❝ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽
𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸
𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁
𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 ❞
- 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘀

𝗔𝘃𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩

I stand next to Finn outside the drop ship as Chancellor Jaha drones on about Unity Day through the screen. I'm broken from my boredom when Clarke appears in between us and glances at us both.

"Don't tell me you don't like Unity Day" Clarke states and Finn rolls his eyes.

here he goes

"Unity Day is a lie. The Ark only came together after the 13th station was blown out of the sky. It's just not the version of history we like to tell each other at parties" Finn rants in annoyance and Clarke looks at me with a raised brow.

I shrug with a lopsided smile and she grins in amusement.

"The Unity Day story gives people hope though, and peace came out of that violence" Clarke tells Finn matter of factly.

"Yeah, but did there need to be violence at all?" Finn replies and I smile softly at my best friend.

always the peace keeper, Collins

I look back over to see Raven glance between Finn and Clarke. Clarke sees the girl's scrutinising stare and walks away, leaving Finn and I alone.

"Whoo, yeah!" I hear screaming and I see Jasper appearing with a black barrel in his hands.

"Monty strikes again. Hey! Call this batch unity juice. Who's thirsty?!" Jasper yells, running into camp and everyone cheers excitedly.

I watch as everyone rushes to have their cup filled with a small smile on my face and Finn taps my arm. I look up at him and he nods his head to Octavia who is taking everyone's joy as a distraction and slips out of camp.

"Where's she going?" Finn asks.

"I don't know" I lie with a shrug.

Hours pass and the sun sets while the whole camp parties, having the time of their life.

I have a couple drinks with Jasper, Monty and a couple other people around the fire before a certain chocolate eyed man catches my gaze. He smiles widely and takes a bite out of the apple in his hand.

"What are you staring at?" I hear Harper question me and I snap my gaze over to the girl i've recently befriended.

"Huh?" I mumble cluelessly and she grins knowingly.

"She's obviously staring at Bellamy" Sterling laughs and I gasp, hitting his shoulder.

"Shut up!" I groan.

"Don't worry, Ava. Your secret is safe with me" He slurs slightly, swinging his arm around my shoulder.

I roll my eyes with a smile and I take a sip from my cup, gazing into the crackling fire in a trance.

I feel someone's eyes burning into my skull and I look around only to land on Bellamy once again. He stares at me with a frown and I tilt my head in confusion.

"Ugh, go get your man" Harper groans and pushes me, making me drop my cup.

I stumble lightly but steady myself and shoot the dirty blonde a glare. She shoos me off and I stick my tongue out at her before walking away.

I approach the older Blake sibling and he crosses his arms with a deep frown on his face.

"Hi" I grin.

"Hey" He replies, voice completely void of emotion.

"What's wrong?" I ask in confusion.

"Why don't you ask him?" Bellamy scoffs, nodding behind me.

I turn my head and see that he's talking about Sterling who's eyes are on me. The boy looks away awkwardly and I turn back to Bellamy.

"Are you being serious, Bell?" I groan.

He looks over me in boredom and I huff, rolling my eyes.

"Bellamy?" I mumble but he ignores me.

"Bellamy!" I whine but he continues avoiding my eyes.

"Bellamy Blake!" I scold him, grabbing his chin and tilting it down to look at me.

He huffs and I smile, pecking his lips. His hand touches my waist and I cup his cheek in my hand.

"No matter how hot you look when you're jealous, I'm begging you to stop. I don't want him, Bell. I want you" I assure the man and he lets out a sigh of defeat.

"You think I'm hot?" He asks with a smirk and I slap his chest playfully, making him chuckle

"Don't be an ass" I state with a smile on my face.

"Go enjoy yourself, sunshine" Bellamy tells me, letting go of my waist.

"What if I want to stay with you?" I pout and he chuckles again.

"I'm not doing anything fun. I'll only bore you" He argues.

"Fine" I grumble.

He pecks my cheek and gently pushes me backwards. I shoot him a grin before spinning around and skipping back over to the fire.

I sit in between Fox and Harper, wanting to get to know the girls more and they both happily accept, chatting with me.

As I laugh with the girls about a joke Jasper made someone taps on my back. I turn to see Finn and I smile up at my best friend.

"Follow me" He snaps and starts walking away.

Fox and Harper look at me in confusion and I just shrug in response. I jump up to my feet and chase after him.

We approach the gate and Finn turns to me throwing me his water bottle.

"Sober up. I need you to distract Bellamy while I sneak out the gate and then I need you to meet me out there" Finn demands and I frown.

"Why?" I ask before downing the water in the bottle and handing it back to him.

"I'll explain on the way" He replies and disappears into the tents.

I roll my eyes at his antics and skip over to Bellamy who stands watch at the gate.

