Chapter 2: Welcome to the Show
The only thing I'm aware of throughout dinner is that Chase keeps staring at me. I try very hard to ignore it, but after a while, I can't help but feel uncomfortable. Or annoyed. It's hard to tell.
His deep green eyes meet mine and I give him the look as if saying what do you want? But I didn't say anything to him. He will be my competitor next week, and it won't matter.
Zaelynn breaks the silence between Chase, Mom, Dad, Finnick, and I at dinner when she says, "Well, I can tell you that you children are in for a treat! The Capitol is a remarkable place, not many people from the Districts get to go there!"
While the adults socialize, Chase and I stay silent. I mean, why bother saying something when I know we're thinking the same thing:
Two tributes from District 4 that both volunteered. Only one comes out.
But I will get out. I hope.
I sit on the bed in my room flipping through channels on the TV when I hear knocking at my door.
"What?" I snap.
Chase's voice is muffled by the door, "Uh, hey Avery, could I come in?"
Ummm, no.
"I guess," I reply as he's already walking in.
He takes a seat on the side of my bed and smiles at me.
"What?" I say again.
"Well, since we only have a week and a half left to live, I was thinking maybe we could spend it together," he says, clearly insinuating something deeper.
"Umm, I don't think so. Just because girls fall for that crap back at home does not mean it'll work on me."
"So you knew who I was back in District 4?" He questioned.
I wish I didn't.
"I guess, the only people I knew were the ones in my age bracket. And my father was keeping tabs on those who went to District 2."
His face occupies a look of pondering, "Well, since we already know each other," he says as he plays with my fingers, "why don't we get to know each other better."
Oh HELL to the no.
I smile at him, "Thanks. But you know, I'm good." I say, getting up from off my bed, retracting my hand in a quick and swift motion.
"Calm down," he says, coming close to me and placing his hands on my hips. "I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought we could have some fun," he says, brushing a piece of hair out of my face.
Without trying to cause a scene, I grab his hands from around me and drop them by his own side. "How about no. Goodbye Chase."
"Okay, but I'll be here if you want me," he says, walking out of the room, the door slamming behind him.
I narrow my eyes at the door where Chase had just been standing. 'I'll be here if you want me.'
Yeah, let's not.
My luck. I get the hormonal District Partner.
I shake my head in disgust. This guy really needs to leave me alone. And if he doesn't, he's going to learn the hard way that I am not someone to be messed with.
I'm not exactly a people-person. I prefer to be alone, and I guess that's what makes me a good contender for the Games. I can play a game where I won't need to rely on anyone for anything. It's the exact kind of competitor my parents have created in their factory in District 4.
Zaelynn sits Chase and me down at the table, taking a seat across from us. She exhales deeply, "Look, I know it's a little overwhelming and all right now, but…"
She then tells us how there are certain times where District Tributes will be required to dine and spend time with each other before we get to the Capitol.
Luckily, we share a train with Districts 1, 2, and 3. Which means it will be a room full of burly Career tributes.
Might as well scope out the competition, right?
Apparently Zaelynn thinks it's a good idea if Chase and I were to get to know the other tributes since she volunteered us for it.
"Why? I'm not exactly here to make friends," I say instinctively.
Even though it will give me someone else to talk to besides Chase; which is definitely a plus, I'm still not up for Zaelynn's idea.
"Avery, darling, you don't want to come off as a sourpuss to everyone else! Don't be rude!" Zaelynn replies, adjusting her dress.
Truthfully it doesn't matter the amount of protest I put up, because my mother, father and Finnick all tell me I have to do what they say.
Next thing I know, Chase and I are following Zaelynn down the hallway before walking into a room full of people.
Zaelynn smiles and strides over to where the other district escorts were standing—by both of their tributes.
"Kairi!" Zaelynn squeals, "It's been far too long, darling!" she says, walking over to the District 2 escort.
