104: The Games (A Hunger Games Story)

Chapter Seven

We swam all night, and by six o'clock, when I walk into my suite, I go to sleep. In the morning (two hours later) Diamond decides we need to train for our interviews. Johanna says we need to take on personas so the Capitol citizens can root for us. Clo immediately says, "cute little girl," and all of us nod. After a few minutes, we're debating between funny laid back or protective brother for me. "Go for humor, the Capitol will love it," Johanna eventually says, and we all agree on it.

I spend some time with Johanna, and Clo goes off with Diamond to practice. "Well, just be natural, you're obviously a laid back person, so just go with it." I nod and ask, "I guess, it's just, what if I get angry when they ask me about Clo?" "You'd be surprised, Letos Moon was the apprentice of Caesar Flickerman, and he makes the interviews almost fun, just like Caesar." I nod, maybe the interviews won't be that bad. As me and Johanna talk, it becomes evident that she doesn't really like me, I guess she and I have something in common, we both want Clo to win.

After a while with Johanna, Clo goes to her and I'm with Diamond,ugh. She tells me how I should present myself, and after a while I'm almost asleep until she says something that catches me by surprise. "Listen I know you're angry, I know you hate them, but do this for Clover, so you can get sponsors for her. Do it for sister, Rowan." She says this and gives me a sad smile. I get the feeling there's more to her than meets the eye, but I don't want to push it. Soon it's time for lunch, and then me and Clo go off to our rooms.

I sit in my room and think, think about Ivy, and Clo, and that we can't all come out of the arena. I realize I need to talk to Clo about this, and I hope she'll understand. I walk into her room and she looks up, "Hey," I say, closing the door and sitting on her bed. "Hi, what's up?" she asks, curiously. I sigh and tell her, "I was thinking, how about an alliance with Ivy?" My voice trails off and she gives me a look, "Alliances are terrible, only one person can come out of the ar- No, Rowan what are you thinking?" she asks, and as I look away, it's like she can read my mind. "No Rowan, no, no, no, no, no! Were you-oh we never talked about us getting out, you can't sac-" I grab her into a hug and she cries into my shoulder.

And so we sit there, just us, comforting each other, and in my mind a realization washes over me. I don't know what it means, but I know that I can't let Clo die, I need her to live. I already had the plan to kill myself if we were the last two, and now that plan is reinforced. Clo is my sister, my friend, and the only person ever there for me, and I need her to win.

***

When Clo's tears start to dwindle, I decide it is probably best for me to go back to my room. It is getting late. I don't know what the curfew for the tributes are, but I don't want to take any chances. As I walk through the hallway towards my room, I pass by the staircase that leads to the sector that has District 5 and District 4 rooms. I feel my eyes glance around the place. No one is here. I guess there isn't anything wrong with taking a detour. When I get to Ivy's room, I open the door just a bit. But what I see surprises me. Instead of Ivy, there is Hector, and he is rummaging through her stuff. I wonder what he is looking for. "Figures," he mutters, as he stares at some sort of paper. I open the door a little more to try and see what he is looking at. That is a bad choice, because I end up knocking down a lamp on a stool next to the door. My heart starts pounding as Hector begins walking toward the doorway. "Who's there?" he calls out. And I continue to back away to the wall. I feel a windowpane behind me and a soft breeze rustling my hair. Suddenly, something catches my eye. There is a flowing line of silk curtain swaying from the breeze. It's transparent, but it's the only accessible hiding place there is.

I quickly duck behind it just as Hector comes out of the room holding the paper. I realize it is the same paper that made Ivy cry the other day. The paper with the District 4 seal. Hector shuts the door, and I press my face against it to hear what he is saying. "Of course. Should've known. This'll certainly be news for them. But not before the games begin. Of course," he keeps on muttering. I walk silently pass the room to find Ivy, making a mental note to myself to tell her about Hector.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the pool. I go check it, but she is not there. Soon, I have checked every place she could possibly be, after sneaking past a bunch of other people who I don't exactly know, but she is not anywhere. I give up and start heading back to my room when I pass the stairs leading up to the roof of the building. Panting, I finally reach the top. The sun is just beginning to set across the city skyline and the sky glows vibrant colors of orange, pink, and gold. The roof, along with everything else in the Capitol, is built for luxury. Everywhere, there are comfortable looking seats, fancy tables, a section for food and refreshments, and even a hot tub across the place.

Despite all this comfort, I see Ivy sitting simply on the edge of the roof, her feet hanging off the edge. I should be worried about her, but seeing her there, like that, makes me forget about my worries. The breeze ruffles my hair as I see a variety of beautiful birds fly by. I hear running water, and when I look behind me, I see one of the most beautiful fountains I have ever seen, with a mini statue of Eros on the top. I look back at Ivy, who hasn't noticed me yet.

"Hey Rowan," she says, catching me by surprise, as I walk over to her. Well, I guess she did notice me. "Hey," I say I softly, as I sit down next to her. "Soooo," I say, not knowing what else to say. And I immediately hate myself for that. Ivy says nothing, so neither do I. I think about yesterday, and the day in the ballroom. That amazing feeling that I get when Ivy is around me.

"You know, Rowan? Hector wasn't the only reason I hated you that first day. I thought that all the other tributes would be total jerks. But really... you're not that bad. That surprises me, but I am just glad that I am here with Ivy. "Thanks," I say. But when I look up, I can see her face moving closer to mine. I start moving closer to hers too, but then a small noise behind us makes us both pull away. "What- what was that?" Ivy asks. "I don't know," I say. But I know that can't be good. There was definitely someone there. And not only did that person see both Ivy and me here when we're not supposed to be. But they also saw us about to kiss. Two different tributes from two different districts, sneaking away and kissing on the rooftop. If that information gets out somehow, Ivy and I are toast.

Frantically, Ivy and I rush back down towards our rooms. Just as she is about to enter hers, I remember my mental note. "Um, Ivy. I thought you'd like to know. When you were on the roof, Hector. He was going through your stuff, and-" I get cut off. There is another noise behind us. "Thanks for the info, Rowan," Ivy says. And for a brief second, she kisses me on the cheek. "Good night," she says finally before she rushes into her room. "Good night," I mutter, as I start running back to mine. Momentarily, I forget about our problem, and then it comes back to me. Ivy and I could be in big trouble. So big, I wonder if I'll ever even make it to the arena. That wouldn't be good. I can't let Clo go in alone. And now I know more than ever how important it is for me to make it into that arena and be there by Clo's side.