Shot In The Dark.
2. On To The Next One
I sat up slowly, careful not to wake Fang or Gazzy up. I crawled out of our makeshift blanket/mattress and headed for the bathroom. I stepped into the hot shower and cleaned myself off and washed my hair. When I got out I wrapped myself in a towel and walked back to the room. Fang was up and getting ready to shower as well. I smiled at him and grabbed my clothes then ran back to the bathroom quickly to get dressed and finish my hair. I dried my hair as best I could in the towel then put some hair gel. Fang pushed me out and started the water again. I started to clean our room up a little when Katniss appeared in the doorway.
I turned and smiled at her, "I have your outfit in my room. Peeta has some clothes that Nick can use over at his place and Gaz can use some of Gale's little brother's clothes." She said with a forced smile.
"Clothes? We have clothes.." I didn't dig. I honestly don't care to read people's minds as much. People I trust at least.
"Yes. Today is the reaping, you have to dress up. So we have clothes prepared for you." I shrugged and followed her. She lead me upstairs to her room where she opened her closet, "Choose any of these dresses."
I skimmed over the dresses and pulled a couple out. I chose the simple white sun dress with a white shrug to go over. "I'll just wear this one." I smiled towards her.
"Great. I'll have Peeta and Gale attend to the boys." She said as I walked back to the room. Peeta had already gotten Fang by the time I got back to the room to change into the dress. Gazzy was just getting up and getting ready to shower. He ran to the bathroom and took a five minute shower when Gale showed up to give Gaz some clothes to wear. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw an extremely tan girl with a beautiful white dress on; and naturally curly hair cascading down to her mid back. To believe this was me was almost unthinkable.
Fang walked in, he was wearing black slacks and a black dress shirt. He looked good. Especially when he smiled.
"You look beautiful love." He whispered. I looked up at him and couldn't help but smile widely.
"Thank you. You look amazing." I said.
Katniss came in dressed in a beautiful black dress with her hair styled in a messy bun with a strand of hair left out and curled. She looked stunning. Peeta was behind her dressed similar to Fang, just less dark. They looked timid and depressed, masked by fake smiles. "Ready?" she said.
We all headed for the main square together. I grabbed Gazzy's hand and sent him thoughts. You'll be fine Gaz. I promise. Fang and I won't let you go through anything like that again.
Thanks Thun. He looked up and smiled. Fang messed up his hair and smiled at him.
The ceremony of sorts began. Everyone around us was bored but extremely tense. They explained the Hunger Games and history of everything when soon Effie's overly happy voice spun the ball, "Ladies first!" She smiled skipping over the the ball and reached in. Everyone was holding their breath. She read the piece of paper. "Miss Anna Lotinar." The crowd began making noise and slowly a little girl stood up and headed for the stage. She had a slight limp and looked very fragile. This is when my mind took over and I did the most reckless thing I could even imagine.
"I volunteer! I volunteer for Anna!" I raised myself to my feet and started my way for the stage.
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND. SIT DOWN BEFORE THEY TAKE YOU SERIOUS. Fang was screaming inside his head.
I can't. Stay with Gaz. I'll be fine you know I will. They can't send a helpless little girl like her to something as cruel as this.
No. Sit down. Please.
I can't. You know I will be fine. By now I was up the stairs and making my way to the center where they were waiting for me. "Now, sweetie what is your name?" Effie smiled.
"Taylor." She looked at me for more, "Taylor Silvers."
"Well how kind of you to volunteer." She smiled and bounced over to the second ball, "On to the boys." She spun it, reaching just as she had a few seconds earlier, "Mr. Ryder Astin please join us." She smiled. A boy stood up and made his way to the stage. He had short brown hair with blue eyes and very pale. Soon everyone was dismissed and we were escorted to the court house for visitors.
Sasha came in first which surprised me. Not that she came but that Fang wasn't first. "I know you expected Nick, but I asked to see you first. I just wanted to let you know that I will be there for Nick and Dylan through this and you won't have to worry so much about them. Your brothers will be safe with my family, I promise."
"Sasha, they aren't my brothers. But thank you."
"Good luck." She stood up starting to cry, which was strange because I didn't even know her well, and left.
A few minutes later a woman with three children, one of them being the little girl I volunteered for. She sat down on the velvety couch. She was silent for most of the visit. Then Anna started, "Thank you. I don't know how to tell you how grateful I am." Her mom began to cry even harder then she already was.
"I couldn't let them send a little girl in. That's cruel." This is when the guards came in and took them. They let an older man enter.
"My name is Edgar Astin. I wanted to talk to you." I gestured toward the couch, he sat. After a few minutes he started to talk, "It was courageous to volunteer for that little girl. I respect that. I also wanted you to know I will respect whatever choice you make on the partner you choose to try and make it out with. I love my son and pray he makes it. But to be honest, he has little for him in the arena. If anything he could end up holding someone back. What I am saying is if you don't pick him, and he doesn't make it and you do, there are no hard feelings. All my son could give you is a well cooked meal. So i understand your choices."
I looked at him stunned. I couldn't come up with anything for a minute, "I want you to know this, I would never abandon someone. I would never underestimate someone's abilities. Your son will make it out. I won't leave him. I'll do everything in my power to get him out. That is a promise."
He looked at me and started tearing. "Your an angel. Where are the wings?" How ironic. It's moments like these I want to pull the curses out stun him more. The guards came in and left with him.
Gaz walked in and ran to me. I picked him up and sat down. He was crying hard. I just rocked him back and forth and stroked his hair. When our time was nearly up he lifted his head, "Thun, I already lost Max, Ig, Nudge, and Ang. I can't loose you too."
"You won't Gaz. I'll always be there for you. No matter what happens." That's when the guards came in and let Fang in, "Your mad."
"Ya I'm fucking mad Thunder. Did you see how hard Gaz was crying? What happens if-" He was staying as he possibly could. But it was a struggle.
"You know I can do it. We were raised brutally violent and unforgiving. I was born a fighter. We were born to be tested and survive it. I have the genes to live. You know I do."
He looked at me long and hard for a few minutes. "Ya. Your unfair advantage. Sorry, but I just can't loose you." He was going into deep thought now.
I brushed his face with my hand and kissed his cheek, "If anything I will get break the force feild and fly out. You know, that other unfair advantage I have."
He smiled a little now. He put his hand on the back of my head, grabbing some hair, pulled my face close to his, and kissed me. I loved his smell. I loved his kisses. I loved everything about him. Fang meant the world to me. He pulled away and kissed my forehead, "I'm sorry." He said quietly as he brushed my hair behind my ear, "You look beautiful."
"You already said that today." I chuckled
"I just figured I would tell you again. It will have to last a while."
"I love you so much." I kissed him lightly.
"I love you more. And that has to last just as long." We kissed one last time then the guards came in and escorted him out. I was also taken away to a train where I was placed next to Ryder where we waved off District 12. As the train took off we were shown to our rooms and told dinner time was strictly at six. And that we were to be dressed and neat. So the adventures began..
