The Living Games
A/N Hello! This is a long chapter. I really like this chapter. It goes a bit more in depth about how Aubrey really feels about going into the games. She's human too, so she's really nervous and scared. It also shows a bit more about Aubrey and Josh's relationship. They are strictly platonic, like brother and sister friends. They can snuggle on a couch together, but it's not romantic. And Andy miiiiiiiiiight have a teeeeeeeeeny crush on Aubrey. He just thinks she's really beautiful and amazing, and he's bi so he might have a crush on Josh too, which would be unfortunate because they'll both probably die. Aubrey also does not have a crush on Andy. They are friends (to her), the type to hug a lot and give each other kisses on the cheek. She has Zane, and I ship that far too much to ever break them up. Oh, but then this chapter comes and then that seems kind of fake but okay. You'll find out later.
Chapter Seventeen: The Interviews
Aubrey woke up to the wonderful sight of her prep team above her. Romonia tapped her watch in a hurry up gesture, and Violet waved. The other guy, his name was Chicken Alfredo or something, just looked at her in annoyance. She vaguely remembered Andy going back to his floor at sometime around three A.M., and Josh going to is room around that time too.
"We've been trying to wake you up for ten minutes," Romonia complained.
"My bad," Aubrey said sarcastically.
Obviously they didn't get it, because Romonia looked pleased.
"Just hurry up. We've only got a few minutes to get you to the prep room before we go over our time limit of waking you up," Chicken Alfredo said, still annoyed.
Aubrey huffed, but got up. She remembered it was interview day. Yay. She got to be questioned in front of the whole country. Double yay.
The team led her through a few doors, and soon they reached the prep room.
All my nightmares happen in this place, Aubrey thought.
They ushered her in the room and plopped her in the chair.
"What the hell happened to your nails?!" Romonia screeched, after examining them.
"Um . . . I may have chipped a few of them when I dropped a forty pound ball on my hand during training."
Aubrey winced just thinking about it. That had not been fun. And Josh had laughed at her, totally not making things better.
Romonia glared at her before yelling something about getting the water in the bath ready.
Great.
They worked for hours, and every second was pure torture. She couldn't decide which part she hated more. When Romonia spilled some bathing chemical in her eye (it was not an accident), or when Chicken Alfredo ripped of a wax strip too soon (also not an accident). Like she needed to be waxed. They just did it a few days ago, for goodness' sake! Violet was the gentlest, always being careful with what she was doing. Aubrey hated her the least. The team put a little bit of make up on her, though she wasn't allowed to see it yet. They made her skin glow, and curled her hair in a way she couldn't see. They didn't finish until sometime after noon.
They stood back, admiring her.
"Looks good," Romonia commented. "Not you. The work we did."
Aubrey glared at her. Thanks, love you too.
"She looks good too," Violet slapped Romonia's arm.
"We did good. Come on, Purria's waiting," Chicken Alfredo said, and they all walked out.
Purria walked in as soon as they left.
She circled around her.
"Good, good. Alfred did a good job with your eyebrows. And Violet—"
"Who is Alfred?" Aubrey interrupted her.
"Your stylist. He's the only guy on your team."
Oh. So his name wasn't Chicken Alfredo, it was Alfred.
Eh, close enough.
Purria handed her a dress.
"Here. Put this on, but close your eyes."
Aubrey did as she said, and when she was done putting it on, Purria moved her over to where she guessed was in front of a mirror.
"Open you eyes."
Aubrey did.
She gasped.
She looked beautiful.
Hey hair was in a complicated bun, with some bangs on the right side of her face, reaching her eye, and the edges curled slightly. The bangs had red highlights in it. Her eyes were lined by black eyeliner, the tip ending a wing with orange purple dots surrounding the wing. Her eyelids had a soft purple on them, and her lips were also purple. The dress she was wearing was black and sleeveless, going all the way down to the floor. The dress was all black until a little bit under the waist line, where the black became (gasp) orange, red, and purple. There was pink translucent silk covering over the bottom part, and a belt at the waist. (A/N Dress Link in bio)
"Wow," She said, breathless. She liked this much better than the Tribute Parade outfit. She wasn't sure what to expect, but this dress was beautiful.
