[edited 7 February 2017]

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had formed across Raine's brow, and she wiped it away absentmindedly as she continued to string meat up. It had been two days since the bridge exploded, and in those two days their camp had changed dramatically.

Bellamy and Clarke had somehow managed to organize the fearful teens, giving them jobs and rosters and more of the like. Raine had offered to work in the meat house with Octavia, not wanting the girl to be around Murphy by herself. Bellamy protested at first, wanting to move both girls to another job until Raine told him to 'quit being dramatic'.

So, here she was, stringing meat up so that it could dry. The shack that she was currently standing in had been built to allow the smoke to filter out without releasing the heat. A fire burned in the centre of the shack that they had to keep going at all times, but they had to be careful not to put too much wood on it or risk the whole shack going up in flames.

"Let's get this party smoking!" A boy named Dal brushed past Raine, carrying an armful of wood that he dumped on the fire with a smug smirk. The fire crackled loudly, the flames doubling in high and almost singeing Raine, who jumped out of the way with a poisonous look on her face.

"You don't want the fire too big, so maybe try to knock it down with some wet leaves." Octavia spoke, her eyes darting nervously between the piece of meat in her hands and Dal.

"Get that from your boyfriend, Grounder Pounder?" Dal spat in response, and Raine quirked an eyebrow.

"Is that supposed to be hurtful?" she quipped, "Because while you're standing there looking like a mistake, she's being useful."

The boy narrowed his eyes at her, and was about to respond when Murphy cut him off with a lazy tone. "She's right; if the fire's too hot it won't preserve the meat as well."

"If you can't handle the heat get out of the smoke house." Dal snapped, "Besides, you should be kissing our asses for being allowed back in the camp."

A sour expression covered Murphy's face, and his eyes watched the boy with deathly silence. Raine let out a snort, flicking her ponytail over her shoulder as she spoke, "Yeah? Well you'll be kissing my fist if you don't shut up."

The boy glared at her, and Raine responded with a simple shrug of her shoulders. He let out a low grunt before moving towards the doorway, muttering, "Whatever. Just keep working."

"What a dick." Raine muttered as she spun back around, lifting her meat upwards to press it onto one of the empty hooks. Octavia sniffed from beside her, wiping sweat off of her face and accidentally smudging dirt across her cheek.

"I can handle myself, Raine."

Murphy's voice was low and ungrateful as she faced him with a questioning look on her face. "Really? Because last time I checked you look like a walking bruise."

Octavia stifled her laughter and despite the comment, Murphy found himself smirking lightly as he shook his head. Raine never seemed to stop amusing him, with her witty comebacks and her willingness to stand up for her friends–

Murphy's thoughts were disrupted when the fire suddenly exploded, shooting sparks and embers into the air. His first thought was Raine, who had dropped the meat and was clutching her wrist with a frightened expression.

Without thinking Murphy reached out and grabbed the girl tightly, tucking her to his chest as he reached for Octavia. With a firm hold on both of the girls, he tugged them towards the entrance of the shack.

Raine's throat burned and she coughed loudly as Murphy pulled her out of the shack. The cold air was like freezing water on her throat and soothed the burning. Murphy let go of her and she fell into the mud, sucking in as much air as she could. Her wrist stung with pain when the mud touched the scorched skin and she tried to hide a wince but Murphy saw it.

Raine rolled over so she was sitting on her butt and watched the shack go up in flames, bitter disappointment filling her stomach.

"Move! Get out of my way!"

Bellamy pushed through the crowd, his eyes landing on Raine and Octavia and his body sagged with relief. He went to his sister first, grabbing her shoulders and asking her if she was okay. She nodded numbly, her eyes glued to the shack.

Bellamy reached Raine's side, cupping her face and forcing her to look at him. "Mist, are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt?"

His words rang in her ears, and she looked at him with unfocused eyes. Bellamy moved his hands to her shoulders, shaking her softly. Raine blinked, her eyes focusing and she looked at Bellamy. His features were twisted into concern, his dark eyes searching her face as if he was going to find an answer.

"I'm fine, Bellamy. Really."

Her tone was shaky, and Bellamy noticed how she was clutching her wrist tightly. Slowly, his fingers brushed against her soft skin and he took hold of her wrist. He uncurled her fingers, breathing in sharply when he saw the angry red blister on the inside of her wrist.

"This is not okay – you're not okay. Where's Clarke? Find Clarke!" he screamed at the crowd that had formed around them, and a kid nodded before breaking off to look for the aforementioned blonde.

