Okay, I'm writing more. (Ehm child of athena 123098 xD jk) Sorry, had to put that. Okay, on with the story!
Ray's POV
The chariot jerks forwards and we are off. I'm not really ready to face the crowd yet, but I don't have an option. I look over at Dray who puts on a smile before we pass the gates. It's like he's a different person because at first he was all depressed then the next, he's smiling his head off. Our chariot bounces out the gate and the next thing I hear is "District 12!" Who knew a coal miner and his coal could be so popular?
I return the smiles as people chant District 12. We are one of the most popular Districts this year, and I thought we would be one of the boring. Just then, I get an idea.
"Hey, Dray." I semi whisper to him over the crowd. He's still smiling, which I figured is for show, and bends down to my height.
"What?" He asks. I look at the crowd again and then back to him.
"Lift me up, you know, like you do at home." He stops smiling and looks at me.
"Are you nuts, what if you fall?" He kind of raises his voice at my suggestion but I ignore it.
"Just trust me." I say and Dray thinks about it for a second, then I feel his big hands pick me up around my sides. He puts me over his shoulder and I feel on top of the world. I'm smiling, but it's not for the crowd. It's for myself, reminding me that I have one last reminder of home. And that's my big brother. The entire crowd is looking at us now and they're yelling with excitement. Dray looks up and has a big smile on his face and I just return it.
Then, we hit a bump in the road. I hear gasps from the crowd and the air feels empty. I'm sure that I've fallen off of Dray's shoulders and I'm lying on the floor, skull cracked open, when the crowd lets out more cheers and I open my eyes that were glued shut the whole time. I'm still on Dray's shoulder. I knew I could trust him.
As quick as the ceremony begins, it's over. The chariot pulls in the station, or whatever you what to call it, and Katniss, Peeta, Emmy, our stylist, and Haymitch come over and tell us congratulations. Well, it lasts for a few minutes.
"Are you nuts?" Peeta asks from behind Katniss.
"What do ya mean?" Dray asks.
"Ray could've fallen off your shoulders." I can tell Peeta's looking after us, but it did get the crowd cheering.
"Cut them some slack Peeta," Saved by Haymitch. "it did get them some sponsors." He gives me a quick wink and I can't help but smile at the drunk.
"He's got a point." Katniss agrees with Haymitch and Peeta gives her a fine, you win look.
"Well, it's been a long day. Let's get some dinner." Emmy rubs her hands and is off in a hurry. She reminds me of that one hero back in the old days, like North America days. What was his name, The Flash? I push the thought to the side and follow Emmy.
Dinner goes by quickly and we sit there, just talking while we finish up. I pick at my steak while Dray gets into the other's conversations. I personally think that Dray is starting to like these people. To bad it'll all end in about a day or so…
"So how did you think of the people in the Capitol?" Katniss said with a smirk. Dray just shakes his head at the comment.
"Who want's to look like a fruitloop?" He says and they all laugh a bit.
"You should've seen them when I was in my games." Haymitch laughs and I can't help but get into their conversation too.
"What did they look like." I ask a bit to quickly. Haymitch just smirks at my curiosity.
"They had their skin painted like the rainbow, all different colors. Cats whiskers were the 'rage' back then." He says and we laugh. Emmy lets out a huff and Katniss looks at her weirdly.
"What?" She asks her and Emmy crosses her arms.
"I just happened to be one of those people." She pouts and we all start laughing, even Dray.
"What's so interesting about that stuff?" I hear Peeta ask and Emmy walks out of the room.
"Man that woman's touchy." Haymitch says and rolls his eyes.
"Admit it, you miss Effie." Peeta jokes and Haymitch makes a disgusted face.
"Are you kidding? That girl was all about time." He says and I actually see Katniss smile. She's been kind of down ever since she found out Rue's sister's going into the arena with us.
"Oh, you just didn't like it because you couldn't drink your liquor in peace." Peeta says with a smile on his face.
