𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 · 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 ²

𝟐.𝟐𝟒

────「HEAL; EVOLVE」────

     I took Sam back inside the camp and straight to the medical center where Abby was already taking care of Raven's leg with the help of Jackson. It still amazed me how high Sam's pain tolerance was, looking at her bloody thigh as Jackson pointed me to one of the empty beds, saying they'd finish with Raven and would get to Sam as soon as they could. Jackson took a moment to look over Sam's wound, saying he was glad she was back in one piece. I had to agree.

- "I'm glad to see you too. Maybe next time it should be without me getting some part of my body fixed." –she chuckled as Jackson nodded smiling before getting back to Raven.

- "You wouldn't be here if you had stayed out of the drilling zone." –I pointed out, sitting next to her on the bed.

- "Yeah, and then Abby would be in my place and we wouldn't have an experienced doctor around here. You and your great plans."

- "I told you not to risk your life."

- "I don't remember promising I wouldn't." –she smiled up at me with an innocent look on her eyes- "Plus I technically didn't."

- "Then what was that back at the mountain and how did you get this?" –I raised an eyebrow glancing at her bloody leg.

- "A minor misunderstanding, obviously."

She laughed and, even if I tried to fight my own laughter back, I finally gave in and laughed with her, caressing her cheek, joking and teasing her, saying I had no clue what I was going to do with her.

- "Well, figure it out because you aren't getting rid of me that easily. Not now, anyway."

I lowered down and kissed her, feeling the smile on her lips melting against my own. My heart felt so much lighter around her. I never wanted to feel anything else. I was going in for another kiss when someone cleared their throat next to us, making me sit straight, landing eyes on Abby.

-  "Sorry to interrupt, but it's time to get that leg taken care of."

I nodded and moved from the bed to leave space for her to do her thing, standing on the opposite side of the wounded leg. Abby allowed me to sit on the bed with Sam again, allowing her to rest her head against me as I stroke her face, watching as Abby and Jackson fixed up her leg. We've been here way too many times already.

- "You need blood?"

- "I think this time won't be necessary, the tourniquet you made was pretty efficient, Bellamy."

- "I owe you another life, would you look at that?"

- "You came in for me, it's the least I could do."

I smiled down at Sam, realizing she had her eyes closed, so I simply took her hand in mine and caressed it with my thumb. I allowed my eyes to take her in, hoping we'd never see ourselves in a situation like that ever again and that, if we did, it'd be me the one on the table. After a couple more minutes, Sam's leg had a rather peculiar-looking new scar on it.

- "No heavy exercise at least for the next two weeks, Sam." –Abby instructed her- "And this time you're going to take it seriously."

- "I guess that means that introductory lesson will have to wait, Blake." –Sam chuckled opening her eyes and glancing at me with an eyebrow raised and a mischievous smirk on her lips as I felt the heat rushing to my face.

- "What introductory lesson?" –Abby questioned, crossing her arms over her chest looking up at me before facing Sam again.

- "Bellamy was going to teach me how to fight properly."

- "I'm sure you already know how to defend yourself, Samantha. I've seen it."

- "Yeah, I'm decent when I have a weapon on me but I may need to fight without those hand-to-hand, you know? Throw a good punch here and there..."

- "I'd say you're far more than decent." –Abby answered before looking at me- "Go easy on her the first couple of times at least; I don't want to see her again in here anytime soon."

-  "I will."

I nodded at Abby before I turned to Sam, not missing the entertained look in her eyes, smirking at her before Abby made an awkward exit, clearly confused by everything Sam had said. As soon as Abby was far from us, Sam burst out laughing, pointing at me, saying my face had been worth a photograph when she mentioned the introductory lesson.

- "I'd pay good money for you to see your face." –she breathed out in between laughs- "I can't!"

- "Yeah? So, this is how it's going to be?" –I couldn't fight the smile on my lips, seeing how the tears started rolling down her face from laughing way too hard- "I'll give you something to laugh about."

