A/N: I feel the last chapter was too short so to make up for it this is extra-long and I'm going to give you two chapters. Hee-hee! See, I'm awesome! So, I think I might have this wrong but I am an idiot who took her books home and then decided to write a fanfiction thing when she got back to school so I apologize if this is out of order but this makes sense to me.
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Nate woke up the very next morning to find that it wasn't a dream. He was indeed on his way to the Capitol to battle in the Hunger Games. The District Twelve boy groaned in annoyance and hopped out of bed. There was only one goal in mind before he would meet his stylist. He was going to work on his strategy. Haymitch Abernathy would lead him to victory.
Nate carefully opened his bedroom door and started down the hall. He was carefully walking to the dining room when he ran into somebody he wasn't expecting.
"Oops, sorry," Nate apologized to the boy that was about his age.
The boy didn't notice him at all. He just kept up with folding linens and placing them on a cart. The boy didn't even look like a boy now that Nate took good notice of him. He was a little older than Nate and had a beard growing along his chin. He was of an overly plump nature and had light brown hair. His eyes were a soft blue-grey and somewhat reminded him of Parker. The worst part was that Nate was certain he recognized the guy from somewhere. That was impossible though. Where would he recognize the kid from?
"I recognize you," Nate decided to be blunt with his thinking. It was an uncomfortable habit of his. It was something he had done all the way back when his mother was still alive. It usually occurred around the time he or Adrianne would have a birthday.
His mother would get this odd glint in her eye and Nate would know something was up. He would watch her movements carefully and then demand to know what she was up to. She would smile at him and say nothing. He would just shrug and remind her of her actions then demand to know what was purchased. His mother had once told him it was a trait he inherited from his father. Back then, Nate actually smiled at the fact that he had that trait. Now it was just a reminder of just how close he and his father were becoming. He hoped he wouldn't find the same lust for alcohol to deal with his troubles.
Nate pointed towards the avox again and paused at the confused face. There was something fake about the confusion. It seemed forced and frightened. Nate stared at the face and felt the familiarity increase. He definitely knew that frightened face.
"I swear I know you from somewhere."
"That's impossible," the musical voice of Effie Trinket laughed at the boy's thoughts. She was walking towards him in a hurried fashion and stumbled a bit on her high heeled shoes. She caught up to him from her room and gently placed her left hand on his elbow. She began leading him away and Nate could hear the boy sigh in relief. Nate opened his mouth to question the guide.
"He's an avox, dear," Effie laughed at his thoughts and waved off his question. She looped her arm in his and led him towards the dining car. "Avoxes are criminals turned into mutes. How on Earth could you possibly know him?"
"He just looks familiar," Nate shrugged. He realized he wasn't supposed to know the boy at all. Avoxes were criminals from the districts. You only got to know them if you had broken a law yourself. Effie didn't need to know Nate was a well-known hunter in his district. The boy was now most certain he met the avox boy in the woods under awful conditions. In fact, he had a feeling he even knew the older boy's name and it was not good. If he was right, the boy had been arrested for traveling between the districts. Well, that was the story everybody at home was told.
"Besides, dear," Effie interrupted his thinking before the memory even had a chance to brew, "You're not supposed to talk to an avox. There's really no point considering they can't talk back anyway. You just need to know that an avox is there to take your order. They are not there for conversation. They are there to serve you. Be certain to remember that the only thing he should hear is an order or command and that is all."
"So we have to treat them like they're not even there?" Nate was confused. Avoxes may be considered criminals but they were still human. Even animals were allowed to listen to the sound of somebody's voice for more than an order. This seemed a bit too strict even by Capitol standards.
"They're criminals, dear," Effie rolled her eyes at the boy. They had finally arrived at their destination and the poor woman looked relieved. Nate could definitely agree with that feeling. "They lost the right to be human when they tried to lead another revolution against the Capitol. Besides, let's not think about such dull and drab things. Let's eat. I'm starving and you've got to at least look presentable when your stylists get here. Tick tock!"
Effie went to sit down at the table. Nate just stared after her. Was that woman even real? Sure she wore a vibrant pink wig and atrocious clothes, but she didn't even appear to have a heart. How could you cut off all association to someone just because they were called a criminal? Why couldn't an avox talk and why was it wrong to talk to one? The District Twelve boy just sighed in frustration at another crime the Capitol seemed to commit on a regular basis. He would find out more when it was safe to do so.
