Five Months before the 127th annual reaping
-Sonnet Timmons, District 8-
There was something calming about watching the snow fall outside her window. She tapped her pencil against her notebook as she watched it. It was the perfect picture outside, the snow was sparkling on the ground, fat snowflakes drifting lazily to the ground and kissing the surface.
If only she could come up with anything as poetic as that quip was. Not that she wanted to write about kissing. Usually, Sonnet wrote about the opposite. There were too many songs about kissing already. The world needed to hear something different. That was what she wanted.
Well, okay, maybe not too crazy different. After all, Sonnet already had the chords figured out. The same four chords that were heard in almost every popular song of the day. Maybe it was cheesy, but there was something amazing about the way that just four chords could mean such different things. They could be happy, passionate, or sad, angry, but at the bones, stripping away the words, the emotional value, the very heart, and they were the same four chords. There was just something about I, V, iv, VI. Sonnet wasn't trying to fix what wasn't broken.
She lazily plucked the chords on her violin string. B major, F# major, G# minor, E major, and back to B major. She wanted to come up with something that would make this skeleton of chords speak to the hearts of people just like her. People that needed to hear themselves in pop culture.
Sonnet picked up her pencil and scribbled something down.
Tissue Paper
Perhaps a song about how people like her, those who were sex repulsed, were seen as tissue paper. Tissue paper that is destroyed by one touch, weak and flimsy... And have a message at the end about how they're more than just tissue paper, they were the gift.
Sonnet squinted at the idea, trying to imagine the song on stage. Ugh. It was a dumb idea. Sonnet ripped off that part of the paper and tossed it on the ground. It was a stupid thought. Back to the beginning. Perhaps... Something about... Um... Sonnet took a deep breath. She couldn't believe she was having such bad writer's block. It wasn't required that she have the song finished for their gig that night, but... It was kind of a big deal. And people were expecting a premiere of something new.
Sonnet took a handful of her brownish red hair in her hands. As if that would put some idea magically into her head. Think, Sonnet. She took a deep breath. Honestly, writing songs was exhausting for her. Maybe for some people it wasn't, but unlike Sonnet, those people didn't dig deep. Sonnet always went into a place inside her heart, her head, her past. Her songs meant something. Sometimes in the music scene, she didn't think it connected all the way within the singers. Sonnet felt every song she wrote in her bones. It touched her heart. In her opinion, it was the only way that her music would ever touch someone else like her.
Sonnet took a deep breath and noticed just then the pile of papers on the floor by the windowsill that looked just like the snow down below. How long had she been at this!? She just couldn't figure out an idea that was good enough to put in front of an audience. Nothing was good enough. None of these ideas were right. Why was she even trying anymore?! There was just nothing good enough. Maybe she knew that she was always so picky with herself, but she couldn't be that happy girl on stage all the time. The truth was that she just couldn't think of anything good enough for the few people that she would optimistically call "fans" because they're regulars at all of her band's shows. It was frustrating that she was failing them all.
And now her eyes were pooling with tears, she was clutching her notebook with both hands. Tears slid down her cheeks and gently hit the pile of papers she'd made. She just wanted to make something nice, but it just wasn't right. Nothing about it was what she wanted.
Get control of yourself, Sonnet told herself, taking a deep breath. She took a shaking breath and flipped back to the first page of her notebook. When she hit rock bottom, she often went back to this.
Affirmations
Sonnet wiped a tear from her eye. Things she needed to hear both back then and today.
You made it this far.
You are valid for who you are.
You are more than your haters.
Sometimes she didn't always believe these things, of course. In fact, usually when she read this list, she didn't tap into the meaning of the words as much as she did the feeling when she was writing this. The feeling of renewal and confidence that she felt on her best of days.
If only I could reach that place again, Sonnet thought, picking up a tear-stained page. She started drawing whatever came to her mind while she was thinking about it. She was trying so hard to be happy, but somehow she was drowning in tears, she was anchored down by something when all she wanted to do was float away...
Suddenly, the chords came back into her mind. She looked at her doodle, which wasn't good by anyone's standards, but... Maybe this was her song! Sonnet quickly flipped to a blank page, humming to herself. She tried to think about how to put that feeling, that analogy of drowning in sorrow into words... She had to stay in that same mindset of course, or else it would lose its meaning. But of course, when she was sad, her mind just had to drift to that places she hated thinking about. You would think that years after, the memories wouldn't hurt anymore. Time heals all wounds, right? She was living with her real family now, not her blood family. She had everything she wanted... She had her bandmate, Hattie, and Defiant Wives. Surely she should be floating already. She was on the other side of it all.