I jumped over her, straddling her hips to make sure she couldn't escape but mainly to ensure her wounded leg would stay still because I knew Sam, and jumping and running would be the first thing she'd attempt to do. She was quick to look at me, raising a questioning eyebrow a second before I moved my hands to her body, a smirk on my face before I started tickling her sides.

- "Bellamy, no! Stop it, I can't!" –she tried to catch my hands to get rid of me- "Ugh, Bellamy, please!" –she yelled in between laughs- "Bellamy!"

- "Yeah?" -I slowed my torture just enough for her to catch her breath- "Please, what?"

- "Move!" -she tried to push me from the bed but I had the upper hand, torturing her a bit more as she laughed- "Okay, okay, fine! You win, I'm sorry! Please, stop this torture! Bellamy!"

- "That's what I like to hear." –I placed one hand next to her face on the pillow as I wiped the tears from her cheek.

- "What exactly?" –she smiled catching my hand in hers, a teasing smile on her lips- "Me letting you win?"

- "I'm pretty sure I won on my own merits."

- "How is that fair if I can't move? You trapped me under you so you'd have an advantage."

- "I'll let you try again once your leg is fully healed." –I kissed her forehead- "But I meant my name on your lips."

- "Ugh, shut up." –she laughed covering her face with her arms.

- "You win." –I rose from over her and laid beside her on my side, kissing her arm- "This time."

- "Stop being so charming, Blake."

- "That's new."

- "Please..." –she moved her arms away from her face and turned her face to look at me- "Wait, no. You do have a point." –she grinned, eyeing me up and down- "Your charm is definitely not what draws people to you if you know what I mean."

- "You're going to have to control yourself for the next couple of weeks, Sam," -I chuckled- "I know it'll be difficult being around me and I'm so sorry for you."

- "I've controlled myself for over 18 years, I think I can handle myself just fine, thanks. But you..."  –she raised her eyebrow at me- "Oh, love, I'm not so sure."

- "I'll wait for you." –I moved my hand to her cheek- "I only want to be with you."

- "I'm really glad to hear that."

- "Did you doubt it?"

- "Well, you've behaved yourself pretty nicely since we got here the first time." –she chuckled lightly- "And it's not like I doubt you, it's just... I don't know, you've been with other people before and I can't help but wonder if I can live up to that..."

- "Hey." –I cut her off placing a finger over her lips- "Sam, just because I've had sex many times before and you haven't, doesn't mean I don't want to be with you like that. Trust me, I do." –she chuckled- "Sure, the first time will probably not be that great and you may feel awkward but I promise I'll take care of you." –I kissed her neck- "And from then, we can move on and figure out what you like and what you're comfortable with and most definitely what we both enjoy."

- "I'm starting to think running after Emerson may not have been my brightest idea after all." –she smiled and moved closer to me before kissing my jaw- "I love you."

- "I love you too." –I kissed the tip of her nose as I felt my heart racing- "But now that I think about it, Abby said no heavy exercise, she didn't say anything about light one..." –she looked up at me with a questioning look- "You're just really hard to resist, especially now that we've cleared how we feel about each other."

- "Are you implying you've had to control yourself around me before?" –she chuckled lightly, amused.

- "Yeah, a little." –I confessed looking at her- "I didn't want to fuck things up with you. I mean, I can't deny I've found you attractive since we landed and I knew you liked me too, at least my body because you wouldn't keep your eyes off me.

- "Seriously?" –she raised her eyebrows- "You were walking around camp showcasing your body for the whole world to see. Last time I checked, you didn't seem to mind my eyes on you, and checking out makes no harm now, does it?"

- "I liked how you'd check me out shamelessly, you wouldn't hide what you were doing. Always so blunt."

- "Bellamy, everyone on camp checked you out 24/7. Are you not aware of how stupidly attractive you are?"

- "Not like you, Sam; I liked having your attention on me." –I licked my lips as she rolled her eyes before smiling at me- "But I knew what we had, or were beginning to have, was much more than physical... I never wanted to just have sex with you and then move on to someone else; I wanted to make sure you knew you were, and are, important to me. You could never be a one night stand."

- "Why are you telling me this now?"

