«Hey, everyone! With the communication screen up and running, you can talk to your families. Now, don't be stupid and press any buttons you're not supposed to touch." Raven ordered the camp with her hands on her hips. Her body brimmed with confidenceandgrew as she made eye contact with a less confident boyfriend. Before she could continue, a tall guy with dark blue eyes and light brown hair stepped forward.
"So, we're supposed to let all of you talk to your families first?" His voice spat with envy. Wells stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and to his surprise, the guy didn't flinch.
"What's your name?" Wells asked the guy.
"Dax, what of it?" he answered with arrogance as he shoved Wells' hand off his shoulder. Valerie's eyebrow lifted slightly as she leaned back at the shuttle. Wells gave Valerie a slight, annoyed glance before turning back to Dax as if sensing her amusement.
"Dax, okay." Wells began as he turned to the entire group.
"We all want to talk to our families, as do I. But to make it fair, we'll do a name draw. The person whose name is picked out first goes first, and so on. Are we all in agreement then?" Wells asked loudly. Dax stepped back, not daring to argue after a warning look from Bellamy. Clarke stepped forward to administer the name drawing. Valerie looked at them and decided to turn the other way. After all, she had no one important back at the ark. It's better to let the others talk. A pang of grief struck her heart—grief for her first life family and her foster parents at the ark.
"Hey, Johnson, you going to put your name in?" Raven approached Valerie. Valerie smirked, looking up at the sky.
"Nah, no one worth talking to up there anyway, you?"
"Same as you, although my person is already here," Raven answered with a warm smile, but something in Raven's eyes showed worry. Valerie followed Raven's gaze toward Finn and Clarke in a serious discussion. Raven looked back at Valerie momentarily, looking like she wanted to ask a question before Bellamy interrupted her.
"Okay, we have the names in order. We contacted the ark; first up is Dax," Bellamy ordered, seemingly bored. Dax emerged from the crowd with a few cheers.
"There's a list here," Clarke added as the teens surrounded the list. Valerie and Raven looked at the group to see a sight they never expected. Valerie squinted, half-expecting her eyes to be playing tricks on her, and Raven's eyebrows shot up in surprise. There, in the flesh, were Bellamy and Wells, friendly. It was like spotting a pair of grumpy cats suddenly turning into friendly puppies. Valerie and Raven edged closer to the unlikely duo.
"Is it me, or has the world turned upside down, or what?" Valerie asked Raven. Bellamy gave her an eye roll, his smile faint as he looked at her. Wells laughed and exchanged glances with Raven.
"You missed a hell of a fight after Raven's arrival."
"Was it a fight? I'm not sure if it was two boars wrestling." Valerie laughed with a snort. Bellamy raised his eyebrows.
"Wrestling? If it's anything like fighting, you wouldn't stand a chance, little girl," Bellamy whispered, barely concealing a smirk. Valerie's body temperature soared in anger.
"I can beat you any day, and you know it; remember last time?" She raised her chin and put her hands on her hips.
"It's cute how you think you actually won", Bellamy snorted. Wells and Raven exchanged an amused look.
"I'll win, and you know it; let's settle it here and now." Valerie loudly declared, making some delinquents gather around interested. Bellamy narrowed his eyes for a moment.
"Fine, like what?" Bellamy asked. Valerie looked around momentarily, pausing before she turned to the empty alcohol barrel and turned it around, wiping the insects off it.
"Let's do an arm wrestle." Valerie only stated. Bellamy gave out a loud laugh.
"You're not serious."
"I am." She said impatiently, tapping her foot. Bellamy only looked at her for a moment, almost declining.
"Bellamy, let the girl wrestle, or we will be here all day," Raven stated, amused. Bellamy shook his head.
"Fine, then. I'll even use my weaker hand," he declared as he confidently positioned himself. Valerie placed her dominant foot forward, leaning her hip against the barrel, which was spacious enough for both of them. Valerie centred her arm, firmly gripped Bellamy's hand as high as possible, and angled it slightly. Bellamy's hand felt surprisingly warm as they connected, contrasting with Valerie's cold hands. Suddenly, Monty appeared, taking on the match's referee role.
