A/N: Enjoy our latest offering of awesome!
Chapter 2
Castro woke up the next morning with a sigh. They still had about two hours left till they arrived in the Capitol. He got up and headed over to the dining car. He found Katniss and Effie already there both looking wide awake, "Good morning, Castro." Effie said being very perky.
"Hello, Effie," He yawned.
"Did you get any sleep?" Katniss asked him worriedly.
"A little," Castro said.
"Yeah, I had a lot of trouble with that too but I did manage to get a little bit as well." Katniss sighed.
"Yeah," Castro sighed.
"Well, Haymitch probably just went to bed and we still have two hours till we arrive in the Capitol. What now?" Katniss asked either of them.
"We could talk?" Effie offered.
"About what?" Castro asked.
"Each other?" She offered again.
"Alright, how about Castro starts?" Katniss asked.
"Well what do you want to know?" He asked.
"Just whatever you're comfortable sharing." Katniss shrugged.
"Well, I don't know where to start," Castro said.
"Maybe with your family," Effie offered.
"Well, it's just me, mom, dad and my little brother," Castro said.
"How do you get along?" Katniss asked. "I noticed that who I'm assuming is your brother almost volunteered at the Reaping."
"Yeah that was him, but I would not let him it's only his first reaping, his the most important person to me," Castro said.
"I can imagine, I mean what I did was unheard of in 12 but in reverce you could go to 1 and do that and surprise quite a few people." Katniss said impressed with such family loyalty.
"Yeah I guess," Castro said.
"What about your parents? How do you get along with them?" Katniss asked.
"Very well most times," He said.
"Any friends?" Effie asked.
"Not really, I had a few, but now I only have one really other than my little brother,"
"Really? What happened?" Katniss asked worried now… wait… she's been worried not stop since Prim's name was drawn.
"He was reaped," Castro said simply.
"Oh," Katniss said looking down. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Not your fault, I still have Gale and his family, and mine," Castro said choosing not to mention his friends ghost.
"Gale's been helping you?" Katniss asked now very surprised she never knew of him before the Reaping.
"Oh! Yeah he has," Castro said.
"Hmm… I never knew that. He's my best friend yet I never knew that."
"Really? I knew about you he talks about you, quite a bit actually," Castro said picking up and apple.
"Well, I guess that's to be expected. We're best friends and hunting partners so I guess I'm just a big part of his life. I know he is for me." Katniss shrugged grabbing a roll. "I'm sorry but he never said a thing about you."
"Yeah, well that's not very surprising actually Gale and I disagree over a few very important...things," Castro said awkwardly biting into his apple.
"What do you mean?" Katniss asked confused.
"It's hard to explain," Castro said.
"Oh… okay…" Katniss said awkwardly trying to think of what it could be.
"You still want to know?" Castro guessed.
"Yes I do." Katniss admitted.
"Well it's a bit of a touchy subject," Castro said.
"Well, I guess I could leave it then." Katniss sighed.
"It's sort of...you," Castro said awkwardly.
"Me?" Katniss asked confused. "What about me?"
"Well...that's where it gets awkward," Castro said taking another bite of his apple.
Effie was smiling some things she did not grasp, but emotions those she was almost unbeatable at reading.
"Awkward, how so?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Effie asked smirking
Katniss thought for a second then said, "I got nothing."
"Oh dear, you really are odd," Effie chuckled. Coming from a Capitolite, Katniss took that as a compliment. "I can't believe this," Effie said
"What?" Katniss asked still not getting it.
"They disagree over you," Effie said trying to get through to her.
"Yes, what does that mean?"
"Oh you clueless girl, they both like you, they fight because of it," She said
"Well of course Gale like me, I like him too, he's my best friend and I probably wouldn't even still be alive without him."
"No, girl you don't understand Castro and Gale whoever he is love you and that is why they fight," Effie said.
Katniss looked shocked and turned to Castro, "Is what she says true?" Castro nodded awkwardly his mouth still full of apple. Katniss wasn't sure what to say to that. She was honestly dumbfounded. Castro sighed got up and left the car. "Castro, wait!" Katniss said going after him.
"What is it?" He asked stopping in the hall.
