Bellamy didn't keep Clarke in the closet for long, just until everything was cleared by security. However, from the way she was pacing back in forth in the small space, one would think it had been hours.

When she was finally freed, Clarke practically burst from the closet. By then, the room had mostly emptied of guests, except for a few stragglers. Clarke sighed in frustration. "I can't believe after all of that work, this is what I have to show for it. This… this empty room!" she muttered angrily.

Before Bellamy could offer any comfort she stormed off towards Raven, who was sitting in the back row of chairs talking rapidly on her phone. Seeing Clarke she jumped up and yanked her in for a hug. Even from the front of the room, Bellamy could hear Clarke's friend fuming about the disintegration of society and crazy people who thought violence solved everything. On any other day, he probably would have been annoyed at the babble, but it seemed to be taking Clarke's mind off the failed event.

Out of the corner of his eye, Bellamy saw a security guard talking to Abigail Griffin. When he'd finished, he made his way over to Bellamy.

"So what do we know so far?" Bellamy asked, trying to keep up the pretense of patience when all he really wanted to do was find the shooter and wring his neck.

The security guard must have sensed some of his tension still, because he got straight to the point. "It turns out one of the entrances to the house was not being properly monitored. That was how the shooter was able to get in without notice." Even before Bellamy could comment, the guard rushed to add, "Don't worry. Those parties responsible for the breach have already been taken care of."

"Do you know who the shooter was, or why he did it?"

The guard pulled out a pad of paper where he had taken down some notes, and handed it over to Bellamy. 'Commander Shumway' was written at the top. The guard then shrugged his shoulders saying, "I suppose we can never be certain why he did it, since these types aren't the most trustworthy witnesses. Still, from what we gathered, Shumway somehow got ahold of a copy of the guest list."

Bellamy sucked in a breath. "So he wasn't aiming for the Griffins." Knowing that Clarke and her family weren't the actual targets relieved some of the tension in his chest.

"That's what we're thinking," the guard agreed. "The cops came a few minutes ago, and the two guards that gave chase went back to the sheriff's office as witnesses."

Thinking back over the how's of the shooting, Bellamy's eyebrows shot up. "Wait!" He flinched at how loud his voice had gotten, drawing attention from Clarke who looked over at him for a moment. Bellamy lowered his voice several notches before continuing. "You said that Shumway got the guest list somehow. Are we think someone on the staff was responsible?"

"No." The guard hesitated before continuing. "Originally the guest list was supposed to be kept under wraps for security purposes. A day ago, though, Mrs. Griffin released some of the names to the public in an effort to promote the event."

The guard said the last bit in poorly veiled contempt, and Bellamy's opinion of Clarke's mother took a nosedive. He hadn't thought he could dislike the woman any more. Being cautious about what he said next while the woman was still in the room though, Bellamy simply thanked the guard, gave him his number, and asked him to let him know if he heard any further updates.

Although technically he wasn't needed anymore since the event was canceled, Bellamy knew he couldn't leave yet. Raven and Clarke were still talking in the back, so he made his way slowly over to them.

When Raven saw Bellamy, he didn't know what her reaction to him would be. Then before he knew it, she was giving him a hug quite similar to the one he had seen her give Clarke earlier. Her mouth lingered by his ear for a split second as she whispered a soft "thanks," and they separated. She looked Bellamy up and down once again and grinned wickedly at Clarke. "Alright, maybe he's not so bad after all."

Clarke rolled her eyes at Raven. To Bellamy she said, "I heard about my mother releasing some of the guest list." She glanced over to her mother and disappointment flashed over her features. Seeming at a loss for what to do, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked back at him.

"Who told you?" Bellamy asked, somewhat surprised. He hadn't let her out of his sight since she left the closet, and the only person he'd seen her talking to was Raven.

Clarke jabbed a thumb at her friend. A small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. "Raven has some connections with the cops." When Raven tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and stared down at her feet, Clarke's mouth transformed into a full blown smile. "Do you know Wick?" she asked him.

After registering the name, Bellamy turned to Raven in surprise. "Oh," he said, smirking, "you're HER!"

"Her?" The brunette's face scrunched in a mixture of confusion and apprehension.

