The Living Games
A/N Oh my gosh, It's been awhile since I've updated. I'm currently going over this while watching Victorious, (the TV show, not the song :) and it's kinda hard to focus. I don't really have much else to say, so review or something if you want. I don't feel the need to say anything about the curse words, you know already, and it's T rated for a reason. Oh, I just had to add some fluff in here. Enjoy
Chapter Seven: Evil smirks and mysterious answers
Since it was the weekend, Aubrey spent her morning training in the woods with Zane. She was still nervous for her sister. Almost every other person who had been from a non-Career district and thought they could win died first, after the Careers started to realize that all the sponsors were getting pulled towards them and not themselves. They started to eliminate all the suspicious tributes first, and everyone already doubted that Arianna would come home. Even though Zane tried to hide it and be supportive of her, she knew he didn't think Arianna would be coming home. It seemed like everytime a Merchant was reaped, everyone sighed and went home, knowing there would be no winner this year. She tried hard not to doubt.
The interviews were that day, and Aubrey couldn't have been more nervous. She didn't know what angle Arianna was going for, and it might be the last time she saw her sister before she died. No, she wouldn't die. It was hard trying to keep up the positive thoughts when all she could think was negative thoughts. Arianna's gonna die like this, Arianna's gonna die like that . . . etc. It wasn't easy getting rid of the many death scenes her mind had unknowingly created.
Aubrey wanted to watch the interviews in the safety of her own home, but the small TV in her house just wouldn't do. Zane dragged her to the Square, weaving through everyone who crowded around the screen. It wasn't hard, with everyone moving away like she was last year's Victor. He murdered more than half the tributes, and he did it slow, savoring the moment. It was disturbing to watch, to put it lightly.
When they arrived at the front of the Square, they still had a few minutes to kill. No pun intended.
Zane wrapped his arms around Aubrey from behind, pressing her back against his chest. He rested his chin on her shoulder and sighed.
"She'll do okay. You should stop worrying about her."
She shook her head and smiled.
"How did you know I was worrying?"
"I thought we decided I know you better than you know yourself."
"We did. I just didn't think you'd catch on so quickly."
"Thanks a lot," he rolled his eyes and kissed her on the cheek.
Aubrey tried to smile again, but she just couldn't. No matter how many times Zane told her to relax, she couldn't. He didn't know how she felt, no matter how hard he tried. He didn't have a sibling in the games. Aubrey didn't want him to ever know the feeling, and she never wanted to feel it again either. If Cady went in to the games, her life would be over. The world might as well be over too. She might not really be close to her parents, but her sisters were her life. If Cady was in the Reaping, she would go to the Capitol and burn it down herself. She would probably volunteer for her, no, she would volunteer for her. She loved her sister and would never want anything bad to happen to her. Aubrey's biggest regret was not doing the same for Arianna. She could be at home right now, living happily. And Aubrey was too cold hearted too live a happy life. She wasn't one to help people, and she didn't care about most people. There were only a select few.
Zane tapped her shoulder and let go of her waist with one arm, and keeping one around it and moved to her side.
Caesar Flickerman appeared on the screen, and Aubrey immediately started paying attention to him.
"Welcome, to the Forty-First annual Hunger Games! We have a few guests tonight, so listen up!"
Ugh, did he have to say that every year? It had gotten a little old around the thirty-second games. She had no doubt that he'd still be saying it thirty years from now. When would he realize that some people hated his guts?
He talked for about five hours, and Aubrey got so impatient to the point where she was ready to rip his head off off he didn't start already.
He started.
Aubrey smiled.
District one's girl came out—apparently her name was sparkle . . . Ugh. Just Ugh.
She was wearing a pink, glittery dress that stopped above the knee, and the skirt extended out at the bottom. The top had a ribbon that went right under her chest, (also pink) and her hair was (surprisingly) just a regular light brown hair, which was curled. She was beginning to think every kid from one had blonde hair. But they did keep the tradition with the green, sparkly—no pun intended—eyes.
She sat down on her chair, after giving the audience a spin they didn't ask for, and smiled sweetly at Caesar.
"How ya' doing?" she asked.
They talked for a bit, and Sparkle said that her approach was to be strong, and outsmart the others.
She talked for a little while more, revealing that she had some hidden secrets up her sleeve. With her training score of eight, Aubrey didn't doubt that.
The buzzer sounded—thank goodness—and she bounced off the stage with her district partner replacing her.
He was wearing a grey suit, with a white rose in the pocket.
He had piercing green eyes that looked like they were trying to figure out a hundred ways to play the crowd to get them to like him.
He seemed nice for a Career, and his name was Shine . . . yeah.
He had blonde hair, and he was pretty good looking.
He talked for awhile about his family, and he really sounded like he wanted to go home because of them, and not the honor or the money.
Aubrey chided herself.
Stop. He's just like every other Career. She told herself. But for some reason, she didn't believe it.
He played the strong, humorous angle, but with hidden pain behind his jokes.
"Got any girls at home?" Caesar asked him, as he does with all handsome tributes.
He hesitated.
"At home . . . so, you mean they have to be at home right now?" he asked.
Hmm . . .
"Are you saying you have a girlfriend here?"
"Maybe . . ."
"You're dating Sparkle?!" Caesar exclaimed.