"I'm sorry. This is just really hard for me. I have never really thought of anyone that way before and I'm not sure what to do here, especially, given the current situation here."
"Yeah well it'll be fine soon," he sighed.
"You won't have to worry about me anyway," He said.
"Only one victor," Katniss sighed.
"It'll be you," Castro said.
"You don't know that." Katniss corrected. "It could be you, or it would probably be one of the Careers like almost every year."
"No it'll be you, I promised Gale I would do all I could to make sure you came home," Castro said.
"What about your own family though?" Katniss asked though surprised he promised that.
"They have dad, and my brother knows a bit about hunting and gathering and Gale would help, they would be fine, plus mom was a townie at one point," He sighed.
"Her being from the town means nothing though, if you leave the town you can never come back, just ask my mother." Katniss reminded rhetorically speaking.
"Actually it's more dependent on family than you may think, and in any case she would still have dad and my brother," Castro said
"I don't want you to just die without even trying." Katniss sighed.
"I won't not try, but if it comes down to it I will do my best to make sure you get home," Castro said.
"That's not the trying I mean and you know it."
"I know, but this is the way it is," Castro said.
"I wish there was another way." Katniss sighed.
"I do too, but there's not," Castro sighed walking away.
Katniss didn't try to follow him this time though.
She sighed wishing that life could be simple. "How could I be so stupid?" She asked coming back to the dining car.
"Not stupid, just oblivious," Effie said sympathetically
"Apparently he promised Gale that he'd try and make sure I win." Katniss sighed.
"Aw, that is so sweet!" Effie gushed.
"I can't let him do that though." Katniss said seriously.
"Why not then you could go back home a victor," She said confused.
"I can't let him die there not even trying to win."
"He would try to win, but not kill you," She said.
"It didn't seem like that was what he meant." Katniss said shaking her head.
"Well, what can you do?" Effie shrugged.
"Nothing," Katniss sighed knowing he's right on that.
"Exactly, but do try to spare his feelings," She said.
"I'll try but I'm not very good with stuff like this in case you haven't noticed yet."
"I have, maybe you just need help?" Effie said.
"Probably," Katniss sighed. "It might not help though."
"Why not?" She asked.
"Because I suck at this kind of stuff,"
"Well then get someone to help you," She said.
"Like who?" Katniss asked.
"Me," She offered.
"Are you sure?" Katniss asked, a little skeptical of if this is a good idea.
"I'm good with emotions," Effie said.
"Well, I guess it can't hurt." Katniss agreed after some though.
"Good, you won't regret this!" Effie said.
"So, what do I do then?"
"Well, that depends first, how do you feel about all this?" She asked.
"I'm not exactly sure."
"Then we will start there I want you to go to your room and try to relax and think," Effie said.
"Alright," Katniss sighed and headed to her room.
"Trust me it will help!" Effie called after her.
"Hopefully," Katniss muttered going into bedroom.
She lay down in her bed and began to think of Gale first. She always thought of him as a friend but even before she just found out he has a crush on her that felt like too casual of a word for him but… was boyfriend really right. That thought process just felt so foreign but was the feeling there.
She supposed, maybe yes it was, but she could not be sure. "Gah, why does this have to be so complicated?" Katniss breathed falling back into her bed. SO she tried thinking of the situation instead. She obviously knew that there's a SLIGHT chance that her and Gale could be together, assuming she can somehow win this but Castro? They were going into the Hunger Games together. It's literally impossible.
So she tried looking at it another way, what if it were possible how would she feel then? After all she had only just met Castro, but that was a good thing in this case she would not think of him like a brother like she does with Gale.
She had to admit that then there might have been something there as well.
'Ugh, why can't it be simple?' She thought glumly She had no idea what Effie thought this would accomplish. She then thought of something else, even if she was not here or got out of here did she really want anything like that with anyone?
She realized the answer was no, no she didn't want anything like that, especially not what it probably would eventually lead to. She sighed that meant breaking at least one heart now and possible another later down the line.
Having come to that conclusion though, she decided it might be time to go back to Effie, see what she thinks. So she went off to find the women hoping she was not doing anything to odd, but then she was a Capitol Citizen so the odds were high that she was. She was just sitting in the dining room sipping a cup of tea. "Effie, I figured out how I feel about this."
