Hey people. The two week holiday is over and school has started again. I'm probably not going to update as quick as I did but I promise I'll update at least 2 times a week. You have NO idea how I hate school. BTW, I'm gonna be busy writing songs for this band I just unofficially joined. So, yeah, slow moving... Thanks for the people who reviewed the last three chapters. Here's the tenth chapter. Let's just say... it's not really my favourite one. It seems messily written to me.


Frostbite

Chapter Ten – Reunion || Defiance

No, it couldn't be. Is it really Blair? I'm about to say her name but stop because, after making sure no one is looking, she puts a finger to her lips and rush off. Not to mention I'm still in a coughing fit, anyways.

"Bliss, are you alright?" Lysander asks, thumping my back.

"I… I… I'm fine. It's just… the wine." I say. "It tastes horrible!"

I hear Ginger making a "hmph" sound. "Well, maybe it's a little too strong for you. I'm sure people in your district have never tasted wine before."

I look up in surprise to see how offended Ginger is. I didn't think a little comment about the wine could spoil her mood. This is also another thing I hate about Capitol people; they overreact. Plus, I wasn't lying. The wine did taste horrible in my opinion. It tastes dry and just a sip from it, I already feel dizzy.

They go back to talking about the accident with the District 11 and District 12 girls. As much as this topic intrigues me and I would like to know more about it, I'm too distracted by the thought that Blair is here. I don't see her again throughout the rest of the meal. Where has she gone to? Did she leave me – again? Or… maybe everything was just a figment of my imagination? Oh, wait, I'm hallucinating now? If I am, I blame it all entirely on the wine. Blair's disappearance after that confirms my suspicion that I'm hallucinating.

Even when it's time for dessert, everyone is still talking about the training incident. They're talking about what type of punishment the District 12 girl will get when Lysander says, "Oh, I heard she was suspended. They're still trying to figure out a punishment for her. Maybe they'd just execute her."

The crème brulèe I'm eating gets stuck in my throat. They're planning to kill the District 12 girl?! Donovan and I exchange looks of shock. I would have thought she would get a whipping or get disqualified from the Games – though I think that would be more of a gift than a punishment.

I immediately lose my appetite and push my dessert away from me. They're talking about the latest fashion trends now and I know I no longer need to listen to any of it. Since we no more reasons to stay, Donovan and I are dismissed.

"So," he says as we stop in the middle of the hallway on the way to our rooms. "That was… something, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," is all I can get out. What does he expect me to say? Even I, who have always been so full of comments and opinions, am left speechless. I could go on and on about how unfair the Capitol was but that girl just stabbed another tribute for, I presume no reason.

We stand in awkward silence before he says, "I'll see you in the morning, Bliss."

I nod and head straight for my room, my eyes locked to the ground. I shut the door behind me and when I look up, I find myself shocked (yet again). Standing in front of me is Blair.

"Please," I say, "don't let this be a figment of my imagination!"

She smiles in response. Immediately, I run to her and hug her. This is real, I think. I know it is. How can I hug a figment of imagination? I know they'll just turn to air but this… Blair is solid and she's hugging me back. I know this is real. I pull away to take a look at her. She looks older, obviously. I can see the dark circles under her eyes as a result of working so much as an Avox. She looks well-fed, though. I'm sure the Capitol gives Avoxes enough food.

Ten years I haven't seen her, and now I'm so filled with joy.

Blair is smiling but it doesn't reach her eyes. They hold sympathy, misery, regret. I'm reminded of why I'm here, where I'm going and I, too, smile in sympathy to myself.

"I wish the circumstances were different," I whisper.

She nods in reply. I feel so sad for her. I wonder how it must feel like with a maimed tongue. She always used to love to sing and the Capitol took that away from her.

"Did you know from the beginning that I was here?"

She nods again.

Inside, my heart breaks. I'm glad to see her but I long to hear her voice, to hear her comforting words. I want to hear her saying she misses me and that she loves me because I really need those words right now. I can only imagine what she would say.

"There's so much I want to ask but…"

She stares at me in grief. But because I can't talk, I imagine her thinking.

"Will you stay with me?"

She nods again. She takes a few steps back and waves her hand up and down in my direction. You're so grown up, I imagine her saying. Well, I guess I am, since the last time she saw me was when I was eight-years-old.

"You look old, Blair," I joke.

She lets out a laugh and I'm surprised. It takes me awhile to realize that even though her tongue is cut, it doesn't mean her voice has miraculously disappeared. She can talk, I'm sure, but not properly.

