The Bet

Clarke looked down at her watch. It was almost 6 and she still hadn't received a reply from Janet. She sighed and continued to throw her rainbow tennis ball into the air. "Damn how could I be so stupid?" She sat up on the side of the bed, angry with herself. "I don't know what I was thinking." Her head fell into her hands. "I keep fucking things up man." She glanced over at the picture on her nightstand. She hadn't noticed it before.

Clarke picked up he photo and smiled. It was the first picture they'd ever taken together. She wiped a tear away, went to sit the picture down and something fell from the back of it. It was a folded piece of paper. She sat the picture down and picked it up. Her name was written beautifully on the front in gold ink. She opened it and began to read.

We had the kind of night where morning comes too soon. We used the light from a flickering candle across the room, to make the kind of shadows that only one thing could make... love.

Clarke,
Thank you for being you. Gil bet me that you wouldn't find this note, but I knew you would. There is no one in this world like you Clarke and I feel lucking to have you in my life. You have shown me what real and honest love feels like. I never want to be without it again Clarke. I love you so much more than I could ever explain on this piece of paper, but I promise to spend everyday showing you.

Clarke sat down on her bed. "Wow." She said aloud. Her heart was pounding. She touched her chest and picked up her phone. It's started to ring in her hand. Emory?

"Hello?" Clarke answered.

"Now that's a voice I haven't  heard in a long time. How are you Clarke?" She asked.

"I'm doing okay and yourself?"

"I'm good. I needed to talk to you. I was wondering if we could meet up. I really don't want to do this over the phone."

"Hold for a moment." Clarke said and paced for a moment. She hadn't talked to Emory in months and didn't know if it was a good idea. She glanced at the phone again. "Yeah that's cool. I'm not in the same place though. I will send you the address."

An hour had passed and Clarke ran to the door and opened it. Emory smiled and gave her a hug.

"Come in."

"Damn! Can I go on tour next? Your new crib is bad as fuck Clarke." Emory said as she took a look around. Clarke laughed.

"Thanks, have a seat. Do you want something drink? Wine? Beer?" Clarke said taking down two wine glasses.

"I don't drink anymore but thank you. I'll take a bottled water though." She said and smiled.

Clarke handed her the bottle and took a seat.

"Dang it feels like it's been forever." Emory said.

"A few months at least." They were quiet for a moment.

"Well I wanted to talk to you because I needed to apologize Clarke. I was in a pretty weird place and I was upset because I liked you. More than liked actually." She said nervously, finally hearing herself say it out loud. "I was so jealous that I caused a bunch of drama for you and for that I am so sorry." She looked at Clarke with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry for hurting you and for hurting Janet. I really messed things up and I would like to try and be friends again. If Janet is okay with it of course. I'm sober now and I have been seeing someone. It's getting kind of serious actually." She said with a slight smile. "I'm happy but I want my best friend back." Emory wiped tears from her face. She was bearing her soul and Clarke could feel the sincerity. Their eyes met. "Can we please start over?"

Clarke was silent for a moment and then smiled. "Of course we can Ems, come here." She pulled her off of the sofa to her feet and into a hug. "Yours ass is not getting a key to my crib this time though." Clarke said and they both laughed hugging each other tight.

"I understand. I brought the key to your other place to give back anyway."

The lock on the front door clicked and Janet walked to see Clarke and Emory hugging.

"Babe?" Clarke said. Emory stepped away from her.

"Really Clarke?" Janet said. "That's how you're going to do me?"

"Jan it's not what you think." Emory chimed in.

"Little girl, adults are talking..." Janet said snapping her head towards Emory.

"She's telling you the truth babe. She came to apologize."

"Oh really," Janet looked over at the wine glasses on the counter. "And what, you were going make up over dinner and some wine?"

Clarke walked over to her slowly took her by the hand and lead her outside stepped outside. She closed the door behind them. Janet stood away from her with her arms folded.

Clarke finally spoke. "Janet do you really think I would do this to you? And with Emory of all people?"

"I don't know what you would or would not do Clarke."

"I'm starting to see that you don't know me very much at all then. Maybe I've been spending too much time learning your life and not teaching you enough about me."

"What are you trying to say Clarke? Everything is always about me?"

"No J," Clarke turned away from her in frustration. "I'm trying to understand you and your life. I feel like I keep messing up though. I try to do something nice or show I care and it turns out bad or with you upset with me. Like when you passed out or today with Eissa. And now this, your reaction here. Do you not trust me? I get not trusting Emory. I know what it may have looked like... but I need to know. Do you trust me?"

"I don't know Clarke." Janet said avoiding her eyes.

"Why would you want to be with someone you can't trust J? Why would you buy me this fancy ass crib and ask me to be your girlfriend, if you don't trust me."

Janet didn't say anything as Clarke stood there waiting for a response. Janet said nothing.

"The fact that you don't have anything to say to me, says more than you know."

The door opened and Emory walked out.

"I'm sorry for causing trouble. I really only came to apologize." She walked up to Janet. "I'm sorry Jan. I'm ashamed of how I acted. I apologized to Uncle Jimmy, to Clarke and I wanted to apologize to you as well. I'm gonna go." She said glancing back at Clarke. "I'm sorry again for any trouble I've caused you tonight."

"Thanks Em." They watched her disappear into her car and drive away.

Janet turned to walked away.

"That's it... You're not going to say anything?"

"What do you want me to say Clarke?" Janet snapped looking back at her.

"Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?" Clarke could feel herself becoming angry. "I don't think that I have. After all, I'm not the one who lied about seeing my ex." It had slipped out before Clarke could stop it.

Janet gasped and glared at Clarke with tears in her eyes. "I thought you forgave me for that, but it's nice to see you were waiting for the perfect moment to use it against me. Enjoy your night Clarke." She said as she turned and walked away.

"J I'm sorry, I'm in my feelings. Just please stay and talk to me." Clarke said as she followed her.

Preston held the door open. Janet didn't even look back before getting into car. He closed the door and walked around to the driver side. He glanced at Clarke and mouthed I'm sorry. Clarke nodded.

"Goodnight Ms. Dubious." He said.

"Goodnight Preston."

Clarke walked back into her apartment and closed the door. She sat down against the door and started to cry.

Now on the road, Preston glanced back at Janet who sobbed quietly in the backseat of the car. Her hands covered her face. They pulled up to her house where Gil was just getting into his car to leave. Janet got out. Her face was red and eyes swollen as Gil rushed to her side.

"What the fuck happened?" He said and followed her inside.