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Chapter Fourteen: ' For a price'.
The storm has been on the go for about 3 hours now. Everyone was shivering complaining of the cold, but it was only Me and Jaret that got sent a blanket from our mentors.
"Obviously with the game makers decision to let nature kill one of us, the capitol citizens rushed out to save their favourite. It's the capitols way of making money", Delia growled as she sat in the corner of the cave, as far away from the entrance as possible.
I raised my eyebrow at her. She probably isn't wrong. The games this year has gone quite quickly, they want to keep the capitol entertained, as this is probably there begging for attention. Keep them on the edge of their seats. Who can survive the cold the longest. Its sick!
"We should huddle together", Marble said blowing air into his hands trying to keep warm. "We should use our body warmth and huddle together".
Jaret sneered. "No offence, but i'm not gay. I will not cuddle up to some pretty boy from district one".
Marble rolled his eyes. "We will put the girls in between us. No offence, but I don't want your arms around me anyhow!", snapped back Marble.
"It's not a bad idea", gasped Delia, who seemed desperate enough to have some warmth. I didn't really want too, but I knew it would be the best option, but cuddling the enemies really isn't my idea of a good time, having said that this is the Hunger Games I enrolled. It isn't suppose to be fun.
Jaret put her arm around me, giving me more attention by placing his hand on my breast then he did Delia, which earned me a side ways death glare.
"I still don't see why you are even here Cashmere", tutted Delia. "I bet you have everything at home? Big house, probably even a pool.".
I frowned at her, more so at her stupidity then her annoying tone of accusation. "No. I mean, my family are wealthy, but only Victors have big houses, and there are no pools in district one. You're thinking of district four".
"If you are wealthy, why are you here, surely not for the winnings", snapped Delia at me once again. Jaret gave a slight pinch around my nipple, which I try my best to ignore, its vile.
"To be honest with you. I was here because I wanted to be myself, who own myself".
Delia looked confused. "Own yourself?".
I sighed. This girl is clueless. "In district one, you are a person. But unfortunately for us, unlike other districts our ways of doing this is outdated. Your parents own you until the age of 18, where you are basically asked to move out and get on with it. Your parents are supposed to do everything in their power to set you up. This includes setting up your marriages, jobs etc at such a young age. My father has tired to sell me into marriage many times. But I tend to get myself out of it. For a price".
Delia nodded. I think she understood what I meant by 'for a price'.
"Our district is slightly different. In two, your born and basically left to defend for yourself. You can enroll school, only if you wish an education, which can get you some sort of quarry job in the district, if you are lucky, or you can apply for a job run by the capitol at the age of 13. That's what I did, worst mistake of my life. Tried to leave and was beaten. Told I have two choices, death sentence or Hunger Games. And here I am", she said bitterly.
My mouth hung open, for the first time I was speechless. I thought my life was so horrible, that I have never considered why others volunteered for the games. Are all volunteer career tributes in such a state that they are basically forced to volunteer in hope of something better.
"I think we should end this story now Delia", grunted Jaret, in a warning tone. Of course it was because the Game makers are watching. I am guessing they won't broadcast what was said to the whole of panem. Delia just admitted that the reaping was rigged for her to volunteer. The audience won't take that lightly, specially the capitol citizens.
The storm was howling outside.
"Come on, somebody die", I whispered. Its cruel, my way of thinking, but for every tribute that dies, the faster I could go home. To my mother and Gloss.
"So, Marble. What's your story?".
Marble shrugged. "I live at home with mum and dad. I watched the games every year. Knew I could do it. So volunteered. The end".
Delia rolled her eyes and I looked over to see a very smug Marble. I don't know what sickened me more. The fact of what he said, or that it is probably actually true.
A parachute come down and landed in front of me. Hot chocolate. 'Plenty more money', the note read. I smiled to myself. I was obviously racking it in.
"We could just end this now", Marble said getting up.
I raised my eyebrows. "Kill one of us?", I questioned.
"Well yeah".
"Okay, you do that. I can guarantee you won't live long enough to be at the victory tour", I growled at him.
He sat back down curling his lip in an ugly fashion. I shook my head. Why did the careers have to be so stupid.
Delia got up, and moved away, and soon after so did Marble. Obviously they couldn't bare to be around me for that amount of time. I know I will have to be careful around those two. They both want my blood.
"Why are you so interested in me?", I ask turning to Jaret.
He smiled sadly to himself.
"You are beautiful", he said sweetly back to me. I felt my heart melt slightly inside. No stop it.
He took me into his arms. "You're a very sweet young lady Cashmere. And I am very sorry we had to meet in such circumstances. I really am".
I rested my head on his shoulder. I knew time was coming where I would have to kill him, but I felt bad.
"You know", he stuttered slightly. "Back home, the girls they don't really like me.".
I frowned. I honestly have no idea why not. He really is a handsome guy, for a distict two guy".
"Why not?".
He scoffed. "I really don't know to be honest. I dated a girl for about two months, and she dumped me without explanation. Of course, I was doing a lot of work, preparations, but I saw her when I could. But she become all cold, and every since not even another girl would look at me".
"She was the only girl you ever dated?".
"Yeah",
"Do you think she turned the other girls against you?".
Jaret scratched his chin. "It's possible".
He cuddled me and smelt my head and sighed. It made me smile, and it was warm in his large muscled arms. For the first time in the whole games I felt secure. Could he be trying the same tactic? I don't think he is, but you never really know do you.
The next morning I woke up, and the storm was still going. No one had died yet, and everyone was surviving.
"Good morning beautiful", Jaret said ruffling my hair.
I smiled. "Morning".
I looked up and saw that Delia and Marble was glaring at me.
My parachute came, providing me with some crispy bacon, as it did for Delia, Jaret and Marble. I could only guess that I got the same as the rest so the others didn't see me too much as a threat. I knew they would dispose of me, if they thought the capitol loved me a lot more then them. The thought is still there for them, but it is better to be seen as an equal, then not.
I went back to my corner, Marble and Delia muttering to themselves about shit I really couldn't care about.
Jaret sat down in front of me.
"Cashmere", he said not looking me in the eye. "There is something I wish too ask. I know, it is okay if you object. But please do not be offended".
I blinked confused. "erm. Okay".
"Well. I think I am really falling for you. And I know if I don't do anything, I will regret it forever. Will you be my first?".
I blinked again, but I couldn't catch on what he was saying. "First what?".
He leaned in and whispered in my ear. "First sexual lover?".
I was shocked. But I knew the time would come where it would be expected. "If you win, do you not think it would haunt you forever", I said, before I could stop myself, as I knew it is what I am going to need to do.
Jaret nodded. "Yes. But to have you at least once, rather then not at all would be the best thing ever".
I closed my eyes. My heart was sinking. Jaret was so adorable, and I couldn't stop but have feelings back for him.
"Yes", I whispered. "Yes. But not now. After the storm. And when we are alone. When the allience breaks. Come with me".
Jaret smiled. "Of course".