(Chapter 18: James)

I wonder what Elora Yarrow thinks of the events that just played out.

Her face is etched in my mind, grey eyes cutting into my soul.

She won't like me anymore, even if she never liked me. Now everyone thinks I'm in a relationship with Lilly. Worse, they all think she's having a baby.

"Stupid Lilly" I mutter under my breath, as I follow everyone through the training centre. Every District has its own floor, and it's supposed to be very luxurious.

And it definitely is.

We step into the elevator and hit the number 1 button, for District 1, obviously.

I've rode an elevator a couple of times before, but it's nothing like this one. It shoots up, making my heart race pleasantly. It's actually really fun.

My quarters are large, rich, and high-tech.

The lights have many different settings, from brightness to colour. The shower is fitted with hundreds of buttons, way more than on the train, each with a different setting. Water temperature, soaps, oils. Anything you need or don't need in a shower, it's got a button. I feel my mouth pull into a grin. That's going to be fun to test out.

In the middle of the bathroom I strip off all my clothes and giddily step into the shower, and start pressing all the buttons. At first, the shower spit a jet of high-pressure water right into my shoulder, which was unexpected, and made me stumble forward. The second button I press releases very thin droplets of water, almost like dust, which sprinkle onto my dark hair.

So on, I keep pressing every button I find, and each button pretty much can do anything you can think of. One button started playing really loud dance music. Another provided a robot arm that massages your scalp with lavender-scented oil.

I stepped out of the shower after hours, my fingers gone wrinkly from being in water for too long. I remember telling Cleo every time after she had a shower that the tips of her delicate fingers looked like prunes. She would giggle and hide them behind her back. Tears threatened to pool in my eyes. Even when I won the games, I would go home to nobody. I silently vowed under my breath that I will personally pick the most beautiful flower I find every day for Cleo's grave. Every day, no matter the weather, no matter my age, or health.

I take a deep breath, then slowly exhale as I stroll out of the bathroom butt-naked. I stare at the control panel on the closet. I think I'm meant to program it. I hit a couple of buttons and it spits out an outfit of my liking. I pull on some undergarments and chuck on the shirt and pants the wardrobe chose for me.

Then I lay on my bed, gazing out the window at the brightly coloured city. It reminds me of the lollipops Cleo and I used to buy from the candy shop a couple of doors down on her birthday.

A knock on my door jolts me back to reality.

"Who's there?" I ask, trying to sound casual and leaning against my wall.

"Time for dinner." I hear Atlas say.

I'm not very hungry, but I open my door and follow Atlas down the corridor. I find that Lilly, Calista, Sylvia, and the stylists are already seated at the grand dining table. There are people offering drinks such as wine. I've never had wine, and never plan on it. My mother would often live on wine for weeks until I forced her to eat something proper. Some of her drunk moods terrified Cleo.

Lilly takes a sip of the blood-red liquid in her glass, catches my glance and smirks.

"So. Pregnant, huh?" Sylvia asks, taking a small sip from her own glass.

I'm quick to reply.

"No, I did not get Lilly pregnant, nor are we in a relationship." I scowl, casting a side eye at Lilly who shrugs and puts down her glass.

"Knew it." Sylvia said, swirling her glass.

Calista looks a little disappointed, and Atlas just raises his eyebrows.

"It's a good strategy, though, don't you guys think?" Lilly says.

"I guess so, but only if James plays along." Atlas says, opening a bottle of champagne.

"I'm not promising anything." I murmur as I reach for a bread roll from the basket in front of me. I tear the roll in half, and pull out a bit of the white, warm fluffy part inside, and pop it into my mouth.

"You really can't stand to just pretend to be in a relationship with me?" Lilly teases.

"Yeah. I can't stand you." I say to her, and throw a smirk in her direction.

She pokes her tongue out at me.

"Okay, stop." Calista says, drawing everyone's attention. "This isn't going anywhere. James, you can't deny the story that Lilly is pregnant, because then people will criticise the both of you, label you as liars, and you'll be shunned the entire games."

I frown and I don't look up. Lilly's really stuffed me up.

The waiters (some Avoxes as well) lay plates of food on the table. Amazing looking soups, vegetables and a large, roasted turkey, followed by dips of all kinds, cheeses, olives, and fruit.

I load food onto my plate, finally finding my appetite.

Dinner drags on, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

After about half an hour of silence as everyone eats, a large cake is brought out for dessert, and Atlas speaks.

"Alright, you guys." he says. "You know the drill. You're gonna be allies with District 2 and 4 of course, your little killer 'Career Pack'. Just work together, and as soon as the games start loot everything you can. Tributes from other districts rarely try to kill careers first shot."

I nod, and gesture at an Avox to cut me a piece of cake.

"Remember that this little pregnancy story doesn't end when the games start. You'll have to continue it. Just be sympathetic, James. It shouldn't be that hard." Calista says, finishing her speech by glaring at me.

"He's gonna struggle, Calista." Lilly laughs, as she stabs a piece of cake with her fork.

Frustrated, I shove my plate to the side and press my hands to the table, lifting myself off the table. Everyone's gaze trails over to me.

"Excuse me." I say, as I try to calmly walk out of the dining room, retracing my steps down the corridor to my quarters.

I slam the door of my room behind me, and I don't turn the lights on. I peel off my clothes and throw myself onto the bed in just my underwear. I slide into the comfortingly cold sheets and shut my eyes tight.

Alone in the darkness, I let out a frustrated groan. This whole situation is a mess, forcing me to play a role that I didn't sign up for.

I toss and turn in bed, unable to shake the feeling of suffocation. Eventually, exhaustion overtakes me, but even in sleep, the weight of expectation hangs heavy on my shoulders.