I wake up with a faint frown etched across my lips as I recall the startlingly real dream that crept its way into my mind through the night. It was the memory from eight years ago; I was only ten at the time. It's one of the few memories I posses that I should want to cling onto, but the little I think about her the better. Besides drowning myself in my addiction she was the only other way I was able to escape the harsh reality that was my life. I sit up pushing my blonde hair away from my eyes as I watch the morning sun filter through the window creating shadows to dance across the carpeted floor.
We were in the fifth grade, but even then I towered over most kids and was normally left alone due to the intimidating aura that always surrounded me. I close my eyes and my surroundings seem to melt away. I can picture the schoolyard as if I was just there yesterday. The vibrant green grass stretched towards the pale blue sky as the trees danced in the soft afternoon breeze.
The sound of laughter rung in my ears as I leaned against the school wall minding my own business. That's when I heard it the familiar sick sound of shattering bones. The rare fight that occurred that I was not involved in is something that would catch my interest. I strode across the black pavement warm from the heat of the afternoon sun towards a small group of students that had formed. Most stepped out of my way as I approached and my eyes quickly fell upon the scene in front of me.
A girl a little younger than I was with blonde hair that flickered wickedly in the glow of the sun had an older girl pinned to the ground her face slick with metallic blood. Before I knew what I was doing I easily picked up the blonde haired girl whose hands were now a deep scarlet color. The small droplets rolled off her finger tips as I flung her over my shoulder. Then my eyes fell onto what they were fighting over and I quickly scooped that up as well unnoticed by the small girl squirming in my grasp.
I walk across the schoolyard several eyes paired on me as the whispers grew being carried on the wind. Words such as why would Dane Naylor stop a fight swarm my ears, but that is not what I focus on. I focus on the feel of the girl in my arms who has fallen still as if she knows she stands no chance of getting free of my hold. The only thing that I allow myself to hear is the sound of my feet leaving faint footprints in the ground and the sound of our breathing that intertwines in a sweet melody.
I place her down on a bench and stand there for a moment with my hands behind my back. She watches me closely taking in every one of my features not allowing herself to blink once. I bring my hands out in front of me revealing the small chocolate bar held between my fingertips. With blinding speed she lunges forward and snatches it away from me holding onto it tightly.
"All that over a chocolate bar?" I ask her.
"She took it; you shouldn't take things that don't belong to you," She answers simply as the wind plays through her hair.
"Whatever you say Coco," The nickname seems to roll of my tongue naturally as if it was meant for her.
"Coco?" She says questionably as she tilts her head to the side watching me from beneath her bangs.
"I knew you wouldn't tell me your name."
"Okay," She nods softly remaining quiet for a few brief moments. "Jellybean."
I raise an eyebrow when that nickname for myself spills from her lips.
"I know you won't tell me your name either."
With those words swirling around me do I finally open my eyes the world I once saw melting away from her throwing me back into reality. How could I have known at that age that Coco my Harper would be the girl I would fall in love with. I used to believe love was a useless emotion after being denied it for so long, but she was the one person who wouldn't turn her back on me even in my darkest of times. A pang of guilt washes over me for not saying goodbye to her before I was forced into these Games. What if that was my last chance to hear her voice; my last chance to allow the words I love you to roll off my tongue, or my last time to feel her lips against mine as if they were the pieces to a matched set.
I bury my face in my hands regretting my decision to avoid our final goodbyes. I know there is nothing I can do about it now; what's done is done. It is nothing but a piece of history now. I stand up and get ready to go down to the training hall. With my District 1 standing out proudly on my back warning the other tributes of who I am I make my way down towards the training hall late not caring to hear the briefing.
I walk through the large doors and am greeted by the familiar sound of people training in that soft melody. I let my eyes dance around the room taking in the sight before me. Most seem to be struggling to hold a weapon and I snort in disgust at the way a tribute from a lower District tries to wield a sword. With a sword in my hand is when I am in my element; that is when the arrogant role that I play really shines.
I crack my knuckles and decide to make my way towards the hand to hand combat station not wanting to show off my strengths yet; I can leave the time to show the others exactly what it is I am capable of for a later date like when my sword is pierced cleanly through their chest.
