Chapter 6

I can't believe he actually said yes. But then again, this is Finnick I'm talking about.

"By the way, what's that weird looking shape formed on the cake?" Finnick suddenly asks, gathering everyone's glance to the cake.

"Oh, our Johanna here has no manner at all," Marcie says hurriedly and Finnick bursts into laughter, making my face turn into a tomato.

"Wow, isn't that wierd. You, having white cream all over your face and m, perfectly clean while I'm the one who dumped my head into a cake and screamed like a pig in a TV show," I retort.

"But then again, that cream is definitely not from the cake," Finnick says. Now I'm really confused. Does he believe that slut or not?

"Hey, do you guys know what happened last night?" Marcie suddenly asks. I open my mouth to say something smart ass about changing subject, but Linden mouths be nice to me, so I let her continue.

"Johanna fell down on her face in the bathroom. Told me she slipped. I should probably teach her about being carefull, don't you think?" Excuse me? You're the one who pushed me hard, and I still did not fall down.

"After all, steadiness is pretty important in the games. Not that I blame her. I figured that most girls from seven are not really carefull, which is why I am the only female victor from seven and always be the only one."

What did she just say?

"Excuse me?" Lucas hisses.

"Oops. Silly me. Of coures Johanna has a chance to win. After all, her bitchiness would save her life,"

Okay, that's it. Screw Linden and his strategies.

I launch myself onto her, tackling her to the ground. Look who's fallen on the ground now?

"I'm sorry, but care to repeat your last sentence?"

"Johanna..." Linden says in a dangerously low voice, but I ignore him.

"Johanna! Calm down! I meant female dog of course," Marcie says, remaining her calmness and laughing slightly. "We all know how smart dogs are. Especially females."

"You're right. Actually, I think I'll be calling you b*tch since you are so smart and clearly not offended by the word," I say calmly, but still gripping her shoulders tightly.

"That's enough, Johanna," Linden says, dragging me off Marice.

"Great! Of course you're here helping her! Tell me, Linden. Are you genuinely doing this for my angle or do you just want her body to be in perfection when you have her in your bed?"

Then, something I didn't expected happens. Finnick laughs. Really hard.

"Oh wow, Linden. Is that true? Actually, now that I think about it, that does sound like a possible reason. What do you say, Linden?"

"Finnick. Outside. Now," Linden hisses, but Finnick doesn't lose his playfulness even when his heading out.

"Johanna, go to your room and cool off a bit. Lucas, I don't give a crap about you. Marcie, you're coming with me."

"Oh, of course she's coming with you! Have fun with her!" I yell, choking back my hysteric laugh.

"I'm not screwing her Johanna! Don't say anything that just pops into your mind!" He yells back for the first time.

"You know, I thought you were different. I thought you were the most decent victor. I thought you won't be fooled by that slut. Guess I was wrong. Try not to gasp her name too much while I'm trying to cool off in the room right next to yours," I say, then I leave to punch some pillows.

...

Oh, what's wrong with me. I yelled at Linden for nothing. Well, maybe not nothing. I swear I heard him gasp her name last night. Gross. But still, I bet he was trying to help me to survive. right? Right? Ugh. I hate everyone. Marcie, Linden, Trey...

Then, someone knocks on my door.

"If you're Trey, get lost. If you're Linden, leave before I give you a black eye. If you're Marcie, which is not possible, screw you!"

"And if it's Lucas, come in?"

"Yes, you can come in," I say, sighing, and the door creaks open, revealing a black haired boy behind it.

"Hey. Are you feeling any better?" He asks with his usual gentle voice, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"To be honest, I don't think that's possible before the game ends. Actually, even after that, considering I'd be dead by then."

"Wait, are you saying you don't think you're gonna win?"

"Let's face it, I'm just a hopeless girl like she said."

"First off, I don't give a crap about what she says. Secondly, I think you're the bravest girl I've ever met."

"Thanks, Lucas. You're the best you know."

"Oh, I always am."

"Okay, maybe not always," I say, grinning, and he follows me.

"But even if I win," I say after a bit of silence, "I don't think it will be better. Maybe even worse."

"What an ironic situation, huh? You don't wanna die, but you don't want to live either," he says, his voice almost a whisper. "But Johanna. You have to promise me that you will try. For your family. If not that, for me."

"But why for you? It means you're gonna... Die."

"I... This might sound wierd because it hasn't been long since we've met, but I actually care about you. And I don't-"

"Johanna? Are you in there?" Linden's voice.

I don't answer.

"If you are, you might want to go to sleep because tomorrow, you have training session."

I listen to his footsteps fade away.

"Why does he even care?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"Johanna. You have to know that he does want you to win."

"He slept with her," I blurt out.

"I'm not that surprised," He says.

"What do you mean?" Does he think that she's attractive too?

"Every victors have their own way to blow away their stress. Someone drinks, someone takes drugs, and Linden... Uses Marcie."

"I didn't see him as that kind of guy."

"Okay. Enough of serious crap. Did you see how Marcie looked like when she was fluttering her eyelids which had cake cream all over? And Trey was just like what's this soup made of?"

"Yeah and the look on her face when I puked on her," I say, giggling.

"And how she thought Finnick was totally into her while he was laughing at her."

"I'm not totally sure about that," I say bitterly. "He agreed to go out on a date with her."

"Wait a minute. Can that be jealous I hear?"

"Shut up, Lucas!"

"So I'm right? Johanna Mason crushing over the Odair?"

But there's something wrong. I can see a wierd emotion in his eyes that I can't read.

"No, you're wrong. By the way, he's too old for my taste."

"Well, good thing that I'm only an year older than you. Congratulations, Ms. Mason. You can have Lucas Parker as your boyfriend."

"You have a weird style of asking girls out," I say, laughing hard.

"Trust me, you'll be all over me very soon."

"Ha. Like that would ever happen."

"Okay, little girl. I believe it's your bed time now," he says, standing up, ready to leave.

"Wait, Lucas. Don't leave. Stay with me. I think I'll be having nightmares tonight."

"See? My charm is already working on you," he says, chuckling, but lies down on my bed anyway.

He turns off the light and takes his shirt off. Not wanting to br caught staring, I turn around.

"Good night," I whisper.

"You too. Dreaming of me will help a lot."

"Oh yeah, very likely," My sarcasm is the last thing I think about before falling asleep.