BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING - MY ONE-SHOT GIFT TO YOU GUYS IS UP! It's called Cry of the Jabberjay and it can be found at the bottom of my profile! Thanks again, and enjoy!
Hey! So I am in crazy-work-mode 24/7! My teachers all decided to assign my summatives on the same day and have them due on the same day. AWESOME. So I've been scrambling to finish them all and write my next chapter. I just finished the chapter and I have to go work on my english summative right now, so I haven't gone over it. Beware for horrid writing, bad grammar and just plain stupid content.
This is the introductino to a major event in the Games.
To all you Peeta fans out there, Arrow is based off of us.
Thanks for reading! Katniss –
Grant and I stand by our chariots as tribute after tribute walk by us, all of them, staring. I feel somewhat uncomfortable. I shift my weight from what foot to the other as the pair of tributes from District 7 scrutinize Grant and I. Grant shoots me an awkward smile and I roll my eyes. He laughs. I look back over at the tributes who seem to be something to each other.
"Do you think this will be happening a lot?" Grant asks.
I sigh. "Probably." The girl tribute, Arrow I think her name is, steps towards us, a smile on her lips. The boy, Preston, looking a little more hesitant, stays back. Arrow stops and waves him over to her. He looks at her for a few seconds longer before pushing off of his chariot and making his way to her. Together, the approach us.
Beside me, Grant whispers. "What do you think they want?"
I shrug. "Probably just want to talk."
He looks at me anxiously. "Are you sure?"
I look down at me and laugh quietly. "What are you worried about? It's no big deal."
He looks away quickly and shoves his hands into his jean pockets. He shrugs, still avoiding my gaze. "Nothing. Nevermind.
I shrug and Arrow and Preston arrive.
Arrow smiles at us. "Hello." She says. Preston smiles brightly and wipes a hand across his forehead, flicking a piece of his dirty blonde hair from his face. Arrow continues. "I'm Arrow Trent." She sticks her hand out at me and I take it, a little taken aback by the formality.
"Katniss Everdeen." I say.
She smiles. "Yeah, I know." She leans in and whispers to me. "Nice idea with the berries, by the way." She winks and leans back again.
I smile sheepishly. "Thank you. It's no big deal... I was just trying to save Peeta and I."
Arrow's face immediately brightens. "Peeta! Is he here?"
I glance at Grant who gives me a confused look. I look back at her. "Uh... No...?" Her shoulders drops and she nods. "Why?"
Preston steps in and roles his eyes. "She's a big fan of Peeta." He doesn't seem too thrilled by this concept, but shrugs it off. He extends his hand to me. "Preston Sterling."
I shake his hand and smile. "Well, Peeta should be down soon."
Arrow's smile returns. "Oh, I'd love to meet him! He nearly broke my heart during the Games." She shakes her head, her expression changing. "It really is horrible... About you two always being sperated..." Preston sighs and Arrow looks over at him. "Well it is! They keep getting tied up in this big mess! It's heart breaking!" She turns to me. "But incredibly romantic! I envy you so much. I mean, you've go-" Preston lays a hand over her mouth.
"Sorry." He says. "She can get a little carried away."
I shrug. "No problem." These two are... interesting. But, oddly enough, I like them.
Just then, something touches my shoulder. I turn to see Peeta smiling down at me. I find myself smiling automatically. Peeta's brow furrows as he looks over behind me. Only then do I realize that Grant has disappeared. I check over my shoulder and see that he has wandered off and is speaking with Thresh's younger sister and a red-headed girl dressed in a bright blue jumpsuit that sparkles with every movement. My attention is brought back to my previous conversation at the sound of a intake of breath.
"Peeta Mellark!" Arrow gasps. Preston hangs his head and sighs again. "Hi!" Her smile is so big that it looks like it hurts. Her eyes sparkle as she surveys Peeta. I can see Preston's annoyance with the situation, and I know notice my own. I shift my body so that I lean more against Peeta.
Peeta cocks an eyebrow down at me, I force a smile and nod her in direction. He smiles at Arrow. "Hi..." He says unsurely.
Her face brightens at the word and she runs a shaky hand through her hair. "Uh... I'm Arrow... Trent and this is..." She trails off as she twirls a piece of her hair around her finger.
Preston cuts in. "Preston Sterling." Peeta nods at both of them and Peston continues. "Arrow, let's go. I think Julian is calling us." He gestures over his shoulder to wear a blue haired man stands. Arrow sighs and nods sadly. Preston turns to us, smiling. "It was very nice to meet you both."
Arrow, a large smile spread across her face. "Bye! I guess I see you later at training!" She glances quickly at Peeta before turning on her heel and leaving, soon followed by Preston. As soon as their out of ear shot, Peeta turns to me.
"What was that?" He asks.
I scowl slightly. "Apparently, she's a big fan of yours." Peeta looks at me incredulously. I shrug. "I guess you became pretty popular across the Districts."
He casts a glance over at Arrow and Preston who are now being dosed in powder and makeup by their stylist and prep team. "Hm. That's weird."
"How?" I take his hand in mine. "Is that so hard to believe?"
He shakes his head. "No it's not that. It's that, just before I came over to see you, I was talking with the girl from District 10, and all she could say was how all the boys seemed to have fallen for you." He looks down at me, a smile playing on his lips.
