The Hunger Games | Rilaya

Let The Games Begin

The cameras zoom in on Riley's red face and downcast eyes as the audience bursts into shouts at the revelation of her feelings. Then, the cameras turn to me and I see my face on the screen, mouth open in surprise. I quickly close my mouth and duck my head, preventing them from catching my blush.

Me! She meant me!

"Oh, that is a piece of bad luck." Caesar says and there's genuine pain in his voice. The crowd shouts agreements, some even give a couple agonizing cries.

"It's not good." Riley sighs.

"Well, I don't think any of us can blame you. It'd be hard not to fall for that young lady." Caesar remarks. "She didn't know?"

"Not until now." Riley says.

My eyes flicker back up to the big screen to see my burning red face.

"Wouldn't you love to pull her back out here and get a response?" Caesar asks the audience, who screams back one unanimous "YES!"

"Sadly, rules are rules, and Maya Hart's time has been spent. Well, best of luck to you, Riley Matthews, and I think I speak for all of Panem when I say our hearts go with yours."

The roar of the crowd is deafening. By confessing her love, Riley has wiped the rest of the tributes off the map.

"Thank you." Riley says quietly, returning to her seat next to me. Everyone stands for the anthem and I look back at the screen. The camera was trained on Riley and I through the whole anthem.

After it was over, everyone headed back onto the elevators. Nobody spoke as each of the tributes got off at different floors, until it was left with only Riley and I.

What was up with Riley? First she asks to be trained separately, then she confesses her love to me in front of everyone in Panem? As much as I wanted it to be real, it just didn't make sense. She was playing me up, wasn't she? Pretending to be in love with me, then proceeding to stab me in the back once we were in that arena.

"Why did you do it?" I ask her harshly.

Riley's eyes widen in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You asked to be trained separately, as if we were already enemies. Then you tell everyone that you love me? Please, what do you think I am, a fool!?" I shout at her, ignoring the heartbreak I feel when a look of hurt flashes on her face.

"You think I was lying?" Riley asks.

"Were you?" I ask back.

The elevator doors open and Effie, Shawn, Cinna, and Portia find the two of us standing there, face to face.

"Woah, keep the kissing to a minimum in front of us!" Shawn exclaims, chuckling at the sight of us.

I turn to face Shawn, glaring at him. "This was your idea, wasn't it? Turning me into some kind of fool in front of the entire country?"

"You are a fool." Shawn says in disgust. "Do you think Riley hurt you? That girl just gave you something you could never achieve on your own."

"She made me look weak!" I shout.

"She made you look desirable!" Shawn shouts back. "And let's face it, you can use all the help you can get in that department."

Riley mumbles a small "no she doesn't" that only I heard, making me flush once again.

"You were about as romantic as dirt until she said she wanted you." Shawn continues. "Now they all do. You're all they're talking about. The star-crossed lovers from District 12!"