"Hey, Bell!" I chirp.

"I thought I told you to go have fun" He states.

"I don't take orders from you, Blake" I challenge him and he smirks.

"No?" He asks.

"Nope" I grin cheekily.

In my peripheral vision I see Finn sneaking closer to the gate but he steps on a twig and it snaps loudly.

Bellamy makes a move to turn around but I grab his face and press my lips onto his. He returns the kiss and pulls me in close as I wind my arms around his neck.

I pull away for air and bury my face in his neck, peaking behind him to see Finn is gone before I let out a small groan.

"What's wrong, sunshine?" Bellamy asks me.

"I'm sleepy" I pretend to slur and he sighs.

My legs are abruptly swept from under me and I can feel myself being carried, towards my tent.

Within minutes i'm placed down and I look up to see Bellamy crouching beside my bed.

"Get some sleep" He tells me, kissing my forehead and exiting the tent.

I wait a couple of minutes before jumping to my feet and slinging my quiver over my back. I grab my bow and sneakily slip out of the tent.

As I reach the back of the drop ship where no one is lingering around, I start climbing the wall and I flip myself over the top, landing on the other side with a grunt.

"Stupid wall" I grumble as I dust my self off.

I set off searching for Finn who I find very quickly, leaning against a tree as he waits for me.

"So, what's with the jailbreak?" I question and he gestures for me to follow him, walking away.

"When I seen Octavia slip out I got a bad feeling so I think we should follow her trail" He states as I walk beside him.

oh no

"Are you sure? She's probably just chasing butterflies" I joke and Finn shakes his head.

"Are you coming or not?" He asks and I let out a defeated sigh.

"I'm coming" I nod.

I follow him through the dark forest until two figures come into view. Octavia and Lincoln.

Finn pulls out a knife and before I can stop him he lunges at Lincoln.

"Finn? Ava?" Octavia questions as Lincoln pulls a knife out on him.

"Lincoln, wait! Wait!" I scream, jumping in front of Finn.

"It's me!" I snap and turn to Finn who I see is offering Octavia the knife.

"I think you lost this" He tells her.

"Follow me" Lincoln states and we do as he says.

"So what the hell are you doing here?" Octavia asks as we enter the cave.

"I could ask you the same thing" Finn counters.

"I could also ask how long you've known he speaks english" Finn snaps, his statement also aimed at me.

"But I won't" He adds.

Finn finds the foghorn and picks it up, showing it to Lincoln.

"You blew this when your people were hunting us" Finn says and Lincoln nods.

"You saved our lives" My best friend presses "I have to believe there's more like you"

"I stabbed you" Lincoln retorts.

"And we tortured you" Finn counters.

"If the two of us can get along, then maybe there's hope. Learn from history instead of repeating it, right?" He asks and I smile at my peace bringing friend.

"How's that gonna happen?" Octavia asks.

"For starters, no more killing" Finn tells them.

"I don't have the power to call a truce" Lincoln says.

"Then bring me to someone who does" Finn fires back.

Lincoln goes silent and I remember something he and Nova had taught me.

"Anya, right? She has the power to call a truce" I speak up and Lincoln sighs, looking at Octavia.

"Hey, look. The rest of our people are coming down here. The first ship lands in two days" Finn states, not questioning my knowledge of the grounders.

"It's true" Octavia tells Lincoln.

"And because of the attacks, they're sending mostly soldiers, the people that enforce our laws. The Ark is about survival at any cost, and they'll kill people who fall out of line. When those people get down here, if they feel threatened, they will start a war, and I don't want that. Neither do you, and I think that's why you blew that horn. Once the soldiers get here, it will be too late, and we'll have no power to stop them, but if they see that we're at peace, then maybe we have a chance to stay that way" Finn rants passionately and I can't help but smile proudly at him as he talks.

I look to Lincoln who nods softly and then to Octavia who gives me a small smile.

"All right. You bring your leader, i'll bring mine" Lincoln agrees.

"What, Bellamy? He'll never go for this" Octavia scoffs.

"No, not Bellamy" Finn tells the girl.

"Then who?" She asks.

Both Lincoln and Finn turn to me and my eyes widen.

"Me?!" I shriek and they nod.

"Bellamy will never go for it and Clarke is likely to agree with him, that leaves you" Finn explains.

"I'm nowhere near the type of leaders that Clarke and Bellamy are" I argue.

"No, Finn's right. You're better. Everyone in camp loves you and they listen to you, A" Octavia tells me and my lips tug up at one side.

"Really?" I murmur hopefully.

"Definitely" She grins.

"We meet at the bridge at sunrise" Lincoln informs us and I nod.

"Finn, let's go" I tell the boy and he exits the cave.

"I'll see you guys later" I tell the other two who smile warmly at me.