Chapter One

She really couldn't believe she was doing this. It had seemed like the best possible idea at the time, but now her stomach clenched and her palms were sweating. Clarke was sure her knees were going to give out before he even got here, why had Octavia talked her into this?

Clarke turned to the mirror once more, running her hands over her cream coloured dress as though smoothing out wrinkles that weren't there. Octavia had helped her to pick the perfect wardrobe for the week long trip to the socialite event of the season.

Clarke's mother, Abigail Griffin, valued status above most things and turned into a raving lunatic when the summer solstice festival came around. This year Abby was determined to parade Clarke into the arms of Cage Wallace, who was vile and decidedly creepy, or force her back to her ex boyfriend Finn Collins, who had been dating Clarke and Raven at the same time later causing their friendship. Clarke had been sick to her stomach with dread at the thought of going alone when both of her best friend's were taking dates this year.

"I can't go, she'll make my life hell for a week and Finn will be parading around whatever pretty young thing he's brought, Cage will be making disgusting innuendos, and I'll be getting those 'poor single you' looks. O, I have to find a way out of this." Clarke groaned and tossed back another drink. Octavia Blake, Clarke's closest friend, pushed another drink in her direction and patted her hand.

"I'm sure it won't be so bad.."

"Seriously? You're bringing Lincoln, aka Mr. Super-Hot-Life-Saving-Medicine-Developer, and Raven has Wick, the youngest on-staff engineering professor. And I'm going alone. Even my mother has a date." Clarke swirled her drink pathetically in her glass at the thought of dodging Cage all week while surrounded by cheerful couples.

"Well… I might be able to help with that.." Octavia grinned far too brightly at her best friend. Clarke narrowed her gaze suspiciously at the other girl, after five years of friendship she knew to be afraid of her mischevious gaze.

"No, no more blind dates, O." Clarke growled. "You pick the worst guys for me."

"Of course not! I wouldn't send a blind date to the summer solstice!" Octavia widened her bright blue eyes far too innocently.

"Then what is your million dollar idea?" Clarke raised an eyebrow as Octavia's grin widened and she pushed some long, dark hair over her shoulder.

"List the traits for the perfect guy to bring to this thing, what does he need to be like?" Before Clarke could protest Octavia grabbed her hand. "Just humour me, Clarke."

"Fine," Clarke sighed and chewed her lip. "He needs to be incredibly charming, I want it to be impossible for my mom to complain about him." Octavia nodded encouragingly.

"Good, keep going," she demanded.

"Gorgeous, better looking than both Cage and Finn. A family guy, I've never brought someone like that home. And I don't want him to come from money, it's better if he's made his own." Octavia nodded thoughtfully at Clarke's list of traits.

"It's perfect, just missing one thing…"

"The person who fits that list?" Clarke asked sarcastically receiving a smack on the arm from Octavia.

"No, a little bit of edge, a slight bad boy air to intimidate Finn and Cage!" Clarke nodded, Octavia was right of course but none of this information helped the situation. "I know him! This perfect guy!"

"What?" Clarke stared in disbelief as Octavia nodded excitedly.

"It's my brother!" Clarke's shoulders immediately dropped. She had never met Bellamy Blake but she'd heard enough stories to know that Octavia was right and he was a spot on match to the list. The pictures of him in Octavia's apartment showed a tall, tan, gorgeous man worthy of drool and rather inappropriate dreams. On top of that Bellamy worked for international relations at one of the largest worldwide banks, this of course was only made better by the fact that he earned the job himself through hard work since he and Octavia came from nothing. Their mother had died several years ago and they had never known their father, it was Bellamy who had stuck by Octavia and provided for them.

Bellamy Blake would be the perfect man to take to the festival… and he would never agree to go with her.

"Nice try, O. He would never go with me and you know it." Clarke slumped back in her seat and glanced longingly at her empty cup.

"He would! He has a problem of his own actually! This new lawyer for the bank keeps asking him out and she's going." Octavia gripped Clarke's hand tightly and squealed. "He was saying how he needed a gorgeous, successful, girl for the week to show off and get her to back down!"

"I don't exactly fit that cross section, O. I thought he liked brunettes anyway?" Clarke pouted and tugged on the end of one blonde curl.

"Pfft, he may date brunettes but you're exactly the kind of girl he needs for the occasion. Hot, blonde, green eyed, youngest head of pediatrics nursing ever, and with the outfits we bought we'll be showing off your rather generous chest." Octavia shot a wink in Clarke's direction.

"I don't even know the guy, Octavia…"

"Just trust me. I'll talk to him, this is a win-win scenario!" Clarke reluctantly nodded after Octavia unleashed her puppy dog eyes on her.

Now, two weeks later, Clarke found herself waiting for her fake boyfriend to arrive. She had only met Bellamy once in person. They had gone to a small coffee shop two days after Octavia's revelation in the bar and spent some time talking about everything there was to know about each other.

Bellamy, as it turns out, was a pretty amazing guy and they actually had a lot in common. She learned he had just moved back to the city after traveling with work for three years. He had amazing stories to tell and he said that as much as he had loved the experience a large part of him missed having a home.

It hadn't taken long for Clarke to see Bellamy's charming side either, part way through coffee he'd found an excuse to take her hand on top of the table and slowly shifted to play with her fingers or brush hair back behind her ear. Clarke was sure she'd spent the rest of the afternoon blushing under his warm gaze.

The real surprise, however, had come when Clarke had turned to say goodbye. Before the words even had a chance to leave her lips he had closed his mouth over hers and left her totally breathless. Then he'd pulled away and reminded her in a husky voice that they'd have to get used to kissing over the course of the festival. Clarke had butterflies ever since.

They hadn't been face to face since then, though they had kept in touch through text and phone calls, and Clarke was surprised to find that they had plenty of things to talk about that weren't related to the festival.

So now, as Clarke slipped her feet into her dusty purple heels and pulled her white cardigan around herself she found herself awaiting his text with the same nervousness one felt while waiting for a date they had built up in their mind. Bellamy seemed to have a knack for timing and her phone chimed just as she stood from the bed.

I'm downstairs, Princess ;) Clarke shuddered at the nickname and quickly replied that she was coming down. She grabbed her large suitcase and garment bag containing her dress for the gala as she hurried downstairs to meet him.

Bellamy was leaning casually against the side of his Jeep with a familiar smirk slapped in place. When he saw Clarke he pushed off the vehicle to shove her suitcase in the trunk with his and hung the garment bag from the ceiling of the trunk. "Perfect, I think we're all ready to go." He grinned as he closed the hatch. "I grabbed coffee since we're facing a three and a half hour drive and if you want to stall even further I have no aversion to stopping for lunch."

Clarke beamed at him and for a moment a voice in the back of her head whispered that he was everything she wanted in a real boyfriend. She shut the thought down as quickly as it had arrived and reminded herself that guys like Bellamy didn't really settle for girls like her, this was just to make sure the two of them survived the week long festival.

"Okay, let's go over the story one more time, just to be sure." She rambled out, Bellamy stared at her for a moment before chuckling.

"Clarke, we both know the story, we'll be fine," he rubbed his hands down her arms in a soothing movement that brought life to all her nerve endings.

"Raven and I are close, it's not going to be easy to convince her I've been lying for a year, and on top of that my mom is going to be suspicious." Clarke stared up at Bellamy for a moment and sighed. "We have to be believable."

"We met a little over a year ago when I stopped into town to visit Octavia. She got busy with work and sent you to have dinner with me instead. Much to our surprise we had a perfect first date and spent the rest of my visit stealing moments whenever possible." Bellamy grinned suggestively and slipped his arms around Clarke's waist. "By the end of my visit I knew I couldn't let you go. We decided to do things long distance, which was tough, but it brought us here. I moved back and we decided to take the next step with our relationship…"

"Alright, now we've decided to be open with our friends and family and we're playing with the idea of living together. Good, so we just have to be familiar and happy… hopefully everyone buys it-" Clarke's rambling was abruptly cut of by Bellamy's lips sealing over hers.

For a moment she was stiff, frozen in surprise, before she slowly relaxed against him and traced her fingers over his chest. Their lips moved together for a moment before Bellamy pulled away and kissed her forehead.

"I forgot to do that when you got outside," he grinned at her and pulled her towards the passenger door of the jeep. Clarke nodded a little numbly and pulled herself into the vehicle with Bellamy's assistance. Her lips tingled where his had been and she felt a strange warmth in her stomach. The kiss had been pretty tame in all honestly but Clarke felt it all through her body like she'd stuck her finger in a light socket.

