Brave Princess

Declarations

Clarke took a deep breath going over what she was going to say in her mind.

"You sure about this Clarke?" Raven asked the small but beautiful blonde in front of her. She nodded to the older woman furiously. "I mean, I know I've already asked you fifty times today, but this'll change everything."

"No, it won't." Clarke told her insistently turning to face the gorgeous dark-haired Latina. "I mean, I know for a fact that he doesn't feel the same way about me as I do him. And because he's my best friend, it won't be awkward."

"Except for you." Raven said and Clarke shook her head.

"Not for me, because even if he goes out on a hundred dates or gets a real girlfriend - though he hasn't had anyone like Echo in over a year - it won't matter because as long as I have him in my life, that'll be enough for me.

"This is a huge risk, Clarke, but," her brown eyes zero in on Clarke's nervous blue ones. "I'm proud of you."

At that Clarke beams up at Raven. "Thanks."

Raven takes Clarke's purse and shopping bags from her, before turning her around and shoving her towards the group in front of them. "Alright, go get him."

Bellamy is sitting on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the mall, flirting with Roma while his sister, Octavia and her boyfriend, Lincoln, and their friends Miller, Monty, Jasper, Maya, and Wick are all talking with each other.

Octavia sees Clarke approach at a fast pace with Raven right on her heels looking dubiously after her and waves at the two. "Hey guys! Where were you?"

Raven stands next to Octavia watching Clarke walk past all of them and plant herself in front of Bellamy and Roma.

"Hey guys!" Clarke starts, her voice high and breathy as they both start a bit from her sudden interruption. Roma looks her over, a little confused but smiles nonetheless.

"Hey, Clarke." Bellamy, in all his messy curls and olive complexion and ripped muscles and warm chocolate-colored eyes, smiles slowly at her.

"Yeah, hi." Roma says before turning back to Bellamy.

"Hey Roma, can I borrow him for a minute?"

The taller woman frowns down at her for a moment before nodding her head. "Uh-"

"Can it wait, Clarke?" Bellamy asks with just a hint of irritation in his voice and she shakes her head.

"No."

"Clarke-"

"Look, Bellamy, you're gonna stand there and I'm gonna talk and you're not gonna say anything or interrupt me, otherwise I'll never get this off my chest and at this point I don't care if Roma's here for it or not. I just need to tell you this once and then I'll never bring it up again. I swear." Clarke bursts out and everyone standing within ten feet of them stops their idle chatter to stare at them. Even a few random pedestrians stop up short to turn and look at the strange, loud young woman.

Bellamy shifts uneasily on his feet before finally smiling apologetically to Roma who just looks amused by the whole situation. "Sorry," he tells her and she nods.

"It's okay." She smiles and then actually winks at Clarke, who looks taken aback a bit at the model-beautiful girl.

"Aright Clarke, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about." Bellamy asks crossing his arms as he humors his best friend.

"Okay. Alright. Got it. Okay."

"Clarke."

"Right."