Clarke slips the ring off her finger as she rounds the corner of the hospital corridor. She struggles for a moment, her heart racing at the thought of not being able to get it off.

It feels like a sort of omen that's been digging into her hand for the past two weeks, so much so that even after she's slipped it off and placed it in her pocket she thinks she can still see it's mark engraved in her finger. Obviously she can't, but it doesn't stop Clarke from rubbing at her skin until its sore.

She's told Bellamy she'd meet him here, visiting Raven in her hospital room for rehabilitation mostly because they had both promised to come weekly. And Clarke had figured he'd catch on that she'd been ignoring him if she didn't show up another weekend in a row.

She's just recently gotten back into the swing of school so it's not as if it was entirely intentional, Clarke was fairly busy most afternoons with classes and the clinic, and her familial obligations as she calls them. But it doesn't stop her from feeling the guilt wring her heart as she avoids him in the halls, or brushes off his invitations out.

But Clarke is a grown woman, she's capable of facing the consequences of her actions, and she's determined that tonight she will tell Bellamy the truth. She can't possibly keep up this charade any longer and she's certain that there's a way to tell him. A way in which Bellamy won't be mad, he won't be hurt because she's certain that they will find a way to be together, it's the only thing she's sure of now.

Because despite the path that her family has set for her, Clarke has never been so full of hope. And that's his doing; more so because he fills her with a sense of strength that she'd been so scared she'd lose drowning in other people's desires, and expectations. Even in this short time without him, she's felt herself slipping into complacency, settling into silence around charity functions, or even in tiffs with her mother. Perhaps it's more so that Clarke feels no need to fight back any more. Not like she did when she was young, struggling against their control. Now she feels free, free from their grasp. Now she's ready to run.

Maybe that's what she could say to him to make him believe she hadn't been lying to hurt him, but instead to spare him from her own turmoil while she mulled over this plan for freedom.

"Clarke," Raven smiles up at her. Clarke's first impressions had been right about the young woman, Raven Reyes was as brave as she had seemed that day in the clinic, and has been every day since. "Will you tell Murphy he can go now that you're here? He's starting to drive me mad. And him mocking my exercises is not helping in anyway."

"Bellamy said I'm here for moral support," Murphy quipped, while shooting Raven a quick look, almost a smile, while simultaneously stretched in a ridiculous version of the simple position Raven is in, "Who would I be if I didn't participate? A strange man who simply watches cripples exercise?"

Clarke's stomach turned at the word, cripple, it was never used as a nice word, not in the times that she'd heard it. But Raven simply scoffs it off, "No, just a stupid idiot with two legs, the right miraculously stronger than the left, or should I say ridiculously."

Clarke would normally have laughed. The time she's spent with Bellamy's friends during the winter break had been short and sparse, perhaps only 5 times in total. But each encounter left her wanting more, more of whatever it was that had them all so happy to be in one another's company, even Raven and Murphy. Always quipping, always ready to make a joke at the other's expense. But also so unashamedly caring for the other in such an instinctive way. Bellamy had explained that those who grow up with nothing find solace and family, in those who stick it out with them. Monty, Jasper, Miller, Raven, Murphy. She understood their bond, perhaps because she so starkly lacked such a sense of companionship growing up.

She's learned how to hold her own with these new friends, so when she doesn't respond Raven gives her a quizzical look.

Clarke answers with a shake of her head, "Just curious as to where Bellamy could be."

Murphy helps Raven into her wheelchair, "He's been picking up more shifts at the University, thought you'd know that,"

Clarke smiles tightly, "I suppose I should've."

"He says he might be able to get me a position now that the factory's closing down. Could sign up to go fight the Huns, but I feel my skills would be better equipped with a broom."

Raven hit him in the stomach, her wheelchair providing her with perfect access, "Like you'd go fight, and give up your citizenship just so you can annoy the French as much as you annoy us. Although it may be your only bet, at the university they're hiring people to clean up the trash Murphy, not drag it in with them."

That did get Clarke to laugh and it let her breathe for a moment without worrying how she's going to act when Bellamy gets there.

And like she could summon him with her thoughts he entered the room, smile on his face and quipping at his friends.

She couldn't even process what was being said among them all, Clarke just watched on as they laughed, Bellamy and Murphy shoving each other before Bellamy came over to plant a quick kiss to her cheek.

Clarke was stiff, she hadn't wanted to be but it was hard to think of anything but this guilt gnawing at her.

"Well a nurse told me on my way in," Bellamy turned to her, "what do you think Clarke?"

She looked up out of her daze, "Sorry?"

"Ice cream in the cafeteria," Raven said.

"Sounds perfect," Clarke smiled, standing up to grab her coat from where she had folded it over her chair.

They all gathered their things, and as she moved to pull the sleeve over her arm there was a chime in the silence.

