𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 | the 100

21 | Faint Lines

"Are you gonna stop me?"

‧ ✩ ｡ ✭ ° ☆ ･ _______ ･ ☆ ° ✭ ｡ ✩ ‧

Ever since capturing the Grounder, Bellamy has warned everyone not to wander too far into the forest, and never alone. But people still need to eat, so Amber and a few others still venture out into the forest in pairs every day.

"They just keep coming," a girl jokes with tired giggles when Amber returns after a long day and places herbs she's gathered on the table by the plant crew. Amber offers the girl an apologetic smile, but she doesn't spare Amber even a glance and continues to giggle hysterically with the others.

"It never ends," a boy agrees with much less glee than the others. He almost looks like he's about to cry. "We're stuck here forever."

"The day is over soon," Amber promises, but he just looks at her with distant passivity.

"Hey, Amber!" Ant calls, snatching her attention. He's hurrying over to her. "We need to talk."

Amber immediately turns the other direction and hurries to get away from him. Since the night she didn't help search for Octavia, he's given her unsure looks laden with cynicism whenever they've made eye contact. Amber has managed to avoid him thus far despite his frequent appearances around Jules.

"Not now, Ant," she calls over her shoulder. "I'm busy."

He snorts. "Do you have to pee again?"

The fear that he knows what she's up to shuts her brain off and her body goes on autopilot. She can't bring herself to stop, even if she wanted to.

"No, I'm sorry, that was mean," he yells after her. "Wait, I just want to talk!"

She knows she can't run away from his confrontation, at least not forever. But her racing heart does not allow her to stop and she leaves him behind to hide in her tent. She doesn't know how long she stays hidden there, wrapped in her jacket, when suddenly Jules stumbles through the flap.

"Girl," Jules says, as if she knows that Amber has done something wrong. For a second, Amber fears that Ant has told Jules about whatever suspicions he has, but then Jules' tone dramatically switches into soft warmth. "Hi."

"Hi," Amber chuckles weakly.

"Where have you been? It feels like I never see you anymore," Jules groans and slumps down on her bed. Then she lights up as if remembering something and digs into her backpocket to pull out a handful of something pale and green. "I got food for you. It tastes surprisingly undisgustingly."

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry. You can have it," Amber answers, her thoughts elsewhere. She wants so badly to just tell Jules about Murphy and how Ant might be onto her, but even though she knows that Jules would never snitch to Bellamy, she can't risk it. Murphy would never forgive her.

"You know what I've been thinking?" Jules asks as she chews thoughtfully on the food. "I believe it's time to take our relationship to the next level."

"And what does that entail, exactly?" Amber raises an eyebrow, immediately curious. Screw Ant and Bellamy. Right now she just wants to be with her friend.

"I," Jules states officially, "will show you my tattoo."

Amber blinks a couple of times in surprise, then smiles when she sees Jules' barely contained excitement.

"Now, this is a great honor and it's important that you should remain respectful," Jules ceremonially informs while she stands up. "Not many people have seen it, only those I deem worthy and sometimes those I deem hot."