The Living Games

A/N Hey guys! This chapter will open up some new opportunities, and make things more interesting. Also, the Reaping is coming up in the next chapter, so look out for that! He he, we will have lot's of fun there! It would be a shame if . . . ya know, something were to *cough* happen to Aubrey or her *chokes* family. He he, yes, yes, fun! I guess I'll stop being creepy and let you enjoy the chapter. It's too early to be weird in these A/N. I've always wondered, is it author's note, or authors's note? I should look that up . . . Anyway, enjoy this chapter! And beware of the curse words!

Chapter 3: Fun in Paradise

Aubrey and Zane were hanging out in the meadow again the next day.

Sure, they could've been in the woods, but some flowers had started to bloom and it looked beautiful.

Aubrey had her head resting on Zane's shoulder, and he had an arm wrapped lazily around her waist.

Aubrey would be lying if she said she wasn't still thinking about what he had said last night.

What did it mean? Did he just think she has beautiful? What was going on?

Aubrey decided not to ask him about it. He'd tell her when he was ready.

Zane sighed suddenly.

"What?" Aubrey lifted her head off of his shoulder to look at him.

"Well, I don't know if you remember, but the Reaping is a week from now, and I was just thinking . . ."

Oh.

The reaping was a week from then.

"Oh. I did forget. I try not to think about it too much. It only makes me anxious and nervous."

Zane's arm tightened around her.

"I wish it didn't. I wish it wouldn't make you feel that way."

He looked almost angry.

"No, it's alright. We still have to go anyway, so feeling any type of way really doesn't matter."

"But it does! We shouldn't have to feel this way, we shouldn't have to die because of something our elders did! I know it, you know it, we all know it, but we can't do anything about it. And it sucks."

Aubrey was taken aback. She had never seen Zane so . . . so mad. He was usually chill and laid back. But Aubrey had to admit that she felt the same way.

"Yeah, it does. But we'll get through it, I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Aubrey."

She sighed and tried not to get mad.

"I'm not saying that we'll all be safe and continue to live, I'm saying that no matter what, I've got you. We'll get through it together, no matter who gets picked. Okay?"

He looked a lot calmer.

"Okay."

Aubrey put her head back on his shoulder and rubbed his neck softly.

"I'll stay with you, and I can promise that."

He didn't say anything back, but he relaxed a bit.

A few minutes later, Zane spoke.

"Thanks."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow even though he couldn't see it.

"For what?"

"Saying what you did. I'm lucky to have you."

Aubrey was confused, and her stomach had a weird feeling in it. The same one she had gotten last night.

"W . . . what do you mean?"

He rubbed circles on her waist with his fingers.

"I mean I'm lucky to have you, Aubrey. You're like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. You go out expecting to find something, but what you find is better than anything you could've ever dreamed of."

"Huh?"

Aubrey was still confused.

He sighed and shook his head.

"Aubrey, I'm trying to tell you that you're amazing. Please, just accept the compliment."

Aubrey laughed nervously and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Oh. Oh, thanks."

Zane laughed, and the sound sent a feeling of happiness towards Aubrey.

"Just never change. Gosh, you make me feel so good inside."

Aubrey didn't know what to say to that, so she just laughed.

"Are you insinuating that I turn you on?"

"Maybe."

"Zane!"

He laughed, and Aubrey swore his eyes lit up like a lightning striking from inside a cloud.

Wait a minute, what?

"Kidding, kidding. But I wuvvv you!"

He nuzzled her neck with his nose and tickled her.

She burst out laughing and couldn't stop.

"Zane! Zane, stop! I swear—"

She started laughing so hard she couldn't even talk anymore.

He finally stopped when she 'accidentally' kicked him in the face.

He glared at her.

"You are so mean."

Aubrey smirked and gave him an innocent look.

"What do you mean? That was a harmless accident. My bad."

He glared at her again.

"You are just . . . I have no words for you."

"Don't worry," she patted his back. "You not talking is a good thing."

He smiled at her until she realized what she had said.

"Hey!"

She laughed and pulled him up with her.

"Come on, last one to that patch of flowers is a loser. Well, you already are a loser, but race ya'!"

She took off running, with Zane running behind her yelling, "So not fair! Cheater!"

Aubrey won by a long shot, and Zane kept insisting that she had cheated.

"I did not cheat!"

"And I didn't eat my brother's dessert last night! Liar, liar! Pants on fire!"

Aubrey rolled her eyes.

"What are you, eight?"

He glared at her.

"Shut up! I may be eight, but at least I tell the truth!"

Aubrey groaned.

"Ugh, whatever."

She lied down on the grass, putting her hands behind her head.

Zane joined her, and they lied down together, watching the sky get darker.

"What time is it?" Aubrey asked, turning to look at him. "How long have we been out here?"

He looked at his watch.

"Uh, it's about seven at night."

"No, I thought it was morning time."

He rolled his eyes.

"Whatever."

The crickets had come out an hour ago, and their sounds filled up the night air.

