Defying the Odds (The 4th Quarter Quell) [The Hunger Games Fanfiction]

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Layla 

I jolt out of my sleep and immediately roll out of the rumpled covers, knowing the feeling that I’ve slept in too late. There is no knock at my door and I glance over at the clock. 9:48. Shit.

I fumble for clothes in my drawer – another tank top, this time white – and run to the shower. I aimlessly hit the same buttons I did the first night we were here, but then pause at the scents, thinking of Asher. He smelled like saltwater yesterday, like the ocean. Just for me.

I find what I am looking for, and punch it. Pine.

The strong scent fills the shower and I am consumed by it. I can tell why he would like being around trees all day; pine smells fresh and electrifying.

When I step out of the shower I know that my time is running short. The heaters quickly dry my body and I find the hair tie I have been using to tie my hair in a high bun. I look in the mirror and quickly search for something in the drawer, something to cover the blatant redness of my eyes. I find a tube of makeup and rub it under my eyes, and it undoubtedly blends with my skin. There. That’s fine.

I pull on my clothes and run out of the bathroom, checking the clock again. 9:56.

I run into the dining area and fumble for some food on the table, surprising Finnick.

“I thought you were already down in training!” he exclaims, obviously still waking up. “If I had known you were asleep I would have woken you. I just got up.”

“Yeah,” I reply, chugging a glass of orange juice. “Me too.”

My fingers close around a muffin and I finish off the glass of juice and set it back on the table.

“I’m out, see you later.”

“Oh, and hey, good luck with the Gamemaker’s private session.”

“Damn!” I curse. “I forgot about that!”

“Don’t be late now!” he calls as I step into the elevator.

I practically inhale the muffin as the elevator moves down floors. It doesn’t take long to reach the bottom, but when it does I am finished with the muffin.

“You’re late,” Asher says as I step out of the elevator, leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face like I was yesterday. I contemplate asking him if he missed me, but then realize that we’ll both be late to training if we don’t move.

“I know, I know,” I reply, and hurry past him.

“Did you just wake up?” he asks, following quickly in my footsteps.

“Yes, like ten minutes ago.”

I continue to move quickly into the gym, and try to keep myself turned away from him so he doesn’t get a good look at my face.

If he does, he’ll see my puffy eyes.

If he sees my eyes, he’ll ask if I was crying.

I don’t want to tell him that I cried myself to sleep last night.

I don’t want to tell him that I barely slept an hour.

“Where to first?” I ask, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.

“We’ve already covered ax throwing, and fishing.” I smile at the mention of fishing. Yesterday’s training was fun.

I look over at the knives.

“I haven’t taught you how to throw, have I?” He shakes his head, and I smile. My fingers lace with his and I pull him along. “Let me teach you how to throw knives, Lumberjack.”