Bellamy nodded, finding that despite the less than optimal circumstances of the day, he could still find humor in something. "Man, this is great. I never thought I'd meet the girl that Wick has been going on and on about." Both Clarke and Raven looked confused at that. "Wick and I are friends from high school," Bellamy explained. "We get drinks once a week at Grounder's, and for the past month, he's been talking non-stop about some girl, but wouldn't say who it was." He inclined his head towards Raven. "Now I know."

The girl in question hastily went back to analyzing her shoes, a faint blush creeping up on her cheeks. Clarke shoved her friend playfully. "You never told me it was getting serious. I have to meet this Wick!"

"Well, you both could always join us for drinks this week." The words were out there before he even knew what he was saying. Clarke's mouth opened in surprise, and Bellamy, realizing the implications of what he'd just offered, felt his face growing warm.

"Sounds excellent!" Raven exclaimed cheerily, clearly glad to be getting the attention off herself.

It took a few moments before Clarke spoke again, and when she did so, it was after an elbow to the side from Raven. Not looking him directly in the eye, she said softly, "Yeah, we'll be there."

Bellamy couldn't help the smile that formed on his face. As the seconds ticked on in silence after Clarke's response though, Bellamy excused himself and left the ballroom. He desperately needed to escape Raven's predatory gaze and leave behind the awkwardness that had just overcome the conversation like a tidal wave.

Right as he was leaving the ballroom, he bumped into the other people that Clarke had introduced to him earlier. Bellamy hadn't realized that they were still there, but being Clarke's friends, he wasn't surprised that they had stuck around to make sure she was okay. Actually, from the direction they were coming from, Clarke wasn't the only Griffin they were checking up on. Monty and Jasper backed up so that Bellamy could get through the door. Once he was out in the foyer he peered at the hallway behind them and asked, "How is he?"

"How's who?" Jasper asked suspiciously, his eyes flicking quickly to Monty.

"Dr. Griffin," Bellamy drawled out, not understanding his reaction.

At Bellamy's answer, Jasper's eyes looked as though they were about to pop out of his head. "Clarke told you about Jake?" His voice was incredulous, and it was then that Bellamy stopped to think that maybe he should have been surprised himself that Clarke had told him. It had seemed to be a well-kept secret and Bellamy had known the Griffins for all of a few hours. He brushed the thought away, though, because it hadn't been Clarke actually, but Dr. Griffin that had insisted on meeting him.

Ignoring the speculative looks shooting between Clarke's friends, Bellamy rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I met him earlier for just a minute. I know about the leukemia." The fact that he knew not only knew about Dr. Griffin's illness, but had met also him sent the two guys over the edge.

They were speechless for a full minute until Monty spoke up. "He was our little league coach in school. Jake's the best." His voice sounded years away at that admission, no doubt wrapped up in memories.

Jasper placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and shook his head sadly. "Yeah."

Monty sighed, then seeming to shake out of his haze, looked at Bellamy. "I'm glad you got to meet him. He's a really great guy. Thankfully he slept through the whole thing. We went in just after one of the security guards and chatted with him for a bit before letting him get some rest. He asked about Clarke and we told him she was alright."

Bellamy nodded. "Good. That's good." Not really knowing what else to say at the gloomy topic that had befallen them, he glanced back into the ballroom. "I feel really bad that Clarke isn't able to have her event. She seems like she's put a lot of time and effort into this."

Monty and Jasper nodded, with Jasper speaking up. "She really has. This foundation is Clarke's life. I just wish there was some way that I could help, oh, I don't know, make this day even slightly better after the disaster it's become."

Bellamy silently agreed. Then, out of nowhere, he thought back to seeing Raven on her phone earlier, and pulled out his own cell phone. Flipping it open and scrolling through his contacts, he stopped at one particular name and grinned. With another glance to make sure no one else was around, he leaned in closer to the two guys and said quietly, "I think I have an idea."

Monty and Jasper looked at each other, smiled and then turned to Bellamy. "We're in."

Not edited yet, but I really wanted to get this update to you guys! I just wrote it in the last hour and was super excited. After I read over it again, I'm sure it won't be as good as I remember it, but oh well.

There's probably going to be one or two more chapters to this. Thanks for sticking around so far through my inconsistent updates!

Let me know what you think!