Chapter 8: Jed

The cameras are still flashing as the train pulls out of the station. As we move away from them they morph into one glittering speck.

Stella and I sit in what must be the dining room because a huge oak table takes up most of the space. I look away from the window to find her sitting at the front of it, tapping her fingers on the varnished surface, they move in time to the ticking of cloak. Apart from that, we sit in silence, not knowing what to say to each other, unable to decide whether we're friends because of the connection between us or enemies because my farther won when her aunt failed. I search hopelessly for something to say, hating the silence which seems to shroud the room. I'm just about to comment on how shiny the table is when she lifts her head up and asks:

"What did he do to her?"

"What?"

"What did your farther do to Nina?" the name rings a huge bell; I know I've heard it before but I can't remember where.

"I...I don't know, I know nothing about her."

"He never mentioned her at all?" She frowns. That's when every memory I have of that name rushes through my head. There have been many times when I've woken up to hear Dad murmuring it in his sleep. It's often accompanied with things like: "I'm sorry", "I know I promised" and "what choice did I have?"

"No, he doesn't talk about his Games, he sees them enough in his sleep." She looks like she's going to say something else but then the man himself walks in, looking as bewildered as I feel. Torey and Cassia follow behind him. I want him to hug me and comfort like he did the time I broke my arm falling out of a tree. But he can't, not in front of all these people.

"Hello, Jedrek and Stella, I'm Torey Lawrence as you already know I'll be mentoring with Cole." It's clearly the first time Torey's talked today because Dad and Cassia look at her with slight astonishment, as she was a baby saying her first word. Her voice sounds controlled, politely ordering me to pay attention to what she says, but it's strangely soothing, like her grey eyes. She shakes our hands as if we'd finished a business deal.

"Umm, please call me Jed", I blurt out. I hate my name, I've never fully understood why, it doesn't sound sophisticated or tough or cool, it's doesn't sound like anything.

Dad stares at Stella for a few seconds, as unsure as to what to say as I was. Cassia jabs him from behind with her creepy long, scarlet nails which are the exact seem shade as her hair, irritated by his apparent rudeness.

"Er…hello, Stella, I'm Cole...perhaps your farther has said something about me..."

"He's said a few things." There's something about the way she says it that suggests that none of them were good.

"Oh, do you know him then? My, this is a coincidence" Cassia babbles, thinking that the awkwardness of this scene had passed.

"We used to", Dad answers trying to kill any possibility of a conversation about it. But she doesn't seem to get the message.

"What do you mean?" she persists trying to unearth what he's hiding.

"Cassia, I think your lipstick has smudged" Torey says, looking intently at her crimson lips, which appear to be fine. She lets out a yelp as if she's just been told her toe has fallen off. She rushes out of the room, towards the nearest mirror.

Torey turns back to us.

"Today has been very eventful, I'm sure you'll all like to retire to your rooms for a few hours; have some privacy. Cassia will call you when the reapings are on." Dad nods, a thankful expression on his face.

"You're right, we all need a break from what's to come."