(OOC: This chapter is in Clove's perspective! Please enjoy!)
Chapter 2- Wandering Eyes
"Guys, we're back" I say.
"About time! I'm freezing to death here!" Marvel says, whilst rubbing his arms for warmth.
"What took you so long?" Growled an annoyed Cato.
"Big words from someone who can't set up a tent by himself" I sneer. It seemed to shut Cato up.
"Someone will have to share a tent, there are only four" Marvel says.
"Well I ain't sharing" Cato snarled as he went inside the tent nearest to us. I shake my head in frustration.
"I'll share!" Glimmer yells.
"Well then I guess that means you and Clove will be sharing" Marvel announces.
"Ummm excuse me?" I say in protest. How dare they just pair me up with Glimmer like that! "Why don't you share with her Marvel? After all you are from the same district"
"I'm a guy Clove I don't think Glimmer would appreciate having a guy in her tent"
"You're a guy? Well then I guess I'm my own grandpa…" I remark, sarcastically. In response Marvel just gives me a frightening glare. I don't hesitate and return his glare with much more ferocity.
"Oh come on Clove it will be fun!" Glimmer says as she grabs my hand and drags me towards the tent. My eyes lock onto the quiet boy, standing awkwardly. I mouth the words help me but get no response. Oh no. It is too late. I am in the enemy's den.
As you probably guessed Glimmer, and me aren't exactly the most similar people on earth. Appearance and personality wise. For an example, she likes to talk about boys and I like to talk about more serious matters such as strategy and tactics.
"Sooo what do you think about the new kid?" She asks me.
"Peeta?" I ask.
"Yeah, what do you think of him?" She asks. How do I respond? I never talk to anyone about guys… I never have time to think about guys in that way. I rank relationships somewhere between a pen that does not work and a broken light bulb. At least you can use a broken light bulb as a weapon…
"I guess he's alright… you know if your into that type"
"Mm, well I reckon he is pretty hot…"
"Bu- hu- yo-" I stutter. How am I supposed to respond to that? Glimmer… liking Peeta? What has the world come to?
"What about Cato?" I asked still feeling shocked about Glimmer's 'observation'.
"He's hot too but relationships are more than just looks…" WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! Glimmer must be able to see the total confusion on my face because she is elaborating. "Cato is definitely hot, and I mean definitely times ten… but Cato isn't exactly the friendliest guy. He gets way too easily aggravated… and I don't exactly want to spend my life with someone who I'm freaked out will kill me when he loses his temper…" Her life? She does realise that this is the Hunger Games right? Where we have to brutally murder one another until one is left. "So I think I need to see other guys... and Peeta is definitely a worthy candidate" She says smiling widely.
"You do realise once Cato sees you with another guy he will not only kill the guy but you too?"
"Exactly… so it is forbidden. Even more romantic" Is she off her mind? The only word that could describe her at the moment is 'insane'. Would she really risk her life over a silly guy? "For now of course. You know until I can…" She stops talking completely and the silence drowns the two of us.
Curiosity takes its course and I am simply forced to ask. "Until you can do what?" Her eyes glance quickly left then right. She shakes her head, dismissing whatever idea she had.
"Nothing. Never mind. I shouldn't have said anything. We should get to sleep; we have a full day of hunting tomorrow. Goodnight." She turns off the torch and falls asleep almost instantly. And just like that I am left alone, with my head aching thoughts. Until she can do what…?
My eyes flicker open. Something is wrong. I grab the torch and turn it on. My eyes are greeted by nothing but a pair of sleeping bags. Where is Glimmer? I reach for my throwing knives before crawling out of the tent. The moon creates only a tiny amount of light and is positioned close to the horizon. I look around to see the other tents scattered around the lake. But where is Glimmer? Something moves in the corner of my eye. I grasp a knife and prepare to throw. I walk closer to the movement; ah I can see it a bit better now. The silhouette is a ball shape, which appears to be... shaking? Is it a wild dog? A mutt? I position my knife carefully, bring it back steadily…
"Clove, stop!" I jump and turn to the voice. It's Marvel. "It's just district three" I let out a silent sigh of relief, glad of not having to kill anything.
"What are you doing out here?" I ask him now that my heart beat has begun to return to normal.
"I was just going to the toilet if you must know. Now why are you out here?"
"Glimmer isn't in the tent. I'm looking for her"
"She's fine… I saw her heading to the cornucopia. Now I'm going back to sleep. I suggest you do the same if you want to be ready for tomorrow"
"Please, I'm always ready you go back to your precious sleep while I go check what Glimmer is up to"
"Suit yourself" He shrugs before walking back to his tent. Why would Glimmer be at the cornucopia?
It's a three hundred metre walk through fog to get there at this time of night and I nearly go face first into a tree on the way over. The fog is really starting to thicken now. I can barely see five metres in front of me. I am about to turn back when I hear her voice.
"Isn't it just beautiful out here?" I instantly freeze taken aback by the sudden sound. I look around me and see no one. How can she see me? I haven't been noisy with my footsteps; I know that for a fact.
"Yeah, it is. Why did you want me to come up here though?" My heart skips a beat. She is talking to Peeta! Why would someone pick this time of night to flirt with a guy?
"I just wanted to talk, that's all. I guess we don't have to if you don't want" She has put her sweet voice on… I gag at the thought of someone lowering themselves to talk like that. I inch towards the voices slowly.
"No, I'm good to talk. I just don't understand why you would want to talk to me. I mean why not Cato? You guys seem to have something going on between you two. Or Clove? Who you offered to share your tent with. Or why not Marvel? After all you guys would have the most in common being from the same district" I can now see the metallic wall in front of me.
