The Seventieth Hunger Games Chapter 2

Lily's POV:

The carriage pulled back into the building.

"You looked beautiful," Effie said.

"Well done," Tigris said. I only nodded.

"Good job," Haymitch said. He was addressing both Ethan and me. "Now, the next challenge is training, the evaluations, and the interviews. Let's go back to the penthouse."

Haymitch, Effie, Ethan, and I went back to the top floor apartment. Tigris and Florian had to go do something before dinner.

Effie was right about one thing. The penthouse was beautiful. With its marble floors and crystal chandeliers. My rooms themselves are like, the size of my entire house, including the bakery. The shower had probably 200 different buttons for water temperature, soaps, water pressure, scents, etc. I pick matching soap and hair products that smell like apple cinnamon. My hair is always knotted when I get out of the shower. So instead of struggling with it, I simply hit a button and a dryer box thing sends a current through my scalp. Detangling, parting, and drying all at once.

I program the closet to an outfit of my taste. A long-sleeved teal dress that falls to my knees and black ballet flat shoes. The window zooms in on different points of the city. I zoomed in on a small beach near the edge of the Capital. There isn't much water in 12, but I've always loved the look of water. All I have to do is whisper into a little microphone thing and order from the huge menu. Within minutes, the food appears. I decide on a large plate of those little fruit pies. The same as the ones they had at my lunch with Tigris. I sat on the bed, staring out the window and eating the little pies. Until there's a knock at the door and Effie is calling me for dinner.

Ethan, Effie, and Haymitch are out on the balcony and Tigris and Florian are already sitting at the table. I sat at the table as well and within 5 minutes Effie, Ethan, and Haymitch join us. I wasn't surprised by the food amounts anymore. I guess that's just how it is here.

After dinner, Haymitch began talking about training.

"Now, tomorrow is the first training session," Haymitch said. "Both of you, meet me here for breakfast and I'll tell you how to play it. Go get some sleep and let the grown-ups talk."

I rolled my eyes. There is no way I'm going to bed. When the adults couldn't see me anymore, I took a different hallway that led up to the roof.

"What are you doing?" Ethan said. This is the first time he's ever talked to me.

"I'm exploring," I said.

"You're gonna get in trouble Ethan said.

"So? If the Capital gets mad and kills me for going to the roof, I'm probably gonna die anyway. So, it doesn't really matter, does it?"

"They won't kill you for going to the roof."

"I know that, idiot. I was making a point. And since when do you even care? This is the first time you've talked to me at all."

"I don't want to make friends here. It's too likely that we'll have to kill each other."

"That's fair. Just don't interfere with what I'm doing and I won't interfere with what you're doing, deal?"

Ethan stared at me. "Deal."

He walked off and I continued my assent to the roof.

I opened the door to the roof and was greeted by cool night air. I walked forward and leaned on the stone edge and I looked out over the city. It was beautiful, in an overly colorful sort of way.

"You can't jump, you know," said a voice behind me.

I whirled around. Finnick stood there. I didn't even hear the door open.

"Oh, it's you," I said. "I'm not here to try to jump."

"That's good," Finnick said. "Because there's a force field. Look."

I turned back to the edge. If you look closely, there was a slight shimmer in the air.

"Oh, yeah," I said.

"What are you doing up here, then?" Finnick asked.

"Haymitch told me to go to bed," I said. "I don't like doing what I'm told, so I went exploring."

"Hmm," Finnick said.

"How did you even get up here?" I asked.

"There's another staircase that comes up here," Finnick said. "So, you can get up here if you don't have the penthouse."

"Right. Why do keep talking to me?"

Finnick walked forward to stand next to me. "You're different. When you look at the tributes from 12, usually they don't really look like they have a horse in the race. But, you barely even look scared. Why is that?"

I looked up at him. He was at least three inches taller than me.

"Fear serves no propose here. If they see that you're scared, that's how you die. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me scared and upset. If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna with dignity."

Finnick stared at me. "That's… impressive. Especially, for 15."

"I'm not leaving my little brother. But I doubt the rest of my family will even care if I die."

"That's kind of sad."

"I don't care anymore. All they see me as is a possible future ticket to the Capital. They hope, if I can be a perfect student and a perfect nice girl from a good family, I can get a job in the Capital and bring them with."

"But that's not what you want?"

"No. I just want to be me. And I don't even want to live in the Capital. Even if I did, I wouldn't bring them with."

There was a minute of silence and then Finnick changed the subject.

"Are you ready for training tomorrow?" Finnick asked.

"Shouldn't you be asking the kids from 4 that?"

"I already did. They're in bed."

"I guess, I'm ready. My district partner doesn't want to make friends. He doesn't want to take the chance that we'll have to kill each other. I understand, but that means I'm on my own."

"Maybe, it's better to be on your own. If you don't have allies, then you don't have to share resources."

"Yes," I said. "And you don't have to always watch that person. I can't say I would trust Ethan in the arena."

"That's probably smart. There can only be one winner. So, it's better not to make friends."

I turned to him. "Then why am I talking to you?"

"Because, I'm not a tribute," Finnick said. "So it's okay to be friends."

"Who said we're friends?"

"I don't know. But, it's nice to have someone to talk to that's not another tribute, believe me. I've been right where you are."

"Yes, you have. And that's probably true. About having someone to talk to."

"You probably should go to bed now. Make up for sleep that will be lost in the arena."

"You're probably right."

I walked back to the door and pulled it open. Then I looked back.

"Bye, Finnick."

"Bye, Lily."

Alright guys, I'm sorry this chapter is a little slow. But, next chapter is training, and the interview, and evaluations, and… the start of the games. So, stay tuned for the next chapter. I'll update soon and please review. Bye guys, - Lily