First, I'm sorry it took me so long to update, planning a wedding and looking for a house at the same time is not ideal if one plans to have a life outside of these two activities.

Second, this chapter hasn't been looked over by my beta because I felt you had waited long enough, so please forgive any mistakes.

Thirdly, this chapters does contain talk of college applications and stuff, I have no idea how the system works in the US so if timeline of their applications being send out and the deadline for choosing a college doesn't make sense I apologies.

I lay in bed watching the clock tick by as the last hours of peaceful bliss went by. It was the Sunday before Bellamy and I were due to go back to school and I was dreading it.

As sleep kept escaping me I was reliving that night in my head and still could get over what had happened. Bellamy Blake was in love with me, I had suspected that he might have some feelings for me as we grew closer, but never would I have imagined that he had fallen for me and that we has willing to admit it to the entire student body.

The first few days after his big declaration were like a dream. My mother was still out of town; part of me was curious as to why a doctor needed to be away from the hospital so often, but the other part of me simply couldn't bring herself to care. It meant that I could lie in bed with Bellamy for the remaining days we were off from school. The only time we emerged from the house was when Octavia dragged me to go shopping, claiming we needed some girl bonding time and that her brother had monopolized me long enough.

Surprising us both Bellamy agreed and invited Lincoln to spend the day with him for some male bonding time. I swear Octavia cried a little seeing her brother and boyfriend getting along like that.

I hadn't said anything to Bellamy afraid of his reaction, but while we were out we saw a couple of girls from school and it was obvious Bellamy and I were still the topic of conversation.

From what I had overheard from their conversation it seemed people either thought I had used Octavia to get to Bellamy or that I had some dirt on him and was forcing him to go out with me. It was clear that nobody believed that if we were together it was of his own volition. According to them, the fact that I was a social reject made it impossible for anyone to want to be with me.

I knew if I told Bellamy he would be angered for me by those comments and with his temper it was hard to predict how he would react to it. Which is why I was currently lying in bed wide awake because tomorrow we were going back to school and it would be impossible to hide from the rumors going around. I just prayed that he didn't get himself into trouble trying to defend my honor or something. I could handle whatever they threw at me, but the thought of Bellamy maybe putting his future in jeopardy because of me was something I would not allow to happen.

"Clarke go to sleep." Shit, how did he know I was awake? I closed my eyes and tried to even out my breathing as much as possible, but he wasn't falling for it.

"This is how you want to play it, fine then I cannot be held responsible for my actions." Bellamy started tickling me without any mercy until I pleaded for him to stop. Looking straight into my eyes he demanded to know what was worrying me, I swear sometimes this man could read me like an open book. Me who was so careful as to not let anyone in, he had broken down all my walls and always knew when I was feeling upset.

"It's nothing, I'm just afraid once we leave this room and go out into the open everything is going to change. And it's not that change is necessary a bad thing, but I don't want anything bad to happen to you on my account."

"Clarke, I can't predict what's going to happen because the outside world is uncertain, what I do know is how much I care for you and I'm not going to let anybody get into the way of that."

"That's what I'm afraid of, it's sweet but when it comes to me you don't always act rationally. Promise me that no matter what you hear about me that you won't go all Rambo on everybody."

"What aren't you saying? I feel like you're trying to prepare me for something, but won't say what it is."

"Just promise to think before you act." He looked at me for a few seconds without saying anything, maybe it was unwise not to prepare him for what was to come the next day but he would find out soon enough what people thought of me, of us together, no need to speed up the process.

"Anything for you princess, but you have to stop worrying that pretty little head of yours and go to sleep. We can't have our best and brightest falling asleep during class, people will think I'm a bad influence on you."

"But you are a terribly bad influence on me, instead of sleeping right now I can think of a million other activities I would rather be doing."

"Really does one of those activities include kissing me?"

"It might, if you play your cards right you might tire me out so much that I won't have a choice but to fall asleep in class to show everybody just how bad an influence you are."

