Grounded (Bellarke)

Stirring the Pot

Chapter 8: Stirring the Pot

As the rumor of Bellamy and Clarke's supposed tryst spread like wildfire through the camp, Clarke remained blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding around her. She went about her day as usual, tending to her duties and trying to push aside the lingering unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach.

But as she made her way through the camp, she couldn't ignore the curious glances and whispered conversations that followed in her wake. And when Raven approached her with a furrowed brow and a concerned expression, Clarke knew that something was amiss.

"Clarke, can we talk?" Raven asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she pulled Clarke aside, away from prying eyes.

Clarke's heart clenched at the seriousness in Raven's tone, her mind racing with a million possibilities. "Of course, Raven," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside her.

Raven hesitated for a moment, as if unsure of how to broach the subject. "I... I heard some rumors going around," she began, her words cautious as she searched Clarke's face for any sign of confirmation.

Clarke's brow furrowed in confusion, her mind scrambling to make sense of Raven's cryptic words. "Rumors?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What kind of rumors?"

Raven bit her lip, her gaze darting nervously around the camp before she finally spoke. "About you and Bellamy," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is it true?"

Clarke's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Bellamy's name, her mind reeling with the implications of Raven's question. She knew she should deny the rumors, set the record straight once and for all. But a part of her hesitated, unwilling to make Bellamy out to be a liar without knowing the truth of his intentions.

"I... I don't know," Clarke admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't heard anything about it until now."

Raven's brow furrowed in confusion, her gaze searching Clarke's face for any sign of deception. "But if it's not true, why wouldn't you deny it?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Clarke's heart clenched at Raven's words, her own uncertainty mirrored in her friend's eyes. "I... I don't know," she replied, her voice barely a whisper as guilt weighed heavy on her heart.

Meanwhile, Bellamy found himself torn between guilt and desperation as he grappled with the fallout of his impulsive lie. He knew he had caused a stir with his offhand remark to Finn, but he hadn't anticipated the extent of the chaos that would ensue.

Turning to his sister Octavia for advice, he found himself at a loss for words as he struggled to explain the mess he had created. But Octavia was surprisingly understanding, her words of wisdom offering him a glimmer of hope in the midst of the chaos.

"Just roll with it, Bellamy," she advised, her voice tinged with resignation. "If it'll keep Finn away from Clarke, then it's worth the trouble."

And as Bellamy weighed his options, guilt weighing heavy on his mind, he couldn't help but wonder what would happen next, and how he would ever find a way to set things right again.