ATARAXIA • BELLAMY BLAKE

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I'm sat outside on one of the seats that have been removed from the drop ship to make more room. It's attached to two other seats which I'm resting my legs on as I pick at a random stick I'd found earlier.

Jaha's in the middle of his annual Unity Day speech over the radio, and most of the delinquents are crowded around it. I don't really care for Unity Day — or not anymore, anyway. I used to love it, but that so was many years ago I barely have any memory of it. The only clear Unity Day memory I have is the one I've spent my whole life trying to forget.

Suddenly Jasper comes running out of the drop ship, cheering, "Yeah! Monty strikes again," as he runs through camp. "I call this batch Unity Juice! Who's thirsty?"

I'm caught in the crowd when everyone gathers around Jasper, who's now starting to pour the moonshine into people's cups.

Jaha continues his speech, telling us that help is on the way as I get up from my seat and manage to squeeze my way through the crowd, trying to get over to where Jasper will hopefully have some moonshine left. Maybe this year I can forget.

"Freya!" he cheers when I walk up. He heads over and hugs me clumsily, and I pat his shoulder with an amused laugh.

"How are you already drunk?" I smile while starting to pour myself a drink.

"I'm not drunk, I'm just...festive," he insists, but he and Monty must have been sneaking a few drinks before bringing the moonshine outside for the rest of us.

Then he snatches the bottle from my hands, earning himself a frown from me in the process. He puts up his finger to stop me from objecting.

"Let me, my Lady," he offers in a gallant voice as he then pours the moonshine into my cup, all while raising the bottle into the air until he's pouring it from an arms length above the cup.

"That's quite enough, thank you." I take the cup, noticing the spillage on the table and ignoring it.

"The last time I drank in front of you I snuck the moonshine into the party in my underwear," he says before putting on his goggles, earning an amused sound from me.

I hum and take a sip of my drink. "You weren't very sneaky about it."

"You knew?" he exclaims.

I can't help but laugh at the expression on his face. "You spent five minutes trying to dig the flask out of your far too tight pants, of course I knew."

"See, now I'm embarrassed," he says matter-of-factly, a blush making its way up his neck. "I think I'll leave you."

I don't get to respond before Jasper turns around with a curtsy and walks over to a group of teens. I stay where I am, having found enough company in the moonshine in my hand as I take another ship.

"Happy Unity Day."

I jump at the voice that suddenly sounds from over my shoulder, and I spill some of my drink in surprise. I spin around to see Finn biting back a smile at my reaction.

I chuckle awkwardly and take a step to the side in order to prevent any more spillage. "How's the wound?" I ask, pointing to his chest. There's a small bump under his shirt where the bandage pokes out a bit.

"It's fine. Nothing a little partying can't fix," he says before grabbing the cup from my hand and downing the rest of the drink.

"Jeez, Finn. Save the rest of us some," I say as he starts refilling the cup. He hands it to me and I take another sip.

"Look at us," he says, grabbing the cup from my hand. "Poisoning ourselves with whatever this is after being poisoned by a Grounder."

"Talk about taking control of your own destiny " I smile as I then snatch back the drink and start fixing up a different one for him.