Hello! It's short, I know... But I have a cold, and feel really down. Please point out mistakes!!
Couldn't find a small girl that looks like my mind's little Aria Snow, but this one is cute. I'd imagine her to grow up to look a bit like India Eisley.
Vote, Comment!!!
<3 Anna
Chapter 8
I don't know what I expected, but certainly not this. The crowd is cheering, screaming so loud that my ears hurt. I knew they were loud from watching earlier games, but on TV it was never this loud. But I ignore the noise, and let my gaze sweep over them all. Thousands. My mask is on, it's strong and won't slip. I wave slightly at the crowd, and some of them chant my name.
The ride is about twenty minutes long, and Rino and I do not speak once. But when our chariot stops at the City Circle, he suddenly whispers.
"Look at the other Careers, little girl. You'll eventually ally with them and me, so try your best not to look weak now." Then he shuts up and I almost let out a snort of disgust. Who the hell is Rino to give me advice? And, I won't ally with the Careers. Ever.
My glance slides over the other tributes. District 1 are dressed up in clothes made out of jewels and gold. They look at us others and whisper to each other. Maybe discussing allies. I see how they look at me and Rino – Rino approvingly, me with uninterested gazes.
Whatever. I don't need them anyway.
I look over to the tributes from 11, and see that they are dressed in some kind of clothes full of fruits, like usual. District 11, Agriculture. Totally untasteful, but the boy, Andie, is so handsome that he somehow pulls it of. The girl just looks disgusting.
Andie has a perfect poker-face, like me, and reminds me a little of Riccy. He is definitely someone I want as my ally.
I feel a gaze upon me, and turn to look at the District 8 tributes. It's the girl, Axara, who is staring. The only girl here that I want to ally with. My allies need to be strong and smart, and Axara seems like it. I catch her eye, and give her a small smile. She returns it, and we both look away.
President Snow steps forward on his balcony, starting his speech. I look at the few ministers in black suits behind him, and find – as far away from the President as possible on the small balcony – the beautiful and petite frame of Caro. She stands with her hands on the shoulders of a small girl, no older than Adina. The girl is probably Caro's little sister, Arianne. She's beautiful, too, but not as stunning as Caro. They're there to represent the President's family, I remember they said in school, seeing as the Presidents son and his wife, Caro's and Arianne's parents, died when the girls were of young age.
I freeze for a moment, my own memory surprising me... didn't Evan say Caro hated her parents? How can she possibly hate them if they're dead?
I shake my head, and decide to ask Evan later on. I look at Caro, and she meets my gaze. I swear I see her wink.
The President's welcome speech is finished, and they start playing the national anthem. During the anthem they film each District's tributes, and I watch our faces on the screen. I have to say I look amazing. I could be the princess of the sea – as dangerous as stormy waters, as calm as the sea on a windstill day – and my dress is shining in the darkening evening.
The anthem finishes, and the chariots roll into the Training Center, our home until the games.
When were inside, people instantly hurry over to us. My prep-team, Rino's prep-team, Violet, Evan and Rino's stylist, Wella. I look around for Caro, but she isn't there. I realize she probably hasn't been able to leave the balcony yet.
Heart, Sizza and Violet keep going on about how fantastic I was, but I don't want their opinions. Marc pulls me into a hug, and whispers,
"You looked great, little fighter. Caro is sorry that she couldn't come. She wanted to, but she can't leave her sister. She'll be here in a bit." I nod, and thank him. I know that Marc wouldn't need to lie, so I must have looked great. I trust him, 'cause he loves Caro. And Caro loves him back. Caro seems like she would never trust anyone who isn't a good person.
Evan leaves Rino and comes to greet me. He hugs me too, and I realize that he is quite tall. But now, his boyish features come forward. After all, he's only one year older than I am. This has to bring out terrible memories about his own Hunger Games.
"You did great, Cass."
"Thank you, Evan."
"Anyone of the others you liked in particular? Possible allies?"
I nod, and I'm about to tell him when I'm ripped away from his hold, into the arms of a shining Caro. I wrap my arms around her, and for a moment I'm so happy. Caro is really happy too, and I can feel it. Soon she steps back, and holds me out at an arms length from her.
"Look at you, Cassi! You were amazing, Sea Princess! I'm so proud of you." She pulls me into yet another hug, and I willingly let her. Evan is right. Caro is an amazing friend, and I'm so lucky to have her, even if I've known her for one day. She steps back again, and I see a little girl peak out from behind her.
"Cassi, this is my little sister Aria."
The little girl steps around Caro, her pretty face so innocent and childish. For a moment when I meet those eyes, I remember that she's Snow's grand-daughter. The enemy. But is she, really?
Like Adina, she's a girl who lost her parents. Like Adina, she has a big sister who would obviously protect her with her life. Like Adina, she's vulnerable.
But there's one difference. Adina is used to hard work. She's used to nothing. I bet this girl has never had the need to do anything, after all, she's a Capitol citizen. She would never starve.
That one difference makes it so easy to hate her. Why couldn't Adina get this? What makes this girl more worthy of food and safety than Adina? But I force those thoughts away. This girl has nothing to do with Adina's fate. She can't help which family she was born into.
"Hi Aria. I'm Cassie." I bend down a little so I'm on the same level as the little girl. Aria looks at me, and asks a question I was so not expecting.
"When you win, can your little sister come and play with me?" I'm surprised by the question, but if Aria is anything like Caro, Adina would love her.
"Yes, I think so."
The little girl seems statisfied with my answer, and she disappears into the crowd. It's hours later when I realize that Aria used 'when', not 'if'. If that little girl believes in me, though she doesn't know me at all, how can I not believe in myself?
When we finally leave the messy room full of people and walk to yet another lift, I suddenly realize that it wasn't that bad. The only thing I needed to do was keep a calm surface. And that's what I do, every day, every hour, every minute, every second I'm without my siblings and the Danner's.
As soon as I think it, I have to correct myself; it's not true anymore. I have other people now who I can be myself with: Caro and Evan, Marc, and even Violet and the rest of my prep-team. It's strange, letting them in. Usually I don't trust people – especially not Capitol citizens – so why don't I have a hard time letting them know the true me?
I don't know. And honestly, I'm too tired to care. I wish this whole mess could be over already, wish I could be home, in Riccy's safe arms. I wish I had won already.
'Cause that's what I need to do now. Win.
Win for so many people who trust me.
Riccy, Caro, Evan, Melisea, Marc, Adina, Will, Violet, Heart, Sizza, Denlay, Eric, Suzanne, Greg, Brendt, even little Aria...
I've let them in. Now I can't let them down.
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