Chapter Two
Arva
Breakfast was awkward in a sense as there seemed to be this invisible wall between Arethousa and Leith. Whatever they had discussed away from my presence had to be heated enough for Arethousa to scowl so unappealingly at the portion of beef on her plate whereas Leith acted like nothing was out of the norm. That wasn't good—not even in the slightest at all. Tributes from the same district should work together or at least tolerate each other. There was no point in gaining more enemies after all. I picked up the cloth napkin from my lap and pretended to dab my lips while my left foot nudged Finnick's. Instantly, he glanced at me through the corners of his eyes and watched as I mouthed my question as undetectably as possible. Hopefully, he had a clue on what was going on between the two tributes but my hopes were dashed the moment he shook his head when both tributes weren't watching. I returned my napkin back to my lap and turned to Elodea who looked up at that second. Then, I motioned to Leith and Arethousa with my eyes. Unfortunately, the district escort had no clue either.
I pressed my lips together and averted my attention back to the two tributes sitting opposite of me. As much as I wanted to question them, I was afraid that I would be fanning the flames instead of making the fire dwindle. However, I couldn't let this drag out longer than necessary either. Perhaps it was naïve of me or perhaps it was because of my relationship with Atl but I believed that district partners should never be at each other throats because I found no point in being hostile with each other when both came from the very same district.
"Did the both of you have a row?"
The way I put it was blunt but I couldn't think of any other way to phrase it in such a short notice. Arethousa's eyes snapped up at me whereas Leith carried on eating like he hadn't heard what I had said.
"Isn't it obvious?" the female tribute glared at me with hatred so fiery that I was taken aback. Never in my life had I ever faced someone so incensed despite how I was quite sure that her fury couldn't have just stemmed from whatever argument she had with Leith. It had to be somehow connected to her disdain for me because I don't think that one could get so furious over a disagreement...right?
"Why?" I asked as unaffectedly as I could be after mentally telling myself to not get affected by Arethousa's attitude because presently, dissolving the rift between her and Leith is more important.
"Why do you care?" she shot back, showing her defiance by crossing her arms. She had also raised her chin as if to challenge me.
"Because, it's important for district partners to retain a good relationship so that—"
"That what? My district partner can jump in front of an attack and get himself killed just so I can be victor?" Arethousa interjected with a sneer, followed by pregnant silence as I stared at the female tribute in shock. So, that was how she viewed me? As a person who used Atl's life, trust and friendship just so I could win something as stupid and nonsensical as the Hunger Games? My vision grew blurry as tears welled up my eyes.
"If I could turn back time, I would rather die instead," I whispered before standing up and fleeing the scene.
Finnick
After the compartment door slid shut with an audible thud, I felt anger boil within me as it took over my despair when I heard my beloved apprised us that she would've chosen to die instead of Atl if she could change the past. I clenched my cutlery, trying to control my rage when Elodea abruptly stood up and slammed her recently-dyed-stark-white hands onto the dining table.
"Your lack of manners if extremely appalling! How can you say something so inconsiderate?!" the district escort fumed.
"Well, nobody asked for her opinion," Arethousa retorted.
"Well, nobody asked for your attitude!" Elodea retaliated and just when the other female was about to say something spiteful back in reply, Leith finally spoke up.
"And, this is why I didn't want to join the Careers with you. Your obdurateness would get the both of us killed as soon as our usefulness if over."
Now, Arethousa was stunned speechless and I found myself liking the male tribute more. If we had met under different circumstances, I was sure that he and I could become great friends. I watched as Leith wiped his mouth. He got out of his seat and gave nods to both Elodea and I before taking his leave. Satisfied with Arethousa's silence, Elodea sat back down. The female tribute stayed quiet like a mouse with her eyes trained at her unfinished meal until even after the both Elodea and I had finished our meals. The district escort spared her no second glance while I said nothing as we left the dining compartment. It was wrong to ignore her, especially since she was a tribute that needed mentoring but Arethousa had dug her own grave and now, she would have to find a way out herself.
The first thing I did was search for Arva and when I found her at the compartment that acted as a lounge, she wasn't alone. Leith was with her and they were in the middle of a conversation before the sound of the compartment door sliding open which announced my presence startled them. Seeing that the new presence was me, the male tribute of the 69th Hunger Games rose to his feet, smiled reassuringly at Arva and gave me a polite nod. Then, only I and my love were left.