- "Because I want to make sure you know how I truly feel and, hopefully, that'd clear away any fears you may have regarding having sex with me. I want you to know that you don't have to rush into it for me, I'd wait for you for another 18 years if necessary; I want to make sure you know I want you for more than just your body. I mean, I enjoy sex as much as the next person but the only one I want to do it with is you. It's been like that for a while now."

- "Are you trying to make me cry? Because if so, you're going in the right direction."

- "Sam, I want all of you."

- "I know you don't want me just for my body; if that were the case, you'd have left a long time ago seeing I had no intentions of being a one night stand." –she smiled, pulling me towards her until I was lying over her, keeping my weight up from her with the help of my elbows- "I'm in love with you, Bellamy, and I know the bond we've built is based on mutual trust and respect, so I know you'd never use me or lie to me."

- "I'm so in love with you."

I leaned down to kiss her as her hands found their way to my hair and the back of my neck, pulling me closer and simply pecking my lips until I gave in, lowering my head and kissing her slow, enjoying everything about being with the girl I loved. I rested my forehead on hers as I moved back to breathe, sighing happily against her lips as she played with my hair.

- "So, you were saying something about light exercise." –she grinned playfully at me as I moved my head back to look at her- "What did you have in mind?"

I chuckled before moving my hand to her face, tracing her cheekbone to her jawline to her lips that parted slightly as I outlined them.

- "You don't know how long I've been waiting to do this."

- "I think I may have an idea of my own." -She smiled before moving her head up to catch my lips.

- "Get a room, you two!"

I could have fallen on the floor if it weren't for how I was lying over Sam, pulling back from her as we both turned our heads in the direction of the voice that interrupted us, watching Raven resting on her elbows with a pleased smile on her face. I had completely forgotten where we were.

- "Have you been listening all this time and only now decide to interfere?" –Sam chuckled as I moved back onto the bed, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

- "I was passed out and woke up like 2 minutes ago and couldn't help but listen a little before it started getting heated. It took you two both some damn time. I'm happy for you, Sam."

- "How's your leg?"

- "I'll survive. I have to thank you again."

- "Why? You got drilled because I didn't set you free on time."

- "Sam, it's a miracle you made it that far without being noticed, let alone getting rid of all those guards and surviving to tell the tale. If it weren't for you, I'm sure they'd have drilled me for longer and I'd be probably dead."

- "A miracle? More like an incredible set of abilities, a great mind, and a stubborn ass." –Sam chuckled and Raven scoffed- "You're alive because you're a fighter, Raven. You're most definitely the strongest person in this camp, so thank yourself."

- "Don't be ridiculous, have you seen yourself?"

- "Actually no, it's been a while since I've seen my own face. I hope I'm looking fabulous."

- "You're covered in blood and black paint and sweat and tears." –I stated from beside her.

- "So, the usual."

- "You are beautiful, Sam."

- "Now you're just saying that because you wanna get laid."

- "Seriously, get a room." –Raven laughed, throwing us a pillow that I caught before it hit us- "I can't handle the sexual tension between you two."

- "Fine with me."

I rose from Sam's bed and walked up to the other side as she looked confused at me. I placed an arm underneath her knees and the other under her shoulders and picked her up as she moved her arms to hold onto my neck and vest.

- "Get me to Raven first, please."

Sam grabbed the pillow Raven had thrown at us and then I walked toward Raven's bed, putting Sam on it who wasted not a second to hit Raven with it as the latter complained and laughed with her.

- "I'm so glad you're okay." -Sam moved to hug Raven, who moved an arm around Sam for she kept her weight up from the bed with the other- "I don't know what I'd have done if you..."

- "I'm glad you're okay, Sam." -Raven pulled back, they were looking at each other with so much love in their eyes, I almost felt like an intruder- "Should we talk about this?"

- "Define, this."

- "Me and you both." -Raven answered Sam, glancing at me for just a second before focusing on Sam- "Bellamy and me."

- "We've both been with you." -Sam chuckled- "Lucky you."