I look around the room and see the other tributes. The blonde girl from District 1 sits on a couch and plays with her hair while her district partner is asleep with his head tilted back against the couch, mouth slightly ajar.
Well, at least I'm not the only one who doesn't want to be here.
I see District 3 huddled in a corner, seeming even more anti-social than anyone else. The girl from District 2 sits on the other couch and seems to be glaring maniacally across the room. The boy from 2 is nowhere to be found.
Lucky him. He can get out of it. Nice. I'm jealous of a career. Way to start off the Games.
Chase comes up and whispers in my ear, "Follow my lead." And he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. At first I don't mind, but then his hand slides lower…
My hand immediately grabs his, my nails digging into his forearm, "Remove your hand before I break it."
"Avery, just trust me. I'm not going to do anything bad. I promise," Chase says with an innocent look in his eye. He then takes my hand and intertwines our fingers together.
One thing that's worse than when people tell me what to do; is when people think they can just get up my business and touch me.
People began looking at us from across the room, we were making a scene. Then their gazes shifted to our tangle of hands, their eyebrows raising slightly. The longer his hand was against mine, the longer I had to suppress the urge to kick him.
Finally, I released his hand and walk out of the room without another word, putting as much distance between Chase and I. Thinking of this, I look over my shoulder just to make sure he isn't following me; until I run into a solid wall.
Although it wasn't a wall, it was a person. A boy. A pretty damn muscular boy. I stand up and look into his icy blue eyes.
"Well, hey there," he says. "It's ok; you don't have to say sorry."
"Sorry for what?" I say stupidly.
He takes a bite of the apple he's holding in his hand, "You ran into me, remember?"
"Right. Well, I'll just be on my way—"
He holds out his hand, "Cato."
"Okay…well, that's great," I say, brushing his hand out of the way.
He presses on, "And you are…?"
"Umm, not anyone that you need to know. Now excuse me," I say in an annoyed voice as I walked around him and continued down the hall.
"Ouch. Nice meeting you!" he says sarcastically.
I turn and give him a glare. He laughs and smirks at me.
What's with these people?
I ignore him and keep walking. It'll only be a matter of time before Zaelynn drags me back into the 'get-together' anyway, so I might as well try to enjoy the time I have alone.
The clock said 3 p.m. when I heard light knocking at my door. I didn't really want to answer it, but I did anyway.
Cato was standing there, leaning against the doorway. "Hey," he says casually.
I cross my arms and respond, "Um, hi? What are you doing down here?"
"Well, you know, you sort of missed out on the gathering."
"Darn. I guess I'll just have to catch the next one," I say, walking away from the door.
"Plus, you never did tell me your name."
I turn around to face him, "Why do you want to know? Games are in a week, do you like to make a checklist of who you're going to get rid of first?"
Cato takes the opportunity and comes in my room, "Maybe. Or maybe I just want to know your name for...reasons."
I narrow my eyes at him, "Reasons, huh? Yeah, somehow I doubt that's it."
"You really aren't a happy person, are you?" he articulates with a smirk.
I lay down on the side of my bed, "Not when people are always in my face, and touching me...and all up in my business."
"Well, then you must not have known what you signed up for. Because from now until the Games begin, that's all you're going to be dealing with. In fact, I already feel bad for your prep team..."
"I guess that's not really your problem, is it?" I say harshly. "Wouldn't you want me to make a bad impression, since that's where sponsors come from?"
He shrugs, "So a guy can't give a fellow tribute some advice?"
"A tribute from District 2 is giving me advice? Am I missing something?" Now this guy is going to get it. "Since when do you feel obligated to help out your competition? Unlike a lot of other tributes, I do not need your help, nor did I ask for it."
Cato stands and walks towards my door, "Fine. But when Miss Sour Patch Kid is dying of thirst or has a bad cut, don't say I didn't warn you," he says, slamming the door behind him.