"Good morning," Haymitch growled on his drunken way towards food. His breath reeked of spirits and he stumbled past his neighbor in a sort of haze. Maggie grouchily followed behind the man with a sour look on her face. Right, it was time to get their mentor to actually help them.
"He smells like old yeast," Maggie complained. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and followed Haymitch to the breakfast table at a distance. Her need for food seemed to be in battle with her distaste at the old man's fumes.
"I'll take care of it," Nate promised. He sort of felt obligated to do so. Maggie was a sweet person. She didn't deserve to deal with this until the arena. He could protect her from the world until then. Then, they would have to worry about themselves. They were allies until it was no longer convenient. Nate just prayed they weren't the final two for what felt like the sixteenth time they began.
"Eat!" Effie ordered. She seemed frazzled by their lack of following a schedule. It appeared as if she had never been forced to deal with people not on a schedule before.
Nate nodded his head and quickly piled some food on a plate. He picked up a butter knife with every intention of putting some of the yellow stuff on his bread. Then he got an idea. He immediately winked at Maggie and threw the knife. It landed exactly where he wanted it to, right where Haymitch's hand was reaching for his drink. Effie screamed and stood to her feet. Maggie didn't scream but she did rise at the display. Nate smiled and acted like nothing was wrong. He just went back to eating as if that sort of thing happened all the time.
"Something you want to say, Ford?" Haymitch's voice sounded interested. He was trying not to but Nate could tell. His neighbor had always been an easy read after all.
Nate turned a careless gaze towards the mentor and shrugged. He picked up a roll and calmly bit into it. He then stared straight into the mentor's eyes in challenge. "You're going to mentor us." Nate tilted his head towards Maggie and pointed to himself. "You're going to help us win!"
Haymitch smiled at that. His shoulders even shook with laughter at the idea. He clearly wasn't sure what to do with this situation. "Is that so?"
"Yeah," Nate nodded his head and smiled at Maggie. "It would probably be easier if you sobered up but we need you focused. So, here are the rules."
"Rules?"
"Rules!" That voice was Maggie's and she looked just as determined as Nate felt. He smiled at her spunk. She was definitely going to be his ally for as long as possible. She even had that manic glint in her eye that Parker wore when they were about to go hunting.
Haymitch actually startled at Maggie's voice. He even looked a little afraid of her. Nate tried to be jealous of that, but he was just amused. The town drunk, and bearer of bad news, was afraid of the baker's daughter. That was priceless.
"Rule one," Nate decided to steal back the attention. Maggie and Haymitch both kindly looked to him in interest. "Less drinking and no more face vaulting off the stage. We need you to make us look good and you being an idiot; doesn't help."
"Rule two: is that you have to actually advise us so we'll win." Maggie said this with a straight face. She was now glaring daggers into their mentor's eyes and looked certain of her thoughts. "You will do everything in your power to make certain one of us gets home."
"And you will not choose between us," Nate added. He remembered the last time Haymitch actually tried to help. The boy tribute that fought with Adrianne died because the older man chose her over him. District Twelve actually would have had a shot if he had taken care of them both.
"Rule three!" This time Haymitch actually spoke and kept his eyes trained on them. He actually looked sober now. He looked like he was going to play to win this time. "You do what I tell you to, exactly as I say unless otherwise advised. Understand?"
"Agreed." Maggie and Nate said it at the exact same time and smiled at each other. District Twelve was going to win. That was all that mattered.
"Agreed," Haymitch nodded towards them. He wore a smug grin and wrenched the knife out of the table. He handed it to Effie and started towards the door. He spun back around and pointed his finger at each of his charges. "I want you both to finish this meal soon and get ready for your stylists. You don't argue with them and you don't say anything rude towards them. I want you both to be as nice as possible to them and even smile. I know how difficult that is for you, Ford, but do it anyway. Don't argue with your stylists. They're here to help you. What they say goes, understand?"
Maggie and Nate nodded. They understood the rules. They would do as told. Haymitch grinned a bit smugly at their response. He waved to a still stunned Effie Trinket and left. The door closed behind him and Nate and Maggie stared at each other.
"Let's eat," Maggie declared. Nate didn't argue with the command.
