Waves Breaking Over Rocks Part 1

Chapter 8- Allies

Allies

I wake up and realize I'd fallen asleep upon entering my room last night.

My beautiful dress is gone and instead I am, wearing my pajamas. I knew instantly who's done this: Mags. Only someone so motherly and kind could have done such a favor.

One day later...

"Annie! Get up now! We're going to be late!"

I wake with a start, rubbing my head. It hurt quite a bit. I got up and rushed to the dining room. There sit Finnick, Mags, Tyson, Garcia, Louis, and Tyson's stylist, Clara. Most of them look at me with disapproving glances. Mags looks at Finnick then at me and smiles and I get a feeling that she knows something I don't. Finnick can barely hold his laughter.

"About time, Annie!" Garcia exclaims, making me blush and look down, a cold feeling of shame taking over me.

"I-I had a nightmare." I say apologetically. "I'm sorry." Garcia looks like she wants to say more but Finnick shoots her a glare and she quiets down.

"Good morning, Annie." Tyson says, smiling. He makes me feel better that way and I know that's what he wants.

"Good morning." I answer as I sit down beside him.

"So, as I was saying, the first day of training is today. We have already decided that, because of the difference in skill, you two will train separately when private training begins." Garcia says, shooting a pointed glance at me. I sink a little bit in my chair and I want to hide within myself because she is reminding me of the impossible task it is to win the Games. As always, Finnick saves me.

"Exactly, Annie has more brains than Tyson and Tyson has more brawn. We need to teach them how to work their separate talents." Garcia looks annoyed but continues:

"Anyway, today is the first day where you will be training with the others. In an hour, you will start to get ready, so eat up and go talk with your mentors." I'm not hungry, but Father had always taught me that I had to eat, even if I wasn't hungry, because people in 12 were starving and here I was, refusing food denied to them.

I gobble it up and try to keep it to stay down. Finnick gets up and beckons me to him. We walk to another room in silence. He closes the door and sits on one of the couches present in the room with a very serious expression on his face. He opens a cabinet to his right and pulls out a box quietly. I have a feeling something important is in the box. He takes out one of the little white things in the box and props it in his mouth.

"Do you want a sugarcube?" He says really serious-like. We both crack up and I take a little sugarcube from his outstretched hand. I'd never tasted a raw sugarcube before. It melts in my tongue and I taste its sweet flavor. Now I understand why Finnick is addicted to them. "Ok, now let's get serious. Annie, do you want allies? Tyson is with the Careers." The truth is I hadn't thought much about allies, but an image of the girl from 11 flashed in my mind. It is sad, though, that Tyson would be with the Careers, he'd make a nice ally.

"Yes. Maybe the girl from 11, she seemed to like me."

"Alright, I think her name is Carolina. I'll ask Mags to tell us what she said in her interview." I nod. "Annie, when you're in the training center, and concentrate on learning about plants and try some knots if you're tired. Don't go to any weapons station. We'll work on that in our private lessons. Be friendly to Carolina and don't even talk to the Careers. If you need help, you can ask the trainer, but try to figure things out on your own. Don't ask Tyson." I nod. "What weapon would you like to learn how to use?" He asks. I don't want to learn how to use a weapon. I don't ever want to touch one. But I remember Cora and how she told me to fight.