Family Ties: The 35th Games

It's hard to focus on anything. The boy from Four's eyes follow me everywhere I go, and the anxiety that that causes in me is hard to see past. It doesn't help that all of the Careers seem to choose stations nearby-- just being around them after the dream from last night makes my heart race, my hand going up to my hair subconsciously, reminding myself that, dream or not, Satin will never be able to manhandle me in that way again.

It's bad for me, and only makes my anxiety worse, but I can't help but watch all of them train, as they're so close by. Every time Vella's arrow flies true and meets it's mark with a thump, i flinch. Every knife Kelly throws makes my heart skip a beat. And every punch Satin throws at the trainer sparring with her makes my stomach sink even farther. 

I don't think Georgie knows exactly what is up, but she's observant, so she can tell something is wrong. And, surely coming to the conclusion that whatever it is won't resolve itself soon, she takes us over to the edible plants station, and sits beside me, letting me zone out and ignore the game in a momentary reprieve. 

The break is welcome; I have an opportunity to sit with my thoughts and my body, and try to slowly unwind the ball of nerves that has tangled itself in my chest. But I am still drawn to the boy from Four, peeking up every so often to see if he's still cataloguing my every move.

To my surprise, he isn't, but that doesn't make me feel any better, because when I follow his gaze, I notice what he's looking at instead. The first time I look up, I see his green eyes following Breah and Addalie, as the girl from Eleven coaches the smaller blonde girl through the obstacle course. When I look up again, he's looking at Nathan and Mark this time, as they compare grips on weapons they've found. 

And, though I'd eased my anxiety, the realization I'm lead to ignites it again like an inferno. It's not just me he's keeping tabs on, it's all of us. Nothing seems to slip his gaze, and I realize in a panic, he has to be putting the puzzle pieces together. He has to know that we've banded together as a team.

He was going to tell the other Careers, and they were going to hunt us down. I just knew it.

Lunch couldn't arrive soon enough, and when Hassan calls out that it's time to eat, I almost run to the cafeteria area, dropping into my seat in-between Nathan and Georgie. Horrible visions flash through my head, of what the Careers might possibly do now that they know part of what they're up against. There was just as many of us as there were them now, and even though we were less strong, it was still more than most Career packs had to go up against. I still feel that prickle on my neck, the one that lets me know that Jason is still watching me, but I don't look up. 

And maybe that's a mistake, because without warning, big strong hands slam down on the table in front of me. I jump and yelp, holding onto Nathan, looking up to see the boy from Four in front of us, staring at all of us with fire in his eyes.

"You're working together." It's a blunt statement, though his tone surprises me. It's not angry or accusatory, but more... hopeful, maybe. Excited. Like he can't believe his eyes, but he likes what he sees.

"Move along, Four," Georgie tells him, warning in her tone. Her body shifts in front of me protectively, my arms still wrapped around Nathan's body, which tensed at the new arrival. "Save it for the Arena."

He ignores her, taking her non-answer as some sort of confirmation, head nodding and hands rubbing together as he mutters to himself, and I only catch part of it. "....perfect, this could be exactly what I need..."

"She told you to leave," Breah says firmly from farther down the table. "You are making the younger ones anxious. We only have a few days left of peace, and we are going to protect that precious time. Go."

Jason shakes his head. "No, no, I'm not here to fight. I promise. I want to help too."

Whatever I had thought he was going to say, it hadn't been that. I can tell it takes my friends off guard too, though their faces vary on how much they seem to believe him. While there's a hopeful sparkle in Addalie's eye, Georgie's expression has gone quite dark, and Nathan's jaw has tensed. 

It's Mark that speaks, however, and I recognize his tone-- it's the same suspicion and disbelief he'd pointed my way the night of the Tribute Parade. "You're a Career. You don't need our help, and we don't want yours."

"I'm not a Career," Jason says firmly, his eyes dark. It feels almost like, to him, being called that is an insult. 

"You are from Four. You volunteered. You clearly have prior training. I don't know what you are trying to play at, or how dumb you think we are, but you are wearing out your welcome," Georgie answers back, hatred and fire in her eyes.

"Hey, wait, guys-- wait a second," Addalie cuts in desperately, the smaller girl frowning, eyes darting between Jason and Georgie. "Breah said he hasn't been hanging around the other Careers, didn't she?" Breah stiffens; it's clear that she doesn't like that her observation was being used in this way-- Addalie was right, Breah had commented on that, and Jason had been giving the Careers a wide berth. But Breah was also cautious and prideful, and she clearly had a snap judgement of Jason, one that the others seemed to share. One she didn't really like having challenged-- especially with her own words.

"It's a long story, but I promise, it's a lot more complicated than it seems," Jason pleads, and maybe I'm a sucker, but to me, he seems genuine. "Give me a chance to explain myself. I think we both have things to offer that the other wants, and I really think we could make a good team."

When no one responds, all six of us still on guard, he sighs, dropping into the seat across from Nathan. He looks desperate. Maybe he's a really good actor, but if he is, he's fooling me. "I volunteered, but I didn't volunteer to win, okay? I volunteered to settle a score. The Careers can't win this year."

Georgie, of all people, seems to perk up at his words, her grey eyes seeming to look into his soul, taking it apart, finding what it needs, and putting it back together again. Something he's said has resonated with her, and though she doesn't back down fully, she relaxes noticeably in her chair, though he words are still wary. "How do we know that we can trust you. You've obviously seen that we've banded together. We're a threat. How do we know the Careers haven't sent you over here to deal with us before we threaten them?"

Jason looks around, and up at the clock, gauging how much time was left in lunch, and how many people were within earshot. "Please. I want a chance to explain myself," he repeats sincerely. "There are too many people here. It's too easy to be overheard, and the longer I sit with you all, the more likely it is someone's going to catch on and get suspicious. But I want a chance to say what I need to say. Let me get it all out, and then make your decision, and whatever it is, I'll respect it. But I want a chance to say my piece first."

And even though most of our group still doesn't look like they believe him much, and like they don't know what to make of them, Addalie takes charge. "We can wait until tonight," she tells him firmly, speaking for all of us. Mark's expression darkens, and Breah doesn't look happy, but that doesn't stop the blonde girl from Ten. "The Maintenance option on the elevator will take you up to the roof. We'll all meet you there tonight, after training and after dinner, okay? It's private, and no one will be there to overhear. You can make your case then."

Jason locks eyes with everyone before nodding. "That works. I'll meet you all there." And with that, he stands back up, taking his lunch tray and going to to dispose of what's left on it, before retreating back into the training facility. 

"I don't like any of what just happened, not one bit," Mark admits with a grumble, shooting Addalie a look. He wasn't too happy about her speaking for him.

"There's no harm in hearing him out. We can always listen to what he has to say and still decide we don't want his help," Addalie pleads. "I'm sorry for speaking for everyone, okay? But there was just something about his eyes...."

"You are going to let a silly crush kill us all," Breah scoffs.

"Not that," Addalie insists, and I can tell she's getting annoyed. "He looked like he was going to cry! He just... he seemed sincere to me. I want to hear what he has to say."

"I do too," Georgie admits with a tiny sigh. 

"Fine. But if he turns out to be an ass, and we decide that we can't keep him around, we potentially just lost a really great private meeting spot," Mark grumbles, shaking his head and turning his focus back down to his food.