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After breakfast Nate immediately took a shower and brushed his teeth. He carefully looked through the drawers in his room and settled on a simple pair of pants and a blue shirt. He remembered his mother telling him he looked good in blue once.
"It brings out your eyes," she said. Then he smiled brightly at her statement and his favorite color had become blue. She had laughed and tousled his hair in affection. She died three years later and blue became the worst color in the world. In fact, he refused to wear blue unless Adrianne asked and even then it was rare. Parker had to have a temper tantrum once because he refused to wear the color. The only reason he wore it on any given day was because the Seam girl would have a fit until she got her way, and Nate made sure she always got her way.
Nate shook his head at the memory. He quickly looked around for his clothes from yesterday and found them folded gently on his bed. He carefully moved towards the clothing and stared. A glint of gold was on the shirt and the District Twelve boy quickly snatched it up. He had almost forgotten Paul's gift. He hurriedly placed the pin upon his breast and immediately felt like his home was with him. When he made it out of the games like he promised, he was going to thank Paul for his gift. Because of him, he had a piece of home.
The door opened behind him and Nate turned around. The avox Nate recognized from earlier was patiently looking towards the clothes with wide eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he couldn't. He was an avox and Avoxes were apparently mute.
"I'm just removing my token," Nate explained, suddenly shy. He wasn't sure what he could say to the other boy. He felt like he should at least say something. Effie Trinket may have been under the impression that Avoxes weren't people, but he wasn't. The avox just smiled at his kindness and started towards the clothing. That was when Nate recognized the scar on the left temple of the avox. It was a scar in the shape of a star. Yes, Nate knew exactly who the avox was.
It had been a bright, sunny day. It was a great day for hunting. In fact, that's where the boy from District Twelve met the avox currently serving him. Nate and Parker had only been hunting together for two years. Adrianne had been gone for almost a year. The game had changed course that day. Parker had to actually set up several snares and make more from whatever she could find because they were coming up empty. They had been out almost all day when they met the boy. He was racing through the woods with some girl. Their hands were linked and they were running fast. The girl tripped on something and the boy had stopped to help her up. The hovercraft came out of nowhere.
Parker had seen the flying contraption before the two runners. She was about to scream at them and beg them for cover when Nate slammed his hand against her mouth. The then fifteen year old hurried towards the bushes and did everything in his power to keep the Seam girl quiet. The two runners took note of the hovercraft and raced towards the trees.
The boy took note of Nate and Parker and questioned them for help without saying a word. Nate waved them over and kept careful watch of the ship from above. That was all he could do and they both knew it. The boy took hold of the girl's hand and raced them towards safety as fast as his plump size could carry him. It wasn't enough though.
A great net dropped down on the pair before they were even close to the trees. Parker started biting Nate's hand to get free but he ignored her and the pain. He was trying to think of a way to help them without getting into trouble. The boy just shook his head no and waited to be taken prisoner. The girl floundered against the net and tried to crawl towards him. The boy turned towards her, revealing his star shaped scar and spoke.
"Peggy, I love you," he said.
The girl cried at the saying and stopped her struggling. They were on the way towards the air when she finally spoke his name. Then the hovercraft and its prisoners were gone.
Nate caught the avox by the arm and pulled him up. He touched the scar for a moment then he looked the avox straight in the eyes.
"Hurley right?"
The avox nodded.
"What happened to Peggy?"
Hurley's face grew pained and Nate knew. He knew even before the older boy motioned the explanation. Hurley shakily drew a finger across his neck and sniffled in sadness. Nate bowed his head at the knowledge. He should have helped them. He should have done exactly what Parker had wanted at the very beginning.
"I'm sorry," he said instead. It was all he could say. He failed at doing the right thing when it mattered and it cost this man everything. He deserved to be fighting in the arena.
Hurley placed a gentle hand on the tribute's shoulder and shook his head. He pointed towards Nate's tongue and signed the act of cutting. He pointed to his own mouth and shook his head. Nate understood exactly what the avox was telling him.
"They cut out your tongue?" Nate was appalled. The avox just nodded and started picking up the clothes. He smiled sadly at the tribute and patted him twice on the shoulder.
"I'm going to talk to you every day even if they tell me not to," Nate declared simply. He wasn't sure if there were any cameras around but he didn't care. He wasn't just going to treat Hurley like a pet.
