FIRE ON FIRE ( cato hadley! )

chapter two

——☆ FIRE ON FIRE
chapter two: you're not alone

     THE NEXT MORNING, Lilia awoke early, the anticipation of the Reaping weighing heavily on her mind. She lay in bed for a few moments, staring up at the ceiling of her room, listening to the sound of the waves in the distance. It was a sound that had always brought her comfort, but today it felt different — like the calm before the storm.

Reluctantly, she pushed back the covers and got out of bed, her feet hitting the wooden floor. She dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, tying her messy hair back in a loose ponytail.

Downstairs, she found her mother in the kitchen, already busy with her work for the day.

After hearing her footsteps, Lilia's mother looked up, offering her a warm smile.

"Good morning, sweetheart," her mother said, her voice gentle. "Did you sleep well?"

"As well as I could," she replied, crossing the room to give her mother a quick hug. "Do you need any help?"

Her mother squeezed her gently before letting go, replying, "I'm just finishing up here. Your father went out early to check on the boats, and Finnick said he'd be by later. Maybe you could take some of this bread to Adrian's family? I'm sure they could use it."

Lilia nodded, grateful for something to keep her hands busy. She wrapped the warm bread in a cloth and tucked them into a basket before heading out the door.

As Lilia made her way to Adrian's house, she passed by groups of people going about their day, but their conversations were quieter than usual, their smiles forced.

It was as if everyone was trying to hold onto a sense of normalcy, even though they all knew what was coming tomorrow.

When she arrived at Adrian's house, she found him in the yard, repairing a fishing net with his father. He looked up as she approached, a smile breaking through the strained look on his face.

"Lilia! What up?" Adrian called out, setting the net aside as he stood up to greet her.

"I brought some bread from my mom," Lilia replied, holding up the basket.

Adrian's father, an older man with kind eyes, came over and took the basket with a grateful nod, "Thank you, Lilia. Your mother always knows how to brighten the day."

Lilia smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "How are you holding up?" she asked Adrian, her voice quiet.

Adrian shrugged, "About as well as anyone can, I guess. Just trying not to think about it too much."

They stood in silence for a moment, and then, Adrian looked back up at her, his expression more serious than she was used to seeing.

"I've been thinking, Lilia," he began, hesitating slightly. "If...if one of us gets chosen tomorrow, I want you to know that I'll be there for you, no matter what."

Lilia felt a lump form in her throat, and she struggled to find her voice. She couldn't imagine what it would be like if one of them got chosen.

"You don't have to say that, Adrian."

"I do," he insisted, stepping closer. "We've been friends for as long as I can remember. And I just...I need you to know that I'll be there for you always."

"And I'll be there for you too," she promised, nodding. "No matter what."

They stood there for a moment longer, before Adrian's father called him back to work.

Lilia watched him go, a sense of dread settling in her stomach. Tomorrow was coming, and with it, the possibility that everything could change in an instant.

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When she returned to her house, she found Finnick waiting for her on the front porch, leaning casually against the railing. He spotted her coming up the path and gave her a warm smile, but there was a flash of concern in his eyes when he noticed her expression.

"Hey, there you are," Finnick called, straightening up as she approached. "How did it go at Adrian's?"

Lilia forced a smile as she set the empty basket down by the door. "It was fine. They're holding up, I guess."

"But you're not."

At his words, Lilia's composure faltered. She looked up at him, and the worry she had been trying so hard to suppress that day finally spilled over.

"Finnick, I'm really nervous about tomorrow," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I keep trying to tell myself that everything will be okay, but I don't know if I believe it. What if... what if one of us gets chosen? What if it's me?"

Finnick's expression softened even more as he reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Lilia, it's okay to be scared. But no matter what happens, you're not alone. You've got your family, Adrian, Maya, and you've got me. We're all here for you."

Lilia nodded, biting her lip. Noticing this nervous tick, Finnick pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She buried her face in his chest, holding him close.

"Whatever happens, we'll get through it," he murmured, his voice steady and reassuring.

For a few moments, they stood there in silence, Lilia finding comfort in Finnicks arms. She knew he had faced his own battles in the Games, and his strength gave her the will to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could face whatever came next.

Finally, she pulled back slightly, looking up at the boy, "Thank you, Finnick. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Finnick smiled down at her, "You won't have to find out. I'm not going anywhere."

He ruffled her hair lightly, a familiar gesture that made her smile despite everything. He then nodded to the door, "Come on, let's go inside."