I sit up on a branch of a tall tree while I try to catch my breath. Tears fall silently down my face and I grip the tree so hard my knuckles turn white. I thought I was over this, but I suppose I'm not.
"Stop it, stop it," I repeat over and over. I ball up my sleeve and bite down on it, letting out a small scream of muffled frustration. I think of all the people I love; Mum, Dad, Damon and Maddie's faces all appear behind my closed eyes. My heart begins to slow down and my breathing becomes even again. I wipe away the tears and rest my head up against the trunk. This was what I had hoped wouldn't happen. I can't afford to go through this again.
Eventually, I bring myself to climb down from the tree; I pick up my backpack and begin the trek home. It takes me only thirty minutes to get back but by the time I've gotten home the sun has started to set. I try to open the door quietly and sneak upstairs but Mum's voice calls from the kitchen.
"Shit," I mutter as I take my foot off the bottom step and walk to the kitchen. Mum and Dad are both sat at the kitchen table; Mum's eyes are rimmed red and Dad's are full of worry. "Hey," I say quietly.
Mum jumps up and gathers me into a hug while Dad presses a kiss to my temple. Mum pulls back and holds me at arm's length.
"Where have you been? Are you hurt? What happened?"
"I was in the forest, no and just a bad day," I say with a weak smile.
"We were worried that something happened. When Finn came over and said you ran out the school doors-"
"Finn was here?" I ask, half curious, half trying to change the subject. I really did not want to talk about what happened.
"Yes, he was worried about you, as we all were," Dad says.
"I'm fine," I reply. "I just need some sleep." Mum kisses me on the forehead and Dad does the same as I bid them goodnight. I walk up the stairs for the second time and shut my bedroom door behind me. As soon as I turn on the light, there's a tapping at my window. I look out and Finn is standing with a notepad with an arrow pointing to the right. I walk out onto my ledge and he does the same. "Hey."
"Are you okay? What happened?" he asks, not wasting any time.
"I'm fine, geez how many times do I have to say it," I sigh, with a fake laugh. He looks at me, with the same unconvinced look Maddie had early.
"One minute you were fine, the next you were running out of school. What happened, Orion?"
"Nothing!" I yell. "It doesn't matter! I don't want anyone to worry about me so just… stop." I bit my lip and will back tears. I slump down and cover my face with my hands.
"Rye," he says. His voice is soft and barely audible. "Please."
"I don't know what happened, okay? I'm not worth worrying about, Finn."
"Don't say that, Riley."
My head snaps up and I look over at Finn. My eyes are wide and my jaw open. Finn's face is calm and collected, unlike my own confused and dazed.
"You- you called me Riley," I stammer.
"Yeah."
"But- but you don't- I thought you didn't-"
"I was going to tell you after school, but you weren't there. I've been having… sort of flashbacks. Dreams about myself as a kid.I guess being back here is bringing them back. But there's always this one girl there, called Riley." A small smile forms on his lips and I let out a shocked laugh. He begins to chuckle too.
"If there wasn't a massive gap between our roofs, I hug you," I laugh.
"Tomorrow morning then," he says with a wink. I nod happily. "You sure you're okay?" I nod again and give him a genuine smile. With a nod, he says, "Goodnight, Riley."
"Goodnight, Finny," I laugh.
That night is the first night I've had a full night's sleep. I carry out my morning routine with a bounce in my step and make my way to the Odair house in record time. Finn opens the door and gives me a dazzling smile. I waste no time wrapping my arms around his neck. He picks me up and spins me around, both of us laughing. When he puts me down we both just stand there, smiling like idiots.
"Come on." He takes my hand and we run out the door. "I had another dream," he says.
"What about?"
"It was a summer day and we were in a garden. My Dad had set up the sprinkler and so we got into our swimming gear and we were jumping through it. You were wearing this light blue swimming costume but you borrowed a pair of my swimming trunks to go over the top." He laughs lightly.
I smile at the memory. I remember that day. I still have the picture Uncle Finnick took pinned up on my wall. It's only now that I realise Finn has not let go of my hand. He squeezes it gently and I bump his shoulder.
