" What's the guy's name again? Neal?" Zander asked, his face scrunched up in confusion.
I glanced back at him, saying " No, Zander. Nyall. Ny-All." He sent me a look as I talked to him like a child, before he went back to rummaging through my fridge.
"Do you just come here to eat all my food?" I asked with a messy rose eyebrow. My prep team was surely going to scream at me for letting them get so out of hand, but quite honestly, I don't care.
I don't care at all.
"No. I come over to see my wonderful friend, Aria." He said with a sweet smile, before dipping his head back in the fridge and pulling out a carton of some orange colored juice.
I folded my arms across my chest, watching him. " The food's a bonus." He said finally, taking a sip from the carton and glancing at me.
I opened my mouth to speak, only for a loud banging on the door to stop me. I snapped my mouth shut, paling slightly as reality hit me.
They were here.
My time was up.
Zander came over to me, pushing me towards the door. "Relax, Aria. Your gonna be fine."
I nodded, despite the fact that I clearly didn't believe him. My hand hovered over the door handle, banging still coming from the other side of the door.
I can't do this.
"You can do this, Aria. I'll be right here." Zander said gently, placing a hand on my small shoulder. I nodded again, taking a deep breath before pulling the door open.
Belladonna's hand stopped mid-air. " About time! Did you not hear me? I've been out here for mi-"
Belladonna stopped talking, finally looking at me, her face contorting slightly at my appearance. Nyall and the prep team popped up beside her, their faces showing the same expression.
I couldn't really blame them for the expressions. I was dressed in a pair of baggy gray pants, an extremely oversized white grease stained t-shirt hanging all the way down to my knees. My hair was a tangled mess in a bun, and the bags under my eyes were as dark as ever.
"Hi." I said softly, my voice cracking a bit. I winced at the sound, Zander giving my shoulder another squeeze. Belladonna cleared her throat, straightening up at the sight of Zander. I couldn't really blame her. Most girls had that reaction to him.
Belladonna looked different, a vibrant blue wig pilled on top of her head. She was wearing an obnoxiously bright pink dress, which had a ruffle train at least a foot long. Her heels clacked as she made her way inside, the sound so familiar to my ears.
The rest of the team came in, before I shut the door. " This is Zander." I said, my voice thankfully not cracking this time. Nyall nodded, giving him a once over, before nodding again.
Zander shifted beside me, saying "So, um. I guess I'll be going no-"
"No." I said quickly, snapping my hand out and grabbing his. "You said you'd stay." I said softly, looking up at him, my eyes pleading.
I don't want to loose him too.
Not yet.
"I know I did, but I don't want to be in the way." He said softly, brushing some hair off my face with the back of his hand.
"You can stay!" Belladonna nearly shouted, grabbing his arm and tugging him to sit on the couch beside her. Zander sent me a look of alarm, mouthing out " Help!" I simply gave him a small smile, before Nyall dragged me into another room to start getting me ready.
Let the mayhem begin.
[-]
"Nyall! This dress is too big too!" one of the triplets shouted, her pink ringlets bouncing as she stomped her heel covered foot on the wood floor. I can't really blame her for being frustrated. This was the seventh dress they had me try on.
All of them too big.
I really am withering away.
Nyall came over, pinching the extra fabric in his hand, his eyes flickering up at mine for a moment, before looking back at the handful of cloth in his grasp.
"Get me my kit, please. This is the last dress we have, I'll just have to resize it." He said, running his free hand over his still perfectly slicked back hair.
He slipped the dress up and off over my head, before walking over to sit down, snipping off a large amount of fabric. I looked away from him, the triplets gathering around me again and starting to do my nails, makeup and hair.
"So, Aria. Are you excited to be seeing Cato later?" One of them gushed, twisting a piece of my dull hair around a hot barrel. I swallowed the small lump in my throat, feeling Nyall's eyes on me for a moment.
"Mhm." I managed to say, bouncing my foot out of anxiousness. In all honesty, I was completely dreading having to face Cato in a few hours.
He was going to tear me apart.
Maybe he'll literally tear me apart.
Put me out of my stupid existence.
"Stop bouncing your foot! I'm trying to paint your nails!" One of the girls said, waving the nail polish in my direction to make her point.
"Sorry." I mumbled, before shutting my mouth so one of the other girls could coat my lips in a pale pink color.
"Don't yell at her! She's excited! She's seeing the boy she loves for the first time in months!" Another one of the girls said, making it much harder to resist the urge to scream.
I really need to remember their names.
One of them finished my nails, gasping as she flipped my hand over. "What happened to your hands?" She nearly shrieked. I glanced down; the fresh cuts from the kitchen counter yesterday still appearing angry and red.
"I fell." I said simply, her nodding before going back to work.
They're too easy."Done!" They announced a few minutes later, letting me stand. Nyall finished up the dress, slipping it back on over my head. I examined myself in the mirror on my wall.
My blonde hair was pulled to the side with a white ribbon, resting in curls. My face was coated in makeup, blush on my cheeks in an attempt to make me look livelier. The dark bags were still a bit visible, the makeup not able to completely cover them up.
The dress was a pale blue color. It was cut like a thick-strapped tank top at the top, clinging to my small frame It was pulled in at the waist with a silky dark blue ribbon, tied to the left with a boy. The skirt poofed out a small bit with three white horizontal lines toward the bottom of the skirt, which ended at my knees.
White flats on my feet completed the look. Overall, I looked better than I have in months. I looked more like the old Aria than I did the new.