"Because you're a mystery. You barely talk unless you're forced to. I'm trying to figure you out." Should I break this conversation up?
"Well what do you want to know about me?" Hmm no, I want to see what happens.
"I want to know your story" I sit myself by the back of the cornucopia, where I can remain incognito. My ears sharpen. I guess it would be helpful to know a few things about the new guy…
"Well… where do I begin? I'm the youngest of three boys. The oldest one's nineteen, his names Ryan and the other one is eighteen, Dutch. Umm, my parents own a bakery, which is where I work every moment when I'm not in school… and that about sums up my life."
"You work in a bakery? That is so cool!"
"Well I love to bake, what about you?"
"Well I am an only child, my parents are Jewellers but I am not interested much in taking over the family business. My parents are forcing me to take over it though. This is why I am here" Surprise is painted thickly over my face. Wow. I would have just assumed she just wanted the honour of competing… as it is in district two…
"You volunteered just so you didn't have to take over the business?" By the sound of Peeta's voice it seems he is just as surprised as me.
"I know it sounds crazy but in a way it is a win-win situation… If I win the games I will be rich and won't have to get a job or take over any business. If I die… I won't have to spend the rest of my life doing something I despise."
"Death would be a form of escape on its own" Peeta agrees.
"Well I'm not going to try and die straight away and I hope you aren't either"
"Why would you care? One more death means you're one step closer to home"
"Because you are intriguing, and I still have to figure you out." I hear Peeta laugh.
"Oh really? What makes me so intriguing then?"
"Everything about you, your posture, your appearance, your shy frontier and your interview was definitely more than interesting… Do you really like that girl?"
"Yes I do. I know this isn't the greatest place to be having love for other people but it doesn't stop you and Cato" I desperately try to hold in my laughter. That one definitely blew up in her face! I can't wait to see what she has to say to that!
"Can you keep a secret?" she whispers. I have to stand back up just to make the words audible.
"Sure"
"He abuses me"
"What?"
"He abuses me. Whenever I say something he doesn't agree to he gets violent…"
"You mean he results in physical contact?" Peeta's voice is full of concern. That's not what she told me. Funny that…
"See this? Cato did this to me just two nights ago"
"Oh my gosh Glimmer, are you okay?"
"It's not as bad as it looks luckily. I'm just afraid with what he would do if I told him it was over" Her voice is gone into a frightened high-pitched mode. Wow. She is good.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I guess my only choice is to act like his girlfriend whenever I'm around him… It just makes it so hard when I have feelings for someone else"
"Who?"
"Hey guys! What are you two doing out here this late at night?" I suddenly say, breaking up whatever outcome was going to come off their conversation. I climb up the cornucopia joining the two tributes.
"Hey Clove" Peeta is the first to greet. I can see by Glimmer's eyes that she isn't exactly thrilled by my presence.
"We were just talking, what are you doing out here?" Glimmer asks, trying deeply to keep the anger out of her voice. It works too, just.
"I was looking for you. I woke up and you were gone. Do you mind if I join your conversation?" I ask almost cheekily.
"Actually we were kind of talking about something private" Glimmer says.
"Oh, I almost forgot the reason why I woke. Cato barged in. He asked where you were. He seemed pretty angry… you might want to get back quickly before he ends up doing something terrible" One look at Glimmer's face shows my triumph. She wouldn't dare break her cover to Peeta about this whole abusing thing, then there would be no hope for them to be together…
"You better go Glimmer. I don't want anything horrible to happen to you. Who knows what will happen if you leave it for too late" Peeta says, his voice filled with worry. He is such a sympathetic person. Peeta and I are both looking at Glimmer now, frustration lathering her face. To Peeta this would be a normal reaction to this situation. Only I know the real reason…
"We can talk later, don't worry" Peeta tells her.
"See you later" She says angrily as she reluctantly slides down the golden wall and ventures into the foggy abyss.
"We should probably get back… and get some sleep before tomorrow" Peeta says.
"You tired?" I ask.
"Not really, but I'm a realistic. We are going to need our strength"
"You're probably right. Let's head then?" I say and in response he slides down the wall and waits for me. I jump off, not bothering to slide and land on an unprepared Peeta. "Sorry, are you okay?" My eyes lock onto his. Peeta laughs before slowly getting up.
"Yeah don't worry about me I am fine. Are you alright?" I nod in reply. Still watching him for bruises or any damage I could have inflicted on him.
"So how are you fitting into our little circle?"
"I'm not really sure, Glimmer and you have seemed to welcome me but the guys are a little more resistant…"
"Don't worry Cato's always that way with everyone" Apparently even his girlfriend…
"Yeah, he does kind of give me that impression" He agrees.
We have walked one hundred metres when I notice that Peeta is limping. Oh no. I hope I didn't permanently screw up his leg… "Here let me give you a hand with that" I say as I wrap his arm around my shoulder, offering him support.
"Thanks" He says, in return for my help he gives me a wide smile. I have never seen such a genuine smile anywhere. We manage to hobble over to the lake in a matter of time. I guide him towards his tent where he gladly crawls in. "I really appreciate that Clove" He speaks softly.
"Well I did cause the damage, so it's only fair. I'll let you get some rest now. Your leg is going to definitely need it" I walk back towards where my tent lays where no doubt an unhappy Glimmer rests.
(OOC: I hope you enjoyed it, if not message me why so I can improve my skills as a writer! Don't be shy! Reviews are gladly accepted! Oh and next chapter is in Foxface's POV)