Hurley smiled at the gesture then put his index finger to his lips. He shook his head to get his message across and bowed. Nate grinned as he watched the older boy walk out the door. They were in agreement. Screw the cameras.
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Nate met his team of costumers and hated them instantly. Their names were Monica, Octavia and Doyle. He hated Doyle the most. The man had black beady eyes and a crooked nose. He had short cropped black hair and his skin was painted lilac. Octavia was fat and a weird lime green. Monica was the most normal out of the bunch and the bitchiest. She had blonde hair and looked plastic from ear to ear. It was disgusting. They cooed and awed over him and invaded his privacy for hours and hours.
The first thing they did was shave what little facial hair Nate had grown. In District Twelve you were considered a man the moment you had a full face of hair. You would keep that hair for a few months and then shave it off when it got in the way. It was a sign of being able to hold your own household. Then you would go work in the coal mines and make just enough to hold you over till the Tesserae was available.
The group then cut his hair to a suitable two inches. They slicked it back with something that smelled putrid and looked like slime. It was green until it touched his hair. It felt awful. Nate couldn't even stand to touch his hair. It felt like he was touching a hard rock covered in wet moss and mud. Even in the Seam your hair didn't get that dirty.
The final act of torture was a lovely form of cutting his nails all the way to the bed. Yeah, they cut his nails and then painted them with clear stuff. Three layers of the clear stuff and some magic sap to hide his scratches and he was all done. They left with smiles and teary eyes at their work. Nate suppressed the growl he wanted to make and smiled.
"Thank you," he said. They smiled even brighter and left with a pep in their step. Nate rolled his eyes and winced at the fact that his hair made it difficult to move his face. He hoped they didn't slick it back during the games. He would die on the first day for certain.
The doorknob clicked and the boy immediately turned to face it. He remembered what Haymitch said and forced a smile. He wasn't going to argue with his stylist. He wanted to win. No, he had to win; for Parker.
Nate blinked when his stylist appeared through the door. She was the normal skin color and had hair a slightly darker shade of yellow than Parker's. Her eyes were green and she wore no smile on her face. She carefully scrutinized the boy before her and plopped into a chair in front of him. She slouched in her seat until she was comfortable then reached out her right hand to shake.
"The name's Tara," she said, "And I'm gonna help you win."
Nate took her hand and shook it. He was surprised that she wouldn't let go. He turned his eyes towards her. "Why didn't you congratulate me like they did?"
"You're going into an arena to kill kids your own age for the entertainment of others," Tara waved off the question and shrugged. She was blunt and honest. Nate liked her instantly. "I find there's nothing to celebrate about that."
"Then why do you want to help me?"
"Because I want to show people something they won't be expecting," Tara winked towards him. "Why are you here?"
"I got selected in the Reaping," Nate shrugged in response. He liked the fact that Tara had blonde hair that wasn't completely like Parker's.
"I heard from a very reliable source that you told the boy next to you not to volunteer," Tara smiled wickedly at the little statement. "That's not exactly being selected. Sure they picked your name but you chose to go up there instead of letting your friend do it for you. That counts for something."
Nate just shrugged. He didn't see the point in explaining that Paul was the breadwinner in his family. He was pretty certain the comment would either be ignored or give him more praise.
"I'm here to get you noticed," Tara explained to the boy with a light smile. It wasn't a pitying smile, but it was sad. She looked sad that he had to do this. Nate couldn't help but agree. He didn't want her to be sad though. He wanted to make his new ally happy. They needed a joke.
"I'm not that great at making friends so…" Nate chuckled and let the statement hang in the air. It had the desired effect. Tara laughed a little at the joke and then rose to her feet.
"Then I guess it's a good thing that I'm here to make certain you do," Tara winked at him again and then went to the closet. She lovingly removed the outfit from its hiding place and brought it towards the young man.
"Now let me explain how this works."
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"No itching!" Tara reprimanded when Nate raised his hand towards his side again. The boy frowned and lowered his hand in agitation.
"I wasn't going to," he said. He widened his eyes as innocently as possible. She didn't look like she believed him though.
"Remember that you and Maggie are a united front, okay?" She didn't even wait for a reply, "You both have already agreed to be allies and all so Cinna and I are going to do everything in our power to make sure it happens. Your costumes are already synchronized so all you have to do is smile. OH, and you and Maggie have to hold hands."
