Safeguard

Private Sessions

  The last day of group training I stuck mostly with archery and swordplay. I couldn't sleep that night too. My mind wouldn't settle down, and my stomach was full of butterflies. I got out of bed and walked to the living room. I turned on the TV and started to watch the recaps of our chariot ride. They showed how the crowd shouted Lief's name.

  Caesar Flickerman said, "Lief Crank, tribute from District 10, seems to have stolen the ladies' hearts. People have said he is the new Finnick Odair."

  I silently agree.

  "Can't sleep?" asked Lief, making me jump our of my skin.

  I turn around and say, "You scared me."

  "I kinda figured that," he replied. "Do people really think I'm another Finnick Odair?"

  "Yes. Why are you surprised?" I asked.

  "Well, because he's Finnick."

  "And what's so special about Finnick?"

  "Um... Why do you think he's special?" Lief asks, avoiding the question.

  I blush. "He won the Games. And, if you don't mind me saying so, he's very handsome."

  "Do you think I'm another Finnick Odair?"

  I blush a deeper red. "Honestly, you're much more handsome."

  Heat rushes up to Lief's cheeks. He looks at the floor and runs his fingers through his hair. I took a piece of my hair and started to braid it.

  "You want to sit down?" I asked.

  He sits next to me on the other side of the couch. Is he scared of me? Did I say something wrong? He scoots closer and takes his hand in mine. I looked at him, surprised. I smiled and bit my bottom lip. I put my head on his shoulder. And for that moment, I forgot about all the bad in the world. I forgot my troubles and the days ahead. I was with him. That was all that mattered. And it was in that moment, that I realized I loved him.

   "I promise you will get out of these Games alive," Lief whispered.

  "Please don't promise me that," I whispered back. "I don't want to loose you."

  "Too late. I already promised."

  We stay silent. A tear trickles down my cheek. I soon fell asleep, my head still on his shoulder, our fingers still intertwined.

  "Lief! Rapture! What are you doing?!" Crystal's shrill voice jars me awake.

  Lief and I jump to our feet. I accidentally hit my head on Lief's chin. My vision blurs and I get dizzy.

  "We fell asleep," I said.

  "I can see that, but on the couch together? In each other's arms?"

  We both blush.

  "Nothing happened, Crystal. I promise," Lief said.

  "Well, it's a good thing. We don't want you getting into any trouble. Now go get dressed and eat breakfast. Be ready to go to the training center in a half hour."

  I run to my room. Lief runs to his. I quickly dress and eat breakfast. We go to the Training Center and wait to be called for our session. They go in order of Districts. Example: District 1 first and District 12 last. I sit next to Lief, thinking about what to do. I decide that I'm going to show them my archery, and climbing skills. The boy from District 3, Brady, stares at me, like he's trying to find my weaknesses. I know that I will be his first target in the arena, but I don't know why. I sit up straighter. After a few hours, they call my name. I stand and start to walk forward, but Lief grabs my hand.

  "Good luck," he said.

  "Thanks," I smiled.

  I walked out into the training room, the doors shut behind me. The Gamemakers watch me, but most are preoccupied with their conversations or food. The main gamemaker watches me carefully. My hands start to shake. I grab a bow, and an arrow. I sling the bow around my back and put the arrow between my teeth. I start to climb the ladder nearest me. My arms start to burn when I reach the top, but I kept going. I climbed the monkey bars until I reached the fireman's pole. I turn myself upside down and hang by my knees on the bars. I notch my arrow and aim my at a mannequin thirty yards away. All eyes are on me. Blood rushes to my head. I took a deep breathe, and then released. The arrow flew from the bow and landed in its target. I smiled with pleasure. I slide down the pole and land on my feet. I look at the gamemakers.

  "Are you done?" one of them asks.

  "I am."

  "You are dismissed."

  I leave and head up the elevator. I sat on the couch and waited for Lief. He finally came up. He walked over to me and hugged me.

  "How did you do?" Lief asked when he let go.

  "I don't know. I was so nervous," I answered.

  "I'm sure you did great," Lief reassured.

  "Anyway, how did you do?" I asked.

  "I think I did okay."

  Crystal and Juniper walk in. "There you are!" exclaimed Crystal.

  "When will they tell us our scores?" I asked.

  "Tonight before dinner" said Juniper. The rest of the day we watch previous Hunger Games to study the victors. After a while, Marissa, my stylist, and Rythmn, Lief's stylist, join us to watch what scores we recieve. We turn on the TV and start to watch. Ceaser Flickerman starts to announce the scores of District 1's tributes.

   "District 10, Lief Crank," Ceaser says after a long time. "9."

  "Congratulations!" everyone says at the same time. I smiled at him.

  "District 10, Rapture Davis," Ceaser says, grabbing my attention. "11."

  My mouth drops. Everyone stands and yells. I can barely make out their words. We celebrate our scores by eating ice cream. I had chocolate.

  "What did you do during your session?" Lief asked me.

  "I climbed the ladder, hung upside down on the monkey bars hanging from the ceiling, and shot a mannequin in the chest," I answered.

  "You shot while upside down?"

  "Yeah. The hard part was hanging on. I almost fell. What did you do?" I asked.

  "Took the poisonous food test, and threw some knives. Not that impressive."

  "Well you must've done something to get their attention," I said. I went to bed early. I had a feeling I wasn't going to get much sleep tomorrow.