Chapter 8: The Capitol (Part 3)

I stood there, my pulse humming. I didn't know what he would say; the Tribute dinner was never televised.

I was pulled abruptly away from the group; my new Alliance. That term seemed so odd in my head, and on my tongue; like it didn't quite belong there.

I knew who was holding me before he showed me his face. His touch was already achingly familiar.

"Marcus," I said softly. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing with them?" He asked me.

"I trust them more than any Career." I told him, knowing what he was thinking without him having to say anything. He thought I could worm my way into the Careers, but I wouldn't do that. They were just as bad as President Snow.

Speaking of Satan…

Our President began his speech.

"Tributes, Escorts, Stylists, Victors! Welcome to the official start of the Thirteenth Hunger Games!" His voice boomed across the room as I worked my way out of Marcus's arms and back to Nyle, who was now standing next to a dark skinned boy. I hid behind him, glancing at Marcus.

He looked at me, not with hatred, but something akin to disappointment. He…looked sad.

Nyle wrapped his right arm around my shoulders. "Here it comes," he whispered into my ear.

"The Thirteenth Hunger Games is a significant mile stone in our History because we can now have Victors being Mentors, assisting the Tributes in their respective districts."

"Then why is Orpheus working with District 8?!" The girl who spoke had thick red hair. "Why is he leaving us for idiots?" She asked President Snow.

His eyes skimmed over her, ignoring her question. Nyle gave a reassuring pat on my back. "That's Elizabeth, from 7. Don't worry too much about her; her bark is worse than her bite." He told me, his mouth right next to my ear.

Somehow, I couldn't feel at ease with the red head now glaring at me.

And I had no idea how he thought I could be.

The President continued. "With not every District having a Victor, we let them choose their Districts. Isn't that the least we could do?" He chuckled and some other people from the Capitol did as well.

I looked around the room, my eyes falling on Orpheus and Blair. The two were off in a corner, Blair with her face pressed into Orpheus's chest. She had to be crying, because he was trying to comfort her by stroking her hair.

"Continuing on, I would like to announce the new schedule. Instead of the old standard of twelve days in the Training Center, we're giving you six days. The Chariot Rides are tomorrow night, oh, and the interviews are two evenings after. Enjoy the time we've given you!" The President then walked out of the Hall.

The dread hit me. The shock settled in. Denial tried to creep in. And then reality came crashing down. Six days to train, two of them half taken by the need to prep for the Chariot Rides and Interviews. More, if I knew anything about Marcus and Blair.

My knees gave out, but Nyle was quick to hold me up. "Okay, I think it's time for you to go home. Where's your Escort?" He asked me.

"I don't know," I said softly. He'd picked me up by now, holding me to his chest. "He…he'd been over there," I gestured weakly.

I felt queasy, like something was rushing into my mouth. Before I knew it, I was no longer in Nyle's arms, but being held up by Marcus. I barely understood the words going on between the two; something about bad food, I think.

But the next thing I remember was Marcus cradling me against him, in the limo. My head was against his chest as he rocked me asleep.

I woke up lying on a bed bigger than the one that had been in my room. The sheets were a different material, and I was underneath a blanket, against a warm body.

"Oh my god!" I bolted up and away from said warm body.

"Lil' cub, what's wrong?" Oh, GOD, I was in BED with MARCUS.

"You're-we're-why-ohmigod what happened!?" I felt my blood pressure rise and I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

We were both sitting up on the bed—Marcus's big, fancy bed that he got because he's a Capitol Escort for the Hunger Games.

"Relax, nothing happened, cub." He told me. "It just…it seemed like it would be easier to watch you and make sure you were okay…if you were in the same room as me." He told me.

I gulped. I gulped and I felt faint. Again. I felt weak and idiotic and why couldn't Nyle have just held me until I was okay?

Marcus was inches away from me. Inches away and I could smell his soap. Masculine, musky, and so him. Oh, why was I thinking this?

Even when I was on my knees, Marcus was taller than me. He tilted my head up and our lips met softly at first. Then he deepened to beyond a chaste kiss. And it was wonderful.

