Song for this Chapter: Carousel by Melanie Martinez
AN: I didn't know a good song for this chapter. Please listen to Carousel.
I really hope this chapter is not cringe worthy I have not read the books.
If I get a review or reviews on this chapter I will try to update tomorrow. I promise the next chapter will take a darker turn.
Silence filled the dining room while Rye, Mr. and Mrs. Mellark, and I ate our well prepared dinner. Mr. Mellark prepared his special venison stew with a side of herb and cheese buns. I drank a glass of water with my meal while the Mellark's drank citrus tea.
I hated venison or any wild game, but I could not resist the savory flavor of the stew. We ate our meal in silence. The only distracting noise in the room was the sound of Rye lapping at his stew. Rye ate like an animal. Rye didn't chew his food, he devoured it.
Mr. and Mrs. Mellark never seemed to be bothered by their son's eating habits.
"Katniss told me about a party Finnick and Annie's youngest son Cain invited both of you too." Mr. Mellark stated breaking the deafening silence suddenly.
Rye did not seem to hear his father. He was too fixated on the large piece of meat he was chewing on.
"I told Peeta about your party invitation earlier. Remember, I told both of you we would discuss it later." Mrs. Mellark addressed and I nodded.
"What are we discussing?" Rye asked with his mouth full of meat and potatoes.
"Katniss and I are not sure we want the two of you to travel all the way to District 4 by yourselves." Mr. Mellark said and Mrs. Mellark jumped in.
"It is not safe, and Peeta and I would feel more comfortable if you had some adult supervision there with you." Mrs. Mellark added.
"I am an adult." Rye said with his mouth free of food for the first time in what felt like an hour.
"Adults can take care of themselves Rye, so you are clearly not an adult." I said speaking for the first time.
"I do take care of myself Zara." Rye replied in a mocking tone.
"No, you are misunderstanding what I am saying. I'm not saying you do not look out for your own well-being. I am saying that you use other people to get what you want, and then you depend on others in your time of need." I replied.
"What are you trying to say Zara?" Rye questioned and I smirked at his ignorance.
"It's obvious I am trying to say that you are selfish Rye." I said. I had been wanting to tell him that for months or maybe in years. Mr. and Mrs. Mellark just sat there and watched us.
"Oh yeah and what are you?" Rye said and then Mrs. Mellark cut him off.
"Alright, that is enough. Listen to me, Rye it seems like just yesterday you were lying in a hospital bed with fluid being drained off of your kidneys. You were on a breathing machine for weeks, hundreds of medications for months, and you have had several surgeries. Peeta and I felt the exact same pain you felt, and I can't go through something like that again. Your father and I have suffered enough. That is why if you are going to the party then your father and I will just have to join you. Peeta and I can spend time with Annie and Finnick while you and Zara are at the party." Mrs. Mellark stated.
"Your mother and I understand that you are both adults, but we are still going to be cautious about your safety." Mr. Mellark said.
"Safety? What safety, Chronis is dead and Krios or whatever his name is, is President, so who do we need to be saved from?" Rye asked and his parents seemed stressed.
"I hate to say this, but for once Rye is right. There are no more threats aside from all the people that hate me. I think it would be safe for Rye and I to go to the party by ourselves. I know that Rye is a flight risk, and he cannot be trusted but I will look after him, and I will even invite his guardian Alma to help. You have nothing to worry about Mr. and Mrs. Mellark. If Rye and I won the 111th Hunger Games together then we should be able to survive Halloween night alone." I reasoned.
I could tell by the expression written on Mr. and Mrs. Mellark's face they were taking what I said into consideration.
"First of all, do not bring up the Games in this house again. Secondly, you are right Zara, you are a good influence on Rye and a loyal friend, so yes you two can go to the party alone." Mr. Mellark finalized, and by the gleam in Rye's blue eyes I could tell he was excited.
I anticipated he planned to pull an all-nighter of horror movies, and I probably would be dumb enough to join him.
"Well I had a long day at the bakery, so I think I am going to head on up to bed." Mr. Mellark said with a humble smile plastered on his face.
"I am right behind you." Mrs. Mellark said picking up her bowl, empty glass, and dirty silverware. Mr. and Mrs. Mellark both exited the dining room leaving Rye and I sitting at the table by ourselves.
"So they listen to you now." Rye stated.
"What are you talking about Rye?"
"You know what I mean. First you move into my house uninvited, and now you're taking my parents away from me. They probably don't love me anymore." Rye continued.
"Rye seriously what the hell are you talking about? Just be grateful we get to go alone and shut up." I said tired of treating Rye like a five year old.
"We should get up and clean the dishes." I said picking up my dirty dishes.
"You clean the dishes, I am going to my room and going to sleep." Rye said.
"Yeah right you never sleep at night. How about I make you a deal. If you help me clean the dishes then I will watch horror movies with you all night."
"I am going to need more than that." Rye said.
"Fine what do you want?" I asked wanting to break the soup bowl on top of his head.
"Let's see. You have to watch horror comedy movies with me until seven o'clock in the morning and lay in the bed with me."
"Never mind I'll wash both of our dishes. You practically licked yours clean anyway."
"Ha, ha not funny… Suit yourself, but remember you owe me since you got Luna and I back together." Rye mentioned.
"Excuse you, you owe me because I have to go to the Halloween party with Zander Chronis." I argued.
"I will forgive you if you spend the night with me." Rye said walking towards me.
"Why do you want me to spend the night with you anyway?"
"Because I get lonely." Rye admitted. A sad expression reached his expressive blue eyes.
"Oh, well call Luna." I said.
"She will probably just complain about how she is scared to leave her brother Gunnar. Honestly, I would be glad to leave him, the kid is crazy." Rye replied.
"You are so stupid. Gunnar is clearly mentally ill like most of us, I would never deny that I have chronic depression." I replied and Rye just shrugged.
I rolled my eyes. "By the way, I would rather die than spend the night with you, but since we are only several hours away from Halloween I guess I am supposed to be frightened or disgusted. I will sleep in the bed with you if it is free of spiders and cookies." I negotiated.
"I can't make you any promises there." Rye said and I just shook my head and walked towards the kitchen.
Rye followed behind me, and I knew that it was going to be a long agonizing night.
AN: Is everyone reading this familiar with all of the characters and their physical descriptions. If not I should probably list some details or you can read the 112th Hunger Games: Reflection. Just make sure to let me know.
I hope this chapter did not bore you to death. Feel free to comment your Halloween costumes for Zara and Zander, Rye and Luna, and Cain and Alma.
Those three couple's costumes have to match. I have some ideas already so I may not use the suggestion but it would be cool to hear some ideas.
Also I think the story will become a Modern Au and the original Hunger Games time period because of the costumes, music, and Halloween decorations.