[7] - Rochelle

Plates clink as we load our plates with food. Diego must be starving - his plate is piled high with nearly every type of food on the table. He gives me a sheepish smile when he sees that I've noticed.

"So, I take it that you and Astrid are getting along well, then?" Leah asks Diego. She's seated across from him at the table; I'm sitting across from Ramona, but Ramona seems to be interested with something on her plate, because she's barely looked up since we got here.

"Yeah, training was good," Diego says between bites. "Astrid's nice. She's trying to make the best out of our situation, which is nice."

"Perfect," Leah says. "You just have to convince her to stay away from Bloodbath, we all know that's where those kids from Twelve get caught every time..."

"I'll tell her," Diego reassures her.

Next to Diego, Venetia calls an Avox over to fill her glass yet again. She's already tipsy, which somehow makes her even more annoying.

"Listen up, you two," she slurs, pointing at Diego and me. "There are only two more days of training left, so make use of them. Maybe try out some weapons or look at some plants."

Diego and I just stare at each other, and I have to physically restrain myself from laughing. "Thanks, Venetia," I say. "I'll definitely... try out some weapons."

Diego chokes on something, and Leah covers her mouth with a napkin. Ramona still doesn't look up from her plate. Venetia nods at me, satisfied that I've heard her useless advice.

Leah returns to her interrogation of Diego, and I zone out. My mind wanders back to August.

"You're right: I can make my own choices. Goodbye."

I shudder a bit. Did I go about that interaction the wrong way? I just wanted - needed - August to know the danger we're both in. If we can't work together, we're as good as dead. That's what the Gamemakers want; that's the whole point of the twist. They want him to give up. I can't let that happen.

I add some more food to my plate. I'll be okay, I know that. What I said to August is completely true - we need each other, and he knows that. At some point, he will come crawling back to me. And I'm ready for him when he does. Hopefully, it's sooner rather than later.

I'm pulled back to reality at the sound of my name. "What?" I call, turning toward Diego and Leah.

"I was just asking Diego if he's planning on sticking with you tomorrow," Leah fills me in.

"I don't know yet," Diego says, looking expectantly at me. "Rochelle's got her own partner to worry about."

"Well, we're not on great terms yet," I grumble. "I don't want to ditch you and Astrid, either."

"You wouldn't be ditching us," Diego says, and I can tell that it pains him to say it. "You need to do what's best for you, Rochelle. Put yourself first."

Easier said than done. We've been a team for the last six months; I only met August yesterday. It would break my heart to separate from Diego, but our circumstances might leave us with no other choice.

"I don't know," I sigh. "We have to see how things turn out with August. I might have no choice but to work with him."

"Just give him time," Diego says hopefully. "I'm sure he'll come around."

I turn to Ramona; this is the perfect chance to get her to finally speak. "I'm hoping to convince August to work with me tomorrow," I tell Ramona. "Any advice?"

It takes five seconds of silence for Ramona to look up and see that I'm talking to her. She examines my face closely, and in her eyes, I see vulnerability that I wasn't expecting. This whole time, Ramona's been a shell of a person to me. It's easy to forget that she's a real person underneath that exterior. We lock eyes, and I see her gaze waver as she finds the words to speak.

The moment is broken as Ramona returns her eyes to the table. She takes a quick stab at her food with her fork.

"Nope," she sighs. "Good luck."

Leah glances at Ramona before interjecting. "Just don't be too abrasive, Rochelle," she advises me. "That boy has an ego, I can tell. Don't push him away."

I can feel my face burn from Ramona's rejection. I stand abruptly, my chair scraping against the ground behind me. "It's okay, Leah," I say, throwing my napkin onto the table. "You're not my mentor. Don't worry about me, worry about Diego. Please. I'm going to bed."

At that, I storm out of the dining room, through the hallway, and into my quarters. As soon as my door closes, I can't hold myself back anymore. I grab a pillow, punching my fist into it as hard as I can before throwing it to the ground. As I slide to the ground, I see stars. I'm just so... furious. Why can't Ramona see that I'm trying to stay alive? I know that she's been through a lot, but my life is on the line. I've finally been given a chance to make it far in the Games, and she can't care enough to help me get there.

Whatever. I've depended on myself to make it this far, and I can depend on myself to get through the Games. There's just one piece I need to fall into place: August.

My rage now fully spent, I throw myself onto my bed. It's not long before I drift into a dreamless sleep.

I'm startled awake by a knock at my door. I quickly glance at the clock - it's nine o'clock at night. It hasn't even been two hours since I left dinner.

"Come in," I call. It's probably an Avox, here with my outfit for tomorrow or a note from Venetia telling me to try to 'impress the Gamemakers' at Training.

The doorknob jerks, but the door doesn't open. I hear another knock, this time more frantic.

Groaning, I roll out of bed. I don't know who it could be - all the Avoxes and mentors have keys to my room. It must be Diego; maybe I left something at dinner.

I swing the door open to face the last person I expected to see. My saving grace and my worst nightmare; my fiercest opponent and my greatest protection.

"Hey," August says nervously, glancing around the hallway behind him. "Can we talk?"