Chapter 10

I'm proud of myself for being the bigger person. The Careers must feel pretty dumb right now.

At the buffet, I take a second plate and dish myself up a few morsels of food – just enough so that I don't look stupid to the Careers.

A gangly arm reaches around me and takes a cake from a basket.

"Sorry my dude, can I grab a bun?"

I step aside so that the person can reach another basket.

It's Rob Seasley; the male tribute from Four. I didn't realise that he had followed me here.

He has long, ginger hair that he has to keep flipping out of his eyes. His toned physique contrasts disturbingly with his prominent pink ears and freckles.

Being from the fishing district, I imagine that Rob has gained his build through either surfing or hitting people with tridents.

Or both.

I say, "Have you come over to humiliate me more?"

"Nah dude, I gave up with the lobster and I'm moving onto dessert. That's it, I swear. And between you and me, I think the gang were pretty harsh on you, man."

This is the first time I have heard Rob speak properly. His speech is laid-back, like nothing could rattle his chill-ness.

He says, "Have you tried these? I had some yesterday. They are honestly sent from heaven."

Without waiting for a reply, Rob scoops up a handful of sweets and dumps them on my plate.

"Um, I haven't got around to trying that many things." I say.

"Then you have to give these a go."

Another few cakes and treats appear before I can move my plate away.

"Ok!" I interject, putting my hand up as he tries to add another cake to my pile, "That's enough dessert for me! I'd better head back to Rubis. He'll be missing me."

Rob takes a bite of cake from his plate. He talks as he chews messily.

"Oh yeah, you're ally… He seems pretty chill. I wouldn't mind having you both on our team."

"Really?"

This is my chance. If I upsell us to Rob, he can get us into the Careers.

I say slyly, "It's a shame we aren't on your team. I know a lot about all sorts of things… And did I mention I'm gay?"

Rob swallows some more cake.

"Aw, noice! Congrats brah! Extra points for you then."

Rob claps me on the shoulder.

"Yeah," I say, " And Rubis is really strong. He can use all sorts of weapons."

"Like what?"

"Well…" Now I realise that I have never seen Rubis fight. Sure, he looks huge, but I don't know if he has a skill-set beyond tying nooses.

Now that I've trapped myself in a lie, I do the logical thing.

I puff out my chest and say, "He doesn't even need weapons. He could rip someone's head off with his bare hands. I've seen him throw people into walls. He sleeps on the floor because beds aren't alpha enough for him. He finishes entire cakes in one bite."

Rob glances at the slice of cake in his hand, most of which is now around his mouth.

"Whoa, dude… that is radical."

I smile winningly.

"So… What do you say you give me a hand to join your gang?"

Rob considers.

"We could actually do with one more person, 'cause we're all pretty scared of that hulk, Tardi. I reckon Rubis could help us take them out in the blood bath. That's Greg's plan. He's kind of like, the leader."

"He is really strong." I say, wistfully.

"Problem is," says Rob, "none of the others really want you. No offense, brah, but you don't look like Career material."

"Neither do you." I point out, "What weapon do you even use? A fishing rod?"

"Nah dude. I go to the most famous school in District Four – Hogwaters. I'm in Fyshindor house, so I'm like, super rad with a trident. Each house has a different fishing method." Rob lowers his voice, "You know my District Partner, Tuna? She's a Lobsterclaw. They use nets. How lame is that, right brah?"

If all the careers care about is skills with weapons, then I won't be of any appeal to them.

Which is totally unfair, considering I would be exemplary with any weapon – I just haven't had the chance to practice with anything yet.

"Is there any way I can join your team?" I ask, "Of course, I would be fine on my own, but Rubis won't join without me, so you'll have to persuade your friends if you want him."

Rob munches on more food, crumbs raining to the floor.

"You know, man, Sugar is pretty worried about that little kid from your district. If you could give us info on her, I reckon you might get to join the bros."

"Yes! I can do that!"

A few people scowl at me for shouting.

"Sweet." Says Rob, "I'll tell them about this and get back to you later, cool?"

"Cool." I say.

I take my plate back to Rubis.

"Who's your new bezzie?" Rubis asks.

"Rob Seasley. He's trying to get us to join the Careers. They want you for your strength and me for information on Pinty…"

It hits me then that I've betrayed my district partner. How could I do something so cruel to an innocent child?! She's practically family!

I must look incredibly guilty, because Rubis picks up on it.

He says, "Don't worry. She would absolutely betray you in a heartbeat if she isn't the one to kill you herself. Have some dessert, that'll cheer you up."

I pick up a slice of treacle tart, but I no longer have an appetite.

"Why did you get all this food anyway?" Rubis inquires.

"Rob gave it to me."

"Then you'd better eat it all, or he'll think you're spiting him."

