Ashes in the Snow

Seven

I wake up in a pool of my tears from last night and my right hand starts to twitch a little. It's completely normal to feel anxious and stressed given the circumstances. My body is starting to follow in suit of my mind. Hopefully I can manage my stress physically. I don't need my body giving out on me during the games. I have one week until the games. Yesterday Coriolanus explained to me how we have a week to train and make the capitol fall in love with me. He says this years games is different than previous years. They have changed everything to try and gain more viewers and to popular the games once more. One thing I also remember him saying last night was, "you need to give the best show of your life."

I will try...

I'm suppose to meet up with Coriolanus before training. He says we'll go over strategy so I have time to prepare for what I need to do. He says the games are mental along with physical. You don't necessarily need to be the strongest fighter in there, not if you can outsmart the others. After training, they're going to doll me up and introduce me to the Capitol.

I'm laying on my bed staring at the ceiling when I hear a knock on my door.

"Come in," I say.

Coriolanus pokes his head in then comes in and shuts the door behind him. He's wearing nice black dress pants and a white dress shirt that is tucked in, with a black vest around it. He is also wearing black dress shoes. And I notice a red rose boutonniere on his chest, on his left side to be exact. I wonder what roses mean to him. That seems to be his thing. He also has a large white box in his hand.

He hands me the box and says, "this is for you."

I take the box and notice it feels a little heavy. "What is it?"

"It's your dress for tonight's show."

"How do you know my size?" I ask.

He looks a little awkward and says, "when you were named my tribute, they gave me your information. Height, weight, eye color and such."

I stare at him in shock. "The capitol has all my information?"

"And more," he says, sounding impressed with the Capitol. "The Capitol is very knowledgeable along with powerful."

"That's a little scary," I say frankly.

"I suppose it is a little scary, for you anyway. I guess I'm used to it. Everyone seems to know everything about everyone around here. Unless you're good at keeping secrets."

"Are you good at keeping secrets?" I ask curiously.

He looks deep into my eyes and says, "I'm very good at keeping secrets, Miss Barrette." The way he said it made my skin shiver, developing goosebumps. The way he said it made me feel like he's been playing a game for a long time. What game? That I don't know yet.

"Like the secret about how poor your family is," I say, trying to act confident.

He hesitates, "Yes that one. Are you good at keeping secrets?"

"When necessary."

"Please keep this one." His eyes look into mine, pleading me not to say anything.

"I'll take it to the grave," I say, promising to keep his secret.

He gives me a small smile, which is the first authentic thing I noticed about him. He may have the preppy school boy look and might even be a swindler, but that smile is real.

"Good luck at training." He winks at me, walking out of my room.

I feel like there's butterflies in my stomach. Could I really be falling for my mentor? This is a recipe for disaster. I know no good could come out of this, but I can't help how I feel. He's the first person to make me giddy since I was with Eric. I haven't felt that way in a while. I need to stop thinking about Coriolanus like that and keep my head focused. Now is not the time to be gawking over any guys. I was okay maybe hooking up with Daniel, because I don't have any true feelings there, so it would be a short time of happiness and feeling good which is all I can handle. Or at least I thought so until now. What would happen if Coriolanus and I were together? I guess I would have to survive the games first to find out, but that isn't likely to happen. I need to forget my feelings for him and focus on what's important. Besides...I'm district and he's Capitol. It would never work out.