A/N: I'm very sorry I haven't been able to update recently and now that I am updating it's only a short chapter. I have some serious goals ahead of me IRL this spring and I just can't allow myself time to write here until I've met some of those goals. I PROMISE I have no intention of abandoning this story and I really am hoping to get back to my fics as soon as possible - thanks for your patience!
The sky is dark but the squares are lit by streetlamps where Bear and I join the crowds of revelers. The war is over. It's an overwhelming feeling, of relief and joy and confusion. It is hard for me to accept. As soon as we heard the cheers from the streets outside, I felt I had so much energy I was bursting at the seams and the apartment couldn't contain us any more. Out on the streets, permanent grins seem etched on every face, whooping and hollering and condensing together in the city squares. We find some of the musicians from the school who are taking turns playing bright lively tunes, and linger near them. The chaotic crowd around them vibrates with energy, cheering and mingling and dancing together. One of the guys I met through Spinner sees us and pulls me into a quick moving dance. Soon I am spinning and laughing along with so many others in the square, living in the joy of the moment. I catch Bear's eye as he watches me through the crowd with a smile. After several songs of dancing and spinning around the street, I return breathlessly to his side. "This is amazing," I gasp. In the split second before he reacts, I feel guilty, like I deserted him for the others in the crowd. Then he looks down at me, looping an arm around me with eyes twinkling in the dim light, and I know it was okay.
"It's the start of a new era. You looked like you were having fun out there," he says with a laugh. Our breath clouds in the air between us, but the exertion of dancing has warmed me and expended my excess energy. I smile in agreement and he leans down to steal a quick kiss. For awhile we stand there quietly, watching the celebration around us. When one of the dancers cocks his head my way with an inquisitive look, I shake my head to politely decline the unspoken invitation back into the crowd. Bear's hand moves up my arm. "Better watch out, lots of guys out there looking for dance partners," I tease him, giggling.
He pulls his hand off my arm, lifting his hands as if to surrender and says, "Hey, don't let me stop you. You can probably still catch that last one." I glare at him briefly before shaking my head, turning to face the crowd and pulling his arm around me. Then he laughs and adds quietly, "as long as it's just dancing and you come back here after." He links his fingers in mine as we watch the festivities.
When we've had enough of the impromptu party, we walk back toward home, taking our time making our way through the darkened streets. At home we collapse together onto the couch and smile into our kisses.
In the morning, the fact of the end of the war seems a surreal abstraction. The war is over, but we are just realizing that nothing is going to change right now. Yes, the Capitol has surrendered and a new Panem can emerge. But for today, the district still needs to eat, and the district infrastructure still needs repair from the damages of the war. We'd thought of the war as the big struggle, but what now? Everything ahead of us seems overwhelming. I wonder how much the rebels and that district 13 leader have planned in advance.
I wake Bear, who's asleep on the couch, when broadcasts begin in the morning. There's been no news on the status of the troops, but this morning they announce that they will be offering families information on their relatives in the war, at specified locations around the district. The broadcast announces that the locations will open in 2 days, and specific instructions are given for who should attend which locations. The suggestion of information, without the actual information, is infuriating. I tell myself that we will know about our friends in a couple of days. I tell Bear the same, before sending him back to get some real sleep in the bedroom. As for myself, I have to visit Naiya.
When I get to Naiya's, I've barely knocked on the door before it swings open and Naiya pulls me into a hug. "Oh Maddie, I'm so glad you're here. I can scarcely believe it, you know? Oh come in, come in," Naiya greets me at the door. She waves me into the apartment and continues, "Now the real work begins, of course. But just think of all the opportunities all you young folk will have now. There are so many possibilities, and there will be so much work to do for the new Panem. I couldn't believe all the commotion last night, everyone must be so thrilled."
I nod and manage to answer, "yeah, they sure are," in her brief pause.
"Oh did you and Barend go out to celebrate? Of course you would. I hope you stayed safe, I think the crowds got a little out of control in a few places. Anyway, there was some vandalism and looting in parts of the district. I heard a report about one of our stores being damaged." Seeing my reaction, she touches my arm and says, "Oh don't worry, honey. It's just a broken window, nothing we can't handle. It's just such a shame that things could get out of hand like that. Though I admit I'm on pins and needles waiting to hear how Rose is doing. I just can't help but worry. It's a good thing we'll have plenty of work to do, I will need something else to think about."
After talking more about the war footage, and reviewing what work we had for the next few days, we both headed across the sector to the store with the busted window. We couldn't replace it, but we could put up some plywood and get a temporary fix in place. Naiya's communicuff also received an update about the train schedule, which has been changed in light of the surrender, for some reason. With that in mind, we also stopped by the rebel headquarters. We were hoping to just check in and get any extra information, but the place was a madhouse, people running every which way and when we did get to talk to someone, we didn't really learn anything new.
When I get home, Bear is working intently on his electronic tablet, so I try not to bother him. By the time I settle in next to him, he's obviously frustrated by whatever it was he was working on. He sets the tablet aside and sighs.
"Wanna talk about it?" I ask him.
Giving me a weary look, he answers, "I was trying to find out about Spinner. I figure, if they're advertising they'll tell people about the troops, there must be something in the system. But I can't find anything."
I hug him, feeling tears welling in my eyes. "Well, we'll know in a couple days right? At least that's something."
"Yeah. I hate it though. I don't know if I can stand waiting. If Marai were here, she'd have figured it out."
"Guess we'll just have to wait then," I answer.
"Maybe," he sighs. "That, or I could sign up to help. They need people to work the locations, and I bet I'd get access then."
I look at him questioningly, not sure if he's serious. The thought of having to tell even one person that their son or daughter, brother or sister isn't coming home ... well, it's not the job for me. "Tell people if they're loved ones are alive or not? I don't think I could do it."
"Someone has to," he shrugs.
Skeptically, I remind him, "You'd have to be awake during the day."
He looks me in the eye, quiet for a minute. Slowly a sneaky smile spreads across his face. "Yeah I guess so. It'll be weird ... but maybe I can help you adjust."
I barely get out my protest, "Me?" before his lips silence mine.
A/N: Sorry if it's mostly filler. Hope you enjoy anyway! Please be patient, it'll be another couple weeks before I can update again. :)