Hello everyone! Thank you for your patience for this upload! As always I'm still writing whenever I can but I can't guarantee another update until the end of May. The next two weeks I have Easter revision for my exams and then my exams start at the very end of April so I wont have much time to write during May, I hope you understand :) But I will promise that my summer will be dedicated to writing and updating only! So enjoy this new chapter and don't forget to review! Love you all! X
Ch12. Let's Train
The next morning, I woke up in Daniel's warm arms. Today will be his first day of training for the games and I think I may be more nervous that he will be. I woke up with my back against his chest, so I shuffled myself around in his arms to admire his peaceful face.
His face was calm and still, breathing softly. I couldn't bring myself to wake him from his sleep, it would be like waking a new born baby. My hand moved up towards his forehead and gently pushed back his dishevelled hair away from his face.
I lay there on the bed, studying his features up close. I refused to wake him until it was absolutely necessary to. He deserved every bit of peace he could get in the days to come.
Training started at ten in the morning, and usually it took an hour to get yourself ready. From what Finnick told me last year, it was always good to have fruit with your breakfast for energy during training, as well as everything else you can fill your plate with.
Daniel's eyes fluttered gently, and slowly opened to reveal his clear blue eyes. A smile crept up on his face when his gaze rest on my face. "Well if this isn't the best view I've ever woken up to then I don't know what is." he announced, his voice was husky and tired.
I pressed a soft kiss onto his lips before moving myself off of my bed. "Come on, let's get you some breakfast."
The weight of my plate increased significantly as I placed a third croissant onto it. I decorated the plate with three croissants, pancakes with a strawberry spread and some fruit. The majority of the plate consisted of baked goods.
After advising Daniel on what to eat, we sat at the table to enjoy our meal. It wasn't until our plates were cleared that Finnick, Mags, Tillie and Kelly entered the dining room to get their own breakfasts.
I received warm smiles from all but Kelly, not that I particularly wanted one from her but she could at least try and be civil.
Tillie's effort at small talk did nothing to cut the obvious tension that arrived at the table. "So, today's schedule works out like this; you two will go down to the training building for the most part of today and when you're finished you will work with your mentors. So Finnick will work with Daniel and Nike, you will work with Kelly."
"Are you kidding me? I don't want her as my mentor." Kelly protested, her face distorted with disgust.
"Why ever not, dear?" Tillie asked, trying not to get irritated with Kelly's rude demeanour.
She scoffed, as if it were obvious to everyone in the room. "I don't want to be mentored by someone who wants me to die in the arena," The room went silent for a short while, unsure of how to react, if there was any appropriate way to react. "It's true. We all know that she wants her stupid boyfriend to win. So you know what, just forget mentoring me. I think it's a bad influence having a sixteen year-old prostitute for a mentor."
"That is enough!" Finnick yelled. He had risen from his seat, his back arched and hands gripping the table, turning his knuckles white. "Go and get yourself ready, you've got ten minutes."
With a smug grin on her face, Kelly pushed herself out of her chair and trailed into her room, not forgetting to slam the door in the process.
"You too, Daniel." Finn said in a gentler tone. Daniel reluctantly did as he was told and made his way into his own room.
I just sat there, staring at my empty plate of food. It wasn't true, what she had said. I don't want her to die, I don't want anyone to die. But I don't want Daniel to die the most.
And I'm not a prostitute. I'm just not.
While Daniel and Kelly were busy training, it was down to Finnick, Mags and I to gain sponsors for our tributes. This was when many mentors from other districts bonded with each other.
From what I knew already, it was basically a 'meet and greet'. You could even call it a business deal of some sorts.
The plan would be that I accompany Finnick to get sponsors seeing as it is my first year as mentor and would most likely make a mess of things.
It was too early for me to completely understand how mentoring actually works. Your experience in the arena won't be the same as your tributes'. Your expertise doesn't actually matter except when it comes to dealing with the Capitol and other tributes – that's my opinion anyway.
Soon, the sponsor hall begun to fill with potential sponsors and it was time to make their pockets lighter from their generous donations.
Finnick and Mags managed to get a decent amount of sponsors, especially for the early stages of the Games. The money usually piles in once the Training Scores are announced.
Both Daniel and Kelly got an equal amount of sponsors, but honestly I was upset Daniel hadn't gotten more.
It's too early for anyone to properly bet on anyone, just be patient, he will get more.
From across the room, Haymitch Abernathy waved a hand at Finnick before making his way over to where we stood.
He chatted with Finnick about the tributes; how good chances were for some, how others were going to be relying on sponsorships to survive.
"How about we go grab some food, we haven't had the time to catch up." Haymitch suggested, leading the way.
