The Dark Hearts

Chapter 4: Octavia

The morning sun was rising slightly above the horizon. I saw a few dolphins leaping in the bay outside the window. The weekend flew by as the families spent most of it shopping and sitting in coffee shops all over town.

I hugged my mother tightly. I didn't say a word because the lump in my throat was too great. My things piled up against mine and Clarke's hallway of our suite style dorm room. My father came around the corner with my last suitcase, his tears staining his red cheeks.

"Daddy," I said as I hugged him.

"You'll always be my little girl," he whispered in my ear.

Over his shoulder, I saw Clarke saying goodbye to her own parents. Her eyes were dry as she was talking with her mother.

"Thanks for everything. I owe you one," Clarke told her mom.

"No. Thank you for saving our lives. It was the least we could do. I hope you get them back. All of them. We cannot move on without them. We have been alive for far too long." Clarke's dad responded for his wife. He placed a hand on Clarke's shoulder.

Clarke shook his other hand.

"We know eachother now. Come. Hug us." Clarke's mom hugged Clarke tightly, taking her father in the embrace.

Letting my own dad go, I dry my eyes with the bottom of my shirt. Clarke came over and handed me a handkerchief.

"You need it more than I do," she said.

I laughed lightly as I embraced her. "We made it."

"Yes, ma'am."

We waved to our parents as they exited the hall. Both of us were left standing alone in our dorm room. I crossed the room to the window to watch the sun rise a little more.

Clarke began unpacking noisily behind me. "Octavia, which bed do you want?"

"I don't care," I said dismissing her. I already felt the pain of missing home, Dylan, and my old life.

"Okay." Clarke stopped talking so she could give me space, which I was thankful for.

She continued to unpack, talking to herself. Then her phone rang. I turned to watch her accept the call, while moving things around the room. I was only able to hear her side of the conversation.

"Tristen? Yeah I'm here. No. Just unpacking. I can later. Perhaps we can go to dinner. I have someone I want you to meet." She looked at me and smiled. "I think she is the answer. I feel like she does. I don't know. I chose that couple because they weren't involved. It was the best way to get on this ship. No I didn't blink them. They are the same as us. Why would I do that? I made my choice. Yell at me later. Bye. Love you too."

"Who was that?" I asked when she hung up.

"Tristen. A close friend. He's..." she stopped.

"What?"

"Let's just say that he's a family friend."

I moved from the window and began to unpack my clothes and place them in the closet.

"You best make sure they stay in there, Octavia."

"What. I won't make a mess." I laughed.

"I know you. You are the messiest human on the planet,"

Clarke unfolded her own clothes and I noticed that she didn't have much with her.

"Is that all you brought?"

"I don't need much. I am not one for sentiment." Clarke's brown eyes flashed gold for a moment. She pulled out a picture frame containing a photo of me and her on a bench. She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans and converse and an army colored jacket over a white t-shirt. She was smiling at me as I smiled awkwardly at the camera. My own figure was unrecognizable. I was wearing a short dress with flowers on the skirt and my hair was much shorter than it was. This was our first photo together.

"Yeah?" I said pointing to the picture.

"This is all I need. Us." She crossed the room to where I was standing and she took my arms softly in her hands. I took a shuddering breath.

"You're scared." she pointed out.

I shook my head. "I'm nervous."

"Stick with me, kid. Together we are strong."

How does she do this? She's always fearless.

"It's nothing, Octavia. I moved a lot in my life. I'm used to new places, new people."

"How did you..."

"Nothing. Haha." Clarke laughed nervously.

I jumped as I heard a solid rap on the door. Clarke leaped over some boxes with great agility and opened the door.

"Tristen!" she shouted and wrapped her arms around the neck of a young man. He spun her around and she laughed.