I haven't been able to sleep since hearing the conversation between Rumson and Hadley, so I made my way to the observation room just to look at the stars. There's no way for us to be able to see the outside from District Thirteen being so far underground, so the observation room is the best thing we have. I lied on the floor and stared at the night sky. This didn't feel the same as lying in the soft grass connecting the constellations. I miss breathing the crisp air filling the Earth and the moonlight beaming onto my face. I miss hearing the owls hooting in the trees and the bats scurrying. I yearn for the sound of the crickets chirping in the brush.

"Can't sleep either," a small voice asked.

I turned around and saw Kalise in her onesie. Seeing her put the biggest smile on my face.

"Just stressed is all," I replied.

"Me, too. Working in that infirmary is exhausting."

"I could only imagine."

Kalise laid her blanket next to me and lied down.

"Did you know about all of this," I asked, "Were you in on this whole rebellion thing?"

"No. Kindra filled me in on it when we all joined together. She said that I would be needed here and that she would make sure I was brought here."

"I'm sorry you got roped into all this."

"I'm not. I didn't have to die in the games. How I think of it, you saved my life."

"You saved mine, too. Look what you did when I got stung by the trackerjackers. Or what about Finn? Or when I almost died fighting Remy? You're a smart kid, Kalise. You saved my life."

Kalise smiled, "So, what's going on?"

"With what?"

"You know. You and Hadley and Rumson."

"Other than me marrying Hadley, nothing."

"I see the way Rumson looks at you."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. He's in love with you. And I think you're starting to love him, too."

"I don't think so, Kalise."

"I do."

"What makes you say that?"

"You look at him like I look at chocolate. And I love me some chocolate!"

I couldn't help but laugh. Kalise's innocence brings me to a simpler time in my life where I didn't have a care in the world. Life was much simpler before all of this. I wish I could go back to that.

"Come on," I said signaling to Kalise, "How about we go get you some chocolate?"

"Okay," she gleefully answered, "As long as you don't tell my parents. They'll be so mad if they knew I was eating sweets at this time of night."

"Do they even know that you're here?"

"Nah. They're still trying to get comfortable here. They haven't even realized that I've been gone."

Kalise and I went to the cafeteria and grabbed some chocolate. Was she right? Was it that blatantly obvious that I was not only in love with Hadley, but falling in love with Rumson, too? I've tried to stifle it and put it away, but it was becoming more difficult. I love they both became so significant in my life that the thought of them not being there tears my spirit apart.

"So, if you had to choose," I asked Kalise, "Would you rather me be with Rumson or Hadley?"

"I think that's for you to decide, Rue," Kalise answered as she was eating chocolate.

"But who do you like better?"

"Honestly, Rumson. Hadley's nice and all, but Rumson is so dreamy."

I chuckled by her thought process, "Hadley's pretty dreamy, too."

"Yeah, but Rumson is strong and gorgeous. Hadley's nice and sweet."

"You guys talking about me down here," a voice said laughing, "I think I'm pretty dreamy myself, if I may say."

Kalise and I turned around to see Rumson standing at the doorway of the cafeteria. We immediately started laughing like young girls in the schoolyard. Rumson sat at the table with us and joined for chocolate.

"You know," Rumson began, "I'm not much of a chocolate fan, but it tastes pretty damn good here."

Kalise nodded her head in approval.

"Guess you can't sleep either," Kalise asked.

"Nah. Not really."

"Kalise," I said, "Why don't you run back to bed before your parents find out you're not there?"

"Okay," she answered, "But be good, you two! She's about to be a married woman!"

Kalise placed two of her fingers by her eyes and pointed them back at Rumson. He chuckled as she walked out.

"So," I said eating chocolate, "I heard your little conversation with Hadley."

"Look, I'm really sorry about putting you guys in a weird space. It was selfish of me to get in the middle of you guys."

"You didn't. It's my decision to do whatever I want."

"So, you gonna marry him?"

"I don't know. I love him, but I'm kinda stuck in the middle right now."

"If you love him, marry him."

"It's not that easy."

"Love's never easy, Rue."

"Not when there's someone else in the middle of it all."

Rumson and I stared into each other's eyes.

"I love you, Rue Mellark."

"I think I love you, too."

I leaned over to him and kissed him. His perfectly plump lips locked onto mine.

"Please, Rue," he said leaning his forehead into mine, "Don't marry him."

"It's not that easy."

"Then let's make tonight easy."

Rumson grabbed my hand and walked me to the observation room. He locked the door behind him and slowly walked towards me. He softly placed his hands on my waist.

"Miss Rue Primrose Mellark," Rumson asked, "Would you care to have this dance with me?"

"But there's no music," I laughed.

"There doesn't always need to be music to dance."

He held my hand and lifted it to the side of him. Slowly, he swayed back and forth with his cheek on mine. Quietly, I heard him humming a tune in my ear. I closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest. His voice is truly beautiful to listen

I listened to his heart racing faster and faster as he held me closer to him. Rumson pulled me away and twirled me with his hand. He yanked me close to him and stared into my eyes. I was entranced by his crystal blue eyes and beautiful locks of platinum hair. He continued humming as we were dancing. Suddenly, he slowly dipped me towards the floor and lifted me up onto my feet.

The humming stopped. He took a step back and bowed.

"Well, well, well, Miss Mellark," he said, "You really have some wonderful dance moves."

"Well, I did have a lovely partner to guide me through it," I replied as I curtsied.

Rumson laughed and lied on the floor. Of course, I followed suit. He sighed as he looked up towards the stars.

"You nervous about tomorrow," he asked.

"A little," I replied, "I've never really been one to stand out."

"Bullshit."

"It's not bullshit!"

"It absolutely is!"

"And why do you say that?"

"You almost killed me for swinging at your brother! You were being watched and you damn sure were noticed!"

"I didn't think about it at that time. I just saw someone threatening my family and I had no other choice."

"But you stood out. And you stood out more than any other tribute there!"

I blushed.

"Rue, you are the daughter of Katniss Everdeen, the Mockingjay that overthrew the government before. You gotta look deep inside of you to find that inner Mockingjay. Everyone's depending on you."

"But what if I fail?"

"You have all of us on your side. You can do it."

He held my hand as we looked at the stars. This was as mystical as our night in the Arena. Through all of this confusion and turmoil, there was one thing that was certain: I was unconditionally in love with two men.

"I should be getting to bed," Rumson said lifting himself, "Hadley's gonna be looking for you soon if you don't get back there."

"Wait," I said, "Can you stay with me?"

"You know Hadley's gonna kill me for this."

"I'll talk to him. Please stay with me."

My persistent begging convinced Rumson. He lied back down on the floor and stared at the stars with me. I couldn't help but stare at him lazily looking at the night sky. Something about him was so soft, yet so rugged. He wasn't the same person I saw at the parade or the preliminary events. He was both a lover and a fighter. I was captivated by him. I was entranced by Rumson, and I don't know if anything could change that.