"Smile now children!"
The blinding flashes going off around us made my head pound, Aria's small hand clinging mine so tightly I thought she was going to try and break it.
"Will you relax?" I say to her, my face stony as I glance in her direction. A forced smile was on her features, the gray dress she was in matching with the décor of the dining hall we were currently in for the District Two dinner.
Everyone from the District was invited.
And ninety nine percent of them hate Aria.
The other one percent hate you for liking her.
"How the hell am I supposed to relax? Everyone is glaring at me." She snapped, keeping that fake smile in place as they slowly stop taking their pictures for the Panem Press, walking off to enjoy the buffet dinner.
I rolled my eyes; releasing her hand almost immediately once they were out of site. "I'm going to get a drink." She said, walking off, weaving through the glaring people quickly, making her way towards the bar.
I watch her closely as she walks over, my harsh gaze hitting anyone who even thought of trying to talk to her.
I was not in the mood tonight.
"Cato could do so much better than her! Did you see what she was wearing though? It's atrocious." A snooty voice comments, my head moving into her direction. The girl was looking at Aria along with her friends, all of them snickering and glaring.
"Gray, as if she could pull it off!" Another one of the girls commented, tossing some of her blonde hair over her shoulder.
"I'd like to pull it off of her." A male voice comments, his eyes staring at Aria like she was a piece of meat. My blood boils as the words leave his mouth, my fists clenching as I resist the urge to pound his face in.
"I bet she's great in bed." His buddy chimes in, both of them chuckling and undressing her with their eyes.
That's enough.
My vision is burned red as I forcefully push through the group, one of the boys tumbling to the ground, the other bumping into a man carrying a platter of food, it spilling all over the girls.
Everyone's heads snap in their direction, including mine, as if it wasn't my fault in the first place.
Way to keep calm, Cato.
I turn, making my way over to Aria, who was probably the only person not to turn around at the sound of the collision, her eyes focused on the cup of clear liquid in front of her.
I slipped onto the stool beside her, not saying anything as I stare at her profile for a moment, before looking away.
"So are you excited?" She said suddenly after a few moments of silence. I turned back towards her again, only to find her still staring down into her cup, which was now holding less liquid than the last time I looked.
"Excited?" I say, raising an eyebrow. This caused her to turn and look at me, an unreadable expression playing on her features. It bothered me beyond belief that I couldn't tell what she was feeling.
Focus, Cato.
"For the tour to be over. You know, then you get to do what you want." She said, her tone impassive as her eyes lingered on mine for a moment, before she looked back down at her drink.
"Meaning?" I said, getting a bit agitated she wouldn't get to the point.
"Meaning you won't have to pretend to by my boyfriend anymore. Remember? Our deal?" She said, standing and brushing off her skirt, ignoring the looks she was getting at the moment, instead keeping her eyes on me.
I got a sinking feeling in my stomach as I remembered that tiny detail, the thought of loosing her completely feeling like a stab in the chest.
Keep it together, Cato.
You don't care about her.
You don't.
"Oh, right." I said, standing up as well, offering her my hand before we made our way to the dance floor, as Belladonna had told us to do earlier in the evening.
And we all know better than to go against what that nutcase says.
Aria loosely placed her hands on the back of my neck, my hands gripping her waist tightly, holding her close to me. We both remained silent as we moved side to side to the lack luster music of my District, other's dancing all around us.
"Plus, once this tour is over, you and Coral can be together. Just like you want, right?" Aria said suddenly, her eyes looking up at my face.
A twisting feeling of guilt hit me in the gut, reminding me that she had indeed saw Coral and I that night in District Four.
But I didn't want Coral; at least, I didn't want her as much as I wanted Aria.
Which is really stupid, considering Coral is gorgeous.
Considering Coral actually shows interest in me.
Considering Aria doesn't like me in the slightest.
Considering everything.
"Right?" Aria said again, this time her voice a bit softer, her eyes boring into mine, with an expression I still couldn't decipher.
"Right." I said easily, spinning her around before pulling her back into me, this time the expression on her face one I knew well.
Hurt.
