Uncharted Waters [1]

Chapter 20

After the anthem, the tributes file back into the Training Center lobby and onto the elevators. The crowds slow their entourage of stylists, mentors, and chaperones, so they only have each other for company. Nobody speaks in the elevator. Mira, Destan, and two other pairs of tributes. Both the tributes of District 4 step off the elevator once their car stops on their floor. 

They were still the only ones on their floor, and they both just stood in their place as if waiting for the other person to speak first. 

Mira was the first one to break the silence.

"I know I have said this before but- thank you-" she breathes, "-for everything." She made sure to choose her words carefully this time. And the thought of today being their last day before the event makes Mira's eyes water. 

Sensing that her companion was upset, Destan's face softened, and he quietly stepped closer to her to comfort her in his arms. "It's the least I can do." He whispers. Mira sniffs, not looking up from his chest, embarrassed that she was caught crying. "Why though? You could have been back at home, safe."

She feels Destan's chest vibrate in a bitter laugh. "I never said I liked home anyway." That made Mira look up as their eyes met each other. "Hey pretty, don't cry." He says softly, brushing his thumb on her cheek to catch a lone tear that escaped her eye. "Everything's going to be alright." Mira stiffened.

"You know that's not true." She whispered and bit her lip making Destan's eyes shift downward to look at the motion. 

"I promise you that everything is going to be ok-" His eyes then met her teary ones again as he spoke his next words. "On one condition."

Mira's face morphed in confusion as she tilted her head. "What?" She didn't exactly know what Destan was talking about, because she knew for a fact that once they stepped into that arena, everything would be different. 

"I need you to do one thing for me." He says. 

"What?" She asks again. 

Destan brings his lips to her ear and whispers, "Close your eyes." 

And she did. 

But before anything else could happen, the elevator dinged open and Destan was quick to push himself away from Mira who still had her eyes closed. The sound of other voices was quick to fill the room and Mira fluttered her eyes open to see Destan's retreating form. 

"Destan dear, dinner is just getting served!" Lassie calls out but eventually gives up hearing the door to Destan's room close. "Oh, why bother! That young man is a piece of work."

"But you gotta admit that he did pretty well on his interview." Aphros points out and they all nod in agreement as they continue on their banter and walk inside further into the room, most probably to go to the dining room where you could smell the food being served. 

Mira was left standing by herself, still in her gown staring at their retreating forms as she noticed Mags by her side. She turned to her to acknowledge her mentor with a big smile. "Hi Mags, I hope I did well." Mags gave her a sweet smile and a nod, reaching up to touch her cheek in a loving way. "You were exceptional my dear." 

"Your answers were pretty dull, but hey- the crowd still loved you!" Adrian jokes, putting a hand on Mira's shoulder before taking off his coat and throwing it on the couch. "Oh, the privilege of being pretty." He adds before fully retreating to the dining room. Mira blushes at that, and Eldoris only gives her an approving grunt and encouraging thumbs up. Mags shakes her head at the other mentors. 

"You better go and wash up my dear, we're all going to get dinner in a while." Mags reminds. 

"Oh yes! Thank you Mags." Before leaving to take a quick shower, Mira realized that they were missing somebody else. Knowing who the young girl was looking for, Mags voiced the answer to her inner thoughts. "Sponsors," Mags says with a somewhat grim expression but is also quick to mask it with another one of her sweet smiles. She gently urged Mira to go, "Go now, the others are waiting."