Ariabella: The Tribute Who Danced (A Hunger Games Fanfic) Book 1

15.

"Aria, wake up," A voice says, interrupting my sleep. I blink a few times until I can see who's talking to me. It's Mallorie.

"I'm up," I say and sit up.

"It's your turn to take watch. I'm tired," Mallorie says.

"Ok," I say and stand up. I brush myself off then I wrap my sleeping bag around me as I'm cold, and sit against the tree where Mallorie was sitting.

"Goodnight Mal," I say as Mallorie lays down.

"Goodnight," Mallorie says.

I lean against the tree and stare off into the distance. Through the trees I can see the moon shining, and I can faintly see the beach. If we weren't fighting for our lives, this place would be a beautiful and peaceful place.

____

After about an hour of staring off into the distance, I feel a hand touch my shoulder. I jump, startled, and look behind me. It's Grayson.

"Sorry, you scared me," I say and laugh a bit.

"It's ok, it's just me," Grayson says and laughs as well.

Grayson sits down next to me and puts an arm around me.

"It's so beautiful here. It sucks we're fighting for our lives," I say.

"I know. But at least I get to sit in a beautiful place with a beautiful girl," Grayson says.

I feel myself blush.

I look up into Grayson's hazel eyes, his shaggy hair almost down to them. Grayson smiles before he leans down and kisses me. I feel my cold body warm up and relax a bit.

We kiss for what feels like an eternity before Grayson pulls back and looks into my eyes.

"If I ever get out of this alive, my mom is gonna kill me," I say and we both laugh. My mom hates the idea of kissing, let alone making out.

I turn back to the moon ahead of us and lay my head down on Grayson's shoulder.

"I love you," I say.

"I love you too," Grayson says. He takes my hand and we interlace our fingers.

I close my eyes and eventually fall asleep on Grayson's shoulder.

____

"Aria," Grayson's voice wakes me. Our hands are still together and my head is still on his shoulder.

"What?" I ask with a yawn and sit up.

"Look, the sun is rising," Grayson says. I look ahead of us at the colorful sky. There are purples, pinks, reds, and orange
"It's beautiful," I say.

"I knew you would like it," Grayson says.

I smile and lay my head back down on his shoulder.

"I'm gonna take a walk down to the small stream we passed to get some water," I say, "you stay here and watch Mallorie."

"Ok, be careful," Grayson says.

He gives me a quick kiss and I head off with our bottles and a knife just in case.

I get there a few minutes later and fill our bottles. Suddenly I hear a bell like noise and a parachute lands in front of me. I cautiously open it and inside I find three cupcakes. I take out the note and read it.

Please forgive me. I have a plan. Tomorrow night when you're watching come back here for more information. And don't tell anyone, act like you never saw this.
-MF (dad)