way to go, tiger | Lorenzo Berkshire

࣪𖤐 Y4 | 23 . Cedric.

WHITE FERRARI — FRANK OCEAN
'I'm sure we're taller in other dimensions.'

On the night before the Final Task, Cassie can't even begin to attempt sleeping. She takes to the Astronomy tower with trembling hands tapping the railing. She can't shake the horrible feeling she has in her stomach. Cassie knows her brother and she knows something will go wrong tomorrow.

She just knows.

"Hi." a familiar voice says from behind Cassie. She smiles as Cedric stands next to her. "You alright?"

"Yeah, why are you up here?" Cassie asks, looking at him. It's at least three in the morning. If he's here, it means he also can't sleep.

"Can't sleep, and I know you'd be up here. I wanted to talk to you before tomorrow seeing as I probably won't get the chance before."

"Yeah, that's probably for the best."

The pair go quiet for a moment, simply staring at the sky. If anything, they're just appreciating each other's company while it lasts. Cassie won't see Cedric much tomorrow and that thought makes her feel strangely sick.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" she asks, nudging him.

Cedric picks at his nail before answering, not looking her in the eye. "After you went back to your common room yesterday, I stayed in the library and read up on the dangers of the tournament— specifically the Final Task."

"And?"

"And there's been about thirty deaths."

Cassie's stomach twists. She tries not to let it show on her face, but oh, she's considering jumping off this tower right now. "Thirty?"

Cedric blows out a long, thoughtful sigh. "So if something does go wrong tomorrow—"

"No." she says, cutting him off. "None of that, Ced. Shut up."

"Listen to me, Cass." he states. Cassie turns to look at him, silently shaking her head. If she shakes her head quick enough it will stop her brain from thinking. "If something goes wrong and I do die in this tournament, I need you to know how grateful I am for you. I almost lost myself after dad died— and that whole thing with Eddie, I— I needed you, and you were there. You were there every single time and I can't even begin to tell you how truly grateful I am. I honestly don't think I'd be here today if it weren't for you."

Cassie thinks she might be sick.

"My friends would probably laugh at me for saying this, but you are and have always been my soulmate. One way or another, you and I are soul-tied. You're my everything and there is truly nobody I love the way I love you."

Cassie still thinks she's going to throw up all over Cedric.

"You're not dying, Cedric. Stop talking like that. I know how much I mean to you, you don't need to tell me." she says, just wanting him to stop. Cassie looks back at the stars, focusing on Regulus and Sirius rather than the thought of losing her own brother.

Cedric finds her hand and brings it up to the railing. His fingers twist with hers and he gives her hand a squeeze. "I'm not saying I'm going to die, Cassie. I'm just preparing you for the fact it's a very extremely tiny possibility, and if it does happen, I need you to know how much I love you."

"I already know, Ced." Cassie's voice is weak and small all of a sudden. The thought of losing her brother hits her like a punch to the face. She can't keep thinking about it or she might actually be sick. That same horrible feeling in her stomach is back.

"I know you do, I just need to say it." he sighs.

"You're not dying, Ced. If you die, so do I. Do you seriously think I can live without you?"