Melting Ice

Chapter 6

Cato

The sky is full of artificial stars but they look wonderful even though they are fake. The floor is aligned in red carpet and all shades of wood. Musicians float on what look like clouds, I can't see or tell what holds them afloat.
The real magic is the food. Trays upon trays are laid out in all shapes, sizes and forms. It's going to be hard not to eat everything thing. Despite my urge to eat, I never leave Clove unattended, always gripping him hand or wrapping my arms around her shoulder.
"You hungry", I ask a pale looking Clove. I can tell she is nervous, even under all that makeup.
"Maybe a bit. There is so much to choose from", she exclaims.
"I guess we will have to take one bite from each plate", I laugh.
"Yes, but no more".
We start on the soups where there is at least 20 different types. From pea to chocolate, sounds gross! Clove doesn't really have any soup, she doesn't really eat until we come across an array of chocolate. Her eyes widen at the sight.
"Come on then", I tell her, still holding her hand.
"Oh my gosh! Look at all this!", she squeals like a child. At some point, I had to warn her to stop.
"No, no, let her go on", a Capitol person says in a ridiculous accent.
"She will be sick", I tell them.
"Drink this", one hands us two shots of a watery pink liquid.
"Won't this make us vomit", Clove asks. Then again, she would know this, she does come from a family of victors.
"Yes, that's the point. You can eat whatever you want then!". I can't believe people just waste food here whenever they like it, people in 12 starve and if they see something as small as a bread crum, they eat it because it's all they have.
"Thank you", I say before turning to Clove, "I think it's time for a dance".
Music floats downwards from the clouds and fills the sweet smelling air. Even though back in 2 we do a lot of fighting, we are taught how to do some simple dances. Mostly country but a few Capitol dances. The music is soft and dreamlike, so I pull Clove into my arms and we move in a circle with practically no steps at all. You could do this dance on a thin plank of wood. We are quiet for a while.
Then I speak, "I hate it hear", what else is there to say?
Just then Lillian appears with a large man who looks familiar. She introduces me to Plurtarch Heavanbee, the new game maker. He asks if he can have Clove for a dance, normally, I would say no but he could kill me. I give her a 'Be safe' look before busying myself with Lillan.
"Are you enjoying yourself?", she asks me.
"It's a bit much", I tell her.
She laughs, "Yes, I know. Just be glad when the most of it's over". It will never be over, I want to tell her. I personally have no idea what these games bring this year, no one has. Kayla and I are now blood related, because of Brianna, she is my real family now and it's my job to look out for her. Clove will push herself too far to keep Kayla alive, even if it means her death. I won't let her do that, Brianna needs a mother, Kayla needs a sister, I need my beautiful Clove.

Clove

Plurtach asks me some simple questions such as: Are you enjoying yourself? How is life? How is Brianna? Ect. Of course, I just give straight forward, simple answers as I do t want to give him any ideas on how to make my life worse than I already is. Don't get me wrong when I say that, I'm not being ungrateful but, when your 13 year old sister is in a fight to the death against all older killers, you kinda worrying and then realise nothing could be worse.
Instead of going home, we will be staying in a penthouse, just Cato, Brianna and I for the next week until we have the 3 minutes of pain with Kayla. We collect a smiling Brianna on the way home from the party and she is smiling and making gurgle noises all the way. She isn't supposed to be able to smile, just yet.
"She is smiling", I say not talking to any one in particular.
"Early developer perhaps", Cato says.
Once Brianna is asleep, we continue the conversation.
"She isn't even one month old, yet smiling. I'm not saying it's a bad thing", I whisper to Cato in our room. My eyes keeping closing every so often as I'm very relaxed. It's probably because I'm in Cato's arms and I can hear his heart beat, it makes me calm.
"She is just developing early, it's a good thing".
"Opposite to me then", I mutter, hopefully thinking that Cato knows what I mean.
"What?", he says,"You mean your a late developer?". Someone help him!
"Surely you have noticed how petite my figure and boobs are", I say as monotone as I can.
"You have a beautiful figure baby, your perfect to me". I sigh, not bothering to argue about it tonight.