Up in District 12's suite, Finnick, Mags, Haymitch and I sat on the large couch eating some small nibbles that were brought up for us.
I found it hard to concentrate as I knew that training would be finishing up soon for the tributes. My stomach turns for anxiety. I want to know how Daniel is, how training went. I attained a nervous habit of playing with the bracelet I bought in 4's market, twisting it around my wrist. I found myself doing it more frequently since Daniel's reaping.
The elevator door dinged to reveal District 12's escort, Effie Trinket. She toddled in on her high heels, high spirited and cheery, much like Tillie is.
"Oh Finnick! What an absolute delight! Lovely to see you! Oh Mags, Nike, hello ladies." Effie greeted us, pressing a kiss on either cheek. "Tributes are making their way up, training has just finished."
"Well if training's finished, Nike, maybe you should go be with Kelly and Daniel. I've got to speak a little more with Haymitch."
I nodded and escorted myself out, saying a quick goodbye.
When the doors opened up on our floor, Daniel sat on the settee watching television.
"Hey, how was training?" I asked, curling up beside him.
"I don't know how I'm going to do it." He replied, wrapping me in his arms.
"Do what?"
"Win." He said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "They're all really good, Nike. I can't compete with them, I've got no chance if I go head to head with any of them. The boy from 2 nearly started a riot because one of his knives went missing."
I removed myself from his grip, crossed my arms and looked at him sternly in the eyes.
"Don't say things like that. You don't get to say that to me, ever. I don't want you to think about fighting them now. Just focus on training because you're not going to win if you have a negative attitude."
Daniel just laughed at me. "You sound ridiculous right now. I think you'd be better leaving the mentoring to Finnick and Mags."
"Shut up." I say, punching him on his arm before moulding my body into his again.
Daniel and I stared at the television for a little while, not really paying attention to the show.
We sat there until it was announced that it was time for dinner. My head shot up from Daniel's chest the moment food was mentioned. I may have eaten up in the Penthouse but I was starving for a real meal.
Everyone sat together at the table with trays upon trays of food in front of us, and it took every inch of will power in my body to keep me from attacking each tray.
Conversation was short lived, but Tillie brought up the topic of mentoring. After Kelly's outburst this morning, it was clear she had no intention of co-operating. Tillie, unwillingly, had to re-arrange her schedule to avoid any future conflict.
"So, what I suggest now is that Daniel shall still be mentored by Finnick, and Mags shall mentor Kelly." Tillie offered, her eyes scared of disapproval.
"I don't care, as long as I don't need to work with her." You could hear the venom when she spat out the word. I will never be able to understand Kelly, why she hates me so much. Does my relationship with Daniel really bother her that much?
I set my mind off of the topic as I ate. With Finnick and Mags mentoring for the next hour or two, I was left to my own devices. Shutting myself in my room for a while, I lay on the bed and closed my eyes before drifting off into sleep.
It was dark, I couldn't see anything ahead of me. I tried to move but something was restricting me from doing so.
A haunting chuckle echoed around me. I felt exposed, not being able to move and not knowing where I am. Cold wind wrapped around my body, and I felt a hand move across my back. Panic set in and I tried desperately to get away.
"Thank you boys, shut the door behind you when you leave…"
I screamed awake, shivering and sweating all at once. Finnick burst through the door with Daniel right behind him.
Finnick had the same protective look he always had, but Daniel was terrified. Finnick had experienced plenty of my night time terrors, but for Daniel, this will have been the first.
By now, it was a routine. After every selling, I would curl up in bed and rest, but the nights that came after were when the nightmares came.
"Are you alright, Nike?" Finn asks as I try to steady my breathing.
"Just a nightmare. I'm fine."
"Okay… Let me know if you need anything." Finnick said as he made his way back to his room.
Daniel was left standing in the doorway. He looked scared, unsure of what to do. You could see the cogs turn in his brain as he tried to figure out what the best thing to do what, but I helped him make his decision easier.
I scooted to the left side of the bed making room and lifting the sheets for Daniel. The corners of his mouth turned slightly upward and he took his place next to me. His heat radiated around me immediately and his smell was comforting.
"Sorry I scared you." I said quietly.
"Don't be sorry. I just want to make sure your safe, that's all I want." He pressed a light kiss onto my forehead and caressed my hand with his thumb.
"I want you to be safe too." I sighed against his chest. Daniel pulled me in tighter in his arms, and I realise this will be one of the last times I'll feel his arms around me until he has to go into the arena.
The thought makes my eyes sting but there is no use in trying to stop them. The tears flow over and a hold onto Daniel for dear life.
"It's okay. We'll get through this. Together."