Into the Woods- A Tale of the Hunger Games Story

Chapter 14-Feelings

"Good night Collin," is all Ollie says as he falls asleep.

The crowd behind me awwwws loudly, and I can't help but laugh. This is night four of the games, and I've been up here with Ollie's family whenever they come down to watch the games.

Everyone in the District pieced it together about Ollie and me before saying my name in the arena. So far, they're supportive. I don't know if  dad's been told anything, but I'm sure he'll know soon enough.

Today was the hardest day since the bloodbath; Ethan grabbed my hand during the fight with the girl from district 1, and Sam hid in my arms as I watched him in that fight. If that kid hadn't shown up when he did, Oliver would've died for sure. With our tribute going to sleep, the crowd's starting to break up. During the whole scene today, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and when the car hit the girl, everyone gasped and cheered. We don't usually have tributes this far into the games, so the fact that Oliver was part of this history-making plan really got us going. Until the chase with the girl from 1, I didn't even think about it when I moved closer to watch on the screen. He looked scared, and he looked young. They showed the other districts and the Capital watching on A split-screen with Ollie on one side and Lux on another with the districts and the Capital in the bottom. When Ollie slammed the door on her, the crowd around me cheered. When she spoke about Ethan and me, they booed; even in districts 3 and 4, they booed; it was more shocking to see District 1 looking angry. It was nice to see us coming together. Then the arrow hit, and everyone let out a shocked sound; what followed was something I wish I had never seen.

"He's in the final 8. I knew he could do it," I mutter to Sam as we stop by a store before the walk back to their house with the younger two Hale siblings.

"I still can't believe I'm watching this happen. That was terrifying," she says back, and I nod. The crowd seems to be parting the way for us, and I realize it again we don't have tributes in the games this long the families usually aren't in the square.

"Pine. Oak. Go to the store and pick out something for Mom. She went home after the fight," Sam says, looking at me. I think it's adorable when they use their nicknames with each other.

Samantha and I have started to bond in the last couple of days. Ethan's standoffish around me cause I'm new, Pete doesn't seem to like anyone, and Colton was won over as soon as he realized who I was. Molly was easy to get to like me once I gave her a cookie. Sam and I sit together watching the games from time to time, and we talk. It turns out although she didn't know who he was seeing. SHe just knew Ollie was seeing someone. Whenever he'd leave the lumber mill most nights and head into town, only to return empty-handed, then if we were off again, he would mope around the house and not want to go to town.

It's nice watching them piece together this part of his life. Most of them thought he was an open book, but now I know things that maybe even Ethan doesn't know. Actually, Ethan probably knows everything about Ollie; it's a twin thing.

We walk into the store, and I see my mother talking to the owner. She turns to me and calls out, "oh, there you are, someone was looking for you."

"Why," I ask.

"Because she has to interview you. Samantha, honey, they're heading to your house tomorrow morning.....make sure your Mom knows ok. so she can be ready," she says to Sam with a knowing, sad smile. Davis has taken to drinking more since Ollie left but hasn't gotten violent yet. Mrs. Hale kicked him out after the second night of the games, and he has only come back once.

"Again, why? Why are they doing interviews," I ask mom.

Sam is the one that answers, "because Ollie's in the top 8. So we," she points to herself and Me, "are part of his story now, for the audience.

"Oh. Right. Well, this should be fun," I mummer as we head into the store. After we get the cookies, Colton and Molly begged for Samantha, and I start walking them back home.

I'm holding Molly because she's barely awake, and Sam turns to me and smiles, "Ollie was right to care about you. you're really good with her."

"What can I say? I'm the "Molly Whisperer," she laughs. "I'm just hoping I get my second chance with him. I really need him to win."

She turns to me and takes her baby sister, "I know Collin. He was always happy when you two were together. He would actually whistle at work. It was pretty cute."

I laugh and head back to my house. I spend the whole time thinking about Ollie and how much I miss him. This will be over in just a few days, one way or another.

I lay in bed and look out the window at the same moon he was looking at and whisper back, "Good Night, Ollie. Come back to me." I close my eyes and hope he knows how much I care about him.