The Living Games
A/N How did you like the other chapter? Reviews are always welcome, of course. *CURSE WORDS BEWARE* Enjoy.
Btw, I'm not sure if anyone reads this, but I guess there is some minor bullying in the beginning of this chapter. If this bothers you, just skip down until you see the authors note.
*Edit: So, I've decided to slow down the Zaubrey in these chapters, just because I feel like it's been happening too soon. They will not be the normal gushy, lovey-dovey type of couple, more like the type to exchange insults but still be able to love each other. But look out for the Zaubrey though :) I've also decided to push the Reaping back a bit, just so it matches the timeline of the original story more.
Chapter Two: What Is Love? (Baby, don't hurt me ;)
Aubrey was lying in her bed at home, thinking. Her bed was more like a long piece of cloth and hay on the floor next to her two sisters, but she was still okay with it. She kept thinking about how the day started (horrible, to put it lightly), and how it ended. She wished she could go back in time and live in one moment forever. It was the first time in a while that she had felt genuinely happy. The first time she had felt like she belonged.
This was the second time in a row that she couldn't get what happened at school off her mind.
Aubrey walked through the halls after the bell that announced the end of the day sounded. Really, the bell was just a teacher banging a metal stick against a metal plate, but it was all they had. Aubrey couldn't wait to get home. She would get to see Zane, the boy she met in the woods, again. She was kind of excited, but there was no way she'd admit it. She rounded the corner and saw her worst nightmare. A whole group of 18 year-olds. There must have been at least 20. There were mostly Merchants, with only about 5 people from the Seam. The Seam kids were in their own little group, away from the Merchants. Aubrey blew out a breath, slowed down, and tried not to look too scared at what she knew was coming.
"Hey, look. It's the little whore. How many guys did you screw today?" her usual torturer, Bronc, asked her.
"N . . . None." Aubrey was angry, yeah she was really pissed, but her fear won out and she was stumbling like a 3 year old. She wasn't known for being the angry person that people feared.
"Ha. So you only do it after school. Nice to know." The whole group of eighteen-year-old Merchants laughed even though the joke wasn't funny, and most of the Seam kids smiled, except for one special grey eyed, olive skinned boy.
"See? Your own people know it's the truth." They all laughed again when he pointed at the Seam group, but no one in their group was laughing anymore, since Bronc just insulted them.
Bronc walked towards her and slapped her books to the ground. When Aubrey bent over to pick them up, Bronc stood behind her.
"Hmm. I guess this position is a little too familiar for you, right?" Aubrey turned red because she was embarrassed, and because she was mad. She guessed it was her fault because she could've picked up her books without bending over. She was just about to turn around and do who knows what when she heard a voice.
"Now, that's enough."
She guessed Bronc was being pulled from behind her, and stood up straight. When she looked up, she saw Zane, holding onto Bronc's arm so tightly, it started to look paler from the lack of blood.
"Ooh. A Seam boy. Did she screw you too?" Bronc asked. Zane twisted his right arm behind his back, while grabbing the left arm and making it join the right one. Bronc's yelp of pain was heard throughout the whole hallway.
Aubrey was automatically scared for Zane. There was no way Bronc would let his actions go unpaid for, and Zane would surely have to pay a large fine. While she was grateful that he came to her defense, she was worried for him an his family. Zane had a look of hate in his eyes, but when he looked at Aubrey, his grey eyes changed to a softer grey. Zane was younger than Bronc, but he had bigger muscles and was a few inches over his height.
"Zane," Aubrey said in a slow, calculating voice, forgetting all about not talking to him during school. "Let him go. Please?" she stuck out her bottom lip out and made puppy dog eyes that she learned to do when she really wanted to get out of trouble.
Zane looked at her like she had two heads. "But . . . But he just . . ." Zane trailed off, not knowing how to go on.
"Yeah. I know."
If that little shit ever tries to do that again, I'm going to snap his fucking neck, Aubrey promised herself.
Her face must have showed some of what she was thinking, because Zane let Bronc go, grabbed her by the arm, and softly yanked her down the hall and out the door. Zane threw her over his shoulder and ran.
Aubrey didn't know where they were going, but it didn't really matter since school was already out. Aubrey forgot about what just happened for a moment, and giggled. It was just a little, soft giggle at first, then it turned into a hysterical laugh, and soon, she was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. She knew what happened shouldn't be funny, but the look of pure terror on Bronc's face just irked something in her. Hunted. Bronc knew what it felt like to be hunted, and not to be the hunter this time.