- "Ew, Sam, gross!" -Raven gently shoved Sam back as she laughed- "I'm glad this isn't awkward."

- "Just don't go sleep with my..." -Sam glanced at me- "whatever Bellamy is to me now." -she cleared her throat- "And no seconds from me, I'm sorry."

- "I think I'll survive."

- "Good, because I want to grow old with your smartass."

- "You've got yourself a deal, Besnik." -Raven pulled Sam to her again and kissed her forehead before looking at me- "If you hurt her, I'll kill you."

- "Oh, no," –Sam was quick to answer as I picked her up- "if he hurts me, I'll kill him myself."

- "So much love in the air," -I scoffed, tightening my grip on Sam and moving away- "and I'm getting the opposite end."

-    "I know you never would."

-    "Good."

I smiled kissing her forehead, screaming a final goodbye to Raven, Sam promising to meet her for breakfast before we made our way out the door. I knew Sam and Raven had history and I was glad to know Sam would always have someone there for her aside from me or my sister. I couldn't help but wonder how much different things could have been if the events hadn't unraveled as they did but I was glad this was where they led us: to me carrying Sam back to our room knowing we were right for each other. Knowing she was the one for me as much as I was that for her. And I hope it would last for a long, happy life together.

As I got to our room, I left Sam on the floor in the bathroom as she told me she desperately wanted to wash her face, so I left her there, moving back to sit on the bed, simply staring at her from afar. She had thrown her jacket on the bed next to me and was wearing a black tank top and her ripped pants, both allowing me to see most of the scars on her body: the scar on her left thigh from the day we went to look for O and Lincoln stabbed her; the scar on her right shoulder from the day she jumped inside the dropship when Murphy held us hostage; the scar on her neck and her outer left thigh from the day we fought the Grounders; the scar on her right triceps made by Lexa the day we got our truce; a couple of more recent scars I couldn't recognize; and, finally, the new scar on her right thigh from the drilling in the Mountain alongside the bruises in her wrists and neck from the belts that tied her to the table. I was pretty sure out of the 100, she had the highest wound count yet she stood tall and ready to get a thousand more if necessary.

I allowed my thoughts to wander and quickly found myself thinking of the times she slept with me and we started talking about our lives back in the Ark, which got me thinking how I'd have never met her if she hadn't been sent to the ground and I hadn't sneaked inside the dropship.

- "Quit staring at me like that, Blake. It's creepy."

Sam's light-hearted voice brought me back to the present. She was leaning back on the sink, arms crossed over her chest, and a playful smile on her now clean face, which allowed me to see a new scar on her cheek.

- "What were you thinking about? You were lost deep in thought."

- "I was just mentally thanking myself for sneaking into the dropship."

-  Really?" –she raised an eyebrow playfully at me- "Care to explain how landing on Earth with 97 teenagers and your sister is good news at all?"

- "If I recall correctly, you were already 18," -I smiled, standing up and walking up to her- "so that'd make it 96 teenagers, my sister, and an adult."

- "You said I was just an 'older kid'..." –she air-quoted my words- "...when we were at the river and I learned you're 3 years older than me."

- "2 and a half, but sure." –I smiled resting my hands on her hips- "I was just thinking how we'd have never met if we hadn't come down here."

- "I think I can say without a trace of regret I'm certainly glad we ended up here." –she grinned resting her hands on my chest- "I don't know how my life would have turned out if the lack of air hadn't been an issue on the Ark and, quite honestly, I don't wanna find out because I'm sure that'd mean you wouldn't be in it and that's something I can't even begin to process."

- "You'd have much fewer scars." –I moved my thumb over a scar on her right forearm.

- "I'd happily take a thousand more if that means you'll stay with me."

I locked my eyes with hers as she spoke, feeling my heart racing and the blood burning in my veins; her eyes were clear and full of love and I couldn't help but wish we could stay like that forever.

- "I love you." –I spoke ghosting my lips over hers, closing my eyes.

- "What a coincidence." –I felt her lips turn up into a smile against mine- "I love you too."

