Come Back to Me

XXXIII

Because, it's impossible not to love you.

The words had been on an indefinite loop in her head for the past four months. That was the last time they had spoken. Cordelia hadn't even seen Finnick since he had showed her through her new house, even though he lived less than twenty yards away, right across her wide, well watered lawn. Now, it was like he had fallen off the face of the planet.

Her new house was mind blowingly beautiful, almost to the point of enragement. She found it hard to accept the fact that she would live the rest of her life out in a two story house, that had a bathroom attached to each of the five bedrooms, plus two that were stand alones, a garden, and the beach for her backyard, while everyone she knew continued to starve in homes too small for their families. Her home was too big for her family. In fact, they had more space than they knew what to do with. Greyson decided to still sleep with his sisters each night, currently being all but glued to Cordelia's hip in light of recent events, even though he now could have his own room. He was still fast asleep when she left this morning, her old croteched sachel in tow. She left her curls down, and wore a fitted white long sleeve paired with brown flowy shorts.

The sound of her spear slicing through the fish she had caught made her flinch more than she was used to but, she forced herself to keep going. Killing for food was no longer a necessity to her, nor having her brother so adimently hunt for shells. They no longer depended on their daily trip to their district's market and especially not their district's black market. The old busted up warehouse sat about a mile down from the current fishing ports of four, that had replaced those of the now abandoned building. Everyone knew of illegal center they had all referred to as the Shoreline, except for maybe the peacekeepers but, Cordelia figured that if they did know, it was because they were apart of the frequent group of costumers and they didn't care to cut out a source that was just as useful to them as it was to the acutal citizens of four.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for-"

Whoever had approached her, wouldn't be granted the opportunity to finish whatever it was they were trying to say. Cordelia slung the fish of of her spear's tip and into the sand, then swinging the dull end of her weapon into the oncomer's head. A loud wince followed the crack and as her eyes met the face, her expression dropped.

"Hudson, what the fuck are you doing sneaking up on me like that!" She reprimanded, not waiting for an answer to help him sit up right

"I'm sorry, I was just kidding- ow!" He exclaimed.

This hadn't been quite what came to mind each night he had thought about her return and what he'd say to her. Though it was partially a relief, now he didn't have to worry about it. His only concern now, was the gigantic black and blue mark over the left side of his forehead, that seemed to be growing into a large goose egg by the minute.

"Sorry, I'm sorry I thought you were," Cordelia paused for a moment. In all sincerity, she didn't know who she thought he was. Any thought that could've come to her mind was rendered ridiculous at the simple fact that she was no longer in the arena, "I don't know what I was thinking, I guess part of me is still in the arena."

"It's alright." Hudson mumbled, unconvincingly.

"Are you?"

He felt the lump, shaking his head and blinking slowly, "Yeah, I'm alright. Welcome home to you, huh?"

The pair laughed loudly before Cordelia helped her best friend up and pulled him into a tight embrace. He rocked them back and forth, before giving her a prolonging kiss on her forehead. She let out a sniffle as he let her go.

"Oh don't go crying on me now, Lia," His smile was brighter, prouder than she had ever seen it, "I knew you could do it."

A chill ran through her at the feeling of his lips on her ear, she brushed it off with another chuckle, "Everyone's saying that to me."