Couldn't Stop Caring || Bellarke

One.

A/N - This story is being uploaded with some MAJOR editing. Chapters have been combined to make them longer, so the book seems shorter but it's all the same story. A lot has been changed, so I hope you like it if you do choose to re-read!

It was always the same. She screamed. He yelled. She threw something. He walked away. But they couldn't stay away for long. Neither would apologise, both too stubborn for their own good. But they always came together again. Nothing could keep him from protecting her. Nothing would stop her from defending him.

The rain hammered on the roof of their cabin. The tension was thick as both Clarke Griffin and Bellamy Blake sat on either side of the bed, their backs to each other. They had argued again. Clarke took a deep breath and lowered her head into her hands, her elbows rested on her knees. Bellamy's head hung low, his arms draped over his thighs.

"This has to stop Clarke," a low voice spoke out. Bellamy turned slightly to face her. He heard her sniffle and knew she had lost the battle to hold her tears back. With a sigh, he pushed himself off the bed and walked around to her side. He dropped to a crouch in front of her, hooking a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Look at me," Bellamy instructed.

Slowly, she raised her gaze, and her eyes met his.

"Clarke, everything I do is for you. You know that," Bellamy sighed.

"You left. After I told you it was too dangerous," Clarke's tone sent shivers down Bellamy's spine. He knew she would be mad for a while.

"And I'm fine! Nothing happened. We only went to look," Bellamy tried to reason.

He and a few others had left camp to take a look at a potential threat. An army of grounders were reportedly camped not far from them, and Bellamy wanted to see what they could be up against if they decided to attack. While Clarke knew it was a smart plan, she had begged him not to go. The argument they were simmering down from was the result of Bellamy leaving her at the gate, her blood boiling.

"You knew how dangerous it was, Bellamy. You just walked away from me."

He could see her temper rising again and took a deep breath.

"Look, I'm not going through this again. I know you didn't like it, but it's done now. Everyone is fine, and we know what we're up against if they attack," he said firmly. He pulled her hands in his, gripping tightly to her fingers.

"What if you didn't come back?" Clarke whispered. Her eyes drifted to the floor again.

Bellamy felt something pull at his heart. The girl drove him insane. Some days, he wondered if they were right for each other at all. She challenged him on almost everything. But yet when he thought about leaving, he couldn't. He couldn't walk away from her. If he did, he couldn't stay away for long. He knew he'd never stop caring for Clarke. It was plain and simple. She drove him insane, but he loved her. He loved her with everything he had. And he knew Clarke felt the same. He knew by the way she threw a fit every time he did something dangerous. She wasn't angry, she was scared. And Bellamy knew that.

"I'll always come back to you, Clarke," Bellamy said softly.

Clarke looked up at him. He released her hands to place his on either side of her face. His thumb gently wiped away a fallen tear before she let out a small smile.

"Promise?"

Bellamy nodded with a soft smile. "I promise."

"I love you," she whispered.