "Yes mam's" and nods, Clarke began her lecture. She loved teaching- loved inspiring young minds and instilling in them a love of art. Her hands moved excitedly as she spoke, her blue eyes expressive and a ready smile curving her lips.
When the bell rang, the kids began to file out. Lincoln came up to her, a smile on his face.
"Great job Mom. You had them eating out of the palm of your hand," Lincoln said proudly.
"Thanks sweetheart," Clarke grinned, "Any word on when practice lets out?"
"Four-thirty," the teen replied.
"Ok, AJ and I'll be there with bells on," Clarke grinned as she watched her son go before turning to greet her next class.
100100100100100100100
Bellamy Blake woke to the sound of his alarm clock, the loud buzzing bringing him out of a deep sleep and into the realm of wakefulness. He sat up, turned off the blaring alarm, and then got up- stretching his arms above his head then moving to the kitchen.
He got a quick glass of orange juice, draining the acidic liquid in three gulps before going into the laundry room and changing into his running clothes. As he pulled the plain white tee over his head he called up the stairs.
"I'm heading out for a run, O!"
"Ok, I'll be finished with the bathroom by the time you get back," his younger sister hollered.
Bellamy shook his head, pulling on his tennis shoes, knowing that was a bald faced lie. Octavia was a teenage girl who loved her makeup, he would be doing good to get fifteen minutes to shower and brush his teeth before it was time to head out the door.
He locked the door behind him, and started out at an easy jog. The air was muggy, the temperature already climbing to at least 85 degrees. Soon his shirt was soaked with sweat, trickling down his back and chest.
He ran along the tree-lined streets, a flash of movement catching his eyes, a tall brawny kid, maybe sixteen, in a red cap jogging in an open field. He watched as the young man bobbed and weaved, avoiding an invisible defense.
The kid's movements were fluent, and his speed and control were definitely that of a quarterback. Excitement raced through Bellamy's veins at the prospect of coaching talent like that.
He found himself cheery and actually excited for his first day as the football coach at Mount Weather High. He unlocked the door, Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" blaring from the single upstairs bathroom.
Bellamy made two sausage biscuits, already knowing it was going to be an 'eat in the truck' kind of morning. He wrapped both sandwiches in paper towels, then made his way up the stairs.
"O, you almost done in there," he called.
"Yeah, Bell, just a second," came his sister's voice from the other side.
Bellamy groaned, in teenage girl 'just a second' could translate into five or ten minutes. So, he wandered into his bedroom, grabbing a pair of khakis and the dark blue polo with the Mountain Men logo on the chest.
Finally the bathroom door opened and Octavia came out with more makeup than he cared for and a top he knew he didn't approve of.
"You're not wearing that," Bellamy growled, his eyes feeling as though they'd been squirted with acid at the sight of his sister's cleavage.
Octavia huffed, "Bell! It's what all the other girls…"
"Don't even finish that sentence Octavia Loraine! If all the other girls jumped off a cliff would you be jumping too," Bellamy seethed.
"Right now I would," Octavia muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at her brother's dark expression. "Fine, I'll change. Happy?"
Bellamy nodded, watching as she sulked down the hall and slammed her door. He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers catching on tangled curls as he made his way into the bathroom.
He felt like a new man after his shower and shave, his hair still slightly damp as he dressed for the day. When he came downstairs it appeared that his sister was in a better humor, smiling at him over her phone in a modest Texas A&M t-shirt.
"Thanks O," Bellamy said with a smile.
"You're welcome, big brother. Now let's go, we can't be late for our first day!"
Bellamy dropped his sister off at the high school, parking his truck in the lot adjacent to the large building. He had a meeting with the principal in fifteen minutes and he so didn't want to be late.
He entered the lobby, his gaze falling on a pretty blonde. He watched as she turned to stare at him, her silky blonde curls falling over one shoulder and her bright blue eyes widening slightly.
"Hi," she said breathily as he came to stand beside her.