"Looks like we have ourselves a rematch, everyone!" Monty began. Raven leaned into Finn, whispering.
"Is this really like this every day?" Raven's tone wassurprised as she gazed upon Valerie and Bellamy's intense eye contact. Finn only gave her a nod.
"Yup"
Valerie and Bellamy's muscles tensed as Monty counted down. The seconds seemed to slow down as the pair locked eyes. Bellamy's confident smirk faltered as he looked into Valerie's light blue eyes.
"Scared to lose. Again?" Valerie taunted. Bellamy gave a small snort before averting his gaze.
"In your dreams."
As the match began, Valerie positioned her body as she had often done in her old life. This time, her body felt much more robust. She managed to press Bellamy's hand slightly over to her winning side. Bellamy seemed focused momentarily before he tensed his muscles, gripping her hand tighter.
"You want to know something red?" He asked. Valerie's eyes widened in confusion as her arm wavered.
"Like now?" She asked, struggling against his arm strength. Bellamy sensed her tiring and decided to increase his efforts.
"I just want to mention that I've been the arm-wrestling champion for five months or something like that..." With an air of bored nonchalance, he uttered his words. Before Valerie could respond, he skilfully and effortlessly slammed her armonto the table.
"And that concludes Bellamy as the winner! It's now 1-1," Monty cheered with the others as they dispersed along with Bellamy.
Wells laughed as he approached Valerie with Raven hot in his heels.
"I can't believe you thought you could win that," Wells laughed as he tapped her back. Valerie only frowned angrily for a moment before amusement caught her face.
"Well, got to keep us all entertained," Valerie smirked. Raven laughed.
"You'll have no problem there." She laughed again before leaving with Finn.
- a few hours later
"Wells, Jaha wants to speak with us," Clarke signalled from the tent. Wells followed without hesitation.
"Yeah, don't get in trouble while I'm gone, Val", Wells joked.
"No promises," Valerie smirked as she turned to her suddenly appealing tent and decided to lie down.
After what seemed like a few moments In her head, Bellamy popped his head into the tent.
"Red, Clarke wants us," Bellamy urged. Valerie shook her head in disagreement.
"Just five more minutes., She disagreed.
"Come on, let's go," Bellamy ordered as he stepped inside and shook her shoulders. Valerie grumpily got up, frowning.
"So-called to the chopping block then?" Valerie muttered. Bellamy halted for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah, trying to kill a chancellor isn't a popular move around here…" Bellamy agreed. Valerie only grimaced in agreement.
"And being the right-hand woman to the chancellor's biggest adversary who killed your foster parents isn't the ideal scenario either," she said, shrugging before walking past a stunned Bellamy. The pair arrived in the tent to witness a heated debate between Wells, Clarke, Jaha, and Kane.
"We can't not use weapons if they are in the emergency aid depot, Kane," Clarke argued with a scowl on her face. Kane, across the screen, shook his head, disagreeing.
"We need authorised personnel to control and handle the weapons; it isn't for teenagers like you." Kane retorted. Jaha sat beside him, deep in thought. Wells gave a deep sigh.
"With all due respect, Kane and Jaha, you sent us, the teenagers, down here to die. If we find weapons, you can be damned sure that we're going to use them as we damn well, please." Wells slammed his hand on the table, solidifying the argument. Jaha sat up in his chair, and a small, proud smile appeared a few moments before it disappeared.
"Is this a bad time or something? We can come back later." Valerie pointed to the door, awkward.
"Ahh, there you are. Thank you for coming, Johnson and Blake. Please take your seats. Clarke and Wells, it was nice talking to you, and Kane, may I have a moment?" Jaha asked. Kane nodded and left the room without saying goodbye.
