Why I Won't Forget You

Assignment

Lexa's POV

I was scrolling through my phone when I got the notification—a message from Clarke. I hesitated for a moment before opening it. The attached file was our biology assignment. The text below read, "I did this by myself," in Clarke's unapologetically blunt style. My stomach dropped. We had worked on it together in my room, but she'd submitted it under her own name. Of course, that meant I was automatically bound to get full marks along with her. And as far as I knew, it was perfect.

Immediately, I fired up the group chat.

Lexa: "FYI, everyone, Clarke sent me our bio assignment. She claims she did it all by herself, so naturally I'm getting full marks too. 😉"

Almost instantly, the chat exploded.

Murphy: "Oh, so that's why Clarke hasn't shown up at school? If you weren't around to keep her in check, she'd vanish, huh, Lexa?"

Raven: "Lexa, what the hell? That sounds like a setup."

Octavia: "Maybe she's mad because you submitted it without her help? That's cold."

I frowned, feeling the sting of Murphy's words like a physical blow. I wasn't trying to make a statement, I was just sharing the update. I knew Clarke's been missing, but I'd hoped our assignment wouldn't be the spark that set everything off.

I typed quickly, trying to clarify.

Lexa: "Wait, wait—back up. I didn't submit it. She sent it, and I just got a copy. It's not like I went rogue. We worked on it together. I guess she just felt like showing off her independence."

There was a brief pause before Murphy replied again, more sharply.

Murphy: "Girl, if Clarke's acting out and skipping school, you might have a role in it. Maybe if you weren't always in her face, she'd actually show up."

I felt a heat rising in my cheeks. I knew Murphy liked to push buttons, but this one hit a nerve. Clarke had been my friend long before all the group drama. I wasn't trying to steal her thunder—or her presence at school. Yet, somehow, Murphy's teasing implied that my influence was driving her away.

I stared at the chat, biting my lip as I formulated my response.

Lexa: "Murphy, calm down. I'm not responsible for Clarke's choices. If she wants space, that's on her. And if she's skipping school, maybe there's something more going on. Not everything is about me!"

The chat exploded again.

Jasper: "Ouch, Lexa. That's harsh."

Octavia: "She's been off for a while now. Maybe it's not about you at all."

Murphy: "Yeah, yeah. But still, she always seems to follow you around. What's the deal?"

I leaned back against my desk, my heart pounding. The assignment was supposed to be a light moment—a distraction. Instead, it had turned into a battleground for our unresolved tensions. I couldn't help but think about Clarke—why she'd suddenly claim she did everything by herself. Was it pride? A cry for attention? Or was she trying to prove something to herself, away from all the expectations of our usual crew?

My mind spun with questions as I stared at the screen, the messages a mix of concern and playful jabs. I didn't know how to explain things to Murphy and the rest; all I knew was that Clarke was hurting, and if my actions had something to do with it, that wasn't my intention at all.

I decided to send one final message.

Lexa: "Look, everyone—I'm not here to control anyone. Clarke's decisions are hers alone. I miss her, and I hope she comes back soon. In the meantime, let's keep this group chat positive. I promise, I'm not trying to push her away."

There was silence for a moment before Raven chimed in.

Raven: "I hope so too, Lex. Clarke is one of a kind, and we need her."

Octavia: "Agreed."

I put my phone down, my heart heavy. I knew Clarke was out there, somewhere, wrapped up in her own world of pain and rebellion. I hoped that by sharing our work, I hadn't crossed a line. The idea of having my copy of the assignment associated with her disappearance made me feel like I was partly to blame, even if it wasn't true.

Later that evening, the group gradually signed off, their chatter dying down. I sat in my room, staring at the closed chat, feeling both frustrated and helpless. I wished I could reach out to Clarke, pull her back into the circle, let her know she wasn't alone. But every time I thought about calling her, I hesitated. The tension in our group, the teasing from Murphy—it all made me worry that any attempt to connect would push her further away.

I sighed deeply and closed my laptop, forcing myself to focus on something else. The night grew quiet, and eventually, I drifted off to sleep with a heavy heart, still hoping that tomorrow would bring answers.

The next morning, as I was getting ready for school, my phone buzzed again with frantic messages. I frowned and turned it on—new messages that, by now, felt like a jolt of electricity straight to my already strained nerves. But I took a deep breath, determined to start the day without letting our chat ruin it.

I headed out the door, the events of the past few days weighing on my mind, but I knew I had to focus on the day ahead. I was going to school, I was going to work on that project, and I was going to be there for my friends—even if Clarke wasn't. I promised myself that I would find her if she didn't come back, that I'd make sure she knew she was missed.

And as I walked into class, I couldn't shake the echo of those messages—a reminder that sometimes, the choices we make have a ripple effect. And sometimes, even when you think you're doing the right thing, things just don't add up.

But one thing was certain: I wasn't going to let this tear us apart. Not while I still believed in Clarke, or in the idea that we were stronger together than apart.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