Be kind, this is just the train ride and arriving, so it's a bit short. I think (:
Chapter 2
I was praying so hard that Sylvia would just for once in her life shut up.
I was just about ready to wrap my hands around her throat and strangle her.
She tells us about the train non stop, about how's it nicer than our District.
I shot her a look. I think our head Peacekeeper is nicer than her. And our stupid mentor for that point. That is saying something.
The train is like a dream. Chandeliers, food on fancy platters, music lulling in the background... I was in heaven.
Then Tulip Telstar walked in and the dream turned into a nightmare. Her freakish hair was almost enough to make me puke, it was a blood red colour, and it gets worse when you realise her eyes are the exact same shade.
"Hello, Tributes."
I rolled my eyes. She wasn't nice, or cool for that matter. She lived in the Victor's villages, yeah, but she did nothing in the rebellion.
"So, you are the District 3 tributes. My advice: Don't skip out on my advice. I survived 23 other Tributes" She leans over to our faces. "This is not to be over looked. Okay?"
Thistle and I just nodded our heads.
She looked at me and gave me the death stare. Maybe she just remembered that me and Alder put a exploding fire cracker in her mailbox. Now, that, was funny.
I gave her the death stare back and walked to my room. I really didn't like her, she wasn't nice. I walked past Thistle's room, he was doing something electrical or whatever. I never got involved with wires, we weren't a good pair. But I like exploding stuff, that's kinda my forte.
I sat on my bed, it was still daytime. Was it this morning I was sitting with Harley calming her? Finding out what was happening to the Reaping? It couldn't be. It didn't feel like it. I held Whitleys flask necklace in my hand, I hoped she could send what I needed for it. I looked out the window, just trees, trees and more trees. I sighed, and rubbed the velvet sheets. They were so soft, I just wanted to die here, not in the arena.
As the sky got darker, I was going through everything in my head. Harlequin. The Games. Trey...
I slapped myself. No, not Trey. don't think about him.
"Lily!" Oh god. Sylvia bustled into my room with her poofy skirt and bright makeup. I nearly made a face.
"Dinner's ready hon." She said, and squeezed back out the door. I flopped onto my bed, took a deep breath, and walked out. I was starving.
The table was covered in Capitol food. I picked at the food, chicken. I had some of this back in three. I ate it, because I needed to, but I didn't want anything to do with the Capitol.
"Are you excited?" Asked Sylvia.
"No." I said directly at her.
She frowned. I wasn't going to play nice. It wasn't me.
"But, you should be excited..." She said, confused.
"Neither of us are excited, Sylvia. Duh." I said, and played with the food on my plate, and I heard Tulips's sharp breathing.
"Lily, don't be so rude." Tulip said.
"I'm good." I replied.
"Lily, eat your food and shut up."
"Tulip, I don't take orders from you." I said, pointing my knife at her.
"And why not?"
"Because I don't like you."
In my peripheral vision, I saw Thistle smile. Which, made me smile. Tulip stabbed the giant fork into the chicken and left the room, and then Thistle and I burst out in laughter. Sylvia thought it was rude, so she left too, but Thistle and I couldn't stop laughing. An Avox comes in with the orders of turning on the television to show us the other Reapings. Thistle and I straighten up. This is the moment where we see our opponents. Most of them don't bother me. Only the Careers really get to me. And the blonde girl from seven. Probably my age. Thirteen, young and about to fight to the death. That's the 'beauty' of the Capitol, they make people die. Woohoo.
"Bed time, you need to be prepared for the morning!" Sylvia called out.
This time, I paid attention. I went to my room, climbed into the silky bed, and fell asleep.
My dreams were full of Capitol smiles and kids dying.
When I woke up, hair sticking to my forehead, reality was dark. The sun was rising, and I was no longer tired. I walked over to the window, and placed my hand on the window. I had never seen the sun rise, only the sunset. It was beautiful.
It wasn't long before Sylvia was in my room getting me prepped for the day and telling me to go have some breakfast. I decided to change my attitude a bit.
As I spread the jam over my bread, Tulip explained about sponsors. Thistle listened intently, but I knew what she was saying. Be nice. Be beautiful. Have a high training score. Sponsors could keep us alive in the arena.
Thistle's jaw dropped. He walked over to the window, and I swiveled in my chair. It was the Capitol. The artificial candy Capitol. But it was kinda pretty too.
As the citizens recognised a Tribute train rolling in, they went beserk. Cheering and clapping, some even crying tears of joy. I didn't make a face; I still wanted those sponsors.
"Changing your attitude a bit?" Tulip asked softly.
"I only want to live for Harlequin." I said.
As soon as the train rolled in to the station and came to a stop, we were being walked to our stylists and the prep teams.
I caught Thistle's eye, and for one second, I knew it. He would do everything to protect me in the arena, no matter the cost. He didn't love me, but I knew the reason.
The reason that he's alive right now.