"Hi," he replied with a smirk.
They stood there openly staring at one another until she was called into the boss' office, running into the door before fumbling for the knob. He smiled to himself, thinking this was the best trip to the principal's office he'd had in his life.
His good mood didn't last for long though because his meeting with Cage Wallace was anything but pleasant. He now knew why the blonde had come out of his office with such a scorching frown.
Bellamy fumed as he walked back to his truck, starting it up and driving to the football field. His new boss expected a certain number of wins or his job would be on the line. This put added pressure on the young coach, and he didn't like it one bit!
He slammed his door, stomping through the locker rooms and into his office. He sank down in his chair, looking up as Miller and Murphy entered and plopped down on the ancient leather couch.
"From the look on your face, I take it you met the illustrious Principle Wallace," Murphy said with a chuckle.
"Is that man always so creepish," Bellamy asked with a grimace.
Murphy seemed to think for a moment before shaking his head, "Nope he's a creeper all the time."
"Great," Bellamy said massaging the bridge of his nose.
He remembered the pretty blonde, and he was just getting ready to tell them about her when Miller mentioned that they needed to look over equipment, the team roster, and outline tentative field positions.
The rest of Bellamy's day flew by in a flurry of activity as he readied for the first afternoon practice. When three rolled around he could here his team enter the locker room, their boisterous laughter echoing of the cement block walls.
He had Miller and Murphy get them out on the field and lined up before he made his appearance, his dark sunglasses shielding his eyes from the hot August sunshine and also making him look like a tough no nonsense drill sergeant.
As Bellamy walked down the line, he recognized a familiar face. The kid from his jog that morning was standing at attention, his dark gaze following the coach's every movement.
"Alright," Bellamy yelled, "I'm Coach Blake, as most of you already know. Today's practice is going to give me an idea of where I want you. Just because Coach Kane had you on offense doesn't mean you're going to stay there, so be prepared for a position change. Miller, start drills!"
Bellamy stood off to the side, watching his new team practice. He had to admit that there were some talented kids, especially the kid he'd seen on his jog that morning. He could run like the wind and his hand/eye coordination was great.
He jotted down where he watched each player, watching them carefully to make sure he had them right where he wanted them. Thankfully by the time practice was wrapping up, he was sure he'd made the right decision.
"Good practice, I'll post the new positions on my door", Bellamy said before heading to his office.
He was sitting at his desk watching some of last year's game footage when a soft knock sounded on his door.
"Come in," he called gruffly, never taking his eyes from the screen.
"Uh Coach?"
Bellamy looked up then, finding what could be the best player on his team standing before his desk.
"Griffin right," Bellamy asked.
"Yes sir, Lincoln Griffin."
"Well, Lincoln Griffin, what can I do for you," Bellamy asked giving the teen his full attention.
"Well, sir, I was just asking about my new position. Coach Kane put me in as a running back, so I don't think…"
Bellamy bristled, "Coach Kane isn't here, I am, and I'm the one running this team and I'll do whatever the heck I want. Got it?"
He watched as the kid nodded slowly, "Yes sir, I understand."
"Good, anything else," Bellamy asked coolly.
"No, sir, that was all."
"Lincoln," Bellamy called, "Drop that Humanities class. I want you lifting in the mornings."
He watched as Lincoln left, aggravation nipping at the edges of his mind. Lincoln seemed like a good kid, but he had a lot to learn. Bellamy knew he couldn't give him any slack, and he'd have to stay on him to make sure the kid reached his full potential and understood that he wasn't Kane and he wasn't going to give him a break just because he was good.
Staring at the empty doorway, Bellamy couldn't help but think it was going to be a long season. With a snooty principle and a spoiled athlete, he was in for a rough road.
Thanks for reading! Please review! I love hearing from each of you! :)
To all of my guest reviewers: Thank you so much for your kind words, and I'm so glad you enjoyed the prologue! I can't wait to hear what y'all think of this chapter! :)