I chuckled lightly before kissing her, allowing our lips to showcase our feelings for each other without the need to speak. Her lips felt soft and wet from the remains of water still attached to them, her hands on the back of my neck, playing with my hair and I couldn't help but grunt in approval as my hands landed on the back of her thighs, pulling her up against me as she wrapped her legs around my waist. She broke the kiss to breathe and I had to raise my head a little to meet her eyes since she was standing taller than me. I love you. She quickly pulled me in again for a heated kiss as if she had read my mind.

I moved us both to the bed, laying her on it before jumping over her and attaching my lips to hers once more, slowly moving down to kiss her jaw and her neck, carefully not to hurt her, before kissing her collarbone and shoulder as she let out a small moan of delight. I moved from her left shoulder to her right one slowly leaving wet kisses on her skin before going back to her lips, licking her lower one, asking for permission which was quickly granted as she parted her mouth allowing me to deepen the kiss and explore her mouth with my tongue for the first time while her hands were all over my back and hair, pulling lightly and stealing a light moan from me when I felt her chuckle against my mouth.

- "Why are you laughing now?" -I didn't fight the amusement in my voice, looking at her as she opened her eyes.

- "I'm sorry for laughing, I just... I didn't expect to... you know... so soon... or at all honestly." –she mumbled, eyes everywhere but on mine.

- "Make me moan?" –she nodded embarrassed- "Oh, Sam, you have truly no idea how you make me feel, have you?"

- "I hope at least half as frustrated as I am right now." -she focused on me again- "Else, this isn't fair."

- "Trust me when I tell you I'm using all my will-power not to keep kissing you and going further south."

- "That makes me feel much better, thank you." –she smiled softly, kissing my arm.

- "You need to stop being so tempting."

- "Me? Tempting?" –Sam scoffed playfully- "Go check yourself in the mirror, and then we can speak of what 'temptation' actually means."

I laughed letting my head fall into the crock of her neck, slowly closing my eyes as she wrapped her arms around me and started playing with my hair; I allowed myself to lay over her, in between her legs, still keeping some of my weight with my elbows. We stayed like that for who knows how long, in peaceful silence until I let go, lying completely over her, simply enjoying each other's company. I moved my head to face her neck and I planted a light kiss there over the bruises as Sam caressed my upper arm, drawing lines distractedly on it with her fingers while her other hand played with my hair. I'd never felt such happiness and peace in my life. Our private bubble of joy and bliss was disrupted by a couple of knocks on our door and I grunted in annoyance as Sam chuckled softly.

- "Let's pretend we are asleep."

- "Bellamy, I heard you! I know you aren't sleeping so open the door!"

- "It's open, O!"

I hid my face in Sam's neck again as she laughed, mentally cursing my beloved sister for ruining the moment as I heard the door opening and a couple of footsteps following.

- "Did I interrupt something?"

- "Actually, yes." –I quickly answered looking up at her and lying on my side next to Sam.

- "Excuse me but you are still fully clothed so I can't have interrupted much." –Octavia scoffed before sitting on the bed and looking at Sam- "How's your leg?"

- "It's fine, really. Abby and Jackson did a great job, right before telling me I can't do any heavy exercise for at least the next couple of weeks which means no training for me."

- "Now I get why Bellamy is so moody." –Octavia laughed as Sam's eyes widened for just a second.

- "O, I love you, but I'm not going to discuss my sex life with you; it'd be rather weird if you ask me."

- "It is." –Octavia agreed- "But I hope you'll be better before the two-week mark, we have things to do."

- "We do?"

- "Yeah, you need to keep training with Sheda and Ion, remember?"

- "I'm not sure that's still an option since I deliberately ignored Lexa's orders last night. I'm pretty sure I've been cast out like Lincoln." –she sat up- "Which reminds me I can't do much either way since I gave Sheda my bow and my blades are stuck on the guards at the Mountain."

- "You have Oreth's blade."

- "I liked my bow."

- "Since when are you so childish?" -Octavia started laughing, gaining a gentle shove from Sam.

- "Since it's the bow your boyfriend made for me." –Sam retorted quickly, mocking her as Octavia rolled her eyes- "I'd like to keep it."

