Hey guys! I'm so so so sorry for not updating until now. I've had loads to do, plus I've got a small case of writers-block. I hope it will pass soon since I'll desperately try to get the next chapter quicker than this chapter. Thanks for staying with me and enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 8 – Goodbye
Alec and I walked in silence on our way to the bedrooms. I wanted to talk to him but I didn't know what to say. But it would be my last chance to talk to him alone before the whole of Panem would be watching. We were going to be allies in the arena but we hadn't really talked about it. I guess that we both didn't count on that we would find each other in the arena.
But I needed to say something. Not just say, do something. Specially if it would be the last thing I'd do.
"I guess I'll see tomorrow" said Alec when we reached our rooms. His voice was full of sadness and grief.
"I hope so" I answered. Alec nodded slightly before he slowly turned around to enter his bedroom.
If I was going to do it, I had to do it now. Come on know, Ginny! It's now or never. Do it! Do it! Do it! "Alec?"
"Yes?" He turned around towards me. Before I could change my mind. Before he could hesitate. Before anyone got to us. I leaned in and kissed him. At first he was chocked but then he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my closer as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I couldn't tell how long we kissed, it felt like eternity. But at some point he lead me into his room so that we wouldn't be seen. Eventually we broke the kiss but only for air.
"Why didn't we do this earlier?" asked Alec, still with his arms around my waist.
"I don't know" I answered and leaned my forehead on his chest. Somehow I knew he smiled when he leaned in and started to kiss my neck softly. I'm not going to say that it wasn't nice. It was, but it started to feel too far.
"Stop" I said when he started to lead me to the bed.
"What, why?" Alec stared at me, confused.
"Well, I've only known you for a couple of days, if we would do you know what I wouldn't be able to handle if anything happened to you, we're only fifteen…" I kept on rambling because the actual reason felt so embarrassing, though I had to say it. Alec deserved a proper explanation. "And honestly… I'm not ready…" My face flushed to a deep red color and I looked away. I stared anywhere but at Alec. That was the truth. I wasn't ready.
"Hey…" Alec guided my face so that I was forced to look at him. He kissed me lightly. "It's okay. Really, you don't have to. We don't have to." I smiled a 'thank you' and leaned in to rest my head on his chest.
"I know it's stupid of me to ask since I just turned you down but can I sleep in here tonight? I don't want to be alone." I felt him nod.
"Sure" he answered.
I left him on the bed and went in my own room to change from my beautiful interview dress into the soft nightgown I'd slept in every night since I got here. I stuffed my bed with pillows and turned off the lights before I sneaked into Alec again in his room.
He'd also changed, into a black pajama. He sat on one side of the bed, under the sheets waiting for me. Suddenly I felt really embarrassed and looked on the floor.
"I'm not going to bite, you know" said Alec smiling. "Besides, you were the one that asked for this, remember?"
I swear my face flushed to the same color as a tomato. I smiled a bit before I walked over to him as he patted the empty space on the bed next to him. After I sat down Alec threw the cover over me, I leaned into him and he put his arm around my shoulder. For a couple of minutes we were just laying there in silence.
"Alec" I whispered.
"Yes?"
"Promise me that we will do everything in our power to find each other after the bloodbath." Alec leaned over and gave me a long passionate kiss before he answered.
"I promise…"
After that I felt calmer and I could finally drift off into sleep. For the first time since my name was drawn I felt safe. I felt safe in Alec's arms.
XXX
"Ginny! Ginny wake up!" Some voice called for me, but I was too far away to understand much. "Ginny!"
I woke up. I was still in Alec's bed. He was still laying beside me but he looked worried.
"Ginny, you have to sneak back to your room. It's morning. They'll come and wake us up soon and if they see you in here all hell will break lose."
"Right…"
"But before you go… I'll probably not get to do this later so…" He trapped me in a long kiss that somehow felt hurried. But I could understand it. He was stressed but at the same time he wanted to show his feelings.
We were broken off my a distinct sound of clinking heels.
"Shit!" hissed Alec. "You have to go now. I'll see you later. Take care." I kissed him quickly again before I sneaked out.
The clinking sound was louder now. Flower was getting close. I ran towards the door, opened it as quiet as possible in a stressed situation, closed it almost just as quiet. I rushed to the bed and I had just thrown myself at the bed, turned around, thrown the cover over me and closed my eyes when there was a knock on the door.
"Ginny, darling! Time to wake up! It's an exciting day today!" Flower's perky voice said through the door.
The hell it was! Scary, yes! Terrifying, yes! Horrible, yes! But exciting? NO!
XXX
Alec and I avoided eye contact throughout the breakfast, though I did sneak my hand into his now and again. I forced myself to eat much, so that the hunger wouldn't be my first trouble in the arena. It wasn't a good idea. It resolved in me puking it all up 30 minutes later. Not so cozy.
"Ginny, are you okay?" asked Alec from outside the bathroom.
"I'm fine, but you don't need to see or hear this so you can go now" I answered.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes!" I realized that my voice sounded much harder than I had planned it to so I said in a calmer and nicer tone; "I'm sure Alec. I just want to be alone for a little while. Please?"
"Okay, sure…" I could hear him walking away and I sighed. The last thing I wanted to do was to start a fight with Alec but there are some points when somebody just has to alone.
After my puking incident I avoided food for the rest of the waiting time before the hovercraft came to pick us up. I know it wasn't very smart but I couldn't eat. And if I would have, I'd probably just puke it all up again in the hovercraft.
Just before we were off, I said a teary goodbye to my stylists and James. Oh James… How was I supposed to staying alive without him helping me? I was going to be all alone in the arena. Well of course I was going to be with Alec but there was a chance that Alec and I wouldn't find each in or after the bloodbath.
I met Jessna on board. With her help I managed to take a shower. Then she gave me my clothes. A pair of black tights, brownish-green pants, socks, hiking-boots, a black T-shirt, a dark green hood and a black quite thin raincoat like jacket.
"A lot of camouflage colors I see" I said to Jessna as jokingly as I was able to.
"I figured it could help you blend in in your environment" answered Jessna. Sometimes she was a total genius.
"Thank you" I said. Jessna smiled in return as she started to brush my know very long hair. She putted it up into a high ponytail, then she braided that ponytail.
Then we were there. The arena…
Jessna took me through a long corridor of catacombs and into a small room. There was a glass elevator, a couch and a table full of food and water. She offered me food but I could only get down a small piece of bread and some water. We sat quietly in the couch until an unknown voice said "Sixty seconds to launch".
Dum dum dummm! Cliffhanger! ;) I'll see you soon (in lack of a better term) and don't forget to leave a little review…
