In Hate, We Love

25. The Ball

"Ready to go?" Bellamy asks and it is only now that I notice how good he looks in his suit!

I smile, "yeah, see you there" I say, leaving his house and heading home to meet my mum.

"Clarke where on the Ark did you get that dress? It's stunning!" My mum exclaims when I arrive home.

"Thanks, uh it was a gift. You look great too mum, ready?" I say hurriedly and she nods, but she looks slightly lost. "What is it?" I ask.

"Its just...i've never been to one of these balls without...without your father" she says sadly and my smile falters.

I link my arm with hers and give it a gentle squeeze, "dont worry, thats why im here"

***
When we near the Ball, the sounds of music and chatter float down the halls and my heart starts to beat a little faster ...even if the reason I am here isnt exactly very glamerous, I actually feel quite excited.

My mum and I enter and the grey room has been decorated in all sorts of glittery, expensive looking things. I hear Bellamy's words in the back of my head, "dont you have a party to go to?" "Its for the 'best' people" "privileged" "princess"... i feel very ill at ease looking around, it does feel very pompous! A room full of 'respected' individuals that's all, I suppose.

Jaha greets my mum and I look around, "Is Wells coming?" I ask slowly and Jaha shakes his head.

"No, I told him to stay home... I uh, wasn't aware you would be coming or I would perhaps have-"

"It's alright, he still needs to recover" I nod, not wanting to upset Jaha at all and he nods.

When I visited Wells yesterday, he was still unable to speak, his neck still swollen, I think about Finn and whether he has been arrested after the night he openly attacked Bellamy and I...that gun shot surely attracted the guards attention.

Anyway, I am here and now I just have to find Bellamy.

I excuse myself from the conversation and make my way through the crowd of people all reasonably older than myself. Bellamy should already be here, where- Ah!

Someone grabs me and pulls me quickly to the side of the room.

"Bellamy would you not always jump up behind me like that!" I groan, pulling my arm away, quickly getting my hair out of my face! And this is why I always wear it up.

He laughs, absentmindedly reaching up and tucking a few stray hairs behind my ear, "sorry but I don't particularly want to attract attention, I may have an invitation but if people start recognising me then we got trouble!" Bellamy says and I nod in agreement.

"Okay then what's the plan?" I ask.

"Jackson has got to have the key on him right? Seems like they want to keep whatever is in there quiet" Bellamy says, thinking aloud.

"But what if he doesnt have it?" I ask.

"Dont worry, leave that to me Princess, I just need to get him alone and find out where it is" Bellamy says calmly, how is he so unphased by all this? "Looks like Kane is going to be a problem..." Bellamy sighs and I follow his gaze accross the room to where Jackson and Kane are stood in the corner.

"I can handle Kane" I say and Bellamy looks hesitant but nods. "I will get Kane away from Jackson and you get to Jackson before anyone else can." I say, dissapearing into the crowd before he can argue.

I hurry to the drinks table and when no one is looking I grab a bottle filled with strong alcohol and I fill a large glass with it. It's clear so it looks like water! Good. I walk over to Jackson and Kane, drink in hand.