Zane's hand suddenly touched hers, and he laced his fingers through hers.

Aubrey smiled a bit and decided to keep it like that.

"Aubrey?"

Aubrey turned her head to look at Zane.

"Yeah?"

He took in a deep breath.

"I just . . . I just want you to know that I think you're perfect, even if no one else does."

Aubrey was touched by his words.

"Oh, thank you. But I'm far from perfection."

He shook his head.

"No, I'm pretty sure if I looked up perfection in the dictionary, your name will be there."

He didn't sound like he was joking.

"Why . . . why are you telling me all of this?"

He shrugged.

"Because it's true, Aubrey."

Their eyes met, stormy grey on ocean blue, creating the perfect hurricane.

They both leaned forward at the same time, and met each other's lips.

Zane's lips were soft, and they tasted sweet.

Aubrey got that clenching feeling in her stomach again, and she felt . . . happy. She felt relaxed and she didn't want to leave the comfort of Zane's presence.

Zane rested his hand on her face and kissed her deeper.

When they pulled away, Zane smiled so big his face muscles must've hurt.

"I wanted to do that so bad last night. But I think it was better now."

Aubrey didn't reply, she just kissed him again.

She pulled away after a little while and smiled hesitantly at Zane.

She didn't give him a chance to say anything, she just put her head on his chest and thought about what just happened.

They . . . kissed. And she . . . liked it.

Zane was a great guy, a great friend, and she didn't really have much of an argument against her feelings towards him. She didn't really think she would ever get a boyfriend, because she'd always wanted to get a girlfriend so she could go against the unofficial rules.

Your kids could get reaped!

She was well aware of that. She couldn't just live alone for the rest of her life, just to avoid it. That would be letting the Capitol win, and she wouldn't do it. And Zane was kind of hot, but the other thing too.

When they went their separate ways, Aubrey couldn't help but think, Am I doing the right thing?

• • •

The rest of the week was weird.

Neither of them talked about the kiss, and things were sorta awkward.

Like . . . when their hands would touch by accident, and they would both blush and stutter.

Aubrey didn't want things to be the way they were, but she didn't know how to approach the situation.

Did she even want to date Zane?

Okay, she did, but there were problems.

He was from the Seam, for one. She had nothing against him, but the Seam and Town kids ever mixed, let alone dated. And her mother wasn't exactly the biggest Seam fan.

Add on the fact that one of them might get reaped, and things suddenly got complicated.

Sure, she didn't want to get reaped, but it would be better than watching someone else she cared about get reaped.

And it didn't even matter, anyway. She was already too deep to not get hurt by Zane. It didn't matter if he was her best friend or her boyfriend, she couldn't stand to see him go.

It wasn't until the reaping was one day away that she finally said something.

"Okay," she said, stopping Zane from walking towards his house. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

She sighed.

"Don't play dumb with me Zane. What are we we doing? What are we?"

"Humans?"

She gritted her teeth.

"I swear to fucking—Zane! What the fuck is our relationship, you dumb ass?! We kissed, and? What are we now?"

He swallowed, looking kind of frightened.

"O—oh."

"Yeah, oh."

"Well, I'm . . . I really like you, but the Reaping is tomorrow. And I don't want you to get reaped. And well, President Snow kind of has something against our family. And us dating will make you a possible target, and I don't want you to get roped into our mess."

"What did you guys do?"

He scratched his neck.

"I'm not sure. Something during the dark days. But . . . my father was lost to the Capitol. He was called for some 'secret mission', and we never saw him again. And I don't want to risk it with you."

Aubrey knew he had a stepfather, but she never knew what happened with his biological father.

"That's . . . I'm sorry. But Zane, I don't care about Snow. I can take care of myself. I'm not going to make myself suffer, or let you protect me just because of some shitty president."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I had a feeling you would say something like that . . . but I'm still not sure—"

"Zane," she cut him off, "I honestly don't give two fucks about whatever President Snow does. He can go shove his grudge against you up his ass for all I care." She took his hands and held them in hers. "I want to be with you. And I won't let him stop us. So you shouldn't either. Do you want to be with me?"

He nodded his head.

"Yes, of course."

"Then don't think about it too much." (A/N Too much . . .)

"O—okay. Well, what are we now?"

"Humans," Aubrey deadpanned.

"Oh, ha, ha. You know what I mean."

Aubrey smiled.

"I guess you're my boyfriend now."

He grinned.

"Then that makes you my girlfriend."

"You know, I'm like 70-30, so you'd better be lucky."

"What the heck does that mean?"

"It means I like girls 70%, and I only like boys 30%. Appreciate it."

Aubrey kissed him before he could say anything dumb and ruin the moment.

He smiled against her lips and wrapped her arms around her waist. Aubrey followed his lead and put one hand in his hair, and the other around his neck.

Aubrey felt her stomach flutter, and she pulled back.

"So, boyfriend," she said, looking up at him. "I don't suppose you can stay out a little longer?"

He smiled.

"Only for you."