Promise? [{CLEXA AU}]

Chapter One: The Funeral

     Rain. Clarke could only focus on one thing. Rain was much better to focus on than watching her father, her best friend being lowered into the ground.  Her mother was by her side, the sobs were silent but the tears were still there.

     It was the type of day a funeral would be held on. The sky was gloomy, just like everyone else.  The rain fell but just lightly, not enough to run or hide from it. But that's all Clarke wanted to do, she wanted to run and hide.

     She was sick of everyone telling how well she's was coping, how sorry everyone was. She was sick of people bringing by casseroles and flowers, it was to much, it was all to much. Her friends knew what Clarke needed and gave her space. Thought, Making sure she knew that no matter what she needed they would be there by her side.

     The night they'd gotten the news Clarke had just come home from school. She always stayed late, using the school's art room to her advantage. Her mother was on the phone as soon as she hung up she dropped to the floor. She screamed, tears streaming down her face. Clarke ran over to her asking what was wrong, all she could get out was
    "You...You're Father."

    She knew what it had meant, she stayed silent holding her mom as she broke. Clarke had to stay strong, If her mom couldn't, if she couldn't  who would. After an hour of holding her mom she finally pulled it together.

     "You're... you're father, saw a car crash on the side of the rode, it was a bad one. He didn't see any ambulances and got out to help. He got both people involved out of their cars safely and ran back to grab the baby in the back of one of the cars. His leg got stuck as he handed the baby back to his mother. Something with the car went off and He knew what was about to happen. He told everyone to get back and tried to get out but it was to late."Clarke held back her sobs as slewing tears fell, her mom whipped them away."He died a hero Clarke."

     Once the empty casket hit the bottom everyone gathered around, her mom was the first to throw a handful of dirt. Clarke's picked up and handful but she couldn't do it, the 11 year old girl finally broke. She ran, and she ran until she stopped hearing voices calling after her. She found a near by park and climbed into the tallest tree. She sat and she cried, she cried until the sun was going down.

     It was an officer who found her. She silently climbed up the tree and sat next to Clarke. The officer pulled her close while Clarke cried more into her chest. After a few minutes like that Clarke pulled back and nodded, telling the officers he was ready to get down. "My name is Diyoza, and I heard yours was Clarke, is that right?" Clarke nodded and whipped away her tears. "Alright, where do you wanna go kid?"

    "I wanna go say goodbye to my father."

     "We can do that for you." They walked silently back to the graveyard. Clarke a proud he'd her fathers freshly covered gave while Diyoza stayed further back. "Hey dad... I'm so sorry. I know I have to be strong but it's really hard. I don't know how I'm going to be able to live with out you. You were my best friend and we did... did everything together. But... but out of the many things you thought me one was to never give up. And... and I won't give up on life,  I'll keep it together and try to be strong for your. I'll make sure to stay close with mom because..: because I can't lose her too. But I'll always love you dad." Clarke got up and grabbed and handful of dirt sprinkling it on top. She walked over hand patted the grave, holding back another wave of tears.

     "I'm ready," She said walking back over to Diyoza.

     "Alright, let's get you home kid."

***

In the months that followed, Clarke watched her mother get worse and worse. She would drink herself in to oblivion every night. Clarke would be stuck cleaning up after her, and making sure she had food in the morning before she left for school.

As it got worse Clarke found her self spending more and more time in the art room. She would draw, paint, or even just sit. The teachers didn't find the behavior off, they just thought it was what she did like usual. Plus they didn't want to question a kid who just lost her dad.

June 19th 2019, Clarke was 15 the day her mom hit her for the first time. She took it just like every beating following. She did her best to hit the bruise and it worked the teachers didn't question it and neither did her friends. Clarke just added it her usual schedule. Wake up, make breakfast, clean up the beer bottles, leave a plate of food for mom, go to school, spend as long as possible there, come home, maybe take a few hits, cool dinner, clean up more, go to bed. It was perfect but at least she still had her mom, that's all she needed.