"He's a nice person," Arva told me with a watery smile. I crossed the room and sank down on the plush sofa she sat on, followed by Arva leaning onto my shoulder.
"What makes you say that?" I ran my fingers through her soft brown hair. I had a hunch on why she did but I wanted to hear the reason from her own mouth.
"He told me that I shouldn't wish death upon myself when Atl sacrificed his life for me and when I have so many people who cares for me around me. Then, I asked him how he was so sure and he listed down names…He gave your name, Finnick."
Arva craned her neck to see my face before reaching out to trail a digit down the side of my face. Her baby blue orbs were no longer damp and her corners of her lips were beginning to turn up as well.
"Oh, did he?" I lopsidedly smiled back.
"Yes, he guessed right about our relationship."
"Good for him…"
Then, I closed the remaining distance between us and planted my lips on Arva's inviting ones.
Arva
With each passing minute, the train was getting closer and closer to the Capitol. Although an Avox had been sent to retrieve Arethousa some time ago, only Finnick, Elodea, Leith and I were currently in the main compartment. I had meant to repair the rift between the tributes but in the end, I managed to make it grow instead. I felt guilty and even though it wasn't my fault, I wanted to apologize so that everything would be better again. It was only day two for me as a mentor but the boat was already filling with water and beginning to sink.
'I'm doing such a terrible job…' I sighed audibly and tore myself away from the window, prepared to face the remnants of Arethousa wrath as I stepped towards the compartment door. However, Elodea's voice halted me.
"Where are you going, Arva?"
I turned around to face Elodea and answered, "To see Arethousa."
"What? Why?" she stared at me in disbelief.
"To apologize…"
"For what? Her saying things that she shouldn't have?" Elodea frowned while placing her hands on her hips. In reply, I shook my head.
"Then?" she prompted. Seeing that she wasn't going to leave the matter alone, I caved in. I explained that I initially wanted to mend the rift between the tributes, not make it grow and hearing that, Elodea's shoulders slumped.
"Arva, you're a great person and you're also very responsible for thinking in that manner but sometimes, you have to let the other person be the first to step up and clear up the mess," she said quietly. I bit my lip and contemplated her words. What she said was true but I still felt bad about how the situation had turned out. If anything bad were to happen to the tributes, it would be my fault because the cooperation between them was gone. Seeing my expression, Elodea continued to persuade me not to apologize to Arethousa and eventually, I yielded. Though, I wasn't completely sure if I should've. I returned to the window and watched the ever-changing scenery. Meanwhile, the only two males in the room remained mute throughout the entire exchange.
When we stepped out of the train into the sea of colorful sea of people and flashes, I thought that perhaps I was mistaken about how the rift would affect the tribute's performance. Leith kept a calm exterior whereas Arethousa flashed seductive smiles at the people of the Capitol. It was as though the spat had never occurred in the first place. Elodea led the tributes over to the Remake Center while Finnick and I trailed after them. The center wasn't too far from the train station and once we arrived, the tributes were whisked away by their respective prep teams—both which I recognized.
"Arva! Lovely to see you again!" Flossé greeted the moment her surprisingly orange—no doubt from colored contacts—eyes landed on me.
"Hello, hello!" Fiammetta added brightly.
"We'd love to stay and chat but we're in a rush. Talk to you soon!" Lur waved and soon, the trio disappeared down the hall with Atl's prep team that was now in charge of Leith.
"Were you surprised?" I heard Finnick ask beside me.
"Yeah. I sort of forgot that the prep team remains the same until changes are ordered or requested…It'd be nice to see Andri and Juliet again."
"Then, let's head to the lobby. They'll head there once the prepping is done."
I was momentarily surprised when Finnick's fingers laced with mine but soon relaxed as his warmth passed on to me. What would I ever do without him? Where would I be right now if he had given up on me when I was at my lowest? I looked up at him with as much adoration I could show in public and told him in a barely audible tone that I love him to which he responded with a breathtaking smile and a light squeeze to my hand along with a whispered 'I love you too'.