It turns out to be Sean with a rose in his hand. "Hey" he says

"What's with the rose?"

"Oh, nothing, it just reminded me of you." He says with a smile. He hands it to me and I put it on my nightstand. "May I?" He points to the bed, obviously wanting to take a seat. Great, he's going to be here for a while.

"Sure why not." He plops himself onto the foot of my bed and I sit up, leaning against my headboard. "So what's up?"

"Umm, I gotta tell you something."

"Can't it wait until morning? It's really late. I'm tired, Sean."

"No, I won't be able to sleep until this is off my chest. I only need a minute. Please?"

I hesitantly agree and let him continue, I have no idea what can be so important. "So at the opening ceremonies… as Derek and I were in the spare room, working on my outfit…" For the first time since I've met him, he seems uncomfortable. He doesn't know how to say what he is going to tell me. I just want to scream at him to keep going. "We were talking, arguing about… ummm…"

Wait a minute… I know what this is about now! It finally comes to me that, Derek and Sean were talking about me! Oh my god! "Wait!" I stop him, I don't need him to explain, I know where he is going with this. "I overheard you talking." I look down "I know what you were talking about."

"Oh," He looks down. "So you know what he was planning to do?"

"Well not exactly…"

"Derek was planning on me to confess my love to you like Peeta Mellark did to Katniss Everdeen in their interviews and make you actually fall for me and then I kill you when you least except it. BUT if you were listening, you would know I wouldn't let him talk me into it."

"But did you ever think about it?" I keep my head down; I don't want to look into his eyes because I might get lost in them and lose my focus.

"No! Never! That is a devious and mean plan. I would never take advantage of you like that!"

"Where would he come up with that kind of idea though?"

"I don't know. It's stupid though." I look up, meeting his eyes.

"Do you?"

"Do I what?"

I exhale sharply. Gosh this is hard. "Do you like me?"

He lets out a cheap laugh. "Why?"

"I don't know. I'm just thinking that the only way he would think of the idea is if you did like me or he made it up for the fun of it…" I didn't even notice but I'm right in front of face. Our lips are at least a few inches apart. I'm looking into his eyes, searching for an answer. I don't know why I'm wondering and NEED to know enough to ask him but I am.

He looks me into the eyes, smiles, laughs a little. Than he looks down, he looks somewhat disappointed. He looks up and says, "Goodnight." He kisses my cheek and gets up. But I need an answer. I stop him in the doorway frame and face him. He is pushed up against the frame and I'm in his face. What are you doing? Is this really SO important?

I don't know why, but I'm angry. I need to know but I don't know why I need to know! I'm filled with mixed thoughts but I'm not letting him get away, not without an answer.

He says, "Before you say anything, may I ask something?"

"What?"

"Do you like me?" He smiles at me with his grin reaching from ear-to-ear.

"What? No? This is a battle to the death we are about to be thrown into and you think I can think about LOVE? Come on man, you are my friend, but if we are more than friends, one of us will end up crushed. With my luck, we'll end up having to fight each other in the arena."

He grabs my hand that's entwined in his shirt and pushes me so I'm against the doorframe now. "Why are you always thinking about the future? How about just live in the moment and then have you ever thought that you might enjoy it more? Instead of just worrying!"

"If I don't think about the future, I'll get too caught up in the present and… and…" I look away, trying to avoid eye contact but with his free hand, Sean puts his finger under my chin, forcing me to make eye contact. I try to let his grip go so I can leave, but he won't. "Let me go Sean" I try to avoid making eye contact.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I need answers"

"For what? I don't care anymore, you shouldn't care either. It would never work out anyway." I somehow get him to release his grip and start going inside my room. I close the door in his face and sit on my bed. I put my head in my hands and start to cry.