CHAPTER ELEVEN

OH, LUCY GRAY.

Celia nearly cried tears of joy as the bell rung. Her day of work could finally cease. She had been in the territory of District Twelve for close to a week now. She had been in and out of the factories with the working fathers and mothers of the land.

With her lung still healing from the puncture sustained during the games, the stuffy buildings were hard to manage. Chills would cover her skin whenever she thought back to the feeling of choking on her own blood, gasping for air as she was lulled into a dark sleep by Lucy Gray's darling voice.

Oh, Lucy Gray.

Celia was starting to think Lucy Gray was not in Twelve at all. There had been no sign of the girl as far as Celia could see, hell, she hadn't seen her boys either.

The last look at a familiar face was at Sejanus failing to come to her rescue straight off of the train. Her eyebrows furrowed, a crease forming in between. She brushed off her dirtied hands on her apron before hanging it up and hurriedly making her exit.

Lately, her days were occupied with working, begging for food, and finally sleeping. Celia looked up at the mural painted on the side of an adjacent building: TRUE WORK IS: DISTRICT 12

A sweaty hand ran through her hair as she wandered the streets, looking for a change of pace or a familiar figure.

The glow of a crowded bar cascaded out of the door and lit up Celia's skinnying body. Curiously, she turned her head towards the noise, watching as men and women cheered and clapped and danced.

There was never anything like this in Ten, at least as far as she knew. The days were meant to be filled with working, that coming from a less rule bearing District.

Interest piqued, Celia stepped through the doorframe, immediately feeling put off by the amount of sweaty bodies she bounced between. There was a working bar along the back wall and a stage at the front. Clearly she had entered between songs as the applause quickly died down and a new performer was introduced.

Celia stumbled forward, breaking through the crowd and listening to the introduction while winded.

"-the talented Lucy Gray Baird!"

Applause erupted once again. Celia felt the air escape her lungs as the blood rushed to her head. Lucy Gray, Celia's Lucy. She was here!

Lucy Gray pranced onto the stage, a bright smile plastered on her face as she adjusted the microphone stand to her height. Celia's mouth was dry, unable to form a coherent sentence as she continued to take in the woman's presence.

"Well thank you all for that warm introduction!" Lucy Gray giggled, her accent strong as ever. "Think 'm gonna sing you all a little song. S'that alright?"

More cheers and whistling from the patrons. From the back of the bar, Coriolanus nursed a drink, smiling admirably at Lucy Gray.

"This is an original." She paused, seemingly trying to gather herself. "About a friend I made in the games."

Celia grew even more still, chapped lips parted in shock. She looked to her muddy boots, thinking about her next move. The first strum of Lucy's guitar quickly fell to silence. Celia glanced up, meeting Lucy Gray's eyes. The building was silent, it felt as if it was just the two of them.

"Celia?"

Tears quickly decorated Celia's waterline as she nodded her head with an unsure smile. Their moment was cut short as a harsh grip on her arm quickly pulled Celia.

"What are you doing here?" He spoke through his teeth, clearly trying to hide his frustration, but not hard enough.

"Coriolanus." Celia spoke incredulously. It was like some giant reunion. She could barely make out the sounds of Lucy Gray apologizing and delaying her set. Celia was quickly pulled out the back door, into the alleyway as Coriolanus released her and ran an angry hand through his buzzed hair.

"Shouldn't you be in the factory?" He gritted out, keeping his back to Celia.

"My- I got out early today. My shift is over." Celia was drenched in confusion. "Can I go see Lucy Gray?"

Coriolanus turned around angrily, taking harsh steps and stopping an inch from Celia's face. He looked down on her. "Maybe we've got to look into moving you to the mines-"

The door swung open and Lucy Gray ran straight for Celia, enveloping her in her arms. "Oh, dear. Oh, they told me you were dead!" Her wet eyes met Celia's dirtied face, thumbing at her cheeks to remove the mud and dust.

Lucy Gray stood a bit taller with her heeled boots, looking down at her much softer than Coriolanus had. Celia licked her lips, struggling to speak. Eventually she gave up, falling into a heap of tears as she let Lucy Gray hold her.

Lucy Gray took the rubber band from Celia's hair and brushed through it with her fingers. Making eye contact with Coriolanus over Celia's shoulder, Lucy grew angry.

"You knew she was here."

Coriolanus struggled for a minute, "I didn't, swear. They must've sent her on the train after mine."

Lucy Gray just looked down at Celia once more planting a kiss to the crown of her head. Coriolanus quickly scoffed, though tried to cover it as he turned his back and reentered the bar.

Celia took a step back, looking up at Lucy Gray with a sniffle. "They killed my father, I have nothing to return to. They won't send me to Ten."

Lucy Gray's heart dropped. She knew what it was being an orphan in this world and she didn't wish that upon Celia. "You've got me. This is all the family we need."

A glance was shared between the two girls before Celia acted on her urges and rushed forward. Their lips met in the middle, Celia's hands on Lucy Gray's cheeks and Lucy Gray's soothingly brushing Celia's knotted hair.

As quick as it begun, it ended all the same. Celia taking two steps back this time. "I'm sorry- I shouldn't have-"

"I'm glad you did." Lucy Gray smiled, a tear falling from her left eye. "Just wish I did it sooner."

••

NOTES.
so short, I'm sorry!!
BUT OUR GIRLS ARE BACK!!1!!1!

1k, unedited.