It was hard to heal from it all, though. Unfortunately, being disowned by your parents after fourteen years of living with them left some pretty nasty side effects. Depression, paranoia, all that stuff. Anxiety was a particular flare that came out of it. It was hard to put that feeling into words for all these songs, but the ones that felt it before would immediately connect with it.
Sonnet wrote these things down, but they always made her heart hurt. It made those scenes replay in her head, the ones she hated thinking about most. The feelings of confusion, the weird looks she got after the news broke... All the pain that filled her, all the tears that she cried, like darts that shot straight into her heart. Sonnet took a deep breath. Alone, she was alone at those times. There was nobody there for her. The words flowed out of her pen onto the paper just as the tears freely flowed out of her eyes. Alone.
She took a deep breath and looked at the page. The words just didn't seem to make sense to her. Something wasn't right to her, again. She just didn't think it was good enough. Nothing she could do would be good enough. She wasn't good enough. Sonnet ripped out the page angrily. Another wasted piece of paper.
Before she could crumble it up, the door creaked open. Hattie froze in place, immediately feeling embarrassed.
"Hey." Hattie came into the room the girls now shared. "How's the song going?"
Sonnet could barely talk without the embarrassing wobble in her voice, so she just shrugged miserably. Hattie walked over to the dresser and got a tissue box, which she set next to her friend.
"Can I see?" Hattie asked, as she walked over to her bed and picked up the crocheted blanket she always slept with, putting it around Sonnet's shoulders.
"It's not good," Sonnet said miserably, but handed over the paper. "I think I'm just going to pitch it."
Hattie read over the lyrics. Sonnet pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Finally, Hattie spoke up. "You were going to throw this away!? I think it's really great."
Sonnet rolled her eyes. She wished she could believe that Hattie meant it. Hattie usually told her (nicely) if Sonnet wrote something that wouldn't work well on stage. But right now, Sonnet just couldn't believe that her work was anything better than mediocre.
"I don't know. I don't like it."
"Why don't we table it?" Hattie asked. "You can look at it again tomorrow and see what you think?"
Sonnet tried to smile, for Hattie's sake. "Okay," she said. She wasn't sure she'd like it much the next day, but it was at least worth a try. "I can't write anything good," Sonnet said, sighing. "I really wanted to premiere a song tonight but I've just been so..." She groaned and grabbed her hair again. She didn't want to say the word awful because she knew it would make her start crying again.
"I think you need a break," Hattie said. "It's not worth tearing yourself apart over."
"I'm good at that," Sonnet mumbled bitterly. She wasn't proud of the fact. She wished she could love herself like she pretended to all the time.
"I have something for you!" Hattie said, hurrying to her desk. She came back with a giant piece of paper cut into the shape of a heart.
"What is this?" Sonnet asked, blowing her nose.
"It's Valentine's Day silly," Hattie said. "I wouldn't forget my best friend on Valentine's Day!"
Sonnet felt a smile spread across her face. It was so silly, they were practically sisters. She took the handmade card, with music notes drawn all over it. Of course.
To my fellow Defiant Wife, the card said. Sonnet's smile grew ever so slightly. As much as she didn't want to feel better, this ridiculously extra card was making it hard to stay sad.
I can't believe we've been best friends for six years! The time has gone by so fast. Through thick and thin, I'll always be by your side. You're a strong, beautiful woman who I am honored to call a best friend, and a sister. I hope to always be beside you so I can always be a proud sister when you get famous and do amazing things (and give Upward Voyager a run for their money on the charts!). Love you from the bottom of my heart.
XOXO, Hattie
"You know that defiant wives don't give into the commercial societal convention of Valentine's Day," Sonnet said finally, but she couldn't stop the smile. Honestly, that was what she needed to hear.
"I dunno, I think it's defiant to spend Valentine's Day appreciating your beautiful talented best friends instead of celebrating romance and sex," Hattie said. "Check this out."
She pulled out a container that made Sonnet make a teasing face at her. "Candy hearts? What happened to you!? The fire of rebellion has been distinguished."
Hattie laughed. "Look though." She poured out a few in her hand. The pastel pink heart was decorated with red letters that said, "FUCK LOVE."
