Today is the third day of training. For the past 2 days, I've been very convincingly acting weak. Amarack's noticed, but hasn't said anything. I pick up a sword I saw the girl from 3 having trouble holding. It's so easy to pick up- but I pretend it's a load on my feeble arms (that are covered in muscles.)
When it's time for me to go in by myself, to show the Gamemakers what I've got, to show them how weak I can really be, I walk in in the wimpiest way I can.
"Okay, Johanna. Just show us what you've got," says Seneca Crane, Head Gamemaker. I turn around and curse at him under my breathe.
I pick up swords, drop them. Try and shoot with a bow and arrow. I even pretend to be weak with the axes, which comes as a shock to the Gamemakers, as I'm from Dis. 7, of course!
I leave the room in high spirits.. Then kick my ankle so the tributes from 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 don't see me all happy, yippy-skippy. I walk by them slowly, shoulders slumped, and when I'm safely out the door and onto the elevator, I do my victory dance.
But this doesn't mean you've won the Games! A voice in my head picks at me.
But surely you will, Johanna! A different one chimes in. You're so strong!
So what if she's tough? Have you seen the other tributes? Preferably the ones from 1, 2, and 4. They've trained for this. You haven't.
Yes, but there's still a chance.
Only a chance.
She'll win!
How are you so sure?
I shake my head and they fade away. That was one of the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me.
Both voices are right. There's a chance, but not a promise.
When I'm back up to floor of District Seven, I meander around, hoping to find Marie. When it's confirmed she's in her room I go to mine and brush through my hair. I want to look appropriate at dinner, and my victory dance messed up my hair.
I hear a door open and peek out. A few doors down I see Marie emerge from her room, sigh, and make her way downstairs, pushing her brown hair out of her (who would've guessed?) brown eyes.
I casually leave my room just as Baily is approaching it to call me for dinner, as usual.
"Oh!" She squeals. "Well, lets go then!" Marie turns her head at the squealing and I hurry up to her, not wanting to be alone with Baily even for a few moments.
"So. Tomorrow, Interviews Practice. Then interviews The next day, well, you know..." She says slowly.
.
Yes, I do know. The games.
I haven't even gotten a chance to worry about them. You know, people attempting to kill me.
We eat dinner. We chat. We watch the training scores. Amarack gets a 7. I, however, get a 2! I pretend to be a bit upset, because I haven't told Amarack about my strategy.
When he leaves for bed, I catch him as he's walking by my door. Tug him in.
"Amarack," I say, waiting to see what he says. Will he leave? Say 'Yeah?' or 'What?'
"Umm..yeah?" He asks.
"I know you think I don't care about you or something but... I do. It's just... I can't..."
"It's just what?"
I bite my lip, feeling inferior. No, I don't like him that way. Yes, he does like me that way. What am I supposed to say? "I don't like you so in the Games I won't be that upset when you die." I care, but I want to come out of these Games, even if it means him, you know, dying.
"I care about you, okay?" I say.
He studies my face and looks into my eyes. I look into his. We're standing a bit close to each other, so I begin to take a step back. But he grabs my wrists and kisses me right on the lips.
I want to pull back. His eyes are closed, mine are wide open. But he's still holding my wrists and I won't be able to escape if I do and provide more embarrassment for me and him.
And this is my room. So I squeeze my eyes shut. I guess you could say he's a good kisser but I'm hating this because I don't want to hurt him.
He lets go and wraps his arms around my waist, carrying me to my bed, probably to put me to sleep.
"Amarack, I-" He puts his finger on my lips.
"Shh..."
He lays me down, but instead of leaving, gets on top of me and puts his hand under my shirt. I gasp.
"Amara-"
"Johanna it's okay. It's our only chance to ever do this. Then we'll never experience it."
"No! Stop!"
I don't like this. I wish he would stop. I hate this.
I shove him off me and smooth out my shirt. "Get out!" I scream, pointing at the door.
"But Johanna, this is some of the only time we have left!" He says, and kisses me again. I push his chest and slap him across the face.
"OUT!" He glares at me and closes the door behind him with a loud slam.
My knees give way and I land on the couch, hands on forehead, my elbows half on my knees, half on my thighs.
How could he? Just try and do that with me?
Kill him, Johanna! Says a voice.
And that's what I'll do, when I'm in the Games.
I'm going to kill Amarack Tarrall.