"If it's okay with everyone, then I don't mind Clarke and Wells staying," Valerie asked the group. Jaha looked between Bellamy and Wells.
"And is this okay with you, Blake?" Jaha asked. Bellamy shared a glance with Wells before both nodding. Clarke nodded as well.
"Well then. Mr. Blake. I've wanted to talk to you for some time now…" Jaha began.
"Wait, Dad, before you do, I want to say something." Wells began. Everyone perked up, interested.
"Sending us here was sending us to our deaths, but most of us are still alive. I can't deny I hated Blakes's guts initially, especially when I found out what he did to you." Wells continued. Bellamy squirmed in his seat for a moment. Valerie momentarily held her hand on his shoulder, not registered by anyone besides the pair. Wells gathered his pride and tossed it out with the following words.
"But I'll be the first one to admit, we wouldn't survive without Bellamy," Wells said to the group. Clarke looked at Wells with a small, proud smile.
"I agree. Bellamy is one of us, and he deserves to be pardoned for his crimes, just like the rest of us." Clarke finished the argument.
"I appreciate your argument, but it is not that simple." Jaha began. Bellamy perked up.
"It is if you want to know who on the ark wants you dead…" Bellamy tried. Jaha went silent for a moment, contemplating. It seemed like he made up his mind when he leaned close to the screen.
"Bellamy Blake. You're pardoned for your crimes. Now… Tell me who gave you the gun." Jaha asked. Bellamy gave out a relieved sigh.
"It was Shumway, sir," Bellamy said. Jaha nodded.
"Thank you. Now, I'll see you all ", Jaha began before Valerie stepped forward.
"Wait, Shumway, right?" She spoke. Jaha nodded curiously.
"Right, Valerie Johnson, you're the kid Sydney talked about," Jaha asked. Valerie only nodded.
"Jaha, I want you to listen closely to what I am about to say." Valerie leaned in closer to the screen.
"Shumway works for Diana," Valerie said, drawing small acts of shock from the group. Jahas's eyebrow rose for a moment.
"This is a big statement. You realise that saying Shumway works for Sydney makes the person want to kill me, Diana Sydney. Do you have any proof?" Jaha asked, his voice narrowing.
"You know Diana took me in as a kid. I worked for her andtrained with Shumway. I was, for some years, part of their inner circle. I don't have any concrete proof other than directions to a room where they use it for meetings and where I trained with Shumway. "Valerie ended the statement. Jaha leaned back in his chair, contemplating.
"She hates you ever since you won over her election. She planned to break into your office and wanted me to help." Valerie finished with a sad look. If Jaha was angry, he indeed hid it well. As Wells glanced around the room, he was the only one who seemed to sense his father's mood shift. He noticed the subtle change as his father straightened up behind the screen.
"Valerie Johnson, I need you to tell me everything about this woman and who she consorts with; I need everything", Jaha ordered. Valerie nodded and began her story.
- A good few hours later.
Valerie, Wells, Clarke, Monty, Jasper, Roma, Murphy, Mbege, and Harper sat around the campfire. Everything seemed peaceful. Jaha told them there would be no further contact until the big celebration on Unity Day. The crackling campfire cast a warm, flickering glow, pushing back the enveloping darkness and illuminating everyone.
"Everyone! Take a weapon. Octavia is missing," Bellamy ordered, interrupting the teens' peaceful rest.
"God damn it, can't we have one day without something happening around here?" Valerie cursed while she grabbed two daggers. Murphy and Mbege grabbed each a spear; Wells grabbed an axe, and Roma chose a small makeshift sword.
"We need a tracker then," Wells thought out loud. Bellamy nodded.
"Good thinking… Finn, get out here!" Bellamy ordered. Jasper stood up with a determined look and grabbed a metal stick.
"Jasper, I don't think you—" Clarke began from the campsite.
"Don't. I need to do this." Jasper answered, his voice absolute. Wells clapped him on his shoulder with an impressed look on his face.