Sonnet laughed. "That's perfect." She ate it happily. Together, the girls sat on the chilly windowsill, cuddled in the blanket together, eating candy hearts and talking about how dumb of a holiday this truly was. Why did there have to be a day to celebrate being in love? Sonnet had never been in love before, not truly, nothing more than silly little crushes, but she imagined if she was lucky enough to be in love with someone, she would want to celebrate it every day. She would certainly never take it for granted. They often had conversations like this, but Sonnet couldn't help it. This was where she felt at home. She could be her real self around Hattie, who had seen her at her best and worst times.
The girls drifted into silence. Hattie eventually laid on Sonnet's lap and dozed off (unintentionally). It was there, stroking her dark thick hair, that Sonnet was hit with the inspiration for her next song. After all, Hattie had made her that super extra valentine, so Sonnet decided that she wanted to do the same. The words she wanted to tell her best friend poured out onto the paper, straight from her heart. She realized that she was trying to tap into the wrong emotion before. Now, everything seemed to come together.
When she'd finished the bridge, Sonnet read back over what she had written. This time, when she saw what she saw, she couldn't help but smile. This was what she was waiting all day for. This was what made songwriting worth it for her. She finally wrote something she could connect to. With the sleeping girl on her lap, Sonnet began to hum quietly to put her words to a melody. She couldn't wait to surprise Hattie with it when she woke up.
The second time she read through it, she thought about Eliza. Her biological sister still lived at home with her parents, but Sonnet knew she was going to try and make it to the show tonight. She wanted to fight for Sonnet, but for her own safety, Sonnet told her not to. It wasn't worth all the paranoia that nobody truly cared about her, all of the self-doubt, the constant pressure she put on herself to be a worthy cause for Hattie's mother to provide for... It was just so much. Eliza didn't deserve that. Hopefully she would move out soon. She said she was close to being able to afford it... If only Sonnet was in any position to help her.
Sonnet took a deep breath. She wasn't alone. Not anymore. Even though sometimes she felt that way, she truly wasn't fighting the fight alone. She was glad that Hattie came just in time to help her remember that. Sonnet felt calm as she experimented with different melodic figures to accompany the words. She had a general idea of the rhythm from when she wrote them down, but she liked the freedom to experiment with melody, especially when she could make it intertwine with the words.
Essie knocked on the door gently. "Girls?" she asked, looking in. Hattie's eyes flickered open.
"Shouldn't you start to get dressed? Your show is in two hours, and I think Hattie said you should be going in for a sound check."
"Oh yeah..." Hattie said tiredly, sitting up. "So what will be our closer now?"
Sonnet grinned and waved the piece of paper at her friend. "I got it."
"Oh, great! Can I see?"
"Not yet!" Sonnet said, giving her friend a mysterious grin. "It's a surprise."
Hattie raised an eyebrow. "What are you planning?"
"Don't worry about it. Now come on, let's get dressed! We have to leave in half an hour!" Quickly, the girls got up, and Sonnet began to feel the excitement that came with performing in her heart.
Plus, this was going to be the best premiere yet!
~.~.
Five Months before the 127th annual reaping
-Remus La Rocque, District 2-
Remus felt the power of the day coursing through his veins. There was something about the day of love that gave him energy and power. Perhaps it was his excitement for the events that would happen later that afternoon. Actually, it was probably that. Every time he thought about her gorgeous smile, he couldn't help but push himself harder.
He always laughed when his mother said she would do no good for him. In reality, Valerie was the best thing that ever happened to him. And every time she crossed his mind (all the time), he couldn't help but train harder. He had to come home to her, after all. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to push himself. She'd become his greatest motivation, which was saying something about his priorities.
A target popped up from above the water, and Remus reacted immediately, whipping a throwing star out of his belt and tossing it straight at the dummy. It hit straight in the neck and the dummy fell into the water. Remus swam as fast as he could to the now "dead" body and pulled his star out of the neck. He heard the familiar growling sounds just then and saw the holographic shark mutts emerge from the wall of the pool closest to him. Remus didn't hesitate before diving into the water and swimming. There was something rewarding about swimming. Maybe it was just because he couldn't look bad doing it. After all, the water was cleansing.