Nate stopped walking at that announcement. "Maggie and I have to do what?"
Tara rolled her eyes and backpedaled. She got behind the boy and pushed him towards the chariots, explaining along the way. "It's just holding hands, Nate. I'm not asking you to kiss her or anything. You're just showing that you two are united in your fight during the games. We're broadcasting to the world that you both will be working together. It's the best way to make certain you both get as many sponsors as possible. It's no big deal… just your life."
"Well, when you put it that way," Nate couldn't help but grumble. He was probably the only person in the entirety of District Twelve that didn't have a personal relationship with Maggie. Now he had to show the world that he intended to win the game with her by his side? How were they going to pull that off? Worse still, what happened if that strategy got them both to the final two? They were so going to die.
"Hi, Nate!" Maggie plowed into his arms with a fierce hug. Nate just stared at her in amazement because she looked beautiful. They were practically wearing the same thing, and she looked better in it.
"Well," Nate shot towards his stylist in a pout, "I can see who got the better stylist."
Tara just laughed at his attempt and smiled viciously. "I know. You can practically identify all of the seams in her dress. You totally got the better stylist, Nate."
Nate didn't dignify that with an answer. He just glared.
"Remember," a man who had to be Cinna remarked to them slowly. He was pushing them into the cart while putting their hats on their heads. "Smile brightly and don't worry about the flames."
"And hold hands," Tara gave Nate a soft nudge to make certain she was understood.
Nate forced a smile to make his teeth show. He waved his eyebrows towards his stylist, taking hold of the baker's daughter's hand and raising it for all to see. Tara winked and Cinna nodded. Apparently they were going to ignore his sarcasm.
"Time to light you up," Tara explained simply. Cinna immediately did as instructed. Then the chariots pulled out into the presentation area. The crowd went wild.
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"That was amazing!" Maggie was in a happy mood after their little introduction to the Capitol. They had been a blaze of fiery glory and they couldn't wait to see themselves during the recap. Well, Maggie couldn't wait. Nate just wanted to see what everybody else looked like. Maggie's flames were in his way.
"This is going to be so much fun," Maggie slammed herself onto the couch and turned on the television. Technically they should sleep because the next day was when they began training. Of course, neither one of them really cared about technicalities. They were just too curious.
"It's starting," Nate interrupted her. He tried to fight the tug of his lips at her excitement. The crowd had oohed and awed over their outfit. They were even on the monitors most of the time. Hopefully they would get to see everybody's outfits before the Capitol started having experts discuss the winners and the losers of the night. Fashion commentary was always a damper during the games.
District One was up first like always. Unlike always, James and Sophie were actually playing the united front card. The two were arm in arm in golden sparkles of clothes. Their stylists must have been going for the brother and sister card because they looked like twins. Their hair was made to enhance their features. Their make-up even detailed their eyes and cheekbones. The crowd cheered at the great entrance of the first of the night's costumes. Nate had to agree. The outfits were stunning. They looked like they reflected the sun.
The other outfits weren't as exciting or united. Everybody else stood apart from their fellow tribute. The girls had outfits separate from the guys and they all wore frowns. District Seven were still the same old trees they were last year and Marcus Starke of District Four was dressed to look like some sort of sea god. Everyone else was nothing compared to District One. Then District Twelve appeared.
Maggie gasped at the sight and Nate had to clasp his hands over his mouth to keep the air from escaping his lungs as well. They were on fire. Literally they were shimmering red sparks and looked like coal embers after a fire. Everybody's eyes fell away from District One and refused to pull away from the magnificence of District Twelve.
The fire danced around them and turned them into things of beauty. Maggie looked like a maze of embers and rainbows shining in the early morning. Nate looked like something he'd never seen before. They didn't look like children up for slaughter from the Seam. They looked like children from the Capitol on their way to battle. They looked like they were going to win.
"Get some rest," Haymitch ordered in a brisk voice. He was standing in the doorway with a pleased expression on his face. His eyes weren't as red as usual which meant he was sticking to the rules. His face looked a bit smug really. "You've got training tomorrow."
"And what's your word of advice on that?" Maggie was clearly willing to listen to him now. Nate couldn't blame her. They took the power away from the favorites. Anything more they did would only help them.
"Don't separate and stay away from the weapons," Haymitch shrugged in response. "I want you both to pay attention to everything except them actually. Save the weapons for the game makers. I want the tributes to underestimate you. It will give you the advantage."
