Not Just A Game

Chapter 13

The next day I wake to Elsie's high pitched Capitol accent babbling on about how exciting training will be today.

Ugh.

I take a refreshing shower and dress in the black training clothes that were laid out for me.

It's a black long sleeved shirt with the number twelve stitched on sleeves and front.

The pants are long flexible denim fabric with a black belt.

I pull on lace up work boots and braid my blonde hair down my back, securing it with a rubber band.

As I walk down the hallway, I run into Griffin just as he emerges from his door.

"Oh, sorry." I say.

"Yeah, it's fine." he replies.

He turns to walk away, but I call him.

"Wait! Umm... when we go downstairs to training, do you want to come with me?", I say awkwardly.

"Yeah, sure. That'd be great." he responds.

I nod and continue on with him to breakfast. Things are awkward between us now, after I've kissed Dustin in front of him at the parade. I realize I haven't really spoke to him since the day of the reaping.

We walk side by side in silence. But I have a feeling that just being here with him is helping to mend that gap that has grown between us.

We reach the breakfast table and I pile on oatmeal, fruit, and eye a thick pink drink.

"It's a smoothie." says Elsie, like it should be completely obvious.

I raise my eyebrows at her in suspicion.

She rolls her eyes and explains, "It has strawberries and bananas in it. Just try it, you'll love it."

I nod and grab a smoothie.

I sit down next to Griffin, and silently sip my smoothie. It tastes... pretty good. It's has a fruity taste, which was overwhelming at first, but I get used to it quickly. Pretty soon, I'm 3/4 of the way done.

Griffin raises his eyebrows at me, at I laugh, with the straw still in my mouth. He wriggles his brow up and down fast and I laugh again, this time he joins in.

"Just try one. They're great." I tell him.

"Fine! If they're good enough for Poison Ivy over here, then they're good enough for me." he says sarcastically.

I laugh at the old nickname he called me when we were younger.

Harley comes in and sits across from me. She wears the same black training clothes as me, but with black running shoes instead of boots. Her hair is tied back in a tight ponytail.

She picks up a plate and gets an egg, a banana, and some toast, and digs in.

Dustin comes in in the same black training outfit as everyone else.

He picks up a plate and piles on enough food to feed an army. I smile to myself.

He sits next to me and digs in.

Dakota sits across from me, and she immediately starts talking tactics the moment everyone is seated.

"So obviously, training starts today. I want you all to just take it easy the first few days. Stay in the background, get the feel of everything. Maybe start out with some survival skills before trying out a new weapon. Honestly, if you try to forget what training leads up to, it can really be enjoyable, though I don't honestly expect you to enjoy yourselves."