"You like it?" Purria asked, smirking.
"I—I love it."
Aubrey wasn't what you would call a lover of dresses, but this one was amazing.
"Yes, yes. It is very pretty. But the wearer of the dress is just a responsible for the beauty as the dress is. Come on."
Purria winked at her and walked out of the door.
Aubrey followed her, shocked.
Did Purria just call her beautiful?
They walked to the elevator, and Kerri was already there, along with Josh and a guy that must have been his stylist.
Josh looked at her and whistled.
"Looking good, Bre," he said, smiling cheekily.
Aubrey rolled her eyes, but was secretly thankful for his words. She was feeling nervous about the interviews, and she knew he meant what he said.
"You don't look too bad yourself."
And he didn't. He was wearing a black suit with a grey tie, which really brought out his eyes.
They went into the elevator, and when they arrived wherever they were, some tributes were already there, but no one was lining up. Maybe Andy was there.
"Come on."
Aubrey grabbed Josh's hand, and she pushed past a few people before she saw him in the corner of the room, tugging uncomfortably on his tie. He was talking to his district partner, and while she was smiling her face off and obviously flirting, he was frowning and fidgeting.
Aubrey grabbed Andy's hand and said, "Production needs you."
She pulled him away.
He smiled at her.
"Thank you. Really. That was the most uncomfortable thing I've done all day."
Aubrey laughed and said, "Glad I could save you."
She took the chance to study him. He had on a black long sleeved dress shirt, with a gold tie. His pants were also black, along with black shoes. He looked stunning. His hair was curly and messy, but a styled kind of messy, like he took a long walk on the beach. His eyes were still their beautiful gold color. Aubrey was glad for those eyes. They amazed her. She'd never seen any eyes in person other than the blue eyes of the Merchants, and the grey and occasional brown eyes of the Seam kids. She was glad no one changed his eyes.
Andy was looking at her.
"You look gorgeous."
"I know. My stylists did a good job."
"I wasn't talking about the make up or the dress. You just look beautiful."
Aubrey blushed. This boy . . . he was going to be the death of her.
"T—Thanks," she stuttered out. "You look amazing too."
Andy smiled kindly at her, his gold eyes lighting up like someone shined the sun on them. "Thanks. Come on, we're supposed to be lining up."
Aubrey look behind her. He was right. The other tributes were already sitting down, and some were just arriving.
Aubrey and Andy parted, and Aubrey felt dizzy just glancing at the crowd. There were so many people there, and it wasn't even half of their population.
Josh's hand found her's, and Aubrey was glad for the extra support. She knew Josh got nervous around big crowds, and a crowd this size must be agonizing for him. She squeezed his hand reassuringly and smiled warmly at him. He gave her a nervous smile back, and his grey eyes displayed a million emotion. She could see the wall he often had when around new people up. When she first met him, he acted like a huge jerk, and he seemed arrogant. Now that Aubrey knew him better, she knew it was just a cover up. He was actually pretty nice, and he could be really sheepish and nervous at times. She found it cute. He could also be a smart-alec too.
The first tribute was called. The girl's name was Crystal. Not as bad as Sparkle, and it was an actual name. She talked about how she could be very cunning and smart, and how she knew she was going to win the games because no one knew what tricks she had in store. She looked like a stereotypical beauty, but her eyes displayed her intelligence. Aubrey could tell she was very different from the regular District One tributes. She also couldn't stop her eyes from appreciating how nice her legs looked in her dress. They looked really, really good.
You have a boyfriend, she told herself.
And you have a stupid opinion. I can look, but I can't touch.
Next up was the boy, Gem, and he talked about his family, and how he wanted to win so they could get the money. Aubrey wanted to call bullshit. She knew he was just trying to gain sponsors by having some pitiful story so they would feel sorry for him. It was a brilliant idea, which immediately told her that he didn't come up with it.
Baronialia came on next. Aubrey couldn't even pronounce her name right. She talked about how she was going to brutally kill every tribute, and that she was going to win by sheer force. Aubrey smirked when Caesar checked her, telling Baronialia that strength couldn't beat everything. She told him to watch her.
