Strings of Fate

79- Drunk and daring I shrug. | don’t really want to go home, I'm tired but having fun.

“I don’t wanna leave. | wanna stay here.” | whine. Megan elbowsin the ribs.

“Stay then, | bet Bellamy wouldn't mind.” She waggles her eyebrows atsuggestively and we both devolve into giggles again. | haven't seen Bellamy all evening except. Oh shoot! | was meant to check in and | didn’t. Did 17 1 don’t think | did. Oops, | better do that before he gets too worried.

“I need to talk to Bellamy!” | declare as | struggle to get up off the floor. Megan's clothes are extra slippery or something because it takes a couple attempts to get to my feet. Megan makes it up first and pullsto my feet.

| stumble into her and we both fall onto her bed.

“My brother's probably in his room.” Megan informs me. | nod.

“I need to talk to him.” | insist. Megan stays lying on her bed where she is and nods at me, her eyes closed. | make my way across Megan's room doing my best not to trip over anything on the floor which is now messy with clothes scattered everywhere. | step into the hallway and close the door. It’s super quiet out here without the music and my head feels like it's echoing. Can | hear my own heartbeat? That's weird. | cross the hall to Bellamy’s door and knock loudly.

“Bellamy! Beeeeellllammmyy. | need to talk to you! Bellammy!!!” | knock again and his door swings open.

Bellamy looks half asleep and completely bewildered.

“Ryann? Are you okay?” He asks. | nod and stare at him. What was | here for? Oh, | needed to check in with him and tell him about that letter.

“I wanted t‘ talk to you.” | repeat. Bellamy gripsby my shoulders and raises an eyebrow.

“Are you drunk?” He asks. | stare at him and think about it. Am | drunk? Maybe.

“Not sure. Maybe? | need to talk to you.” | insist. Bellamy givesa smile and leadsinto his room. It's dimly lit by a lamp by his bed. | stumble and he catches me. My hands land 79- Drunk and daring and across his chest which is when | realise he’s shirtless. Damn is he hot. | find myself running my hands all over his chest. He’s so warm and | can’t stop touching him. Bellamy groans catches my hands, | frown and pull them free then lean into Bellamy. He's too tall forto reach without him bending down but | reach around his neck and do my best to tug him down. He comes willingly and | pull him into a kiss. I'm very enthusiastic right now and he feels so good. | hold him tight with a hand in his hair, my other hand stroking the back of his neck and shoulders.

He suddenly pulls back.

“We need to stop. You're drunk.” he says, his voice rough. Well that’s stupid. | don’t want to stop. I’m enjoying myself and for once | don’t feel shy. I try to kiss him again but he doesn’t cooperate and lean down. | kiss his neck instead and | feel a shudder run through him. He grabsby the shoulders and holdsat arms length.

“Ry, sweetheart, you need to stop. You'll regret it tomorrow.” he says. | shake my head.

“No. | want to stay with you.” | complain. Bellamy runs a hand over my arm soothingly.

“You can stay withif you want. But as much as I'm enjoying your enthusiasm, we just can’t do this right now.” He tells me. | pout and he chuckles. | sigh and all the resistance leaves my body.

“Fine. But | wanna stay here.” | insist. He nods.

“That's fine. You should get ssleep. Have swater too.” he insists. Bellamy handsa glass of water he had on the table by his bed. I spill a little but drink cooperatively. | don’t want him to change his mind and sendaway. He takes the empty glass from me.

“Con darling. You need rest. You'll probably feel like hell in the morning.” | nod and move towards his bed then freeze. This is Megan's dress. | can’t sleep in Megan's dress, that would be rude. | strip it off and lay it carefully on the end of the bed. I look for Bellamy, his back is toas he fusses with the blankets. He turns toand freezes, his jaw goes slack.

“Ry...” he trails off. | sit on the bed and pat the space next to me. He hesitantly sits beside me, a good distance away. | don’t like that. Why is he staying so far away? “Why are you over there? | want you with me.” | complain. | get to my feet and position. myself on his lap, a bit like I did the other day but this t| straddle him with one leg over 79. Drunk and daring each side of his thighs.

“Ryann, what are you doing?” He sounds a little alarmed.

| place a hand on his chest as | get distracted by the red thread between us. It's so bright. Such a pretty colour.

Bellamy leans back away froma little and | watch as the thread gets longer. That's so weird. | wonder if it gets longer or does it stretch? | mean it’s not really real. But | imagine it stretching like elastic. Giggling, | use my hands to push on Bellamy’s chest forcing him to lay back, watching the string get longer. | reach for it, | know | can’t touch them but it looks so solid. My hand waves through it a few times. | lose my balance and fall forward onto Bellamy’s chest. He's comfortable. | don’t want to let go. Bellamy suddenly wraps his arms aroundand | cuddle in happily. In one quick motion he rolls us around so that we're in the bed properly against the pillows. | groan as my head spins and for a moment 1 feel sick.

“You alright?” Bellamy asks as he leans back a little, now lying besiderather than under me. He is staring in my eyes and the sick feeling fades away.

“M” fine.” | tell him quietly.

“Good.” He responds, pulling the blanket over us. | sigh and snuggle in closer to him, practically glueing myself to his side. He flicks off the light and we lie silently for a while, his arms wrapped loosely around me. In the dark | can’t see our thread but | know it’s there, probably so short it’s nearly invisible with us so close. | place a hand over Bellamy’s heart where | know the thread is.

“I like our thread.” | comment sleepily.

“Yeah, why’s what?” Bellamy asks, his voice soft. | run my hand over his chest before answering.

“It means you're just mine. | like that.” | tell him. He sighs deeply and pullscloser into his chest. | feel him press a kiss into my hair.

“I like it too.”