(A/N Hey, if you skipped the first part, nothing really happened. It just started with Aubrey laying in her bed, then she went into a flashback of the school day, with Zane defending Aubrey from Bronc and carrying her to the woods on his shoulder :)
Aubrey's laughter died down when she noticed that they were in the woods, and she was on the ground. Zane was standing over her, looking half scared, and half annoyed.
"What's so funny?" Zane asked her.
"I don't know. I . . . don't . . . know." Aubrey paused in-between her words to take deep breaths. "I don't know." Reality finally reared it's ugly head, and she realized what happened was not acceptable.
"Zane. Why? Why did you do that? You know that the Seam and the Town people don't mix." Zane sat down beside her, with his legs straight out. Aubrey sat up, anticipating his response.
"I . . . I don't know. I just felt the need to protect you. I wasn't about to sit there and let that guy talk to you like that, and do those things to you!" Zane sounded angry and like he was about to cry at the same time.
"Well then you do know why you did that. It was sweet, and very brave of you, but think about what your life will be tomorrow. You're only 15," Aubrey pointed out, talking softer.
"Yeah, and you're only 14," Zane said. "He looked so scared today, I doubt he'll ever touch you, or me again. I made sure of that."
Yeah, and you'll probably get fined, Aubrey thought bitterly.
"You know," Aubrey started out. She scooted closer to him, and rested her head against his shoulder. She gave him a look as if asking, is this alright? He gave her a nod before she put her head back down. "That was the most awesome thing ever. You're like, amazing. Like, ugh. I sound like those Merchant girls who say like every other word." They both laughed. "How, like, was, like, your, like, like, dinner?"
They both laughed again.
"That's what Payton sounds like," Zane pointed out.
"No! Really? Who would have ever guessed? Duh!" Aubrey smacked his forehead with the palm of her hand and giggled.
Zane sighed. "I know we should be worrying, but we can't change the past, so why worry about it? I just want to lie here all day and get to know you." He kissed her forehead.
And that's exactly what they did. They sat there and talked until it was so dark, they almost got lost when going home. They laughed so many times, and so hard, that they looked like maniacs if anyone had seen them. But Aubrey didn't care. When they reached the fence, Aubrey hugged Zane close to her. Her arms were around his neck, and his arms were around her waist, her face buried in his neck.
"I'm going to really miss you. And I am not saying that again, so you better have heard me." Aubrey said. She'd never really had a friend before, and she found herself drifting closer to Zane, and not wanting to leave him. Being with him was much more exciting than going back to her house. Maybe she was being clingy. Maybe she we was acting delirious. She did just meet this boy. But he was worming his way through her walls.
Zane chuckled. "What did you say?"
Aubrey flicked his neck.
"Kidding. But I'll miss you too. Will you . . . you know?"
"Meet me here tomorrow?" Aubrey finished for him.
Zane smiled. "Yeah," he kissed her forehead, and let go of her.
Aubrey didn't know she was giggling (which she never did) until her older sister, who was 16, jabbed her in the stomach. "Be quiet, will ya'? I'm trying to sleep."
Aubrey nodded her head, but she still couldn't stop smiling.
"What's wrong with you? You're smiling like you just met the love of your life."
Aubrey just curled into a little ball, hugging her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her self. "Oh, stop," she whispered.
"Did you? Really?" her younger sister, who was 10, asked.
"I'm not sure. I don't love him, but he's amazing. He's sweet, brave, nice, charming . . ." Aubrey trailed off, too stuck in her fantasy.
"Who could that possibly be? No Merchant would ever date you after that rumor spread around like the flu during Winter. Their loss anyway. So it must be a . . . no way." Her older sister looked at her in disbelief. "Is it . . . a Seam boy?" she whispered to Aubrey.
"Yes," Aubrey whispered back, in dream-like voice. "He's not like any Seam boy I've ever met. He doesn't hate Merchants, and he stuck up for me today. He's starting to grow on me."
Her sister sighed, then smirked. "Of course, it would be you to fall in love with a Seam boy." Her sisters didn't think of the Seam as scum either. "But if you really do love him, then don't tell mom. She'll freak." Unlike them, their mom hated the Seam.
"Um, I literally just met him two days ago. What do you mean love?"
They all giggled.
"Do you look at him like mommy looks at daddy?" her little sister asked.
"Oh, I hope not." They all burst out laughing, only to be shushed my their mother, who just walked in.
As they all settled into sleep that night, Aubrey started to wonder if meeting Zane was the beginning of a friendship, or if it would end in flames.
• • •
Aubrey was very, very happy that day. She spent most of it with Zane. He still had to hunt for his family, so she didn't see him that much the next week. True to Zane's word, Bronc left her alone. She knew it was only temporary, but that didn't mean she wouldn't enjoy it.
