Dinner was like an interrogation. At least, it was for Demetrius.

As soon as we had finished the first course and all hellos were in order, Gloss and Jaques began to drill Demetrius. What he did, how he did it, who stood out, and what stations he chose. Of course, Demetrius answers with gusto, talking himself up. He hit the range and practiced the sword majority of the day. I looked up at Cashmere sneakily, and she gave me a wink. I guessed we'd talk about this later.

"So, my ice princess," Cinna says after a quiet while from me, "How did you do?"

"Okay."

Cinna sighs. I don't look up.

"Lilly wasn't there the whole time," Demetrius says from his full mouth, interjecting before I can stop my conversation. Cornelia looks up, surprised.

"What do you mean?"

Demetrius doesn't answer for me. I sigh.

"My grandfather wished to speak to me."

The ladies gasp and a hush falls over the room. I pick at my chicken, not looking up.

"Are you in trouble or something?"

I see Cashmere, here face really concerned. I shake my head.

"No. I'd rather not talk about it. It was a personal matter."

"But Lillianne-"

"As your mentor, I expect-"

"Did you do something regretful that you're not telling us-"

I slam my fork and knife down on the table, silencing the room. "No! I said nothing to that man! Now will you leave me alone!"

Everyone stares at me, eyes wide. I see was was standing from my seat. Demetrius sighs but continues to eat.

I pull down my jean romper and wipe my mouth with a napkin. "Excuse me. I believe I'm done."

Without another word, I push in the chair and swiftly walk to the elevator, subconsciously going up to the roof that Cashmere had shown me yesterday. And I stay there. First ten minutes. Then twenty.

I stay there until three hours have passed.

I'm not really sure why I stayed up there. I thought of many things. Home. Life before District One. Demetrius. Alex. The Hunger Games. The more I thought, the more I grew fearful and the more I didn't want to be here. It was sad because I still hadn't grasped the fact that I will kill to survive.

And that I was probably going to die as well.

It got dark. Cashmere was the first to look for me after this long period of time.

She stands before me, wearing a sweater over her 'fabulous' black pant-suit. She holds out a blue hoodie as a peace offering. I stand and take it generously.

"Let's walk." She says, gesturing over her shoulder. I nod, putting the jacket on and hood up.

We walk for a few moments around the small garden. I shiver, remembering this morning. Cashmere is the first to speak, and I'm grateful.

"So, I'm guessing your day wasn't great."

I smiled. I loved the way Cashmere was…she was so youthful. She understood us. In a way.

"It wasn't the best."

"Can I hear about it?"

I cross my arms and let out a breath. "President Snow basically told me there was no way out of this."

Pleased with my answer, I looked over at Cashmere, nodding in understandment. "You know, even if there was a way out of this, he still wouldn't help you."

I nod. "I know."

We're quiet for a while, and we reach the balcony from last night. We see the night sky go from light to dark, as the sun has already set. It's twilight.

"So did you do what I asked?"

I nodded.

"Did the Careers add you?"

I nodded again.

"And did you talk to Alexander?"

I nodded, then caught myself. I turn to Cashmere, incredulous, only to see her smug smile.

"I mean- yeah, I had to, I was paired up with him at the edible plants station." I answer as nonchalantly as possible. She snorts.

"Puh-lease. I can see it in your eyes!" She shrieks. Then her voice softens. "I think he likes you too."

"I don't like him!" I defend. She laughs.

"Okay, okay. Then why were Everdeen and Mellark eyeing you like crazy at the Parade?"

I cock my head to the side. "What?"

"They kept watching you like a piece of meat they wanted to buy….and then the awkward stand off? Weird."

She shivers comically and I chuckle.

"It wouldn't work." Cashmere suddenly says.

"Huh?"

"You can't fall in love - or like, whatever - in these Games." She looks down. "I learned that the hard way."

I shoot her a confused look. She looks out at the Capitol, eyes shiny.

"He was my best friend. At least, he was my ally. Even if we were in the Career group, he had my back no matter what. Until they wanted to get rid of him."

She freezes, like if she's watching something in her mind. She winces.

"Rush beheaded him with an axe."

I hear the swish of the axe in my head. I think Cashmere did too, because she winces even more. She presses her lips together. I then wonder who Rush is.

"I couldn't save him….it was me or him."

She didn't cry, but her voice broke. She turned to look at me.

"Do you really think I did right? I had nothing to go back to besides my mom. But he had brothers, a sister on the way, and his two parents. Did I really win anything?"

I stared at her, a little taken aback by the sudden outburst of emotion from my mentor. She turned back out to the city.

"Be careful."

I nodded. I tried to change the subject.

"What do I do tomorrow?"

