Her Secrets (On Hold)

Chapter Three

      "Okay, guys. I have all of his meals amd snacks in the refrigerator, you can met him choose which one he wants. All of his juice cups are filled but he drinks so much. Uhm, you know he's potty trained so just make sure you ask him to potty and see if h needs help. Any toy is free play do not worry about a mess. Let him do whatever and I'll clean when I get home. You can order food or help yourself to anything I have, you know that. Uhm. Oh, please text me updates and call me immediately if anything happens. Anything."

        "Clarke," my mom said, gently. I met her mother's green eyes. "Go pick out a dress. I know what I'm doing," she chuckled. I know you're freaking out, but don't. She's not going to know anything. Enjoy yourself for a few hours."

       Signing heavily, I swooped Homer up into my arms and squeezed him. "Mommy's going to the store for awhile so be really good for Grandma and Grandpa Marcus. Okay?"

        "Okay. I 'yove' you, Mommy!" I squeezed him, kissing him a few more times before I climbed into my car, taking deep breaths.

       "Octavia," I said when she picked up my phone call. "I'm at the store you texted. Where are you?"

       "Inside," she laughed. "Come on in."

       Walking into the store was amazing, the air conditioner hitting me right as I pulled the door. I couldn't see Octavia but hell, I could hear her. She was already demanding a certain color dress in my size.

      Turning the corner, I was smiling. Ready to see her after so long, but instead I walked right into a hard chest. A chest I recognize, because I used to fall asleep on it. 

       Bellamy was even tanner than before he left her. His splattering of freckles standing out. His hair was shorter, but I could tell he was trying to grow the messy curls back out. The dip in his chin almost made me rub his face, just to remember. My heart beat furiously against my ribs, threatening to crack them as I looked at his eyes again. I wanted to melt into him.

      "Clarke, thank goodness you're here. I wasn't feeling good so I made Bellamy drive me. I hope that's okay." She was awful at lying.

      "Of course," I shrugged. What's the damage?" I pushed my way past Bellamy and inspected the gowns. Only one stood out as something I would actually wear.

      It was blush, with lace overlapping. It was one shoulder but with a built in bra. Trying it on, it was my size. I was thankful, because I could escape sooner and get up the guts to talk to Bellamy.

       "Its perfect," Octavia agreed. "Ma'am, do you have shoes that match?" She asked the sales woman. After I purchased the shoes and dress, I was prepared to say goodbye.

      But Bellamy wasn't.

      "The dress looked really good," he said while Octavia purposefully made herself busy, browsing other dresses.

      "Thank you," I nodded. "When did you get back?"

        "I came back to the States Wednesday. I officially am out of the military since Thursday. I'm signing up for school soon."

       "That's wonderful," I nodded. Brushing past him, I was going to put the dress in my car, but I stupidly forgot to take out the giant Ninja Turtles carseat from my backseat. And since Bellamy was right behind me, I decided not to go near my car.

      "Clarke, can we, can we talk? I've missed you."

      "You missed Me? I'm not the one that got on a bus and left you on the ground. Okay? Listen, don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you. Okay? You're going to school, you got the help, you served. Yo did everything you set out to do. You just decided to leave me behind to do it."

       "Clarke it wasn't like that and you know it! I wanted to make it easier. Get help with school and have some money. I wanted our lives to be easier. I told you that."

       "If I remember correctly, I asked you to stay. You said no. And then, what? You show up here with Octavia lying for you to what? See if I'm miserable and lonely because I waited on you?" I shook my head knowing that I shouldn't be this angry. I was hiding something even bigger. So, I took a deep breath. "Sorry," I said, meeting his intense brown eyes. "Actually, I honestly am so proud of you. You did what you set out to do. I'm happy for you. And uhm, we do need to talk. I just, I just can't do it today. Okay? But, it's important."

        "It is? Well, I can meet you again. Or I can come by your place."

       "No," I blurted. "Uh, the wedding is in three weeks, right? I'll talk to you then." I turned my attention to Octavia. Hugging her tightly, I said my goodbyes and watched them leave before heading to my car to cry.