"I'm fine." Raine spoke again, "But our food isn't."

"I don't care about the damn food." He growled.

"I told you it was too much wood!"

Raine and Bellamy turned to see Murphy launching himself at Dal, landing a sold blow on the boys jaw. Dal stumbled backwards before grabbing Murphy, and the pair began to wrestle. Bellamy stood up, walking away from Raine and grabbing both boys by the collars. He pushed them apart easily, his face twisted into annoyance as he barked, "Save it for the grounders!"

Murphy shook himself from Bellamy's grip before turning and storming off. Raine watched as he left with a thoughtful expression. Dal shot Bellamy a look before storming off too, and Octavia let out a loud curse. "Great, now what the hell are we going to do? That was all of the food!"

Clarke had arrived, watching the shack with a hopeless expression as she knelt beside Raine, looking at her wrist. Everyone was staring at the burning shack, the hope that had come from blowing up the bridge two days ago now dying out.

•••

"I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not."

"You're not the boss of me, Bellamy."

Raine looked up at him with a stern expression, her features twisted into determination as she gripped a spear in one hand. Clarke had since bandaged her wrist and Raine spent most of the time hissing and cursing like a sailor.

All of their food had burned in the fire so they had been forced to go out and hunt again. Bellamy was hesitant enough already with the grounders out there, possibly waiting, and when he saw Raine's ponytail bobbing amongst the crowd as she grabbed a weapon he had pulled her aside and proceeded to tell she wasn't coming.

"You're hurt." He spoke slowly, enunciating each word carefully.

"I'm fine, Clarke bandaged me up. See?" She held up a hand, showing off the dark bandage around her wrist. "Now, I'm coming... or should I go and find Murphy?"

Her tone had turned smug by the end of the sentence, and she watched in triumph as the older boy curled his hands into fists and clenched his jaw. He let out a deep breath before muttering, "Fine. But you're coming with me."

He turned suddenly, marching through the crowd and Raine started after him with a puzzled expression. The atmosphere was thick and uneasy; every teen struggling to find motivation after everything they had been through.

Bellamy exited the dropship, Raine following closely behind as he weaved in and out of the tents. She spotted Clarke and Finn leaving camp with a younger looking boy, his mouth moving faster than the speed of sound as he rambled on about something. Clarke was watching the boy with a pained smile and Finn looked like he was ready to gouge his eyes out.

Bellamy stopped suddenly, ducking into a tent and disappearing. Raine followed him, her eyes landing on Raven and her lips turned down in a frown. She couldn't help it; she didn't like the girl. Raven just rubbed her the wrong way. The aforementioned girl looked like she was about to cry as she stuffed random objects into a small bag, and Raine watched with growing interest.

"I need more ammo." Bellamy demanded, and the girl handed him three bullets without stopping. "That's it?"

"Yes, that's it until Jasper gets back so get out of my tent." Raven snapped.

"By the looks of things, this tent won't be yours for much longer." Raine commented, tilting her head slightly and Raven glared at her.

"Where are you going?" Bellamy questioned.

"The hell out of here." Raven muttered bitterly, closing her bag and standing up.

"No way – you're not leaving." Bellamy shook his head.

"Really? And what thinks you can tell me what to do?" Raven snapped, pulling a face at Bellamy. She bent down to reach for a gun, looking at Bellamy with poisonous eyes. "What are you, a janitor?"

"At least he's not a coward."

Raven's eyes latched onto Raines and she let out a low growl at the shorter girl. Raine watched her with an unimpressed expression. "What? It's true. You're little boyfriend leaves and suddenly you have nothing to live for so you run away?"

"Where will you go?" Bellamy questioned, still unbelieving that the girl would actually leave.

"Into the damn woods. Don't worry about it, I'll find some place safe."

Raven went to brush past Bellamy and Raine, but the older Blake reached out and snagged her arm. Raine watched it with narrowed eyes, not quite sure how to feel.

"Just wait." Bellamy spoke slowly. "Don't be an idiot. If you go alone, you're dead. Or worse."

Silence filled the tent and Raine began to wish she had never come with Bellamy. Now, she was forced to watch whatever the hell this was. Raven thought for a moment before looking down at Bellamy's hand wrapped her bicep. She pulled it free, stepping back to jut her chin out defiantly. "What's your plan then? Sit here until you run out of bullets?"

Bellamy glanced down at his gun, before shrugging. "Yeah. Until you come up with something better. Come on, Raven, you came down here in a pod you rebuilt yourself. You made a bomb out of a tin can. What else do you have in that head of yours?"