Remus swam fast, barely able to see through the water without burning his eyes. Water training was important no matter where you were from, especially for a District so focused on the Games like District 2. Remus was captured by a mutt just then, and his heart started to pump as he was pulled under the water. Like he was trained, he fought the mutt with his throwing star, hitting the robot right in the eyes until it released him. Then, Remus continued swimming. The water burned in his lungs, but he had to move quickly. When he imagined himself in the Arena, with Valerie watching on the television at home in horror, he swam even faster. He could cough up the water when he was on the land, alive. Remus reached the back ledge of the pool, grabbed on and hurriedly pulled himself up. Remus coughed and spluttered, but he knew he'd succeeded.
"Way to go Remus," Uncle Stef said, from his post on top of the trainer's chair. "This was your best showing yet."
Remus grinned proudly, turning around and winking at some of his fellow trainees who were watching. He loved to watch them whisper to each other. Among them were his best friends, Nadia and Ashton. They were both grinning and giving him all kinds of looks. He couldn't hear what the other trainees were saying, but they could, and it seemed like it was good. They were probably talking about how impressive his run was. And hopefully, whispering excitedly about betting on him in the final fight for the top spot. At first the thought of someone like Remus taking the spot was not much more than a joke, but he was about to make it a reality. He would definitely be sure to catch up with them about it later.
Remus grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his shoulders. He winced when his pointer finger caught in one of the strings.
"Damn," he grumbled, examining his finger, "I broke a nail."
His uncle shook his head at the statement, but it was a bummer for real. He'd just filed his nails.
Remus wrung out his hair and watched as Vesperus Floridius took the pool with a bunch of hopeful thirteen-year-olds, which included his little sister Trudy.
He watched as everyone kept looking behind their shoulders at Remus while Vesperus was talking. The Victor was obviously more than a little annoyed, but what was he expecting? He wasn't even the pool trainer, that was Remus's uncle.
Trudy's friend whispered to her and they both looked over at Remus. Trudy gave a proud smile and a wink, which meant Remus had secured another better on his side for the final fight. He felt so pumped he could run a marathon! The harder he worked, the easier it would be for him to get back home to Valerie. He went to shower off the sweat and chlorine of the day.
He washed himself with only the finest-smelling soap. He didn't like to smell like a barbarian, who would!? He preferred to smell like vanilla and lavender. This was his break time, and he had to be at his most dapper. He would go spend the evening with Valerie, and come back later for a more down-low training session with Blossius Barnes, the poisons expert. His secret weapon.
Well, his secondary secret weapon. His first was staring back at him in the mirror. Remus pulled his comb out of his training bag and ran it through his thick, long hair. It always got so tangled when he swam. He spritzed it with some detangling spray as he ran the comb through it delicately. Everything had to be pristine, after all. Only the best for lovely Valerie. He pulled out his personal hairdryer from his bag. He had no idea why they wouldn't provide one for them in the training center, personally. Not even for the girls. It was disgusting.
Remus dried and combed his hair until it was sufficiently soft and smooth to the touch. He spritzed some of the expensive cologne he loved on himself and pulled on the clothes that were neatly hung in his locker. He made sure to check himself out in the mirror. If only some of the barbarians that he trained next to had the common courtesy to not look like zoo animals all the time.
Once everything was pristine to his liking, Remus practically waltzed out the room, thinking of Valerie so much he was practically floating.
Remus smiled at each of the trainees, even though he couldn't stand most of them. He could see the underestimation of his abilities in their eyes.
"Have a good day Remus!" Remus looked up as the girl ran over to him. "You look spiffy. Do you have special Valentine's plans?"
"Yes, I do," he said. "Surely you do as well?"
Arden laughed a little bit. "It certainly wouldn't be strategic to tell you about that."
Remus really didn't mind this girl. She was certainly bold to be so outright about who will be in the 127th Games. And she was one of the few people in the Academy that rarely underestimated him. She would be a worthy District partner. However, that also meant there was no way she could know all his secrets.
"I supposed you're right. You have a good day Arden."
"Thanks." She smiled and went back to the knives station. He saw her glance at him and give one of her knives a kiss before throwing it. He could guess how she was spending her day.
Remus felt good as he walked back home to drop off his grody training bag. It certainly wasn't a very glamorous way to earn his wealth. Honestly, he wished there was any other way, a way that didn't involve him getting grimy and dirty. But this was the only way he was ever going to win the life he so desperately craved.
When Remus entered the house, he could see his mother roll her eyes.