He pulled me close to him, as our kiss continued. And he didn't stop. Pulling me right up to him and…

In the morning, we were wrapped up in each other's arms. Marcus still held me close, and my head was against his chest.

I'm a bad person. I just slept with my Escort; with a person from the Capitol. I'm not supposed to do that. It's bad and stupid and this can't end well for either of us.

I nuzzled against Marcus. He must've been awake because he chuckled and his lips brushed against my forehead.

"Do you regret it?" He asked me.

"No," I told him honestly.

He kissed my nose. "That's good, cub, because I didn't regret it either." He smiled. That beautiful, perfect, not too white, but defiantly white toothed smile. My stomach curled up in knots again.

His lips met mine again, but then he pulled away. "Come on, we need to get you to the Training Center." He told me, helping me up.

I gulped, and he helped me get dressed in different clothes than what I'd been wearing last night.

He kissed me again before we walked out. It was still pretty early, so I wasn't surprised to see no one at the open dining section of the apartment.

We sat down and just kind of looked at each other. My stomach was in knots and I don't think I was getting enough air to my lungs or brain or what it ever it was that was making me lightheaded.

"Are we going to tell anyone?" I asked him softly.

It took Marcus a moment to answer. "I don't think we should. That probably wouldn't end well, for either of us."

Private and secretiveness had always turned into lies and hiding and not telling the people who care about you what was really good. And it never has ended well.

I got up and walked out of the room. I jumped as Marcus touched my arm. "Are you angry with me?" He asked.

I looked at him. "A little…how do you expect me to not tell anyone?" I asked him.

"By not opening your mouth?" He suggested.

I yanked my arm out of his grip. "Forget it." I heard myself say. I walked out of the apartment and into the elevator.

Before I knew it, I'd pressed the button that button that was on top before I could really think (though I had thought it would take me to the lobby). I was angry with Marcus and I walked out of the elevator as soon as it opened.

"Oh," I said softly. The roof? I had hit the button for the roof?

The day outside was brisk, and fog was slowly creeping out of the streets below. It looked like the Capitol was covered in a blanket from where I stood.

"Cleo?" I jumped again as I heard my name being said. I turned around and saw Nyle. "What happened? You look like you're about to cry." He told me.

I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "Nothing major, just stuff with Marcus." I explained to him.

"How were you last night? I was pretty worried about you." He told me.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I only slept with Marcus.

Nyle stepped forward and hugged me. Not a hug that demanded something from me, but a hug that was supposed to be comforting.

"I'm here for you, if you need me." He told me after he pulled away.

"Thanks, but I don't think…I don't think I need you," I said softly, unsure about what I could say to him.

Nyle looked dejected for a moment. But he didn't say anything.

His eyes swept over me, as if looking for something that was out of place.

"He hurt you, didn't he?" Nyle asked me; his voice had a steely edge to it.

"No…he didn't hurt me. Honestly." It was me who had hurt myself—for not be strong enough to say no to Marcus.

"Cleo, come on. I know you're lying."

"You want the truth? Marcus and I had sex. He took my virginity and it was the most mind-blowing thing I ever felt but he didn't want me to tell anyone so I left!" I told Nyle, finally exploding.

"Oh…"

I started crying. Crying from everything I guess.

Nyle hugged me again, and we slid to the floor. He held me as I cried.

The door swung open and Smoke was standing there. "Opps. I didn't mean to interrupt anything, but they're asking for all of the tributes to get downstairs."She told us. "Kind of right now." She added.

The two of us sighed. I knew Marcus would go downstairs, trying to find me. All I could do was stick with my allies and hope he'd stay away.

Author's Note: Sorry for taking a month to write this. Please don't hate me, I've been busy with testing (and will be soon again, unfortunately,) my grandparents coming to visit, etc. Not to mention slight writer's block for this. I really am going to try to write more…But I'm writing my RE fanfic, and also struggling with my Greek Mythology, so…I hope the long(ish, for this) chapter makes up for it!

Please review! : )

~HolleringHawk65