On my way home I receive several texts from my friends asking if I'm okay. To all I send the same reply: 'Yes. Have fun x'.
"So you're a single woman again?" my Mum asks tentatively. She's being careful. She can tell something is wrong. I just nod, not knowing what else to say to her. After more silence, my mother begins to hum. I recognise the tune as Deep in the Meadow; a lullaby she used to sing to me at night when I was a child. Her hums turn into singing and her voice is so peaceful it makes me feel safe. Eventually, I can't help myself but sing along, making my Mum smile.
When the song is finished, I ask her, "Tell me the story about you and Dad again?"
"We were in school together. Us, Finnick, Annie, Johanna, Gale and Madge… we were like a family." She smiles to herself, thinking of her best friends so fondly. "There was always this energy between your father and I but after your grandfather died, I decided that relationships could wait. I had to take care of my sister, your Aunt Prim, and my mother." She pauses to indicate and turn down a side street but nothing could stop me listening. "Anyway, after we graduated everyone went off to college, but I was done with education for a while so I went travelling. As if by magic, Peeta was visiting the Capitol the same time that I was there. Dinner and a wonderful few days later, your father let slip that he had had feelings for me since we were kids." I sigh, imagining how romantic that must have been. "Peeta was smart you see. He waited until I had escaped District 12 and my responsibilities so I had no excuse. He waited until he knew I had feelings for him too so I wouldn't run from him- I tended to do that," she chuckles.
"Oh, so that's where I get that from," I wink at her from the passenger seat and she reaches over to tickle me. We laugh. And it's a wonderful break from how I've been feeling.
"Skip to 10 years later and your brother was born. Then we had you. And the rest, they say, is history."
I begin to tear up as I think about what my Mum always used to tell me about love. You'll find your Peeta Mellark one day. And I did, I think. I'm just not his Katniss Everdeen. My Mum grabs my hand and squeezes, giving me a sad smile, almost as if she can read my thoughts.
"Do you think Dad will give me an extra shift this weekend? I just need to distract myself for a while, I think. Not see my friends until I feel better," I say, wiping my cheeks, drying my stupid tears with my sleeve.
"Of course he will," my Mum replies. "But Orion, sweetie, sometimes being surrounded by your friends is the only way to feel better."
At home I hug my mother tightly. Half way up the stairs my mother calls me.
"Please don't' struggle alone, Rye. You know where I am if you need me or your father. And Maddie and your brother are only a phone call away." I nod and continue to my room. The one thing my mother is good at, is knowing how to look at me. She can tell me she's here for me and manage not to look at me like I'm a kicked puppy. It makes me feel strong.
Once I'm under the covers I feel drained. All my leftover energy is soaked up by my mattress. I check my phone one last time and see I have a message. It's from Finn.
Where are you?
I don't want to reply but I can't help myself. It's not fair on him if I don't.
Home.
Planting it on my bedside table, I turn off my lamp and shut my eyes. If sleep doesn't wash away the events of today, then who knows what will? My phone buzzes so I turn over. I'm done with telling everyone I'm okay.
It buzzes again. And again. Then it begins to ring, the screen light illuminating the whole room. Growling, I cover my head with my pillow and squeeze my eyes shut. It finally stops and I peak out from underneath the covers. With relief, I rest again on top of the pillow and try and sleep.
It rings again.
Throwing my covers off my legs, I sit up, snatching my phone off the table and answering with a shout.
"What do you want?! I'm fine!"
"Orion?" It's Maddie. Immediately, embarrassment sends blood rushing to my cheeks.
"Sorry, Mad. I thought you were Finn," I explain.
"That's why I'm calling, Rye," she says shakily. "Some major shit just went down here at the party. Between him and Marina."
My heart jumps into my throat and I try to swallow it back down into my chest.
"What happened?" I ask, my voice low and concerned.
"I don't know. After you left… she was running her mouth and he just exploded. I guess he put two and two together about her and you and… you know." I knew exactly what she meant. "Honestly, Rye, I thought he was going to punch her." At my gasp, Maddie quickly adds, "He didn't! He chose to dump her in front of everyone at the party."
Holy crap.
"Is he okay?" I'm worried and there's a fire inside me all at the same time.
"I have no idea. He jumped in his car and sped away before I could talk to him," she admits.
"Oh… okay. Thank you for telling me, Mad."
"No problem. Oh, and Rye?" She asks before I cut her off.
"Yeah?"
"I love you. You know that right? You're my sister, Rye." Her voice is filled with heart ache and I make a vow to be a better friend as soon as this mess is sorted. I had made the mistake of assuming that now she has jack, she didn't need me anymore. But the truth of the matter is she needs me as much as I need her.
"I love you too. Thank you again," I tell her.
It's now I check my messages from before the call.
Rye, I need to talk to you.
Please call me.
I need you.
"Fuck," I whisper.
As quickly as I can I throw on my trainers and grab my keys. It's raining now but I'm too distracted to grab a jacket. I just know I have to find him in case he does something stupid. He won't have been stupid enough to drink and drive but when your emotions are running high you may as well be drunk.
I swing my door open and gasp. A figure stands in the shadow of my doorway, his golden hair dripping wet, clothes soaked through and emerald eyes glowing in the darkness.
"Finn," I breath.
"Hi, Riley."
Hey guys!
I just wanted to say thank you for the response I've been getting. I started this story in 2013 and after a couple of years break am finally finishing it. I do apologise for any typos and I hope you enjoy these last few chapters. Only two more after this one. I may or may not be finishing High School Games (my first story) but I haven't decided yet as it was my first story and looking back at it is a little cringey but it deserves tobe finished.
anyway, please review and dftba
-panemsbest