"Exactly, now I'm going to bed." He says and begins to walk out of the room when Katniss calls his name.
"Haymitch, you don't go to bed at night." Katniss corrects and Haymitch opens his mouth to talk, but quickly shuts it.
"Good point." With that, he walks out of the room.
"That man." Katniss shakes her head and smiles at Peeta.
"Well, it's been a long day. Tomorrow's you guys practice with us and stuff like that." Peeta says with a smile.
"Yeah, I'm gonna go to bed." I say and stand up and walk over to my room. I walk out the door but stop and wait for Dray to come too. The doors open and Peeta and Katniss come out. "Where's Dray?" I ask.
"He's coming." Katniss says and they walk off to their rooms too. I stand outside the dinning room and wait for Dray. It seems like minutes, but I can be impatient. Dray walks out and gives me a halfhearted smile.
"Let's get to bed." He says and we walk off. He's silent the whole way and I begin to wonder.
"Okay, what's wrong?" I say sternly and he looks down at me. It gets intimidating after awhile because it makes me fell short, I guess it's because I'm only eleven and he's fourteen.
"The games that's what's wrong." I feel like shushing him because the Capitol could be listening but he continues. "It's only about a day away." My stomach drops because I know it's true. I was thinking about that earlier today. We get to our rooms but I go to my room instead of his. I just feel like I need some alone time right now. I go to my bed and plop down on it and bury my head in my pillow, crying. The Hunger Games are only a day away. The killing, blood lust children, the despair. All starts in about a day. I cry, silently in my pillow and that girl from 11 pops into my head. I might have to kill her. I don't want to because that would just break Katniss's heart a second time. Maybe even break my heart too.
But then I think. When training comes, I'll ask her to be my ally.
Katniss's POV
Peeta sleeps with me tonight because I'm sure to have nightmares. I take my hair out of my braid and flip it over my shoulders. "I hope those two will make it out of the arena." I say out loud and Peeta gives me a sympathetic look.
"Yeah, they seem like nice kids." He picks up his clothes and is about to change in the bathroom when I say another thought out loud.
"To bad only one tribute can come out." I mumble. Peeta hangs his head and looks at me.
"I'm going to take a quick shower." He opens the door and walks in. He shuts it and after about a minute, I hear the water running. I let out a sigh and get off the bed. I need to talk to someone. Someone who's not in the shower. I quickly look for Haymitch's room and finally find it after about a minute. I knock and Haymitch opens it, who's surprisingly sober.
"What is it sweetheart?" He asks and I walk in. It still smells like liquor even though he's not drinking.
"When you went into the arena." I know it's a touchy topic for him but I need to know. "How did you feel knowing only one could come back?" I look at my hands because I don't want to see his reaction. All is quiet until he finally speaks.
"You should know, you thought only one could come back when you went in." I think about it because I know he's right. I felt awful. Worst feeling that I will ever experience probably. But then another question pops into my head. I know it will get him drunk for sure but it keeps nagging at me to ask.
"How did you feel when you found out your girlfriend was killed?" This stops all of his movement. He just stands there, silent. "Haymitch? I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked." I punish myself for that dumb question. I get up to dismiss myself when I hear Haymitch call my name.
"How would've you felt if Peeta died?" I lower my gaze and walk out of the room. I head back to my room with Peeta. What Haymitch said makes me wonder. If Peeta died I would've been depressed and linger on it the rest of my life. In fact, I couldn't live without him. I need Peeta. Maybe just like Haymitch needed his girl.
I open the door to our room and Peeta is sitting in a corner of the room. "Peeta?" I ask and he's rocking himself back and worth with his head on his knees. "Peeta?" I ask again but no answer. I crouch down next to him and shake him a bit. "Peeta, what's the matter?" Again, no answer. "Peeta!" I call and he lifts his head quickly.
His pupils are dilated and he has a deadly look in his eyes. "Get away from me you mutt!"
Oh, cliffhanger! Okay sorry about yesterday. I was being lazy and didn't feel like updating.