We find ourselves sitting on the sofa; my head leaning against Blair's shoulder and her making tiny braids in my hair. If only our mother was here, then it would be perfect. If only the circumstances are different; that Blair isn't an Avox or that I'm not heading for my death. Most people would cry and hug and talk, but this our own unique reunion. Even if Blair can talk, we'd still be in silence. This silence is comforting and I'd rather stay in it forever.

I sigh. If only I can talk to my mother and tell her I'm with Blair. She's fine, mom, I imagine saying, better than you think. Blair is a strong person and I'm proud that she's able to get through all of this. My mother is probably worried sick, but if only I can tell her that as long as I'm with Blair, I'm fine.

There's a question I'm aching to ask but I don't dare to because I know it's going to spoil the moment and because I won't get an answer anyway; why didn't you come back after you left? Blair knew my mother and I both depended our lives on her. How could she just leave us?

"Stay with me," I whisper, holding onto her hand tightly like I'm afraid someone will take her away from me, before falling into sleep.

~/~/~/~

"Rise and shine, sleepy head!"

I push my face further into my pillow. Not now, Blair. I feel so tired and exhausted from yesterday's training, even though all I did was try to look like a tree.

"Wake up, dear, we don't want to be late for breakfast, do we?"

I frown in my pillow, my eyes still shut. That's not Blair – unless she miraculously grows her tongue back and her voice starts sounding like Ginger Von Dane. I risk a peek and I definitely see Ginger standing beside me.

After showering and pulling on some clothes, I head to breakfast. I don't get much too eat, though, because I woke up late and it's already nearing ten o'clock. Isabelle keeps reminding Donovan and me to stick to the stations that we have to.

The camouflage trainer is surprised to see me again and welcomes me back whole-heartedly. I only return him with a smile and get to work. The scene is the same; the forest again. A few people come and go, most are curious why I stay here and I answer them with a simple, "mentor's instructions". I'm getting better at camouflaging myself, though.

I don't see the girl for District 12 training near the spears. I don't give care, though. Dealishea is nowhere to be found and I'm guessing she's still injured. It's bad that she's missing a day of training – she'll go unprepared to the arena.

"Is the camouflaging station your favorite or something, Bliss Morgan?"

I turn around and am shocked to find Damien here again. The blood rushes up to my cheeks and I swiftly turn away. "It's my mentor's instructions," I mutter.

From the corner of my eye, I see him crouching down next to me. "You should tell that mentor of yours that defense isn't the only thing you should be training for. Take me and my friends for example; we go for the offense."

"I can see that," I reply, butterflies in my stomach. "You should tell that mentor of yours that offense isn't the only thing you should be training for."

"Eh, my mentor tells me to do whatever I want. It's Tybalt I'm answering to."

I stay silent. I have no answer for that. So, I guess he's just a little lapdog for Tybalt, huh?

"Hey, I just noticed," he says, "You have pretty eyes."

I gulp. If my cheeks were pink then, they're definitely scarlet now. What is he doing? Is this some sort of strategy or something? Is he planning to make every girl from every district fall in love with him so they won't attack him or something? Wait, hold on – fall in love? I'm not in love. I don't think I'm falling for him. These butterflies in my stomach are just a result of him being near me… I think. I've never had a guy who's the same age as me this near to me.

That's a lame excuse, Bliss, and you know it.

"What are you even doing here, Damien?" I hiss. "Aren't your Career friends worried about you?"

"Okay, fine. I get the hint; I'm unwanted. I'll go away."

He leaves and I feel so relieved. This isn't a time for me to get distracted. I know Damien has a plan and I'm not going to fall for it. I go over and over again with the camouflaging and my trainer says I'm really improving.

We finish around suppertime again but this time our stylists aren't here. Like last night, Donovan and I are flooded with millions of questions. Again, I have little to share with them and so does Donovan. So, Isabelle decides to talk strategy.

"Bliss," she starts, "you know, you're a fairly pretty girl. Not as gorgeous as Serena or Brielle, but pretty."

I furrow my eyebrows. What's she getting at? "Uh… thanks?"

"Try to be friends with the Career boys. Make an alliance with them so that you'll instantly have protection at the Cornucopia. Use your charm."

I stare at her and it finally dawns on me; she's trying to make me exactly like her. By "be friends with" I know she means "flirt with". She's putting me at the camouflaging station because she plans for me to hide and run like her. No, I'm not going to degrade, humiliate and turn myself into a coward like her.

That's when I decide I'm no longer going to listen to my mentor anymore.