"Good then." She said, quickly wiping the look from her face and continuing our dance in silence, her hands grip on my neck tightening just the smallest bit as a glaring couple moved past us.
"I'm excited to go home." She said softly, not looking at me, instead staring past me out the large windows, showing the quarries my District is so famous for.
I didn't respond, because I wasn't excited to be home.
Although once the news of Aria and I's ' breakup ' spread, I would be treated with respect once again, it wouldn't be the same.
It wouldn't be the same without her with me.
Without her here.
[-]
"Hurry up! Can't this thing go any faster." I said, staring out the window of the train, my hands gripping the sill tightly as I looked out at my approaching District.
District Three.
Home.
" Aria, dear, move away from the window. We'll be there in a few minutes. Now eat your breakfast." Belladonna said, an edge to her voice as she shoved me towards a chair, forcing me down into it.
She hadn't been in the best of moods since Cato and I broke to her the news of our breakup, although we wouldn't officially announce it for another two weeks or so.
Although honestly it's none of her business.
And she has no right to be upset.
I'm the one who's going to be forced into doing something by the President of Panem.
…
Yeah, I think she can get over herself.
"I'm not really hungry." I say, shrugging an pushing my plate away from me, glancing over my shoulder and out the window again, the train finally beginning to slow as we passed through the gate to the District.
"You really should eat something, Ar." Cato's voice rang out beside me, shoving the plate back in my direction. I looked back up at him, his eyes icy and lacking emotion. " I said I'm not hungry." I said, pushing it away from me again, only to earn another glare from his direction.
He had also been much less friendly since we told Belladonna, although I had no idea why he was. Honestly, he was the one who wanted it this way in the first place.
And once again, my problems are greater than his at the moment.
"Fine." He snapped, taking my plate and dumping the food onto his, scarfing it down easily. I rolled my eyes at him, standing and moving towards the window again, looking out as the familiar smog filled the cloudy sky, a bit of sunlight peeking through.
I grinned, noticing the train station coming into view, my heart rate picking up a bit as the train began to slow down to a complete stop, Belladonna stopping her chattering and ushering everyone up and towards the doors to the platform, Cato grunting at her.
I smiled, pushing my way to the front of the group. I had never in my life been more excited to be home.
Not even when I won the games was I this excited.
And I knew exactly why I was.
"Aria!"
I spun my head around at the sound of the voice hitting my ears, my eyes landing on the familiar grease streaked face I had missed so much these past weeks. "Zander!" I practically shouted, shoving past Cato, who had rudely not bothered moving out of the way, and running down the stairs into his arms.
He gripped me tightly, spinning me in circles, a light laugh emanating from my lips as he set me down, pecking a kiss on my forehead; his floppy dark locks falling into his eyes.
"I missed you so mu-" I began to say, only to feel a strong arm pull me against their side, Zander's face scrunching up just a bit at the boy before him. Cato glared down at Zander, and the two remained simply staring at each other for a few minutes.
" Zander, this is Cato." I said reluctantly, looking up at Cato with an angry expression, " My-"
"Boyfriend." Cato said, his voice so harsh it made me shiver slightly, despite the warm temperature today. Zander looked over at me, his expression softening a bit when he met my eyes.
"Oh, right." He said, giving me a look that said he knew I would explain everything later. I tugged out of Cato's grip, hugging Zander tightly again; his arms slithering around my waist and holding our bodies flush together.
I could practically feel Cato's eyes burning holes into Zander's head, hearing him grunt something as Belladonna ushered all of us into a car, Cato's arms wrapped around me as he forced me to sit on his lap, Zander simply staring ahead as we drove along towards my house.
I was home.
[-]
Hey Guys I hope you liked this chapter.
Haha I tricked you, they went to both districts! Im so witty ;)
I realize not a super ton happens here, but mainly, this is kinda a filler chapter, as the exciting events are coming up!
I got your interest now, huh ;) Haha don't forget to review!
Sorry for the longer than usual waits, Im super busy with college. I go on winter break in about a month though, so in December and January expect me to make up for these waits ;P
Haha thanks guys!
Becca3