the world as we know it -- bellarke au

chapter five - blood pact

c l a r k e   g r i f f i n

I ate breakfast alone the next morning. 

Raven was avoiding me and Octavia had gone to try and get an update on Lincoln. Murphy hardly stayed long at meals, and Monty and Jasper had taken to getting to know Maya. 

For someone considered to be the leader of her people, it certainly felt like they all hated me. 

I decided to focus all my efforts on trying to come up with an agreement President Wallace would accept. If he thought our blood wouldn't be enough to guarantee our lives here, there had to be something else we could offer. Knowledge of the ground, resources, soldiers, anything. I wasn't going to rip my people from another home. 

We deserved to be safe. 

Maybe, if I could give them that, Raven wouldn't hate me so much. 

I was starting to spiral when the doors to the dining hall swung open, and Bellamy walked through them. 

A few people looked up, many with grins or expressions of relief. 

I abandoned the rest of my breakfast and ran towards him, throwing my arms around his neck. He stalled, as though confused, and then wrapped his arms around me at last. 

"Warm greeting," he said into my hair. 

"You have no idea how happy I am you're here," I replied, not letting go. 

"Bellamy!" 

Monty and Jasper ambushed our hug, so I took a step back to let them say hello. I noticed Raven's eyes scan over the both of us, then return to her cereal. 

"Come sit," Jasper said, trying to pull Bellamy towards their table with Maya. "I'll introduce you to some people. You're going to love it here. The food is amazing."

"Especially the chocolate cake," Monty added wisely. 

Bellamy met my gaze over Jasper's shoulder as he was pulled away, and I stifled a smile. It felt wrong to smile when there was still so much to worry about. 

I was tired of sitting alone, so I followed Bellamy over to Jasper and Monty's table. He sat across from Monty, leaving one seat at the head of the table. The conversation quieted as I approached, and I sheepishly gestured to the chair. "Can I sit?"

"Sure," Jasper replied cautiously. 

I took the seat, and suddenly wished I had brought my food with me. I wasn't hungry, I just wanted something to look at during the awkward silence. 

"You look nice today," Maya said quietly, her eyes on me. I wasn't sure if that was true -- certainly I looked more put together than I had in the forest, but it was nothing special. Just jeans and a shirt. 

But I realised it wasn't about what I was wearing. Maya was trying to be nice. 

"You too," I said, smiling the smile I had tried to hold back. 

The conversation picked up instantly. "Bellamy, this is Maya," Jasper said. 

"I've heard a lot about you," Maya said, shaking Bellamy's hand across the table. "We're happy to have you."