The 71st Hunger Games - A Love Story COMPLETED

Chapter 5

[edited]

We both blushed and smiled at each other. I was so nervous, she was my first kiss to a girl.

"There is a lot I want to say." Johanna looked at me earnestly.

"But actions speak louder than words." I put my finger on her lips then removed it to kiss her again. The elevator beeped, and she had to leave for her room, and people were going to watch, so she left. She went straight back to her room, shy, of course. 

I was excited to see her again.

I pushed the 12 button and I went up to my room and lay on my huge bed. I honestly didn't like her before, but I do now. 

Johanna Mason, dreamy. Beautiful, I was in love. This felt like middle school, except the only guy I dated... 

"Aven?" Haymitch. He stood in the door frame, looking half drunk, but still lucid enough to talk straight and walk straight.

I jumped up. 

"Yeah?" 

"Time for training, sweetheart."

Haymitch said it sarcastically, but sweetheart was his thing. Sarcasm was mine. 

I got up and followed him to his room.

"First we need to work on your angle. What should we do? Sexy? No wait." He looked at me, then immediately laughed. 

"No." Not funny, Haymitch. I know I was not pretty, like Glimmer or some of the other girls, but I wasn't a 0/10.

"Funny? Strong? Quick. That's reasonable."

"No, no, maybe." More reasonable than sexy, I couldn't do it if I tried.

"Sweet?"

"Yes."

Finally something.

"Don't shake, don't be rude, don't look like you know what's happening. Just basically don't ruin your chances at sponsors, you need to live as long as possible."

I already knew what I was going to do, and it wasn't that.

"I got it."

I walked out, Raven went in.

Effie gave me high heels, when I went to her for training.

"What the heck?"

"Just put them on and try to walk, okay Aven?"

"Okay." I sat down and put the straps on, it was complicated.

Once I got up and immediately fell back down.

Effie laughed a small polite giggle.

I got up, trying to steady myself and kept falling, over and over and over.

"We'll give you flats. I give up on you." She smiled and I got out of those heels as quick as I could.

I walked around in my bare feet again. Effie nearly screamed. It was just what I was used to. Mom had to sell our shoes in the winter once for food, and we bought more the next year.

But every since then, I just walk bare foot. I saw Effie and put on flats. She smiled. I hugged her. I would miss her. Even with her strange accent and funny styles. She was sweet, but covered up often. 

She hugged back and smiled.

"I'll miss you."

"Don't say that, I'll see you after!" But there was sadness and doubt in her eyes.

I kissed her makeup covered cheek and got ready for bed, I wouldn't get much sleep in the games, if I made it until the first night.

I couldn't sleep, efficiently. I just tossed and turned until I couldn't take it any more and went to Johanna's room.