“Oh..ok then. Do you um, forgive me if this is too nosy but..do you want to be? Together?” Piper asks me. Our conversation totally turned a different direction than axe throwing. We aren’t even throwing axes anymore! And I don’t know the answer to her question. I am genuinely taken aback and complexed by it. “I…I don’t know now. I genuinely do not know,” are the words that stumble out of my mouth. “I don’t want him to be with… HER though.” I say emphatically. She lets out a small giggle. “Ok then,” she says. “But I think you might want to intervene because every minute we spend talking is yet another minute THEY have to talk. And I don’t like her. She’s a Career. Don’t trust a Career.” And with that, she strides off to the knife throwing station. I’m completely stunned. No one’s ever asked me that question. “Wish me luck,” I say. She watches as I calmly walk across the training center over to Arbor and the girl, fire blazing in my veins. “Hello. I see you’ve met Arbor,” I say icily to the girl from One. “I have indeed,” she giggles. She whispers something to Arbor and he absentmindedly laughs quietly. He’s staring at me, not her. That’s a good sign. “What’s your name?” I ask her. “Aurelia Beauport, what’s your name?” she says with a cute curtsy and a twirl. Ugh. I hate how hard she’s trying. I hate her. “Rosemary Fraser,” I say, trying to maintain all of my common sense. “What an adorable name. You guys are so adorable together, too.” She tells me. “Oh, we’re not-“ I start to say and then I realize this is my chance. “Thank you so much! We have to get going now though, it was amazing to meet you. Come on Arbor, let’s throw some axes.” I basically shove Arbor away from her. As I’m moving him along, I notice Piper watching me with a smirk. I roll my eyes jokingly. “Whoa. What was that about? She was asking if I wanted to join the Career pack. This could be good for us,” Arbor says. “She called us ADORABLE,” I hiss. “And she just wants you in the Career pack because she could tear the best alliance in this Hunger Games apart. You really think she was saying both of us? No, just you. Because why would she want me in the Career pack? I don’t give a **** about the Career pack. No, they’d just stab you in the back if you joined. So please don’t, it would be bad for both of us.” I shout. I’m frowning as I realize Arbor’s grin is rapidly forming. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?!” I shout at him. “You’re so cute when you’re jealous,” he says. And then he pulls me to him and we have our first kiss. Warm and comforting. But we’re in the training center. In front of all of the tributes. To me, it’s only us. Arbor and me. You’d expect for this to fulfill me, but no. All I want is more. As I pull back, I take his hand and drag him to the axe throwing center. “Come on, let’s throw some axes,” I tell him with a smile. He watches in awe, reminding me for all the world of Piper, as I land another axe right in the middle of the training dummy. “Whoa,” he says. “You’re even better than I thought you were!” I rest my hand on my heart, mock offended. “What’s that supposed to mean?!” I say jokingly. He laughs and throws an axe that lands a centimeter from the middle. “So close!” I say and high-five him. “Thanks,” he says. “Of course,” I say, hurling an axe at the target. “Now, about that bow and arrow lesson…” I ask. “Let’s go!” he says and we walk over to the bow and arrow station. Little do I know, Aurelia, the girl from One, is plotting with her other Careers how to kill and destroy me in the most horrific way in the arena at this very second.
