Chapter Text
“wells, this is a disaster,” clarke hisses into her phone. she’s probably cutting it too close, could beoverheard by the wrong person any minute, but she can’t believe this is happening to her. she needs to do something…even if that’s just calling her best friend for some reassurance. “i told him to be here half an hour ago, and he’s still not here. they’ll be here any minute!”
“so he’s a no show?” wells asks sympathetically. stupidly enough, clarke feels the inevitable pricks of tears at the corners of her eyes, not from sadness, but anger. and embarrassment. it’s great, sitting at the bar of some random restaurant, crying, when she’s due for a reunion dinner any moment.
“what am i supposed to do? would it be horrible to leave now and tell them i got sick?”
“clarke, why would you do that?”
“wells!” clarke slaps a palm to her forehead. “we’re talking about finn here! finn who i used to be in love with since i was five—“
“used to?”
“—and is now engaged and established, and i’m supposed to be the same, or at least know what i’m doing with my life! or at least look like i do!” she sighs heavily and slumps over the bar. “now i don’t even have a date for this stupid dinner. i should’ve known not to rely on trevor. the asshole never even responded to my texts.”
“you were only dating for a week. but. anyway,” he says hurriedly, as if he can sense clarke’s annoyance. “i think finn just wants to see you. he won’t care that you’re alone.”
“but i’ll care. i’ll look like an idiot!”
wells clucks his tongue. “you need to stop comparing yourself to him, clarke. or to his fiancée, i guess.”
clarke scoffs, “i’m not comparing myself to her. i don’t even know her!”
“i don’t think you need to. whoever finn’s with, you’ll always worry about how you compare to her.”
“what? wells, i don’t know what you’re—oh, shit.” clarke ducks down. “they’re here!”
“good luck,” wells says dubiously. clarke hangs up without saying anything more. he wasn’t reassuring at all, was he?
god, this is horrible. she turns away from the front, where seconds ago she saw finn entering the restaurant with a gorgeous latina following behind him. clarke tries to take a deep breath as she smooths out her dress. it does absolutely nothing to calm her upset nerves.
“hey.”
the voice makes her glance up. it belongs to the guy a few seats down at the bar. clarke meets his gaze over the empty chairs between them. his brown eyes are very soulful.
“sorry, i couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” he says. he gives her a wry smile, fingers lithe around the rim of his glass of coke and rum. “i can be your date, if you want.”
clarke had a biting remark on the tip of her tongue, something defensive to make her sound tough after her pathetic phone call, but it dies away when she registers what he’s said.
“you’ll be my—um, pardon?” she says. because he can’t have really—
“i’ll be your date,” he says with a shrug.
clarke takes in his floppy brown curls, strong jaw, and, is that a leather jacket? this guy’s actually pretty gorgeous. “but aren’t you here to meet someone, or…?”
“dinner with my sister,” he says. he nods to his left where a pretty brunette’s talking animatedly with the man next to her. “she got a little preoccupied. she’s probably forgotten i’m even here by now,” he adds with a laugh, unbothered. “i’d rather help out a pretty girl than sit here alone all night.”
“okay. but,” clarke says, shaking her head to clear it from all her muddled thoughts—not to mention his shameless compliment, “i don’t even know you?”
“so?” he asks. “does that really matter? sounds like your other date didn’t know you much either. otherwise he would’ve been here because he’d know how much this means to you.”
clarke opens her mouth to argue, but that’s a good point. she mashes her lips together. this is crazy. ridiculous. stupid.
so why is she actually considering it?
“here they come,” the guy says, nodding over clarke’s shoulder. she widens her eyes at him, but he just shrugs like he’s game. but it’s crazy. right?
“clarke!”
she spins around. and there he is.
he looks just like she remembers, even though it’s been two years since their last meeting. his long, edgy hair tucked behind his ears, pointy jaw, strong eyebrows. even over time, finn hasn’t changed. unfortunately, neither have clarke’s feelings for him.
“finn! hi,” she says weakly. he has his arms spread wide for a hug, and she steps into the embrace, but she can’t fully enjoy it because her attention is drawn to the girl behind him. his fiancée.
finn pulls away and gives clarke a huge grin. he’s so happy to see her, and it really shouldn’t hurt so much. clarke tries to muster up responding smile.
“clarke. i want you to meet raven,” he says, practically vibrating with giddiness. he puts a hand on raven’s back to beckon her closer.
“it’s so great to finally meet you,” clarke says. her smile feels so fake. “can finally put a face to the name!”
“same,” raven agrees amiably. her handshake is strong, as are her features. she has an edgy look too, with her black books and thick eyeliner. she’s gorgeous. “finn has said so much about you.”
“oh. good things, i hope,” clarke says awkwardly. “congrats on the engagement, by the way.”
“thanks,” raven says. she turns to finn, who reels her in to press a kiss to her temple. she gives clarke an embarrassed smile. “we’re really happy about it.”
“and is this your date, clarke?” finn asks, eyes sliding over her shoulder.
“um,” clarke says. she flounders for a moment—but god, what else is she supposed to do when her heart is breaking because here is finn and his perfect fiancée and she herself was just stood up and feels like an utter idiot?
it doesn’t take much to decide what to do.
“yeah, he is,” she says. she glances over her shoulder, relieved when the guy stands and nears her, even puts a careful arm around her waist. “this is finn and raven,” she tells him. “guys, this is—”
almost too late, she realizes she doesn’t even know his name. her eyes widen, but before she can say anything, he steps in.
“bellamy,” he says, leaning forward to shake hands with finn and raven both. “nice to meet you.”
“i thought you said you were dating a trevor?” finn says to clarke with a furrowed brow.
“erm. didn’t work out,” she says. “bellamy and i actually met, um. rather recently.”
“but it feels like we’ve known each other forever,” bellamy adds in with a charming smile. raven gives him a laugh, and clarke leans into him in thanks. how many times has he saved her now? she has a feeling he’ll keep adding to the total all night long.
“well. good,” finn says, and clarke is sort of pleased to see his confused look. “should we sit down?”
“yeah. ready?” clarke says to bellamy. he quirks an eyebrow and shoots her a mischievous close-lipped smile.
“let’s go,” he murmurs.
he takes her hand as they follow along after finn and raven, and clarke is pleased to find that it feels nice. really nice. his hand is warm, and his grip is sure. he squeezes when she hesitates for a moment, and she takes a deep breath before following him. this is going to be one hell of a dinner.