Bellona loudly grunted as Professor Sickle escorted the two back to the group, rolling her eyes when she saw the only open spot was next to Festus.

"Now that everyone's here, I'd like to set some ground rules,"  Professor Suckle explained. Bellona didn't listen any further after that, annoyed by her talk with Festus. How hard could the rules be anyway?

It wasn't until Bellona felt a nudge on her shoulder that she was brought back from her daze. Festus.

"Don't touch me," Bellona muttered, pulling her arm away as Festus rolled her eyes.

"Pay attention then. We're meant to be working together on this. And I don't want a partner that slacks off," Festus complained under his breath. He was really getting on her nerves.

"And you two," Professor Sickle announced as she addressed Festus and Bellona, "For the sake of everyone. Play nice today, okay?"

Begrudgingly, the two nodded, but it was clear they weren't going to listen. It was in their nature to fight.

"Alright then. Let's get moving!"

-

The ride to the arena didn't take very long, something Bellona was extremely grateful for seeing as she had to sit next to Festus.

But sadly, her time with the annoying boy didn't end there. Of course not. Mizzen and Coral were attached at the hip. And so, Bellona had to be the same with Festus.

"There's nowhere to hide," Mizzen muttered as he looked around the barren arena. Bellona took the time to finally get a good look at the arena. Before the war, they used this building for entertainment, but of course, Bellona had not been here then.

No. She was seeing it for the first time just like all of the tributes.

Mizzen had been correct. The arena was like an empty cage. Nowhere to hide, but nowhere to run either. The only thing that Bellona thought might've masked as a hiding spot was the stands, but even then, there was a chance someone could get caught. 

"Good thing you know how to fight then," said Festus, "You're gonna need it."

"As much as I hate to admit it, I agree," Bellona added, "It might even help to get some allies."

"I'm sorry. Am I hearing you right? Bellona Plinth agrees with me?" Festus taunted, smirking at the fact that Bellona complimented him. Bellona only scoffed, elbowing him in the stomach as she muttered 'focus'.

Coral and Mizzen looked between the two with a weary look before muttering to each other.

"We want the boy from Ten," Coral announced, nodding toward Tanner. Bellona glanced at Mizzen for a moment before turning to look at Tanner.

The boy from Ten looked rather strong and willing to fight, but not too strong that he'd be able to take them both out. A worthy contender.

Bellona smiled softly as she turned back to the two, happy that they were wise enough to pick a good ally.

"I'll talk to his mentor later today so we can start an official alliance. It might help with sponsors," Bellona replied, pointing toward Domita Whimsiwick. 

Mizzen and Coral looked at each other once more before looking back at her. Mizzen smiled happily at her as he muttered a 'thanks' while Coral simply nodded.

But even Bellona could tell Coral was pleased with her, making Bellona smirk. 

Festus gritted his jaw at Bellona but said nothing. Even he knew there was nothing wrong with her idea. He just hated that she had come up with it first.

-

After a while, Coral and Mizzen began to discuss between themselves, leaving Bellona and Festus to fend for themselves.

"Still trying to get ahead, Bellona?" Festus teased, leaning down to whisper into Bellona's ear. Bellona chuckled as she rolled her eyes, pulling away slightly.

"Maybe you should try to catch up then, Creed," Bellona taunted, keeping her eye on Mizzen as he conversed with Coral, "Oh wait, you're too incompetent to do that."

"Aren't you supposed to be playing nicely today?" Festus teased again. It was clear he was just trying to rile Bellona up, inching closer to make up for the space Bellona created between them. But Bellona, like the sucker she is, took the bait.

"I'm not the one trying to pick a fight," Bellona muttered, turning toward Festus, who had a wide smirk on his face. He seemed to revel in Bellona's taunts, not caring at all that she hated him.

"Well you know how much I love a good fight," Festus teased, stepping closer, "And I think you enjoy it just as much as I do."

Bellona's jaw clenched as Festus inched closer, but still, she refused to back down.

"I don-"

But Bellona would never finish her sentence, too distracted by the ground exploding from underneath them.

-

Bellona grunted as she felt herself fall to the ground, closing her eyes as the loud bangs rang around the arena. 

No. No. No. This can't be happening, Bellona thought. 

Quickly, Bellona got on her knees, huddling together as she covered her ears. But it was no use. Everything reminded her of Two. Of her parents.

And then suddenly, she was taken back to Two.

-

"Bellona!"

Immediately, Bellona's eyes flew open, glancing around the rubble in shock. Where were her parents?

"Mom?! Dad?!" Bellona cried out, digging through the rubble as she tried to look for her parents again, oblivious to the boy making his way over to her.

"Bellona!" the voice called out again, grabbing onto her arm to pull her up. But Bellona pulled away, crying as she dug through the rubble.

"No! Get off of me! I have to find them!" Bellona yelled, causing Festus to step back in shock. In all the years he'd known her, Bellona had never once acted like this.

What was she talking about? Her parents weren't in the arena with them? They were probably back at her apartment right now waiting for her arrival.

"Bellona. We need to get out of here," Festus insisted, trying to grab onto her again, but Bellona only screamed louder. It was no use. She wasn't moving.

"I just want to go home," Bellona cried out, "Let me go home."

Festus quickly knelt on the ground, forcing Bellona to look at him.

"I can take you home, Bellona. You just need to come with me," Festus muttered, eyes scanning her face in concern. They needed to go before another explosion went off.

"No. Can't you see? This was my home!" Bellona yelled, moving around some rubble, "My parents were waiting for me to come home from school."