"Challenge accepted." Kissing Bellamy, even after months of us being together, still felt new, because I was discovering another side to him. The side he rarely showed anybody, the caring side of him, and this Bellamy was a fearsome thing to behold and I wasn't about to let anybody take him away from me.

-:-

Bellamy and I drove to school together, we stopped by his place early in the morning to get Octavia and so his mother could see we were still alive. Every time I was around she loved to tease Bellamy about how he was so in love with me that he couldn't bear the thought of being without me for even a second, but whenever he left the room and the teasing stopped I could tell how happy she was for him.

"Clarke if anything happens, if anyone tries to hurt you, you find me or Octavia or even a teacher. Don't try to act strong, promise me?"

"Bell I'm not a child." I could hear Octavia chuckling in the backseat, glad to have someone else bear the brunt of Bellamy's overprotection.

"I will do my best to make it clear to everyone that f they touch you they'll have to answer to me." I gave him a meaningful look, had he already forgotten the promise he made with me the night before. "and I will do so in a very responsible and rational manner don't worry,"

"You're so completely whipped brother, one look from Clarke and you fall into line. Never thought I would see the day." I knew it wasn't a question of being whipped, but Bellamy knew how much it meant to me for him to keep his promise, I knew how hard he would try, so I guess I could also make a effort to make him feel comfortable.

"I'll be careful I promise, and if I see any signs of danger I will run the other way."

"That's my girl."

As expected as soon as we arrived we heard whispers all around us. The news had clearly reached everybody, even the ones that hadn't attended the new years party. Girls were staring at me with hatred in their eyes, especially the ones that had gotten with Bellamy before. I could handle a couple of angry girls no problem, what worried me was the lustful looks that the boys were sending my way. From the way Bellamy's grip tighten and the daggers he was trying to send with his eyes to everyone within reach it was clear he had also noticed.

He bent down to whisper in my ear, "If anything happens you come and find me, don't you try and be a hero." I was about to make a joke about him being my knight in shining armor, but his tone and the fierceness in his voice told me it was best not to tease him about this. And if Bellamy was this worried, I was going to listen to him, so I nodded.

"My god Clarke it's like every guy in the whole school is salivating over you."

"Octavia you're not helping."

"I wasn't trying to Bell, this is your fault and you know it." She smirked at him clearly enjoying the situation.

"I don't understand, it's not like I changed over the break?"

"No, but you're more appealing to them. Look you've always been hot and any fool would admit to that, but because of Bellamy's attitude towards you nobody ever dared to make a move. Now add the fact that not only did you hook up with Bellamy but you actually got him to date you, every guy wants to know what kid of tricks you can do in bed to get this womanizer douche bag to settle down." I had never thought of it like that, Octavia's explanation made a lot of sense, but didn't do much in reassuring me.

"Don't worry Clarke I'm sure none of them are stupid enough to make a move for you until Bellamy's done with you, not that I think he would treat you like the girls in the past, but they sure are expecting it."

"Well they'll all be very disappointed, no way I'm letting any of them lay a hand on you."

I couldn't deny that a possessive Bellamy was very very attractive. But I couldn't enjoy this new side of him as much as I wanted too nor the fact that he was walking me to class, the moment was ruined by the constant looks and whispers.

"I'll be fine Bell. Maybe I should carry paper spray so you could feel more at ease."

"That's not a bad idea, we'll stop by after school."

"I was just kidding, everything is going to be fine, this is just high school for crying out loud not some high security prison."

"Teenagers can be cruel Clarke you know this better than anybody, don't forget that." With a kiss on the cheek, that earned a few glares directed at us, Bellamy left to make his way towards his own classroom.

"You must think you're so special right now, but just you wait he's going to drop you like all the other ones, and as soon as that happens the real fun starts for us."

"If you think things were bad before you've seen nothing. A girl like you doesn't deserve to be with him, he's a god and you're nothing. He's probably just with you for you're money anyway."

"I don't know girls, now that I look closely she does have a nice body, one that I would be more than happy to take care of once Blake his done with you. What do you say Clarke, I'm sure I can satisfy your needs just as well."

Keep your head down; don't give them the satisfaction of seeing your reaction.