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They did as Haymitch asked. Maggie led Nate around the training arena to every station she wanted to learn about. They learned how to tie knots and make snares. Well, Maggie learned how to make snares while Nate decided to learn more complicated ones. The knot guide actually looked relieved that he had somebody who knew how to do more than tie his shoes. Maggie got bored of that after an hour and Nate was pulled away from a noose in development. Nate let her lead. His ally needed to learn more than he did. Besides, they both wanted to win and only one of them could. He would give her any whim she wanted.
Sophie Devereaux seemed to have the same strategy oddly enough. She was currently at the plant station studying everything she could. She seemed to be good at it too because the man in charge was smiling and laughing at her progress. He was even showing her how to properly prepare everything. Nate was confused by this. She was a Career. Why would she ignore the weapons? He shrugged at the thought and just let Maggie pull him wherever she wanted. She chose the camouflage station next.
Maggie turned out to be a natural at that. She could recreate most of the looks the guide instructed without help. Nate on the other hand was horrible. He couldn't even recreate the simple green and grey one. The guide and Maggie just laughed. He explained that he didn't usually wear any camouflage in the woods and the guide just nodded his hand in understanding. Apparently the camouflage was a protection against the other tributes and not the animals.
Maggie got bored of that station once she had mastermind every possible look they could have. The amount of time they spent there was thirty-two minutes tops and most of that time was spent laughing at Nate's inability to paint. Then, to Nate's horror, she led them to the water station. Ordinarily it wouldn't have been a problem, except Sophie was there too.
"Oh," Sophie stared at the two tributes for a moment and then sat down anyway, "Hello."
"Hi," Maggie waved towards the brunette with a smile. She extended her hand and actually introduced herself, "I'm Maggie and this is Nate."
Nate just stared at his fellow tribute in shock of that. It was such a Parker thing to do.
The girl from District One just smiled at the introduction and returned the handshake. She even extended her hand towards Nate and muttered, "I'm Sophie. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Nate coughed as he took her hand and said, "hi!"
Their situation was mildly uncomfortable as they learned how to put water into a bottle. They each learned how to identify drinkable water and toxic water. They even quietly learned how to treat the water so they couldn't die or get sick. They learned everything they could about water and allowed the silence to stretch on. It was very awkward. Then somebody decided to break the silence.
"Ooh, you're wearing a robbingjay pin!" Sophie was pointing at Nate's shirt and clapping with delight. She seemed completely fascinated by the pin. Nate was just confused. What was a Robbingjay?
"A-A robbingjay?"
Apparently Nate wasn't the only one confused. Maggie stared at the District One girl as if she were crazy. Nate had to fight the chuckle at her expression. He was pretty certain that Devereaux's glare was a hint that he was failing miserably. She turned towards Maggie and smiled sweetly.
"It's what we call mockingjays at home," she said. Nate coughed and bowed his head to look at his pin. Sophie was right. It was a mockingjay. The mockingjay was holding something in its mouth and was surrounded by a circle of gold. The boy from District Twelve blinked. He'd forgotten that Paul had given that to him.
"Why do you call them robbingjays?" Maggie actually looked curious. Nate tried to pretend he wasn't. He could already tell Maggie was starting to get attached to the enemy. He couldn't allow his own actions to mirror hers. They needed to pick their allies carefully and District One was always their enemy.
"Because the traits of the mockingbirds robbed away the trait of speech they inherited from the jabberjay," Sophie shrugged in answer. It seemed like she had been given that exact answer once in her lifetime. She didn't even seem deterred by the question.
"Right," Nate steered his ally away before the inevitable could happen, "Maggie, we'd better hit another one of the stations. I could use a lesson in plant life right about now."
"Sure, Nate," Maggie followed without protest. She smiled and waved towards the District One girl and skipped her way to the plant station with Nate. She waited until lessons began before she made her next comment.
"I want her on our side!"
Nate didn't answer her. Internally he was thinking the same thing. There was something unusual about the way the girl acted. She was following the same strategy they were but she wasn't. Unlike them, she was talking to everybody and making friends. She actually went to stations with other people anyways just to talk with them. She was making friends and Nate didn't like it. He didn't like it one bit.
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"Do you mind if I sit with you?"
