The Mentors

Chapter Twenty-Five

Day Two; Day Three

Clubb Paige (D2)

I'm just sitting in my room, envisioning death, when that Hazel girl bursts into the room and plops on my bed. For a moment all I can do is stare, my mouth hanging open in shock. I can feel my eyes popping out of my head.

"Don't say anything," she snaps. "I don't want to hear it."

"Get out," I croak, shock taking all the strength from my words.

"Do I look like I'm intimidated by you?" Hazel asks, glaring fiercely. "I didn't think so."

"Why are you here?" I ask, murderously angry.

Does she know I could peel her face off without any remorse?

"I need to talk to someone."

"Go talk to someone else."

"They don't like me," she explains.

"And I do?" Hazel glares at that, sitting up. She just looks at me for what seems like ten minutes and I find myself thinking about her in more than the "how would she look dismembered?" way that I usually get when I look at people.

She's stronger than most people are, that's for sure.

She lays back down lazily. "I think that you don't give a shit about anyone and you're a complete sadist. But I know you aren't going to hurt me, Clubb, because if you try to I will kick your ass. Understand?"

A respect for this woman comes out of nowhere. "Oh, really?"

"You wanna bet that I won't?" she challenges with a smirk. "Because I like my odds."

"Fuck off, Hazel," I spit through gritted teeth.

"Ooooo, I'm scared now," she replies mockingly.

Hazel Birchbark (D7)

After we get done insulting each other, Clubb is actually likeable. Meaning he doesn't open his mouth. I pour my heart out about how I'm feeling about the whole Birch thing and he plays with a stray string on his pants.

I don't want Birch to get married. Birch is my best friend. He doesn't belong to anyone else. Definitely not that stupid fucking girl he's marrying that I already dislike.

The thought is wrong. The thought of him being with another person in any way is laughable in my mind. It's supposed to be just us. Forever.

I'm pathetic. Extremely.

What do I think is supposed to happen? That a catch like Birch will stay single, so him and I can be BFFs for all eternity? I sound like a fucking teenage girl.

The horrible part is that I am a teenage girl, and I'm pissed off that I sound like a teenage girl.

"I'm pathetic, aren't I, Clubb?" I ask.

He doesn't react, it's like I'm speaking to a fucking wall.

"See, even you think so!" I exclaim.

This conversation is more one-sided than talking to a mute. At the very least, Ivo can make cute little hand motions that piss me off. I'm officially pissed off.

I'm losing myself over a guy. And it's not even a guy I'm interested in. How ironic is that? It's Birch. Fucking Birch. Who would've thought?

I finish my tale and look at Clubb to gauge his reaction. I'm pretty sure he won't respond in any way.

"You like him," Clubb grunts. "This is the stupidest conversation I have ever had in my life and this will not be happening again. Ever. Understand? I have told you what I think and it is time for you to go. Get. Out. Of. My. Room."

His idea is ridiculous. Incomprehensible. "You're an idiot. That is not what this is."

He stands up. "I have listened to your stupid shit and told you what I thought. Get out of my room or I will throw you out."

I stand up. "I am not leaving! You can try to make me leave, but I'm not!"

He pokes me in the chest with his sausage-looking finger. "Now, you listen to me-."

I punch him before he can even get the rest of his sentence out. We stare at each other in a half-shocked, half-tense silence. Then I make possibly the stupidest move of my life.

I kiss him.

Dara Valentine (D4)

This has been the most boring day ever.

I miss Kai severely and I'm too focused on wedding plans to focus on my mentoring. Also, that idiot Damon stole the last doughnut right out of my hand. And wait for it . . . he ate it right in front of me. If looks could kill, he would be dead ten times over.

I watch the stupid little tributes run all over the screen in varying states of shabbiness. It seems to be showing the alliance of the District Eleven tributes and the little girl from Five a lot more than average.

Stupid hormonal teenagers, hogging all the screen time when they should be showing the Careers.

They are by far the most interesting group, with the constant bickering between Zeke and Anneliese over what they should be doing. Pearl and Gaze take sides but it always ends up in a tie since Barnacle's vote doesn't count.

It's late at night and Zeke and Gaze are on watch. If I'm right, though, it's almost time for Anneliese and Pearl to take over. I find that I am right, minutes later. Zeke wakes the girls as Gaze lays down.

"You know, Anneliese," Pearl begins, trying to sound innocent, after the boys begin snoring. "I'll do watch by myself if you want to get some more sleep."

Suspicion flashes across Anneliese's face, but it's gone before Pearl can notice it. "Yeah, I am pretty tired. Good night."

Anneliese lays back down, curling up into a small ball.

About an hour later, Pearl goes to the Cornucopia. She can't see the sleeping people there and Anneliese sits up, smiling at Zeke and Gaze. "One of you are going to be dead in a few minutes. Have fun with that."

Pearl chooses the knife she killed the District Three girl with a day ago from the pile in front of the Cornucopia. She walks back with a sinister smile on her face.

The plan is simple. She's going to kill one person and then split from the Career pack.

But Anneliese knows what she's doing. If Pearl goes to kill her, Anneliese will be ready and she will die.

"Pearl . . . choose right, Pearl. Choose right," I whisper.

Pearl looks at the four sleeping children. Anneliese, Barnie, Zeke, and Gaze. She had been happy-looking but now she looks infinitely sad. She walks over to a little bundle of covers that hides a sleeping tribute. My heart stops.

"No, Pearl," I moan. "Don't do it."

She drops beside the figure and smiles kindly, "I'm so sorry, but for me to win you have to die. I'll miss you."

Then she begins to stab the tribute, over and over. The tribute's eyes fly open, holding surprise and pain. "Pearl. How could you..?"

Pearl whispers, "Bye Barnie."

She grabs the bag she had packed earlier in the day and heads off, so she can get a good head start before the cannon fires. Anneliese is already cursing as she sits up.

"She killed Barnie? Barnie? Fucking idiot." She watches to see where Pearl enters the forest.

Barnie's cannon fires. Gaze and Zeke sit up and when they see Barnie, they let out little breaths of shock. Anneliese is already standing, sword ready. "It was Pearl. She told me I could sleep and I didn't think of it as anything sinister. I saw her go that way."

The boys climb off the ground, grab weapons, and begin the chase. Pearl, being much faster than the rest, easily evades the three. I realize I've been crying and wipe my face.

Why, Pearl, why Barnie?

What did he ever do to you?