Chapter 7

As I walk towards the dinner table, I scour the food on top of it. My knees start buckling. I haven't seen this much food in, well, never. My eyes lighten up when I see a whole roasted chicken plopped in the middle of the whole thing. I sit in a seat next to Galea, and Cato sits next to me. In front of me, I see two empty chairs. Must be for our mentors. I already know who my mentors are. Both of them do it every year, since they won the Games and are still alive. Brutus and Enobaria.

Enobaria won the Games when I was about 2. I remember that she won by killing everyone by ripping their necks apart with her teeth. After the Games, she had her teeth done to make them sharp with golden tips. To be honest, it looks like she hasn't brushed her teeth in ages, and she's been eating a sharp chain saw.

Brutus, well, Brutus is a drunk. I've seen him around the marketplace and trade center. One time, he was so drunk that he fell in the middle of the marketplace and started sleeping. I didn't see him, so I accidentally stepped on him. I didn't notice until after I left a shoe print on the back of his shirt.

I didn't notice that Galea has asked me a question until Cato nudges me on the shoulder. I loo to him and raising my eyebrows, asking him what he wants. He then points to Galea. She raises her eyebrows for an answer.

"Oh, sorry! What was your question again? I completely zoned out." I said.

She chuckled and said, "Oh, it's fine, dear. I was asking what your weapon is, being from Two and all!"

"Um, I throw knives," I say.

"Throw knives!" she exclaims. "That's a new one! From what I remember, you're the only one who says knife-throwing is there weapon."

My eyes widen. "Really?"

"Mhm!" Giving me a reassuring smile.

Wow. I never really thought about that. My trainer said that not a lot of people choose knife-throwing as a skill, but I never thought it'd be this unpopular. My trainer also said that people in Two don't choose it very often, because it takes great ability, patience, and hand-eye coordination.

Lucky I'm one of those few, huh?

A sliding door opens, and Enobaria enters the room. It shuts close, but then opens again, and Brutus is in.

Brutus is the first one to speak. "Oh! Looky here, two new tributes shipped from Two."

He puts his arm around me and says, "You know, every female tribute who on here has a little thing for me. It's okay if you do, but you know, you could tell me." he smirks.

The stench of alcohol reeks on his breath. I chuckle. "Not in a million years, oldie. Just keep on dreaming." I say, and push him away.

He looks at me, his cheeks turning red, full of embarrassment. I hear Cato laugh loudly, but he covers his mouth to keep the laughter inside.

Brutus walks away from me and sits next to Enobaria, across from Cato. Enobaria rolls her eyes and says, "Sorry. But he wasn't lying. Every female tribute does fancy him."

I chuckle and say, "Well, not this time."

Cato giggles. I turn my head to the left and look at him. He shoots me a wink, and I look back, rolling my eyes.

Awkward silence fills the room. I look back and forth at Enobaria and Brutus. Enobaria is placing food on her plate, while Brutus just sits back and drinks up the alcohol in his glass.

I look at the food and end up just staring at the whole thing. There is so much food. Roasted chicken. Some sort of white mush with green leaves on top, and much more. I just stare at the chicken. Galea notices and says, "Well, dear, aren't you going to eat?"

I look up at her and nod. The chicken is cut up, so I take a few pieces. I look at the white mush, and start to wonder what it must be. "I think they call it mashed potatoes." Cato whispers in my ear, sending chills down my spine.

I get a couple spoonfulls of the white mu—mased potatoes, and put it on my plate. I look down to my plate and try to eat very neatly, but once I take one bite of the chicken, I couldn't stop myself. It was so good. I move on to the mashed potatoes and put a spoonfull of the thing into my mouth. It's not slimy, just very soft and wet. I swallow it and it just slides down my throat, filling my stomach with warmth.

I get the same things about two more times. By then, I'm stuffed.

I lean back into my chair and just breathe. That was the most amazing meal I've ever had yet.

Cato leans back too, and says, "Don't worry, Clove. I won't let you go into a food coma."

He puts his hand on my stomach.

An instant rush of warmth shoots all over me. But, why?

I am too lazy to swat his hand away, so I just leave it there. It wouldn't hurt, right?

After a few minutes, his hand does leave my stomach. And that warm feeling inside me is gone.

Maybe it's because his hands were warm, which made me feel warm, too. It's either that or the other reason why, which we all know. I don't see him that way. At all.

Brutus and Enobaria leave, and Galea, Cato, and I are all that's left.

After a few moments of silence, Galea stands. "Well, you two better get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day when we arrive at the Capitol."