The guy, Jackson, was up. He didn't seem all that bad, until he started going into a detailed explanation of how he planned on killing each district's tributes, giving them ironic deaths. He got cut off by the buzzer when he was explaining how he would tie the tributes from District Seven to a tree and cut their heads off with an ax, and no one was sad that he couldn't continue. Aubrey was officially creeped out at that point. She absentmindedly wondered how he was going to kill her and Josh.
It was boring until Andy's District partner, Layla, went on stage. She was all smiles and sunshine, blowing a kiss at the crowd, and radiating flirty vibes. Her dress was green, sparkly, and see-through. It didn't take a District Three tribute to find out what angle she was going for. She succeeded. The crowd went wild, and all the men were under her spell. She was alluring in every way (though Aubrey would never admit it).
Andy went on, and he was amazing. He told them about how his mom was a Victor and he wanted to make her proud. He talked about how he had a good strategy, and he winked flirtatiously at the crowd. He even had Caesar awed. Aubrey rolled her eyes when he started going on about how he would win. She knew all of it was bull, but he was a great actor. She could only tell how he really felt by the way his eyes looked sad. Aubrey knew he wasn't as confident as he seemed. He had a lot of doubts.
When he left the stage things got boring again. As the girl from District Eleven finished up, Aubrey began to get nervous. What was she going to do? What was she going to say? She wasn't good with people like Arianna. She couldn't act mysterious, or alluring. Zane would say otherwise (he claims she's plenty alluring), but she didn't know what to do.
The boy went on and Aubrey's palms were moist and she felt Josh squirming in his chair. She was about five seconds away from finding the nearest exit and running out of it when the buzzer sounded.
"Please welcome to the stage Aubrey Oric, from District Twelve!"
Aubrey just about threw up when he said that. Instead, she pried Josh's hand from hers and stood up, smoothing down her already smooth dress.
You can do this.
Aubrey slowly walked to the stage, hoping she could evade her death by embarrassment, but Caesar was already smiling in her direction.
Fuck.
She walked over to her seat, her heartbeat ringing in her ears.
I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.
She chanted that phrase in her head over and over again, until she reached the chair. She sat down, quivering slightly, and looked at Caesar. He smiled at her, and she looked toward the crowd. They were all cheering, and, for some odd reason, she was reassured by this.
"Well, hello, Miss Oric!"
Caesar bowed in his chair.
Aubrey resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Hello to you too, Caesar."
She was surprised how calm she sounded. She was the exact opposite in her head. All she could hear in her mind was muffled screaming.
"Alright, alright." Caesar calmed down the crowd with a few waves of his hand. "So, Aubrey, how is the Capitol?"
Aubrey lifted her head up, staring Caesar right in the eye. She was starting to feel angry. He was asking her like she was on vacation, and not about to die. Her anger was taking away her nervousness.
"It's been great. Just like home, only 100 times better," she said in a calculated voice.
"Yes, it's quite amazing, isn't it?"
Aubrey's eye almost twitched.
"Yes. The buildings are magnificent, the colors are so vibrant. I've never seen anything like it.
"Why, of course not. Now, onto more important things. Do you think you can win the games?"
"Well, I know I can win the games. Any of us can, since there has to be a winner." The crowd laughed, and Caesar smiled, even though it wasn't even funny. "But whether I will or not? I guess we'll have to find out." She winked at him.
"Any reason you want to win?"
"For my family. I want us to live a better life." Like they needed the money. "I want to go home to them." That part was true.
"Anyone in particular?"
Aubrey blushed just thinking about Zane. His dark hair, the way he always smelled like pine trees, the way he was always so gentle with her. She missed him so much, and it was times like these when she needed him most.
Aubrey smiled apologetically and shrugged.
"Oh, a girl like yourself must have someone waiting for you. Come on, out with it."
"Well . . . there might be a boy . . ." Aubrey brushed a piece of her bangs behind her ear.
"A boy, eh?" Is that not what I just said? "He must be a good lad to get you." That he is.
"Yes, very nice."
"Now, onto the games. Do you have a strategy to win?"
Aubrey pretended to look thoughtful.
"I might. Just outsmart the others, stay alive as long as I can. Just wing it."
