Culling

Part I • Chapter VIII

"Nutrition." Luke explained to North, as if this was perfectly logical. "All part of a balanced diet. You know, chocolate is technically a bean-"

"She can't eat that!" North pulled the plate away and I knew I was looking after it like a sad little puppy.

Pathetic? I know, but I couldn't help myself.

North still addressed Luke. "She needs real food, not this ju-"

He abruptly stopped speaking and a silence had descended over the table.

North suddenly pushed the plate back in front of me. It was done so quickly that it startled me enough to look up.

He gazed at me with an indescribable expression as he cleared his throat. "Just make sure to eat some regular food too."

It was then I noticed that everyone else was looking at me with a similar expression, even Mr Blackbourne.

Oh my god, was this pity? Leave it to me to make my first friends think I'm some kind of depraved freak.

"N...no. It's ok." I reached for a baby carrot and put it to my mouth. I hated the looks they were giving me. "It's probably best to fill up on non-sweets first."

North groaned and put his hand over his face. "I didn't mean... If you want to eat chocolate for tonight it's alright. It's been a long day."

So that was the first time I had chocolate in over three years. It was even better than I remembered.

☜♡☞

At some point during the evening, attendants made their way around the room to inform tributes that the night was winding down. Each group was to designate a leader and the leader had to go sign up for a room.

No other groups seemed to be in a hurry, but Mr Blackbourne said he wanted to get moving.

So Mr Blackbourne, Kota and Dr Green had gone to meet with the Capital representative assigned to the task while the rest of the boys and I took to people watching from against the wall near the doorway.

"Who the fuck was in charge of his hair? It's just flowing fancy and free. Who the hell does he think he is, Fabio?" Gabriel gestured towards a long-haired blonde whom I recognized.

Only myself, Nathan and Luke were really paying attention to Gabriel at this point. Everyone else had taken to listening to him with only half an ear as they watched the other tributes. "All he is missing are some roses and a swooning woman to complete the effect. His stylist should be ashamed at the lack of foresight to play this up for all it's worth."

"That's mean. He is a nice guy!" I found myself wanting to defend the man, after all he had been kind earlier while we were all standing in line. "Who is Fabio?"

No one answered because at my defense of him, suddenly all six of the boy's attention had been completely turned to Octavius.

Nathan was standing to my right, and previously was had been leaning against the wall with his leg up. However, now his foot was back down on the floor and he stood up at attention. "You know him?"

"Button up your shirt!" I heard Silas mutter from my other side, because, yes, in between the time that we've been in line and now, Octavius had removed his jacket and unbuttoned the shirt he wore down to below his mid stomach.

I didn't know much about the naked male body, but he had a well defined chest from what I could see. Though I imagined that his overall physique was lacking when compared to the guys, men, in my group.

"That's Octavius." I informed them.

Octavius noticed us watching him, waved at me, and began to make his way through the crowds as he came over to us. Aakil, who was with him, saw me, also waved, and tagged along.