He chuckles.

He's right. I can't throw this away. It will make me look two-faced.

Bracing myself, I take a gargantuan bite from the slice of pie. Twenty or so similarly sized bites later, I have finished the slice.

I feel sick.

Two mounds of food still remain on my plates.

"I can't eat anymore." I say, "I've lost my appetite."

"No, " Rubis puts his elbows on the table and looks me dead in the eye, "Do you want the Careers to think you're refusing something Rob gave you? You need to look grateful."

"You've finished your food, could you at least help me out?"

"Nah, I'm full too, but I've already eaten way more than you. Plus, it's not me who Rob gave it to."

I pick up another dessert and force it into my mouth. Then another. Then another.

It's an effort to swallow. I can feel the lining of my stomach stretching. Is this what pregnancy feels like?

Most of the tributes have left the canteen by the time I finish.

The Careers sit and chat with empty plates – excluding a lobster – occasionally glancing over to me.

Rubis fidgets with a piece of rope until I swallow my last mouthful.

"Oh, are you finally done?" he says, "Good."

He stands.

"Where are you going?"

I'm too full to move.

Rubis says, "I've decided I'm still hungry. I'm getting more food."

I watch helplessly as he fills a bowl with cake, tarts, chocolates and all manner of things that make me want to hurl.

"What?" he says when he returns.

I glare at him.

"You could have had some of mine!" I moan.

"I could have… But if given the choice, I would rather pick my own food. It's no big deal, but y'know…"

To my surprise, a couple of tributes who we haven't interacted with are making their way over to us.

Trench Coat Boy and Blazer Girl.

They both look to be around seventeen, with black hair and brown curly hair respectively.

The boy puts his arm around his girlfriend and jumps straight to the point.

"Hey. How you treat people sucks, you know that?"

I sigh, "What have I done now?"

"Not you." The girl snaps, "Him."

Rubis leans back in his chair.

"I can't help it if I'm superior." He says.

I nod in agreement.

"You're being a huge dick." Says the girl.

Rubis may be a picture of resilience, but I know if I was spoken to like that, I would feel terrible. I have to stand up for him.

"Who are you anyway, trying to insult the dream team?"

I give them my most threatening glare.

The boy holds out his hand for me to shake.

He says, "Dason Jean. DJ for short. This is Verona Sewers."

The girl shakes my hand as well.

DJ says, "Why are you standing up for him? He's clearly manipulating you."

"No he's not!" I retort, "We're in love! Aren't we, Rubis?"

"Sure."

"I stand by my point." DJ mutters.

Rubis says, "What has this got to do with you?"

"Interfering when it's none of our business is kind of our thing." Verona states, "Besides, I have a friend who was in the exact situation that Midnight is in; head-over-heels for an idiot who couldn't care less about her."

"Hey!" I exclaim, "I am not a girl! And also, Rubis is not an idiot!"

DJ glares daggers at Rubis, saying, "You've brainwashed him."

"Have I?" Says Rubis, "How convenient for me."

Verona says to me, "When he dies, come to us and we'll be real allies to you."

"What makes you think I'm going to die?" Says Rubis.

"Simple." DJ says, "We'll kill you."

"Ah. Not if I beat you to it."

Suddenly, Rubis has a thick noose in his hands. He loops it over his own head.

Verona screams and buries her face in her boyfriend's chest.

"Now… where to tie the end…" Rubis ponders.

"You're screwed up." Says DJ.

"Why thank you."

Our two opponents flee from the room, Verona suddenly pale as a ghost.

I turn to Rubis, still holding the noose around his neck.

"Maybe you shouldn't joke like that…" I suggest, "It obviously scared her."

He replies, "Oh, well I wouldn't want to scare the people we're supposed to kill, would I? Anyway, who said I was joking?"

He lifts the loose end of the noose.

"No!" I shout, "You can't kill yourself for no reason! If you do that, it should be a romantic sacrifice to save me."

"Now I definitely want to die."

"No!"

I lunge forward and grab the noose, trying to lift it from around his neck. Rubis splutters as I accidentally pull it tighter.

He grabs my hands.

"Well done." Rubis chokes.

We remain that way for a moment, pressed close together, my hands clasped in his.

I can practically hear his heart pounding. Or maybe that's my own.

"Good to see you're making good use of your training time."

Haymitch is standing in the cafeteria doorway next to Edna Bread. The two mentors appear both disgruntled and bemused.

"Honestly you two, save the tragic love-story for the cameras." Says Edna.

I pull away from Rubis, letting my gaze linger regretfully on his lips.

I say, "Our love transcends the need to be proven by witnesses."

Without a second glance at me, Rubis strides past our mentors.

He says, "Let's get back to training."

Edna sighs after him, "You've still got a noose round your… Oh, whatever."