Princess ♕ Flarke ❶ {Wattys2015}

Chapter 5: Finn

Chapter 5: Finn

"Finn," Clarke calls. "Wake up."

Her arm is laid across my chest and her beautiful blue eyes are staring into mine.

"Okay, I'm awake," I say sleepily.

"What were you screaming about last night? Was it me?"

"Yeah," I admit. "But this dream was worse than the others."

"You don't have to tell me."

"I feel better when I tell someone."

"Go on, then."

"The dreams always start off as happy. I almost believe it's real, until something comes out of the blue. Last night, it was acid rain. It came pouring down, but it only seemed to affect you. I can never get the image of melting flesh out of my head."

Clarke stares into my eyes lovingly. She looks as if she might cry.

"I shouldn't have asked you. Is that what you really worry about?"

I nod. "Every night."

Clarke buries herself in my chest.

"I'm here," she says. "I'll never leave you."

"That's not the only thing I'm scared of. I'm scared that I'll leave you."

"Finn." She takes my face in her hands. "I know you. You would never do that. Honestly."

Her hands are warm and welcoming, and they make me forget all my worries. She kisses my forehead softly, her lips silk-like and delicate.

"Okay?" she asks.

"Okay."

***

Spending time with Clarke has helped me clear my head and forget about my worries.

Right now we've been sent to collect firewood. Smelling the scent of trees still makes me feel jittery inside, it's almost a luxury that we haven't had in space. I guess fresh trees are better than chemical-smelling ones.

"Finn," Clarke says, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Shouldn't we be checking on Charlotte?"

"Oh, yeah, right." I dump my firewood next to Clarke's and we go to the last place we saw Charlotte. Luckily she is still there, deep in sleep and covered with leaves.

"Charlotte," Clarke coos softly, but loud enough to wake her. Charlotte wakes with a start. "How are you doing?"

"Well, I'm not dead yet, so pretty good," she says sarcastically. I squeeze Clarke's hand protectively as she looks at me. "Oh, are you two, like, a thing now?" She points between me and Clarke.

"Um, yeah," I stutter, and Clarke blushes.

"Well, on a less disturbing note..."

"What's disturbing about it?" Clarke asks.

"Oh, nothing... But... Do you think I could ever come back to camp with you?" Charlotte's eyes are hopeful.

"Murphy would kill you," I exclaim. "We can't risk it."

Charlotte looks down.

"But maybe if we got the right stuff and built proper houses - like there were years ago... Maybe you could." Clarke is excellent at staying positive, even if there's no hope. I admire that about her.

"Yeah," I agree, and Charlotte smiles for the first time since we met her. It feels mean to keep her believing that she could ever come back, but what else do you have to lose?

Clarke.

I snap the thought out of my head. Clarke said she would never leave me.

"We should be going," Clarke says. "Got to get more firewood."

"See you soon," Charlotte says and looks away from us, into the distance.

As we collect the firewood, I decide to speak up.

"Clarke," I start. "Do you think we could ever build proper houses?"

"Maybe." She looks uncertain. "If we got all the right supplies and everyone worked together. Maybe one day."

"You're not fooling me."

"I know. But maybe if I keep telling myself that, it could come true. Rows of houses in the middle of the forest."

"Everyone getting along."

"Not a care in the world."

"Things how they used to be."

"Resources at the touch of a button."

"A house together."

"You and me?"

"Yes. And everyday I would come home to you, waiting for me."

I bring Clarke into a strong hug. She could be right. And as these thoughts whirl round and round in my head, I believe it a little bit more. I imagine the picture-perfect scene. Soon it could be reality.

Anything could happen.

***

A/N

This wasn't as long, and I haven't updated in a few days... Blah blah blah. At least it was less depressing, give me that.