#randomlyfangirling

“you were onlydating for a week. but. anyway,” he says hurriedly, as if he can sense clarke’sannoyance. “i think finn just wants to see you. he won’t care that you’realone.”

“but i’ll care. i’ll look like an idiot!”

wells clucks his tongue. “you need to stop comparingyourself to him, clarke. or to his fiancée, i guess.”

clarke scoffs, “i’m not comparing myself to her. i don’teven know her!”

“i don’t think you need to. whoever finn’s with, you’llalways worry about how you compare to her.”

“what? wells, idon’t know what you’re—oh, shit.” clarke ducks down. “they’re here!”

“good luck,” wells says dubiously. clarke hangs up withoutsaying anything more. he wasn’t reassuring at all, was he?

god, this is horrible. she turns away from the front, whereseconds ago she saw finn entering the restaurant with a gorgeous latinafollowing behind him. clarke tries to take a deep breath as she smooths out herdress. it does absolutely nothing to calm her upset nerves.

“hey.”

the voice makes her glance up. it belongs to the guy a fewseats down at the bar. clarke meets his gaze over the empty chairs betweenthem. his brown eyes are very soulful.

“sorry, i couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” hesays. he gives her a wry smile, fingers lithe around the rim of his glass ofcoke 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, butit 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, isthat a leather jacket? this guy’s actually pretty gorgeous. “but aren’t youhere to meet someone, or…?”

“dinner with my sister,” he says. he nods to his left wherea pretty brunette’s talking animatedly with the man next to her. “she got alittle preoccupied. she’s probably forgotten i’m even here by now,” he addswith a laugh, unbothered. “i’d rather help out a pretty girl than sit herealone all night.”

“okay. but,” clarke says, shaking her head to clear it fromall her muddled thoughts—not to mention his shameless compliment, “i don’t evenknow you?”

“so?” he asks. “does that really matter? sounds like yourother date didn’t know you much either. otherwise he would’ve been here becausehe’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’sshoulder. she widens her eyes at him, but he just shrugs like he’s game. butit’s crazy. right?

“clarke!”

she spins around. and there he is.

he looks just like she remembers, even though it’s been twoyears 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 fora hug, and she steps into the embrace, but she can’t fully enjoy it because herattention is drawn to the girl behind him. his fiancée.

finn pulls away and gives clarke a huge grin. he’s so happyto see her, and it really shouldn’t hurt so much. clarke tries to muster upresponding smile.

“clarke. i want you to meet raven,” he says, practicallyvibrating 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 smilefeels so fake. “can finally put a face to the name!”

“same,” raven agrees amiably. her handshake is strong, asare 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. “congratson the engagement, by the way.”

“thanks,” raven says. she turns to finn, who reels her in topress a kiss to her temple. she gives clarke an embarrassed smile. “we’rereally happy about it.”

“and is this your date, clarke?” finn asks, eyes slidingover her shoulder.

“um,” clarke says. she flounders for a moment—but god, whatelse is she supposed to do when her heart is breaking because here is finn andhis perfect fiancée and she herselfwas 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 herwaist. “this is finn and raven,” she tells him. “guys, this is—”

almost too late, she realizes she doesn’t even know hisname. her eyes widen, but before she can say anything, he steps in.

“bellamy,” he says, leaning forward to shake hands with finnand raven both. “nice to meet you.”

“i thought you said you were dating a trevor?” finn says toclarke with a furrowed brow.

“erm. didn’t work out,” she says. “bellamy and i actuallymet, um. rather recently.”

“but it feels like we’ve known each other forever,” bellamyadds in with a charming smile. raven gives him a laugh, and clarke leans intohim in thanks. how many times has he saved her now? she has a feeling he’llkeep adding to the total all night long.

“well. good,” finn says, and clarke is sort of pleased tosee his confused look. “should we sit down?”

“yeah. ready?” clarke says to bellamy. he quirks an eyebrowand 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 iswarm, and his grip is sure. he squeezes when she hesitates for a moment, andshe takes a deep breath before following him. this is going to be one hell of adinner.