I was trying really hard not to talk back to them, let them know what Bell and I had was special and that I wouldn't expect them to understand. But I knew that would only make matters worse, so instead I kept my head down and tried my best to ignore them. Luckily when the teacher came in they stopped paying me much attention, probably afraid I would tattle on them, cause that's the type of person they all thought I was.

The rest of the morning went by in similar fashion, as soon as Bellamy left me alone the verbal attacks began. At least nobody had tried to physically harm me. When I saw Miller, still showing a black eye, I got worried for a minute but he walked by me without saying a word. I even noticed him smile a little at me when we passed each other; I wondered what that was about.

At lunchtime Bellamy ate with Octavia and I, but he didn't touch me for the entire meal, he also keep his distance from me as he walked me to my next class. He was probably worried that it would add fuel to the already burning fire.

I was exiting my last class of the day, on my way to meet Bell, thinking that the day could have gone worst when Murphy grabbed me. He covered my mouth making it impossible to scream for help as he pulled me towards an empty corner away from prying eyes.

"I don't know what the hell you've done to my friend, but it's clear to me you're nothing but a disgusting whore. He will get tired of you and when that happens I will get back at you for turning him into this pathetic love filled person, he was the king and nobody not even you will ruin him. Watch your back because I'll be coming for you." I was relived when he let me go; clearly he was only trying to scare me and had no intention of actually harming me, for now.

"What makes you think I won't go running to him now and tell him what you just did to me."

"Because you care about him, and you wouldn't want to be the reason why our friendship feel to pieces, or are you that selfish that after taking is reputation down now you're looking to get rid of all his friends as well." He did make a point, if I told Bellamy about this encounter he would get rid of Murphy, and they had been friends for years. As much as I hated to admit it, Murphy was right I wouldn't be the reason for breaking up their friendship. Even if I believed he deserved better friends than this creep, that was a decision Bellamy would have to make on his own.

"Maybe, but be sure of this, if you ever put your hands on me again I won't hesitate to let him know and it will be you're funeral."

I tried my best to settle my features before meeting up with Bellamy, luckily he was too eager to finally be able to kiss me away from school to notice anything wrong with me. "That wasn't so bad, now we only have six more months of this, and we'll be home free. I even patched things up with Miller, I think we were worried for nothing."

I couldn't bear to break up his happy mood. He was right, once high school was finished we would never have to deal with these people again, once we left for school Murphy and the rest of them would be a distant memory. I could keep it together for that long.

-:-

The first month after our relation come out had been more or less the same, when Bellamy left me alone I would hear all kinds of comments, but people soon realized that I wasn't going to react to them, and as more time passed they realized we were still together and that maybe it was the real deal.

Eventually most of them got tired of taunting me and my days more or less return to the way it was before I started going out with Bellamy. Some girls tried to befriend me in order to get closer to my boyfriend but it was easy to see how fake they were.

We gained a new tablemate in Miller, who hadn't been angry with Bellamy once he learned the whole story. He actually found the whole situation rather funny and apologized for all the things he had said about me in the past. Their was no hard feelings toward Bellamy for haven gotten to me first, and to my great surprised I realized that Miller was a pretty decent guy when he wasn't trying to impress the rest of the school.

Murphy kept his distances from us at school, but when the boys had guy's night out he would always join them. Bellamy said he was slowly coming to accept our relationship. I had my doubts but as long has he was happy with his friends I wasn't going to say anything.

My mom remained mysteriously absent most of the time and I had begun spending more and more time at Bellamy's place. It felt nice to have somewhere I felt safe to be able to go to after having a bad day. It was much better then returning to an empty home full of memories.

Bellamy had sent out his college application and after reviewing all his papers I believed he had a strong chance. I hadn't told him, and I was doing my best so my mother didn't find out, but I had applied to an art program at Bellamy's top choice. I wasn't planning on following him there or anything, I wasn't that type of girl to drop everything for a guy, but as I was looking at the different options with him I realized that they had this amazing art program and for the first time since I started thinking about my future I felt excited. I still didn't know for sure what I was going to go, I still applied at all the schools my mom had listed as the best of the best, but it felt good to finally do something for me.