That was only a half truth. She didn't really have a plan, but at the same time she did.
Caesar nodded his head. "Outsmarting the others is a good strategy. Like I was just telling Baronialia here, you can't win using only force. You've got to have brains, too." You'd know a lot about that.
"Yes."
"Any skills?"
"Sorry, Caesar, but you'll have to find out."
He started asking a few questions about her life at home. She tried to give as little information as possible.
The buzzer sounded right after she made a comment about the food.
"Well, I wish you the best of luck. Aubrey, from District Twelve!" Everyone cheered again, and Aubrey walked off of the stage with a small smile on her face.
When Josh passed by her, she grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear, "It's not as hard as it looks. Just go with the flow and you'll be fine. Caesar will make things easier." Aubrey knew well enough that Josh was about ready to jump off the stage into the crowd and let them have at him.
He gave her a big smile, and she shot him a thumbs up.
She sat back down, staring at the screen that showed Josh and Caesar shaking hands.
"How are you doing today, Caesar?"
"Fine, fine. You?"
"Just dandy."
"What do you think of the Capitol?"
"Oh, it's pretty nice. You know, when I'm not getting lost trying to find my way to my room after dinner."
The crowd laughed, and Aubrey smiled. He was doing great.
"Oh, yes. Me too. But for different reasons. The food—it's amazing. I have trouble walking after eating such a big meal."
The crowd laughed again.
"The food? Oh man, let not even start on that. The chicken—I've never eaten chicken so good 'til I got here. You Capitol people know how it's done."
Caesar and the crowd laughed and cheered.
They talked for a little bit more about the Capitol before shifting over to Josh's life.
"Any girl back home? Maybe Aubrey?"
Josh laughed and blushed.
"A—Aubrey? No, she's my best friend, pretty much my sister. I'd never date her, though she is very beautiful," Aubrey smiled. "But if she was my biological sister, things would get very weird."
"Why is that?"
"It's a bit weird to date your brother, isn't it?"
Caesar laughed, though he looked confused. "Oh, I can imagine. So, if not Aubrey, who?"
Josh rubbed the back of his neck.
"Uh, there's this girl . . . but we decided to be friends. I still like her, though. But we can never be together."
Caesar looked confused.
"Why ever not?"
"Because I don't think I could live with myself if Aubrey ever got hurt."
The audience cooed, and Aubrey smiled sadly.
"That's tough."
"Yeah. But that's life."
No it's not! Aubrey wanted to scream. Life should not include innocent children dying!
"Don't worry. I'm sure it will all turn out right in the end."
"Thanks."
They moved on to strategies, and Josh told them he had a plan.
"Care to share?"
"It's a secret. Sorry." That was Josh's way of saying, 'I don't know.'
The buzzer sounded.
"Farewell! Joshua Vison-Mellark, tribute of District Twelve!"
Josh came back and sat next to her.
Aubrey smiled and turned to look at him. "That wasn't so bad, now was it?"
He shook his head and a smile touched his lips.
"No, it was fine. Can't believe I was so nervous."
They all stood up for the anthem, then headed for the elevator. Aubrey held the door for Andy.
"You were great," she said, giving him a tight hug.
"You too. The crowd loved you."
"Oh, they loved you more, Mr. flirtatious."
Andy blushed.
"Shut up."
Aubrey laughed at him.
The doors opened on his floor.
Aubrey grabbed his hand when he started to leave. "Meet me on the roof after dinner. Okay?"
He nodded. "See you there."
The doors zoomed back up the their floor, and the team was waiting for them.
"Why, that was absolutely lovely!" Kerri went on about how great it was. Aubrey swore she even saw Purria roll her eyes.
Aubrey rushed to her room and changed into a black shirt with a blue hoodie over it, and black jeans, taking a second to admire her dress, knowing she'd never see it again.
Aubrey looked around for her shoes, then she remembered that she left them with Kerri.
Damn.
She walked over to Kerri's room, and knocked on the door quietly.
"Yes?"
Kerri opened the door, bright and bubbly.
"Um, are my shoes in here? From prep yesterday?"
Kerry looked thoughtful (was that real?) and tapped her chin.
