When The Canary Sings

A Parade, Passing By.

First Person Point of View: 

* 

Soon enough, March melts into May. Every night is spent learning about the previous victors, their tactics, their personalities, and their stories. Afternoons are spent either doing training with weapons, building strength, or doing cardio. I struggle with the cardio, a lot actually, and it turns out that my breathing isn't all great. Mrs. Everdeen called it something special, but I forget the name. On Sundays, Gale teaches us how to make snares, and sometimes Will teaches us the most effective way to climb or how to walk silently. Simple things that could save a life.

I've heard hushed whispers between Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta about me in the games. Haymitch is worried that my breathing will get all out of whack, and if I run too fast, I'll just end up not being able to breathe and suffocate myself to death.

That won't happen. I told him that. He's still petrified.

"Peeta!" I gasp, running after him, "Peeta!" I yell. The weather is already too hot for May. He slows to a stop, and that's when I regret doing the morning run with him and not Katniss or Haymitch. When I stop, I take a couple seconds to get my breathing in check, and Peeta helps with a hand on my back.

"Uhm," I say with a shaky breath. "I just wanna tell you that I won't be training tomorrow. I have something to do with Will." I smile kind of sheepishly. He gives me a pointed look, but then keeps on running. I know he doesn't like people skipping out on training, and he's right. He's making us into careers. Technically, I should only be missing half the day, but hey, tomorrow is my big fifteen, and I should live it up since I won't live till my sixteenth.

After training, I walk into the house to see Sae cooking something over the stove. I walk up to her and silently start to help her.

"Heard you 'n my boy are gettin' hitched?" She smirks, her thick district 12 accent putting mine, Katniss's, Peeta and Haymitch's to shame. I smile bashfully and pour some garlic into the stew she's making.

"It's not really getting married." I smile, "just...pretending so when I die I can say that I died a married woman." I joke, "you know, crossing things off the bucket list before I kick the bucket." I laugh, and thankfully she appreciates the joke and laughs too. We eat dinner like a family, ignoring the stillness outside, and then Will and I head up to bed. He sleeps in one of the many extra bedrooms to avoid seeing the bride before the wedding.

When I wake up in the morning, I slip on a white, knitted tank top along with a white maxi skirt that flows with each step I take. I put on my hiking boots, and go to my small trinket box. I pull out an old golden band and smile. That's his ring.

"He's already in the meadow, girl," Sae smiles, "better go get him before he thinks you got cold feet." He smiles, and hands me a singular lily flower. "Your momma loved these." She smiles, and I give her a soft smile in return. "Such a beautiful bride."

"How'd he get through the fence?" I ask, tucking the flower behind my ear. She must've taken it from the garden outside.

"That boy has his ways," she droned, waving her hand dismissively. Then, turned back, "go!" She waves, and I smile, and take off running. I don't even care if Katniss or Peeta or Haymitch see me. I have to get to my wedding after all.

In true District Twelve spirit, the peacekeepers seemed to get lazy at one point, leaving a hole in the bottom of the fence. I could see a hole dug under it, giving me enough room to easily slide under. Thank God it was dry out, or else my white clothes would've been covered in mud.

Thread was right though, as I slid under, I didn't miss the quiet hum of the electric fence.

I walk out to the meadow, where I find Will waiting with a dumb smile on his face. He stands at the bottom of a hill, blocking us from any view.