The Bet

(Rock With U begins to play)

Everything went dark as strobe lights fell over the room. Everyone went crazy. Janet walked towards the center of the dancing crowd.

Emory spun around grinding her hips into Clarke, bending over trying to taunt and tease but when there was no response from Clarke she turned around to face her.

Clarke wasn't paying her any attention at all. In fact, her eyes were focused on the crowd, her were focused on the woman walking towards them.

Janet approached Clarke and Emory fast with Gil right behind her with his hands in the air yelling, "The queen is coming through make mutha fuckin way bitches!"

Janet walked right through Clarke and Emory, breaking the contact and closeness they shared. Emory ended up on one side of the crowd and Clarke on the other. Her dancers began circling around her and as the crowd looked on Janet begin to sing along with the track.

Clarke watched her like they were the only two people in the room. "Let's show em how we work!" Janet yelled. The dancers followed her queue, as they performed a bit of the choreography from rock with you. Each dancer laughed and smiled taking turns having a moment with Janet until everyone in the crowd joined in.

Everyone was dancing together so Janet saw an opportunity to have a moment with Clarke. She pulled her close, eye to eye as they spun around the dance floor. Clarke took hold of Janet's hips as they rocked to the music, thrusting and grinding against each other. Clarke's adrenaline was pumping from the energy in the room.

Emory watched from just a few feet away. Clarke was completely consumed in Janet and didn't notice as Emory started to walk towards them. Janet was in the moment as well but opened her eyes and looked right at Emory with a smirk. Emory stopped as someone roughly brushed past her. She turned to see Gil. He popped his tongue, rolled his eyes and joined the dancing crowd.

"Clarke!" Emory yelled her name a few times. Nothing. She grit her teeth. She couldn't stand the sight of them being so close. She took another step forward.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Gil said and nodded his head in Janet's direction. "Trust, you don't want this problem honey. So walk the fuck away."

Emory flipped her hair, pushed her way through the crowd and left the building.

The night was coming to an end. A few people got up and made heartfelt speeches. Janet finally revealed that she was changing the name of the tour. She stood in front of the crowd with a glow that none of them had ever seen before. She smiled shyly at everyone as they applauded her. Screams of her name and whistles filled the room. Once the crowd settled down she got her chance to speak.

"This tour will no longer be called The Unbreakable Tour. I have decided to call it The State of The World Tour." The crowd went crazy. She continued. "There are no words to describe how much this and all of you mean to me. Most of you have known me for a really long time and those of you who haven't, have gotten to know me pretty well over the past 6 months." She paused for a moment. "Things have been... hard for some time and," she began to get choked up. "And I wouldn't have been able to do this, or get through this rough patch without all of you. Thank you so much for your support and for still believing in me. I love all of you so much." The room erupted into applause.

Clarke and Gil stood arm and arm. She pulled out her handkerchief, offering it to a sobbing Gil. He loved Janet. It was so clear to Clarke. He looked over at her and smiled, laying his head on her shoulder.

Back at the hotel room. Janet, Clarke and Gil were still trying to come down from all of the hype. They had music going and Gil even got Janet to have a few glasses of champagne with him and Clarke.

Clarke picked up her phone. She'd had three missed calls from Emory and a text message that she didn't bother to check.

"Shit, Ems." She put her hand on her head.

"Yeah," Gil cut his eyes over at Janet for a moment then back to Clarke. "What happened to her tonight?"

"She is going to be so upset with me. I asked her to be my plus one and then forgot completely that she was even there."

Janet sipped her champagne and sat the glass down. She didn't drink very often, so her head was spinning just a bit.

"I have to get out of these clothes guys. I'll be right back." High heels in hand, she walked over to Clarke,gave her a soft sweet kiss and kneeled next to her. "Will you spend the night with me tonight?"

Clarke smiled. Janet was breathtaking. "I would love to." She replied. Janet kissed her again before heading for the bedroom to change.

As soon as she left the room, Gil threw a pillow over at Clarke.

"Hey!" Clarke responded. "What was that for?"

"Emory??" Gil walked over and plopped down on the couch next to her.

"What about her?" Clarke asked knowing full and well what he meant. "Gil she is my friend. Without her none of this would've happened."

"Honey you can not be this naive. That girl likes you, A LOT. You need to get a grip on it, before she fucks up something good for you." Gil said pointing toward the bedroom. "And you don't owe Emory shit. You been the one slaving in rehearsals, all she did was introduce you."

Clarke looked down at her hands. Emory was her friend, she didn't want to do her wrong.

"Do you like her?" Gil asked. "And you better be honest with me."

"No! Of course not man. Not at all, only as a friend." She put her head in her hands feeling the drinks she's had. "Gil I️ have never felt this before in my entire life. I've connected with people but what I feel with Janet blows my mind." Clarke paused for a moment. She made eye contact with him for the first time since he'd said Emory's name. "I think I'm in love with her."

He looked at her seriously. "You think?" He asked.

"I know I am." Clarke replied.

"Then you have to tell her Clarke and you need to handle this thing with Emory. It will only cause you problems and scare Janet away. She does not like drama."

Clarke nodded. She knew he was right.
She wrapped her arms around Gil and hugged him tight. "Do you really think would consider something serious with me Gil? Am I good enough for her?"

Gil pulled back and put his hands on Clarke's cheeks. "Babe, have you seen the way that woman looks at you?" They both smiled.

Janet's room door flew open, hitting the wall behind it hard. She stormed into the living room, clearly very upset. "Is this all I am to you Clarke? Huh?"

Gil and Clarke stood up. Gil immediately went to Janet's side. "Hold on, tell me what's going on?" Hands shaking, she unlocked her phone and handed it to Gil. He looked up at Clarke a bit confused.

"Jimmy texted me just now. Apparently Clarke made a bet with Emory? 5 minutes alone with me and I'd be yours? Is that what this is to you Clarke? A fucking BET!"

Clarke jumped at the sudden raise in Janet's voice. She looked horrified as she held her hand up in defense. "Janet, I can explain."

"No, I don't want your fucking explanation or excuses Clarke." The look on Janet's face made Clarke feel sick. "I thought you were different." Janet continued as she started to cry. "But you're just like everyone else."

Clarke stepped closer to her and held her out hand. "Janet please, just let me explain."

"I want you to leave Clarke." Janet said and turned her back.

"Baby please." Clarke said. She looked over at Gil with desperation in her eyes. "Gil?" He shook his head.

Clarke grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. She looked back at Janet. Gil held her while she sobbed in his arms. Focusing down at the floor, Clarke walked out of the hotel room and let the door close behind her.