"Yes! They are, near the closet somewhere. I'm going to dinner, remember, five minutes until then! Don't dillydally or you'll be late."
"Yes, yes."
Kerri walked away, and Aubrey searched for her shoes. She bent down near the closet and looked, but she couldn't find them. She stood up and bumped her head on something.
"Ow!"
She looked at what she had hit, and her heart skipped a beat.
It was a phone.
Aubrey felt her stomach clench with all of the possibilities. She could call home, but she'd only have five minutes before Kerri got suspicious.
Aubrey picked up the phone and dialed her house number, the one she had memorized by heart.
The phone rang twice before someone picked it up.
"Hello?"
Aubrey's heart skipped a beat.
It was Zane.
"Z—Zane? What are you doing there?"
"Aubrey!?" he yelled.
"Y—yeah!"
She heard him laugh and make a choking sound.
"Oh, how rich. such great timing."
"What do you mean?"
"We were just talking about you."
"We?"
Aubrey heard someone yell in the background, "Aubrey? Aubrey where? You're talking to Aubrey?" It was Arianna!
"Yes. Me and your sister."
"What were you talking about?"
She heard him hesitate for a second.
"You and . . . him."
Aubrey felt her stomach drop.
"Him?"
"Yes. You and that boy—Sandwich?"
Aubrey sighed. "I know you know his name. It's Andy—Andrew. And why are you talking about us—not that there is an us?"
Zane started to get angry, and Aubrey could hear it in his voice.
"Andy, a nickname? You two seem a little buddy-buddy, don't you?"
Aubrey held her head in her hand.
"Really? I find some way, miraculously, to call you from my death sentence, and you want to talk about me and some boy?"
Zane sounded confident.
"Yes! I saw you two talking before the chariot rides. I know he was flirting. I saw you, I saw how he looked at you."
Despite being exasperated at him, Aubrey couldn't help but blush at the thought of him seeing her in her parade outfit.
"That—that was nothing. He came to talk to me because he knows the truth about Arianna and her games."
"Sure." He brushed aside what she said and continued. "I also saw you two today, during the interviews. He was eyeing you like candy. and you two were flirting, again!"
Aubrey could feel her anger bubbling inside of her.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I speak to you, mind you, for the first time since I was forcefully taken away from my district to be in a deathmatch and you want to bring up some bullshit because of your jealousy?"
"I'm not—"
"Shut the fuck up! Yes you are! If you're just going to go on like this, acting like you're my fucking dad and I went out on a date, I'll hang up!"
"Well," he retorted, "maybe you did go on a date! I wouldn't know, seeing as I'm here and you're there!"
"I'M HERE TO FUCKING DIE! You wanna be here? Then fucking come you asshole! Be my guest, we can all die together! Brother, brother and his girlfriend. Whoopdedoo, a fucking party!"
Zane seemed shocked for a moment, then he said quietly, "That's not what I meant—"
"What did you mean then?" she cut him off. "You saw me before I left, scared as hell, and now you throw this in my face like I'm here for a business meeting? Fuck off."
"Aubrey—"
"No, don't use that tone on me. You started this, and I'm damn sure going to end it. You can take your jealous ass and go fuck yourself. I called you, I actually called my sister, to hear your voice, to be reassured. Because that's what you do. You reassure me, you make me feel better. But not now.
"You treat me like I'm some fucking dog that you're scolding, like I'm gonna apologize and let you pet me. I don't even like Andy. And he's fucking gay anyway, you jealous prick."
He was only bisexaul, like her, but it couldn't hurt to dig the cut deeper.
Zane was silent for a while, and Aubrey was sure five minutes had passed, when he said, "Is that how you feel?"
Aubrey kept her composure.
"No I just poured my heart and soul into that speech but it was a joke."
"Be serious for a moment."
Aubrey sighed and agreed.
"You know I care. I wouldn't be . . . jealous if I didn't. But I've been dying over here. With you not being here, I feel stressed and on edge. I just went off on you, even though I need you. You know how I am."
Aubrey didn't say anything.
"If you really feel like I'm being irrational, we'll go on a break."
Aubrey's heart climbed its way up her throat.
