Not Just A Game

Chapter 9

The room goes dark but the lights are still on. I hurry to look out the window and see nothing. Then I understand.

"We're in a tunnel." I say.

Dustin stands by me and we look through the stiff blue cutains, so unlike the flimsy floral ones back home.

Every once in a while, a small light flashes by, just enough to see a door marked with letters that fly by to fast to read.

We close the curtains and step out into the hallway and walk to the living room car.

My bare feet are soothed against the plush carpet. I imagine Dustin feels the same thing.

Together we enter the room to Elsie rambling on and on about how much we'll love the Capitol; it's rooms, people, showers..

"The food is to die for." she says dramatically.

That's ironic.

None of the tributes talk. I take a seat next to Griffin and he looks at me nervously.

I'm just now realizing that my best friend could potentially die. It's almost sad that it took so long to sink into my mind. My thoughts. My soul.

Thoughts are only temporary. Survival, love, friendship. They are only small things.

But two souls bonded together by love and friendship, that's what is eternal.

Griffin takes my hand in his and squeezes it. His hands are sweaty and shaking. Not at all like Dustin's that are strong and confident that I've come to know in such a short time.

Light floods through the windows, bringing me back to the sad reality.

I release Griffin's hand and turn to peer out the window. As much as I despise them, they really have created a beautiful city. it's even more captivating in person. Waterfalls come out from beneath the city and flow into a dam that keeps the whole city alive. They have fascinating glass towers and skyscrapers that reflect the beams of the sun.

While everybody looks awestruck, Elsie sits in her chair, picking at her silver nails, looking bored.

Dakota looks amazed, despite how many times she's seen the view.

We pull into a station and see hundreds of Capitol men and women waiting to see this years large group of tributes.

They wave and laugh, smiling and whistling. They have ridiculous clothes on that shake when they move. They dye their skin, wear crazy colored wigs, and have dresses and shoes to match.

"They're insane." says Dustin.

" Now we see where all the gems and stone are stored from District 12." says Harley.

"I can't believe they just walk around looking like that. Do they understand how ridiculous they look?" I say.

" Apparently they find it attracting." I state.

Elsie glares at us from behind her fake eyelashes and overuse of glitter eye makeup.

We ignore her and she just tells Dustin and I to put some shoes on.

I say sarcastically, "we wouldn't want to contaminate the walkways, now would we?"

Dustin looks down and smirks.

But we do what she says.

I walk into my enormous closet and pick out a pair of flexible black flats that match my 'yoga pants'.

I make a mental note to ask Elsie what that means.

While everyone else treads toward the door, I lag behind to fall into step with Dustin. He looks straight out the window with a intense face as if determined to vaporize them all on the spot.

He turns to me and his eyes soften.

"You ready?" he asks.

"Not quite, but I don't really have a choice."

"Fair point."

We watch the steps unfold from a compartment in the side of the train. They blind me with flashing yellow light from the reflecting sun.

I walk down, careful not to trip and look embarrassed and weak.

Dustin climbs down after me and the Capitol women cheer and wolf whistle.

He looks at the ground, embarrassed and walks next to me. His brown eyes meet my gray ones and flicker back to the ground, trained on his black sneakers.

We reach the door of the hotel lobby, and immediately are rushed to a golden elevator. I've never actually been in one before. It makes me feel weightless-- in a good way.

Like I'm flying.

We reach the top floor a little too soon and we branch off into the bedrooms labeled with our names on them.

Dustin follows me into mine.

I sit on my soft bed, and Dustin sits next to me.

Not really knowing what to say I just speak.

"So, how did you like those Capitol women? Insane, right?" I say.

"Yeah", he says nodding," definitely insane."

I laugh.

He smiles.

"Not really my type." he says, still smiling that crooked smile.

"Then what is your type?" I say with a sly edge to my voice.

He furrows his brow and shakes his head.

"Brave and strong. Protective but needs protecting. She has to be loving and kind and selfless. She mostly has to be forgiving. Sometimes people forget that forgiving people have to be able to forgive themselves for doing wrong. They forget to move on. That's when I know I've found the perfect one."

"But nobody is perfect." I say, thinking of all the wrongdoings I've done in my life.

"Yes, there are perfect people. However, hard to come by. Perfect people are able to forgive and forget the imperfections in others." he states, softly, almost at a whisper.

I grab his hand and lace my fingers through his. His hand is warm and strong.

I look up and see him staring down at me with a small awkward smile. This... whatever this is... is new to him too.

I smile and laugh and he laughs with me.

I look back up at him and stand.

I pull him up and guide him to the window. He stands behind me, his arms around my waist, pulling me into a hug. My arms are twisted through his and we look at the powdery clouds in the open sky.

My head rests just under his chin, nuzzled against his jaw. I look up at him through my eyelashes and he looks down at me, a small smile still toys on his face.

My eyes try to say what for some reason I can't. I want this moment to last. His strong arms around me, mine tucked around him, getting lost in his eyes that don't seen as hard as when I first met him.

I lean into him and he presses his lips to mine, gentler than I thought.

I feel him smile and I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

When we finally break apart, he leans in and whispers,

"You're perfect."

Authors note:::

Hey y'all hope you liked this new chapter. I loved writing it, especially I got to finally bring Ivy and Dustin together.😍😍😍 Anyway, please comment and vote and a new chapter will be up soon. School gets out soon so I can start updating faster.

Xoxo

IRONABBS