"What? No, oh no! God forbid, no. Oh! There's nothing wrong with her, but I'm—we're not dating."
"So . . . you've got someone else here." Caesar said.
Before Shine could reply, the buzzer rang.
He shrugged. "Guess you'll have to find out."
District Two was the same, brutal and excited.
Nobody else was interesting until they got to the girl from five.
She talked fast, and used her hands a lot. She was squirming like she got injected with kool-aid.
It was pretty boring until Jones Harrell came on stage. He had on a suit so black it looked blue. His hair was wild, like they attempted to brush it, but he pushed them away and messed his hair up more.
He mostly nodded his head and talked as much about killing people as possible.
His interview was really boring and weird until they asked him about Arianna.
He muttered a bunch of insulting names until Aubrey was literately strangling the air in front of her.
"Calm down. Not like he's gonna hurt Arianna," Zane tried to reassure her.
She knew better. Anything could happen, and anything would.
Finally, Arianna came on stage.
She looked amazing. Beautiful. A knockout.
She was wearing a red strapless dress, with gold patterns at the top, and a ribbon separated the bottom part, with was flowing all the way down to the floor. Her blonde hair was long and curled, with waves cascading down her back. Her makeup was red, full lips, with long black eyelashes, and light eye shadow.
Aubrey was lost for words.
Sure, Sparkle was pretty too, but Arianna radiated beauty like a star. Everything about her was just so natural.
Arianna basically floated over to her seat.
"Hello, Caesar," she said when he didn't say anything.
"Why . . . hello. That's quite the outfit you've got there." Caesar got himself together.
"Thank you."
"How about a spin or two? Or five?"
The crowed laughed and oohed as she spun. She sat down as things quieted down.
They talked about what she had planned for the games, and Arianna's mouth was twitching in that way it did when she was suppressing an evil smirk.
"Oh . . . I've got a plan alright. Something never done before. I can guarantee that I will be the winner this year." Even as she said it, Aubrey saw a hint of sadness in her smile, and shining in her eyes. Almost as if she didn't want to say that.
Aubrey wondered what she had up her sleeve.
"Hmm, very mysterious. Any family?"
"Yes, actually. I have two sisters, who I love more than anything in the world. I'm sorry for leaving them. Not like I had a choice, but I would have loved to stay at home. The Capital's extravagant-ness almost makes up for it."
"Going back to how beautiful you look tonight, you must have a guy back home. What's his name?"
"Oh . . . she blushed and looked down. "No, no guy. At home, at least."
Before Caesar could ask, the buzzer rang.
"That's all the time we have for tonight, I'm afraid!"
Yes, Aubrey thought. You should be very afraid. Arianna didn't give out that evil smirk for no reason. She had a plan, a plan that Aubrey had to believe would get her home.
After crawling their way out of the square to avoid her family, Aubrey and Zane ran off to the meadow. It was around eight o'clock. Her parents wouldn't start getting worried until around ten. She had a whole two hours (probably more, since she didn't care about curfew) until she had to go home.
She and Zane didn't waste anytime. They just lied in each other's arms and looked up at the sky.
"Do you ever wonder how your life is gonna go?" Aubrey asked.
"Huh?"
"You ever wonder what's gonna happen to you? You might think you're gonna have a long, bright future, then you die next week from a disease. You think you're gonna be happy and cheerful no matter what, then you lose everyone you love and become depressed. You think you're gonna be sad and miserable your whole life, and you are. Funny how life works, huh."
"Yeah," Zane said softly. "I guess it depends on how you handle things. You have to power through all of the shit and reach the light. But sometimes the light can be bad. Like if you're in a tunnel and the light is the end, where a cliff lies. Life is what you make of it. Maybe our lives are like this for a reason. Like in order for something big to happen that could save or destroy humanity, this has to happen."
Aubrey giggled.
"Since when did you become so deep?"
"I don't know. My life can be miserable. As long as I'm miserable for the rest of my life with you."
Awww. Zane could be so adorable sometimes. Even Aubrey's cold heart had to melt when he said things like that.
"Yeah. I agree. We could both die tomorrow, you know, " she said as she snuggled closer to him.
"Mmm, die of a horrible, long death," he said, nuzzling her neck. "Die from the cold, frostbite seeping into our bones."
"Or of the dying heat, our skin melting off," she giggled.
"I know. But at least we'll be together." Zane responded.
"Oh, you old sap."
Zane laughed.
"No, but I'm serious. I don't know how in the world we turned out to be a such a great couple, but I know I'll never leave you because we don't 'kiss enough'. Honestly, Merchants boys are so stupid. No offense."
Aubrey raised her eyebrows. "You calling me a boy?"
Zane paled. "No, no, oh gosh, no. I'm just trying . . . I meant . . . I . . ." Zane stuttered.
She laughed.
"I'm just kidding, chill."
He blushed. "Oh. But I also wanted to say . . ."
Aubrey smirked. "You trying to say something to me, Zane?"
"Yeah," Zane smiled. "I'll always be there for you."
Aubrey took in a breath. She knew their relationship wouldn't turn out like her parents', because if he even touched a bottle of alcohol, she would kill him on the spot.
Ah, love.
"Thank you. And the same goes for you."
They lied there, until it was twelve o'clock, and they both cursed and rushed home. They both ran home with a smile, though.
If they got caught, it was worth it.
It would always be.