The Capitol Games

Chapter 6

*Sorry it took so long, I got writers block :(*

At dinner that evening, I sat with Pip, Effie, Peeta and Jasmine. The evening started off quite awkward- nobody knew what to say; in 5 days Pip and I would be in the arena, fighting to the death. Pip has no chance. His family are still rich, even though the rebellion should have made them poor like it did to my family. Pip was safe and sound, until the reaping. Of course, it was probably all planned before the announcement. I don't doubt it.

For dinner, there was this lovely lamb stew, with dried plums. I faintly remember Katniss speaking about this in her interview with Ceasar Flickerman. I can see why she loved it so much. I take my time, savouring every bite- and eating as much as I can; I doubt I'll be able eat much in the arena, if there's even any food there.

Jasmine and I discuss outfits, and she tells me that she really shouldn't have let me see myself in the White Rose dress! She tells me that she couldn't handle waiting for another five days, and she wanted me to see it as soon as possible, to understand the impact it would have on the audience at the Interviews. I'm really lucky, she said that I'm the only one who knows what they're wearing-

"We usually keep outfits quiet until the official opening, but I decided that you ought to know how you will look, and the impact you will have on the audience at the Interviews. You saw what happened to the other tributes in the Hunger Games, getting dressed up as trees and silly things like that. I want you to trust me, and not think that I'm some crazy stylist who spray-paints you purple and sends you onto the chariot naked!"

I giggle. I like Jasmine, she is such a nice person, but I feel there's a lot of things we're all hiding from each other this year.

The conversation topic turned to the Old Times. Back when there hadn't been a rebellion, back when we in the Capitol lived happy lives, and the Hunger Games were just that. Games.

Jasmine comes from a surprisingly troubled background. Her younger sister, Rosie, got chosen to compete in the Hunger Games a few years back. She said she would have volunteered, but she was 19 that year, and so she wasn't allowed. She felt like there was no reason to live- her sister meant everything to her. The Hunger Games tore them apart. She's long gone now. Jasmine says that she still goes home and expects to have Rosie jump up from the carpet by the fire and ask her how her day was. She loved her more than anything, and she told me when Pip, Effie and Peeta were getting more food that she tried to commit suicide when Rosie died, she felt like it was all her fault, and that if she had been just three months younger she would have been able to volunteer instead of her sister dying. Jasmine realised, though, that if she followed her dream to become a stylist in the Capitol; like Rosie wanted her to, then she could think of her sister in a happy way. She tells me

"You see, I feel as though when I'm doing what I love, Rosie is there with me, persuading me that it looks great, and that people will love it. She always used to sit with me when I was sketching.

I always loved clothes, and I absolutely adored designing garments for people. It was my dream that one day, my designs would be must-haves, and everybody would love them. I thought that would never happen, it just felt so unlikely, like such a silly daydream. Rosie would always persuade me that everything I designed and made looked amazing, and that she wished she was like me. She told me that even if some people hated it, there is always a group of people, no matter how small, who love what I do."

Lillie probably would have done the same for me, but she's far too young to understand life, and to understand the tough things. I myself have only just begun to understand why some people, even if they're family, turn against each other, and row. Jasmine had glistening tears in her eyes, and i can understand why. Thinking of her dead family, I reach over and try to soothe her.

"Jasmine..." I start, unsure of how to put my feelings into words. "I'm pretty certain that your little sister Rosie would love to see you now. In fact, I'm certain she loves watching you work your magic from up high. She is certainly proud of you: I would be if I were lucky enough to have you as a sister, I reckon anybody would.

Even if she isn't here now, in a way, she still is. She is just far away, in a place away from the rebellion, away from these new Games. She's lucky, but so are you to have had the chance to live your life with someone like her, and the extensive amounts of love her heart held for you just proves that no matter how far away she is, she will always love you, and you will always love her. One day, in the far, happy, peaceful future, you two will be reunited, and she will watch you sketch once more."

I wipe a diamond tear from Jasmine's face, as she takes deep breaths. She gets a small embroidered handkerchief out of her pocket, and dabs at her shining cheeks. She's just stashed it into her pocket when Effie appears, with a gigantic cake, that looks like a rose covered in snow white frosting, and Peeta comes back with a huge chocolate cake. They light the wire-like patterns atop the cake, and the fizz and sparkle. I've never seen anything like them before! They look amazing! But, within five seconds, it's over and they go out. I can still see the sparkles, even though they aren't there anymore! Then Effie hands Pip and I knives, and we both cut into our cakes. A chocolate ganache leaks from the centre. It's been so long since I've had proper food, I have forgotten what's what, and how it tastes. Somehow, I remember this type of cake effortlessly, probably because it was the last birthday cake I was given by my grandfather, and my last birthday cake when everything was normal.

"We thought that we ought to feed you two up before the arena!" Peeta jokes. I don't laugh. "Oh, come on Rose, can I even have a teensy smile? Please?" He bats his eyelashes like a five-year-old - I start to giggle.

"There! See! I knew you could smile!" he says, and reaches over the table and tickles me. I'm really ticklish! Everyone starts to laugh as I squirm and try to get away.

"Peeta! Stop it!" I laugh "Please!"

"Nope! I'm not gonna stop!" he chortles

"P-P-Peeta-ta please!" I wheeze

"Peeta! Stop that!" says a stern voice. "Can't you see that she wants you to stop it?" Pip snaps.

Peeta finally releases me, and turns to Pip. "Careful, it's your turn next." He says, wiggling his fingers and eyebrows at Pip, smiling. Pip does not return the smile.

"Hey, Pip, do you want some more of your cake? Can I have some, please?" questions Jasmine.

"Yeah, go ahead. I don't really want any more anyway" Pip says "You guys can finish it, you carry on, don't mind me." He scrapes his chair back, whips his head away, and stalks off.

After about half an hour of discussing cake, and food in general, I decide that I really ought to go to bed, after all, we've got training tomorrow- and I really need to do well.

I say goodnight, and start down the corridor to my bedroom. I let my body drop onto my bed, and then I hear someone coming down towards me. I jump up, wildly looking around for who it is.

It must be my lucky day. It's Pip.

"He shouldn't have done that." He starts.

"Aw, come on Pip, he was only having some fun" I whinge. "There's nothing wrong with it! I'm just trying to have some fun before it is too late."

"Yeah, but this 'fun' will turn into something different if you're not careful! I... I don't...."

"You don't what, Pip? You don't want me to enjoy my last few days outside the arena? You don't want me to be happy?"

"No Rose! Of course I want you to be happy! I just..."

I suddenly understand what he is insinuating.

"You think we're flirting, don't you?!" I screech "I was trying to enjoy myself, I WAS NOT FLIRTING!"

"No Rose listen to me....!" He begins.

"Oh are you worried that little baby Rosie is going to get together with big boy Peeta? Is ickle baby Pip jealous?" I spit, sarcasm positively dripping from my tongue.

He looks at me, and his cheeks turn slightly pink. Then he leaves.