I roll my eyes at him, even though I know Cato can't see that through the door.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I know: The heavy mahogany door slams shut behind Zaelynn, who happens to be digging through my closet. She throws some things out into the doorway that land with a huge THUD.
I stand up a little too quickly, leaving me lightheaded, "What are you doing?"
She rummages through the options of clothes on the selection screen, "Finding you something to wear to dinner tonight. You and Chase are eating with all the tributes by the way."
"Excuse me, what? Why?" I question.
Just then, Chase walks in my room, fully dressed in a white suit with a deep green tie that matches his eyes. "So she told you the news?"
Oh, awesome.
I stood there silently, hoping the venomous look on my face would be enough to describe my enthusiasm.
"Oh!" Zaelynn squeals from inside the closet, "This is perfect! Don't you think?"
I look at what she planned for me. Zaelynn shoves me into my closet and closes the door, forcing me to try it on. "You just have to!" she says.
The sleeves reach down to my elbows. The dress is white and lacey, and reaches to my mid-thigh, if not shorter. Sighing, I wrap the chestnut brown belt around my waist before stepping out of my closet.
Zaelynn makes a few quick adjustments before guiding me to the mirror. I don't do dresses; they make me feel so…vulnerable.
Which is totally what I need right now.
After Zaelynn does my hair and puts on a light layer of makeup, we head down the hall to where Chase and I would be dining.
I glance at Chase, whose jaw is relocated on the floor when he looks at me, "Can I help you? Why do you keep staring at me?" I question.
Chase shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair, "Uh, nothing, it's just that you look great."
Yeah, okay. He's trying to distract you.
I ignore his comment and continue walking until we reach the dining car. We walk in and see both tributes from District 1, Cato, and the girl from District 2. The girl from 1 is eyeing up Cato as she applies even more lip gloss on her lips.
Chase guides us over, and I'm very aware of how low his hand is on my back. "Hey guys!" he says as if we're all best friends.
The girl from 1 smiles, "Oh, hi Chase!" she says in an annoyingly peppy voice. "Is this Avery?"
"Yes, and Avery, this is Glimmer," he points to the District 1 blonde. "And this is Marvel, Clove and Cato."
Marvel is from District 1, a tall and lean boy with light brown hair and green eyes. Clove sits next to him, the girl from 2 who looks like she's never gotten anything but coal from Santa. Her dark brown eyes are staring intently down at the knife she twirls in her fingers.
The six of us sit at the table. I sit next to Chase on one side, with Glimmer on my left; Cato sits across from me and Clove sits next to him, with Marvel on the opposite end as Glimmer. Cato smirks at me as I take my seat. The dim light reflects off of Cato's hair, the gold hue reminding me of a lion's mane.
Glimmer holds small conversations with Chase all throughout dinner, along with a few occasional comments from Marvel. She also makes many attempts to talk to Cato, asking questions about his personal life. But he stays silent; as do Clove and I.
"So Cato…" Glimmer begins again, turning to him, "Just out of curiosity, do you have a girlfriend back home that you're leaving behind?"
He opens his mouth, but I interrupt him. "Why would you ask something like that? It's not like you'll both get out so you can have him," I snap at her.
Glimmer raised her eyebrow and smiled, "Wow, does someone else want Cato too? Believe me honey," I glared at her, which she just giggled and continued, "It's not like he wants some trash from District 4."
Silence protruded throughout the room, and I'm pretty sure every other tribute is expecting me to injure her in some fashion.
I am tempted to punch her. I don't know how, but I resist. Instead, I clench my fists and put them under the table.
I wasn't going to take that lightly. I never really do. I'm excellent at holding grudges. I'll make sure she regrets it once we get to the Capitol.
I stand up from my seat and without a word head to my room, the door swinging shut behind me.
No one stops me; they all just stare at me. Smart choice.
I flop down on my bed the second I get into the room, not bothering to change or take off the makeup. I was dead tired, and within minutes, I was out cold.
Training is going to be a pain in the ass with the Careers.
If only I could kill them now.