Hey babes! Back again with a new chapter for ya! Hope everyone's enjoying the new year so far and making the most of it in whatever way they can.
Enjoy!
*January 2, 2021*
"We should have a party."
Bellamy tears his eyes away from the baby book—one of many—he's been flipping through, his gaze immediately finding Clarke curled up in her desk chair with her sketch pad resting in her lap. His brows furrow slightly. "Why?"
"To celebrate the end of winter vacation."
Bellamy raises a brow at her. "You want to celebrate the end of winter vacation when we've literally never done that before?"
Clarke nods, shifting and setting her sketch pad on her desk. "Yeah, I do. I'm feeling kind of restless and super emotional because of Little Bean, so I want to see as many of our friends that can come. Even though I know we'll see them at school on Monday."
"Well, if you really want to do this, I know I can't stop you. Do you want me to text everyone? See if we can all meet up somewhere for a few hours?"
"Would you?"
He smiles softly. "Of course." He places the bookmark in between the pages he's on and sets the book aside, trading it for his cell phone. He unlocks the device and pulls up the group message between all of their friends, the same one they've been using for a few years now since the last of their core friend group received a cellphone. He'd had to mute the conversation a couple of days ago, as he does from time to time whenever Jasper and Monty get going, just to save his sanity.
Hey, everyone. Clarke and I were wondering if you all wanted to get together later this afternoon. Kind of like a party for the last few days of winter break before school starts back up again. Let us know if you can.
He sends the message and then waits patiently for everyone to get back to him. He picks his book back up and continues reading, knowing that it could take a while for all of them to respond, especially if they're all busy doing their own things since it's still winter break, so he's choosing not to focus on his phone.
Eventually, multiple pings sound from the device, one right after the other, letting him know that his friends are responding. He glances up, noticing Clarke focused heavily on her drawing instead of her phone. She must have silenced the conversation so she doesn't jump to see the screen every time someone responds. Certainly wouldn't be the first time she's done that when she's trying to concentrate on something else.
Picking up his phone again, Bellamy opens the chat to read through the thread of messages.
Nate: Sounds fun. Just let me know when and where and I should be able to make it.
Murphy: Do I really have to go?
Nate: Probably.
Harper: Ooh! Yes! That sounds like fun. Is it cool if Zoe comes too? We're already hanging out so I'd feel bad if I ditched her to hang out with you.
Monty: What kind of party is it? Do we need to bring anything?
Jasper: PARTY!
Jasper: BRING SNACKS
Maya: Um…I think I can go. I'll just need to let my parents know where we'll be.
Murphy: Dude, it's a party. Obviously you should bring snacks.
Monty: Well I don't want to just assume. What if they've already planned everything out? Including snacks? This is Clarke we're talking about.
Jasper: true
Jasper: but there can never be enough snacks
Bellamy: Glad you're all on board. Yes, Murphy, you have to be there. Harper, that's cool if Zoe comes too. Just bring yourself, Monty. Unless you absolutely want to bring snacks. But we were just planning on it being all of us just hanging out doing whatever. How does the waterfront at three work for everyone?
Murphy: You two suck.
Murphy: Fine. I'll go.
Nate: Three o'clock at the waterfront. I'll be there.
Monty: Snacks it is, then
Harper: Three is perfect for us! Can't wait to see you guys!
Jasper: Why didn't you respond to me Bellamy? I feel left out. :(
Murphy: Baby.
Jasper: He's being mean to me. Make him stop.
Maya: I think three o'clock should be okay for me.
Bellamy: Great. See you guys then.
Bellamy: And Murphy, stop purposefully antagonizing Jasper.
Jasper: You're the best, Dad. :)
Rolling his eyes at Jasper's remark, Bellamy silences the conversation and then sets his phone aside. He smiles as he looks over at Clarke. "Everyone's down for the waterfront at three. Zoe's coming too. And I think Jasper and Monty might bring snacks."
"Okay. Now can you turn your head a little to the left while you read? The light was hitting you perfectly."
Bellamy chuckles and picks his book back up, shifting a little so he's facing the way Clarke wants him to. He'll do anything for her. And she knows it too, and takes advantage of it at every opportunity she can.