"What? When did I ever say that?"
"I want you to be happy," he continued. "If something really is going on between you two—"
"Nothing is!"
"—then I want you to know that you're not taken so it's okay."
Aubrey held back a scream.
"What the goddamn hell is wrong with you? You think breaking up with me is gonna fix this? I'm not doing anything with Andy—Andrew. You're just going to do this, after one year, just end it?"
"Just until you come back. I want you to come back knowing you were faithful, because you're single. Just for a little while. I love you, I always have and I always will, and I know you love me too, through all of my stupidness and jealousy. Have fun, and even though it kills me inside, I know that you'll tell me everything you did when you get back. Win for me." And he hung up. Just like that.
Aubrey slammed the phone on the wall and slid on the ground, her back against the closet door.
What did she do?
• • •
Dinner was not quiet, with Kerri questioning the stylists about everything.
"That dress? Amazing! Wherever did you get the fabric?"
Aubrey rolled her eyes and ate her chicken. She was slowly processing everything that had happened between her and Zane, and she was not okay with it at all.
After dinner, Aubrey hugged Josh.
"Goodnight," she whispered into his shirt. She wasn't sure how she was feeling. Today was her last day of guaranteed safety. The games started tomorrow.
"Night."
Neither of them let go.
"I'll probably join you tonight. I've got such bad nerves I bet I couldn't even draw a straight line."
Josh nodded. "Don't worry. You'll be fine."
Aubrey hated how he said you'll and not we'll.
"I—I know something is wrong. I can see it, I know you."
Aubrey opened her mouth to tell him, but he shook his head.
"Later. I know you need time to prcces it."
Aubrey finally pried herself away from him and went up to the roof.
Andy was up there, changed into a comfortable pair of sweats.
"Hey," she said, coming up next to him.
He looked at her.
"Hey."
Aubrey leaned against the edge of the railing, her hair blowing in the wind. She decided it wasn't enough, so she hopped over the railing and sat on it.
"Aubrey," Andy warned. "Careful. You might fall."
Aubrey snorted. "What's the worst that could happen? I die? I'm going to anyway, so this will just be a quicker death. I just had my heart ripped out, so what does it matter?"
He rolled his eyes, but let it go, knowing better than to try to convince her otherwise.
"Come on," she waved her hand at him. "Sit next to me."
He climbed up with no argument. She lied her head on his shoulder, thinking about what Zane had said.
"What do you mean? Who ripped your heart out?"
He sounded casual, with a little anger under his voice.
"What would you do if I told you I find a phone and managed to call my house, and my boyfriend picked up?"
"I would say that it sounds like something only you could do. I belive you." He swung his legs. "What happened?"
Aubrey sighed.
"Well, he got really jealous of you, and basically went on a rampage. I might've cursed him out and told him I wanted him to leave me alone. He took that as a signal to put us on a 'break' until I go back home, because he would feel better if I cheated while I was single."
Andy curled a piece of her hair around his finger.
"Wow. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault he's an idiot."
"You guys have been together for a year right? That's pretty surreal. I'm sorry, I guess I'm too flirty."
"It's just who you are. You wouldn't be you if you didn't flirt all the time, if you weren't so affectionate. That's why I keep you around, after all."
"For my charming ways?"
"What else?"
Andy smiled a little, his gold eyes a bit sad.
She sighed. What was Zane doing now, what was her family doing?
Andy sighed too. "Thinking 'bout home?"
Aubrey nodded.
"Me too."
Aubrey decided she had to say something.
"They're sick bastards, taking us away from our homes. Maybe one day I'll get to take them away from who they care about and see how they like it."
He looked at her.
"Stop. They'll—"
"They'll what?" she interrupted. "Kill me? Like I said before, I'm sure to die anyway, so if I'm gonna die, I want to die knowing they know how I feel. Even if they can't understand how it feels. So if they don't like it, they can spin on it." Aubrey made a rude hand gesture.
Andy rolled his eyes, but smiled. "Yeah. I agree. I mean, not exactly the way you put it, but yeah. The only reason I would want to win would be to help my mom. She deserves it."
Aubrey sighed. "She really doesn't. She hits you. She yells mean things at you. She don't appreciate what a great son she has. She doesn't deserve it, or you."
