A/N: I do not own The Hunger Games or any of Suzanne Collins amazing characters! First attempt at a story with chapters so any advice or constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated!
"I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough. "
-Noah, The Notebook
It's the faint sound of humming that pulls me from the sweet sleep. My mind starts nagging that it's cruel and unusual punishment to not be allowed to sleep in today, it is after all the last time I'm ever going to sleep in my own bed. As soon as the thought started forming; my brain registered the rough, itchy fabric under my tush. 'I know we're one of the less fortunate families in District Four but we can at least afford cotton sheets,' I heard the voice inside my head say. 'Which means…I didn't sleep in my bed last night,' the voice continued. The humming seemed to be coming closer and was now turning into a somewhat familiar melody rather than the random notes I once heard. I forced my eyes open only after I had placed the melody. There he was watching me, smiling as he pushed the hair from my eyes.
"I know I shouldn't have woken you up. I just wanted to be able to have you wake up in my arms." The handsome man beside me says. I snuggle closer to his chest and I swear I can feel him smile into my hair. "Last night was one of the best nights of my life, knowing we could both sleep peacefully without the fear of being caught." He added placing a kiss in my blonde waves.
"The fear was still there." I whispered, my arm snaking around his middle. "It wouldn't change the outcome of today either way." I mumble and he pulls me closer. We never talk about the reapings because there inst much point to it we can't change what happens, especially this year.
Three months ago our wonderful President Green announced that every 25 years the Hunger Games would take a special form in the shape of a Quarter Quell. There would be a special twist to make the Games more interesting for the Capitol audience, more horrifying for everyone in the districts. Since this year was the 25th annual games we get out first taste of what these Gamemakers have in store for us, this year the districts get to vote for whom they want to represent them in the Hunger Games. District Four being one of the "career districts" we handled the news a bit better than some of the outer districts. Typically we have a good chance of winning and bringing a tribute home but this year the district held a competition to find the most capable tributes and the top ten girls and boys we given the opportunity to campaign for the votes of the district. I've been training for the games with my best friend Caia since we were five but I didn't yearn to go to the games and bring my district glory.
I was 18 and had found love, it just happened to be with Caia's 23 year old brother Raoul. I hadn't even tried to get a spot during the competition and had no intention on campaigning for a spot either. Even after all of my hard work to appear mediocre I found myself in the top ten girls. It must have been karma coming around to pay me a visit. About two months prior to the televised announcement of the Quarter Quell Sabra, the mayor's only daughter and Raoul's wife found us in bed together.
As if sensing my tension he moves a hand under my chin and pulls my face up to look him in the eyes. "Cameo please don't talk like that." He says and I see the sadness I've been feeling reflected in his eyes. "Can I ask you something?" He asks me after a brief moment of silence. I nod inching my face closer to his. "Why didn't you ask me to leave her? Why didn't you let me fight for you when she found us?" He asks me and I know this time I have to give him an answer. I can't leave him here today like the last few times he'd asked me these questions. I was positive that this was the last time I would see him and he deserved the answers.
"For the same reason that I am sure I'm going to be on my way to the Capitol by tonight." The words come out of my mouth without me thinking. I blush and I know I can't look at him while I explain; I've always had a weakness for looking into Raoul's eyes. I sit up and wrap the scratchy blanket around my body. Staring at my hands I add, "No one can say no to Sabra Welsh, she has always been very persuasive." I feel him moving behind me before his arms wrap around my waist and a soft kiss is placed on my shoulder.
"Do you not think that I would've chosen you if you had asked me? You nearly broke my heart when you said we couldn't see each other anymore." He whispered placing more kisses on the sensitive skin in between words. I know he's trying to pull me back to our make shift bed but I can't anymore, not when this discussion needs to be had.
"Oh Raoul," I sigh and close my eyes as his strong hands turn me around so that I was facing him. His hands are cupping my cheeks and I know he's searching for an answer, silently begging me to look at him. "Raoul lets not pretend that even if I had asked you everything would be perfect right now." I say and open my eyes to see him opening his mouth to argue but I put a finger to his lips. "Please let me finish. You could never understand how much you mean to me. But I couldn't ask you to leave Samson, and you know that Sabra would make sure that you never saw him again if you left her for me." He let out a sigh and leaned into me, resting his forehead on mine.
"Using my son as a reason for not being with you… that's a low blow." He whispered and pulled back to lay a kiss on my forehead. "I can't choose between you and Samson. Please don't make me." He whispered again.
"I'm not the one who would be asking you to make that choice. Please let's just spend this time together, while we are still able to." I replied my hand reaching for his face now.
