All That Glimmers Isn't Gold

One

Marvel

I gazed across the training center at the girl with the flawless gold bun. She was wearing the District 1 training gear issued out from the Career center for classes. It was skin-tight, showing off her toned arms and legs, and hugged her curves just right. I was absolutely in love with her.

Glimmer, her name was like the sparkle in the sea. It rolled off my tongue, I had to stop myself from saying it out loud or Dash and Codley would think I was a mental person. Then if that happened, I would never be able to go into the arena.

And I want to, to protect her.

Glimmer Hastings was the sole reason why I wanted to be a tribute in the Hunger Games. It wasn't for the glory, although that may be what it seems for every District 1 Career. No. It was to provide for her. Her family, I knew, lived in town. Not like me, a suburb dweller. Her family was greedy, was powerful, and had no mercy to show. No pity. She only got less than 1% of her family's income of an allowance, unlike mine, who split it up to fend for ourselves for the week.

Glimmer was different, too. Smart. She was the brainiac in our school. She wasn't the typical stupid blonde- not like Malorie Tate. Malorie, now she was stupid.

She interrupted my thoughts on Glimmer's perfection.

"Hey, Marv. How are you handling that spear?" Malorie flipped her hair and brushed her hand against my bicep.

"Spear?" Oh. The one I was holding. "Yeah, it's a decent one."

"Show me how to?" She fluttered her eyelashes at me. I rolled my eyes and glanced up at the guys standing off to the side. Dash and Codley were my best friends, and being best friends, they knew exactly who I liked and who I didn't like.

"Hey Malorie. I bet Dash here can spend some time showing you how to touch a spear." I lightly pushed her away and regained my stance to throw the spear.

Dash Chittany was my number 1 guy, my wing man. His black hair stuck up at odd angles, but he was a lady's man. For him to get Malorie away from me, that would be pretty much like heaven. I do admit, Malorie Tate has a lovely figure. But I find more pleasantry in Glimmer's.

"Yeah, babe, just stand like this," Dash widened out her feet and rolled her shoulders back. Malorie looked annoyed at the way Dash was touching her, but all in all she didn't mind it. Malorie was happy with whoever she could get laid with.

Codley Olsen and I weren't as close as me and Dash, but he often found himself grouping with me in the classes that Dash and I didn't have together. Codley's dominate weapon was a bow and arrow, and he shot perfect 50s whenever we did an exhibition, to show off our skills.

My glance drifted up to where Glimmer was, but she was no where near the axe throwing station. I caught her eye over at the knot tying station. She looked down at the knot she was so perfectly tying. I recognized it as a lariat hoop, the one that she had been trying to perfect for a week.

I tried to hide my blush that I knew was creeping in on my cheeks, and I turned back to my comrades and the skank next to me.

"I'm going to go over to the knot-tying station." I set down my spear and walked away before they could comment on my action.

"Hey, Glimmer." I said, being hesitant of my voice and almost immediately regretting why I came to talk to the girl of my dreams.

"Hey, Marvel. How's it going?" She looked up at me and smiled. Hey dark blue orbs caught me by surprise, normally they were a sea-green color.

"Nothing, just come to hang out and make knots." I grinned. God, I was such an idiot.

"Are you going to make a noose? Because you can hang with that."