As I approach I notice Aqua easily taking down the trainer with an innocent smirk playing across her features. Once she brings the man twice her size down she twirls on her toes over to me. She places her slender fingers on my chest and looks up at me batting her eyelashes.
"Morning Dane," She purrs my name as I just roll my eyes.
"Can you not touch me," I say simply to her, but in response she spreads out her fingers getting a feel for my chest and at this I push past her. She grabs me roughly by the shoulder and in a split second has me pinned to the ground. She climbs on top of me straddling me and all I do is glare up at her.
"I need a training partner big boy you interested?" She asks me trying to play up the innocent act.
"Like hell I'm interested," I say to her my voice dripping with annoyance; I have no time for her useless games.
She leans down and whispers against my neck, "Oh lighten up I just want to have some fun."
At this I flip us over so I am on top; I pin her hands to the ground above her head my patience growing thin. After my near break down the previous night I am already set on edge and she is only making matters worse.
"So you like being on top I see," She smirks lightly as she brings her legs up wrapping them around my waist.
"Would you two get a room nobody wants to witness this," The sound of Foe's voice reaches my ears as I remove myself from Aqua's hold and stand back up brushing myself off.
"You know you're just jealous because he wants me," Aqua says this as she stands back up running her hand through her long blonde hair.
Foe bursts into laughter at her words, "You caught me I want Dane all to myself."
I narrow my eyes at Foe as she struggles to control her laughter, "Just for the record I don't want anyone." I curse under my breath as my patience has reached its breaking point already and make my way over to the sword station.
"You know where my room is big boy," Aqua calls after me in that daunting tone of hers.
I can see the boy from one of the lower Districts still clumsily trying to get the handle of a sword meant for only those who know how to wield one. I push him aside and snatch the sword from his grasp.
"What the hell just because you're a career doesn't mean you can just push me around like that," The boy snaps at me.
"Actually that's exactly what it means," I say in a tone laced with arrogance as I point my sword menacingly in his direction. At the sight of the wicked curve of the blade in the hands of someone who knows what he is doing the boy decides to stalk off leaving me in peace.
The feel of the cool metal pressed into my palms is familiarly soothing. I breathe out slowly as I twist my body around in a seemingly unnatural angle the blade slicing through the air cleanly decapitating a dummy. I straighten up and watch as the fake blood spews from the wound dripping like a waterfall over the dummies surface coating it in crimson.
"So I see you aren't completely useless," I turn around to see Foe leaning casually against a weapons rake with her arms crossed lightly across her chest.
I flip my sword dangerously in my hand, but she seems unphased by this display, "Being a career I have trained."
"I just figured you spent all your time drinking not in the training hall," At the mention of my drinking I narrow my eyes at her.
"You don't need to bring that up," I mumble angrily.
"I swear you are more moody than most teenage girls," Foe says with a shrug as she pulls a knife out of her belt and begins casually flipping it through her fingers not seeming bothered by how close the flawless steel comes to coming in contact with her flesh.
All I do is roll my eyes as I walk closer to her dropping my voice, "I've been thinking about your offer."
She glances up at me at these words, "And?"
"I'm in," A small smirk plays across my features at the thought of blindsiding the rest of the careers.
"Perfect, we can plan out our strategy later as for now just play nice with the rest of the careers," At this Foe wanders off to the knife station.
I move across the floor my sword still held firmly in my grasp as I perform a deadly dance as if I was in real combat. I duck and twirl moving my feet in complicated intricate steps. My sword slices through the air gracefully as I imagine taking the life of the final tribute. I begin to wonder what it is like to end a life. I have never been the cause of someone drawing their last breath, but in these games it is bound to happen. If I want to return home it is going to happen; I can no longer deny the fact that I will have to kill.
My eyes fall on Foe who is throwing knives with a deadly accuracy; she is my only real ally in these games and she may have to die by my hands. She catches my gaze and I can tell that the same thoughts are rippling across her mind. We both look away and I toss my sword to the floor. I watch the few other tributes mulling about some appearing to form friendships and I can't stop the small snort that escapes me. If only they realized how foolish they are being; friendship is just another thing the Capitol will take pleasure in ripping apart.