When the weekend pulled around again, she was excited. She had spent the last week getting to know Zane, and she just wanted to see him. Did she mention she was excited? Aubrey was so happy, that it almost seemed like it was a crime. Today, she would get a whole day to spend with Zane. A whole day! She walked calmly to meet him in the woods, even though she wanted to skip through the streets and scream at the top of her lungs. While walking through the square, she noticed Payton glaring at her. With her newfound confidence mixed with her happiness, she just smiled at the girl and moved on. When she reached the fence, she noticed the soft buzz. It was on. She waited the one minute until it turned off, and slipped under the fence. She almost jumped for joy when she saw Zane waiting under the tree. She smiled so wide, it almost reached her ears.
Aubrey was a happy bubbly mess, but she somehow manged to squeak out a little, "Hi."
"Hey. You seem nervous. Everything alright?" Zane asked her.
"No, I'm not nervous. Just excited," Aubrey replied smoothly, to her surprise. "I haven't seen you much and I've got a whole day to spend with you. A whole day!" Zane smiled and hugged her. He put his lips close to her ear and whispered, "I know we only met a few days ago, but is it bad that I'm about as excited as you are?"
Aubrey felt her legs wobble when he let her go. She realized couple of days ago that Zane was more than just some guy to her. She didn't know to what extent. Did she like him as a best friend? Did she like him as a . . . boyfriend? Did she like him as in she would die for him? All she knew right now, was that she liked this boy (not like she'd ever tell him.) She had no friends in school (obviously), and was lacking what a real friendship actually felt like.
"I understand. You're the first real friend . . . no, you're pretty much the only friend I've ever had."
Zane chuckled. "I have a few friends, but I mostly keep to myself. I've never really been a . . . people-person." Aubrey thought differently.
"You talk to me all the time."
"That's different. You're easy to talk to."
Aubrey snorted.
"Tell that to all of my friends."
Zane rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. You're just really fun to talk to, well," he smirked, "when you're not acting crazy. Which is never."
"Bite me."
"Can I?"
Aubrey glared at him and he held up his hands.
"Alright, alright. I'll bite you another day, then."
Before she knew what she was doing, she was hugging him again.
He seem surprised, but he wrapped his arms around her after a moment.
Aubrey took in a deep breath and pulled away.
"Come here," she said, after sitting down with her back against a tree.
Zane smiled warmly and complied.
They sat against the tree and talked for awhile. Once, a spider crawled on Aubrey's arm and she almost knocked Zane's head off trying to get rid of it.
"Okay," he said, rubbing the bump on his head. "You obviously have arachnophobia."
"Shut up," she mumbled. "Spiders are scary and I hate them."
After that, they settled down again, talking and laughing all throughout the day. When it started to get dark, they left the woods and sat in the meadow. No flowers had bloomed yet, but Aubrey found herself excited to see them when they did.
After awhile, they finally had to go home. Zane's mom really didn't care, and Aubrey's parents probably didn't notice, but it was almost twelve A.M., and they had no desire to push their luck.
They hugged each other tightly.
"Oh gosh. Why do I find myself not wanting to leave you?" Aubrey asked, her face against his chest.
"Because I'm so awesome? But you're right. I'm gonna miiiiiiiiiiiiss you." He grabbed Aubrey and started twirling her around.
Aubrey squealed in surprise.
"Zane!" she laughed. "You better not drop me!"
He laughed too, and Aubrey swore his smile lit up the dark meadow.
Wait.
What?
Aubrey had no time to process that thought because Zane had finally put her down.
"Alright, you know the rules. Meet me here tomorrow. Try not to miss me too much."
Aubrey shook her head, smiling brightly.
"Oh, however can I make it through the night without you?" she put a hand against her chest and pretended to swoon.
Zane laughed and winked at her.
"That's the spirit."
He hesitated for a second, then brushed her hair behind her ear.
"I swear, if the sun stops shining, we could use your eyes to keep us warm."
Aubrey didn't know what to say.
"They are very blue," he continued. "They are bluer than the sky, and deeper than the ocean. There is nothing in this world that I can compare them to."
He kissed a very confused Aubrey's cheek, then smiled a bit and walked off.
Aubrey had her mouth wide open, standing there in shock of what just happened.
She stood there until Zane was out of her sight, and then she was finally able to move her legs
As she walked home in the moonlight, she started to wonder what just happened. And why had she gotten a fluttering feeling in her stomach when Zane said that? Why did she wish he had kissed her on her lips instead of her cheek? What the heck was going on with her?