"That's good dear sit tell me," She said smiling.
Katniss sat down and sighed, "Well, I don't want to think that way about anyone… ever. Even if I do get out or hadn't come here in the first place that has never been something I wanted."
"Really? Why is that?" Effie asked. Katniss of course know but she didn't know how she could get the idea through to a Capitol Citizen? "Well?" Effie asked.
"Do you have any children Effie?" Katniss asked trying to think of a way to get this through to her.
"Actually yes I do, a son from a...wild night he's five years old," Effie said smiling.
"And as stupid of a question as this may seem. You really love him and would anything for him right?"
"Of course I do," She said.
"Then would you mind imagining a scenario for me? It will probably be very difficult for you but it will help you understand where I'm coming from here." Katniss offered unable to think of another way.
"Alright?" She said awkwardly.
"Now picture this, you and your son were not as lucky as you actually are and were born in District 12, the poorest and least prepared of all the districts. You've been struggling with everything you can to simply keep the two of you alive but it never seems enough. It's seven years in the future now so your son is twelve and getting ready for his first Reaping. You guys are barely alive so he was forced to take out tesserae to simply survive another year putting his name in the bowl three times this first year and you know they will keep doubling every year till he's eighteen. You're at the Reaping in the back with the other adults trying to convince yourself that it's just his first year, there's no way it was be him… but it is and as his mother you can do absolutely nothing as he shakily makes his way up to the stage. There is one victor but you know better than to think the odd are in his favor. After all, there are only two District 12 victors in all of history for a reason and he's only twelve, the younger ones almost always die first unless they're Careers. You do get to say goodbye for five minutes but you could have five decades and it would never be enough. Especially since for almost all of it you can't even talk because you can't stop crying. He's than taken to the Capitol where he's paraded around like an animal, trained for a short while but it's not enough, given a two training score since he can't do anything, and thrown into the arena to fight to the death. The arena is… a frozen wasteland. He's dressed for the climate but not enough, not when night falls at least but he won't have to worry about that as right when the gong goes off and he steps off the pedestal, an eighteen year old boy built like a mountain picks him up by the collar of his coat and he screams but he's hundreds of miles away and you can only watch helplessly as the boy stabs him once, not dead; twice, not dead; three times; four; five; six; seven… he finally goes limp deader than a doornail. How does that make you feel?"
Effie froze she could not imagine losing her son not like that. For the first time she realized what the district parents went through. It was horrible having to watch your children fight to the death and even then having to worry every year that it might be them. "I feel terrified," She said sadly.
"Then you understand what it's like for the district parents, I don't want to think of anyone as a boyfriend because I know that eventually it would go all the way and I just want to avoid that situation entirely."
"You may want to Katniss, but sometimes things happen," Effie said.
Katniss sighed though she was very proud of herself for actually managing to get through to a Capitol Citizen on that, "I know that, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't at least try right?"
"You can try," She shrugged.
"So, what do I do about Castro and if I win Gale then?" Katniss asked getting back on track.
"You try to be gentle about it," She said thought seeming like she wanted to say more.
"Alright, I guess it will be a lot easier to get my point across on that to Castro than it was to you and Gale already knows it having heard more than a few times."
"Tough...never mind," Effie said.
"Never mind what?" Katniss asked confused.
"I just thought of something, but it's nothing," Effie said.
"At least say it then." Katniss insisted.
"Well consider Katniss...you might be able to use this," Effie said.
"What do you mean 'use this'?" Katniss asked confused.
"Well you could use this whole romance thing, people eat that sort of thing up at the Capitol," Effie said.
"To get sponsors," Katniss concluded, "Do you really think that could work?"
"Yes I do, as I say they eat that sort of thing up," Effie said.
Katniss sighed, "Well, I guess it's worth a shot."
"Smart girl!" Effie said smiling.
"Should I maybe go talk to him now then?" Katniss asked.
"Yes, you should, but be careful with how you do it," Effie said.
"I will, while I'm gone, how about you think about my scenario and what you have been celebrating your whole life and directly contributing to as an escort for years." Katniss said before getting up and heading to find Castro.
