I FEEL UTTERLY DIMINISHED AND UNRAVELED. An unwelcome feeling consumes my stomach and creeps up my throat--I'm going to be sick. 

I cover my mouth with my hand and stand up from my chair, the sound of it's legs scraping against the floor cuts off the gasps from my peers and brings unfortunate attention to me. 

Only being able to focus on the vomit nearly flowing out of my mouth, I run out of the classroom and to the nearest restroom I can find. 

I push past the white door and quickly lean for the toilet, leaning down on my knees as my hands surround the cold sides of the toilet. 

The vomit burns my mouth and scorches the back of my throat. 

It's an entirely unwelcome feeling. I'm wracked with guilt and consumed with grief and anger and I don't know how to express a damn thing. 

The door swings open behind me, and I normally would bolt in my position but just when I thought I'd been finished, more puke comes out of my mouth and into the toilet. 

Two hands brush against my face gently and tuck my hair back. The familiar scent of vanilla and cologne surrounds me and I'm softly reminded of Coryo's presence.

I feel tears pricking at my eyes and I truly feel so defeated. I probably look like a pathetic mess, leaning over this toilet, vomiting and now crying. 

Another loose strand falls over my face and he quickly brings it back with the others. He uses his free hand to rub small circles on my back and he now crouches down so he's on my level, and able to tell me that he's there. 

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and have to bite my bottom lip just to stop it from quivering. I want to fall apart in this bathroom but now I can't because he's here and I can't let him see me like that. 

A tear slides down my cheeks and drops into the toilet as I flush it and Coryo takes that hand and holds it tightly. He's watching over me contently and gives me a moment to breath before standing up, keeping his hold on my hand firm and comforting. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up." 

He doesn't ask me what's wrong because the answer is obvious and he doesn't ask me what he can do to help me because he knows he can't. 

I stand up with him, and he's fast to move his opposite hand to my lower back, guiding me up slowly. 

"I don't need to be babied," I say quietly, allowing him to walk me to the sink. 

He turns the faucet on and reaches for a paper towel from the dispenser. "I know." 

I worry that he thinks that he owes me for last night because he doesn't. I don't expect anything in return from him. Just his presence is enough. 

"You don't owe me." my voice is still barely above a whisper as he dips the towel under the water. 

He carefully takes a couple of strands of my hair and begins painting the wet paper towel over it, soaking it while wiping the vomit off. "I know that too." 

I didn't want to look at him because I was afraid he'd look back my guilt would only intensify but he was so focused on cleaning my hair that I couldn't help but be utterly fascinated by how someone with such a hard exterior could be so loving to me no matter the circumstances. 

I want to sink into the palm of his hand that's now cupping my cheek and never back away. I want to live in the warmth where I'm looking into his eyes and see nothing but him. 

Another warm tear caresses my cheek but is stopped by the swiping of Coriolanus' thumb. 

And almost as though he can read my mind, Coryo's eyes meet mine. They're soft and apologetic and match perfectly with what he says next. "You really are beautiful." 

I crack a sad smile. "Even when I'm covered in vomit?" 

A breathy laugh slips past his pink lips before he muffles it by placing a kiss on my forehead. "Even when you're covered in vomit." 

I'D RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM ALONE, as Coryo said he needed to do something first. I didn't ask questions, just tried not to remind myself of the fact that Felix was dead. I needed to focus on Mia now and help her in any way that I could. 

 I walked back into the room with the same uneasy feeling I left with. The doors shut behind me and as I walked back down the center of the room, nearly every single person was staring at me. 

"What?" My heart beats and the sound alone is enough to swallow me whole. I turn to look at Festus, hoping for some sort of answer but he only gives me a saddened stare. "What is it?"

My heartbeat's thumping is so thunderous it's nearly vibrating my entire body as my gaze falls on the screen. 

I see three bodies there. 

One boy is one of Coral's minions and the other is the lumberjack from District 8. 

But the girl--Coral's pitchfork is inside of her stomach, nearly splitting her in two. Blood colors the majority of her white ruffled dress and I'm nearly knocked off of my feet blind when I see that it's Mia. 

BLAKELY SPEAKS !

i actually feel so bad it's not even funny

edit: pls stop with the death threats i have a family 😭🙏