And then it hit him. Bellona told him she'd lost her parents in the war. She just never said how.

"Bellona. You're not going to find your parents here," Festus muttered, once again urging her to get up. Bellona continued to refuse.

"You're lying! They're here, I know it," Bellona cried out. Festus closed his eyes for a moment as he let out a sigh. 

Bellona was not in her right mind right now. He couldn't leave her.

"Bell-" Festus muttered, about to spout another pleading comment but a loud bang brought his gaze back toward the arena.

And just as Festus feared, a second blast appeared.

Without a second thought, Festus pulled Bellona in, shielding her from any damage as she cried out at the noises. Immediately, Festus grabbed onto her hand, intertwining their fingers in a desperate effort to comfort them both.

And then, another explosion rang out above them.

-

After the explosion, Bellona spent the next few days locked up in the hospital. And not because she was injured. 

When Father learned about Bellona's psychotic break, he immediately had her admitted, hoping the doctors could figure out how to snap her out of it. The doctors tried their best, but even then, it took them two days for her to be considered sane enough for visitors. 

Festus Creed was first on the list.

"You're awake, good. It's been dull without your insults," Bellona heard from the door, drawing her attention away from the window.

Bellona quickly scanned the boy for any injuries wincing as she noticed the sling on his arm and cuts on his face.

He would have been fine if she didn't protect her. Bellona was sure of that.

But still, Bellona was too proud to apologize.

"Nice to see you too, Festus. Nice sling by the way. Really matches your shirt," the girl teased, feeling a sense of relief as she laughed. It felt nice to finally laugh again. Festus playfully scoffed, walking in further as he sat on the bed.

"I'll have you know I got this bad boy protecting you. Needless to say, I'm a hero," Festus replied, flexing his good arm with a smirk before turning more serious.

"How are you? By the way? I know you weren't physically hurt much but-"

"I went crazy? I'm fine. Just had a moment, that's all," Bellona answered, brushing his concern off with a fake smile. Of course, Festus knew better.

"Was it your parents?" Festus asked, stopping when he noticed Bellona deflate.

"Nevermind. I shouldn't bring that up."

But then, that same feeling she'd felt when she saw Festus on her doorstep came back and she found herself wanting to tell him.

So, she did.

"I was in school when it happened. But when I came home, everything was ruined. I had to dig through the rubble just to find the remainder of my house. I never found my parents though," Bellona explained, glancing at her hands as she began to pick at her nails.

"And the arena-" Festus muttered, putting the pieces together as he watched her carefully.

"The sight of the arena reminded me of it all. It was like I was back in Two for a while," Bellona replied, weakly smiling as she refused to look up from her lap.

"I didn't know."

Bellona looked up with a small chuckle.

"No one does. Only the Plinths. And you now, I guess."

Festus looked at Bellona with a look of sadness once more before remembering her words. She didn't want his pity.

With that, the boy loudly cleared his throat, causing Bellona to playfully roll her eyes.

"So, when do you get out?" Festus asked, changing the subject.

"Tomorrow probably. Why?" Bellona asked, chuckling slightly at the conversation shift.

"Oh, nothing. I just needed to know so that I could prepare myself to be surrounded by a Neanderthal like yourself again," Festus teased, clearly proud of his insult.

Bellona felt all the sadness wash away as she let out another laugh, forgetting all about her parents as she tried to come up with an insult.

"Oh, I'm surprised you know that word, Festus. It's a little too big to be in your vocabulary, don't you think?" Bellona taunted, tilting her head as she watched Festus nod in approval.

"And you're back. Lovely," Festus replied, faking annoyance.

"Oh please, Creed. Admit it, you missed me," Bellona teased laughing at the slight pink on Festus's cheeks.

"Maybe a tad," Festus answered with a scoff.

"Yeah right," Bellona replied, shaking her head as she continued to laugh.

"Ms. Plinth, it's time for bed," muttered one of the medics, pausing when she noticed Festus.

"It's nice to see you have a friend visiting today. Lovely to see you again, Mr. Creed," the Medic replied. Festus chuckled under his breath as Bellona kicked his leg, causing him to stand.

"I was just leaving actually," Festus muttered with a smile, "Gotta make sure Bellona gets her rest."

The Medic looked between the two with a knowing smile before walking toward the exit.

"I'll let you two wrap it up then. Bellona, I'll be back in five."

Bellona let out a grunt at the Medic's assumption, sinking in her bed as Festus let out a loud laugh.

"So we're friends now?" festus teased, glancing toward the door, "Or as that very nice medic thought, more than friends?"

"Goodbye, Festus."

Festus once again laughed, turning back toward Bellona with a smile.

"Alright. I'm off then. Sleep well, Bellona."

Bellona smiled slightly at his goodbye, rolling her eyes.

"You too, Creed."

But before Festus could even reach the door, Bellona felt the sudden urge to call out to him.

"Wait, Festus," Bellona yelled, causing the boy to turn back around in confusion.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

Bellona's words seemed to shock Festus for a moment and Bellona thought he might not even reply. But then, he started to chuckle under his breath before speaking again.

"See you tomorrow, Bellona."

-

a/n:

hi guys !! if you notice any typos or something lmk I'm sorry yall I'm not feeling too great so my eyes might've deceived me </3 still hate this chapter sm

anyways, as always, thanks for reading !! my loves get another happy moment !! they're so hot and cold with one another,,, just kiss already (not coming for a long time)

and fuck Mr plinth btw !!! justice for bell </3

love you guys,

hannah <3