When I'm placed on the train, Nick comes one right after me and he sits next to me on the booth I am sitting on.
"You know, Hailey Primrose Mellark, you never told me your secret, I feel quite jipped." Why is this kid so charming? I look at the smile on his face, and it makes me smile back. I really don't like how he makes me feel so vulnerable. So of course I can't hold on to secret, because his smirking face is reeling me in.
I tell Nick how I stayed up to watch the 74th Hunger Games, every scary and disturbing detail, I didn't realize I was crying and how frantic I sounded, until I got up to telling him about my nightmare. I tell him about how he was trying to kill me.
I realize that he is staring at me so intensely with warmness in his eyes, so much like Gale. He is hugging me, telling me to relax, that he never plans to kill me. Which I find odd, since he is supposed to be planning my death soon anyway.
"Shh… Hailey, relax." He is gripping me and his grip is just too perfect to let it go, so I don't. I look back up at his face.
"I can't Nick, every time I close my eyes, it comes back. Everything." I wipe my eyes, calming down. I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm usually the strong one, holding in everything, and handling them by myself, I barely tell my parents about my feelings, what makes it so easy to tell this boy I barely know? What is it about this boy that I can't figure out?
My eyes are getting heavy, Nick can tell I'm tired, he lets go of the grip we were in, putting his head on his shoulder and wraps my legs around his. I feel perfect, I feel like I can't be harmed. I feel like I'm supposed to be in Nick's lap wrapped around him. "Sleep." He says. "If you have a nightmare, I'll wake you up" I don't have time to thank him or object because I fall asleep as soon as my head hits his broad shoulder.
He couldn't keep them away, the nightmares. This one was different though, it started with me and Nick, sitting in a cave, much like the one mom and dad were in. At first I didn't think it was a bad dream. Nick and I were cuddled together around a warm fire. We were even talking, but then from a shadow in the cave, I spot a figure. I gasp as the figure moves towards us, its Cato.
Nick and I run as fast as we can. Cato finds us hiding behind a big tree. The smile on his face is so devious, like he is going to enjoy killing us. Cato is attacking Nick; I'm screaming, "NICK NO! CATO GET AWAY FROM NICK." He kills nick, throwing a knife into his chest. Nick is laying there in his pool of blood, it's a horrifying sight, and it feels too real. I'm waiting for Cato to get me next. But he doesn't,
Because the next thing I see are mom and dad yelling at Nick.
"What did she say!" Dad isn't yelling, that was mom's voice. Dad looks madder at the fact that Nick and I were cuddled on the booth. I'm shaking from the dream, still shocked that Nick is still alive, next to me. Mom sees me and comes closer while dad is eyeing Nick. I think Nick feels his vibe because he is backing away from me talking my head off his chest and unwraps my legs from his lap.
"Hailey, I need you to tell me what your dream was about." I could tell mom was trying to be calm but even in my hazy view I could tell she was about to freak out. I know now, definitely that she heard me yell Cato. Nick stands up awkwardly and says "I'm going to find Effie." Before leaving, he locks his eyes on mine and walks out before dad can chase him out of the room.
I sit up and clear my throat and come clean about the whole thing. I tell them every detail, like I told Nick, except it's harder because instead of his warm eyes, I see mom's empty stare. Looking at mom while she is having a moment like that is painful so I mostly look at dad, telling him everything I saw. Then I tell them about my nightmares and how the ghost of Cato is in my mind and won't go out.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"I knew you guys didn't want me know this stuff, and I really wish I didn't watch it." Moms face is still empty. "Sorry Mom." I say hugging her, I'm happy when I realize she hugs me back. "If it makes it better, I didn't see the ending, Haymitch made me turn it off." I don't know if it made it better at all since I'm sure there was no more violence.
Mom laughs unexpectedly, its soft, but it's still a laugh. "The most infamous part?" Now it's dad turn to laugh, leaving me wondering what they were talking about.
"Well you were madly in love." Dad says in a sarcastic tone, leaving me even more confused. The two of them are laughing like there isn't a care in the world. Its nice seeing them like this even though I'm not sure why.
"What?" I say, realizing that I am very tired and the little nap did nothing. They're looking at each other with smiles on their faces. "Whatever, I'm tired, goodnight." I say to them. I get up leaving them to reminisce about the past.
In the next room I find Effie, though it's nice to see another face, I'm disappointed that it isn't Nick.
"Hailey! Oh my, you need to get your beauty rest!" Effie leads me to a room. It's simple inside, a bed and a dresser. I don't bother to change my clothes. I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow; it's actually an enjoyable sleep. No nightmares, I guess I feel less guilty. I'm not over the things I saw, but I feel a little bit safer, now that my parents know and Nick.
I wake up to Effie knocking on the door. "Wake up! It's going to be a big big day!" her excitement annoys me, maybe because I just woke up. I grab clothes and quickly change, because I find myself very hungry.
I walk out of the door of my room, letting my nose lead me towards the food. When I get to the table I see Effie unsuccessfully trying to start a conversation between Dad and Nick, but Nick is sitting awkwardly not talking, he is acting nothing like the guy that I feel vulnerable with. I can't help but laugh at the sight of it; this causes all of them to look at me. And I look back at all three of them,
Effie, her pale face, caked with makeup that was way too bright for my taste, she looks excited, and I'm not sure why.
Dad looks at me, but he realizes Nick is staring at me, he looks back at him, and he is always looking at Nick.
And saving the best face for last I look at Nick, who no doubt is curious about my dream I had last night. I say nothing though and sit down in the seat between Nick and dad, guessing it was meant for me to sit in.