Songs & Seas | Hunger Games

VI.

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MARIA STOOD IN LINE with the rest of the tributes as they awaited the show to start. Hearing a bell ring she glanced at one of the many monitors hung on the wall that was projecting Ceasar Flickerman as he welcomed Crystal from District 1 onto the stage.

Loud cheers followed as the girl waved at the audience before taking her seat. She was older maybe sixteen. She had beautiful blonde hair and a pearly white smile. Maria found herself almost jealous of the teenage girl. The way she carried herself in front of a crowd. How she made light conversation with Ceasar. Everything about her was so effortless.

Maria caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The new hair that she now had to contend with. The pounds of makeup she had on made her look twenty-four rather than fourteen. Truthfully it was getting hard to recognize herself.

"Maria!" Spinning around she found Archer standing behind her. His hair was gelled and his suit was a shiny silver color with a blue bottom-down shirt underneath. He looked like a handsome young man. Maria smiled at him.

"Don't you look handsome," Maria complimented making the younger boy blush slightly.

"Thanks," Archer smiled. "I like your dress."

"Thank you very much," she swished her dress slightly. "I-" She was caught off when she caught eyes with the District 2 boy, Everest. He was standing behind Archer with a sickening look on his face.

"Can we help you?" Maria said moving to stand beside Archer.

"You don't look so bad," Everest commented looking her up and down. "You know, for an Eight girl."

Maria now had storms in her eyes. Why on earth was this boy speaking with her? There was a corrupted look in his eye that made her stomach twist in knots. He had to be about seventeen maybe even eighteen. He wasn't pleasant on the eyes with a stubbly chin and a unibrow. Maria had seen drunkards in the pub look better than him.

"What not going say anything?" Everest taunted putting his arm around her shoulder making her shut her eyes tight. "Maybe there's another way you could show me some gratitude." He said just inches away from her ear making her shudder.

"Hey, leave her alone." Another male voice called out. The boy from 9 was standing just a few steps away from them in line. Percy was his name. His district partner Clodagh was standing behind him keeping her gaze fixated on the ground.

Everest takes an arrogant step forward with a cocky smirk on his face. "And what are you gonna do?"

Percy took a step forward. "Just go back to your spot in line and leave her alone," he said with a stoic expression on his face.

Everest laughed putting his hands up. "Hey, I'm gone," he took a few steps back. "But, Eight if you miss me you can meet me in my room tonight. I'll be seeing you, sweetheart," he winked before turning around and walking off.

Once he was gone Maria released a breath. She turned to Percy with a grateful smile. "Thank you. You really didn't have to do that," she said.

Percy nodded. "I know," he shrugged. "But I have five little sisters, call it a force of habit."

"Well, thank you," Maria smiled softly. "I'm Maria Covey," she put her hand out.

"Percy White," he placed his hand in hers. "This is Clodagh O'Brien," he gestured to the red-haired behind him who was still looking down at the floor.

"This is Archer Deane," Maria did the same gesturing to the small boy who waved. "How old are you? If you don't mind me asking."

"I'm sixteen," Percy replied. "You?"