Earth's Echo (The 100)

Unity Day

I sat on my bed looking at the top of the tent. I could see the sun rising through the tarp. I didn't want to get up because I would have to meet up with Clarke, and she was the only one who knew that today was not only Unity Day, but also my birthday.

I was now 19 years old, the second oldest at camp, after Bellamy. But no matter what I couldn't have anyone know it was my birthday, because I don't have good memories of birthdays. So maybe I could escape camp for the day, but before I could even think of that someone came bursting into the tent.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" Clarke yelled with Jasper and Monty behind her smiling. Octavia shot up in her bed looking terrified, but when she saw what was happening she looked to me smiling.

"It's your birthday?" Octavia asked grinning ear to ear. "You're birthday is on Unity Day?"

"Can we just keep it a secret, I don't really like celebrating my birthday." I said. "Please guys."

"Oh no, we are going to celebrate like crazy." She said pulling me out of bed and throwing a jacket at me to put on. She pulled me out and thankfully no one was paying attention, but they were looking at the screen Raven had set up.

We walked up and I saw Jaha on screen. "Oh god, they still do this?" I said.

"Yep," Jasper said.

"My friends, this is an historic Unity Day." Jaha started his traditional speech. God I hated this speech, I had heard it so many times before and I was even once the little kid that did that stupid little speech thing. Every year, we mark the moment our ancestors of the 12 stations joined to from the Ark, but this is the last time we do so while aboard her. Next year, on the ground."

We heard clapping from the people listening to the speech. "Right, after we did all the work." Miller said beside me. "Someone shut him up."

"You shut up, Miller." Raven retorted. "No one's forcing you to watch." I looked to Miller and saw him roll his eyes.

I stifled a laugh and looked back to the screen. "For 97 years, we have eked out an existence, hoping that someday our descendants would return to earth..." I turned and stopped listening and turned to leave. God I hated Unity Day.

I walked by a steaming tent just in time to see Jasper walking out "Whoo! Yeah!" He said carrying some sort of jug. "Monty strikes again! Hey! Call this batch Unity Juice! Who's thristy?"

I turned up my nose smelling the bile liquid. Everyone but me started crowding around Jasper but me. "Not going to join in the festivities?" Bellamy asked walking up beside me.

"I don't drink." I stated. "It's a filthy habit that turns even the most respected people into drunk slobs who act like morons."

"Harsh words. Sounds like you rehearse that a lot." Bellamy smirked down at me.

"Because I know firsthand what happens to people who drink." I said. "Now if you don't mind since everyone has decided to drink themselves into oblivion, I'm going to take a much needed wash."

I was about to walk off when Bellamy grabbed my arm gently not enough to freak me out. "You're not going out there alone." He said.

"I'll bring a gun don't worry. Besides I don't want anyone there as I wash up anyway." I said rolling my eyes. Bellamy prused his lips together and nodded.

****

I reached the little waterfall area and started to strip down from my clothes until I was just in my underwear. I sat by the water and dipped a cloth in getting it wet and then wash myself. I dared not get in the water due to my deathly fear of drowning.