I wonder if that's what they want everyone to see.
The pretty perfect Aria
The Aria that Cato loves.
The Aria that the Capitol loves.
The Aria that everyone loves.
Anyone loves.
"Come on now. We need to get going to the train station. Can't keep them waiting too long." Nyall said, ushering me out the door and down the stairs.
Zander hopped up when he saw me, escaping away from a pouting Belladonna. "Thanks for leaving me with the psycho." He mumbled in my ear, making a small smile break out on my features.
He patted my head, saying "You look good, Ar." We all headed out to the car, my hand tightly clutching Zander's.
I don't want him to leave.
I don't want to leave him, actually.
We arrived at the train station after a few silent minutes. Belladonna and the prep team quickly scurried off onto the train, Nyall glancing back at me before he trailed after them.
Zander still clung my hand tightly as we climbed onto the platform, the obnoxiously large silver train humming quietly.
"It's time, Aria. You got to let go." Zander said softly, turning towards me. I reluctantly released his hand, staring down at my feet. "Bye." I said softly.
"Bye Aria." He said with a small smile, before turning to walk down the steps.
My heart pounded harder as he turned to leave. The only person I had left was leaving me. "Zander!" I nearly shouted, running back over to him and throwing my arms around his neck.
"I don't want to go." I said, my voice shaking even at the small volume I was using.
Zander sighed, stroking my hair and softly shushing me. "You'll be fine. I promise, Aria. I promise."
I reluctantly pulled back a bit, nodding, pushing down the lump in my throat. I kept my hands on his shoulder, not ready to let go. I stared down at the ground again, Zander placing his hand under my chin and tilting my head up to look at him.
His perfect green eyes locked on to mine for a moment, a soft sigh coming from his lips. "I'm gonna miss you." He said gently, leaning over an pecking a kiss on my forehead, his hair falling around his face.
"I'll miss you too, Zander." I reply, letting out a deep breath. "I know I haven't said it before, but I –" I bit my lip, trying to think of how to word it. "I just. I mean, you-"
He smiled down at me, patting the top of my head again with a grin. "I get it, Ar."
I opened my mouth to say something. Unfortunately, an obnoxiously loud voice beat me too it.
"Aria! Come on, we have to-"
Oh no.
Not him.
Anyone but him
I swear, for a moment, my heart stopped in my chest. My hands gripped Zander's shoulders so hard I could practically feel the skin bruising. His blue eyes fell on me, my breath stopping in my throat.
"Cato." I croaked out, my voice cracking once again. He looked as perfect as ever, his blonde hair perfectly groomed. He looked even more tall and muscular, if that was even possible. His stylist had dressed in a white button up, the top few open, a pair of beige dress pants on his legs.
He looks exactly the same.
If anything, he looks better than before.
He probably thinks I look terrible.
He probably wants to laugh in my face for falling apart, while he was fine.
He's strong. I'm weak.
Weak and alone.
"Aria." Zander said, not looking back at Cato. "Aria." He said again, turning my face towards him. He pecked another kiss on my forehead, saying " I'll see you in a few weeks, yeah?"
I nodded, him slipping from my grasp and walking away. I could still feel Cato's gaze on me as I walked past him to get on the train. I stood in front of the window, staring out at the familiar sight of District Three, Zander's figure getting smaller and smaller as he made his way away from the train.
Away from me.
"Aria? Hello?" I snapped my head to the side, seeing Cato staring down at me. His gaze wasn't as harsh as I expected it to be, but his arms were still crossed, his muscles obviously tense.
I looked away from him, a hollow feeling in my chest. As much as I wanted to deny it, Cato didn't care anymore. He didn't love me, I doubted he ever did in the first place. I was nothing to him.
You're just some girl, Aria.
A stupid girl, who ruined everything.
"Go away Cato." I said, my voice barely above a whisper, holding no emotion. The train jerked into motion, District Three slowly moving out of my sight.
Cato kept his gaze on me, his expression faltering at my response. He unfolded his arms, leaning against the wall beside me, my eyes still not looking in his direction. "You look terrible." He stated, his voice void of emotion.
Loosing your mind can do that too you.
I expected it to hurt more to hear him insult me, as if he never cared for me at all: But it didn't. I didn't feel anything other than numbness. I finally looked back over at him, taking in the familiar features of his face.
I refused to look into his eyes, not wanting to risk it. I didn't want to see the look of hatred in them. I didn't want to see the look of disgust from how weak I was. I could tell he was trying to look into my eyes, which was exactly why I turned away again, moving to exit the car.
I just want to go to sleep and wake up somewhere else.
I want to wake up back in District Three, with Zander there to keep me from loosing it.
Where I can just wither away and never have to feel anything again.
If only.
Cato's hand gripped onto my shoulder, spinning me around to look at him. I looked up at his face, his eyes focused on his hand on my bony shoulder. His eyes trailed over my figure again, taking in my appearance.
"What's wrong with you?" He asked, his voice softer than before.
"Everything." I said in a whisper, before slipping from his grasp and leaving the car.
No wonder you're alone.
[-]
Wooah. Aha, this chapter was so dramatic and depressing :P
Don't worry, Aria won't be like this forever…or will she ;)
So, what did you guys think was going through Cato's head when he saw Aria again? Let my know in your review :D
Speaking of Reviews, I loved all of the ones from the first chapter! There were so many! Keep them coming! I especially love when you leave long ones(:
Thanks Guys!
-Becca(: