Hello, my little babies, this is my new story Small Town Living. However, I must give proper credit to M. J. Emerson (notplatonicblarke). This story is based around the idea of her story Beyond Our Control. I love it very much and if you get the chance I hope you go read it yourself :)

Summer 2010

Octavia was laying under the big tree in front of her house. When she looked up, she could see the clear sky, the large tree giving shade from the blinding sun. Her brother was being boring, playing video games inside. It annoyed her that he didn't want to play outside with her anymore.

She heard a thundering noise, looking up to find a moving truck parked across the street. She saw a small girl jump out of the passenger seat, bounding around to the back. Octavia sat up, looking back at her house, Bellamy was still facing the computer screen playing some dumb game. So she stood up and walked over. She peered around the back of the truck finding a tall blonde man.

"Well hey there."

"Hi." She was so confident coming over here, but now she mumbled suddenly becoming shy.

"I'm Jake. What's your name?"

"Octavia..."

"Well, Octavia, it looks like we're going to be neighbors." He studied her a bit. "I think my daughter is around your age, would you like to meet her?"

The second Octavia nodded the young blonde girl from before came bounding out of the house.

"Daddy! My room is so big! And I love-" She noticed the small girl. "Hi! I'm Clarke Griffin. What's your name?" She stuck her hand out, proudly shaking.

"I'm Octavia, I live across the street."

"Sweet! Octavia, do you wanna be friends?" A large smile came across her face, nodding furiously.

Bellamy looked behind him to check on Octavia, finding she was no longer lying on the couch. He heard the wind after he took off his headphones. She must be laying in the grass again he thought getting up to go check. But she wasn't there. Panic started to set in. He ran around the house yelling, "Octavia!"

Finally, he found her when she walked through the front door. "Hey Bell, I-"

"Where have you been?! You are supposed to stay within visual range!" He interrupted, yelling at his eight-year-old sister.

Small tears started forming. "I'm sorry, I was playing with my new friend."

"New friend-" His question was interrupted when he heard someone calling her name from the front yard.

"Octavia, c'mon I just found the box with my dolls!"

"Who's that?" He looked at the small girl in front of him.

Octavia let out an exaggerated sigh, grabbing his arm and dragging him towards the front yard. He was met with a blonde girl who looked to be Octavia's age. She was practically bouncing, her floral patterned dress swaying, and she was wearing a plastic tiara.

"Hi!" She ran up to them, holding out her hand. "I'm Clarke Griffin. We're moving in across the street."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Clarke, I found the box with your dresses!" He looked and saw a tall middle-aged man yelling from the truck.

She got an excited look on her face, so did Octavia. Both girls running before the teen could ask any questions. He took off after them. Finding the two going through a box labeled 'Dress-up'. The middle-aged man came up to him.

"Jake Griffin." He stated, holding out his hand.

"Bellamy Blake." He shook the man's hand. "I-"

"Bell! Can I go inside? Clarke wants to show me her doll house!"

"Uh..." What would his mother say? He was hesitant to send his younger sister into a complete strangers house.

"You can join them if you'd like." His attention was grabbed by Jake. "So she's not alone." He smiled at the man, waves of trustworthy qualities flowed off this guy.

"Thanks." He looked back at Octavia, nodding for her to go ahead, watching her disappear into the house.

"Brave kid."

"What?" He looked back at the blonde man.

"Letting your little sister into a complete strangers house, ballsy. How do you know we aren't crazy?" He was smiling, clearly being sarcastic.

"I don't know, man. You got this...thing. Something about you seems trustworthy." Jake grinned.

"How old are you?" He looked over the kid.

"Just turned 15, sir."

"Oh lord, do not 'sir' me. I feel old enough." He joked before getting serious again. "Where are your parents?"

"Mom's at work." Jake nodded his head, not pressing for more.

"Alright, well, seeing as my daughter has already invited your sister to be friends, I feel we should all know each other. Y'all are welcome to join us for dinner tonight." Bellamy was hesitant. "It's pizza." A smile crept across his face. "Y'know, seeing as we can't cook anything yet."

"Um, I'll have to ask my mom." He pulled out his Sidekick, texting the question.

Today Friday 7/16

3:48 PM
Bellamy
New neighbors invited us for Dinner
Accept?

"Sorry, I-"

*PING*

3:49 PM
Mom
I have to work late
You two eat
Maybe I can catch you at the end

"Uh, yeah. O and I can join you if that's ok. My mom is working late."

"That's a shame..." He looked at the ground for a second, before hearing a crash inside. They both ran in. Clarke and Octavia were unfazed by the crash. "What happened?"

The small blonde shrugged. "It just fell over. I didn't mean to, daddy..."

He hugged his daughter. "Do not tell your mother, ok?"

She gave a cheeky smile and nodded. "When's mama coming?"

"Tomorrow, sweetheart." She gave an upset look towards her father but looked back to Octavia with a wide smile. They ran off again. "God, I cannot keep up with that girl. She's ten and still acts like a seven-year-old sometimes." He shook his head.

"She's ten?" Jake nodded, proceeding to the garage to grab sodas. "Octavia is almost nine," Bellamy commented offhandedly.

They sat in silence, sipping at their drinks. They could hear the girls giggling from above them. He smiled, happy Octavia finally had a friend.

Edit (April 12th): Cool, so I'm starting to update and post the chapters again. And, sidenote, who remembers Sidekicks? Those things were all the rage- chirst I'm only 16 and the way everything is progressing I feel the need to look around be like "y'know, back in my day..." Bitch! It still is my day!