When we reach school, I loosen my grip on Finn's hand, indicating for him to let go but he keeps holding on. I look at him in confusion but he seems unfazed and pulls me up the steps.
"Finn, you don't want people to see you holding hands with me," I stop him just outside the doors.
"Why not? Is this your way of telling me you don't want to be seen holding hands with me?" he jokes.
"No!" I say, a little too quickly. "Uh- I mean, I just don't want you- UMPH!" My hand is knocked out of Finn's as a body collides with mine. Two arms are wrapped around my chest squeezing me tightly.
"I was so worried!" Maddie cries. I can't help but smile at how much she cares. "I kept calling but it kept going to voicemail and just- ORION MELLARK WHAT YOU WERE THINKING?!"
"I'm sorry!" I laugh, hugging her back. She has tears in her eyes and she's trying to look angry but there's a small smiling trying to break onto her face. "Come on, let's go in."
The three of us walk in together, this time without Finn holding my hand. I still receive looks for being with him but not as many as I would have. We go to our lockers and the bell rings. Finn bangs his head on the lockers, groaning.
"I don't want to go."
"Finn, come on, you have to."
"Don't make me go, Riley!" He sticks out his bottom lip, pouting like a child. I roll my eyes and smile.
"If you won't go, I'm going to force you," I warn.
"Oh, yeah? And how are you going to do that?"
I raise an eyebrow. I never back down from a challenge. I take a step towards him, an evil smirk on my face. "You're still ticklish, aren't you, Finny?" His eyes widen for a second before he regains his cool and shakes head. I narrow my eyes. My hands dart out and attack his sides. He begins laughing like a maniac, squirming and squealing. I laugh at his reaction and he finally gives in.
"Okay! Okay! Stop! Please!" I take my hands away and he glares at me, breathing heavily. I'm clutching my stomach, doubled over in laughter. "You're gonna get it, Mellark."
"Ooh, I'm so scared, Odair."
"Yeah, well you should be!" I try to run past him but he grabs my waist from behind, lifts me up and spins me around.
"Finn, we're going to be late, put me down!" I exclaim. Finn laughs and drops me, but just as he does, he grabs my hand and runs towards our English room, dragging me behind him.
We make it just in time, the bell ringing as we enter the room. The teacher hasn't arrived yet so we slip into the two empty seats at the back of the room unnoticed. Mr Templesmith enters, his curly blonde hair sticking in so many directions. In fact, last Halloween he came into school dressed as Einstein. The memory makes me chuckle. Finn gives me a funny look and I mouth 'I'll tell you later'.
"Today, we will begin working on Shakespearian language and technique. You shall work in pairs to produce an essay on the effect it has on the audience as well as a short exert from one of his plays. You can spend today planning but you will do the load of the work at home." The whole class groans as he waves his hand in signal to begin before opening a copy of Capitol Weekly.
"Hey, wanna work with me?" Finn nudges my shoulder.
"Hmm… I don't know." I nudge him back. "Convince me why I should agree."
"Well, firstly, you'll get to spend time looking at my beautiful face." I scoff and he sneers at me before continuing. "Second, if you don't, we'll be stuck with some dipshits that we can't stand. And thirdly, because I'm asking; you should feel honoured." He puffs out his chest and smiles cockily.
"What play are we going to do then?"
"What?! You mean you'll be my partner?! Ladies and gentleman, Orion Mellark has agreed to work with me!" He takes a bow, thanking an imaginary audience. I slap the back of his head and he laughs. "I don't know. Romeo and Juliet?"
I groan. "That's so overdone. And almost everyone in here is going to do it. How about Hamlet?"
He looks at me as if I've grown two heads. "How about no?" I roll my eyes. "I like A Midsummer Night's Dream."
"Let's do it," I smile.
Things are going to go up and then go down and you might hate me because of it so I'll apologise in advance. Sorry if Katniss was a bit OOC at the start but that will be explained when things go down.
Review if you love me:)