𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗶𝗮 ♛ ꜱᴇᴊᴀɴᴜꜱ ᴘʟɪɴᴛʜ

♛𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲♛

When Coriolanus came home bloodstained, Aurelia knew something bad had happened.  The usually blinding white collared shirt under his jacket was tinted a russet red.  It wasn't his blood.  Arachne Crane's tribute stole the knife she used to cut cheese and slit her throat.  Arachne wasn't exactly Aurelia's friend, but had always been present in her life.  It was odd, knowing that she never would be again. 

After they were informed, Coriolanus went to take a shower.  Aurelia knew that this was where he would cry, so nobody would see his weakness.  Sometimes she really wished that he would open up to her, but that had honestly never really been their style.

The whole next morning was a blur.  Professor Click spoke about Arachne, people cried, spoke about Coriolanus and Festus helping her, people applauded.  

Clemensia and Coriolanus were called from class, after being a part of the group meant to write the proposal of the ideas discussed yesterday with the sponsorships.  The group that previously included Arachne.  Aurelia could hear her brother scratching away at something last night, assuming he couldn't sleep, so it must have been that proposal.

That was Coriolanus all right.  Ignoring the issues and covering it with something else.  If only it was that easy for his sister.

♛

It was a dark morning when the bombs began to fall once again.  It always was, the smoke clouding out the last traces of sunlight.  The seven year old twins huddled into the corner farthest from the window, their cousin and grandmother boarding the windows and doors.

Screams accompanied each new explosion.  When they thought it was finally over, removed their hands from their ears and opened their eyes, the next one fell.  Over and over.

Sometimes this lasted all day and even through the night.  At the least it was four hours.  Aurelia didn't understand why they couldn't just drop all of the bombs at once and leave them alone.  She wouldn't understand that until much later, when she realized it wasn't only destruction they were after.

The rebels wanted the Capitol citizens to fear them.

One massive explosion might have done it, but if they knew it was over, they could go on with their day.  It seemed never ending, and their hours were counted as the time in between the bombs.

The Corso got the worst of it.  Of course it did, it was the main street of the city.  But that meant as the explosions rang out, the Snows were closest.  It would be another year until this was over.

Aurelia realized that maybe this fear was what she never got over.

♛

Arachne's funeral was held two days after her death.  Coriolanus, for his efforts in trying to save her, was asked to sing the anthem before the ceremony.  After the song, Aurelia felt a slight gust of wind, someone moving up behind her.

"You know I'm sorry about what happened," muttered Sejanus under his breath.  Without turning around, Aurelia knew it was him.

"This is hardly the time or place for this, Sejanus."

"But no time or place is right is it?  Not anymore.  I barely see you anymore.  You're ignoring me, Lia, admit it."

"Sejanus, please.  I'm trying my best to hold it together right now, but I want to scream and cry and throw something and hit someone.  I can't handle this right now, I'm sorry but I really can't."

And Sejanus Plinth faded back into the crowd, leaving Aurelia feeling even more alone than before.

♛

"You should really eat something, you know."

The luncheon after was filled with countless delicacies, but Sejanus Plinth hadn't touched a single item of food on his plate.

He glanced up at her.  "Still want to hit me?"

Aurelia scoffed.  "Never said I wanted to hit you, just someone."

"Is that your way of apologizing?"

"I'm the one who needs to apologize?"

Sejanus raised an eyebrow at her, before looking down at his plate with a soft smile on his face.  Aurelia slid into the seat next to him, as he shook his head.

"Well, I've been trying but you haven't exactly made it easy for me."

And at that, Aurelia smiled too.  "Why don't we just cut the apologies then?"

"So, hows your mentoring going?"

The blonde girl sighed and rested her head on her left hand.  Sejanus was looking at her in the way he always used to, inviting a response without demanding it.  With a surge of emotion, she realized she had missed this, almost too much.

"Jessup's so sweet.  I really want to get him back home.  He has a family that basically relies on him already, and theres another baby on the way."

"Oh wow, thats awful.  I haven't even gotten two words out of Marcus."

"Yeah, I assumed as much."

Sejanus pressed his lips together and looked down at his plate.  "I really missed you, Lia."

"Well, obviously," Aurelia started, sarcastically.  "I-"

"No, really," Sejanus interrupted.  "I really, really missed you."

♛

HI HI HI

IM BACK I MISSED YOU GUYS SO MUCHHH

ive been super busy with school starting and things but i get back and this book is about to hit 2k reads????

thank you guys so much i really cant believe that ive gotten this much support on TWO books

and hopefully a third cause im working on an alemurity chapter rn......

i had something i was going to ask and just to put it out there- would you guys be interested if i made an instagram/tiktok for my books/writing??

i'm not 100% sure but i feel like it might help get even more engagement with my readers, so what do you guys think?

i missed my children so muchhhh im so happy theyre reconciling also HELLO i missed the flashbacks too!

QOTC: favorite moment of this book so far?

eat, drink, and take care of yourselves.  also, it is national suicide prevention month and week so please check up on your loved ones and if you need to talk, my messages are always open.

i love you guys so much <3

-jess