Never Let You Go// The 100

Prom

*Chapter 11*

"If ever I was running, it was towards you."

― Jennifer Elisabeth

I looked over the seven stacks of memories that were in a circle around me. Pictures and newspaper clippings and things that made my heart beat faster than I ever thought it could. There was only one story left in the box. One more version of me and Bellamy in one more parallel universe.

I was almost sad to be at the end. Even through all the heartbreak and the what if's. It was like living all these lives over again and falling in love every single time. There must have been more universes where we didn't work out, but this felt like the final destination.

At the bottom of the box, was a single rose and underneath it a sealed letter. Somehow unwilted and unwrinkled. There were no other words to describe it but beautiful. When I picked it up it was like something passed through me. It was sort of like everything in the box came back to me. The speakeasy. The after school party. The park. The church. The apartment. The tent. The pub. All of it flashed through my mind like a movie. The odd objects suddenly made sense. Everything made sense.

"Holy shit." I said, rubbing my forehead. It felt like I had a severe case of brain freeze. The rose in my hand suddenly felt lighter. Like a feather. The last memory floated into my mind like a cloud. I couldn't help but smile.

↢********************↣

Clarke Griffin wasn't looking forward to prom. She wasn't really into getting dressed up or dancing. Sure, she had friends at school who were more than happy to show her how to have fun, but she didn't really want that. Of course, they didn't understand that.

"For the last time, I'm not going." Clarke sighed into the phone. There was a lot of mumbling and background noise before she got the same answer as before.

"Why not? It'll be so fun and you know it!" Jasper yelled. There was a loud crash in the background. Clarke rolled her eyes. She had been given daily updates about her friends plans before, during, and after the prom. Right then, they were having their before party. The girls got ready while the guys hung around and caused chaos. That's what they were best at.

"Come on the whole gang is here." Jasper reasoned, his voice sounding less and less excited. Clarke knew he wanted her to be there but she refused. Proms just weren't her thing. "Finn is here, you know." Jasper whispered.

Clarke's stomach churned. Ever since freshman year things had been weird between her and Finn. At first, things were fine. He was her friend and that was that. Sophomore year came and Finn started to become a bit more than a friend. They dated for a year. Until, Finn's girlfriend moved to town. Somehow, he forgot to mention her and break up with her before he moved. Clarke was devastated. The rest of junior year and most of senior was pretty awkward. Clarke had other things on her mind, yet Finn was still stuck on her. Lately, he had been pretty weird, getting angry at everyone and having random outbursts. It wasn't something Clarke liked to see.

"I hate to use this card, but he needs you here, Clarke. Having Raven here isn't helping much. We're worried." Jasper whispered through the phone.

"He's going to have to deal with it." Clarke answered, absently picking at a stray string on her shirt. "I'm not coming."Jasper sighed.

"Fine! You win!" It was funny how easily he could change moods. One second he was worried the next he was partying it up. Clarke wished she had it that easy. "You have to at least say hi to everyone though. I'm putting you on speaker."

Clarke waited as Jasper played with his phone. She still felt unsure about all of it. There was a borrowed dress from Octavia hanging in her closet just waiting to be worn and she knew that she wouldn't hear the end of it if she didn't go. Finn was all alone and she had nothing better to do. What if she just went for the hell of it?

"Say hi, Clarke." Jasper shouted. There was even more background noise than before. "Hey everyone." Clarke said, attempting to sound happy. There was a chorus of greetings that made Clarke pull the phone away from her ear because it was so loud. After that, Clarke said her goodbyes and hung up the phone.

Prom sucked.

↢********************↣

By ten o'clock Clarke was falling asleep. Scrolling through her phone was useless due to the nonstop stream of pictures and videos coming from the prom. It wasn't that she was jealous, just annoyed. Why couldn't she have fun once in a while?

So, she laid in bed and did everything imaginable. She read, watched tv, drew (with crayons, of course), listened to music, and so much more. Nothing was satisfying. I guess, it was just one of those nights. She was finally starting to doze off when she heard something at her balcony.

"What the hell?" she muttered, pushing aside the curtains. Through the glass doors she could see a bunch of little rocks scattered around her balcony. Another one came launching in, hitting the glass in front of Clarke's face.

"Hey!" Clarke shouted, slipping out onto the balcony. She heard a familiar laugh and when she looked down saw none other than Bellamy. Bellamy had been Clarke's best friend since preschool. Unlike Finn or Jasper, she knew Bellamy understood her. He didn't try to get her to go to prom or hang out with them when they went out and did crazy things. He got it. Which was why it was unexpected to see him in a tuxedo in Clarke's backyard.

"What are you doing?" Clarke demanded, trying not to smile. Bellamy looked good in a tux. Especially when he was throwing rocks at Clarke's window.

"Come down. I have a surprise." Bellamy answered, a giant grin on his face. Clarke rolled her eyes, but went back into her room and ran down the stairs.

"Why aren't you with everyone else?" Clarke questioned, digging her feet into the grass as she came to a stop in front of her friend.

"Why would I be with them when I could be here with you?" Bellamy smiled, bouncing up and down like a little kid.

"You know I hate it when you answer my questions with questions." Clarke said, crossing her arms in front of her chest, although keeping the goofy grin on her face. Bellamy was sort of like a puppy. You wanted to mad when he peed on the floor but it was so hard when he was that adorable.

"Prom wasn't the same without you. So, I decided to bring it here."

Bellamy took his hands out from behind his back and handed Clarke a beautiful red rose. He winked at her before running to a huge tree and pressing a button. Suddenly, her whole yard was flooded with light as the tree twinkled with little Christmas lights. Bellamy pressed another button and music began to play from a little speaker he had on the ground.

"Clarke, I know this is a little last minute, but will you go to prom with me?" Bellamy smiled, taking his hands in hers.

The tears came before she could stop them. It felt like one of those moments in an 80's movie where the guy comes with a boombox on his shoulders and tell the girl he loves her. It was amazing and unexpected and everything Clarke had ever wanted. The only thing she could do was nod, laugh, then kiss Bellamy like her life depended on it.

"I'll go to prom with you." Clarke smiled, wrapping her arms around Bellamy's neck.

Together, they danced for what felt like forever, stuck in this trance that most people would call love. It was something completely magical and cliche that could never be replaced. It wasn't often that you found a couple as in love as they were.

Clarke and Bellamy were the teenage couple you see walking down the street with their hands intertwined and grins on their faces like they knew a secret you didn't. They were the couple that just got married and were already planning their future slowly but surely. They were the couple that fought over what they were having for dinner but made up five minutes later when one of them gave the other puppy dog eyes. They were the old couple who sat on benches in parks and told stories about all the adventures they went on together. It was something you found in movies or books that seemed impossible but was right there in front of you. It was fate and destiny and love and every other hopeful thing you could think of. They were eternity.

And nothing was going to break them apart.