She knocked on his door and sure enough he was there and had gone back to being mostly silent. She noticed the light was still on concluding he must be in there. "Castro, I really need to talk to you."
His door slid open to reveal Castro who was brushing his teeth. "Hey, I wanted to talk to you," She said. Castro motioned to the couch in his room as he headed back to the bathroom.
She decided to wait for him to finish which he did soon and came back.
He motioned for her to talk. "Well I thought a lot about what you said," Katniss said.
Castro got a little hopeful at that but wouldn't let himself get too far. "I realized that, if the situation were different you and Gale would both stand a chance," She said. Castro raised an eyebrow wondering if she really meant it.
"I'm serious," Katniss said correctly guessing what he was thinking.
"But there's still no chance for us now." Castro sighed finally speaking.
"Well maybe," Katniss said. Castro was very confused at that. "Well...what if we were to..." She trailed trying to find the right words. "Look, Effie said that in the Capitol they would eat up a couple in the games so that will help us get sponsors and we need any help we can get with that."
"So you want to fake it?" He asked.
Katniss hesitated, "I'm not exactly sure which I would be."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Well, it might be fake but it's nothing to do with you. I just don't really want that kind of relationship with anyone."
"Oh I see," He sighed.
"I'm sorry." Katniss apologized.
"It's fine," He sighed.
"Do you think we should anyways?" Katniss asked.
"It gives you more sponsors so yes," Castro said.
"Alright, I already did the impossible on this train though."
"What did you do?" Castro asked.
"I made Effie realize what the reapings and games are like for the district parents." Katniss said quite proud of herself.
"No way," Castro scoffed.
"Yes way actually… well… close enough. She has a son so I set up a scenario as if she was from 12 instead of the Capitol and her son was Reaped for and died in the games. It got straight through to her."
"Impressive," Castro said.
"Yeah, I'm still surprised that it actually worked."
"Me too, but it did," He said smiling.
"Right before I left I told her to, 'think about my scenario and what you have been celebrating your whole life and directly contributing to as an escort for years'." Katniss chuckled. "I'm not sure how that part's going though."
"Me either," He said.
"Wanna check?" Katniss offered.
"Don't we have to practice being a couple?" Castro asked.
"What do you mean?" Katniss asked confused.
"Well we need to convince who knows how many people we are a couple in these games right?" Castro asked.
"Right," Katniss nodded.
"So, we need to practice being a couple at least to fool the first wave of cameras," Castro said.
"How do you practice though?"
"Well I'm not sure," Castro said.
"Maybe… we could kiss." He suggested nervously.
"We what?" She asked blushing.
"We'll probably have to do it more than a few times in the arena." Castro reminded blushing.
"Well...I...suppose, but I never have," Katniss said.
"Neither have I, that's why I think we should practice it, make it a little less awkward in front of the cameras."
"Well, alright" She said nervously.
Castro leaned in and connected his lips to hers. It felt odd at first since neither had done this sort of thing before. They kept this first one simple because of that. No tongue and not very lengthy.
"So?" She asked.
"I like it. It was awkward but first kisses always are. Some more practice and we should do just fine." Castro said, "You?"
"Well...I liked too, it was awkward though," She said. "What now?" She asked.
"Try again?" He asked.
"I guess…" Katniss agreed.
So he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers again gentler this time. They stayed kissing longer this time but still kept their tongues to themselves.
They separated again. "I think we can pull this off." Katniss said looking right at him.
"I think so too," He said blushing.
"Think that's enough practicing for now?" Katniss asked.
"Yes I suppose so," Castro shrugged
"Wanna check on Effie then?" Katniss offered.
"Sure," He said offering his hand to her
They found her still in the dining car completely lost in thought.
"Effie, are you alright?" Castro asked as they entered. Effie shook her head.
"What's wrong?" Katniss asked as they sat down.
"You're right." Effie sighed.
"Right?" Katniss asked raising an eyebrow.
"This whole time I was wrong about all of this the whole time. I'm such a horrible person."
"No, you're not you were brain washed the whole Capital is really," Castro said.
"I know, but still."
"No one blames you personally, it was your job," Castro said.
"Well, I guess, but what now?" Effie asked.
"We get through this," Castro said.