"Eight people is more than enough; we should split up four by four," Valerie said. Bellamy and Wells both nodded and started discussing between them. The pair had certainly grown closer these last few days. Bellamy had just now officially stolen Valeries closest friend. The bastard, Valerie murmured.
"Finn, Val, Roma, and Bellamy are in one group, and Murphy, me, Jasper, and Mbege are in the other. Bellamy's group will look for direct tracks of Octavia while my group will cover this area." Wells explained while pointing to a small map outside the campthatthey hadn't explored before.
"Wells group will have a double role, both looking for Octavia and also scouting for traces of other grounders," Bellamy explained.
"So, I have to be in the group with the bastard son?" Murphy argued. Wells was about to step forward before Bellamy interrupted him.
"I'm almost done with your shit Murphy, shut the fuck up and do as your told," Bellamy spoke loudly. Murphy flinched slightly, not expecting Bellamy to defend Wells.
"Fine." He spat, looking at the ground.
"Don't forget that we're actually looking for a person here." Valerie chimed, already bored of the dramatics.
"Also. Can we go and find her so I can sleep?" Valerie added. Everyone split up and gathered behind the camp entrance.
"Finn! We're leaving!" Bellamy called out. Finn emerged from one of the tents with freshly cut hair and approached Clarke.
"Hey, wait… We should talk about this." Finn said. Clarke sighed.
"You have a girlfriend, Finn. There's really nothing left to say, " she replied and started walking away.
"Hey, hold on. It's true… I care about Raven. But you and me, we started something." Finn replied with a soft look.
"It's nothing we can't stop," Clarke said.
"Are you sure? Because I'm not." He said, waiting for Clarke's reply. Clarke stared into his eyes; her heart wanted to have all of him. But she was too hurt to say anything. Valerie looked at the pair standing there intensely for a moment.
"Finn, you coming?" Valerie shouted, breaking their spell.
"I'm coming, guys," Raven said with a determined look. Clarke agreed.
"I'm coming as well," Clarke added.
Wells turned around, an idea forming in his head.
"Hey Raven, you mind fixing our solar panels? It wouldn't hurt to get some power back to the dropship. We really could use the heating panels whenwinter comes." Wells asked. Raven seemed to hesitate, looking between Finn and Clarke.
"Sure. But I checked the wires on the panels, and we need new ones. It's impossible to fix it without those." Raven argues.
"The art supply store," Clarke replied, looking between Raven and Finn's hesitant expressions.
"I know of a place you might be able to get them. It's not the best place to look for wires, but it's better than nothing." She reasoned. Finn seemed to want to shake his head in disagreement and shifted uncomfortably. Raven seemed to notice this.
"Great. It looks like we're going together instead," Raven said with a hint of sarcasm. Valerie wanted to snicker but caught Clarke's look.
"Alright, Finn, let's go," Valerie said, walking away with the group. Finn looked between Clarke and Raven before finally deciding to leave.
"Be careful," Finn said and glanced lightly at Clarke.
"Hey," Raven said annoyedly and grabbed him for a kiss.
"I love you..." she said softer. Clarke looked like she wanted to bury herself under the ground. Finn hesitated for a bit before he said it back and glanced back at Clarke. Not wanting to expose herself to this anymore, Valeriedecided to walk towards Bellamy and Roma. Even Roma and Bellamy seemed like they were in their own argument. Roma huffed in anger, and Bellamy seemed indifferent.
"Seems like I have to be in the same group as the skank." Roma began with a spat. Valerie could only take so much drama. And let out an amused snort.
"Skank, you don't have anything better.? At least be creative with the insults, please." Valerie asked. Roma narrowed her eyes and turned to Bellamy.
"Let's leave, " she said and started walking. Everyone else followed suit and walked together before splitting into groups.
"Good luck out there," Bellamy said to Wells, and they gave each othera small fist bump before separating. Valerie looked between them and only sighed. Boys will be boys, and she sometimes forgets how young everyone is.
She only hoped everything would turn out okay.