When The Canary Sings

Think. Talk. Breathe.

First person Point of View: Becca Blue: 

*

Katniss is hugging Prim, and Peeta is being swallowed by his brother's hugs as his mom stands off to the side. I stand next to Haymitch, scanning the crowd for the boy I know best. This time, he isn't in the front waiting, I frown and furrow my brows.

As I look with an excited smile on my face, I feel a familiar pair of brown eyes staring into me. My eyes flick to the back of the crowd, right to where Ryder Joe stood. Our eyes met for a split second before he looked away. That fraction of a second was enough to ruin my mood and fill my soul with rage.

Haymitch clamped his hand down on my shoulder, and I put a smile back on my face, smiling as I listened to the cheering crowd, knowing that the good people of District 12 didn't have to starve again this year.

I continue scanning the dense crowd until my eyes fall onto a blonde boy waving and smiling a smile that could outshine the sun and all the stars. Finally, the cameras that were recording the reuniting turn off, and I rush off of the train platform. I push my way through the crowd, shouting half-assed apologies until I reach him.

"Will!" I shriek, jumping into his wide open arms.

"Cherry!" he yells, calling me by the nickname he made up when we were talking on the phone. I'm a bit surprised that he even remembers, but I brush it off immediately. He swallows me up in his arms and lifts me off the ground. He plants kisses on my cheeks, forehead, and jawline that make my head buzz and my cheeks burn a bright, cherry red. On his arm was the one and only Milky.

He puts me down, hands on my waist and stares at me. Wide eyes full of...adoration, maybe? "You did it." He says, hugging me tight. Again, he must've gotten taller, because jeez!

I fling my arms around him and he rubs my back, I tuck my face into his neck. I breathe in, he smells like the forest. I breathe out, and he chuckles because it tickles his skin. I look up and see him. I smile. I am home. I feel Milky slither onto my arm, and I smile.

"C'mon," he says, grabbing my hand. He tugs me through the crowd. The both of us smile and laugh as we push our way through the dense crowd. Once we're out, we head straight to our place, the meadow. He keeps his hand clamped around mine and traces little circles on the back of my palm.

We slip through the fences and wander far out to the hills. Far, far away out into the meadow. Eventually, we stop on top of a lonely hill and lay down, basking in the sunlight that felt real. I keep my eyes forward, watching and taking in the view. The mountains, the green grass, the deer and the foxes. The blue sky, not clouded by artificial lights.

I let the sun warm my skin, my sundress leaving enough skin exposed to feel the full warmth of the sun.

"You look pretty in that." I hear Will say, and I avoid looking at him because of my bright red face.

"Thanks," I smile, "I'm so glad I'm home." I admit, rolling on my side to face him. He gives me a grin that reaches his eyes, bearing his teeth.

"Missed you," he whispers, and he holds out his arms, welcoming me into them. I crawl closer and enter the safe space. He tightens his arms around me and rolls over so I am laying on top of him. I lean my head against his chest and listen to his steady heartbeat. "It was like a shot to the heart when you weren't here." He pouts, and I smile.

"Well," I drawl, "...'m here now." I mumble, my hands making their way to his hair. My fingers tangle in his hair, playing with his golden curls. His hands rub circles into my back, and in this moment, when the birds are singing and the bugs are chirping and the sky is blue, everything is perfect.