Isabella (Treech)

Part 14 - Hello Again

Isabella could feel her heart drop as she heard the words. He's done it! He's actually done it! Then the realization hit her: he still has to go home. 

None the less, she joined her other classmates in celebration. He's safe at least! Her classmates excitedly ran towards her. Some congratulated her, while others hugged her. Some even lifted her up in a group effort. Isabella felt so full of love in those moments. She was winning and her boy was okay. He can go back home. She smiled as she thought of him returning home. She smiled at the sight of him seeing his little sister and parents again. She smiled at the thought that one day, he would be able to build a little cabin with the girl who he loves. Why can't it be me?

The excitement in the room eventually wore out when the doors burst open. Everybody looked back in anticipation on who it could be. It was Coriolanus. Not just him, but the Dean.

Isabella couldn't help but feel bad for the boy. Despite him not being her favorite person, he clearly cared about Lucy Gray. Now he had to walk into everybody's celebration at her death.

The room went silent at the sight of him. Nobody dared to speak a word.

It was the Dean who spoke first. 

"I warned you that those who were caught cheating were to be punished."

Where is he going with this one? Isabella asked herself.

"And unfortunately for Mr. Snow here, I find out everything." 

Isabella gave a confused look to Lysistrata, who was now at her side.

"So bad that his little songbird still couldn't win even after he cheated. He will be punished, as well as anybody else who is caught cheating in any future mentoring positions."

The room was filled with gasps from the other students. But Isabella was not shocked. In fact, she smiled a little at the sight. Coriolanus cheated, and he got caught. The situation humored her.

"I can't believe he cheated." Said Persephone.

"I can." Replied Festus. "That kid got way too attached to his ill-fated tribute. She was never gonna win, and he knew it."

Before any more conversation could be overheard, the Dean spoke up once more. 

"Mrs. Thatcher, I'm sure you'll want to see your lumberjack. Come with me."

The idea of seeing him again made her giddy. She caught glances from some of her classmates. They all gave her smiles and encouraging looks. With that, she walked towards the Dean and followed him out the door.

"So when do I get to see him?" She asked impatiently.

"Soon. They just got him out of the arena and are taking him to the hospital to be checked on. You can visit him soon." The Dean responded. 

Isabella gave a smile, and the two continued walking in silence for some time, before Highbottom spoke again. "Now that you have won, what are you going to do?"

"Well I'm obviously going to go to the university for the next few years." She said in reply.

"No, I mean, what are you going to do about Treech?" He stopped dead in his tracks.

"Well, he's going to go home, where he belongs, and I'm going to stay here, where I belong." She said it with confidence, but she knew that she was never going to let that become their reality. He was more like a home to her than the Capitol ever was, and she was going to fight for them.

"Good. Finally some sense out of you." The Dean looked pleased.

All she replied with was a quiet "of course" to avoid an argument. The two were now in a car, headed to the hospital.