King of the City (Bellarke Edition)

Chapter 11

As soon as her feet hit the ground Bellamy was standing there. He could see the tears running down her cheeks, he motioned to the left and she followed him through alley ways and along the back of buildings. The second he felt he was far enough away he turned on her pulling the paper out of his back pocket.

"WIFE TO BE!?" he half yelled through clenched teeth making it come out like a growl. He may have been mad but there was no hiding the fact that she had no idea what he was talking about.

"What?" she asked puzzled. He handed her the paper. She was shocked by what she read.

"I, that's news to me, I never, publicity maybe, or if she lies and says we were engaged a good lawyer would fight for my money."

"What are you saying?"

"It's not true Bellamy, I would never. I hate him for starters. However I have a few thousand in a bank that was passed down to me from my father" she watched his expression soften lightly.

"A few thousand dollars?"

"That's all this is about, I turn 18 in two weeks, my mother is worried about where the money is going to go"

"That's who you are running from?"

"Yeah, She likes her alcohol, makes her violent. "

"The shiner you showed up with?" Clarke just nodded to confirm.

"Dammit, Clarke, this article, has everyone looking for you, I want you to go to Wick"

"I want to make sure Murphy is safe"

"I'll handle Murphy" he stated. She opened her mouth to argue when a kids yell echoed in the alley way. They hurried to the end, there stood Murphy, eye swollen from a few hits.

There stood Finn in the center of the street, he had Monty by the collar shaking him. Emerson had his back to them, a firm grip on Jasper.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know who you are talking about."

"Little urchin" he stated backhanding him. Clarke could feel her blood boiling. She could take a lot but to see someone harm a child. Bellamy grabbed her wrist.

"Clarke, I'll handle it you need to go" he stated. She shook her head,

"I promised if it came to me or them, it would be me" She pulled her hand from him dropping her pack and heading across to where they were, she could feel Bellamy's anger alongside her. Finn raised his hand to hit Monty again.

"I wouldn't do that again" Bellamy stated. He turned to face the voice.

"Mr. Blake, what a pleasant surprise, we have been waiting to see you" Finn stated releasing Monty who kicked Emerson forcing him to release Jasper, both boys took off towards the docks. Clarke made her way behind Murphy.

"Go towards the docks." She whispered.

"Don't" he started she just pushed him in the direction of his destination, before he could turn, Octavia grabbed him and pulled him with her past the guys from Brooklyn who were showing up see what was happening.

"I want Mr. Blake arrested, for kidnapping, someone call the police"

"Kidnapping?"

"Well my wife has to be somewhere"

"She's not here" Clarke replied drawing his attention.

"And you are?"

"A friend" she replied. Miller moved in front of her and Nyko next to her.

"Apparently a popular friend"

"Apparently" she replied. He walked towards her pushing Miller to the side.

"Awful mouthy for such a small boy" he reached out grabbing her by the arm.

"Emerson, Cage, get him to talk" Clarke could feel the tension in the air. The second Emerson had her Bellamy came alive, Charging Finn and tackling him to the ground. They rolled around, each getting a few swings in before Finn got to his feet.

"I'll kill you if I have too" Finn threatened standing over Bellamy. Clarke yanked her arm from Emerson ripping her hat off, her golden curls cascading over her shoulders.

"You touch him and I'll have you arrested" Her voice alone made the crowd fall silent. Finn turned shocked it was her.

"Clarke I was so worried" he reached for her and she backed away.

"Yeah I bet, So worried you hit a child" her voice was dripping with disgust.

"Everything alright here?" a police officer asked.

"No I want him arrested, he kidnapped Clarke Griffin" Finn stated motioning to Bellamy who was now standing. Clarke felt her heart in her throat, he wouldn't go down for her. She wouldn't let any of them go down for her.

"He did not, I left on my own accord and I will have your job you so much as touch him" The cop's eyes widened taking her and her outfit in.

"Um, Okay. Well in that case I need to bring you home, seeing as no one is forcing you to be here" She sighed, she was home. She promised herself she wouldn't cry, she would be back, two more weeks and that was it. She could move out, she could go anywhere she wanted. She just managed a nod as the officer led her away, Finn trailing behind them.

Just like that she was gone, no goodbye, no nothing, didn't even turn to face them, Just walked away like it was no big deal. Bellamy didn't know what to think. She held her head high, kept her back straight and walked away. He was proud of her for not letting the newsies take the fall, but mad she didn't even spare him a look.

Lincoln and Murphy came up alongside him.

"What just happened?" Murphy asked.

"She turned herself in, to protect us" Bellamy answered turning and storming off into the crowd.

...

The officers stood behind her in front of her mother's house in New Jersey. She was beyond mad and wanted to be anywhere but where she was. She cringed when the door opened, her mother pretending to fawn over her. She thanked the officers pulling Clarke inside and shut the door.

The second the lock sounded she felt a sharp stinging slap to her cheek.

"You little witch, just what did you think you would prove by all of this?"

"I just wanted to get away from you"

"Wish granted, you are marrying Finn the day of your 18th birthday."

"I am not"

"You will and that's final, you run and I'll have all the newsies in that boarding house locked up, remember some of them are old enough to be charged as adults" she slammed her door leaving Clarke in the silent foyer.

She utilized her time looking up the lawyer's name her father used. She never even went to her room, she was still in newsie clothes the following morning when she slipped out the door before her mother woke up.

She ran a quick errand and was back before she emerged from upstairs. Clarke sat in the kitchen eating a roll when her mother entered.

"Clarke, get those clothes off, it's time you look like a proper lady, We want to take photos today for the paper"

Clarke didn't even bother to argue just headed upstairs to her room. A place that may have held her belongings but was definitely not home.