I feel the heat rise to my cheeks and I duck my head. "Shut up." I say, pushing him slightly. He laughs and wraps an arm around my waist. I can't help but I glance over at Arrow once more. Preston stands behind her, watching her as she fixes her hair and shooting angry looks at the passing Careers who seem to sneer down at them. The way he presents himself around her gives me the impression that they are quite close, or Preston is hiding something from her. Occasionally, Arrow will peek over at Peeta before turning away quickly, ducking her head. I frown slightly.
Peeta raises an eyebrow. "What is it?" He asks.
I look up. "Oh, um... Nothing." I turn back to the chariot.
"No, what?" Peeta insists.
I sigh. "It's nothing really." I begin to stroke the horse's neck, it replies with a rather angry sounding huff, so I stop.
Peeta spins me around and looks down at me. From the corner of my eye, I see Arrow glance at Peeta once more, her gaze lingering while he isn't looking. I can't help it. I look over at her and she turns away quickly. I narrow my eyes before looking back at Peeta, who smiles.
"Oh..." He says. "So that's what this is?"
I feel my cheeks heat up for the second time and I avoid his gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."
His hands lips around mine, but I continue to look away. "You don't like that Arrow girl." He nods in her direction.
I shrug. "She's nice."
He shakes his head. "That's not what I mean." I look up at him through my eyelashes. He smiles. "You're jealous of her."
I pull my hand from his. "No."
He laughs and I cross my arms. "Katniss, you're funny." He tries to take my hand back, but I refuse to let him. This makes him laugh harder. "Katniss, I don't care about her. Sure, she might make a good ally. But, otherwise, she's just another person in the world." I let out a huff of breath and I roll my eyes.
"That's what you say now." I say. "Just wait until all the girls from District 7 show up when I'm gone, that will be a different story."
Peeta lowers his chin. "There are three things wrong with that sentence." He holds up one finger. "One. You're coming back home." I start to protest, but he ignores me, holding up another finger. "Two. It will make no difference to me if a thousand girls show up. I'll hardly even notice them." He smiles sweetly down at me and I can't help from smiling back. He entwines his fingers in mine. "And three..." His smile grows. "It won't just be District 7 girls."
I shove him slightly and he laughs. I laugh, too, but cross my arms and attempt to stay angry.
Behind us, someone clears their throat. Peeta and I turn around to see Haymitch with a wine glass in his hand. "What have you done that's made you so popular? I've gotten at least three different mentors coming to me, saying that their tributes want you –" He points at me. "- as an ally."
"Really?" I ask. Haymitch nods. "But I only spoken with two people here." I look over my shoulder I Grant, who is now conversing with the girl from District 4, Thresh's sister and the boy from District 3. "Grant's spoken with a few more, but still, how could they already want us as an ally?"
Haymitch shakes his head. "I don't know. All I know is that District 7, 11 and 3 have all asked to ally with us."
Peeta raises his hands. "Wait. Why haven't they come to me?"
Haymitch glares down at him. "They haven't been able to find you."
Peeta raises his eyebrows. "Oh."
I eye him suspiciously. "Why can't they find you?" Haymitch crosses his arms and looks at Peeta expectantly.
Peeta rubs the back of his neck. "I've just been... Uh... Working on some of my own... Strategic plans...?" The last word rises in pitch, making his statement sound more like a question.
Haymitch raises his eyebrows. "Okay. I don't even want to know." From behind him, I see Cinna make his way towards us.
"Oh!" I say. "I think it's time for the Ceremonies." Haymitch huffs and walks off, waving at me slightly. Peeta smiles, kisses me lightly and follows after him.
Seconds after, Cinna arrives. "It's time." He waves at Grant who's separated himself from a group and has begun to make his way over. "Remember," he puts a hand on mine and Grant's shoulders. "Nothing over the top. Act natural. But most importantly, take no heed in what others think. No matter what they say, do or think, you are both winners and they cannot take that away from you.
Grant and I nod in unison. Cinna pushes us onto the chariot and walks off as the doors open to reveal the dome. Slowly, the chariot begins to move. My stomach does a series of flips as I watch the tributes exit in dazzling dresses, capes and suits. My unease augments as we near the exit. When our names are called, the horses pull us into the bright sunlight of the dome and we are in full view of everyone.
Everyone's first reaction is cheers. They all assume we would be dressed in one of Cinna's incredible designs. But as they begin to register what they see, everything goes silent. Since there is no screaming crowd, I feel no need to smile. I look straight ahead of me, with a neutral expression. Act natural, I remember. So I stand still, my chin held high, acting like I would any other day. Beside me, I see that Grant has also turned away from the gawking crowd and has turned his expression to stone.
Slowly, I hear a faint noise. From the corner of my eye, I see that a few people, far off into the crowd, have stood and is screaming our names. With a small smile, I wave at them and turn back ahead. More and more people join in. I guess they begin to reason that this is some ingenious plan to make Grant and I unforgettable. Soon, the dome is filled with cheering people; whistling, screaming, chanting. Grant and I become more animated. Waving slightly, small smiles on our lips, but, like Cinna said, nothing over the top.
We pull to a stop and I can see that most of the tributes are glaring over at us. President Snow, who stands on a large pedestal in the middle of the ring of chariots, shoots me a look of distaste so rapid, that I doubt the camera picked it up. A sense of unease bubbles inside of me. I look at Grant quickly, who's face has drained slightly of colour. He nods almost imperceptibly, before putting on a large smile, reanimating his face. That one moment lets me know that our feelings have matched.
This one, simple action could have ultimately decided my fate in the Games.