Nate looked up and stared at the source of the voice. Sophie had demanded acceptance of the tributes from district twelve with a good natured smile firmly planted on her face. Maggie practically coughed on her bread in shock of it all. Careers don't sit with non-Careers.
"Sure," Nate replied in intrigue as he shared a curious glance with Maggie to find out what was to happen next.
"I know it's usually the Careers who like to sit and eat together at these functions," Sophie yammered as she gracefully sat down. "I know the games don't usually show us that but it's implied."
"Always," Maggie nodded along with curiosity practically vibrating off of her.
"I figured this could be a nice change for once," Sophie stated with a pleasant smile towards the blonde in hopes of friendship apparently. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly prime pickings for an ally."
"Which works just nicely for you," Nate commented immediately. He couldn't help it. There was just something about the way the girl didn't get accounted as a threat to her peers that was nagging at him. She wasn't exactly strong in the physical sense, but there was intelligence behind those charcoal eyes. There was something off about the fact that nobody volunteered for her too.
"It's only an advantage in the final round," Sophie nodded with watchful eyes directed his way. "An advantage in the final round is only good if you make it there though."
"And in order to do that you need allies," Maggie agreed with a calm demeanor about her.
"Exactly," Sophie grinned at her new friend's thoughts.
"Why didn't anybody volunteer to take your place?" Nate questioned just for the sake of argument. "I think you're the first person actually picked for the games in district one since the beginning of the games way back when."
"Let's just say that I'm not like the other people in my district," Sophie replied a bit sharply. It seemed a bit forced to him. "I have never trained for the Hunger Games like the rest of the children did."
"Oh?" Maggie questioned in genuine interest. "Do you find it just as vile as the rest of us?"
"I think you've been training for a different portion of the games," Nate suggested before the tribute from district one could even reply. "I think that's how you're going to win."
"Don't you want to win?" Sophie asked with a look of surprise on her features. She wasn't even going to deny the fact that his theory was true.
"I want to live," Nate nodded at the question in genuine interest of the young woman before him. "I don't want to do it at the expense of lives I have to take for other people's enjoyment."
"But what choice do we have?" Sophie shot back right on cue. She kind of looked like she was enjoying this side of argument. "It's a suitable punishment for rising up against the capitol."
"A price we have paid in full a thousand times over after the first game began," Nate bit back completely surprised by the fact that she wasn't going to hide her intelligence from him.
"A price we will continue to pay until those brave enough fight to amend it," Sophie agreed with a genuine smile actually appearing upon her features.
"You don't care about dying for people's entertainment?" Maggie stared at the girl from District One in awe.
"I only care about showing people that you mustn't judge a book by its cover," Sophie hissed towards her new friend with affection. "There are many ways to prove a point in the games without taking a life that is not your own."
"That's how you'll win," Nate realized aloud in shock of the most brilliant plan he had ever encountered before. "You plan to turn everybody else against each other. You're conning them into handing it to you on a silver platter."
"I beg your pardon?" Sophie stared at him in complete bewilderment that there was somebody smart enough to catch onto her strategy. It was a strategy that nobody had ever pulled off before. It was definitely something her mentor wouldn't have even thought of. She was good.
"Oh, you're good," Nate smirked at the girl's gorgeous plan in admiration. "I wish I thought of it."
"You're very smart, aren't you?" Sophie stared at the boy in disappointment.
"Very," Nate whispered ever so quietly, "don't worry. I won't tell the others your little secret. I'll let you take care of them for me."
"You're still going to win after everything you just told me?" Sophie stared at the mastermind in shock.
"Have to," Nate agreed with a smug smile. "I promised my friends I would return so they wouldn't die."
"You're going to feed your whole district if you win," Sophie tilted her head in confusion of the whole concept, "aren't you?"
"That's the plan," Nate nodded as he quickly bowed his way out the door.
"He's an interesting young man," Sophie commented to the female tribute of District Twelve.
"His father is the local town drunk," Maggie explained with a sad smile. "He's trying to redeem his family."
"Oh," Sophie's voice registered a moment of glee at the knowledge before it dropped down to its pleasantness again. "Well, I hope he gets it."
Nate grinned. His theory was right. She was hiding something, something valuable. The boy from District Twelve continued walking away with a smile on his face. He found the biggest threat in the games and her name was Sophie Devereaux.