- "He'll make you another one."

- "You have an answer for everything nowadays, don't you?"

- "I learned from the best." –Octavia winked at Sam and she laughed- "What happened to your silver tongue?"

- "She's taking a break."

A knock on the door made us three turn our head towards the entrance of the room only to see Lincoln resting his weight on the door's frame, observing us.

- "I'm sure Sheda will give it back once he learns you're alright; after all, he was worried you'd die because he let you inside the Mountain alone."

- "He has a long way to go." –Octavia smiled rising from the bed and moving towards Lincoln- "He has to learn Sam hardly ever listens to any of us three let alone anyone else."

- "Rude." –Sam chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest.

- "But true."

- "Still." –she smiled at me as I sat up next to her.

- "I just came by to let you know that dinner's ready." –Lincoln spoke again before looking at Octavia- "And to look for you."

- "You found me, let's go." –she turned to look at us- "You coming?"

- "Save us a seat."

I answered as I stood up from the bed, both leaving us alone again as Sam put on her jacket again, knowing we'd have to figure the clothes situation out soon. I stood in front of her, watching as she stretched her arms before her eyes landed on me.

- "A picture would last you longer, Bell."

- "I'd rather look at you every day, Sam."

- "Ugh, stop it." -she looked down for a moment- "I'm not trying to be able to fry something on my face from all this heat."

- "I can think of a couple of things to do with that heat."

She rolled her eyes playfully at me as she got ready to rise from the bed so I held out both my arms for her to help her up and keep her balance. Once she was standing in front of me, I gave her a quick kiss on the lips before lowering and taking her in my arms as she laughed.

- "You know I can walk, right?"

- "Are you sure?"

- "Yeah. Slow, but I can." –she stroke my cheek- "Put me down, you've already carried my ass around a lot."

- "I promise I'll let you walk tomorrow but today let me enjoy thinking you need me to get on with your life, alright?" –I kissed her forehead.

- "You know I do need you." –she kissed my jaw- "You're stuck with me now."

- "I can't think of a better way to spend the rest of my life."

If you've enjoyed the story and have a little bit more time on your hands, I'd appreciate it endlessly if you could go back and vote for the chapters you haven't. It really does help my story; not only does that lil gesture let me know you've liked the chapter but, it also helps my book gain more exposure, rank higher in the tags, and, overall, lets other readers know it's worth reading.

Ik most people don't know these things, so I decided putting out a lil note on it wouldn't hurt. Plus, as a writer, votes are like a little dose of endorphins alongside your comments!

memorandum. Feb. 2021.

Well, here we stand, end of season 2.

Thank you to everyone who's given this book a chance, an opportunity for Sam to keep going and discover things about herself and get in touch with her feelings.

Thank you for all the comments that never fail to make me laugh or nod in agreement. They make the story just that much better, so thank you for taking the time, even when it's just a small "no❤️" or "boy, bye", I swear they mean everything. And those of you who write me long paragraphs, you deserve the world.

Thank you for voting too; I know sometimes it's easy to forget but they help my story so much, so, again, thank you.

If by any chance, you'd like to keep up with Sam, she has embarked on yet another reckless mission in book 3: THE FITTEST.

I've also created a side book of shorts in which we follow Sam and Bellamy through a couple of their days between books 2 and 3 called AFTER THE MOUNTAIN. Please, don't hesitate to check it out, I promise it won't disappoint.

memorandum. July. 2021.

I don't have the words to thank you guys for the love you've shown this story and for your continuous support.

Thank you so, so much for 50k notes on this book. It makes me so happy and it fills me with such joy seeing you guys enjoy this story.

I have to thank you all for giving Sam a chance to keep on growing and for her and Bellamy's relationship to keep evolving. I know many of you were eager for them to get together but there were things they had to figure out first on their own. And there is so much more to their story; I can promise you all that.

See you soon.

memorandum. August. 2021.

You guys, I can't believe we've reached 2k votes. I am so incredibly grateful for every single one of you beautiful humans who take the time to hit the little star. Y'all awesome!