But he can't even be mad. It's not like she ever asks him to do anything unreasonable or unsavory. Though, knowing his track record, he'd probably do those types of requests too without so much as batting an eye.
If their baby is a girl he is so screwed.
.
.
.
Approaching the only occupied picnic table near the waterfront, Bellamy can't help the smile that pulls at his lips at the sound of his friends laughing and talking amongst each other. Everyone's bundled up in heavy coats and hats to combat the chilly weather surrounding them, though they all still have smiles on their faces. Well, except for Murphy, but he hardly ever smiles, so it's not exactly unusual or concerning.
Bellamy wraps an arm around Clarke's shoulders to pull her close as they walk the rest of the way across the frost-covered grass. "You good?" he asks, rubbing his hand up and down her arm.
She looks up at him with a smile. "Just a little chilly. But I'll be fine."
"Mom and Dad are here!" Jasper shouts.
Bellamy laughs at just how accurate those monikers are going to be very soon for him and Clarke, but he restrains himself from commenting on it. "Hey, guys," he says instead, brushing some of the snow off the end of one of the benches so he and Clarke can sit.
"We've been freezing our asses off," Murphy responds instead of an actual greeting, his arms crossed tightly over his chest and a deep scowl set on his face. "Why are we outside?"
"Uh, I was wondering about that too," Nate interjects. "We literally could have met anywhere else. Why the waterfront?"
Bellamy sighs heavily. "Clearly I didn't think this plan through very well. But we're all here, so that's what's important, right?"
"Actually, what's important is that none of us get frostbite," Murphy grumbles. "It was a terrible idea to meet outside."
Bellamy rolls his eyes. "Yes, I'm well aware of that. Can we just focus on having a good time, please? That's why we're all here, isn't it? So let's have a good time enjoying the rest of our break."
"Why don't we just go somewhere else?" Nate suggests with a small shrug. "It's not like it'll be that hard to find a place to hang out."
Bellamy glances around at the group, taking in the pink tint to some of their faces. "How does everyone feel about Nate's suggestion? Would you all be happy if we walked around and found somewhere warmer to hang out?"
Clarke shifts against him, giving him a sheepish smile. "Um, actually, I kind of want to go somewhere warmer too."
Bellamy opens and closes his mouth. "You couldn't have mentioned the cold earlier when I told you about meeting here?" He glances up at the others. "None of you thought to bring it up in the chat, either?"
Nate shrugs. "You seemed pretty dead set on us coming to the waterfront."
Bellamy sighs. "Alright. Well, if everyone wants to go somewhere warmer, we can. We just gotta figure out where we're gonna go first so we're not wandering around in the cold any longer."
"We're on it," Monty and Jasper speak in unison as they jump up from the table with eager smiles.
Bellamy glances back and forth between them. "Uh…"
Jasper sighs, bouncing a little on his feet. "Aw, come on, Bellamy. Let us find a spot. Please?"
Bellamy relents with a sigh, his shoulders slumping. "Fine. You guys can go ahead of us. Harper, do you mind going with them?"
Harper smiles as she stands. "Not at all. Let's go, boys."
Bellamy watches as they walk away and then turns to Clarke. "You good to do a little more walking?"
Clarke sighs. "I guess so. Not like I have much of a choice."
Bellamy just smiles. "You can lean on me as much as you need to."
"Thanks."
It doesn't take them long for Jasper to return, running up to them out of breath. "Rec center's open!" he shouts when he's close enough. "And the heater is on."
Bellamy glances around at the group. "Is that good with everyone?" He smiles at Jasper after receiving multiple nods and words of agreement. "Good job, Jas. Rec center it is."
Bellamy stands at the same time Clarke does, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to hold her close as they follow Jasper through the town toward the rec center.
The rest of the group trails not far behind them, all of them chatting and enjoying their time together, even if they're colder than they want to be.
When they reach the rec center, Monty and Harper are standing just inside the doorway to greet them. A few staff members are wandering about, most likely starting preparations for whatever activities the year ahead holds, but for the most part, it's empty. Something that they're all perfectly fine with as they push multiple square tables together and spread out all the snacks that Monty and Jasper bought.
They spend the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening hanging out together, sitting around the mega table, as Jasper had instantly declared it, simply enjoying their time.
So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!