"You're home early," she said, narrowing her eyes at her son.
"I'm spending the evening with Valerie," he informed her.
She sighed. Remus knew she would rather him be at the Academy, training the evening away. She always bitched about Valerie holding him back from the spot. She would continue to do that until he proved her wrong and was buying his ten-story mansion in the Capitol with his bride. Then he would surrounded by his people. Okay, maybe that was just a tad too frivolous. But he was sure he could get her into one of those Capitol art schools once he won. He smiled just thinking about the dream. It was almost going to come to fruition. Less than a year.
"Are you going back this evening at least?" she asked, looking up at him from over her newspaper.
"Of course," he said. "They'll think I'm not ready for the fight, but I'll take it out from under their noses. You know it mother, this rose has thorns."
Mom sighed. She didn't understand why he said it, but she didn't question it anymore. "Just be wise. You wouldn't want to lose your only chance at wealth."
"I won't lose sight of the dream," he said, waltzing up the stairs to his bedroom. He took a second to water the vase of flowers sitting on his desk and walked to his ring-holder. These beauties were something Remus learned not to take to the Academy. It wasn't that he was embarrassed of these beauties, it was that the brutes made a game out of taking them. And though those silly games led him to Valerie back before he could stomach the thought of walking through a mud pit (still not a pleasant thought, but a tolerable one).
Remus picked a beautiful blue sapphire ring to slide on his finger. As he reached for it, his finger bumped the lonely diamond, still in a rock. It wasn't quite ready to be a ring, as it wasn't carved yet. But, of course, it wouldn't be a ring for Remus. He just had to wait until he got home to get it ready.
Remus grabbed the presents he had wrapped the night before and hurried out the door to get to the park first. The sun was setting as he arrived. The park was beautiful, the snow on the ground sparkled and the sidewalks were newly paved and salted.
When Remus saw Valerie, his heart started to pound harder. She always made him feel this way, and the gentle snow falling just made it all the more beautiful. He couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face. He hadn't planned to fall in love until coming home from the Games, but love was a funny thing. It didn't run off of anyone's clock but its own. When Valerie saw Remus, she hurried up, walking quickly but carefully in case of ice.
When he saw her face, Remus had to remember how to breathe. She looked so beautiful. Her smooth cheeks were pushed out because she was smiling so wide. Her black hair looked like the night sky, dotted with snowflakes like stars. Holding her in his arms was all that mattered to him in that moment. She smelled so pleasant, she felt so soft. Remus was constantly reminded how lucky he was to have someone like her in his life.
"Happy Valentine's Day, darling," Remus said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Happy Valentine's Day," she said. Remus used the sleeve of his coat to brush the snow off of a bench, where the both took a seat.
"How were your ASTs?" Remus asked. He knew his girlfriend wanted to go to University, and today was the day of the high-stakes test that could get her into one of them.
"I think they went alright," Valerie said, looking nervous. Remus could tell she was anxious to hear back, but knew she wouldn't for another few months, after the reapings. "I mean, I wouldn't be studying exactly what I want, but it's really important, you know? It's like a first step. I-" she stopped suddenly, and Remus felt concerned.
"Are you alright dear?" he asked, concerned.
"I don't want to waste Valentine's Day talking about my silly worries..." She bit her lip hesitantly.
"Val, they're not silly! I want you to be honest with me about how you feel. You don't have to pretend to be something just because it's a silly day on the calendar."
Valerie looked up at him with those gorgeous eyes that seemed to change color depending on what she was wearing. "I know... But the tests are over, and there's really no use worrying about them anymore." She gave him a smile. He could tell that she wanted to change the subject. If that was what would make her feel better, he would do it. He would do anything to make her feel better.
"You're so gorgeous," he told her. He'd been thinking it ever since he saw her approaching.
That got a smile out of her, even a small laugh. "Stop that."
Remus grinned at her. "You know I will never stop telling you how gorgeous you are." He kissed the top of her snowy head.
Valerie leaned into him. She was so soft and warm, Remus thought he would be content staying there on that ice-cold metal bench forever. "Well you don't have to."
"But I want to." He smiled when she leaned her head on his shoulder. His heartbeat had slowed from excitement into blissful calm. He knew that nothing could happen to them when they were together like this.
"I love you," she said quietly.
"I love you too, Mon amour," Remus said. They both took a deep, calm breath at the same time, which made Valerie laugh adorably. He grinned and grabbed the bouquet of flowers from the top of his pile.