"I have something for you. I won't be able to make it to the justice building later, if that's what it comes to." He said with a bit solemnly. He stood up and I found that I missed his warmth as soon as he wasn't next to me. He started digging through the bag that he brought the blanket in and I can't help but wonder what he wants to give me. Finding what he was searching for he walks back over to our make shift bed and hands be a long flat box. I give him a curious glance and open the box to see a necklace nestled inside. My eyes went to his face and saw him watching me, the joy clearly visible. "It's a locket, if you open it there is another surprise." He prodded and I pulled the necklace out of the box and gently pushed the hidden latch on the side. On one side of the locket was a picture of Caia and I at the beach, on the other a picture of Raoul with Samson.
"Oh Raoul it's wonderful." I exclaim and he helps me clasp it around my neck.
"I figured you would need a token. This way when things get difficult you can open this up and see the faces of everyone that needs you here." He explains and I turn to him as a tear falls down my face. He leans in a wipes it away with his thumb. Instinctively I lean my face into his hand and he gives me a gentle smile. "Cameo I wish I could stay here in our own world forever." He starts to say and I feel my smile drop. I know he means it and I felt the same way, but you have to wake up from a dream eventually.
"That would be wonderful but highly impractical. We both know that if I don't leave soon someone is going to notice that we're missing." I reply and he gives me a sad nod. With all I have in me I pull myself away from him. The change of clothes I brought were thrown in the corner and I slowly go to retrieve them. It's been an unusually cold transition between spring and summer so my tight black pants, or leggings as Caia called them when she gave them to me along with the baggy white sweater I'm now pulling over my head will keep me warm on the long walk to my house.
Over the past few years it's become a house instead of a home. I've realized that my mom was right in her cliques; home is where the heart is, and my heart is with Raoul. Coming to terms with the fact that I'll never feel at home again after the Reaping this morning was the hardest part about going to the Hunger Games. Sure the training would be difficult and no doubt being thrown into an arena where 23 other teenagers were trying to kill me would be hard to handle. But most of those other teenagers had someone to come home to, something to fight for. Even if I come back to District Four Raoul will still be married to someone else. My parents and older sister hadn't spoken to me much since Sabra found Raoul and I together. Practically everyone in District Four had turned on me. Any time I had to go into town to buy something the merchants would either refuse me service or the price would go sky high, yet another reason for my family not to want me anymore. I could see the pain in Raoul's face when the towns people called me a whore or a home wrecker but I wouldn't let him stand up for me. Caia had been the only understanding person through all of this, she wasn't exactly thrilled that I had been sleeping with her brother behind her back but she listened to my side of the story. No one else had asked me what happened; not my parents, or my sister, or anyone in the district. If they had they would've known that I had loved Raoul since I was thirteen. They wouldn't have been so judgmental of me when they found out that I had told Raoul we couldn't be together anymore once Sabra got pregnant. That was a very dark time for me. I would have to see them together pretending to be a happy couple in front of everyone knowing it was all a façade. Caia told me that Sabra had become even more demanding and degrading while she was expecting. The longing glances my way were gone, but it was worth it when I saw how his face lit up around Samson. But I was sixteen and hopelessly in love so when his eyes started searching for mine again I gave in.
Shaking the memories out of my head I turned around to see Raoul slipping into a pair of pants, no shirt in sight. I smile at him knowing that even while I'm gone he'll have someone; his son needs him now more than before. Being a two year old Samson was picking up on Sabra's negativity and he needed a positive role model to teach him how to love. Slipping my feet into my worn brown boots, yet another gift from Caia, I walk into his waiting arms.
"I wish I could help you some way. Be there with you in the Capitol, be there to comfort you…" He starts to mumble and I stop him.
"But that isn't possible. Just know that I'm always thinking of you." I say as a stray tear falls down my cheek again.
"If you're chosen..." He starts in a low voice.
"When I'm chosen Raoul, there is no if about it." I correct him looking at the ground. I feel his chest rise as he takes a deep breath before continuing.
"Fine, when you're chosen I will be there in the front of the crowd with Samson. So if you need something to hold onto we'll be there. Whenever you feel alone in the arena just know that I will be in front of the television cheering you on the entire time. Sabra thinks that by getting you out of the district I will go back to her, she doesn't know how wrong she is." He leans in whispering the last part. I pull back from him so I can look into his eyes one last time. "I love you Cameo, nothing will ever change that."
"I love you too." I whisper back to him as yet another tear falls. Before the tear has a chance to make it down my cheek his hands are on my face and he pulls me towards him. The kiss we share is gentle but passionate. We both pour everything we need to say to each other into the kiss. We finally, painfully, broke away from each other and he handed me my bag. We walked to the back door without talking. Once there he twists the handle and looks at the floor. I reach for his cheek and while he looks at me and I can see the tears in his eyes. He grabs my hand and places a kiss on my palm. We both nod and I walk into the dark morning, my heart breaking more with each step I take.