One Lucky Winner

Chapter 54 ~ Tris

Day 5
2:02 PM

I drop the tent and sit against a tree. I'm sick of just walking around, doing nothing. Harry sits near me.

I look down and start picking my black nail polish from the interviews. Harry stands up suddenly, looking around.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"I lost Ron's wand," he says, looking around the area. I watch him as he looks around for it. Should I get up and help him? I still feel bad about Ron. I can't imagine killing my best friend.

"I'm gonna go back and look for it," he says, looking at me.

"No. That'll be impossible," Tobias chimes in, setting down the backpack we got from the frozen lake and the box of food from our sponsors. "We were everywhere today."

"It can't be far. I remember holding it not too far back. It shouldn't be too lost. I'll be right back," Harry says.

"Be safe. If you don't find it by the time it's dark then come back," I tell him. He nods at me and walks away.

"Be safe? Really?" Tobias grumps once he's out of sight.

"He's our ally, Tobias," I say, annoyed. "He's not just a stranger."

"Ally means someone you can trust, not a friend."

I look at him strangely and let out a strained laugh. "What are you talking about? That's what 'friend' means, too." Tobias really needs to go back to kindergarten and learn about friends again.

"Well, it shouldn't," he says. "You shouldn't become friends with him. He's just there for our water. I was actually thinking about talking to you about ditching him."

"What?" I look at him. "He's not there just for our water. What's wrong with you?"

"Why do you think he's here? To become best friends with us? No. He's here to help us survive." He grabs the tent bag. "Let's put this up."

I watch as Tobias unzips the bag and pulls the tent out. I can't believe how mean he's being. I always knew he wasn't nice, but I didn't think he was that mean. But seriously? It's like I'm seeing him for the first time.

Ally means friend. Doesn't it?

"Why do you tolerate him, anyways? I thought you didn't like him," Tobias continues.

"Where'd you get that idea?" I ask, grabbing the poles.

"At the interviews," he says. "When you told Caesar you wanted to be allies with him and you really didn't." That? God, that seemed like eternity ago. But really, it was only a week or so ago.

"Oh please," I say, speaking my thoughts. I shake my head. "That was before I knew how cool he was."

"Cool?" Tobias says, disgusted. "He's anything but cool."

"He's totally cool. He has a wand and everything," I say, cringing at myself.

Tobias gives me an annoyed look and continues to set up the tent.

"Wait," I say. "You don't think I like him, do you?"

He continues to set up the tent, clearly ignoring me.

"Oh my God! You're jealous!" I exclaim.

"I'm not jealous," he grumbles.

"Well, I don't like him, if that's what you're thinking. I don't like him at all."

"Well, it seems like it."

"How?" I ask, alarmed. I don't like Harry at all, and I really don't want Tobais thinking that.