"The gamemakers will watch you beginning tomorrow. Don't be nervous. They hardly pay attention. However, move up a bit. Move to agility and stick to drills. Demetrius told us you're a fast runner."

I blush at the comment.

"That's a good thing," Cashmere goes on, "So what we need to do is try to make everyone believe that is your only strength. Which isn't, of course. Try to be friendlier with the Careers. And keep your eyes open."

I nod. She sighs, crossing her arms over her chest.

"So, what do you say we get some sleep?"

She begins to walk away, but I don't follow. Confused, she turns to me. I look back at her.

"I think I'll be here a little while longer."

Shrugging, she struts off. She shouts from over her shoulder, "Suit yourself!"

I dig my hands into my hoodie pocket, feeling the warmth in my fingers, and longing for the blankets at home that covered me from the fear of the outside world.

It's been a good half hour when I hear shuffling steps coming towards me. I bring my head up from my knees, a little surprised.

I had opted for a seat over a banister, almost like a small little cave. I leaned against it's cool grey marble.

"I thought you'd be thirsty."

I looked up and saw Demetrius standing a few feet away, a blanket over him and wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt. He held two mugs. His hair was a mess…more than usual.

"I thought you'd be asleep by now." I said. He shrugged.

"I was going to wait for you, but you took too long."

I smiled at his sarcasm and move my body to face the city now, patting the space beside me. He obliges, sitting criss-crossed beside me. He hands me a mug.

"How did you find this place?" He asked.

"Not very hard," I respond, "I just looked around."

He nods. Suddenly, a cold breeze hits us and I shudder, remembering the feeling of the ice on my back. I want to shake even more when I feel Demetrius put his blanket around me absently, so that we both share it. I don't say anything.

"So what happened that you had a meltdown? We haven't even gotten to the games."

I tense a bit. He notices, because he sighs.

"Forget I asked," He grumbles. I laugh, then look down at the mug.

"You brought me hot chocolate?"

He looks over at my mug and then grins. "Cool. I don't really know what I got you, they just handed it to me and I asked them for another."

I raise an eyebrow in annoyance at his fail at being nice. He smells it.

"So…hot chocolate?"

"Yeah." I answer, a little out of it. He brings it up to his eyes.

"You…do you just drink it?"

My mouth drops open. "You're kidding, right?"

He stares at the mug, sniffing it again. I scoff.

"You-you've never tasted hot chocolate?"

I concur my voice is a little to hysterical for my remark, and I clear my throat. He shrugs.

"I mean…I've seen it, but - okay, no. I haven't. Sorry."

At first I don't say anything. All I think to myself is, is he serious? Hot chocolate is like, the basis of winter. But then I wonder if it's really his fault he hasn't really tasted hot chocolate ever. I bring mine up to my face, and blow the steam off.

"Yes, you drink it." I respond, laughing a bit. I put it to my lips. "But be careful. As the name suggests, this chocolate is hot."

He does as I do, and he tries to chug it down. I sip it, feeling the warmth on my lips and mouth, but then I turn to see Demetrius spitting it out.

"What are you doing?" I shout, seeing him cough.

"It - was - hot!" He breathed like a dog.

I stared at him for a few moments, watching him regulate his tongue temperature and the funny faces that came with that. Then I burst out laughing.

He began to laugh too, and then we were both having a laugh attack. We were both breathless by the time it ended. We sipped some more, and then looked up at each other.

I grinned, pointing at his face. "You…you have a little-"

He looks down at the direction of my finger. "What? What do I have?"

I laugh a bit. "You have a hot chocolate mustache."

He looks down and clearly doesn't see anything, but licks his upper lip anyway. "I do not. But you do."

I look down at myself. My tongue reaches for my upper lip and I taste the chocolate foam. I swipe my tongue to wipe myself. "Is it gone?"

I notice Demetrius is watching me intently. He doesn't answer, but he's staring at me keenly. I get self conscious, and I clear my throat.

"Did I get it? Is it g-"

I can't finish my sentence because Demetrius has just leaned over and placed his lips on my own. I stare at him as he kisses me until I finally close my eyes, still unsure of what's happening. He pushes me back a bit as he deepens the kiss a little bit more. The kiss is gentle, sweet, and short, however, because as soon as he commenced it, it ended. He pulled away slowly, licking his lips suddenly.

"I got it." He said lamely. I nodded slowly. We didn't meet eachother's gaze.

"You taste like chocolate." I said stupidly. I saw a blush creep at his cheeks.

"You taste like it too."

Suddenly, this overwhelms me. The kiss, the Games, my grandfather, Cashmere's vague but detailed story-

I run away, as fast as I can, leaving the space beside Demetrius empty and the mug of hot chocolate half full. And I don't look back.

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