"I guess." Effie agreed.
"Good," Katniss said.
"We also agreed it would be best to go with the couple thing." Katniss added.
"Well, that's great!" Effie said.
"Yeah we even… practiced… a few times…" Katniss said awkwardly.
"You what?" She asked confused.
"We kissed." Castro said blushing.
"Oh you did?" Effie asked smirked. They both blushed and nodded. "Did you enjoy it?" She asked still smirking.
"Well, yeah, we did." Katniss admitted awkwardly.
"Good," She said.
"So, how exactly do we do this when the cameras are on?" Katniss asked.
"You stay close to Castro whenever possible; hold hands, steel kisses, Katniss maybe you could giggle on occasion?" She asked.
"I don't giggle." Katniss said simply.
"Then learn how," Effie shrugged. Katniss sighed figuring she'll look ridiculous. "Fine no giggling," Effie said.
"Well... I'll think about that but more than likely not." Katniss shrugged.
"At least you'll consider it," She said.
"Is that all?" Castro asked.
"Unless you both want to 'practice' more," She said doing air quotes around practice.
They both blushed deeply at that, "Do you want to?" Castro asked Katniss.
"Well, we do have a lot of people to fool," She said.
"Here or somewhere else?" Castro asked.
"Not in front of her," Katniss said pointing to a smirking Effie.
"Good point." Castro said pulled her out of the room.
"They'll be a real couple before the games start, mark my words," Effie told the nearest Avox.
The Avox was surprised she was talking to him in what wasn't an order but nodded as he continued to clean the table.
"Do you disagree?" She asked surprising him even more.
He shook his head getting nervous that she was trying to pull some kind of trick to get him in trouble.
"No need to be nervous I was just asking an opinion," Effie said.
The Avox shrugged it off and focused back his work.
"I was trying to be nice," She shrugged.
That was exactly what was confusing him though.
"I've realized some of the things, I agreed to have been wrong," She said.
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"It's Katniss, the girl has opened my eyes," She said
He was honestly impressed at that and glanced back to where Katniss and Castro had gone.
"So do you agree with me honestly?" Effie asked.
He nodded again, the seemed perfect for each other if it wasn't for the games.
Meanwhile, Castro and Katniss were back in his room just sitting awkwardly, "Well…" Castro trailed not sure what to say.
"Yeah, I guess we should..." She trailed.
Once again, it was him who kissed her first. She time she leaned into it a little more tentatively gripping his hands.
"Is something wrong?" He asked when they separated.
"No... nothing, I was just...enjoying that..." She said blushing.
"Good… I was really worried you wouldn't you just seemed kind of hesitant."
"I...well...I don't know it's just new," She said.
"You sure that's it?" Castro asked nervously.
"Yeah, I am it's like my body sort of acted on its own," She said.
"But you still like it?"
"Yes I do," She said honestly.
"I do, too." He smiled.
"So what does this mean?" She asked.
"That maybe it isn't fake after all."
"Do you think so?" She asked.
"Well… maybe." Castro said hesitantly.
"I think...you might have a good point," She said scooting closer to him.
This time, it was finally her to kiss him first.
He was caught off guard, but melted into it as his arms slowly and a bit hesitantly slid around her waist. He was even more surprised to feel her arms wrap around his neck.
Katniss broke away looking down sadly, "It's just for the games. There's literally no way we could be together."
"But..." Castro tried desperately.
"It's just a fact, Castro. There's only one victor. Everyone else dies."
"Katniss...I guess you're right," He sighed sadly. She got up and left the room sadly. Castro huffed and lay on the bed cursing his luck.
Katniss went to her own room pretty much doin the same exact thing.
They both felt the train slow to a stop and came out of their rooms and despite what just happened, took each other's hands.
"Ready?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be," Katniss shrugged.
"Then let's go," Castro said as Effie came out to tidy them up a bit.
Once she was done, she sighed but managed to put on a smile, "Alright that should just about do it."
"Okay," They said as she flung the door open.
Katniss held Castro's hand tight and managed to put on a semi-convincing smile as well. They set out through the crowd that were taking as many pictures as they could.
A/N: The tension builds! Leave a review we like reviews no matter what they are.