The ring. It had fallen out of her pocket. All she could do was watch as it rolled out across the floor, her stomach dropping as everyone stood in silence, listening to the metallic ringing as it swirled to a stop in the middle of the room.

She felt as though she was going to black out. No, this wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

"What is this?" Bellamy was kneeling, looking up at her. It would've been ironic if it weren't so heartbreaking.

She was frozen with fear. Not because he was yelling, instead it was the calm tone in his voice, it was that look in his eye like her already knew every horrible detail.

"Bell," She whispered.

"This is an engagement ring Clarke" Bellamy's eyes bore into hers.

She could feel her face flush, her breath turning ragged, her mouth open and nothing coming out.

"Well I know it's not mine." He stands up, and turns away from her. Bringing his hand to comb over his face before he turns back, "no, I know it's not mine because, because mine is a grainy picture I tore from a magazine I found on the curb and have stupidly kept in my dresser for the past 6 months. No, this is real. Some one paid for this. Some one gave this to you, you, you accepted this from someone."

The tears in his eyes gave him away. He isn't mad, he looks defeated, he looks like he's been fighting a war with himself and he's lost.

"You accepted this from someone," his voice is hopeful, quite and desperate, like maybe she'll prove him wrong. Except that she can't, because he's right. Because she had been so wrong.

"Bellamy please let me explain." He's out the door before she's finished; before her tears begin to fall he's just gone into thin air. Clarke chases after him, just behind him, grasping at his jacket and calling his name until their out on the street, and it's like he's waiting for them to be alone, in an alley beside the hospital until he turns to her.

"I don't want to marry him, please listen!"

People are staring as they walk past, and Clarke tries to pretend she doesn't care what they think. His eyes are only on her, "Okay, I'm listening."

"My mother," Clarke is crying, she's trying so hard to put together a thought that would make any of this have sense, "My mother, and my, my father,"

"They are forcing you, they grabbed onto your wrist and forced you to put on his ring. They made you lie to me, made you lead me on? Pulling me into some kind of trance thinking that a girl like you could ever be with me?" His voice is broken now, pure venom seeping in. It pains her to think that he must have always had these thoughts, and she's the one bringing them into reality.

"No!" Clarke still clung to him, even though he pushed her hands away, she grabbed onto his coat and brought him closer to her, "please Bell, it was a mistake to say yes. I only did it because I hadn't known what else to say in front of all those people."

"I don't even know what you're talking about," He pushed her away again, "That's how removed I am from your world. I've invited you into every aspect of my life - my sister, my friends. I could lose my job, Clarke. And to you I am just a stain on your perfect, clean, white tapestry that you tuck away. No one knows who I am do they?"

"Bellamy I want them to," She watched him pace in the small alley, walking between the buildings and resting his back against the brick to face her. " I don't want to marry Wallace. I want to be with you but you don't understand what it would mean to walk out now –"

"Wallace –" Bellamy whispered. It's like she could see the thoughts race through his head.

"- I would be giving up all of the years of studying I've done." Clarke continued, "I would be leaving my family, dooming them to bankruptcy. I would have no home, no money, no career."

"Cage Wallace," Bellamy's eyes welled full of tears, the sight of it bringing fresh ones to her eyes.

"But I don't care." She tried once more, bringing herself so close that she stood looking up at his chin, "I'm ready to be free from all that. I want to be with you. I can't explain it. Something in me comes alive when we are together, the way you make me feel. As though there's finally someone in this world that knows who I am, someone I can turn to when everything is falling apart, and I know no matter what I have something I am willing to fight for. I am not letting you go Bellamy, please. I will fight for you."

He looks down at her, but something in his eyes has changed. Bellamy looks at her like she's a stranger and it stings more than anything he could ever say. She takes a step back, taking in his silence.

"You okay Miss?" A stranger standing in the opening of the ally calls; stepping closer he gives Bellamy a once over, and has the gull to motion to the small gap between them, "Is he bothering you?"

Bellamy takes a step away, and Clarke shakes her head. He persists, "You sure Miss? I could walk you some place more suitable if you require."

Clarke turns on him, emotionally exhausted she barks, "For the love of God, leave us alone."

"Oh, I see. Just trying to be a gentlemen," The man is taken aback, "well you may be dressed like a lady, but you're scum just like him if that's the way it is."

They both watch on as the man turns his back and walks away, not before muttering a few more nasty comments as he goes.

Clarke closes her eyes for a moment; she feels Bellamy's presence, feels him pulling her to her chest, resting his cheek on her head. "Whether you love me as I love you, you're right. You'd be giving up too much for me. I can't let that happen."

Clarke pulls away, "No."

He points in the direction of the street, the people passing by, "I can't subject you to a life of that. Not for me, I'm not worth it. We're not suited to live this life together. We should have known from the start. Be with him. Be happy."

He gives her head a quick kiss and suddenly he's walking away. She feels frozen, defeated watching him turn the corner without a glance back. Watching him slip into the crowd and disappear from view.