"For the prettiest in the District," he said, and she smiled the prettiest smile Remus had ever seen. Her cheeks, already flushed because of the chilly weather, flushed even deeper red.
"I don't know how they made their way to me then," she said quietly.
Remus grabbed her face and gently kissed her forehead. "Because that's what you are."
"You're a sap," she said, and Remus laughed.
"I can't help it, you're just so beautiful and amazing."
Valerie smiled bashfully and rolled her eyes, but didn't protest anymore. Remus gave her the presents he'd bought for her. He loved to get her beautiful things, beautiful things for such a beautiful and wonderful girl.
She enjoyed the truffles he'd chosen for her, which he was relieved about. And what he was even more glad about was that she agreed to let him try one.
He was mostly waiting for her to unwrap the smaller box. He watched as she delicately tore the paper open and pulled out the jewelry box.
"Oh Remus, you didn't have to..."
"Open it," he said.
She cocked open the jewelry box and gasped a little bit. "Remus... Are you sure?"
She stared at the golden necklace with a glistening red charm cut in the shape of a heart.
"Do you know what this is Val?"
She looked up at him, but didn't say anything. Remus laughed a little bit at how cute she was.
"It's the ruby," he said quietly.
"The... You mean the ruby that I got back for you?"
Remus smiled. "Mhm. The ruby that brought us together. Remember when you went through that mud pit to get it back for me? I wouldn't have it without you. And I thought that the only place worthy for a gem so beautiful was around the neck of a woman just as beautiful."
"But... This is yours! I know how you love your gems and your jewelry..."
"Well I want you to have this one Val. To think of me when I'm... Away."
Valerie threw her arms around her boyfriend as best as she could on that bench and kissed him. "Thank you," she murmured.
"You're welcome," he said. "Can I do the honors?"
"Okay," she said. She got the necklace out of the box, and Remus clasped it around her neck. It was absolutely stunning.
"What do you think?"
"I have no words. You make it sparkle."
Valerie smiled and blushed again, and Remus leaned in to give her another kiss.
"I will wear this proudly to hold onto you while you're gone," Valerie said quietly.
"That's all I want," Remus said. "I'll be missing you."
"I'll miss you too," Valerie whispered, and looked at him with serious eyes. "Just promise that I won't have to miss you for too long."
"You won't." Remus couldn't promise.
"These make my gift look kind of silly," she said, pulling out the electronic tablet from her bag.
"Nothing could, Val. Nothing could."
She pulled out a file and gave it to Remus. When she pressed play, Remus watched what she'd made. It was a technological flip note, showing the scene Remus immortalized in the necklace. It showed them walking home that night and talking. It showed the girl in the drawing with a heart balloon that inflated while they were walking. Then, it showed them interacting again in different settings, her holding onto the balloon. Then, it showed her eating that food, that food that was poisoned by a fucking lunatic, and the heart balloon deflating. Remus hated to think about hurrying to her house at the news that she was ill. It showed Remus taking care of her. It showed him picking up her balloon and re-inflating it. And then it showed her giving it to him, and him giving one of them back to her. And then it showed them holding hands and walking away together. It was beautiful.
"Valerie..."
"I'm sorry it's not super glitz and glamor," she said quietly.
"It's perfect," Remus said. Valerie's animation was her passion. There was no program for it in the Districts, only graphic design, but if he won the Games, he could get her into a Capitol art and film school... She could help to rebirth the genre that had long since been lost, like she always wanted to. And she certainly had the talent for it.
Remus watched again and again.
"I want to keep updating it," she said quietly. "But to do that you have to get home alive."
Remus smiled at her. "I'll do anything for you Valerie. And that includes winning these Games and being with you always."
"I really can't live without you, Remus."
Remus took her face in her hands and kissed her.
"Don't worry, Mon Amour. You'll never have to."
~.~.
A/N: Hi everyone, I'm officially out of school for the summer! I'm hoping to really get working on these intros, we're officially halfway through! Glad to be back and I'd like to hear what you all think of this chapter. I think I'll probably do a check-in after reapings to see who's still reading but not right now lol.
Don't think I have much to say other than the fact that pictures are going on the blog after this and I hope you like this chap!
CQ: Same as the others. Thoughts on both tributes? If you subbed one, how did I do?
See you (hopefully) soon!