He sighed. "Whatever. I don't care if they don't deserve it. If I can help anyone in any way, I will."
Aubrey sighed again. "You're too good for these games," She said softly. "You have a good, kind, warm heart. We need more people like you in the world, and less people like me. Cold, too-gone-to-care-for hearts."
Andy lifted her chin up, forcing her to look him in his eyes.
"No. You think you're cold hearted, Aubrey, but I see the heart of gold you have." She snorted. "Your past has shaped you into what you think you are. You have a good heart too. You've just had too many hardships to break down the cold walls."
Aubrey frowned. "And you haven't? Just let me go. People like me, we don't want change. We want revenge. Revenge for everything they put us through. And we'll do anything get it. Just like Snow—"
His beautiful gold eyes darkened.
"Don't. Don't compare yourself to that creep. You are much better than he ever was, or will be. Always know that."
They sat there for awhile.
"Andy?" Aubrey said randomly.
"Yeah, Aubs?"
Aubrey smiled at the new nickname.
"Will you stick with me and Josh in the arena?"
"Of course. I won't leave you alone if I can help it."
"Okay. I'm nervous."
"So am I."
"I really don't want to go." all of Aubrey's worries and doubts spilled out of her. "I don't want to die. I don't want you or Josh to die for me. I couldn't live with myself. I want all of us to go home, and be safe. Why can't we just go home and be happy? Is that too much to ask? I just wanna see Zane, I just want to be home. Home."
Andy chuckled lightly and stroked her hair.
"It'll be alright. I won't leave you."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she said softly.
"No. This I do promise. Even if—even if I die, I'll always be with you. You'll remember me."
Aubrey blinked back tears and nodded.
They stayed like that for awhile.
"It's getting late. We should go."
Andy got off of the railing and helped Aubrey down.
Aubrey latched her arms around Andy. "I don't wanna go," she said.
Andy looked at her. "Me neither. But we need to get a good night's sleep."
Aubrey didn't let go. Andy sighed and hugged her back.
"Come on. I'll walk you."
They went on the elevator, and were silent until they reached Aubrey's floor. They walked to her door without seeing anyone.
Aubrey turned to Andy. "Thank you. For everything." She kissed his cheek. "I'll never forget you."
She gave him a quick wave and stepped into her room. She could hear him walking away.
Aubrey sighed and looked around her dark room. She shook her head and tip toed to Josh's room.
The light was off, and she could hear his even breathing. She sighed and slipped under his covers. He scared the shit out of her when he turned toward her and said, "I've been wondering when you'd come."
Aubrey held her chest.
"I just didn't want to leave."
Aubrey couldn't see him, but she thought he nodded.
"How long have you been up?" she asked.
"A couple minutes. Just thinking."
Aubrey nodded.
"Tell me what's wrong."
"There's a phone in Kerri's room, so I used it to call my house, and Zane picked up."
"Smart."
"Not from what happened. He got super jealous about Andy and I yelled at him, telling him to, well, hop off my metaphorical dick. Because I, you know, don't have one."
"I get it."
Aubrey fingered her hands.
"Just making sure. Anyway, he broke up with me, telling me we were going on a break until I came home so I could do whatever I wanted here and come back home faithful."
Josh exhaled weirdly.
"I—Wow. I can't believe—no, I can see him doing that. He always was a jealous buffon. I saw the looks he shot guys who looked at you, when he thought no one was looking. Wow, you must feel so guilty. Come here."
She rested her head on his chest and put her arm over him. His right arm wound around her waist, and Aubrey sighed again. Josh was very comfortable.
"It's not your fault. There's nothing going on with you and Andy, and we all know it. He shouldn't have been jumping on you like that, especially considering the circumstances. He has been very stressed, and I know he does love you very much. He's probably going mad right now, thinking he left you thinking he hated you. He's crazy, but also crazy for you. Don't let this get to you, when you get back home it'll be all fine and dandy."
Aubrey nodded and tried to keep her nerves down. They would be okay, they would all be okay.
They both drifted off the sleep, worrying about when they would wake up. They both wondered whether or not they would live to see their families again.