Bellamy bounced into the car beside her and grinned as he started the engine. "Double-double, right?" Clarke stared dumbly at him for a moment and his grin faltered, he nodded at the coffee cups between them and Clarke felt like a total idiot. She blushed darkly and nodded her head. mumbling a thank you she grabbed her cup and sipped at the scorching coffee.

"Anytime, Princess." Bellamy turned back to the wheel and pulled away from the building.

The first half hour of the ride was quiet, the radio played some classic rock that Bellamy bobbed his head to but they didn't talk. Clarke had long since finished her coffee though she still held the cup, partially out of fear that without something in her hand she wouldn't be able to stop herself from reaching for the gorgeous man beside her.

That morning's kiss played through her mind on repeat and Clarke was cursing herself for dwelling on it. It had been more than a peck, lasting for several moments, but he had never deepened the kiss. Clarke reminded herself that there was a reason for this, they weren't really together.

Bellamy dated flawless brunettes with legs that went for days, she didn't really have much to offer in that department. She chewed her bottom lip sadly and stared out the window just clinging to the hope that she could survive the coming week.

Listen to the wind blow

Watch the sun rise

Run in the shadows

Damn your love

Damn your lies

Clarke felt the smile pull at her lips as the familiar cords filled the car she didn't even realize she was singing along until Bellamy reached over and nudged the volume up with a smile. At first she blushed and glanced down shyly until she heard Bellamy joining in and singing- loudly and off key -but singing none the less.

And if you don't love me now

You will never love me again

I can still hear you saying

You would never break the chain

The two of them yelled the lyrics as Bellamy cranked the volume even higher and laughed hysterically. All the awkwardness of their morning faded away as they let loose and sang along to a band they quickly realized they were both in love with.

By the time they finished the Rumours album Clarke was laughing so hard there were tears moving down her cheeks. Bellamy was a terrible singer but the way he let loose and danced in his seat made it worth the while, his eyes sparkled brightly and Clarke groaned internally at the realization that he could get more gorgeous.

"I've never met anyone who loved Fleetwood Mac as much as I do," Bellamy was practically glowing with excitement, Clarke had to admit it was infectious and soon enough she felt a grin split her own face.

"My favourite band!" She laughed with him and found herself unconsciously leaning into him as he turned the music down. "Finn always complained they were outdated, and Lexa wasn't into anything that wasn't indie. Hell, even Raven and Octavia glaze over when I try to get them into it!"

"You are surrounding yourself with the wrong people, Princess!" Bellamy laughed and placed his hand over her knee. "Don't worry, I'll fix that." He winked suggestively making Clarke blush a little.

"Where have you been all my life?" Clarke quirked an eyebrow sarcastically and Bellamy squeezed her knee with a chuckle.

"Waiting for the day you'd need a date to make your exes look bad."

"Hey!" Clarke yelled and lightly slapped his arm, he just smirked and laughed again.

"Just being honest, baby." Clarke flushed again at the change in nickname and kicked herself internally for her constant blushing around Bellamy.

"Whatever," she scoffed and stuck her tongue out at him, he quirked an eyebrow in response.

"Keep sticking that out at me and you might not like what happens." His voice had taken on a rumbling quality that made Clarke's insides clench. She stared at him, open mouthed, for a moment before he laughed and tucked a finger under her chin to close her jaw and gently run a thumb over her cheek. "Let's get you fed, I have a theory that they'll only be serving those stupid gourmet hors d'oeuvres that look like doll food tonight."

"Oh god, yes! I would kill for a burger right now!" Clarke moaned eagerly, Bellamy looked surprised for a moment before a grin broke out on his features.

"Clarke Griffin, you are a woman after my heart." With that Bellamy took the next turn off and pulled up to a small retro dinner. Clarke grinned as she stared at the brightly lit sign and glanced through the windows at the checkered floor and red vinyl booths, it looked like heaven.

"Bellamy…" she whispered softly.

"I know it's not fancy, but they serve good food." Bellamy gave a slightly shy smile as he waited for her reaction.

"I never got to go to places like this growing up, and once I started they were always my favourite. But no one ever wanted to take me to places like this, we always had to go somewhere fancy, somewhere 'little rich girl' approved…" Bellamy gave her a smile and swung himself out of the jeep before jogging to her door and popping it open.

"Well maybe it's time you spend some time with someone who didn't grow up rich. There's lots of things I can show you, Princess." Bellamy gently helped Clarke out of the vehicle and slipped an arm around her waist. "Just wait."