Before I knew it there was only one month left of school. I couldn't say I was very sad to be leaving high school behind me. Acceptance letters were starting to come in and you could feel excitement in the air. Part of me had almost wished not to get accepted into Yale, perhaps if I didn't get in my mother would let me chose which school I wanted to go to, unfortunately I would never know, because all my letters had been positive including Yale's.

I still hadn't made up my mind as to where I wanted to go and I was slowly running out of time.

As the end of school slowly approached my mother seem to reemerge, never giving me a moments alone. I hadn't seen Bellamy in a week, expect for lunchtime at school, and I was really looking forward to graduation tomorrow so we could finally get some alone time.

"So Clarke I spoke with the dean of admissions at Yale and it would seem that you have yet to send in your tuition. Is there a problem, something you would like to talk about?" I really shouldn't have been surprised that the only reason she was concerned about me was when I went against her plans for my life.

"I haven't made up my mind yet, it's no big deal I've still go time."

"And what's this about applying for an art degree at this second rate college." She was holding up my acceptance letter, which was safely put away in my room.

"You went through my stuff?"

"I didn't have much of a choice since my daughter's been keeping secrets from me."

"Well maybe if you were around more, instead of doing god knows what, I would talk to you about these things."

"Don't make this about me, when we both know this is about some boy. You're throwing your life away for some delinquent." She knew about Bellamy, I had done everything in my power to hide it from her, because I wanted him as far away as possible from this life. I didn't want my mother to get her hands on him.

"This isn't about him, it's about what I want."

"He's corrupted you that much is clear, you've always wanted to be a doctor and now all of a sudden you want something different."

"Have I mother, are you sure about that? Have you ever stopped to ask me what I wanted to do?"

"You're just confused because of him, it doesn't matter because it won't be an issue for much longer. You are not to see this boy ever again."

"Don't you dare do anything to separate us, he makes me happy, not that you care."

"Don't make this difficult Clarke, I've already made plans for you. After graduation tomorrow I'm sending you to live with a friend of mine, Marcus Kane, in Connecticut. I'll be joining you shortly after I sale the house."

"Your selling our home without even talking to me about it, is that where you've been all this time in Connecticut with this Marcus person?"

"I am not the one were discussion right now. Stop acting like a child and go get your tuition check ready." I couldn't believe her; she was making all these decisions without even asking me, pretty much like she had done my entire life. I was done, no more, she was done controlling me. I didn't have my dad anymore to balance her out, if I wanted to do something different I would have to stand up for myself.

"No!"

"Excuse me."

"I said no, I'm an adult, I will make this decision on why own without your involvement." I knew she wasn't going to listen, I needed to cool my head down a little so I could think, really think about what I wanted to do. The best place I knew where to do that was at Bellamy's. So without looking back I grabbed my coat and keys and rushed out of there.

Bellamy was supposed to be home alone all day, I knew because he had booked a day at the spa for his mother and sister. He claimed they needed to look their best as he graduated. So I was surprised to find the door slightly open, as well as a female voice coming from inside. Worried something might be happening I rushed inside, unprepared for the sight before me.

They were pieces of clothing all over the floor, I gasped as I saw a pink bra covered in flowers, something so flashy that I knew Octavia couldn't be the owner.

It couldn't be, he wouldn't, he loved me and yet as I pushed the door to his bedroom my entire world feel apart. My boyfriend, lying in bed naked with some random girl I didn't recognize.

"Clarke." There was anguish in his voice; at least he had the decency to feel bad about it. I couldn't reply, no voice was coming out, no anger either I just felt empty; like someone had reached into my chest cavity and ripped my heart out. He made a move to get up and come towards me, but I couldn't stay. So I ran, with no destination in mind just the desire to escape this pain.

I will try my best to not have you wait so long for the next chapter, especially now that were finally getting to the heart of the story. Please leave a review if you liked or even if you disliked this chapter, they help me progress. Thank you!