Raine didn't know why, but a lump had formed in her throat and her eyes burned. She was gripped her gun tightly in her hands as she slipped out of the tent silently. Her expression was silent fury as she scowled at her feet. The feeling could only be described as jealousy... but why the hell would she be jealous? There was nothing to be jealous of.

Was there?

The tent flap behind her was pulled back suddenly, Bellamy exiting, and he looked at Raine with a small smile on his face. That smile melted away however when he took in her bitter expression and tight stance.

"What's wrong?" he asked, reaching out to touch her shoulder but she moved away. A frown covered his features, clueless as to why she was upset.

"Nothing. I think I'm just gonna stay here. My wrist hurts."

Her tone was flat and empty, and Bellamy knew she was lying but he didn't say anything. She didn't meet his glance as she trudged away, her shoulders slightly slumped.

•••

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Raine looked up, startled, but relaxed when she saw Octavia watching her with a puzzled expression.

"My wrist hurt, so I stayed back." Raine lied, her tongue feeling too big for her mouth. She was sitting crossed legged on the second floor of the dropship, using her knife to make small carvings in the floor.

Octavia rolled her eyes as she sat down beside her. "Bullshit. Don't tell Bellamy I said that."

At his name, Raine stopped carving in the floor. Octavia noticed how her friend tensed up, her fingers locking around the knife until her knuckles turned white. Octavia raised an eyebrow, asking slowly, "Does your wrist actually hurt? Or are you avoiding my brother?"

"What gives you that idea?" Raine asked quickly, avoiding Octavia's eye contact.

"Did something happen between you two? You can tell me anything, Raine." Octavia said earnestly, and Raine fully believed her.

"No... well, I'm not too sure, O. Bellamy had to go and get more ammo so we went into Raven's tent and saw her packing. Bellamy convinced her not to go... but it was just what he said, and the way he said it. I felt like I was invisible, like I was third wheeling or something." Raine mumbled, lifting her hand to rest it under her cheek.

Octavia watched the girl with a sad expression. "You think him... and Raven?" When Raine nodded slowly, a heartbroken expression on her face, Octavia shook her head firmly. "No, no way. You are all he talks about, there is no way he likes Raven."

Raine's eyes unexpectedly filled with tears, and the girl wiped them away in shame. Surprise flooded Octavia; here Raine was, in tears because she thought Bellamy liked Raven? Realisation set in and a small gasp fell from Octavia's mouth. Suddenly, it all fit together like a puzzle. Gingerly, she placed a hand on Raine's knee, leaning forward as she whispered, "Raine, do you... do you love Bellamy?"

Raine met her eyes and that was all it took for Octavia to know the answer. Octavia let out a small sigh and reached for Raine, gathering her in her arms and holding her tightly.

"He loves you too, you know."

Octavia's soft words shocked Raine, and she pulled back to look at the younger girl in shock. "He – what? He does? How do you know?"

Octavia let out a small laugh, "No offense, Raine, but you're kind of blind. Everyone can see it but you. The way he talks about you, the way he looks at you." She paused for a moment, picking a loose thread on her pants. "Bellamy has a unique way of expressing his love. He might come across as bossy and controlling, but that's his way of making sure you're safe and protected. You don't know this, but he hates leaving you alone – especially now that Murphy's back."

Raine watched as Octavia's nimble fingers picked at the thread on her pants. Suddenly, her hand stopped and reached out to grab Raine's chin. Raine's face was lifted upwards and Octavia was staring at her expectantly. "Well, what are you still doing here? I know he got back a few minutes ago. He should be in his tent."

"Oh – oh!" Raine gasped, scrambling to her feet. Her knife skittered across the floor, but Raine didn't notice it as she rushed towards the ladder. "Okay! Okay! Thank you!"

Octavia laughed loudly, waving a hand dismissively. "Go get him!"

A wide grin was on Raine's face as she clambered down the ladder, dodging people and heading straight towards Bellamy's tent. This was it. This was happening. Right now.

Raine was going to tell Bellamy she loved him.

Raine reach Bellamy's tent in record time. Her heart was beating loudly, her hands shaking and she let out a shaky breath. Why was she so nervous? She was only telling Bellamy that she loved him –

Oh. Right.

"Stop being a baby." She whispered to herself, trying to psyche herself up. She shook her hands by her sides, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Let's do this."

Without another thought, Raine gripped the flap to Bellamy's tent in her hand and flicked it upwards, stepping inside. "Bellamy, I–"

Her eyes landed on the scene in front of her, and her words died in her throat.

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